What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

March 30, 2016March 15, 2016 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Spring has sprung and we’re growing a garden of programs for you this month at CPL, including our semi-annual book sale!

Where to Hike in Cheshire

Monday Apr 4, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Suzanne Simone, the town environmental planner, will introduce hiking opportunities located in Cheshire. From meadows to Connecticut’s second largest waterfall, Cheshire has over 1,500 acres ready for exploration. Free hiking maps, property descriptions and directions will be available. Seating for this event is limited. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4. This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

How to Grow Ground Covers

Tuesday Apr 5, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Grassy lawns are the single most popular groundcover, but they are not always the best choice for a location or the easiest to maintain. Landscape designer Kathy Connolly will offer alternative strategies for covering ground and discuss ‘5 Ways to Cover Ground and Give the Lawn a Rest’. Seating for this event is limited. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4. This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Safely Surf the Internet

Thursday Apr 7, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Everyone is fearful of security breaches and identity theft. Best-selling author Abby Stokes, will help you learn how to Safely Surf the Internet and find (Almost) anything online. Copies of her book, Is This Thing On? will be available for purchase.
Please register online or call 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Fab Film – Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Monday Apr 11, 2016, 2:00 – 4:30 PM

Come enjoy some great box office kids’ movies with Fab Films at The Cheshire Public Library! Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rated PG-13 | Runtime 2 hours and 16 minutes. No registration required.

LEGO® Junior Maker

Tuesday Apr 12, 2016, 10:00 AM

We will start with a short storytime focused around building. Kids will then have an opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using LEGO® bricks . No registration required.

Naked Retirement

Tuesday Apr 12, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Join Michael Argiro, Financial Advisor at 4 T Financial, for this workshop on retirement. Too many people start their first day of retirement with only a financial plan and nothing else. Learn a fun and creative approach to retirement that strips away the numbers and addresses everyday life in retirement. Create a Naked Retirement Plan, build a retirement curious list, and change your retirement life forever by answering three revealing questions. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Adult Knitting Night

Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters. Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting. We will meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Adult knitters welcome, no supplies or instruction will be given, please bring your own supplies and talent! Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Touch a Truck @ Bartlem Park

Thursday Apr 14, 2016, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Have you ever wanted to board one of those huge trucks? Your chance has arrived! This event is made possible due to the generosity of local companies and Cheshire Town Agencies. You may see fire trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, pay loader, rescue trucks, law enforcement vehicles and more. Come visit the children’s librarians at Bartlem Park (520 S Main St., Cheshire) for Touch a Truck. We’ll be present with our book cart for kids to touch and have special prizes to give out. Please bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Cheshire Food Pantry.

Parent Workshop: How Temperament Shapes your Child

Tuesday Apr 19, 2016, 6:30 PM

Learning more about children’s temperaments and how they can best mesh with yours leads to smoother parenting experiences. Participants will work to understand their child’s temperament and their own and learn to work effectively with differences.
This parent workshop is presented by Christine Foster, Director of Community Relations from The Independent Day School, and will meet on the library’s UPPER LEVEL. Register online, beginning March 28th.

Friends of Cheshire Public Library BOOK SALE

Thursday Apr 21, 9 AM – 8 PM

Friday Apr 22, 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Saturday Apr 23, 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Sunday Apr 24 “Bag of Books” sale 12 PM – 3 PM

Endangered Species & the Sixth Extinction

Tuesday Apr 26, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Dr. Isaac M. (Morty) Ortega, Wildlife Ecologist and UCONN Associate Professor, will explore the question: “The sixth extinction, are we there yet?” Dr. Ortega has traveled the world exploring and researching endangered animals. Join us to learn what is going on with endangered animals around the globe. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4. This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Butterflies and Their Gardens

Wednesday Apr 27, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Naturalist John Himmelman answers many of the questions asked about the lives, and preferences, of this fascinating group of insects. Some topics covered are: butterfly families and species, life cycles, finding (and taming) butterflies, and creating butterfly habitats. There will also be a fun section on moths, the under-appreciated cousins of the butterflies. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4. This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Author Talk: Kara Sundlun ~ Finding Dad: From “Love Child” to Daughter

