What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in September

Summer may be over, but lots of great programming continues at Cheshire Library! Here are some of the special programs we’ve got lined up this month:

SAT Preparation Seminar

Tuesday Sep 2, 2014, 6:30 PM  –  8:00 PM

Prominent language arts tutor, Ellis Ratner will address all aspects of the Reading and Writing Sections, including sentence completion, reading comprehension, grammar and essay writing.  Attendees will also receive, free of charge, and SAT Preparation Primer. Register on our website.

 

Reckless: True Story of the Legendary Korean War Pony

Thursday Sep 4, 2014, 7:00 PM  –  8:00 PM

Janet Barrett, author of They Called Her Reckless — A True Story of War, Love And One Extraordinary Horse, will appear to discuss the story of Reckless, a small Korean pony who became a real-life hero during the Korean War.  She saved many lives, raised spirits and won the love and respect of all who knew her.  Reckless hauled ammo, brought back dead and wounded Marines, boosted the troops’ morale, was awarded two Purple Hearts and finally brought back to the U.S., where she lived out her years at Camp Pendleton, California. Register on our website.

 

Zumba for Kids

Saturday Sep 6, 2014, 1:00 PM  –  2:00 PM

Join Tracy Brody in a great Zumba program designed just for kids!
Zumba is an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired dance-fitness program. Classes specifically for kids are formatted in a way to make getting fit fun. Kids can just let loose and be themselves! Register on our website.

 

Cheshire Cats Classics Club – The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford

Monday Sep 8, 2014, 7:00 PM  –  8:00 PM

The Cheshire Cats Classics Club will resume after a summer break on Monday September 8 at 7 p.m. at the Cheshire Public Library. The book club will read The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford in honor of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Register on our website. Copies of this book may be borrowed at the library.

 

Our Health in the Balance: Toxic Lawn Pesticides

Tuesday Sep 9, 2014, 7:00 PM  –  8:00 PM

Concerned about your health, your children’s health, your pet’s health, and the health of the environment?  Find out more when presenter Dr. Jerry Silbert, a physician trained in Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, and Environmental Health,  speaks about toxic lawn pesticides and chemical trespass.  Register on our website.

 

Builder’s Brigade

Wednesdays, Sep 10 and 24 2014,  4:00 PM  –  5:00 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! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

 

Silly Song Sing-a-long

Screen Shot 2014-08-18 at 4.54.37 PMSaturday Sep 13, 2014, 10:30 AM  –  11:30 AM

Silly Song Sing-a-long is a mix of popular children’s songs, musical games, dance movements, and rhythms. Children and adults will be encouraged to participate and act silly along with Edward Leonard and his guitars, drums, and maracas.  Register on our website.

 

Fab Film Saturdays: ERNEST AND CELESTINE

Saturday Sep 20, 2014, 2:00 PM  –  4:00 PM

Ernest & Celestine (2012).  Academy Award Nominee (Best Animated Feature) and featuring the voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, and more! This is the gorgeously animated story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a mouse named Celestine. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Bring your own snacks!
Running Time 1 hour, 20 minutes.  Rated PG.

 

Occult and Demonology in the Civil War

Monday, Sep 22, 2014,  7:00 PM

Join Matthew Bartlett, local author and Gettysburg historian, as he discusses demonology and the occult in the Civil War. Register on our website.

 

Halloween Science Workshop – 2 Sessions

Saturday Sep 27, 2014, 1:15 PM and 2:30 PM

Explore a Halloween skeleton, the science of darkness, the inner workings of Halloween toys and gadgets, and live spiders and other scary creepy-crawlies in a fun hands-on workshop conducted by local naturalist and amateur scientist, Eric Nelson. Register on our website.

 

Small Business Lending
Monday Sep. 29, 2014,  7:00pm

Sheldon L. Pollock, Banking Consultant and former Bank CEO, will explain the points that a business owner should consider when applying for a small business loan. Register on our website.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in August

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.

 

 

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in July

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

Screen Shot 2014-06-27 at 3.51.20 PMJoin 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

Fantastic programs, new services, and of course, Summer Reading are coming your way in June!

