Museum Passes at CPL – Shoreline Trolley Museum

August 7, 2014July 24, 2014 / cheshirelib / 1 Comment

Cheshire Library has a collection of museum & state park passes that are available on a first come, first served basis for Cheshire residents to check out. CPL Staff member Lisa continues our series about the museum passes we offer, along with related reading material. This month, Shoreline Trolley Museum!

Featured Museum Pass: Shoreline Trolley Museum

This month’s featured museum pass is for the Shoreline Trolley Museum. This pass is good for half-price admission for up to 6 people. All museum passes are available to Cheshire Residents on a first-come, first-served basis and must be returned by the close of business the next day.

A National Historic District – The oldest continuously running suburban trolley line in the USA.Come and enjoy a living, breathing experience riding historic, restored trolleys through scenic surroundings!The Shore Line Trolley Museum has been an important part of the community since its incorporation in 1945 as the Branford Electric Railway Association. It was founded to preserve the unique heritage of an endangered species — the trolley car — and today boasts a collection of nearly 100 vintage vehicles as well as artifacts and documents from the trolley era.

During your visit, enjoy a three mile leisurely round trip onboard a restored historic trolley car through the scenic Branford salt marshes near Long Island Sound. Learn about the history of trolley development and trolleys in Connecticut and beyond from our expert trolley operators/tour guides. Tour our trolley storage buildings and our indoor exhibit room to understand how trolleys played a role in the development of America as we know it today. For additional information, please contact the Museum at 203-467-6927 or check out their website at http://shorelinetrolley.org/.

If you are interested in visting the Shoreline Trolley Museum, you might be interested in reading:

Western Connecticut Trolleys by Connecticut Motor Coach Museum.

Throughout history, Americans have embraced technology with a special enthusiasm, and the innovation of the trolley car is no exception. This industry fueled the growth of many towns and cities in Connecticut, and Western Connecticut was able to keep pace with other parts of the state because of it. Although short lived, the trolley changed the landscape of the state and spurred progress in ways never imagined just a few years before. Marking an important milestone in the documentation of Connecticut’s street railway heritage, Western Connecticut Trolleys is the sixth Arcadia Publishing book chronicling the history of all the streetcar lines and companies in the state.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in August

July 31, 2014August 18, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Lots more summer fun to be had before the kids head back to school (and adults, we’ve squeezed in a few programs for you, too!). Here are some of the events on our schedule for August:

Butterfly Program with Jerry Schneider

Friday August 1, 10:30 AM

Participants will learn about wing symmetry, defense mechanisms, and interesting butterfly behavior (did you know that butterflies taste their feet?), and then make a butterfly t-shirt! Please bring a white or light colored t-shirt to this program, (participants need to have registered previously for this program).

Movie Matinees

Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, no registration required.

August 5 – Hopscotch (1980)
August 12 – Murder by Death (1976)
August 19 – A Shot in the Dark (1964)

The Gulf of Tonkin – 50 Years Later

Tuesday Aug 5, 7:00 PM

Join local author and historian John White as he discusses his book The Gulf of Tonkin – 50 Years Later. White “blew the whistle” on the alleged attack upon two U.S. naval ships on August 4, 1967. President Johnson used this as an excuse to rush Congress into passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which provided him with the legal authority to wage war on Vietnam. Copies of his book will be available for purchase. Registration Online.

Builder’s Brigade

Wednesdays, Aug 6 and Aug 20, 4:00 PM

Kids have the opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using Lego and Mega blocks. They can work alone, or in a team with peers. A different theme is picked for each session and kids can build on that theme or build a creation of their own. At the end of each session, kids can put their creations on display at the library for all to see until the next club is scheduled! (NOTE: Children ages 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult.) No registration required.

Teen Games Drop-In

Fridays, Aug 8, 22, and 29, 2:30-4:30 PM

Nintendo Wii available for group play with ROCK BAND 2, DDR, MARIO KART, BRAWL, and lots more! We’ve got board games too, so come play games and nibble snacks, no registration required.

Cartoon Workshop with Rick Stromonski

Monday Aug 11, 7:00 PM

Rick Stromonski, a nationally recognized cartoonist and author of Soup to Nutz, will lead children ages 6 and up in a cartoon workshop. Participants need to bring a pencil and pad of paper. Registration Online starting August 1st.

