Children’s Programs

*Music with Marcia: For more than a decade, Norwalk’s Marcia Louis has entertained children and families with her hilarious musical performances. Marcia combines traditional American folksongs, stories, movements and dance with her vast array of instruments and rollicking good time.

Marcia will be visiting our library this weekend. On Saturday, April 5, from 2 to 3 pm, she will be performing be performing songs from all five of her albums as well as some her new ones. Her performance is a treat for all ages. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

*Spring Craft Workshop: Marie Walker will conduct a spring craft workshop for children ages 6 and older on Saturday, April 12, from 1 to 2:30 pm. A sign up sheet will be available at the children’s desk.  A $2 material fee is due upon registration, which must be done in person. No phone registrations will be accepted.

Adult Programs

*Free Tax Help: Every Saturday during tax season free help is available at the library from 10 am to 1:30 pm in the Genealogy Room. No appointment is necessary. Just drop in.

*Party with Sydney Edison: The Garden Club of Newtown will be hosting a talk, book signing, and reception with master gardener and author Sydney Eddison on Friday, April 4, at 7 pm. Mrs Eddison will speak about “The Rainbow Contained” – container gardening with an eye for color. Afterwards there will be a book signing with copies of Mrs Eddison’s latest book, A Gardener’s Palette, available for purchase.

The garden club will then be hosting a lovely Victorian tea reception with a large assortment of delicious treats. Reserve a place by calling the library. This program is free and the public is invited to attend.

*Computer Classes Continue: Dan Tannenbaum from Newtown Computer Training Center will teach a computer class for beginners on Saturday, April 5, from 9 am to noon. This is a hands-on course with the focus on mouse and keyboard skills.

On Saturday, April 26, a more advanced course will be taught from 9 am to noon.

Sign up for either of these courses by calling the library. There is a $10 charge for the intermediate course. The beginner’s course is free.

*Poetry Reading: International peace worker Gerard Brooker will give a poetry reading on Sunday, April 6, at 2 pm. He will be reading from his collection, A Quiet Conversation, a recently published collection of poems which are a tribute to the ordinary things of life including love, desire and death. Mr Brooker recently retires as the chairman of the English department from Staples High School in Westport, now writes poetry and spends time on international peace work. He has traveled to more than 55 countries, most recently to Hanoi, Vietnam. Refreshments will be served.

*Mimi Fast to Visit the Library: On Friday, April 11, at 7:30 pm, Mimi Fast will introduce a video featuring her late husband, the author Howard Fast. In the video Mr Fast will provide some interesting comments on April Morning, the book being featured in all of these Newtown Reads programs. The video will be followed by a question and answer period. Mrs Fast plans to share some wonderful insights on her husband’s life and works.

Join us for a very special evening with an engaging and dynamic speaker you won’t want to miss. Please RSVP by calling the library if you would like to attend.

*You’ve Read the Book, Now Let’s Talk About It!

 A variety of discussions are taking place at the library during April on April Morning. Bring a friend or neighbor and join some other Newtowners in some good conversation. Whether you loved the book or hated it we want to hear what you think. Discussion leaders have done their homework and are ready with some great background material and good discussion questions that have no right or wrong answers.

Discussions are scheduled for Sunday, April 6, from 2 to 4 pm, with Margaret Brown and Liz Arneth leading the discussion designed for families; Monday, April 7, at noon (bring a brown bag lunch if you wish), with Cecilia Dalzell and Cheryl Wicks; Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 pm, with Terry Stoller and Joy Kopeks; Thursday, April 10, at 1 pm, with Linda Mayo Elsenhans; and Wednesday, April 23, at 7:30 pm, with Elizabeth Adam and Janice Fields.

*Hike in Putnam Park: On Saturday, April 12, beginning at 1 pm, Town Historian Dan Cruson will lead a hike through Putnam Park in Redding, site of a winter encampment for Revolutionary War soldiers.  The hike is about a mile long and the trail through the park is not too difficult. Please call to let us know if you will be joining us, and also if you need directions to Putnam Park. This is another program coinciding with the Newtown READS programs.

*Seth Thomas and His Wooden Clockworks: Journey back in time on Monday, April 14, at 7:30 pm, when Tim Bruce visits the library to speak on “Seth Thomas and His Wooden Clockworks.” See how Mr Bruce unites the delicate craft of today with a Connecticut history that reaches back almost 200 years. This program is free and open to the public.

Call the library at 426-4533 to register for any of its programs or for additional information. The library’s winter hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm, Friday from noon to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.