Vinal Technical plans open house

MIDDLETOWN — Vinal Technical High School, at 60 Daniels St., will hold a virtual open house Nov. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Students and parents may contact their middle school to sign up, or, for information, visit vinal.cttech.org/openhouse.

Offerings include automotive, carpentry, criminal justice, diesel and heavy equipment repair, hairdressing and cosmetology, HVAC, veterinary science and electrical programs. Vinal also has workbased learning, CIAC Boys & Girls sports, clubs and activities, art, music and Spanish classes, and much more. Students can earn college credits through Middlesex Community College.

Better Breathers Club to meet

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Better Breathers Club Support Group meeting will be held at the Middletown Senior Center, 61 Durant Terrace, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.

The support group, sponsored by Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation, is open to anyone with chronic lung disease, such as COPD, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary fibrosis. Caregivers are welcome to attend.

To RSVP, call Laura Falt at 860-335-7526 or email lfalt@nathealthcare.com. All COVID-19 safety precautions will be followed.

Night of scary stories for adults

CLINTON — Spooky Mic Night, an evening of scary storytelling for adults, will take place on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at Henry Carter Hull Library at 10 Killingworth Turnpike.

Participants are invited to read their original writing, recite a classic short story or just listen. Readers are limited to five minutes. Fiction and nonfiction are welcome.

If the weather is favorable, the event may be held outside. All COVID rules apply. To register, visit hchlibrary.org or call 860669-2342.

‘Celebrate Jesus’ gala and expo

MIDDLETOWN — WIHS 104.9-FM of Middletown will hold its 2021 “Celebrate Jesus” Gala & Expo at the Aqua Turf Club, 556 Mulberry Street in Southington Oct. 29.

The event will open at 4:30 p.m, with the family-style dinner starting at 6:30. Tickets are available at $50 per person by calling the station at 860-346-1049 or going online at WIHSradio.org.

The theme is “God’s amazing, supernatural power to deliver souls from the destructive grip of addiction, which is so painfully present in our families and communities today,” a press release said.

Gospel doo-wop music will be presented, and the keynote message will be given by the Rev. Walter Santos, pastor of Lacy Christian Assembly in Forked River, N.J. Santos serves as a chaplain for the U.S. Secret Service.

Emceeing the event will be morning on-air host Gerry Williams. WIHS is operated by Connecticut Radio Fellowship, a nonprofit ministry based at 1933 South Main St.

Library offers story time

DEEP RIVER — Deep River Public Library at 150 Main St. offers different ways to access story time.

Terrific Thursday, an indoor story time for families with young children, features books and music and movement. The next session is on Oct. 28, at 10:30 a.m. The next Fun Friday, an in-person class with stories and music geared toward preschoolers, will be on Oct. 29 at 10:30 a,m.

Masks and social distancing are required for participants over 2. Registration is required. To register, go to deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com or call 860-526-6039.

The library posts a recording of stories to its Linktree once weekly at linktr.ee/deepriverpubliclibrary. Those interested may request to be on the email list to receive story time links by emailing drplchildrensdept@gmail.com.

Creating cards for veterans

CLINTON — Henry Carter Hull Library at 10 Killingworth Turnpike is offering a drop-in craft program for all ages in which participants can create greeting cards for veterans on Oct. 27 from 1 to 6 p.m..

The cards will be distributed to the Clinton American Legion/ VFW and local VA hospitals. Materials will be provided. No registration is necessary. Masks are required. Cards can be made at home and dropped off during library hours before Nov. 1.

Pumpkin carving class for tweens

CLINTON — A pumpkin carving program for tweens will take place in the Henry Carter Hull Library’s community room on Oct. 25 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This inperson program is for fifththrough eighth-graders. The pumpkins will be provided and masks are required.

To sign up, visit hchlibrary.org, call 860-669-2342, or email coralie@hchlibrary.org for assistance.

Help paying utility bills

DURHAM — Social Services Coordinator Morgan Perry is alerting the public about an emergency broadband program for those in need of assistance in paying their electric or gas bill.

The benefit program offers up to a $50 per month discount on eligible applicants’ internet bill and a discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

Those eligible must meet at least one of the following requirements: a student in the household receives free or reduced-price lunch; household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or participates in certain government assistance programs; a federal Pell Grant received in the current award year; experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020; meets eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

To enroll, go to getemergencybroadband.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application, and then contact one’s provider to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied to bills.

Eversource customers can learn about available payment programs at Eversource.com/BillHelp. Electric customers should call 800286-2828 while natural gas customers should call 800-438-2278. Information on energy efficiency programs is available at energizect.com.

Ballot drop box in place

DURHAM — A ballot drop box for the Nov. 2 municipal election is set up outside the Town Hall. For information, visit the elections page at townofdurhamct.org.

‘Pumpkin Smash’

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Recreation Department “Pumpkin Smash” will be held Nov. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park on Walnut Grove Road. Afterward, pumpkins will be composted through Blue Earth Compost. Similar events run in Illinois and Virginia and this is the first year for the city of Middletown, according to Middletown Recreation Aquatics Director Nick Dionne. For information, visit bit.ly/3vsCgsL.