Monday, March 28, 2022

This Week at The Buttonwood Tree: March 28- April 3, 2022

 

 

The Buttonwood Tree 
605 Main Street, in Middletown

March/April 2022
The Buttonwood Tree Presents:

Event descriptions are excerpted from The Buttonwood Tree online calendar. Click on event links in text for more information. 

 

 

 

Monday
MAR 28

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

      Anything Goes Open Mic (Host: JD Wise)


MAR 31

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Bob Gotta's Acoustic Open Mic (ZOOM)

 

Friday
APR 1 
 

7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

TEMPEST Celtic Rock Fundraiser









  

 

 

Saturday
APR 2 

 10:30 am - 12:15 pm

Align with Source Workshop

 



 

 

 

 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm  

Heather Pierson Duo









 

 

 

 

 

Sunday
APR 3 

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Weekly Improv Workshop

For more information on Buttonwood programs, please see our calendar here.


Friday, March 25, 2022

THE 2022 “MARCH MADNESS” NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS.


 

THE 2022 “MARCH MADNESS” NCAA 

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS.

PLEASE GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19. PLEASE GET BOOSTED TOO.

 

It is March and that could only mean it is "March Madness" time for the NCAA Basketball Tournaments.  What better way to root and cheer for your favorite NCAA men's and women's basketball teams than to get vaccinated against the deadly COVID-19 virus.  If you received the COVID-19 Vaccine give yourself the extra protection by getting boosted with the COVID-19 Booster shot.  You will get the satisfaction of being vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus while seeing your favorite NCAA teams compete in the “Sweet 16,”  the ¨Elite 8," and on the ¨Road to The Final Four. ¨  


The CDC stated On November 2, 2021, that vaccine eligibility expanded to everyone in the United States ages 5 and older. People ages 18 and above became eligible to receive a COVID-19 Booster shot as of November 19, 2021.  For people over 18 years old they have the option of choosing either the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  As of January 5, 2022, the CDC allowed all individuals ages 12 and above to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Shot. 


For more information about COVID-19 Booster Shot eligibility for ages 12-17-year old’s please see the following website:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0105-Booster-Shot.html

 

To find out how to get vaccinated please go to vaccines.gov.  

 

Enjoy the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeJD0Yqp13I

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDBhDXU5Q_Y

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzTKbF1u0yY












 

 

 

 

Tempest! at the Italian Society of Middletown CT

       That's right! on Friday, APRIL 1st, 7:30 - 10pm

TEMPEST!
tempestmusic.com
(Men in Kilts) 


at

The Italian Society of Middletown
72 Court Street,
Middletown, CT.