Social Media Marketing Made Simple and
LinkedIn for Business
Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:00pm

This information-packed seminar offers a basic review of the essential strategies and best practices an entrepreneur should understand to successfully use social media and LinkedIn. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 

More Information
Register for this program

 

Survivors Swing Band
Sunday, June 8th at 4:00pm
The Survivors Swing Band, a 7-piece professional jazz band, based in Connecticut, plays classic melodies from an era gone by–hot tunes and soothing ballads of the Swing Era– plus many of the wonderful melodies from the two decades that followed. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

More Information

 

Cooking with Chef John Bencivengo
Wednesday, June 18th at 6:30pm
Chef John Bencivengo of Chowder Pot lll will prepare 6 delicious dishes for you & will give out copies of the recipes. In addition, Chowder Pot lll will donate three Raffle Prizes you can win the evening of the event. There will be a donation fee of $5.00 per person to be paid at the door on the evening of the event to cover material costs. Seating is limited.  Please register.

More Information
Register for this program

 

Teen Games Drop-in
Friday, June 20th at 2:30pm
No registration required. 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,  

More Information

Visit the Teen Page of our website!

 

Summer Reading Program
FIZZ, BOOM, READ! – will begin on Monday, June 23rd. We have a great summer planned for readers of all ages, including a wonderful line-up of fun kids’ programs that often have a science theme. And for those of you who are fans of “the Cheshire Library Cat,” we have some really cool t-shirts as giveaways again this year!

So be sure to look on our web site for information about how to sign-up for our online summer reading program – or come into the library and the children’s staff will be happy to answer any questions you have.

More information

Visit the Kids Page of our website!

 

Fab Film Saturdays
Saturday, June 28th at 2:00pm

How to Train Your Dragon. Hiccup is a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends one of his deadliest foes – a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. No registration required!
More information

Visit the Kids Page of our website!

 

Stream Videos
Now Available!

OverDrive, your source for free downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, has a new collection available: videos! You can borrow and watch free shows, movies, and more from the library’s digital collection right in your web browser without having to download files or use special software. We also just purchased Sesame Street videos for our streaming videos collection!

More Information

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New Circulation Software at the Library
Monday, June 2nd

The library will be upgrading its software to a next-generation technology platform. This will enable us to offer new services in a rapid and cost-effective manner. We are working with the system provider to convert the current system to the new platform while ensuring minimal disruption of patron services. As with implementing any new enterprise-level software, the library may experience intermittent service issues during the brief transition period.
More Information

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Summer Saturday Hours

The library will be open Saturday mornings from July 12 through August 23, from 9:30 a.m. To 1:00 p.m.
Come on in to cool off or grab a book for summer reading fun!

Summer Calendar

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in May

Another  great lineup of programs scheduled for May, including our semi-annual Book Sale!

Book Sale!

May 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Join the fun and save on great books!  This is the time to stock up  on summer reading.  See the biggest and best selection of bargain priced books!  We have something for everyone from popular current bestsellers to children’s books to great literature. The Friends have also added a large collection of vintage books to the Spring Sale. More Information

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Gardeners’ Best Friends: Websites & Books to Grow By
Tuesday May 6th at 7:00pm

Join us for conversation, books, and websites to help you grow your best garden ever. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
More Information
Register for this program

Visit our Green Thumb board on Pinterest!

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Anime Club Xtra
Tuesday May 13th at 6:00pm

Full-length Anime movies and a wider variety of Anime shows will be offered for your viewing pleasure! High school age and up. No registration required! More Information

Visit the Teen Page of our website!

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Afghan Post
Wednesday May 14th at 7:00pm

Adrian Bonenberger, author of Afghan Post, will talk about his two tours of duty in Afghanistan & the things he learned about heroism, leadership & survival. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
More Information
Register for this program

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Fab Film Saturdays
Saturday May 17th at 2:00pm

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. The magical, mythical adventures of teenager Percy Jackson – son of the Greek god Poseidon – continue in this heroic, action-packed thrill ride! No registration required!
More information

Visit the Kids Page of our website!

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Neil Fitzpatrick, Classical Guitar
Sunday May 18th at 4:00pm
Guitarist Neil Fitzpatrick returns to the Cheshire Public Library for our May Sunday Showcase Concert. No registration required! Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

More Information

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Vegetable Gardening Basics
Tuesday May 20th at 7:00pm
Grow vegetables all year long! Learn about selecting the site, building the garden, planting, tending & harvesting. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. More Information
Register for this program
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Joseph Pierce & the 14th CT Volunteer Infantry
Wednesday May 21th at 7:00pm

Civil war reenactor and author Irving Moy will present the story of Joseph Pierce & the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  More Information
Register for this program