What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

June 1, 2015May 31, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

There’s lots going on at CPL in June: including our new hours and the start of summer reading! Take a look:

Just in time for summer – NEW HOURS!

Beginning June 1st, the library will be open 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM Monday – Thursday, and 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday and Saturday (Saturdays 9-1 in July & August).

Volunteer Vacations

Tuesday Jun 2, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Don’t just take a vacation, immerse yourself in vacations that give back & make a difference! Join Sheryl Kayne, author of several books including Immersion Travel USA, awarded The Society of American Travel Writers Foundations award for Best Travel Guidebook, as she shares with you amazing trips all over the US. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Is This Thing On? with Abby Stokes

Thursday Jun 4, 2015, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

The digital divide widens with the rapid pace of new innovations and gadgets. What is out there and how it might benefit you can be lost in all the tech talk. Should you buy a tablet or a computer? Stick with your PC or move onto an Apple? How do you maximize your searches and why on earth do people want to share on Facebook? Abby helps you understand what everyone is talking about and how to decide what might work best for you. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Online Marketing: Email Campaigns, LinkedIn for Business, Social Media Time Savers

Tuesday Jun 9, 2015, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

This presentation will be a practical look at best practices, tips, and tools for marketing with email campaigns, LinkedIn, and social media. Attendees will come away from this 90 minute session with concrete “to-do” actions that will help them be more effective online marketers. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Fab Film Saturday: Song of the Sea

Saturday Jun 20, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

From the writer and director of the Academy Award-nominated The Secret of Kells comes an enchanting fable about loss, magic and the love of family. Featuring the voices of Brendan Gleeson (Braveheart) and Fionnula Flanagan (The Others), The Song of the Sea is a “delightful piece of magical animation” (Mark Adams, Screen International)! Running Time 1 hour, 33 minutes. Rated PG. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Summer Reading Signup

Monday Jun 22, 2015

Summer reading has never been easier! Keep up your reading log when you’re at home and when you’re on vacation. Don’t worry about losing your reading record—just print it out when you’re done! See the Kids Page of our website for details!

Plant Science

Monday Jun 22, 2015, 2 sessions, 2:00 and 3:15 PM

Explore the growth, reproduction, special features and uses of plants through fun hands-on activities with local naturalist Eric Nelson. Please register online beginning June 1.

Toddler Dance Party

Thursday Jun 25, 2015, 2 sessions, 10:00 and 11:00 AM

Enjoy music and movement in this high energy program. Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language. Clapping along to rhythms helps children hear the syllables in words and helps them improve motor skills. The 10:00 session is for ages 1-2, the 11:00 session is for ages 2-3. Children must be accompanied by a care giver. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Local Author Talk: America, Freedom and Enlightenment

Thursday Jun 25, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Cheshire author John White discusses his new book, America, Freedom and Enlightenment: An Open Letter to Americans About Patriotism and Global Society. Join Mr. White and your fellow citizens for a lively discussion about the founding principles of our nation, where our country is today, and what it means to be an American. Please register online.

Bedtime Math’s Crazy 8s Club

Friday Jun 26, 2015, 10:00 AM

Crazy 8s is an over-the-top fun math club that helps kids appreciate the math that’s all around them! Each session focuses on a math topic with an engaging activity: like glow in the dark geometry, toliet paper olympics, bouncy dice explosion, and a zip line zoo. The activities are designed for kids entering kindergarten through grade 2. Crazy 8s is funded by the Bedtime Math Foundation, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to putting the fun and discovery back into learning math. This club runs for 8 weeks. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED, but we will build on math skills week to week, so come to as many sessions as you can! Kids must be accompanied by a caregiver.

LEGO® Brunch at the Library

Saturday Jun 27, 2015, 11:00 AM

Enjoy donuts, coffee, juice and more in this special LEGO® storytime. 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® . ALL AGES, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Night Skies Planetarium

Monday Jun 29, 201, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Night Skies is a program featuring Mike Francis using Starlab, the inflatable planetarium dome and projector system. A remarkably realistic night sky awaits groups of up to 30. There is no need to worry about the weather, time of day or travel. The experience of entering the giant bubble fascinates. The excitement of being able to identify that bright red star from last night’s sky or locating an elusive constellation sparks the imagination.