Emmy-award winning journalist, news anchor, and co-host of Better Connecticut, Kara Sundlun, will discuss her book Finding Dad: From “Love Child” to Daughter. Sundlun’s book chronicles her life growing up without a father present, the struggle to force her biological father, World War II hero and two-term Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, to accept her as his daughter, and the development of the bond the two would eventually share. Copies of her book will be available after the talk for purchase and signing. Please register online or call 203-272-2245 ext. 4

Author Pat Conroy, 1945-2016

March 5, 2016March 5, 2016 / cheshirelib / 3 Comments

Award-winning author Pat Conroy passed away on March 4, at age 70. We profiled him in 2013, and thought today would be a good time to revisit that post:

___________________________________________________________________________

Pat Conroy is a New York Times best selling author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs. Two of his novels, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini were made into Oscar nominated films.

Pat published his first book, The Boo, while attending Citadel Military Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. He became a teacher, but was fired for his unconventional teaching practices. Pat never taught again, but published a memoir, The Water is Wide, exposing the racism and appalling conditions at the school.

The Great Santini, was published in 1976, and chronicles the author’s childhood and his ambivalent love for his violent and abusive father. In 1980, The Lords of Discipline was published exposing The Citadel’s harsh military discipline and racism. Prince of Tides was published in 1986, followed by Beach Music in 1995. While on tour for this book, members of The Citadel’s basketball team came back into his life. This inspired him to write My Losing Season. His next novel, South of Broad, is a love letter to the city of Charleston. This was followed by The Pat Conroy Cookbook and finally, My Reading Life in 2010.

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His latest book is The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and Son. Pat Conroy’s father, Donald Patrick Conroy, was a towering figure in his son’s life. The Marine Corps fighter pilot was often brutal, cruel, and violent. As the oldest of seven children who were dragged from military base to military base across the South, Pat bore witness to the toll his father’s behavior took on his siblings, and especially on his mother, Peg. She was Pat’s lifeline to a better world—that of books and culture. But eventually, despite repeated confrontations with his father, Pat managed to claw his way toward a life he could have only imagined as a child.
Pat’s great success as a writer has always been intimately linked with the exploration of his family history. While the publication of The Great Santini brought Pat much acclaim, the rift it caused with his father brought even more attention. Their long-simmering conflict burst into the open, fracturing an already battered family. But as Pat tenderly chronicles here, even the oldest of wounds can heal. In the final years of Don Conroy’s life, he and his son reached a rapprochement of sorts. Quite unexpectedly, the Santini who had freely doled out physical abuse to his wife and children refocused his ire on those who had turned on Pat over the years. He defended his son’s honor.
The Death of Santini is at once a heart-wrenching account of personal and family struggle and a poignant lesson in how the ties of blood can both strangle and offer succor. It is an act of reckoning, an exorcism of demons, but one whose ultimate conclusion is that love can soften even the meanest of men, lending significance to one of the most-often quoted lines from Pat’s bestselling novel The Prince of Tides: “In families there are no crimes beyond forgiveness.”

To watch an interview between ABC newsman Charlie Gibson and Pat Conroy, click here.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in March

February 29, 2016February 24, 2016 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Our South Asian Cultural Festival takes center stage in March, with more than a dozen programs this month celebrating the culture of South Asia. That’s in addition to our regular month of programs!

All About the Sari

Saturday Mar 5, 2016, 1:00 PM

Learn the history of the sari and see a demonstration on how to wear one.There will be a chance for audience members to try a sari on. Presented by Cheshire resident Uma Shankar. For female teens and adults. Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Gandhi and the History of Nonviolent Politics

Monday Mar 7, 2016, 6:30 PM

Gandhi, the founder of the modern state of India, inspired movements for civil rights across the world. Join us for a presentation by Dr. Karuna Mantena of Yale University. Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4. This program is funded by CTHumanties.

