This Week at The Buttonwood Tree

This week at The Buttonwood Tree!

Tuesday, August 18th

Laughter Yoga and Crystal Bowl Sound Healing!

 6pm, Sound Healing follows @7:30pm, Donations welcomed 

Every third Tuesdays Laughter Yoga is followed by Crystal Ball Sound Healing at 7:30pm! Hosted by Lou Sorrentino, sound healing combines psychological therapies with music to heal the body. 

Thursday, August 20
World Fusion by Cintamani & Just Food
7:30 pm $10
Every Third Thursdays. This evening blends the spirit of kirtan, world music, and JUSTFOOD treats so you can jump into the rhythms of dance our bodies love to move and groove to sing the sounds our voices love to chant. 

Friday, August 21st

Matt Flinner Trio

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm  $12 in advance / $15 at door

In 2006, three musical pals decided to get together to play a few gigs; since then, the Matt Flinner Trio has been exploring new pathways and setting new standards for the bluegrass trio sound all around the U.S. and Europe. Award winning group, not to be missed!

Saturday, August 22nd 
 Saratoga Soul Centennial – Photo Exhibit and Jazz Performance 
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm | $10

Buttonwood presents a companion concert to the August art show with Jazzage. Jazzage is a dynamic trio offering a refreshing blend of tastefully arranged Jazz standards and original selections written by Carol Daggs on piano & voice. The performance features James Daggs on double bass and Billy Arnold on drums.

For reservations to any events, please email thebuttonwoodtree@gmail.com
or call (860) 347-4957

Summer Sounds Tonight at Harbor Park! The Kenn Morr Band

The City Arts Office/MCA present the annual Summer Sounds series on Tuesdays at Harbor Park from July 7 through September 1. The shows begin at 7 p.m., there's plenty of parking in the Municipal parking lot at Melilli Plaza (it's free after 7 p.m.). From the parking lot, it's a short walk to the park via the Harbor Park pedestrian tunnel.

Remember that in case of inclement weather the show will go on in the sanctuary of the South Church located at the corner with the YMCA and the City's South Green (Union Park), Main & Pleasant Streets.

Here's the remaining line-up for 2015, starting with tonight's show!

Aug. 18
Kenn Morr Band - Americana/folk-rock

Aug. 25
Elite Syncopation - ragtime/early jazz

Sept. 1
Middletown Symphonic Band - popular tunes

Date:  Aug 18 2015
Time:
7:00 pm

Pack a Pickup With Proteins For The Pantry

From Patti Nettis Deegan (Publicity Patti).
--------------
On Saturday, August 29, three local service clubs, Altrusa International of Central CT, Civitan Club of Middletown and Soroptomist of CT River Valley will “Pack a Pickup with Proteins for the Pantry”.  The event will be held at Stop & Shop on 416 East Main Street in Middletown from 9:00 am to 2:00pm.  Club Members will be at both entrances with suggested shopping items, accepting donations and thanking our local community for their generosity.

Amazing Grace Food Pantry is a program of Saint Vincent de Paul located in Middletown on Stack Street.  Amazing Grace offers food free of charge.  The pantry assists approximately 950 households monthly.  All food or monetary donations are greatly appreciated and will go to support the pantry to help stock their shelves.

Altrusans, Civitans & Soroptomists serve the needs Greater Central CT:

• Altrusa International of Central CT is part of an international organizations dedicated to building stronger community through service, leadership and fellowship.  Locally their focus promotes ‘Literacy for All Ages”.
• Civitan Club of Middletown, part of Civitan International has been active in Middletown since 1964. Middletown Civitans provide community service with an emphasis on improving lives of those with disabilities.
• Soroptomist of CT River Valley is part of an international volunteer service organization for professional and community mined women who work to improve lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. 

There will be an opportunity to learn more about each organization at the event.  Last year the Food Pantry netted 2,586 pound of food and $500. requiring 3 full truckloads to Amazing Grace thanks to our generous community.

Opinion: City Marginalizes People Of Color

Opinion submitted by Brenda Wilson, resident, and founder of the Ryan Woods Autism Foundation
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There are no African American businesses in the City of Middletown. Scatz Restaurant and Jazz Lounge was closed because the president of this city does not want to encourage people of color to migrate into this city for fear they will come from New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport. Scatz was the only place people of color could enjoy "their" music, food and drink. He did the same thing for the restaurant in the middle of Middletown. You saw what happened to Ryan Woods Autism Foundation. The Jamaican Restaurant is gone. The minister who had a barber shop that burned down was put in an unpopulated area. The president of this City is not even a lawyer; however, he is very strategic and the ministerial alliance is too afraid to move an inch for fear of a few dollars they will lose. Where I come from (Texas) this type of thing would never exist. We have a wimp of a City Council and School Board. The few people who have not been fired (including cops) at Town Hall are afraid of being FIRED and are walking around with invisible duck tape over their mouths so they can secure their pensions! Yeah, let the women take the lead in power positions. Too bad I'm not a billionaire. I could do some real damage control!" -Brenda Wilson, Middletown, CT

Call For Middletown's First Poet Laureate

From Stephan Allison, Coordinator, City Arts Office
-------------------
Mayor Dan Drew and the Middletown Commission on the Arts present a
Call for Nominations for Middletown's First Poet Laureate

Submission deadline is Friday at 4:30 p.m. on September 18, 2015.
Download or print the Poet Laureate Nomination Form and review the Description and Selection Process from the City website or arts2go.org.