Fab Film Summer Movies: DIVERGENT (rated PG-13)

Wednesday Aug 13, 6:00 PM

Come enjoy some great box office family movies with Fab Film Saturdays at Cheshire Public Library! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Divergent is set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late. Based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth.

Is There Water on Zork?

Thursday Aug 14, 10:30 AM

Become inhabitants of the alien planet zork and help Earthlings find water. After listening to the story — June 29, 1999 — you will conduct simple experiments to test the characteriestics of mystery liquids to discover if Zork has water. Participants will work in groups and use common household objects to test liquids for pH, adhesion, evaporation and other properties to make their conclusions.
For ages 7-12. Registration Online starting on August 1st.

Summer Reading Finale with Jester Jim

Monday Aug 18, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

With nothing more than a trunk full of props, Jester Jim will have you glued to his every sound as he performs his amazing beat-boxing, juggling, and balancing.
For kids of any age who have completed the Cheshire Public Library summer reading challenge. Pre-concert snacks and beverages from 6:30-7:00 pm, performance by Jester Jim at 7:00 PM.

Registration Online starting on August 1st.

10 Books We’re Looking Forward to in July

July 10, 2014June 30, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

How’s your summer reading going – need some fresh ideas? Well you’re in luck!

Every month, librarians from around the country pick the top ten new books they’d most like to share with readers. The results are published on LibraryReads.org. One of the goals of LibraryReads is to highlight the important role public libraries play in building buzz for new books and new authors. Click through to read more about what new and upcoming books librarians consider buzzworthy this month. The top ten titles for July are:

Landline by Rainbow Rowell
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian
World of Trouble: The Last Policeman Book III by Ben H. Winters
California by Edan Lepucki
Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal
The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills
Dry Bones in the Valley by Tom Bouman

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in July

July 1, 2014July 1, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

It’s summer, and you know what that means – Summer Reading is in full swing! There are lots of terrific programs on tap for July, here’s a preview:Fizz and Boom with Four O’Clocks

Tuesday Jul 1, 2014. 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Science and art promise to come together with Artsplace instructor Rebecca Rice’s help in this fun class. Students will use pastels and other materials to explore projects to explain the magic and beauty of Four O’Clock Flowers.
For ages 6 and up. Register on our website.

Magic Show with Ed Popielarcyk

Wednesday Jul 2, 2014. 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Come join Ed Popielarcyk with his amazing interactive magic show followed by balloon sculpting!
Register on our website.

Snakes and Amphibians with Eric Nelson

Two sessions Thursday Jul 3, 2014, at 2:00 PM and 3:15 PM Join Eric Nelson in a fun exploration of snakes and amphibians!Register on our website.

Kellogg Environmental Center presents: INTO THE WOODS

Thursday Jul 3, 2014, 2:00 – 3:00 Expand your naturalist skills by solving mysteries of natural finds like footprints, feathers, twig chewings and objects seen around the state. Children will listen to Into the Woods: Who’s Been There and explore mysterious finds from nature. Each child will make and take a nature journal of their own to help continue their exploration of outdoor signs and mysteries. Register on our website.

Lego Robots with the CHS MECHA RAMS

Thursday Jul 10, 2014, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
The robots have returned!
The summer G3 programs will offer a special 3-part event. Guest instructors and teen members of the Cheshire High School MECHA RAMS Robotics team will provide robotics demonstrations to our G3 kids. Kids will also get hands on experience with simple robotics using Lego robot kits and will receive instruction from their teen mentors, wrapping up with a friendly team competition on July 24th! Register on our website.

Fab Film Summer Movies: THE LEGO MOVIE

Wednesday Jul 16, 2014, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Lego Movie (2014). An ordinary Lego construction worker, thought to be the prophesied ‘Special’, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis. Running Time 1 hour, 40 minutes. Rated PG.
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Zoology for Kids with Animal Embassy

Thursday Jul 17, 2014, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Animal Embassy will uncover some of the mysteries of animal biology as we learn about classifications and habitats in the animal kingdom, as well as discover the life of an animal scientist. We will meet Animal Ambassadors such as giant White’s tree frogs, an Eclectus parrot or Spectacled owl, a Green tree python or Emerald Tree boa, Chinchillas, a Pink-toed tarantula, an Argentine Black & White Tegu and/or a Solomon Islands monkey-tailed skink! Register on our website.