Tuesday Movie Matinees

Tuesday Mar 8, 15, and 22, 1:00 PM

Join us for 3 films featuring South Asian themes, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

Mar 8: The Lunchbox

Mar 15: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Mar 22: Slumdog Millionaire

A Brief History of Yoga in the West

Wednesday Mar 9, 2016, 6:30 PM

Danielle Casioppo, a Yale Health Educator, will give a slide talk about the history of yoga in the West followed by a 30 minute class. Please wear comfortable clothing. Most exercises can be done in a chair and yoga mats are optional. Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Women Writing India: Home and the World

Thursday Mar 10, 2016, 6:30 PM

Dr. Geetanjali Singh Chanda, of Yale University, will lead a discussion of two popular novels, Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. Copies the these books are available at the library. Registration for this program is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4. This program is funded by CTHumanities.

Movie: Zokkomon

Wednesday Mar 16, 2016, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Please join us for the first live-action film from Disney Studios India “designed to give Indian kids their first superhero.” Abandoned by his heartless uncle (Anupam Kher) and aided by a street artist (Manjari Fadnis), an orphan (Darsheel Safary) discovers his inner hero. Rated PG. Following the film we’ll have snacks and a lively discussion with Hetal Radia! For grades 1-8, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

India Travelogue: Sharing the Spirit of India

Wednesday Mar 16, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Visit with John McClain for an adventure through India. Come experience the sights and sounds of this beautiful and complex country- see India through an authentic and vivid lens, to which no travel book can compare! Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Stan Scott and the Rangila Ensemble

Saturday Mar 19, 2016, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

This concert will feature a broad range of styles, including the enchanting melodies and rhythms of Indian classical music, folk songs celebrating love, work, social life and worship in Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and devotional songs of the great medieval Hindi poets. The lively rhythms of Indian folk songs provide a complementary contrast to the contemplative mood of Hindustani classical music. This program is funded by CTHumanities, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Indian Cooking Demonstration

Wednesday Mar 23, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Madhu Gupta will introduce Indian cooking techniques, highlighting the regional differences in regards to spicing, flavors and recipes. Born in India, Madhu’s father’s career allowed the family to visit and experience the unique regions of India. She will introduce Indian cooking techniques to make simple salads, appetizers and a variety of curries and will demonstrate that Indian cooking is not always hot and spicy but that the flavor is determined by balancing the ingredients. Space is limited, and registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

A Celebration of Holi & Rangoli Craft

Thursday Mar 24, 2016, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Please join us in celebrating Holi- the spring festival of colors! Staff from Artsplace will show us how to make rangoli, a decorative folk art of colorful patterns. For grades 1-6.
Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245.

Documentary Film: Meet the Patels

Thursday Mar 24, 2016, 6:30 PM

View this comedy documentary about Ravi Patel’s quest to find love, followed by a discussion led by Dr. Indira Karamcheti of Wesleyan University. Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245. This program is funded by CTHumanities.

Kite Making @ Artsplace

Wednesday Mar 30, 2016, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Kite making, flying, and fighting are long-standing traditions in India, and the International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) held annually in Gujarat celebrates the coming of spring. Start off the new season by crafting your own! For grades 1-8. Registration is required, p lease register online or call the library at 203-272-2245.

NOTE: This event takes place at Artsplace, 1220 Waterbury Road, Cheshire, CT 06410.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in February

January 29, 2016January 22, 2016 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

February might be the shortest month, but you’d never know it by looking at our Events Calendar! February is chock full of fun and interesting programs just about every day at Cheshire Library. Here are a few highlights:

Sir George and the Dragon by Pumpernickel Puppets

Saturday Feb 6, 2016, 10:30 AM

The Cheshire Public Library is pleased to welcome Pumpernickel Puppets this year for the 5th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day. Join an adventurous princess as she journeys to Mystery Mountain to visit the Great Green Dragon. Along the way you’ll meet Zelda the babysitter, a silly bat, Sir George and his clumsy dog, and of course the lovable dragon. Will Sir George slay the dragon? Not to worry, everything ends happily in this fun show. Ages 3 and up, no registration required.

