Shoreline Sailing Club meets July 18

Shoreline Sailing Club’s next meeting of singles age 35+ will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Clark Memorial Field, 210 Elm St., Old Saybrook (across the street from Pasta Vita).

The club welcomes new members; no prior sailing experience is needed. While boating is the primary focus, many other social activities occur throughout the year. Members and first-time guests are free. For more information, visit shorelinesailingclub.com.

Squishmallow painting in Groton July 16

The Bill Memorial Library in the City of Groton invites children in grades 1-5 to create a Squishmallow-inspired painting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. Paint your own canvas with a cute Squishmallow figurine design. All materials are supplied.

Registration is required, and space is limited; call the library at (860) 445-0392 to register or go to http://www.billmemorial.org.

Local authors’ book signing and discussion

The Friends of the Samuel Smith Farmstead will host four local authors who will discuss and sign their books at 82 Plants Dam Road in East Lyme from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 21.

Historian James Littlefield's latest book is “Treasured Tales From the New England Shore.” A retired local high school teacher, Littlefield introduced many of his students to archaeology in and around Niantic.

Markham Starr's book is titled “Ceremonial Stonework.” It discusses his research of early Native American stonework throughout southern Connecticut and beyond.

Peter Emanuel has written “Course Change,” the history of the whaleship Stonington that was commandeered into the U.S. Navy during the Mexican-American War. Reading like an action/adventure story, the tale of what transpired actually took place.

Robert S. Foster will discuss his book, “The Granville Hermit,” a work involving Vermont historical folklore. Foster also discusses the history and locations of local milestones that had been placed on the postal routes within the colony of 1600s Lyme. His newest book, “The Nehantucket,” explores the life and culture of the Nehantic Indigenous people of 5,000 years ago.

Bill Memorial Library Author Trail talk

Join Ron and Roxanne Steed as they share their new book, “Focal Points in France: Artful Practices That Bring More Peace,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Bill Memorial Library in the City of Groton. The book was inspired by the couple’s time as artists-in-residence at Chateau Orquevaux in France.

A writer and Episcopal deacon in southeastern Connecticut, Ron is a chaplain at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London. Roxanne is a painter, instructor and mentor, who specializes in oil and watercolor journal paintings.

Call the library at (860) 445-0392 to register or for questions, or visit www.billmemorial.org.

Groton Public Library Circle of Friends

If your summer vacation includes a hotel stay, save your unused hotel toiletries. The Junior Friends of the Groton Public Library are collecting unopened soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, razors, shower caps, deodorant, and other travel-size products to donate to area homeless and women’s shelters. Bring your toiletries to the Junior Friends’ collection bin by Aug. 31.

Other Circle of Friends events this month include its regular meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, and a Bumpers & Books planning meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 30.

Norwich Toastmasters meet July 17

Are you looking to improve your communication skills? Norwich Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month and provides an opportunity to learn how to improve your communication and leadership skills.

The next meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the Chelsea Groton Bank, Norwich/Westside Branch, at 444 W. Main St., Norwich.

The meeting can also be accessed online via Zoom.

LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84732872267?pwd=ZlZ1ODFYZzNySjBOVjR2UnN2aGFTZz09

Meeting ID: 847 3287 2267

Passcode: 4779255

For more information visit: https://4779255.toastmastersclubs.org/

Mysticalligraphers meet July 24

The Mysticalligraphers will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at the Coastal Masonic Hall/Stonington Grange Hall, 637 Pequot Trail (Route 234), Stonington. The subject of the meeting will be masking fluid with Annette.

All who love art and letters are welcome. For more information, call (860) 536-8477.

Robinson-Manning family reunion Aug. 17-18

The Robinson-Manning family is celebrating its 140th reunion Aug. 17-18 on the Lebanon Town Green.

Descendants of Lura and Arad Robinson are invited to attend. This family reunion was organized in 1884 to keep the eight children and their families in contact in the days of horse-drawn carriages. Three of the Robinson daughters married three Manning brothers, giving rise to the organization's name.

Saturday, Aug. 17, will begin with a potluck supper at 4:30 p.m. in Armstrong Hall of the Lebanon Congregational Church, followed by dancing to live music by John Hinckley and his band. Sunday, Aug. 18, features an 11:30 a.m. worship service, picnic, and annual meeting. For more information, visit robinsonmanning.com.

Lafayette Memorial Series event July 18

The Jim Lafayette Memorial Series of Writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy, hosted by Otis Library, will welcome author Ginger Booth at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, over Zoom. Now in its 16th year, this program honors the memory of local science fiction and fantasy fan and writer Jim Lafayette with appearances by authors of the genre.

Norwich native Faye Ringel, Ph.D., a retired professor of humanities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Otis Library volunteer, has been the driving force behind the Lafayette Author Series. Each year, she helps to organize and promote the event. To register and receive the Zoom link, visit the Otis Library website calendar at www.otislibrarynorwich.org.

Author Ginger Booth will discuss her Calm Act book series. Set in fictional Totoket (Branford, Conn.), climate change disasters accelerate while the former U.S. splinters. Tech whisperer Dee Baker buys into the goal of winning an "ark berth" to protect herself. As she works to protect her community, she chooses to face the changes and make a difference. To learn more about the author, visit her website at gingerbooth.com.

Bug Week at UConn celebrated July 16-31

UConn Bug Week events help families identify and learn about the amazing diversity of insects in our state, as well as understand and appreciate the important roles that insects play in our lives.

Visit Spring Valley Student Farm for the annual “Insect Wonders at the Farm” from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. The student farm is located behind the house at 104 Spring Manor Road, Mansfield. While at the farm, you can play Bug Jeopardy, take a bug tour, learn about beekeeping and see the vegetables grown for the UConn Storrs campus.

See displays of live insects from local gardens and participate in bug walks at the Middlesex County Extension Office, 1066 Saybrook Rd., Haddam, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. The program will include bug hunts in the Extension gardens, insect identification, and giveaways.

Explore the Dazzling Diversity of Treehoppers from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in downtown Willimantic. There will be coloring activities focused on the ways treehopper helmets mimic their surroundings or warn away predators, and a display about the mutual relationship between ants and treehoppers, with giveaways of “honeydew” honey sticks from Sugar Maple Farms.

Join the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UConn Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and the Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association in the Torrey Life Sciences building at UConn Storrs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20, for the Aquatic Insects of Connecticut Fly Tying Workshop. Learn about aquatic insects and tie three flies to take home and use to catch fish. Registration is required and costs $20 . Click on this link to register: https://csmnh.ticketleap.com/flytying2024/.

The Bug Week photo contest has a submission deadline of July 31. Learn more at https://bugs.uconn.edu/photo-contest/.

New London High class of 1957 and 1959 looking for alumni

The New London High School classes of 1952-59 are planning an alumni reunion from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at La Luna Restaurant in the New London Holiday Inn at 35 Gov. Winthrop Blvd. Price is $38 a person; casual dress. Lunch starts at 1 p.m., preceded by a social hour.

The NLHS classes of 1957 and 1959 are looking for names and addresses of classmates interested in attending. For information, contact Rose Beh Cawley at (860) 460-0873. Other contact points are 1955, Betty Carver Gilmore (text only, (860) 235-2747) or 1956, Richard Conover, (860) 449-3993.

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