CALENDAR

Saturday, March 6

ALIGNED WITH SOURCE: Saturdays, Aligned with Source with Annaita Gandhy - 10:30 a.m.-noon, free. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org, TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

LUCKY SHAMROCKS: Community Art Project: Lucky Shamrocks, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton. All ages, pickup and drop off in lobby. Kits available through March 31. For information, call 860-6692342 and email: sarah@hchlibrary.org.

VOLUNTEERS, DONORS WANTED: Joni and Friends, Wheels for the World, collect unwanted mobility devices, send them to refurbishing centers and distribute them all over the world to people who need them, but can’t afford them. Volunteers are needed for non-contact collections, transport equipment, distribute information, and spread the word to potential donors and other organizations. For information, call Cindy Dunbar at 203-747-0542 or email at cdunbar9191@gmail.com or visit Joniandfriends.org.

FOOD PANTRY OPEN: Starting March 6, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. the Branford Food Pantry (BFP) will be open every other Saturday morning to neighbors who need food support. The pantry is also open from 8:30-11 a.m. on Tuesdays. The BFP provides supplemental groceries for individuals, seniors and families including fresh meat and poultry, eggs, milk, fresh vegetables and fruit, and shelf-stable food, such as soup, peanut butter, and jam, and weekly snack packs for school-age children.

NEW NATURALISM: Horticulturalist and author Kelly D. Norris, free illustrated talk on stylish yet naturalistic garden design, 11 a.m. Mar 6, on Zoom for the Essex Library. Focus on garden designs to increase biodiversity, provide refuge for wildlife, and reconnect humans to nature. Registration is required. RSVP: 860-767-1560 or https://www.youressexlibrary.org/

SAT PRACTICE: Live Online Practice SAT Exam, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 6. Free; registration required. Visit www.revolutionprep.com/partners/139771 to sign up. For information email sarah@hchlibrary.org or call 860-669-2342

Sunday, March 7

VIRTUAL 5K: A new virtual 5K in Old Saybrook is being held March 7-20, to raise money for new play areas at the Kathleen E. Goodwin Elementary School. Registration is $20, and runners can sign up online at runsignup.com/ goodwingallop5K.

MUSICIANS TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIP: Adath Israel, Middletown, presents David Chevan and Warren Byrd on Zoom to talk about their musical partnership and friendship now in its 24th year, 3 p.m. March 7. For information go to https://adathisraelct.org/

Monday, March 8

OPEN MIC: Anything Goes Open Mic with Moments of Gratitude, Mondays, 7 p.m., free, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

STANTON HOUSE AUCTION: The Adam Stanton House Museum, 63 East Main Street, Clinton, is sponsoring a virtual auction fundraiser to continue to raise the funds needed to replace the roof this spring. Bidding opens March 1 and closes March 11. Instructions for pickup will be given to successful bidders. Auction details can be found on the museum’s website at adamstantonhouse.org. For information on donating items for the auction, call the museum at 860-669-2132, weekdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and weekends 1-3 p.m.

WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION: Celebrate International Women’s Day with Suffragettes in Corselettes: The Evolution of Underwear and Our 19th Amendment, Henry Carter Hull Library, 3 p.m., March 8, free. To register, email sarah@hchlibrary.org to sign up.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Affordable Housing Plan Informational Meeting, 6 p.m., March 8, presented by the Town of Durham, a virtual presentation with consultants from the Tyche Planning &

Policy Group on the required plan, what affordable housing is (and what it isn't) and some of the ways Durham can begin to address this important issue. To attend, go to https://www.townofdurhamct.org/ and click on the meeting link on the home page.

CHAMBER GUEST: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, will serve as keynote speaker at a special Virtual Chamber Luncheon Meeting on International Women’s Day, noon-1 p.m. on Zoom with the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. The cost is $10 for Chamber Members and $15 for non-members. Advance registration is required, register online: www.middlesexchamber.com WOMEN’S DAY: Celebrate International Women’s Day with Suffragettes in Corselettes: The Evolution of Underwear and Our 19th Amendment, 3 p.m. March 8, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton. Registration required; mail sarah@hchlibrary.org to sign up

Tuesday, March 9

LAUGHTER YOGA: Tuesdays: Laughter Yoga - 7 p.m., free. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

FOOD PANTRY OPEN: Starting March 6, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. the Branford Food Pantry (BFP) will be open every other Saturday morning to neighbors who need food support. The pantry is also open from 8:30-11 a.m. on Tuesdays. The BFP provides supplemental groceries for individuals, seniors and families including fresh meat and poultry, eggs, milk, fresh vegetables and fruit, and shelf-stable food, such as soup, peanut butter, and jam, and weekly snack packs for school-age children.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: Chaplain Dennis McCann, bereavement support group, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays every month at 5 p.m. on Zoom for the Essex Library. Free and open to all. RSVP: 860-7671560 or https://www.youressexlibrary.org/

BOOK CLUB: “Get Real” Online Nonfiction Book Club: Hidden Valley Road, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, 1-2 p.m. March 9. Registration required; email cathleen@hchlibrary.org to sign up

SPEAKER SERIES: Connecticut River Museum Talks, a Virtual Speaker Series, continues March 9, 6-7 p.m. with Renee Tribert from Preservation Connecticut; April 6, Eric Hintz, Smithsonian National Museum of American History; April 27, Neil Pederson, Harvert University Forest; May 18, Adair Mulligan, Hanover Conservancy; June 8, Robert Kim Bingham, U.S. department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Members, $5, guests, $10. non-members fee is $10.00. Go to ctrivermuseum.org for more information and to register.

