Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Music at the Mansion: Wednesday, June 28th – Eight to the Bar

Music at the Mansion begins
on Wednesday, June 28

Middletown, CT – The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate, 421 Wadsworth St, Middletown and The Friends of Long Hill Estate are excited to host their Music at the Mansion series again this year. All the concerts will begin at 6:30pm. The grounds will be open for picnicking at 5:30pm.  Parking will be at Wilbert Snow School, 299 Wadsworth Street, and at Mercy High School, 1740 Randolph Road.  Handicap parking is available at the Mansion.  As there is limited parking at the Mansion, ALL vehicles will be directed to Mercy High School/Snow School when Mansion parking is full. Concerts will be held in light rain, but cancelled with the proximity of electrical storms that may endanger both guests and musicians.

Bring a picnic or enjoy food from our rotating list participating food trucks including Skyscraper Sandwich Truck, Scatz BBQ, Jonannz Eatz, Cake Batter and Roll, and more. We are also excited to welcome back Vicchetto’s Italian Ice who will be selling their sweet treats at all of our concerts!


Please note that the Mansion is closed during the concerts. There are port-o-potty’s located on the west side of the lawn by the garage and at the rear of the overflow parking lot. There is a 10 minute intermission and the Mansion grounds close 30 minutes after the conclusion of the concert.





     The 2023 Concert Schedule is as follows: 

June 28th – Eight to the Bar

                     July 5th – Sister Funk

July 19th – Feels Like Foreigner

July 26th – The Cartells

Monday, June 26, 2023

Re: Lost & Found, Metro-North New Haven line, January 2018 - January 2023


Lost & Found Inquiry Link
*See full article link below.

[A spokesperson said it is important to note that] there is not a lost and found drop box or service window at every station, and the location where an item was turned in is not necessarily where it was found.

If you think you have lost an item on the Metro-North, you can file a lost and found inquiry online, call 511 to speak with a customer service representative or visit the lost and found office located in Grand Central Terminal.

Full article from CT Insider, By Taylor Johnston | June 22, 2023 5:00 a.m.















Monday, June 12, 2023

ZOOM Genealogy Club - Saturday, June 17, 2023

 

Presenter:  Melissa Kitchen

Topic:  Bridging Your Past and Future: Creating Powerful Personal Stories

1:30 pm (ET)

Melissa Kitchen will talk with us about using our research to write a compelling story. Many of us are guilty of enjoying our research so much that we don't stop to write it up to share. Melissa believes the Russian proverb that says, “You live as long as you are remembered,” so as a mom, she decided to do a better job building the bridge between generations for her children by documenting family stories to pass along to her future generations. 

Author of Bridging Your Past and Future: The Top 10 Items to Include When Documenting Your Personal History and host of The Preserve Your Past PodcastMelissa uses her talents as a teacher, counselor, writer, and coach to help others do the same. Her mission is to inspire and support others as they preserve their past through the power of personal stories.

The Zoom presentation will take place at 1:30 pm (ET) on June 17.  Please register by 4:00 PM Friday, June 16. The invite will be sent out on that Friday.

Godfrey Premium members can register for free at the following email: zoomregistration@godfrey.org

If you are not a Godfrey Premium member and want to attend the presentation, you can pay $10 via PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/us/home) with the payment sent to Godfrey Memorial Library.  Then register using the above email.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

"Renewal: the Beman Project" premieres this weekend

 


Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater in Middletown is staging a new play exploring Middletown’s Black History in the 1800’s . The production, Renewal: The Beman Project, will run June 2 and 3 at 7 pm at Oddfellows, and Sunday June 4 at 5 pm at Cross Street AME Zion Church. 

Renewal was commissioned by Oddfellows to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Cross Street Church by investigating the Beman family, the Abolitionist Movement, and other less-known aspects of 19th century Black History in Middletown. The play begins in 2023. Three close friends have to do their final research presentation as middle schoolers on the significance behind the renaming of Woodrow Wilson to Beman Middle School. As they set out to find facts to support the legacy of the Bemans, they find themselves at the harbor in Middletown in 1830. This story follows their journey as they encounter some prominent figures, a lot of water, captivity, and inevitable evolution.

Written and directed by New Haven-based theater maker Jacqueline Brown, Renewal features scenic design by Amanda “Semente” Pereira , costume design by Carol Koumbaros, lighting design by Hilary Lang, sound design by Trey Moore, and properties design by Caleb Warner. 

Performances will be at 7pm on June 2 and 3 at Oddfellows Playhouse, which is located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown. The Sunday performance at Cross Street Church, 440 West Street, is at 5 pm. Tickets for the Oddfellows performances are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Admission is free for the Sunday performance at Cross Street Church. Tickets may be purchased at www.oddfellows.org or by emailing info@oddfellows.org or calling (860) 347-6143. 

Renewal: The Beman Project is made possible with generous grants from the Middletown Commission on the Arts, the City of Middletown Community Engagement Grant, and the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation. Additional support comes from the Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities Cultural Fund; New England Foundation for the Arts New England Arts Resilience Fund; Middlesex United Way; and many generous individual donors.


Saturday, May 27, 2023

Happy Memorial Day! "Taps Across America"-A National Moment Of Remembrance At 3 P.M.




  

Happy Memorial Day, May 29, 2023!

 

What is Memorial Day? 

 

Memorial Day honors all those who died in the United States Military while serving their country according to History.com's article "Memorial Day." The original name was "Decoration Day”, and it began following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. "Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades," according to History.com. It is the unofficial start of summer.



Every year on Memorial Day a "National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. It is a time when Americans are asked to stop whatever they are doing at 3 p.m. to pause and reflect for one minute and “remember those who have died in military service to the United States," according to the "Taps Across America" website.



