UPCOMING EVENTS  Monday, December 14, 6:30 p.m. “We Were There” Stories of the Russell Library Veterans’ Writing Group A Middlesex County Historical Society Webinar “We Were There,” a Middletown veterans’ writing workshop sponsored by the Friends of the Russell Library, has met at the Russell Library every week since 2012. The group, which has included veterans of World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom will publish a collection of their writing soon. During the meetings, veterans are invited to share their stories of service, in and out of combat. The group is at work on a book, We Were There: Essays and Poems by American Veterans, which will be published by En Route Books and Media. Middletown author Elisabeth Petry serves as director for the workshop, with the assistance of Christy Billings, program coordinator for information services and adult learning at the Russell Library. Please join this online event to hear these remarkable local veterans share their stories of service and read selections from their forthcoming book. They will speak of their experiences during the Korean and Vietnam wars and read selections of their writing from the group’s forthcoming book. A question and answer discussion will follow. Author Elisabeth Petry, director of the writing workshop, will also speak. Follow the link below for full details and to get online tickets. To get an online ticket, please make a pay-what-you can donation ($10 suggested). All proceeds benefit the Middlesex County Historical Society, a nonprofit organization. Questions? Please contact the Middlesex County Historical Society at mchs@wesleyan.edu, or (860) 346-0746. Register now: https://bit.ly/WeWereThere_MCHS Monday, October 19, 2020 at 7:30 PM Eastern: “MELILLI TO MIDDLETOWN” A Middlesex County Historical Society Webinar SCULPTOR SEBASTIAN G. MARCHESE WITH MIDDLETOWN’S FIRST ST. SEBASTIAN STATUE, WHICH HE CREATED. MIDDLETOWN, 1921 On Monday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 PM, the historical society will host a webinar presentation by Paul Pirrotta, author of three books on the history of Italian Americans in Connecticut. After retiring from a successful banking career, Pirrotta also founded Casa Emigranti Italiani, a virtual museum on the history of Italian immigrants in the Hartford area and their many contributions to this state. Pirrotta was born and raised near Melilli, Sicily, and his October 19 webinar will especially focus on his first-hand memories of Melilli and the history of immigrants from Melilli to Middletown.  Full event details, including how to register for this webinar, will follow soon by email. They will also be posted on the Middlesex County Historical Society’s facebook page and website.  The Society’s 35th Annual Antique Car and Truck Show Sunday, October 4, 2020, at Palmer Field in Middletown:  NOTE: DUE TO COVID-19 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 2021. PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE FOR UPDATES. If any members would like to buy an ad or help out on the planning committee, please contact Debby Shapiro at deborah.shapiro@aol.com.

Past events and programs