The Harris Brothers Balkan Band

Sunday Feb 7, 2016, 2:00 PM

Exciting and joyful music that celebrates the culture of the Balkans. Local resident Drew Harris is a member of this popular band! This concert is free and open to the public, no registration required.

Valentine’s Day Read-Aloud with the FEA

Thursday Feb 11, 2016, 3:30 PM

Come read with the Future Educators of America from Dodd Middle School for a special Valentine’s Day Storytime. Please register online or call the library at (203) 272-2245.

Mighty Aphrodite

Thursday Feb 11, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Come and enjoy a Valentine celebration of chocolate, love, and friendship! Kim Larkin is the owner and chocolatier of a commercially licensed chocolate company located in Connecticut, Klassic Kreations Gourmet. This fun, educational workshop covers interesting topics such as new chocolate trends, the various types of chocolate, the history and health benefits of chococate, and highlights friends and lovers throughout history. Free samples are available to all! Seating is limited, please register online or call the library at (203) 272-2245.

Bhangra Dance Lesson and Performance

Saturday Feb 13, 2016, 2:00 – 3:15 PM

Enjoy a short performance followed by a fun hourlong lesson in the vibrant, high-energy style of Bhangra, a traditional folk dance performed in the Punjab region of South Asia with modern influences from modern pop and hip-hop styles. Performance and lesson provided by Yale Jashan Bhangra. Part of our South Asian Cultural Festival. Lesson: ages 6 – adult. Performance: all ages. No registration required.

Family Concert: Sheri Miller

Sunday Feb 14, 2016, 2:00 PM

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sheri Miller writes and performs her soulful, Beatles-inspired love songs, while accompanying herself on guitar and piano. She also sings a wide range of popular, classic, love song favorites for families, children, and all ages, including The Beatles, Jackson 5, Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash, among others. This concert is free and open to the public, no registration required.

Stamping

Monday Feb 15, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Crafting ideas are endless with stamps from cards, fabric, scrapbooking etc. Bring your crafty ideas, we will provide the stamps, ink and paper. You may bring your own items to stamp. Please register for this adult program early as space is limited, online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Italy, A Cultural Journey

Thursday Feb 18, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Ashley Turney has spent 25 years living, studying and working in the place that she calls her second home. Italy’s 20 regions are each unique in customs, language and cuisine making this small country a true mosaic of cultures. We will explore the regional differences from an eager traveler’s perspective in a slide presentation which takes us on a colorful journey from north to south and even to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Please register online or call the library at (203) 272-2245.

Preschool Fair

Saturday Feb 20, 2016, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

The Cheshire Public Library would like to invite you to participate in our first Preschool Fair on Saturday, February 20. In the event of bad weather, the snow date will be March 12 from 1:00-4:00 pm. This program will allow you to meet and ask questions with preschools in the Cheshire area. Our objective is to provide you support by offering a one-stop-shop to community preschools in order to navigate through endless information regarding school facilities, personnel, and educational philosophies. No registration required.

The Heart of Organizing with Sheri Bertolini

Thursday Feb 25, 2016, 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Sheri Bertolini, a professional organizer, has learned that organizing doesn’t start with trips to a donation center, or by purchasing labels, containers and bins. The first step is to connect with your heart to build a home you love to spend time in, and are proud to show off. With humor and tools to implement her ideas, Sheri will show how to make decisions about what goes and what stays, give you fresh perspective and energy to reorganize your home. Please register online or call the library at (203) 272-2245 ext. 4.

Explore the Art of Henna

Saturday Feb 27, 2016, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Tweens and teens–interested in the art of henna? As part of our South Asian Cultural Festival, learn the cultural roots and the different styles of henna from Jamilah Zebarth, of Jamilah Henna Creations, who will also demonstrate the art on you! (Henna is a plant based dye that safely stains the skin for 1-2 weeks.) Space is limited, Please register online or call the library at (203) 272-2245.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in January

December 30, 2015December 23, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Happy New Year! We’ve got month full of entertainment, education and enrichment to start the year off right!