The TEMPEST ‘GOING HOME’ SPRING TOUR 2022 

April 1st,  7:30 - 10 pm

A Spring Fundraiser for
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center,
Oddfellows Playhouse
& St. Vincent de Paul’s Soup Kitchen

~~~~~~~~~
at Italian Society of Middletown, 72 Court Street, Middletown, CT.
 
$25. General admission
$20. with Student ID
$175 for a round table (up to 10 people, by reservation)
  • Cash bar
  • Drawings for prizes
The Buttonwood Tree’s mission is to uplift, inspire, educate,
& enrich lives 
through artistic & cultural programming, while supporting
the 
creative endeavors of emerging & established artists.
Tickets available at 
Buttonwood.org/
This event is generously sponsored by


Monday, March 21, 2022

Free Screening of Hometown Habitat on April 5, 2022

We are excited to announce the next film in The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series!  We'll be showing Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 7pm, at the Goldsmith Family Cinema,  Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies, Wesleyan University, 301 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT.  Directions and parking information can be found here.

The film highlights a variety of stories of community commitment to conservation landscaping demonstrating how humans and nature can co-exist with mutual benefits, as well as stressing the importance of incorporating native plants in the landscape to support habitat for wildlife. Renowned entomologist, Dr. Douglas Tallamy, is featured in the film. He is the author of several books, including his most recent, Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. 

A discussion will follow the film facilitated by several people who will share their perspectives and answer questions. They include Tom Christopher, garden writer and horticulturist, who has interviewed Doug Tallamy several times; Aubree Keurajian, an ecologist and practitioner of ecological restoration, who founded the business Ungardening Native Plants; and Brian Stewart, home gardener, who has created a haven for wildlife using native plants in his yard.

As always, the film is open to the public and free of charge. Wesleyan is a vaccinated campus and full vaccination is required to attend. In addition, masks must be worn in all indoor spaces.  Please preregister at ctrivercoastal@conservect.org, and complete this form prior to attending.

We hope you can join us!  Please phone the Conservation District office for more information at 860-346-3282.


The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series was begun in 2015. The series is co-sponsored by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Middlesex Community College, Middletown Garden Club, The Rockfall Foundation, and Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts, College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Opinion: City's Loss is Due to Racism and Biases

 Submitted by David Roane
------------------

Middletown does not tolerate any signs of hate, intimidation, harassment or attempts at the same “WRONG”.  Let me clarify my statement “wrong”, even though I shouldn’t have to!  But there are those in the community that will take my statement of truth, and say he is saying that all white people are racist.  NO!  I know a number of whites and there are those I don’t know. That are not racist. This I do know.  I knew that what happened to Dr. Conner was a “modern Day Lynching of a Black Man”. I also know that those, whites, within the community who do not tolerate this kind of behavior are in the minority of whites in Middletown.

Where were the “many strong leaders and partners working through collaboration to keep Middletown School System, as well as, making Middletown a better place, when racism, biases, allegations of “harassment, intimidation and retaliation made by the school union representatives, and now hateful and threats to him and his family?

Dr. Conner described the letter as a "hate packet.” The Connecticut Education Groups call it an “Evil Act”  I have said from day one that this was nothing more than a “modern Day Lynching of a Black Man” and that the racists and biases people living within the Middletown community, are showing their true selves once again.

If Middletown does not tolerate any signs of hatred, intimidation, harassment or attempts at the same; why would our city officials be brazen enough to say the letter "contained language and references that were interpreted as threatening and hateful?  Our city officials in the past have said, as bold as brass, that “The only Problem between the City Police/Department and the Black Community is a communication problem?

Why would a city director say it has nothing to do with race and/or because he is a Black Man?  This same city director is the President of the local branch of the NAACP and, as the leader of that organization, proclaims the same lie.

The article said, “We aren't as ignorant to believe racism and biases don't live in our community”, at the first sign we will work to address. If that is true, why did we have to lose our first black Superintend of Schools, whom from day one was bringing nothing but high praises, acclamation, on a state and national level as to change to our city school system for the betterment of all no matter what the pigmentation of one’s skin.

Lastly if the recipient of such a letter was a white superintendent, and the threats were from a black person, he or she would be underneath the jail by now. We wouldn’t be reading and/or hearing "we are conducting a full investigation of the matter."

We just lost one of the best things that ever happened in Middletown, for the betterment of all. Lost as a result of racism and biases, let's keep it real.

"It's Time To Rock Your Socks" For Monday, March 21, 2022.


 

"It’s Time To “Rock Your Socks!”  For World Down Syndrome Day on Monday, March 21, 2022! 

 

On this day people will be encouraged to "Rock Your Socks" meaning to wear colorful mismatched socks on each foot mainly blue & yellow because these colors are used to raise awareness for Down Syndrome according to WKTN Radio website of Kenton, Ohio. This day is "dedicated to raising awareness about Down syndrome and celebrating individuals around the world living with the genetic condition from the website https://www.dsaatl.org/world-down-syndrome-day.  It further states “According to the World Down Syndrome Day website the date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome," according to Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta's website https://www.dsaatl.org website. 

 

