Multi-Band Musical Fest, Clean Water Canoe Paddle Highlight Middletown's Week Ahead

There's something exciting happening every day this week in Middletown and many of the events are family friendly and free of charge.

Monday, Aug. 5

• Middletown's Common Council meeting takes place in council chambers at 7 p.m. It's a jam-packed agenda, which includes 12 requests for changes to the job descriptions and salaries for a number of city jobs. Other items of note include OKing the purchase of 135 and 155 Wadsworth Street from the State of Connecticut for $1; and approving the lease with Greenbelt Management for a 15,000-square-foot lease to produce medical marijuana at 180 Johnson Street.

• The lease idea for medical marijuana in the Remington Rand building was tabled at the July common council meeting.

• If you're hoping to get back into shape, you may be interested in the Beginner Crossfit On Ramp Course Special for $99.

• This one is for fourth-graders dutifully keeping up on their summer reading schedule: Jules Verne and the Battle of the Books at Russell Library.

• Phil Rosenthal Four plays at Middletown's South Green, courtesy of the city arts office: bluegrass/old-timey music.

• And a concert that was rescheduled: Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood + the Jeffettes at the Wadsworth Mansion.

• George R. Dingwall 14th Annual Golf Outing: Funds raised will send 
  children to summer camp and help EMS workers that responded to 
  the Newtown tragedy. It's held in honor of 19-year Middletown police officer, Sgt. George Dingwall, who was killed in a high-pursuit suspect chase 14 years ago. 

• Arts in August: The graduate liberal studies center at Wesleyan University is offering networking sessions.

• You will be impressed with the diverse selection of titles available for bargain-basement prices at the The Friends of Russell Library Book Sale.
• Tauble Family Singers at the Buttonwood Tree.

• Clean Water Paddle: Join the Connecticut River Watershed Council and the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District for a paddle on the Mattabesset and Connecticut rivers. 
• Barone-Keene Duo perform guitar/lute and piano/harpsichord at the Buttonwood Tree.
• Summer jazz on the lawn of the Middlesex Historical Society features the Mike Augeri Jazz Project.

• Middletown Music Festival: Easily the most musically rich event of the week, Middlesex Community College hosts this second annual event featuring Rumpus Michael Cleary Band and the Mighty Soul Drivers, Two Virgins, SuperTrance, GiggleJuice, and J-Cherry and the Strawberries. It's is a celebration of local music that includes poetry, dance, and comedy. If last year's fete is any indication, this is a must-attend event.