Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Pandemic Pandemonium With SCSU Professor Emeritus Dr. Joyce Saltman On Monday, January 18th From 2 p.m.-3 p.m. On Zoom. Pre-Registration Is Required.
PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM WITH SCSU PROFESSOR EMERITUS DR. JOYCE SALTMAN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021 FROM 2 P.M.-3 P.M. VIA ZOOM. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
According to the Southern Connecticut State University’s website https://www.southernct.edu/alumni/pandemic-pandemonium
Southern Connecticut State University Professor Emeritus Dr. Joyce Anisman-Saltman, “Alumna… and 2015 recipient of the Doug Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) will attempt to lighten our loads with some positive re-framing of the present corona virus pandemic and lots of crazy jokes that have been produced by the creative minds of some obviously desperate individuals!”
This event is F-R-E-E-free. You can’t get a better deal than that! It will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. It will be conducted virtually via zoom. Pre-registration is required.
To register please click on the following link:
https://www.southernct.edu/alumni/pandemic-pandemonium
Please don't delay. Do It Today.
If you need more information about who this brilliant, wonderful, funny person is SCSU Professor Emeritus Dr. Joyce Anisman-Saltman please see the following website:
Hope to see you on Zoom on January 18, 2021. Enjoy the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ib3T3eAC-c
City Man Awarded National Literary Award
From the Garden Club of America
----------------------
 |
Through his many books, podcasts, magazine and newspaper articles, and lectures, Thomas Christopher has elevated the art of garden writing, giving readers a deeper understanding of the natural world. With a touch of humor in clear and crisp prose, he captures the attention of his readers. From his first book, In Search of Lost Roses, to the award-winning Garden Revolution: How our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change, to his most recent book, Nature into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill, he has instructed thousands of gardeners.
His writing explores a wide range of topics—heirloom chickens, tropical plants, xeriscaping, making hard cider, and slow-growing fescues—expanding our understanding of the many facets of sustainable gardening. He reaches a wide audience with his syndicated column, “Be a Better Gardener.” Thomas Christopher’s work expresses the joy we feel in nature, helping us become better gardeners and more conscientious ecological stewards.
Proposed by Middletown Garden Club, Zone II
Monday, January 11, 2021
NEWS ALERT: The Inauguration Of President Elect Joe Biden & Vice President Elect Kamala Harris On January 20, 2021 At 12 P.M.
NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT ELECT JOSEPH R. BIDEN WILL BE SWORN IN AS THE NATION’S 46TH PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT ELECT KAMALA D. HARRIS AS THE 49TH VICE PRESIDENT ON JANUARY 20, 2021 AT 12 P.M.
According to the United States Constitution Amendment XX Section 1 it states, "The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January...and the terms of their succes- sors shall then begin.”
President Elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala D. Harris will be sworn in as the newly elected President and Vice President of this nation during the 59th Inauguration Ceremony. It will take place at the West Front of the Capitol building. The theme will be “Our Determined Democracy: Forging A More Perfect Union.”
Biden will be the 46th President and Harris will be the 49th Vice President. They will succeed President Trump & Vice President Pence.
Vice President Elect Harris will be sworn in first followed by President Elect Biden. The oaths for Vice President and President are different from one another. But both state that Biden & Harris will swear to defend the United States Constitution.
Usually, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court swears in the President Elect and an Associate Justice swears in the Vice President Elect. The current Chief Justice is John Roberts.
President Elect Joseph R. Biden will be the second president in U.S. History to belong to the Roman Catholic religion. The first president was John F. Kennedy.
Since the November 3rd election there have been numerous vote counts, legal challenges, the states' electors certified the votes and during the early morning of January 7th the U.S. Congress finally declared Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the president elect & vice president elect.
After they take the oath of office it is time for all Americans to put past political differences aside and unite behind our new President & Vice President. To quote Rodney King from 1992 “Can't we all get along?"
Let's show our allies and adversaries that our nation truly is the United States of America and not the Divided States of America. This is the only way to return unity and peace to our great country. Let America be a beacon and role model once again for freedom everywhere in the world.
