Cheshire

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

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Can summer be here already?  It’s our busiest time at Cheshire Library – sign up now & don’t miss out on the terrific programs we have lined up.  See our June Event Calendar for more!

Vision Board Workshop

Saturday Jun 3, 2017, 2:00  –  4:30 PM
Imagine what it would be like to visualize what you wanted to achieve and then use that visualization to make it happen.  Could it really be that simple? How often do you “wish” for things to be different? Vision Boards Help Provide Clarity — By placing your images on a board, you create a bridge between the thoughts in your mind to something tangible-a format you can see and feel. Composing a clear, vivid vision board is an important step in making your goals and dreams a reality. Certified Life Coach Fiona Bain will show us how to create our own Vision Boards. Registration is required.

Introduction to the Internet

PART 1 : Wednesday Jun 7, 2017, 2:00  –  3:00 PM

PART 2 : Wednesday Jun 14, 2017,  2:00  –  3:00 PM

In Part 1, we will introduce you to the Internet and explain the basic elements of a Web page. Learn about Web browsers and how to access different web pages, identify hyperlinks and navigate web pages using the back, forward and refresh buttons. In Part 2, you will learn how to find information on the Web and how to use search engines. Learn how to mark a web site as a Favorite and how to print an entire web page, or a part of a web page using print preview option. Registration is required.

Expert Travel Tips From a Pro

Thursday Jun 8, 2017, 6:00 PM

With so many ways to book travel how do you know the best? What is the difference between booking with a traditional travel agency, an online travel agency or the supplier directly? With over 30 years of travel industry experience, Katie Relkin is the founder of JourneyBusters.com, a consumer friendly travel education company. She will share a wealth of travel tips in this program. Registration is required.

Beyond Death: Medical Facts,  Mysticism, and Meditation

Wednesday Jun 14, 2017, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Since the 1980s when near death experiences became part of the public consciousness, they have held endless attractions for people. Why do they resonate so powerful within us? Join Dr. Matthew Raider, hear the latest medical research and discover a simple, natural way to connect with the inner light talked about by those who’ve experienced an NDE. Through a simple time-honored method of meditation, you can explore those realms of peace within you. Registration is required.

 Passport Fair

Friday Jun 16, 2017, 12:00  –  4:00 PM

Join us for your one stop shop to acquire* or renew your passport.

Please bring the following:

  • Passport Application
  • Evidence of Citizenship
  • Two Forms of ID
  • Payment (2 checks for renewals)

Please direct all questions regarding Passports to the The National Passport information line at 1-877-487-2778 or visit Travel.State.Gov. This service provided by the United States Postal Service. *Please be advised to receive your completed passport by mail can take several weeks.  Please see Travel.State.Gov for more information.

Taste the World:  Movie Matinees

Fridays in June, 12:30  –  3:00 PM

Take a tasty tour around the globe with movies associated with international snacks. Please register individually for each movie.

Cut the Cord – Life Without Cable TV

Saturday Jun 17, 2017, 2:00  –  4:00 PM

This seminar presented by James Gifford will discuss how cable customers can get rid of high-priced cable services. Learn how to switch to options that give better entertainment value and review phone service choices at much lower costs, even if you’re not a tech whiz. Registration is required.

Parent Workshop: Helping Your Child Learn

Wednesday Jun 21, 2017, 6:00  –  7:30 PM

Join us as we discuss simple, effective ways to get your child ready to use words. This workshop will utilize the best practices from You Make the Difference in Helping Your Child Learn, published by the Hanen Centre. Books will be available for checkout at the end of the program. We’ll go over ways you can incorporate the practices into playtime, reading time, and everyday activities.  Dinner and childcare will be provided. Best suited for parents/caregivers of children ages birth to 3.
  • Dinner 6:00-6:30 pm
  • Parent class 6:30-7:30 pm
  • Childcare provided
Registration required. Registration is open to all Cheshire residents starting May 15. Non-residents may register starting June 20.

