CALENDAR

Thursday, Sept. 19 MILITARY WRITING GROUP: We Were There: Writing Your Military Experiences, led by author Elizabeth Petry, meets at 2 p.m., Sept. 5, 12, 19 (6:30 p.m. at Branford Library), 26, Meeting Room 2, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Visitors and new members are always welcome and recent veterans are especially encouraged to attend. Workshop facilitator, Christy Billings, can be reached at 860-347-2528 x 160 or cbillings@russelllibrary.org Drop in; no registration required. WHAT IS RACISM? Wee the People Presentation: What is Racism?, 6 p.m., Sept. 19, 10 a.m., Sept. 21, Hubbard Room. Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. This workshop is tailored for children 5 - 8. Wee the People is a Bostonbased social justice project for kids. Space is limited; registration is required, go to russelllibrary.org or call 860-3472520. LIONS CLUB MEETING: District 23C Eastern Connecticut Lions announces the formation of a newly chartered Cromwell Lions Club. An information session will be held at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, at the Autumn Lake Healthcare meeting room at 385 Main Street, Cromwell. Learn about the club by attending; for more information or to save a spot, contact Michele Wyatt at 860-237-2744 or Teri at 860-267-6150.

ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIE: “Chasing Coral.” 7 p.m., Sept 19, a 3-part environmental movie series at the Durham Library. To register, call 860-349-9544 or go to www.durhamlibrary.org

AUTHOR TALK: Sarah Townsend, Setting the Wire, 7 p.m., Sept. 19, free, registration is required. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore , 413 Main Street, Middletown. Details at www.wesleyanrjjulia.com or call 860-685-3939

OPEN HOUSE: Valley Shore Community Television Inc., open house, 5-7 p.m., Sept. 19, at the studio, 1587 Boston Post Road, Westbrook. Refreshments provided. Learn about opportunities and free training workshops. Details, go to www.vsctv.com or call 860-399-1857. Friday, Sept. 20 KNITTING GROUP: Knitting/Crocheting Group meets Fridays, 2-4 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 345 Main Street, Portland Knitters work on various projects such as hats, scarves and mittens for the homeless, prayer shawls and afghans for those in need. All knitters/ crocheters welcome. Instruction provided. MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT: Feed Branford Kids 2nd Annual Murder Mystery Night, an Old Hollywood themed evening, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 20, Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club, Branford. Tickets $100. Details and reservations, go to www.feedbranfordkids.net

CD RELEASE PARTY: New Leaf Irish Band CD Release Party, 8-10 p.m., Sept. 20, $15. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown, buttonwood.org.

PUFFY PAINT: Toddler Puffy Paint, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 20, Deep River Library, for toddlers, 18 - 36 months. Outside, weather permitting. Details go to http:// deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.comand or call 860-526-6039 Saturday, Sept. 21 FINDING A HOUSE: Find Your (Know Before You Go House-Hunting) PlaceLiberty Bank, 11 a.m., Sept. 21, Meeting Room 2. Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. A light lunch will be provided. Registration is required; register russelllibrary.org or call 860-347-2520 or call Liberty Bank, 860-344-7328.

SIP AND CELEBRATE: Boots & Blues, a fundraiser for Camp Ingersoll, 4-7 p.m., Sept. 21, at the camp, 94 Camp Ingersoll Road, Portland. Barbecue, wine, beer and spirits tastings, silent and live auctions, music and line dancing. Boots and bluejeans encouraged. Tickets $50. To purchase go to www.midymca.org

CLIMATE CRISIS EVENTS: Together We Rise: Building Bridges for Justice to Hold Climate Crisis events. Vigil, 8-10 a.m., Sept. 20, Two Wrasslin’ Cats, 374 Town St., East Haddam. Refreshments provided. Vigil, 10-11 a.m., Sept. 21, followed by “We Are All One Planet: Creating Community to Combat Climate Crisis,” at 5 p.m.., the Grange, 488 Town St., East Haddam. Speakers on making change. Bring a bag lunch and drinks, light-colored t-shirt, and ideas on fighting to save the earth. Pre-registration is required, and the event is limited to 75 participants. To register: https://actionnetwork.org/events/we-are-one-planetcreating-community-to-combat-theclimate-crisis BENEFIT GALA: Covenant Living of Cromwell 2019 Benefit Gala and Dinner, 6 p.m., Sept. 21 , on Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, Rocky Hill. Reception, silent auction, dinner, and entertainment by Jeff Wieselberg, and DJ Brian Skibo. For more information on tickets/donations, call Christine Urciuoli at 860-754-3025.