For more information about the offices of President and Vice President & Inauguration Day ceremonies please see the following websites:
https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/constitution.pdf
https://www.inaugural.senate.gov/vice-presidents-swearing-in-ceremony/
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-104sdoc26/pdf/CDOC-104sdoc26.pdf
I would like to thank everyone for reading all of the articles I wrote about Election 2020 beginning with the Connecticut Presidential Primary on August 11th. See you in four years.
Enjoy the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZJPu7qy0kc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSk48VrEYbU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk1d-Yiekh0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75V3H-FXf78
Don White Concert presented by The Buttonwood Tree - ONLINE
Livestream on January 21 at 7 PM EST - Free
There is no one-word description for what Don White does. He's an award-winning singer/songwriter, a comedian, an author, and a storyteller. He's been bringing audiences to laughter and tears for thirty years, released ten CDs, three live DVDs, and a book, Memoirs of a C Student. For more information about Don's work, please check out the videos and music here: www.donwhite.net.
This event will be interactive – meaning that Don and the audience will be able to hear laughter and applause as it happens. At the end of the show, there will be an after party with Don and maybe a surprise guest or two!
The show is free with a virtual tip jar during the event. Viewers may also donate using Don’s Paypal paypal.me/donwhitefolk or Venmo: @donwhitefolk. A portion of donations will be given to The Buttonwood Tree.
ACCESS:
The show will be streamed live to Facebook and YouTube from Zoom at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 21.
If you want to be in the interactive Zoom concert, access information will be available at www.buttonwood.org
To view the show on Facebook Live please go to https://www.facebook.com/DonWhiteFolk/live/
To view the show on YouTube, please go to https://www.youtube.com/c/Donwhiteofficial1
To watch Don in action, enjoy the Accordion Door Story!
Thank you for supporting The Buttonwood Tree.
We acknowledge and are grateful for the annual support of the City of Middletown's Commission on the Arts.
To contact as at The Buttonwood Tree:
BUTTONWOOD.org (860) 347-4957 TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com
Like and follow our Facebook Facebook and Youtube!
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Get Back to Work Quickly
Are you a single parent, unemployed or receiving SNAP* benefits?
Middlesex Community College is your way forward!
Upgrade your skills by enrolling in an eligible non-credit or certificate program at Middlesex Community College and receive additional specialized career coaching on your way to success, especially in high-demand health care fields.
Get started by signing up for a special information session on January 13 (noon to 2 p.m.) or January 14 (6 to 8 p.m.). Rebecca Lemanski from Middletown WORKS, a representative from the American Job Center, and the MxCC SNAP coordinator will be available to answer eligibility questions and offer resources. Visit mxcc.edu/middletown-works for the meeting links and more information.
Questions? Call 860-343-5865 or email mx-cehelp@mxcc.edu.
Middletown WORKS is a Working Cities Challenge initiative lead by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Saturday, January 9, 2021
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Service On 1-18-21 At 12:30 P.M. Via Zoom
THE MIDDLETOWN SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE OF GREATER MIDDLETOWN PRESENTS VIRTUAL SERVICE ON ZOOM IN HONOR OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021 AT 12:30 P.M.
Who was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Why do we honor him with a national holiday? Dr. King was a civil rights leader who championed equal rights for all and that “All men are created equal,” according to the article “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” from the Department of Defense Education Activity(https://www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/MLK.cfm) website. He began his quest for civil rights in 1955 with the Montgomery Bus Boycott and continued his path for social justice during the turbulent 1960’s until he was assassinated in 1968 according to the article “Martin Luther King, Jr.” from U.S. History.org.
Two words that could describe who Dr. King was “equality and nonviolence” according to U.S. History.org. Why? He was a proponent of nonviolent means to overcome the racial discrimination and injustices of the time. Dr. King “created change with organized Sit-ins, marches, and peaceful demonstrations that highlighted issues of inequality,” according to the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” article from the Dodea.edu website.