Family Drum Circle with Garden of Beats

Tuesday Jun 30, 2015, 10:00 – 10:45 AM

Join us as we create a lively “Garden of Beats” with drum circle leader Conga J. With hand drums of every size and lots of shaky and percussion toys we introduce the world of rhythm to people of all ages. Drumming encourages creativity, community, individuality, working together, culture, self confidence, and coordination (to name a few). All ages, kids must be accompanied by a caregiver. Space is limited; register on our website beginning June 1.

National Nurses Week – May 6-12, 2015

May 6, 2015April 30, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

Everyone has had some kind of interaction with a nurse – starting from the day you were born! In 1994, May 6-12 (May 12th is Florence Nightingale’s birthday) was officially designated National Nurses Week. It is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on, and appreciate, the vital role that nurses play in our lives. If the opportunity arises, please take the time to thank a nurse for all they do.

Nurses are popular in the literary world too. The library has a great assortment of books and DVDs that feature nurses.

Fiction

The English Patient – Michael Ondaatje

My Name is Mary Sutter – Robin Oliveira

The Carousel – Richard Paul Evans

A Violet Season – Kathy Leonard Czepiel

The Life We Bury – Allen Eskins

Stella Bain – Anita Shreve

Bittersweet – Colleen McCullough

Never Change – Elizabeth Berg

Non-Fiction

The Secret Rescue – an untold story of American nurses and medics behind Nazi lines – Cate Lineberry

The Good Nurse – a true story of medicine, madness and murder – Charles Graeber

Nightingales: the extraordinary upbringing and curious life of Miss Florence Nightingale – Gillian Gill

Children’s

Nurses – Marlene Targ Brill

Florence Nightingale – Demi

Clara and Davie – Patricia Polacco

DVD’s

Nurse Jackie

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

Call The Midwife

China Beach

To see a complete listing of titles about nurses, click here.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 / cheshirelib / 2 Comments

Lots of great stuff happening at Cheshire Library this month, including a terrific schedule of programming for School Vacation Week, and at the end of the month, it’s BOOKSALE time!

Navigating Your Financial Landscape: The Basics

Thursday Apr 2, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

In your 20s and 30s and wondering how you’ll ever afford a house, your future kids’ college expenses, and retirement? Now is the perfect time to start planning your financial future! You’ll learn all about 401ks, investing, building and maintaining credit, and lending options. Presented by Jonathon Dibble of Morgan Stanley. Register on our website.

Cheshire Cats Classics Club- Ben-Hur

Monday Apr 6, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

The Cheshire Cats Classics Club meets once per month on a Monday evening. Ben-Hur will be discussed at the April 6th meeting. Copies are available to check out from the library.

There is limited seating for this event. For more information regarding this program, contact Jennifer Bartlett at jbartlett@cheshirelibrary.org.

Where to Hike in Cheshire

Monday Apr 6, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

This program 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. The town website, a valuable resource for open space information, will be highlighted. Seating for this event is limited. Register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Squishy Circuits

Monday Apr 13, 2015, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Electricity + play-doh = lights? Awesome! Squishy Circuits are a great introduction to the fundamentals of electronics. We will use play-doh that can conduct electricity. Once you know the basics, you can plug in lights and motors to bring you already cool sculpture to new levels of awesome. Drop in anytime between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Ages 6 and up welcomed. No registration required.

LEGO® Junior Maker

Tuesday Apr 14, 2015, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Do you love building with LEGO® Blocks? Then LEGO® Junior Maker is perfect for you. We will start with a short storytime focused around building. Kids will then have opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using Lego and Mega bloks. They can work alone, or in a team with peers. A theme will be given for kids to design around based on stories read. All ages welcomes. No registration required.