Brain Fitness

Thursday Jun 22, 2017, 1:30  –  2:30 PM

Come learn how to keep your brain fit.   Studies show that those who engage in regular cognitive activities (such as attending educational seminars, discussion groups or learning a new language) had higher levels of brain functioning and lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The brain is a muscle like any other and benefits from regular exercise.  Light refreshments will be served. Please register early.

Solo Travel Bootcamp

Thursday Jun 22, 2017, 6:30 PM

Get ready for a solo travel adventure! More and more people are heading out on trips alone and they aren’t just singles. Whether you are an experienced solo traveler or new to solo travel, join Travel Artisan Nina Lesiga for an evening of fresh ideas on how to achieve vibrant, authentic and fun experiences. Registration is required.

STEM Coffee Hour: The Impact of DNA-Editing Technology on the Future of Science and Medicine

Thursday Jun 22, 2017, 7:00  –  8:00 PM

Facilitator: Dr. Jian Cao, Associate Research Scientist, Yale University.  Co-developer of a Gene-Editing Toolbox.

STEM Coffee Hours are designed for adults who are interested in learning more about a particular science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topic. The general format is an informative presentation followed by group discussion. Please register HERE (password CheshireSTEM).

 Parenting Workshop: Positive Discipline

Monday Jun 26, 2017, 6:00  –  7:30 PM

This is an eight-session workshop for parents who are looking to learn how to develop relationships with their children based upon mutual respect, personal responsibility, and problem-solving skills for successful living. Come work with other parents finding practical solutions to children’s most challenging behaviors. Open to parents with children ages birth to 5 years old. Free childcare provided.

A Certifed Positive Discipline Parent Educator will conduct 8 weekly evening sessions that include:

  • Free Dinner 6:00-6:30 pm
  • Parent class 6:30-7:30 pm
  • Free children’s books

This program meets 8 times: June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7 and 14.  You only need to register once to attend all 8 sessions.

Registration required. This program is open to Cheshire residents to register starting May 22 all others may register starting June 23 if space is available.

Traveling Lantern Theatre Company

Wednesday Jun 28, 2017, 1:00 PM

Play: The Ribbles Build a Residence. Soon after their lovely insect nuptuals Mr. and Mrs. Ribble are expecting a baby Ribblet, and they need a new home for their family! Mr. Ribble wants a to go big with a four grasshopper garage, but Mrs. Ribble convinces him to build a dream home that is more environmentally and neighborhood friendly. Best for ages 4+, No registration required.

Summer Reading Kickoff!

Friday Jun 30, 2017, 5:30 PM

Join us for our adult and children’s summer reading kickoff.  The library will be opening at 5:30 pm to host events for children, families, and adults.  At 7:00 pm the Lost Acres String Band will be performing.  Bring a picnic or purchase pizza (from Cheshire Pizza and Ale) and drinks from our Friends of the Library.  All ages welcome, no registration required.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in May

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MAY we interest you in some programs this month? When you’re done groaning over that terrible pun, check out some of the highlights from May’s event calendar:

Friends of Cheshire Public Library Spring Book Sale

  • Thursday May 4, 2017, 9:00 AM  –  8:00 PM
  • Friday May 5, 2017, 9:00 AM  –  4:30 PM
  • Saturday May 6, 2017, 9:00 AM  –  4:30 PM
  • Sunday May 7, 2017, 12:00 PM  –  3:00 PM

Bargains! More Bargains! And don’t forget Sunday is Bag of Books Day – fill up a bag of books for one low price (bags provided) – $10 for one bag, $15 for two!

Tuesday Movie Matinees

Tuesdays, May 9, 16, 23, 30 at 1:00 PM

A different movie each week! No registration required.

Mark Twain in Connecticut

Tuesday May 16, 2017, 6:30 PM

Dr. James Golden of the Mark Twain House and Museum  explains the importance of Connecticut and Hartford to Twain’s life and work, including his famous neighbors, such as novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe, travel writer and journalist Charles Dudley Warner, Civil War hero and senator Joseph Hawley, and female suffrage campaigner Isabella Beecher Hooker. Registration is required.