Dr. King created the Southern Christian Leadership Conference whose purpose was the “advancement of rights for African Americans,” from U.S. History.org. In April 1963 he planned a protest in Birmingham, Alabama because according to Dr. King this was “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States" during this time period. He organized peaceful protests against the racial injustices there. Dr. King was jailed numerous times in Birmingham for his peaceful protests against the racial discrimination towards African Americans according to History.com
On August 28, 1963 the Reverend Dr. King organized the “March on Washington” which ended at the Lincoln Memorial. The goal of this march was for “Jobs and Freedom… to shed light on the injustices African Americans continued to face across the country according to the History.com website article “Martin Luther King Jr.” This peaceful demonstration attracted approximately 200,000-300,000 people and is considered a milestone in the “American civil rights movement and a factor in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” according to the same article. Also, the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The March on Washington was where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream Speech.” In 1964, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on combatting racial discrimination and was the youngest person ever to receive this award according the Dodea.edu website article “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.”
In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation creating a U.S. federal holiday in honor of Dr. King. It was first celebrated in 1986 and it is observed on the third Monday of January annually according to History.com’s article “Martin Luther King, Jr.”
This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the National Day of Service in honor of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “through volunteerism in our communities” from the Dodea.edu website. It also noted that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday should be a “Day On, Not A Day Off.”
In Middletown, the Middletown Scholarship Committee of Greater Middletown will be presenting the 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on Monday, January 18th beginning at 12:30 p.m. with a virtual service on zoom. The Meeting ID is 92853898676 and the passcode is mlk2021. The keynote speaker will be the Connecticut Commissioner of the Department of Children & Families Vannessa Dorantes, LMSW.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic there will not be a march in Middletown on January 18th according to organizer Brittany Hardy. She went onto say that “This program is our key fundraiser in honoring Dr. King's dream for equality and his stance on education. It also allows us to provide continued financial support to high school graduates continuing on to a higher education.” Donations to the scholarship fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 282, Middletown, CT 06457. If you have any questions about the virtual service or the scholarship fund, please send your queries to
For more information about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. please see the following websites:
https://www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/MLK.cfm
https://www.ushistory.org/US/54f.asp
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/march-on-washington
https://www.history.com/news/kings-letter-from-birmingham-jail-50-years-later
Enjoy the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs&list=RDsmEqnnklfYs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAe4oyRkLdY
Thursday, January 7, 2021
The Buttonwood Tree Presents Story City Troupe - Storytelling on First Fridays
Sit back and relax to a fascinating adult style story time ! These tellers are proficient at storytelling and will truly delight and entertain you. Mike Isko emcees the event which has a different theme every month. The audience is invited to participate by offering to tell their own story (email us for details) - and by staying on after the storytelling for an informal "Chat room." You may chat with the tellers, other audience members ask questions, get advice etc.
Included in all Buttonwood programs is a brief time for sharing what we are grateful for, called "Moments of Gratitude." The audience is also invited to participate!
Story City Troupe, founded by Sue Huggans is a collective of storytellers based in the Hartford, CT area. They've been performing at TBT for over three years and welcomes new members.
Story City Troupe uses the Moth Formula: all are true, personal stories, often funny, sometimes amazing, poignant or ironic and based on a single theme for the evening. They have been mentored by Matt Dicks, one of The Moth’s champion storytellers and range in age from their 20’s to their 70’s, proving you can come up with a good story at any age. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll identify!
Our January show will have as it’s theme, “Teller’s Choice” which means no restrictions, they can tell any story they like, the sky’s the limit.
The tellers will be:
Jezrie Marcano-Courtney "Student of the Month"
Elisabeth Anton "My Aunt Nancy"
Sue Huggans "Why I Went to College"
Nina Lesiga "Snow Potatoes"
Mike Isko "And We're Off!"