Suggested to the Mayor in a letter by two Macdonough School students of teacher John Ferrero - Sasha Zipf and Todd Archer in September of 2014 and acted upon by the Mayor and the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

Visit http://arts2go.org/?q=node/3748 for the complete details.

August 14 & 15 at The Buttonwood Tree

This Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree

Friday, August 14

8:00 pm, $10

Smoke and Mirrors

with Abu Alvin Carter Smith

Each member of Smokin' Mirrors brings a wealth of musical experiences to the table.

   Musical images created and being created as a result of these experiences leave indelible

   impressions on their hearts, minds, and souls. As they reflect upon these impressions a group spirit is manifested that allows a joyfully collective musical expression based on individual contributions. The quartet wishes to share these "Images and Reflections" with all who care.

   

Saturday, August 15

8:00 pm, $10

Uri Shaham and Mark Kaplan Duo

The Uri Shaham - Mark Kaplan Jazz Duo presents The Great American Songbook and other jazz classics in a uniquely creative format, featuring veteran jazz performers Uri Shaham (piano) and Mark Kaplan (tenor saxophone).  Their collaborative and melodic style, which incorporates bebop and straight ahead influences, creates musical surprises and unique interpretations.

For tickets to events, call (860) 347-4957.

See you soon!

PLUS!

Saturday Morning at Harbor Park

10:00 am Simple Tai Chi

10:30 am Aligned with Source 

 

 

Drew To Announce Community Supported Agriculture Initiative Tomorrow

 Mayor Daniel T. Drew is excited to announce that the City of Middletown is looking to make land available at low cost to a Community Farmer in order to support a self-sustaining Community Supported Agriculture program.  The City seeks to develop a partnership to make City land available for agricultural activities to supply agricultural products for sale to the public.

The City has selected four, City-owned parcels of land, ranging in size from 3.25 to 5.6 acres, which would be suitable to support a variety of agricultural ventures.  Potential agricultural uses may include fruit/vegetable crop shares, fruit/vegetable wholesale, flower gardening and sale, dairy farming, viticulture, orchards, or any other use within the scope of agriculture with which the applicant can provide a suitable business plan.  A primary goal of the program is to better provide Middletown residents with access to agricultural goods.

The mayor will formally announce the project on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 9:30 am at one of the City’s open space parcels located off River Road, east of Silver Street. There will be an informational session for all interested parties on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 3:00 at City Hall and all proposals are due by September 23, 2015.

The City is open to hearing all proposals and would like to select a project to begin in 2016.

Contact:
Michelle Ford – Planning and Environmental Specialist
City of Middletown
245 deKoven Drive, Room 202

860-638-4837

michelle.ford@middletownct.gov

Motorcycle Mania 2015

The biggest event of the year on Main Street drew thousands to our city. Below are photos of some of the attendees.

Below the jump for more photos

Charles Neville and Son, Khalif Neville, Perform at The Buttonwood Tree 8/13

The Charles Neville & Khalif Neville Jazz Duo

August 13 @ 7:30  pm | $18 in advance, $20 at the door

Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers will be bringing his signature sounds of BeBop, New Orleans Jazz and much more to The Buttonwood Tree. Even more of a treat though, is that his son, Khalif Neville, who learned from one of the greatest and has begun to make a name for himself, will be accompanying Charles on the piano. With fast paced Charlie Parker standards, slow Erroll Garner ballads and of course some original flavor added into the mix, this will be a show to catch for sure!

Call ahead to reserve your seat: 860.347.4957  (Our website us currently under construction)

Here is the link to his latest album on iTunes :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/safe-in-buddhas-palm/id433581760

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center is located at 605 Main Street, Middletown.
Refreshments are available including Slambovian coffee, beer, wine and desserts. Causal dress and the A/C is working :)

Sean King and Susanne Wesoloski Each Qualify For Primary Election

The Democratic Registrar of Voters, Lisa Santangelo, has said that two challengers to the endorsed slate for the Board of Education have submitted sufficient numbers of signatures to appear on the ballot in a primary.

Sean King and Susanne Wesoloski each collected at least 489 signatures of registered Democrats, and thus join Hope Kasper, who is running for Common Council, on the ballot for the September 16th election.

For the Board of Education, King and Wesoloski will face off against the Democratic Town Committee endorsed candidates: Patricia Alston, Deborah Cain, Christopher Drake, Marilyn Dunkley, and Anita Dempsey-White. The top 5 vote getters will be on the ballot as Democrats in the November election.

Cat Tales ~ Cat of the Week ~ JACKIE

Cat Tales presents... Cat of the Week!!

JACKIE!!

NBC Connecticut and Cat Tales will be working to CLEAR THE SHELTERS on Sat, 8/15/15 at 2 Petco Locations!

 On Saturday, August 15, animal shelters across the country are taking part in a nationwide initiative to place pets in loving forever homes. Hundreds of shelters have agreed to cut the cost of adoption for the one-day Clear the Shelters event.