Writing Workshop: Story First (Plotting your novel)

Wednesday May 17, 2017, 6:00 PM

This workshop takes participants through the process of developing an idea into a workable premise that can generate a full story. From there writers will examine how to build a plot that will keep readers asking questions and turning pages until they reach a powerful and satisfying ending.  Presented by author Steve Liskow.  Registration required for this adult program.

Pet First Aid with VCA

Thursday May 18, 2017, 6:30 PM

Pet First Aid will teach participants emergency care procedures for your fur babies and provide tips for keeping your pet healthy too. Join us as Doctor Deborah Goul, Director of General Practice at VCA Cheshire Animal Hospital, and other VCA ER doctors,  Please be so kind as to leave your fur family at home. Registration required.

 Introduction to Microsoft Word

Wednesdays,  May 24 & 31,  2017, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

This class will provide an introduction to Microsoft Word and is divided into two sessions.You will learn basic navigation skills to effectively use the Microsoft Word program:

  • Create a simple document.
  • Edit text and check spelling errors.
  • Format the document.
  • Insert a picture; change font formatting and much more.

Please register separately for May 24 and May 31 sessions.

STEM Coffee Hour: Virtual Reality

Thursday May 25, 2017, 7:00  –  8:00 PM

STEM Coffee Hours are designed for adults who are interested in learning more about a particular science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topic. The general format is an informative presentation followed by group discussion. Facilitator: Dr. Tracie Addy, Center for Teaching and Learning, STEM Educator, Yale University. Please be aware that Coffee Hours are first come, first served. Please arrive 10 minutes in advance. If for any reason you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation to open your space.  Register here (required).

Above and Beyond

Thursday May 25, 2017, 6:30  –  7:45 PM

Join us for the incredible documentary film of the escape from Nazi-occupied Europe by Jewish-American Pilot Bruce Sundlun and his subsequent return to support the French Resistance. Registration required.

Soccer Shots Mini Demo Class (ages 2-3)

Tuesday May 30, 2017  – Two sessions: 10:30 AM  &  11:15 AM

Soccer Shots of Central CT will be hosting a demonstration class for kids ages 2-3 years old. Soccer Shots Mini is a high-energy program introducing young children to fundamental soccer principles, such as using your feet, dribbling and the basic rules of the game. Through fun games, songs and positive reinforcement, children will begin to experience the joy of playing soccer and being active. This program is presented by Soccer Shots of Central CT. For ages 2-3 years old with caregiver.  Registration begins May 9.

My Dad and the Library

/ Mary / Leave a comment

National Library Week is April 9-15, 2017. To celebrate, I’d like to share a special story.

My dad wasn’t a reader.

I don’t mean he couldn’t read. He just didn’t read for pleasure. He read for information, to gain knowledge, to figure out how to do something. As far as I know, he never once borrowed a book from any library.

And yet he understood my love of books and the library. From the time I learned to read, I hungered for new books. I would bring home the little Scholastic book pamphlets from school and pour over them, checking off all the books I wanted and confidently handing them to him. He never said no, no matter how tight the budget was.

Then we moved to a lovely little town called Cheshire and I discovered the Cheshire Public Library.

I was nine years old. I couldn’t go to the library unless someone drove me. And there was Dad, driving me to the library after he got out of work, dropping me off while he ran to the store to pick up a few things, waiting in the parking lot while I scanned the shelves looking for a Nancy Drew that I hadn’t read yet. Like the Scholastic book pamphlets, he never said no when I asked to go to the library.

He almost never came inside. He told me I was responsible for keeping track of the books I borrowed and when they were due. He was responsible for getting me to the library so I could borrow and return materials.

Then came one cold night in October when I was twelve years old. Dad was waiting in the library parking lot for me while I selected some books. When I got back to the car, he was shaking. He told me he couldn’t seem to get warm. The next day he suffered his first stroke. He was thirty-nine.