Wendy Marans "The Tower Bank Arms"
To contact The Buttonwood Tree:
BUTTONWOOD.org (860) 347-4957 TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Middlesex Community College One-Stop Super Saturday Registration January 9 (virtual)
Join Middlesex Community College for its Super Saturday Registration Event (virtual) on Saturday, January 9, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is your one-stop opportunity to register for Spring 2021 semester courses at MxCC. Spring classes begin on Friday, January 22.
To participate in the online session, please make sure you have applied to the college and then click here to RSVP. We will then contact you with a link to the Saturday meeting.
Questions? Please call Enrollment Services at 860-343-5719 or visit mxcc.edu.
MxCC is your way forward!
Friday, January 1, 2021
An Act of Racial Justice
From New York Times, Jan. 1, 2021.
Judge Orders Portraits Removed
from VA Courtroom
Virginia Judge Won’t Try Black Man in Courtroom Lined With White Portraits
David Bernhard, a circuit court judge, wrote in his decision that the display of portraits of white judges “is based on a non-racial principle, yet yields a racial result.”
David Bernhard, a circuit court judge, wrote in his decision that the display of portraits of white judges “is based on a non-racial principle, yet yields a racial result.”
When a Black man appears in a Virginia courtroom this month to stand trial on charges of eluding the police, assaulting an officer and other crimes, he will face a scene that defendants in that room have not experienced in decades: The portraits of white judges will no longer line the walls.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Winter classes for ages 6 - 20 at Oddfellows
Registration is now open for winter classes and performance opportunities for ages 6 – 20 at Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown. Most activities will be held virtually on Zoom, with a few exceptions. For details, and more information, go to
www.oddfellows.org, call (860) 347-6143, or email info@oddfellows.org.
Teen Programs:
Young people ages
14 – 20 may join two Teen Rep Company programs this winter: “Writing Plays”,
with Kristen Palmer, and “The Actor’s Tool Kit”, with Marcella Trowbridge.
“Writing Plays”
offers the opportunity to work with a professional playwright to learn and
develop the art of writing for the stage. The program will culminate in a “New
Plays Festival” on February 20. The class meets virtually Thursdays, 6:30 – 8
pm, January 14 – February 18. Tuition is $50.
“The Actor’s Tool Kit” provides what every teen actor needs in their back pocket: facility with voice, body, breath, text, emotional literacy... train together and come out with tools of the trade - and a monologue, to boot. This class, taught by ARTFARM Artistic Director and classical actor Marcella Trowbridge, will meet in-person in the Oddfellows theater (with masks, social distancing, and other safety protocols) as long as COVID allows. Mondays, 6:30 – 8 pm, January 11 – February 15. Tuition: $50.
Circus enthusiasts (ages 12 – 20) may join “Circophony: The
Movie”, an 8 week production complete with
live and virtual classes, on-line tutorials and opportunities
for students to work with designers to make a circus feature
presentation. Students are invited to build their own rehearsal schedule
and can participate in as many or few classes as they like. Students will
create content which will be edited and compiled in a final digital production.
Directed by Allison McDermott. Full group virtual sessions Saturdays, 11 –
11:50 am, plus other training and coaching opportunities. Tuition: $75.
An in-person “Contortion and Flexibility” class with Naja Muller will be offered in association with “Circophony: The Movie”. The class meets Thursdays, 4:30 – 6 pm, January 14 – March 4 at Oddfellows (masks/social distance/no touch coaching). Tuition for this class is $120. Limited to 5 students.
Junior Repertory Company (ages 11 – 14):
Our Junior Rep
Company will be creating a “Virtual Mainstage Production” under the direction
of Laugh Sanchez and Jacque Brown. The production will consist of original work
created by the students over 8 weeks of rehearsals, focusing on finding their
own voice through spoken word assignments and generative theater activities.
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm & Thursdays, 5 – 6 pm, January 18 – March 20.
Virtual performances March 19 & 20. Tuition: $75.