Rocks and Minerals

Tuesday Apr 14, 2015, 2 sessions: 1:00 PM and 2:15 PM

Local naturalist Eric Nelson will introduce children to the identification, characteristics, and historical use of rocks and minerals through fun hands-on activities and exciting demonstrations. For ages 6 and up. Register on our website starting on April 1st.

Ctrl Alt Achieve: Float Your Boat

Wednesday Apr 15, 2015, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

As part of our Ctrl Alt Achieve series, kids can test their creativity and engineering skills at building a boat. Kids will build boats using assorted materials and see how much weight they can hold. For grades Kindergarten – 2nd. No Registration Required.

Touch a Truck at Bartlem Park

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come visit the children’s librarians at Bartlem Park 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.

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. There will be a free raffle of toy trucks.

Where: Bartlem Park – 520 S. Main St, Cheshire

Open to All Ages

Robot Petting Zoo

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

The first ever CPL Robot Petting Zoo brings out friendly robots for kids & teens to touch, operate, and even program! Some robots follow a line and are programmed with color, some are controlled with apps on a smart phone or tablet. They can look like a ball, a cube, a bird, or even a race car! Come meet our many unusual robots and learn a bit about circuits and electronics at our Robot Petting Zoo. For grades 4—12. No registration required.

Edible Insects with Stamford Museum and Nature Center

Thursday Apr 16, 2015, 6:00 PM

Discover the who, what, where and why behind eating bugs. From mealworm spaghetti to roasted tarantula, we’ll find out why people have been eating insects and invertebrates for hundreds of years. We’ll meet some live bugs that might be on a menu somewhere as well as some animals that eat bugs. Brave participants will also have a change to try an edible snack, if desired, at the end of the program. For ages 5 and up. Register on our website starting on April 1st.

Fab Films: Penguins of Madagascar

Saturday Apr 18, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Come enjoy some great box office kids’ movies with Fab Film Saturdays at Cheshire Public Library!
Penguins of Madagascar (2014). From the creators of Madagascar comes the funniest movie of 2014, starring your favorite penguins – Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private – in a spy-tacular new film!Running Time 1 hour, 32 minutes. Rated PG. No registration required. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Sinatra and Me

Tuesday Apr 21, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Franz Douskey as he discusses his book Sinatra and Me: The Very Good Years, an intimate look at the legendary Frank Sinatra by one of his closest friends Tony Consiglio, as told to the author. Seating is limited, please register on our website.

Skype Video Chat with Friends and Family

Saturday Apr 25, 2015, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Here is your chance to “visit” that person who lives too far away to just drop in on! A member of the Rotary eClub of the Southwest will stop by the Cheshire Public Library on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00am – 1:00pm to sit with you as you make a Skype video call from his computer to the computer of a friend or family member. The webcams and microphones on both computers will let you see and hear each other–almost like sitting in the same room together!
Register on our website, sign up slots will be 30 minutes in duration.

Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale

Thursday, April 30 – Saturday, May 2, 2015, 9:30AM – 8:00PM

PREVIEW FOR FRIENDS’ MEMBERS ONLY: Wednesday Apr 29, 2015, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Remembering Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015

March 5, 2015March 3, 2015 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

Actor, writer, poet, photographer and folk singer Leonard Nimoy, most famous for his acting role in the television series Star Trek as the iconic half-breed alien Mr. Spock, died on February 27th from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.#

Most famously known as the cool and logical half-Vulcan first officer on Star Trek, Nimoy shot to fame and popularity beyond anything ever seen in television. Initially he resented his fame and the type-casting it brought him, which he discussed in his 1975 book, I Am Not Spock, but by 1995, in his sequel, I Am Spock, he had come to grips with both the character and how it had effected his life.

In addition to Star Trek, Nimoy also had a recurring role as Paris in season four and five of the original Mission: Impossible, and voiced the paranormal exploration documentary series, In Search Of… , in addition to countless television guest roles and films such as A Woman Called Golda and the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Nimoy had an extensive theater career, starring on Broadway in Equus and Vincent, a play he himself adapted about van Gogh. He became a successful director, directing not only the third and fourth installments of the Star Trek franchise, but Three Men and a Baby, the highest grossing film of 1987.