He recovered, but it was six weeks before we could return to the library. I was apprehensive. For the first time in my life I had overdue library books. I had a little babysitting money but I had no idea how much I owed. I was truly afraid they wouldn’t let me borrow any more books.

To my surprise, my dad came into the library with me. He handed the overdue books to the librarian, took out his wallet and said, “I was sick and couldn’t bring these back.” He smiled at me. “It wasn’t her fault.”

The librarian asked what had happened and he told her about his stroke. She asked us to wait and vanished into a back room. She returned with a  smile.

“No charge,” she said. “The library has a heart.”

That was a big deal. My dad was now unemployed because of his health. We didn’t have a lot of spare money.

My father walked out of the library that day smiling. He said, “There are still good people in the world.”

I had already decided I wanted to be a librarian. I couldn’t imagine a career that didn’t somehow involve books. But that librarian’s kindness made me realize what a difference a librarian could make in someone’s day.

Three years later, I was hired as a library page at the Cheshire Library. The librarian who had been so kind to us was no longer there. I never even knew her name, and she never knew how much her action meant to me.

We all make a difference each day, even if we don’t know it.

In honor of National Library Week and the librarian who made a young girl happy a long time ago, here are some of my favorite children’s books about libraries and librarians:

lion-aspxThe Library Lion by Michele Knudsen.
A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.

 

 

jacket-aspx The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter.
When war comes, Alia Muhammad Baker, the librarian of Basra, fears the library will be destroyed, so she asks government officials for help, but they refuse, which means Alia must take matters into her own hands to protect the books that she loves.

jacket-aspxLibrary Lil by Suzanne Williams. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg.
A formidable librarian makes readers not only out of the once resistant residents of her small town, but out of a tough-talking, television-watching motorcycle gang as well.

 

 

jacket-aspxMrs. Roopy is Loopy by Dan Gutman.
A.J. and his classmates are convinced that the new school librarian, Mrs. Roopy, has multiple personality disorder because she keeps pretending to be famous people.

 

 

jacket-aspxThe Library by Sarah Stewart.
Elizabeth Brown loves to read more than anything else, but when her collection of books grows and grows, she must make a change in her life.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

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We’re springing into April with so many great programs for kids, teens & adults, we can’t fit them all here! Check our event calendar for the full list of programs coming up this month.

indexGeology of Cheshire

Monday Apr 3, 2017, 6:30  –  7:30 PM

Ever wonder how Cheshire got its ridges?  Learn about the geologic changes that have shaped the diverse and interesting topography of Cheshire.  Presented by Dr. Charles Dimmick, Professor of Geology, Emeritus.  Sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library. Registration is required.

robin-mccahill-e1486659456246-225x300Kids Puppet Making Series

Wednesdays,  April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 4:00  –  5:00 PM

Learn to make puppets using unique and everyday items.  Robin McCahill, local artist at Artsplace, will be our artist in residence leading this workshop on puppet making.  Visit www.artsplacecheshirect.org/ to learn more about Artsplace and the other programs artists like Robin McCahill offer.  This is a 4-week long series, meeting April 5, 12, 19, and 26.  You only need to sign up once to attend all four.  Due to the cost of this program please try to attend all four sessions.  For students in grades K-2, registration is required beginning March 22 for Cheshire residents and March 29 for all others.

poetry-open-micPoetry Open Mic Morning

Saturday Apr 8, 2017, 10:00 AM  –  12:00 PM

Celebrate National Poetry Month with an open mic morning! Teens and adults are welcome to bring their own original poetry to share, recite a poem by a classic author, or just sit back and enjoy the verses. We’ll have tea and coffee available, and we’ll set out some poetry books and resources to peruse for inspiration. No registration required.