The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut (DSACT) is having their second annual virtual 2022 Rock Your Socks for Literacy” which is currently underway according to their website.  It began March 5th and ends on March 31, 2022.  Their website states “Run to support the DS ACT Literacy Center. The $25 registration fee includes a one-of-a-kind medal and an electronic race bib. Track your race and upload your time to the Virtual Strides website to claim your bragging rights!” 

 


For more information about World Down Syndrome Day on Sunday, March 21, 2022 please see the following websites: 

 

https://mydsact.org/rys/ 

https://www.dsaatl.org 

https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org 

https://nothingdown.org/ 

https://wktn.com/march-21-is-world-down-syndrome-day 

 

Enjoy the videos. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olbKk9OBc7I&t=1s 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVzj59M_ri8 




 




 




Wednesday, March 16, 2022

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! MARCH 17, 2022

 


Happy Saint Patrick's Day!  Thursday, March 17, 2022

 

Who was Saint Patrick and why do we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day? He was born in Roman Britain and lived during the 5th century. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. According to History.com article "History of St. Patrick’s Day" "he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people."

 

Since Saint Patrick's death there was a popular legend that surfaced “he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock."

 


Ireland had been honoring the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Patrick since approximately the 9th or 10th Century according to History.com. The very first Saint Patrick's Day Parade occurred not in Ireland but in the Spanish colony in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida on March 17, 1601. The parade in 1601 and the festivities the previous year was organized by the colony's leader Irish Vicar Ricardo Artur according to History.com. Fast forward to a century later the next Saint Patrick Day parade also took place away from Ireland and in the new world. On March 17, 1772 "...homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City..." as a way to celebrate and pay homage to their patron saint. "Enthusiasm for the St. Patrick's Day parades in New York CityBoston and other early American cities only grew from there.," as reported from the article "History of Saint Patrick's Day," from History.com

 


For more information about Saint Patrick’s Day please see the following website:

https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

 

Just remember on Saint Patrick's Day everyone is considered Irish. So, wear Green on March 17, 2022. Enjoy a meal of corned beef and cabbage. If you dare, try some Irish Soda Bread. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 

Enjoy the videos. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ3E7kIYtR0

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZXnJ4UYh40&t=6s

 

 


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Housing Meeting: What Should Our City's Housing Options Be?

Housing costs in our city are high due to a shortage of available housing. Multiple developers are proposing new apartment projects, including on Newfield Street and on Main Street. What will our future housing options look like? What should they look like?

The regional council of governments, RiverCoG, is presenting a housing workshop on Wednesday, March 16, virtually via Zoom. To register for the meeting, go HERE.

In much of the state, employers are facing a workforce shortage, in part because there is not affordable housing. To address this component of economic development, and to ensure the equity and environmental sustainability of housing, the legislature has enacted zoning reforms that will impact our city's future housing. In the current legislative session, it is considering changes to state zoning statutes that will go even further.

At the most recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, Director of Land Use Marek Kozikowski outlined the 5 approaches that RiverCoG is proposing to address housing needs in our region:

  • Increase the number of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). These are small, separate residences on the lot of a single-family residence, they could be in the attic, basement, or garage, or as stand-alone structures. 
  • Encourage middle housing. Middle housing is something in between an apartment complex and a single family home. These could be duplexes or quads, and they are often in the same style as single family homes. Our city has some of these downtown--three-story buildings with a separate residence on each floor.
  • Rehab historic structures.
  • Microunits downtown. These might be 500 square foot studio apartments above commercial uses on the ground floor.
  • Lower parking requirements. Parking lots reduce affordable housing in two ways. They raise the cost of housing considerably, and they take away land that can be used for housing. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvdeigqjwoHN1XUJlFx2u7dytEudJnXHC7

Monday, March 14, 2022

This Week at The Buttonwood Tree: March 14-20, 2022

 

The Buttonwood Tree 
605 Main Street, in Middletown

March 2022
The Buttonwood Tree Presents:

Event descriptions are excerpted from The Buttonwood Tree online calendar. Click on event links in text for more information. 

 

 

 

Monday
MAR 14

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

      Anything Goes Open Mic (Host: Rob Santos)

Tuesday
MAR 15

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

      Laughter Yoga with Mylene (ZOOM)

Thursday
MAR 17

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Bob Gotta's Acoustic Open Mic (ZOOM)

 

Friday
MAR 18 
 

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Night Shakers







  

 

 

Saturday
MAR 19  

 10:30 am - 12:15 pm

Align with Source Workshop - Living LIGHT & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

 



 

 

 

 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm  

John Spignesi Album Release Show







 

 

 

 

 

Sunday
MAR 20   

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

Reiki Level 1 Class with Eileen Anderson RN (1/2)

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Weekly Improv Workshop

For more information on Buttonwood programs, please see our calendar here.