Nimoy had a life-long love of photography, one of his greatest passions. He had several books published, as well as exhibits at the R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. (Nimoy was born in Boston, and remained faithful to the area.) In addition he published several volumes of poetry, the most recent being 2002, A Lifetime of Love: Poems on the Passages of Life.

Following the poetry angle, Nimoy tried to make a singing career, putting together albums as early as 1967. He wrote the song “Maiden Wine” that he sang in the Star Trek episode “Plato’s Stepchildren.” To be dreadfully honest, some of the songs live in infamy as being so painfully bad, they’re camp. Perhaps it was just the songs chosen, or the musical direction. I was part of a room skyping with Nimoy last August, during which he sang a song for us that he had written, and not only were the lyrics beautiful, he sang it beautifully as well. Perhaps Nimoy’s voice just needed to mellow with age, but I wish I had a recording of that. Nimoy mourned the fact that even though he had quit smoking thirty years before, his COPD was a direct result of having smoked, and urged everyone to quit immediately, and better yet, never even to start.

I had seen Nimoy in person at least twice, three counting the skype, and he never failed to please a crowd. He was honest and sincere, speaking about science, space exploration, and philosophizing about it all. He never displayed the arrogance of some television stars, and never spoke poorly about costars, as others have. If he had gripes, he kept them politely to himself. The world has lost not just a television icon, but a well-rounded artist of film, theater, television, photography, voice, and print. Truly, he was someone who lived long – and prospered.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in March

March 1, 2015March 1, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

March, they say, comes in like a lion, out like a lamb. It’s safe to say that those of us who’ve been in Connecticut this winter are really ready for the lamb! While you’re waiting for the milder weather to come sweeping in, we’ve got lots of great programs to keep you busy!

Weekend Concert Series – I Love a Piano” with Paul Bisaccia

Sunday Mar 1, 2015, 3:00 PM

Local audience favorite Paul Bisaccia will return to Cheshire with a new concert, “I Love a Piano,” featuring classic composers such as Chopin, Debussy, Satie and Paderewski, as well as popular composers, including Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin and Marvin Hamlisch. This concert is free and open to the public. No registration required.

Grow Your Own Meadow

Tuesday Mar 3, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join landscape designer Kathy Connolly for a one-hour discussion on the establishment, care and feeding of a flowering meadow. She’ll discuss meadow ecology and the role of native species, look at helpful tools, and explain steps you can take from June to December to start a new meadow or encourage an existing one. Seating for this event is limited. Please register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Fab Film Saturday: “Big Hero 6”

Saturday Mar 7, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, BIG HERO 6 is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. Rated PG. Running Time 1 hour, 30 minutes.
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Phoenix Performing Arts Troupe

Sunday Mar 8, 2015, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Come enjoy this Hartford-based troupe as they perform a variety of Chinese classical and traditional dances, and teach about Chinese arts and culture. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Dinosaur Tea Party

Monday Mar 9, 2015, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Enjoy a dinosaur themed storytime with craft followed by a tea party (juice and refreshments will be served). Children are encouraged to dress up. Register on our website. For children ages 3-7 years old.

Ctrl Alt Achieve: Green Screen Fun!

Tuesday Mar 10, 2015, 4:30 PM

By using a green screen, kids will be able to bring portions of the book The Day the Crayons Quit to life. Kids will have the opportunity to dress up as their favorite crayons from the book and design and create props. By posing in front of the green screen, they will then be able to complete the scene with the addition of a background from the book. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For Children in grades K-2.

Take a Hike!

