Novelette and short story presentations Nov. 1 and 6

Adult students from the Town of Groton Parks & Recreation creative writing programs, taught by local writer Nicholas Checker, will present staged readings of their works on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 6, at the Groton Community Center, 61 Fort Hill Road, Groton, next door to Town Hall. The event each night starts at 6 p.m. Many of these students have previously been published. Admission is free, and the events are open to the general public. There will be free refreshments. Call (860) 444-8711 for details.

S.T.E.P.S. holds Sweet Sixteen Bash

S.T.E.P.S. (Striving Toward Empowered Personal Success), a Groton-based organization that empowers young women, is holding its Sweet Sixteen Bash 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Port ’N Starboard Banquet Center at Ocean Beach Park to celebrate the organization’s 16 years as a nonprofit. For details, see the organization’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stepsg1rls

Why She Writes: Author Talk with Joy Harjo

U.S. poet laureate and winner of the 2022 Academy of American Poets Leadership Award, Joy Harjo of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, will discuss her most recent memoir, “Catching the Light,” and her rewarding lifetime as a writer and poet. This event will take place via digital livestream at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, and includes a Q&A with the author. Register at libraryc.org/grotonlibrary/33677. The event is hosted in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium and sponsored by the Groton Public Library Circle of Friends.

Talks focus on Native American history, stories

A virtual talk on Mohegan Tribe: Culture & History will be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. The program will delve into the history of the Mohegan Tribe, sharing insights into its tribal oral traditions, beliefs, music and sacred practices. It is presented by David Eichelberg, outreach and tradition specialist from the Tantaquidgeon Museum in Uncasville.

Register through the Groton Public Library’s online calendar at grotonpl.org.The program is co-sponsored by the Bill Memorial, Mystic & Noank, Otis and Stonington libraries.

Also, Tellabration: Native American Tales will be a program at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6. Native American oral traditions are used to share stories, beliefs and memories as a means of preserving tribal history from one generation to the next. Listeners will gain a new understanding of Connecticut’s Indigenous people’s lives, past and present, through this interactive storytelling experience.

The program is presented by Darlene Kascak, education coordinator and traditional Native American storyteller, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Conn.

Friends of Slater artisan show

The Friends of Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich are holding an Artisan Craft Show on the campus of Norwich Free Academy from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Admission to the show is free.

Chowder Fest comes to Yantic on Nov. 4

A Chowder Fest will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the parish hall at Grace Episcopal Church, 8 Chapel Hill Road in Yantic. A $12 donation gets you two bowls of chowder, tossed salad, Italian bread or oyster crackers, homemade apple crisp and a beverage. No reservations are needed for this sit-down meal.

Experience tasty New England or Rhode Island clam chowder, or “Deb’s famous corn chowder.” The facilities are handicap accessible off West Town Street, across from Laziza Bake Shop.

For more information about Grace Episcopal Church or the Chowder Fest, visit www.gracechurchyantic.org or call (860) 886-0762.

Game Night at Outer Light Brewing

The Bill Memorial Library will benefit from Boards, Books and Brews Game Night at Outer Light Brewing Company from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30.

Citadel Game Center will be there with games, and a food truck will be on site. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Outer Light Brewing Company is at 266 Bridge St. in the City of Groton. Call Bill Memorial Library with questions at (860) 445-0392.

Poinsettia sale by Mystic Woman’s Club

The Mystic Woman’s Club is planning its 2023 Poinsettia Sale.

If you are interested in ordering plants, call (860) 599-3080 or email mwc@mysticwomansclub.org. Deadline for orders is Friday, Nov. 24. Delivery is Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Proceeds will benefit the Groton and Stonington Human Services Winter Heating Relief funds. Plants come in three sizes (small, medium or large) and three colors (red, white or pink). Prices are $12, $16 and $22.

Pick up order forms at the MWC Thrift Shop. 165 S. Broad St., Pawcatuck. Or request an order form via email. Checks should be made payable to Mystic Woman’s Club, with “Heating Relief Donation” in the memo line. Mail your donation to Mystic Woman’s Club, P.O. Box 632, Mystic, CT 06355.

November adult events at New London library

Highlighted adult events at New London Public Library include Backyard Birding from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1. A Snap4CT Cook-Along is set for 6-7 p.m. Nov. 9, with Catalina Quesada giving tips virtually, and a New London Trees meeting will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 17.

