MIDDLETOWN -- The Sal Salafia Community Service Award invites students to apply for this year’s scholarship, a $1,000 award given to a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated excellence in community service.

The student must attend a secondary school in Middletown — Middletown High School, Vinal Tech, Mercy or Xavier — and have performed the service in Middletown.

Applicants must provide a detailed description of the service they performed, how their lives were affected and why it deserves recognition, in the form of an essay prepared by the student in 750 typed words.

A brief letter from the organization that benefited from the community service must also be provided as well as a letter of recommendation from the guidance counselor and signatures from the student and a parent or guardian.

Students must have maintained at least a (3.0) B average over the years and provide a transcript. The deadline is April 14 and the award will be given on June 1. Mail applications to Shirley Salafia, 54 Linbert St., Middletown, CT 06457.

Residents can show collections at library

DEEP RIVER — The Deep River Library has two display cases of varying size. In the month of February the large display case will feature polymer clay sculptures by artist Marilyn Malcarne. She is also a certified milliner and she will display one of her head pieces alongside her sculptures.

Our other case will feature clay pottery of Africa in honor of Black History Month. This collection is being shared by world traveler, lecturer and collector, Kelvin Cole.

The library is always looking for more collections to display. If you have one to share, call or drop by the library to schedule a date to display your collection. For more information, go to http://deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com and click on the monthly calendar, or call the library at 860-526-6039.

Adoptive parent information session set

NEW BRITAIN — Foster Parents Information Session will held on Wednesday Jan. 31, 10-11 a.m. at the Klingberg Family Center’s main campus in New Britain. Attendees can learn who can become a Therapeutic Foster Parent, how become a therapeutic foster parent, and what support is available.

The main campus is located at Klingberg Family Centers, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain, CT 06052. Parking is available at the rear of the main building.

To RSVP or for more information, call 860-832-5536. Learn more at www.klingberg.org

Compassion Counts to hold parent event

OLD SAYBROOK — Compassion Counts invites shoreline community members to join an upcoming community conversation ‘Weathering the Adolescent Storm in a Pressure Filled World’ on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 6-8:30 p.m. in the Old Saybrook High School Auditorium.

Teens, parents and teachers can learn how to nurture positive communication and foster resilience. Attendees will watch a series of skits simulating common family conflicts in today’s pressure filled world to demonstrate both negative and positive communication styles. A panel of Shoreline area teens will share their reflections on the skits. The evening will conclude with an important talk on failure, resilience and success along with an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.

Dan Osborne, CEO of Gilead Community Services will be the moderator. Facilitators include Tom Allen, Ph.D., founder Pathways Center for Learning and Behavioral Health; Andy Buccarro, LSW, LADC, founder Project Courage Substance Abuse Treatment Center; and Alicia Farrell, Ph.D., Cognitive Psychologist and founder Clearview Consulting.

“We are responding to the requests of many parents in our community to learn how to better communicate with their teens,” said Farrell. “This forum is the perfect opportunity for families to recognize that they are not alone in their daily challenges. Parents, teens and teachers, will leave uplifted with new tools to keep communications with their teens positive, help them to foster grit and resilience while harnessing the hidden power of imperfection.”

To attend the free event, register online at https:/weatheringtheadolescentstorm.eventbrite.com. Light refreshments will be served from 6-6:30. The snow date is March 20. For more information contact Lucy McMillan at 860.343.5300 or lmcmillan@gileadcs.org.

Compassion Counts is an on-going series of community conversations held in the upper and lower Middlesex County. The purpose of these events is to educate and support the public around challenging life issues. Previous events have addressed topics like mental health, addiction, and suicide. The Compassion Counts events are made possible by the generous support from various nonprofits throughout Middlesex County.

Association holding discussion on human trafficking

MIDDLETOWN — Mercy High School Alumnae Association is hosting a free panel discussion on human trafficking, which happens here in Connecticut as well as around the country, Feb. 6, 6:30-8 p.m. at Mercy High School, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown.

The more association members learned about the topic, the more concerned they became. With sophisticated networks and ever-evolving social media in place, it is becoming very, very easy for girls (and boys) to become unknowingly trapped. The association is hosting this event as a service to their Mercy sisters and the community at large. The program is not recommended for children under 13.

Library holding 24th annual poetry competiton

OLD SAYBROOK — The Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, announces its 24th annual poetry competition. Submissions will be accepted until Feb. 28.

The rules for participants are as follows: poems must be original and unpublished, one poem per letter size page, no more than 40 lines per poem, and all poems to have a title. Author’s name, address, and phone number should appear on the back (not submitted to judges), students please add grade level. Author must be a resident of Connecticut. No more than three entries per person.

The contest is open to all, school age and up. The divisions are: Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, Grades 9-12, and Adult. Winning poets will read their poems and receive their awards during the Library’s annual Poetry Night, Wednesday, April 25. The public is invited to attend. Following Poetry Night, all entries will be on display in the Library through May. Please pick up an entry form at the Library or on our website, www.actonlibrary.org, or call for more information.

The Acton Public Library, located at 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.