Tuesday Mar 10, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Sometimes referred to as the area’s best kept secret, the Regional Water Authority owns 27,000 acres of land in south central Connecticut, some of which is open for recreational activities with a Regional Water Authority Recreation Permit. Each recreation area is unique. Visitors may hike, jog, cross-country ski or just meander along more than 60 miles of trails through Regional Water Authority watershed lands. Come to the program to find out more! Seating for this event is limited. Please register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Storyteller: Tales of Deep-Rooted Magic

Saturday Mar 14, 2015, 2:00 PM

Storyteller Sara deBeer will present stories from cultures around the world, and tales of the magic which waits for those who venture into the woods, into the wilds, and into the deep, dark, forest. Sara’s lively storytelling is suitable for listeners of all ages and includes audience participation to keep the youngest listeners involved. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Full of Joy Yoga

Mondays Mar 16, 23, 30, 2015, 9:45 – 10:15 AM

Yoga helps children develop strong, flexible bodies while cultivating a lifetime of joy, peace and wonder. Classes with Lani Rosen of Full of Joy Yoga, combine music, games, props and stories which give everyone the benefits of yoga. For ages 3-5. Register on our website starting March 1.

Teen Time: Stop Motion Video

Friday Mar 20, 2015, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Learn to make a stop motion video using legos, play dough, and an iPad. For grades 6 through 12- no registration required -come whenever you feel like it. The more the merrier- bring your friends and have a ball at the library!

Author Talk: Jon Katz

Sunday Mar 22, 2015, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz (A Dog Year, A Good Dog, Rose In a Storm) will speak about his newest book, a memoir called Saving Simon: How a Rescue Donkey Taught Me the Meaning of Compassion. In 2011, state police notified him of a severely neglected donkey who needed attention. It was at that time that Simon entered his life and changed it forever. Hear more about Simon’s story of healing, Mr. Katz’s writing experiences, and much more. Register on our website.

Creating the Non-Stop Garden

Monday Mar 23, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

A nonstop garden doesn’t mean nonstop work. Lower maintenance is just one of the many benefits of four-season gardening. In this lecture, horticulturist Jennifer Benner will outline the benefits of creating a nonstop garden. Sit back and enjoy a botanical journey filled with inspiring photographs that will recharge your gardening batteries. Seating for this event is limited. Please register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

Edible Book Festival

Saturday Mar 28, 2015, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

What exactly is the Edible Book Festival, you may ask? It’s a chance for patrons of all ages to test their creativity and combine their love of both books and food in fun displays that will be viewed by both a panel of judges and the public. The only rules are that entries must be based on a book (any book will do!) and they must be composed of edible items. We’ll be accepting entries in three age-group categories:

Child (up to age 12)
Teen (ages 13-19)
Adult (ages 20+)

A three-person panel of impartial, non-library judges will evaluate all entries based on overall design and creativity, as well as how well entries represent their noted books. At the end of the event, one “Best in Show” prize will be awarded in each age-group category. The basic timeline for the day will be:

10:00 am – 12:00 pm participants will drop off entries at the library
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm the panel of judges will privately evaluate the entries
1:30 pm the public can begin viewing the entries
2:30 pm the winners will announced!

Registration will open on February 1st and will need to be done in-person at the Children’s desk at the library so that we can make sure all participants receive a packet of information for the event.

Weekend Concert Series: “Irish Music In America” with Atwater-Donnelly Band

Sunday Mar 29, 2015, 3:00 PM

The award-winning band Atwater-Donnelly will present a unique blend of traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance on the mountain dulcimer, banjo, tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica and more. For this very special performance, Aubrey and Elwood will be joined by John and Heidi Cerrigione on upright bass and autoharp, and Irish step-dancer Kevin Doyle. This concert is free and open to the public. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

For the Sake of the Country: Female Spies in the Civil War

Monday Mar 30, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

When you think of the role women played during the Civil War, what do you think of? Do you think of laundresses, homemakers, or nurses? Would you ever think of spies? Female spies played an essential and critical role in shaping the political, military, and social landscape. They changed the course of military battles, political intrigue, and even saved a president! Learn about four extraordinary Union and Confederate spies who risked all for the sake of their country.

Matthew Bartlett is a 2013 graduate of American Military University with a Master’s in Military History with a specialization in the American Civil War. His specialty is the battle of Gettysburg, about which he has written six books. A historian and lecturer, Matthew and his wife belong to the 14th CT CVI, Company F. He and his wife, Jenn, will appear in period attire as Allan Pinkerton and Kate Warne. Please register on our website or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4