between the river and Route 9

Greater Middletown · weekend of September 11, 2026

Roosevelt Park is finally getting a makeover

It's a slow, good kind of weekend, the sort where the biggest news is a park getting some long overdue love. Russell Library's got you covered from storytime to chess to a book sale that runs right through Saturday. Grab a coffee and let's get into it.

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Plus market storytime and Science Saturday, all below.
All Weekend Long
📚 Book Sale Friends of Russell Library fill the Reading Room with stacks of used books all weekend, running Friday into Saturday. Good chance to stock up your shelf without spending much thought on it.
Friday
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Farmers Market Storytime
Books, rhymes, and songs pop up right on the Union Green while the market bustles around you. Bring a blanket and let the kids drift between stories and stalls.
Union Green at Russell Library · Friday, September 11 · 10:30 AM
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Saturday
🎨 Science Saturday
Hands-on experiments and demonstrations fill the Hubbard Room, mixed with live music and movement to keep young scientists moving and curious.
Hubbard Room at Russell Library · Saturday, September 12 · 10:00 AM
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♟️ Chess Club
Drop into The Space for an open board and a rematch of the week's best rivalries. All ages welcome, no registration, just show up ready to play.
The Space at Russell Library · Saturday, September 12 · 2:30 PM
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🌟 Natural First Aid for Young Adults
The Replanted Witch teaches young people how to turn everyday kitchen items like butter and cloves into real emergency remedies at home.
Hubbard Room at Russell Library · Saturday, September 12 · 3:30 PM
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In Case You Missed It
🌱 PARKS: Roosevelt Park Long-neglected Roosevelt Park is finally set for a transformation. Why it matters: A park that's been overlooked for years might actually get its due.
🚧 HEADS UP: parking ban The city has issued a parking ban alert for residents. Why it matters: Worth checking before you park it and forget it this weekend.
🌟 SCHOOLS: 2025-26 Smarter Balanced test scores The state released this year's Smarter Balanced scores, including how Middletown students did. Why it matters: Good baseline if you're tracking how our schools are doing.