A Broadband Regional Community Forum will be held 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 16, and a Lawyers in Libraries event 4-6 p.m. Nov. 20 are on tap. Visit PLNL.org/events or call (860) 447-1411 to register or get more information on any program.

Groton to hold voter registration session Oct. 31

The Groton Registrars will hold a registration session 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Voter Registration Office at the Groton Community Center, 61 Fort Hill Road, Groton. The purpose is to register new voters who will be entitled to vote in the Nov. 7 election.

The cutoff date for voter registration by mail for the election is Oct. 31. New voter registration cards must be postmarked by that date and received by Nov. 6. In-person or online voter registration must be received by 11:59 pm. Oct. 31.

A limited voter registration session will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, for those seeking to vote in the General Election whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence was attained after Oct. 31.

Questions concerning voter registration and voting can be directed tothe Groton Voter Registration Office at (860) 441-6650. Normal office hours are 8:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 5 p.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday.

Lyme residents can register to vote Oct. 31

The Lyme Registrars of Voters will hold a registration session 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Registrars Office at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme. This is the last regular session for admission of electors who have turned 18, become a U.S. citizen or moved to Lyme on or before Oct. 31. There will be a limited registration session 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Lyme Town Hall for those whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence were attained after Oct. 31.

Franklin residents can register to vote Oct. 31

The Franklin Registrars of Voters will be holding a voter registration session 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, at Town Hall, 7 Meetinghouse Hill Road. Individuals seeking to vote in the Municipal Election whose qualifications as to age, citizenship and residence have been met can apply at this time. The registrars will also hear requests for adding names to the registry list by person removed.

‘Lawyers in Libraries’ at Otis Library

Otis Library, in partnership with the Connecticut Bar Association, is working with local attorneys to offer the monthly program “Lawyers in Libraries.” Sign up to meet with a volunteer attorney for 20 minutes regarding your case. Attorneys will be on site at the library on the last Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. To book a free in-person appointment, call Otis Library at (860) 889-2365, ext. 128.

Please bring any case-related materials you have to the meeting so the attorney can provide their best assistance. Otis Library is at 261 Main St. in Norwich and is accessible to people with disabilities.

Gothic Fiction Workshop in Mystic

Mystic & Noank Library will host a Gothic Fiction Workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, with freelance writer Jackson Kuhl. Examples of classic gothic literature will be explored, followed by brainstorming, outlining and crafting a piece of gothic flash fiction to take home.

Kuhl is the author of the gothic novels “A Season of Whispers” and the forthcoming “The Island of Small Misfortunes,” as well as the Revolutionary War biography “Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer.” Visit his website at jacksonkuhl.com.

Registration is required by calling (860) 536-7721 or visiting www.mysticnoanklibrary.org.

Salem voter registration open Tuesday

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, the Salem Registrars of Voters will hold office hours at Salem Town Hall, 270 Hartford Road, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in order to accept voter registrations for the upcoming Nov. 7 municipal election. This is the last regular voter registration session before the election. Applicants must appear in person.

On Monday, Nov. 6, the Salem Registrars of Voters will hold a limited voter registration session at Salem Town Hall to admit those seeking to register to vote in the Nov. 7 municipal election whose qualification as to age, citizenship or residence was attained after Oct. 31. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Griswold voter registration open Nov. 6

The Griswold Registrars of Voters will hold a limited registration session 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in the Registrars' Office at Griswold Town Hall, 28 Main St., Jewett City. This limited session is for the purpose of admitting only those persons whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in the municipality were attained after Oct. 31 in order to vote in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

Self-improvement and personal finance

Otis Library, in partnership with Liberty Bank, will host a discussion on self-improvement and personal finance at Epicure Brewing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1. Pamela Days-Luketich, Community Outreach Officer at Liberty Bank, will talk about how to build better habits, shift your beliefs about money and create a budget. To register for this free program and receive a copy of “Stay Sane in an Insane World,” contact Julie at Otis Library at (860) 889-2365, ext. 128. Epicure Brewing is located at 40 Franklin St. in Norwich.

Tellabration celebrations at Otis, Preston libraries

Otis Library will host the storytelling event “Tellabration: A Celebration of the Oral Tradition,” presented by Ann Shapiro, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Community Room. All ages are welcome for this free program; no registration is required.

Preston Library will host a free Tellabration for families featuring storyteller Ann Shapiro at the Library at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Songs and stories will trace the restless American spirit of emigration, immigration and migration. Also included are songs and stories that people brought with them from other countries and their variants as they became Americanized.

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