BENDING GRAVITY with Eric Girardi

Monday Jul 21, 2014, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Bending Gravity is an amazing show by performance artist Eric Girardi and includes a breathtaking mastery of object manipulation, juggling, yoyos, and more! For ages 4 and up. Registration begins on July 1st.

Sciencetellers present DRAGONS AND DREAMS

Monday Jul 28, 2014, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Join us as we learn about the science of fire and ice through the tale of “Dragons & Dreams.” Wouldn’t dragon’s breath be an amazing sight to see?! Well, get ready to see it…feel it…smell it…maybe even taste it! This story features interactive science experiments with dry ice, flash paper, exploding bottles, and much more.
Enjoy this spectacular adventure and be swept away to a world where dragons are real and dreams come true — and where only the most daring of people will survive to tell the tale!
For ages 4 and up. Registration begins on July 1st.

Gregory McAdams with Team Magic

Wednesday Jul 30, 2014, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM The Greg & Axel show is a totally unique entertainment experience that provides magic, comedy, audience participation and one hilarious dog. Your audience will fall in love with Axel as he helps Greg the Magician amaze the audience…he might even cause a little bit of trouble!
Greg & Axel donate a percentage of every show to help rescue animals!
For all ages. Registration begins on July 1st.

Time Capsule to Mars!
Thursday Jul 31, 2014, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Join Dr. Daniel Burkey, Associate Dean of the UConn School of Engineering, at the Cheshire Public Library on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the Time Capsule to Mars™ (TC2M) Project. Participants will compose and record a group message at the library, to be uploaded to the Time Capsule and sent the 35 million miles from Earth to Mars. This program is for all ages, but is especially geared towards students entering grades K-12. Register on our website.

Summer Saturday Hours : 9:30am – 1:00pm
The Cheshire Library is now open Saturdays in the summer!
From July 12th – August 23rd, the library will be open from 9:30am – 1:00pm. Stop by to beat the heat and catch up on some great summer reads.

Museum Passes at CPL – New Britain Museum of American Art and Wadsworth Atheneum

June 12, 2014July 25, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Featured Museum Pass: New Britain Museum of American Art

This pass is good for free general admission for four people.

The New Britain Museum of American Art’s founding in 1903 entitles the institution to be designated the first museum of strictly American art in the country. With particular strengths in colonial portraiture, the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and the Ash Can School, not to mention the important mural series The Arts of Life in America by Thomas Hart Benton, the museum relies heavily on its permanent collection for exhibitions and programming, yet also displays a significant number of borrowed shows and work by emerging artists. Located at 56 Lexington Street in New Britain, CT, the museum is open 7 day a week.

Featured Museum Pass: Wadsworth Atheneum

This pass is good for free general admission for two adults and two children.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the oldest public art museum in the United States, was founded in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth, one of the first important American patrons of the arts. Its collections of nearly 50,000 works of art span 5,000 years. The museum was the first in America to begin collecting contemporary American art – resulting in their world renowned Hudson River School collection. Some other featured collections include the Morgan collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and European decorative arts; world-renowned baroque and surrealist paintings, the Wallace Nutting collection of American colonial furniture and decorative arts; the Samuel Colt firearms collection, and much more. Located at 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, see their website for hours and directions.

If you are interested in visiting the Wadsworth Atheneum and the New Britain Museum of American Art, you might also be interested in:

Art Museums Plus : Cultural Excursions in New England by Traute M. Marshall. Traute M. Marshall has written this smart and engagingly personal guidebook for curious travelers, bringing to light the wealth of small and large art museums in the six New England states, ranging from world-class encyclopedic collections to more modest and specialized venues. While providing the information found in a traditional guidebook—addresses, websites, opening times, directions, and so forth—Marshall also offers readers informed and intimate introductions to the museums and their histories, holdings, traditions, and architecture. This guide also explains exhibition practices, the presentation of the permanent collection versus the attraction of temporary shows, the different educational activities offered, and the special relationship between a town or city and its art museum.

New Britain Museum of American Art : Highlights of the Collection, introduction by Laurene Buckley ; editor, Pamela T. Barr. The finest paintings and sculpture from the museum’s collection are featured in full-color reproductions in this illustrated volume. Included are many outstanding paintings by the foremost representatives of American Impressionism such as Mary Cassatt and Childe Hassam, and the famous mural series Arts of Life in America by Thomas Hart Benton. Color reproductions of the artworks are accompanied by biographical sketches on the artists and comprehensive essays on each of the works.