Children’s Programs

*Hands on Science: What’s The Buzz?

Science educator and Sandy Hook resident Laurie Borst will lead her next Hands-On Science Workshop for children ages 7–10 on Wednesday, October 19, at 4 pm. Make a musical instrument and explore how sound is made during this one-hour workshop. Register online; a $3 material fee is required.

Additional workshops on Wednesdays at 4 pm will include: November 2, Kaleidomania (create colorful kaleidoscopes and investigate the properties of light); and November 19, Target Practice (design a catapult to use in a competition).

*Registration for the next series of story times for children ages 3–5 will be held October 19–October 26. This six-week session of stories, songs, rhymes, and a simple craft will be held October 31 to December 12. Children must be residents of Newtown and at least 3 years old on or before October 31. Forms will be available at the children’s circulation desk on October 19. No phone registrations please.

*Registration for Sensory Story Time will be held October 19–26. Sensory Story Time is open to children who are 3–5 years old and residents of Newtown. Led by Jessica Horvath, speech and language pathologist, this multisensory approach to story time uses participation, music, movement, and fine motor activities. The group will meet for six Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 am, beginning on November 5.

*Hooked on Llamas: Come visit the library on Saturday, October 22, when we will be hosting llamas from Country Quilt Llama Farm.

Hear stories about llamas and meet the real life counterpart during programs at 1 and 2 pm. The programs are for ages 3–9 and their parents, and online registration is requested.

*Spook House Workshop: Artist Katie Stevenson will get you started with all of the materials you need to make a spook house just in time for Halloween.

Ages 7–10 are invited to join her on Thursday, October 27, at 4 pm. Online registration is requested for the one-hour program, and a $5 material fee will be due on the day of the program.

*Get in the spirit of Halloween and prepare to be scared. Retired teacher John Renjilian will read scary stories on Friday, October 28, at 4 pm, for the brave 8–10- year-olds.

*Connecticut Loves to Read Day is a statewide initiative sponsored by the Northwest Reading Council on Saturday, October 15. Newtown dad Curtis Urbina reads silly stories for ages 3–7, from 1 to 1:30 pm; young adult skit based on the book, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, 1:30 to 1:45 pm; Brookfield High School robots team, The Disco Techs, and their robot, Disco Bot, 2 to 2:30 pm; and Pumpernickel Puppets presents Sir George and the Dragon for ages 3 and up, 3 to 3:45 pm.

YA Programs

*Creative Writing (five sessions): Poetry for young adults will take place on Monday evenings, October 17 to November 21, from 6 to 8. Register online; no fee required.

Liz Arneth leads the group, assisted by Jan Bernard, with teen mentor Emily Ashbolt. Limited to ten participants in grades 6–8.

 *Duct Tape Crafts: Unwind your imagination with artist Katie Stevenson on Monday, October 17, from 3:30 to 5 pm. The program is limited to 15 young people in grades 5–12.

Bring a clean, empty pet food bag and turn it into a great tote bag, or make one of Katie’s other neat projects — wristbands, roses, sandals, iPod/cellphone holder or whatever! A $6 material fee is due on the day of the program.

*Tellabration! The annual worldwide Festival of Storytelling for adults and families is coming up on Friday, November 4, at 7:30 pm. This year’s featured performers are Connie Rockman and Les Julian, as well as our own favorite, Martha Bishop. Join us for an evening of imagination, music and thrilling adventures. Register online.

Programs For Adults

*Getting to Know Your PC Laptop for Seniors: On Friday, October 21, from 9 to 11 am, Mike Ingber will give a free, informative presentation to get you better acquainted with your laptop, including learning parts of your computer, preventing viruses, Internet access choices, enjoy music and movies. Bring your laptop.

Registration is requested. Use the side/handicapped entrance from the rear parking lot since the library is not open at this time of day.

*High Sea Adventures with Julie Stern: Personal courage and fortitude are matched against the violence of nature and the wickedness of men: questions of justice, responsibility, and leadership are framed in these stirring tales of action and adventure on the high seas.

On Tuesday, October 25, 7:30 pm, in the Antiques Room, Julie will lead a discussion on Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff.

The series will continue on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm: November 15, Sea Wolf by Jack London; and December 6, Secret Sharer, Typhoon, and Youth by Joseph Conrad.

*Get Clued In: A lecture series for mystery writers of all ages and with any level of experience. Most sessions are Tuesday evenings at 7 pm.

October 18: Working on Mysteries Without Any Clues. Historical writer Michael Dooling will explain how he researched the disappearances of three women — cold cases each more than 60 years old — who were each hiking alone in New England when last seen. Presentation, Q&A, and a book signing of his most recent release, Clueless in New England: The Unsolved Disappearances of Paula Welden, Connie Smith and Katherine Hull, will follow.

October 25: Arming the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: What writers need to know. An officer from the Newtown Department of Police Services will explain the various firearms that your criminals and protagonists might use. Presentation to be followed by Q&A.

On Friday, October 28, Dr Elaine Pagliaro, a forensic scientist at The Henry Lee Institute of Forensic Science, will present Forensic Science in the Pursuit of Justice: Famous Cases. She will discuss cases where forensic science played a major role in a conviction or exoneration. Presentation will be followed by Q&A.

November 1: Poisons To Die For. Dr Kathleen Moody, a board certified veterinarian and lifelong murder mystery aficionado, will discuss clinical signs and evidence of different poisons to aid your detective in determining the potential poisonous causes of murder. Presentation will be followed by Q&A.

Online registration is requested for each workshop, and can be done through the library’s online calendar.

*Searching For Jobs: Your New Resume: On Friday, October 28, from 9 to 11 am, professional trainer Diane McKeever will teach up to ten students how to create a resume, save it to a flash drive, upload, cut and paste, and it attach to an e-mail. Students will create or customize resumes using templates. Bring your own or borrow one during the workshop. This class will be repeated on December 9.

*Getting Oriented: A Novel Travelogue Through Japan.

On Wednesday, October 26, at 7 pm, local author Wally Wood will take us on a tour from Kyoto to Hakone to Nikko and conclude in Tokyo. He will be following the route of the fictional tour group from his new novel, Getting Oriented. Participants will “visit” shrines and temples, famous sights and modern Japan and talk about some popular tourist activities, such as buying amulets and posting a prayer plaque.

Copies of the book are $10 and will be available for purchase at the time of the talk.

*Indian Cooking Made Simple: Parul Patel will teach a two-part cooking class on Indian cooking on Thursday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

Notes From Our Curator

*Evan Craybas, a student at Head O’ Meadow School, has assembled a wide array of his Thomas the Tank Engine wooden trains that will delight young and old alike is in the hall by the children’s department.

*Darlene Spencer’s collection of Newtown’s symbol, the rooster, is on display. Her collection spans the early 20th Century to the present, from decorative objects to useful ones, such as dinnerware and salt and pepper shakers.

 C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street. Call 203-426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org for full details on or to register for the above programs as well as others that are being offered.