The Manners of Downton Abbey

Thursday Jan 7, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Part 1 of our 3-part film series for fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey. What goes on behind-the-scenes to get the manners of 1900s Britain exactly right on Downton Abbey? Discover how the aristocratic set dined and dressed, how they married and made money, how they interacted with the servants (and the servants interacted with each other), and above all why they behaved as they did. Illustrated with memorable moments from Downton Abbey, the program is a treat for fans and anyone fascinated with the customs of early 1900s Britain. Please register on our website.

Music Together Demo

Friday Jan 8, 2016, 11:00 AM

Music Together an internationally recognized early childhood music program for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, kindergartners, and the adults who love them. This research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum strongly encourages adult involvement and emphasizes actual music experiences rather than concepts about music. For ages newborn through 5 years old. Please register on our website.

Cajun Hobos

Sunday Jan 10, 2016, 2:00 PM

Chase away those post-holiday blues with the Cajun Hobos! The Cajun Hobos feature Alan Bradbury and Michelle Kaminsky, who have been playing Cajun music together in a number of bands (including Magnolia) for 25 years, along with Mark Wholley. Having learned from Louisiana’s finest, they are passionate about sharing their love of Cajun culture, music, and dances in New England. This concert is free and open to the public, no registration required.

College Financial Aid Seminar

Tuesday Jan 12, 2016, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Jennifer Philips, former Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Fairfield University, will explain the various student loans, grants and scholarships available, the critical financial aid forms and deadlines, the various components of a financial aid offer and how to best compare and appeal offers in extenuating circumstances. Seating for this event is limited. Please register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Secrets of Highclere Castle

Thursday Jan 14, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Part 2of our 3-part film series for fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey. Join us for a documentary on a in-depth look at the history of England’s Highclere Castle. Go behind the scenes to the real owners and the history of this majestic estate. For centuries it has been the real-life home of the aristocratic Carnarvon family, and has entertained Kings and Queens of England along with a host of nobilities and celebrities. Known as “The Real Downton Abbey”, it is where much of the location scenes are filmed. Please register on our website.

Sing Me A Fairy Tale

Friday Jan 15, 2016, 11:00 – 11:45 AM
Musical storytelling using music, singing and dancing, rhythm activities, props and rhythm instruments. Songs and movement enable children to creatively explore a variety of themes from familiar stories like Goldilocks, Jack & the Beanstalk and the Three Little Pigs, in new imaginative and exciting ways. Interactive family style program geared toward the developmental stages of children from 2 to 7 years. (Infants and older siblings are also welcome). Please register on our website.

The Secret Garden

Thursday Jan 21, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Join us for the last installment of a 3 part movie series for fans of Downton Abbey. Can you not get enough of Highclere Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey? Join us for the Secret Garden set at Highclere castle in the early 1900’s. Mary Lennox, a spoiled young British girl orphaned by an Indian epidemic, comes to live at Misselthwaite Manor. She meets intriguing people and finds a mysterious garden. Please register on our website.

Move & Groove with Mr. Gym

Sunday Jan 24, 2016, 2:00 PM

Get physically fit through music and creative movement with “Mr. Gym”, a children’s singer and songwriter from Connecticut. Ages 3-8, No registration required.

Making Sense of Food Labels

Thursday Jan 28, 2016, 6:00 PM

Are you confused about food labels? Join us for a informative talk by Nancy Boudreau, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, where she will discuss:
* The Ingredient List
* The Nutrition label on the back which lists the number of servings per package, amount of sugar, fat, sodium, etc.
* The Marketing claims on the front label. Natural, All Natural, Organic, Non-GMO, Grass Fed – what does it all mean?
* Tips for making healthy choices. Please register on our website.

Self-Defense for Women

Saturday Jan 30, 2016, 2:00 – 3:30 PM

A class for women ages 14 and older taught by Family Martial Arts and Fitness of Cheshire. No experience necessary! What you will learn:
– Real world defense for the average person
– How to use the strength of your body to defeat even the strongest of attackers
– Learn the psychology of the attacker and how to use it against them
– Gain confidence in yourself and your abilities
This will be a hands-on class so wear comfortable clothing. Please register on our website.