Ages 6 – 11:
Everyone is invited
to stay healthy this winter through our FREE “Up On Your Feet” Series, hosted
by Felicia Goodwine. This 8 week series will offer different movement and
physically based activities every week, from dance to pilates to capoeira,
hosted by dancer/choreographer Felicia with a bunch of guest teaching artists.
This is our contribution to the physical and mental health of youngsters during
this COVID winter, and everyone ages 6 – 11 is encouraged to join. Tuesdays, 5
– 6 pm, January 19 – March 9. Tuition is free, but registration is required.
“A Fairy Tale
Mystery”, directed by Nicki LaPorte, offers kids ages 9 – 11 the chance to
write and create an original mystery based on fairy tale characters. The
virtual Share Day performance on February 25 will give friends and family the
chance to try to solve the crime. Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, January 21 –
February 25. Tuition: $50.
“Ms. B’s Cultural
Heritage and Enrichment Corner” is a unique opportunity for kids ages 9 – 11 to
work with nationally-recognized social work educator and historian Velma Banks
on learning about African-American history and the relevance of historical
heroes today. Although the focus is on African-American culture, the class is
open to children of all backgrounds. Wednesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, January 20 –
February 24. Tuition: $50.
The final classes
out of the box this winter will be “Musical Mentoring”, coordinated by Julia
Kan and featuring one-on-one virtual music lessons with Wesleyan music
students. Kids can choose to study guitar, keyboard, voice, ukulele, violin,
and possibly other instruments (depending on availability of mentors). Ages 6 –
8 will meet on Wednesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, February 24 – March 31; ages 9 – 11
will meet Mondays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, February 22 – March 29. Tuition: $50.
Financial Aid is
available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that no one will
ever be turned away due to inability to pay.
To register, or for more information, go to www.oddfellows.org, call (860) 347-6143, or email info@oddfellows.org. Space is limited for all programs, so timely registration is encouraged.
Oddfellows
Playhouse programs are made possible thanks to generous support from The Fund
for Greater Hartford; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch/Youth Violence
Prevention; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; Middletown Commission on the
Arts; Stare Family Fund; Middletown Youth Services Bureau; American Savings
Foundation; Thomas J. Atkins Fund; New England Arts Resilience Fund; Community
Foundation of Middlesex County; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; the Hoffman
Foundation; Long Foundation; and generous individual donors.
The Buttonwood Tree presents the Fifth Annual Fire of Hope (Online)
December 31st @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST
This year sure was a strange and difficult one! But there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.
There is so much going on beneath the surface in our Universe that we don’t realize how it affects us unconsciously, adding to our unrest, discomfort, anger and dismay. The Buttonwood Tree family offers an important message of hope and understanding, for those who dare to listen.
You're invited to hear an important message for 2021, to gather our positive intentions and energies to help our world, and to learn what we can to do to increase our chances for a peaceful, productful life going into this new year.
Annaita Gandhy will introduce us to 2021 with an informative message offered with care and encouragement so that we can be more aware of our roles in our future together. These are challenging times and we need tools to navigate them to be successful and happy.
This year, for our fifth annual Fire of Hope, we’ll meet online, able to see multiple performers each from their home, and send messages back and forth to each other online. Our thanks to HannaH’s Field for taking care of the technology and supplying music to inspire and lift our spirits. And, as with all other Buttonwood programs at this time, we will include Moments of Gratitude 
Weather permitting, we’ll make a the fire outside – to send our hopes up to the heavens, and if you wish, burn up our burdens as well. It’s all up to YOU. You can make your own fire, use a candle, or simply envision it all.
This is a new era … it’s time to live deliberately, positively and lovingly!
Join us! BE part of the Goodness that we need more of in this world. Photos below from 2018 and the conclusion of last year when we were inside TBT:
Donations for Buttonwood are welcome and appreciated. This is a free event. Refreshments are up to you 🙂
Please sign up to be sure to get a link to the event. This will be broadcast over Facebook, LIVE from The Buttonwood Tree’s PAGE.
Please LIKE, Share and FOLLOW us!!
BUTTONWOOD.org (860) 347-4957 email to TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com
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