bill_96Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop

Saturday Apr 8, 2017, 2:00  –  4:00 PM

Come learn the art of Pysanky Egg decorating from the egg lady Sharon Leonard. This form of Ukrainian egg decorating uses special wax and color to make beautiful eggs.  Each participant will be able to go home with one decorated egg.  This program is for adults and has limited seating, registration is required.

captureCurious George Party

Monday Apr 10, 2017, 10:30  –  11:30 AM

Join us for a party to celebrate our favorite little monkey, Curious George! We will sing, dance, and read some stories about George and his adventures. Curious George will make a special appearance and pose for photos with his friends! For children of all ages and their families. Registration required beginning Monday March 20.

opener-720x487Foraging and Eating Invasive Plants

Tuesday Apr 11, 2017, 6:30  –  7:30 PM

Join The 3 Foragers, a family that forages for wild, natural, organic food.  This program will highlight edible invasive plants.  Do your part to reduce invasive plants by eating them! The 3 Foragers eat garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, Rugosa roses, autumn olives, wineberry, sheep sorrel, dandelions, black locust blossoms, and yellow groove bamboo.  Never eat anything from the wild without first consulting an expert! Please forage responsibly. Educate yourself, and have fun. Registration is required.

Community Connections

Wednesday Apr 19, 2017, 12:00  –  2:00 PM

The Cheshire Public Library is pleased to announce a new program that we have started entitled Community Connections. This program connects civic minded individuals with community agencies to perform skilled volunteer projects.  Enjoy lunch provided by the Friends of the Cheshire Public Library while you meet other civic minded folks and talk with local non-profits and government agencies about volunteer opportunities available. Please register in advance (so we know how much food to get!).

back-pain-1911009_1280Exercises to Treat and Manage Low Back Pain

Saturday Apr 22, 2017, 2:00 PM

Whether mild or severe, short-term or long-term, low back pain can greatly affect your daily life. If low back pain is affecting your daily life or if you want to learn the top causes of back pain join Kirsten Albrecht as she explains common causes of back pain and shares exercises to stretch and strengthen your back. Registration is required.

jacket-aspxBirds; Their Side of the Story…

Tuesday Apr 25, 2017, 6:30  –  7:30 PM

John Himmelman is a children’s book/natural history author and illustrator, who has written and illustrated about 80 books since 1981.  He is an avid bird watcher and served as president of the New Haven Bird Club for two years. He will share light-hearted stories of birds and bird watching – from cuisine to cartoons, ornaments to icons, murmurs to murders. Registration is required.

6daf3aa1b259c15f3e788bca1ac6b5a7Taekwondo

Wednesday Apr 26, 2017, 6:00 PM

Join Cheshire resident Master Jonguk Jang for an introductory Tae Kwon Do (also known as Taekwondo) class for adults. Learn about the fascinating history of Taekwondo and its physical and mental benefits such as focus, self-control, confidence, stress release, flexibility and self-defense, as well as an introduction to various fundamental skills and techniques. Registration is required.

dia-banner-imageDía de Los Niños Celebration

Friday Apr 28, 2017, 10:00  –  11:00 AM

Celebrate El día de los niños / El día de los libros (Children’s Day / Book Day) with a multicultural storytime! Día is celebrated on April 30 to emphasize the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Get Informed, Take Action: The CT State Budget

/ Lauren / Leave a comment

3677257896_5bca862383.jpg

It’s no secret that our country has seen a surge in political awareness and activism after the last election, and we’ve been getting reference questions about how to get more involved on national, state, and local issues. Some of the biggest rumblings lately deal with Governor Dannel Malloy’s state budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, which is under review right now and contains millions of dollars’ worth of cuts for many municipalities, local and state agencies, and state-funded programs. If you’d like to get informed and take some action on the proposed budget, read on!

GET INFORMED

If you only have time to read one article on the new budget, though, the CT Mirror wrote an informative overview last month that hits some of the big parts of the budget.

TAKE ACTION

You can also send letters to the editors of local newspapers like the New Haven Register, Cheshire Herald, Hartford Courant, and Meriden’s Record-Journal.