REPAIR CAFE, BAG DRIVE: Repair Café and Reusable Bag Collection, 12-3 p.m., Sept. 21, deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington Street, Middletown. Bring in your broken and worn-out personal, household, and office items for free repairs and refreshing. Reusable bag donations - give a bag, take a bag. More info: https://www.rockfallfoundation.org/event/repair-cafe-3/ WHATTRIVIA NIGHT: Ivoryton Library is looking for teams for its WhatTrivia night, 7 p.m., Sept. 21, Centerbrook Meeting House, 51 Main St in Centerbrook. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the games begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25 advance, $30 at the door. Reserve at 860-767-1252 or buy at the library at 106 Main St. For more information, email staff@ivorytonlibrary.org. GALLERY CELEBRATION: Chester’s Lori Warner Studio/Gallery celebrates 10 Years with a retrospective exhibition, and a selection of student work created during annual monotype printmaking workshops in the Exumas, Bahamas, 2:30 p.m., Sept. 21, free, donations welcome. BEACH CLEANUP: Hammonasset Beach cleanup on International Coastal Cleanup Day, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Sept. 21, free. Meet at the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison. Volunteers needed; groups welcome. Gloves and trash bags provided. Water and snacks will be available for volunteers. Contact: Jim Mazur, jamesemazur@gmail.com

RIVER MYTHS: Myths and Legends of our Connecticut River Valley, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Connecticut River Museum Essex. Registration $35, includes box lunch, light refreshments. Optional Onrust sail, $30. To register, go to https://shop.ctrivermuseum.org/collections/publicprograms. JAZZ TRIO: Vincent Hsu & Soy La Ley Afro-Cuban Jazz Trio featuring Victor Lewis & Zaccai Curtis, 8 p.m., Sept. 21, $20. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details, buttonwood.org

OPEN HOUSE: Open House and Talk, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 21, Henry Smith House, 29 Bevin Blvd., East Hampton. Constructed in 1855, this is one of the 32 octagonal house in Connecticut. Hear about its history and design from its passionate owner at 11:30 or 12:30. RUN FOR THE FALLEN: 10th Annual Run for The Fallen CT, 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sept. 21, at Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial, Veterans Memorial Park, Middletown. Runners, walkers, volunteers and visitors, military/veteran personnel are all invited. Parking on-site at Veterans Memorial Park.

TAG SALE: 6th Annual Killingworth Women’s Organization Community Tag Sale, 8 a.m-1:30 p.m., Sept. 21, Killingworth Elementary School front parking lot. Come and shop for new and used items with multiple sellers all in one location. AFTERNOON OF POETRY: Wesleyan R. J. Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown, hosts an afternoon of poetry, 3

p.m., Sept. 21 to mark the publication of the citys late poet laureate, Susan Allison, whose collection, “Be full” was published posthumously and will be read by guest poets. Open mic follows. Details, go to susanallison.com or wesleyanrjjulia.com. BARBECUE DINNER: Chicken barbecue at St. James Parish Hall, 498 Killingworth Road (Rt 81) Higganum, CT (Corner of Little City Road and Route 81). Tickets $15 adults, $12 seniors, $6 children, free for age 2 and under. BBQ chicken, coleslaw, pasta salad, baked beans, dessert & coffee/tea & lemonade/ice tea. Sunday, Sept. 22 SUNDAY WORSHIP: Trinity Episcopal Church, 345 Main Street, Portland holds its regular Sunday Service at 9:30 a.m. Following the service is a coffee hour in St. Michael’s Hall, next door to the sanctuary. All are welcome. The church’s missional priest is the Rev. Phil Bjornberg. An Anglican Prayer Bead Workshop meets Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m.

SACRAMENT MEETING: Sacrament meeting, 10 a.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 130 South St., Cromwell.

SUNDAY WORSHIP: Worship with Eucharist, 9 a.m., Adult Education, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday School and Confirmation, 10:30 a.m., at Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown. For more information go to www.faithelcamiddletown.org

CLIMATE CRISIS EVENT: Together We Rise: Building Bridges for Justice to Hold Climate Crisis Vigil, 10-11 a.m., Sept. 21, followed by “We Are All One Planet: Creating Community to Combat Climate Crisis,” at 5 p.m.., the Grange, 488 Town St., East Haddam. Speakers on making change to save the planet. Bring a bag lunch and drinks, light-colored t-shirt, and ideas on fighting to save the earth. Pre-registration is required, and the event is limited to 75 participants. To register: https://actionnetwork.org/events/weare-one-planet-creating-community-tocombat-the-climate-crisis

REIKI 1 CLASS: Reiki Level 1, 1-6 p.m., Sept. 22, 29, $150 members, $160 guests, at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details go to buttonwood.org. SACRAMENT MEETING: Sacrament meeting, 10 a.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 130 South St., Cromwell. SUNDAY WORSHIP: Worship with Eucharist, 9 a.m., Adult Education “Loving Jesus,” 10:30 a.m.: at Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown. For more information go to www.faithelcamiddletown.org FOOD AND FUNDRAISING:The Estuary Council of Seniors is holding its annual fundraiser, 5th annual Shoreline Chefs, to benefit Meals on Wheels, 3-6 p.m., Sept. 22, at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook. Tickets $40 advance, $45 at the door. For more details or tickets call 860-388-1611 ext. 210 or visit www.ecsenior.org. Monday, Sept. 23 MARC PRESENTATION: MARC Community Resources: Informational Presentation, 6 p.m., Sept. 23, Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Hear what services available for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as volunteer opportunities. For all ages. No registration required. MAKERS WORKSHOP: Maker Monday, 6 p.m., Sept. 23, Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. An opportunity for kids to learn through hands-on exploration. For kids age 9 - 12. No registration required, but space is limited. BOOK DISCUSSION: Nonfiction Book Discussion group, Durham Library, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23. The book is“The Spy and the Traitor” by Ben Macintyre. Details, 860-349-9544 or www.durhamlibrary.org