For the fourth year in a row "Taps Across America" will be asking everyone to play "Taps" on their musical instruments at 3 p.m. on their doorstep or balcony on Memorial Day to coincide with the "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. Amateurs & professional musicians are encouraged to participate.  



 

For more information about how to participate please go to https://www.tapsforveterans.org/taps-across-america-2023/



Enjoy The Videos.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeT1ffPcRLY&t=2s

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/a-memorial-day-tradition-taps-across-america/#x








Thursday, May 25, 2023

National Public Works Week and A Salute to Middletown's Recycling & Public Works Crew

     From Middletown Recycling & Public Works Facebook page.

Middletown Recycling and Public Works

It’s National Public Works Week and we want to give a big THANK YOU to all of Middletown's Public Works employees! These dedicated employees work diligently behind the scenes to keep the community safe, improve our systems, build our projects, and keep everything in good working order!
City of Middletown, Connecticut Government: Public Works Rocks!
May be an image of 5 people and text that says 'CONNECTNG THE WORLD WORKS THROUGH PUBLIC NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK MAY 27 2023'
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Friday, May 19, 2023

Anupama Bhagwat, Sitar, accompanied by Nitin Mitta, Tabla - Indian Classical Music

 Raga Club presents a Concert of Hindustani Indian Classical Music

When Strings Meet the Soul

Anupama Bhagwat, sitar
Nitin Mitta, tabla

4pm Sunday, May 21
CVHTS Narayana Auditorium
11 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT 06457


Not to be missed! Sublime, emotional, beautiful music from two masters.

Websites of the artistes:
http://anupamabhagwat.com/
https://nitinmitta.com/

Raga Music concerts - Ticket policy:
* RAGA member and 3 more persons from immediate family (spouse and two additional immediate family members) are allowed free to RAGA concerts. Co-sponsored concerts and special concerts may have different ticketing arrangements.
* Other guests accompanying a RAGA member should buy tickets at $25 per person
* Non-Raga Members - tickets are $25 per person, purchase at the door
* Students - Free admission

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ragaclubct/
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/raga_ct/
Website: http://www.ragact.org/ 



Friday, May 12, 2023

Shakespeare' s Much Ado About Nothing at Oddfellows

 

Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presents Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing May 18 - 27. All performances will be held at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown.

Much Ado About Nothing, written in 1599,  is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and accessible comedies. The play, which in this production is done in an early 1920’s vaudeville style,  interweaves two eccentric love stories with music, dance, clowns, villains, princes and, of course, a disaster narrowly averted.

The play, which features a cast of 19 performers ages 14 - 20,  is directed by Oddfellows Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, with original choreography by Marcella Trowbridge. Costume Design is by Christine Quinones, Scenic Design by Tony Palmieri, Sound and Music by Joseph Getter, Lighting Design by Joaquina Guevara and Henry Owens, Properties Design by Pam Lang, Mask Design by Artemisia Omani and Vocal Coaching by Liz Lalor.


Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for kids and students. “Big Heart” tickets are available for $25 for anyone who really loves and values theater and its impact on the lives of young people.

Thursday, May 18 is a “Pay-What-You-Can” Preview

For tickets, or more information, call (860) 347-6143, email info@oddfellows.org, or go to www.oddfellows.org.

Much Ado About Nothing is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. Additional support is provided by the Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation; City of Middletown; Liberty Bank Foundation; Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; GOS for Theaters; The Fund for Greater Hartford; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities Cultural Fund; New England Foundation for the Arts/New England Arts Resilience Fund; George & Grace Long Foundation; many generous individual donors; and you, supporting youth arts in Connecticut by purchasing a ticket for this performance.

Photo below of Julia Weston as Beatrice and Artemisia Omani as Benedick in rehearsal for Much Ado About Nothing.



Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Boukanack, UNESCO Stars: AFRICAN WOMEN in JAZZ

From UNESCO (2022) 
JAZZWOMENAFRICA

    UNESCO [celebrated] jazz women in Africa with a concert on 30 April, which is streamed online, here:

♭♮♯𝅘𝅥𝅰𝅘𝅥𝅲𝆔𝇥:  African Women in Jazz - Boukanack    ♭♮♯𝅘𝅥𝅰𝅘𝅥𝅲𝆔𝇥

     On the occasion of the 11th edition of International Jazz Day, UNESCO is partnering with Anya Music (Morocco) to produce the second edition of the JazzWomenAfrica concert, with the financial support of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Moroccan Office of Copyright (BMDA) and the Hiba Foundation. In partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the concert will be distributed by its members and will be promoted through its sister broadcasting unions in Africa and other regions of the world.

     Excerpts of JazzWomenAfrica [were] broadcast on 30 April 2022 during the
 All-Star Global Concert produced by the Herbie Hancock Institute for Jazz.



Saturday, May 6, 2023

ZOOM Genealogy Club - Saturday, May 20, 2023

  

"Death Records at the Godfrey & Beyond"

May 20, 2023

1:30 PM (ET)

Carol Ansel, Library Director, will be giving a talk on the many types of death records that can be found online, with an emphasis on the Godfrey Library's resources. She promises she will not bore you to death.

The Zoom presentation will take place at 1:30 pm (ET) on May 20. Please register by 4:00 PM Friday, May 19. The invite will be sent out on that Friday.

Godfrey Premium members can register for free at the following email: zoomregistration@godfrey.org

If you are not a Godfrey Premium member and want to attend the presentation, you can pay $10 via PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/us/home) with the payment sent to Godfrey Memorial Library.  Then register using the above email.