VACCINATION TRANSPORTATION: The Middletown Transit District’s Complimentary COVID Vaccination Transportation provides free accessible transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites, including drive-through sites, in the district 7 days per week. Trips must begin in Middletown, Middlefield, East Hampton, Portland or Durham and may be to any testing site in those towns. Any resident regardless of age or ability is eligible, and up to four people may travel together. Trips must be booked at least one day in advance by calling Curtin Transportation at 860-443-1655 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available upon request. Face coverings are required when riding. Full program details are available at www.middletownareatransit.org.

Wednesday, March 10

PLAY D&D ON ZOOM: Zoom Dungeons & Dragons. Wednesdays at 7 p.m., for grades 7 and up. See www.durhamlibrary.org (Click on the Kids tab) to register.

MUSEUM MAGIC: Museum Magic: Art & Location with the Guggenheim, 5 p.m. March 10. Explore pieces of art and discuss with the museum’s staff! For elementary-middle school students. See www.durhamlibrary.org to register (click on the Kids tab).

CHAMBER WEBINAR: The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce presents a free virtual webinar on “Learning to

Live in Recovery,” 9:30 a.m. March 10. To register for this free educational webinar, visit www.middlesexchamber.com.

EARNING A DIPLOMA: Earning A High School Diploma At Any Age, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, 6 p.m. March 10. Free. Registration required; email gfinucane@branfordschools.org to sign up.

LIBRARY CHESS CLUB: Deep River Library Chess Club meets March 10, March 24, 4 p.m., with Coach Daniel. Hone your skills, practice puzzles and play this classic game. Registering for one program will automatically enroll you both. Beginners and budding grand masters are all welcome, grades K-12. Participants must sign up for a free account on https://www.chess.com prior to the program. Registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link. You may find a link to register at deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com or the library’s Facebook page. Or call 860-5266039.

CANDY CRUISE: Participants are wanted for the City of Middletown's Recreation Department Easter Candy Cruise at Crystal Lake, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 27. The Easter Candy Car Cruise will run just like our Halloween Car Cruise, last October. Participants will enter the lake and loop through all the vendor stops. Email Karen Nocera at karen.nocera@middletownct.gov if you are interested in being a stop or for information.

Thursday, March 11

GOTTA’S OPEN MIC: Thursdays, Bob Gotta's Open Mic, 7 p.m., free. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org, TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

STANTON HOUSE AUCTION: The Adam Stanton House Museum, 63 East Main Street, Clinton, is sponsoring a virtual auction fundraiser to continue to raise the funds needed to replace the roof this spring. Bidding opens March 1 and closes March 11. Instructions for pickup will be given to successful bidders. Auction details can be found on the museum’s website at adamstantonhouse.org. For information on donating items for the auction, call the museum at 860-669-2132, weekdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and weekends 1-3 p.m.

BLOOD DRIVES: Red Cross blood drives will be held March 11, 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., and 1-6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 573 Main St., Cromwell. To make a donation, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.

BLOOD DRIVES: Red Cross blood drives will be held March 11, 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., and 1-6 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, 51 Freestone Avenue, Portland. To make a donation, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.

TERRIFIC THURSDAY: Terrific Thursday, an indoor story time for families with young children, will feature books and music & movement, 10:30 a.m. March 4, 11, 18, 25. Masks will be worn for all participants over 2 and an air scrubber will be used to reduce risk. Takeand-make crafts are available on a first come, first serve basis. Room capacity is limited during Covid, so registration is a requirement. To register go to deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com/

FILM CLUB: Kanopy Film Club: “Handsome Devil”, online program, Henry Carter Hull Library, 3 p.m., March 11, free. Registration required, email sarah@hchlibrary.org to sign up

DIPLOMA INFORMATION: High School Diploma Information Sessions, presented by Shoreline Adult Education, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 11. Registration is required to receive a link to these online events. To register visit www.blackstonelibrary.org or call 203-488-1441 ext. 318. Free.

PARENTING DISCUSSION: What Is Implicit Bias? Parenting Discussion Group, online, Henry Carter Hull, Library, Clinton, 7 p.m. May 11, registration required. Email ahwatrous@gmail.com to sign up.