A Special Event

Friday, October 15, will be a day to celebrate the remarkable life of Caroline Stokes, longtime library board member and the first curator of the library’s collections.

Caroline is moving south to join her daughter and all our invited to a reception in the Olga Knoepke Room from 1 to 3 pm to wish her a fond farewell. Ginny Carey has collected several of Caroline’s favorite things, including clippings from The Bee, that show Caroline’s impressive accomplishments that span the second half of the 20th Century. Caroline and her late husband Bob supported the C.H. Booth Library, the restoration of Newtown Meeting House, the founding of the Newtown League of Women Voters, The Garden Club of Newtown, Rotary Club of Newtown, and Newtown Congregational Church.

Newtown is very fortunate to have had the Stokes family settle here in Newtown in 1946. We wish Caroline a happy and fulfilling transition to her new life in North Carolina.

Please join us as we say farewell to this wonderful lady.

Now On View

*Second Floor Exhibit: The Scrapbag Quilters exhibit “Common Object, Uncommon View” is on display through October 29 on the second floor of the library during regular library hours. Please stop by to see these one of a kind creations.

*Journey Within: Authentic Voice, a healing meditative art group, is presenting an exhibition it’s calling “Journey Within” this month. Works by six members — Sharon DeJoseph, Scott Duggan, Amy Grigholm, Jackie Kelly, Jane Knox and Marion Pierce — of the meditative art group that has been meeting for more than ten years is being featured in the lower meeting room until October 29.

(See Nancy Crevier’s feature, “Authentic Voice Speaks Out On The ‘Journey Within,’” about the group and this exhibition in this week’s Enjoy section.)

*Newtowners & Their Needlework: The library’s recent request for needlework created by Newtowners has yielded some lovely results.

Longtime resident Louise Zierzow and reference librarians Joann Smith and Mary Antey have shared their cross-stitch, crocheting, and crewel work for display. Their work is featured on the second floor near The Book Nook, and we are very grateful for their generosity and welcome patrons to admire their artistry and skills.

Children’s Programs

*Register for 3-5 Year Old Story Time: Registration for story time will begin October 19 and continue through October 27.

Sessions will meet weekly beginning November 1.

Registration forms will be available at the children’s circulation desk. No phone registrations please.

Children must be residents of Newtown and at least 3 years of age on or before November 1 in order to participate.

*Sensory Story Time: Registration for Sensory Story time will take place October 19-27.

Sensory Story Time is geared for children who benefit from a multi-sensory approach to learning. Parents must remain with their child during the duration of the program.

Classes meet on Saturday mornings beginning November 6. Children must be between the ages of 3-5 and a resident of Newtown to be eligible for this free program made possible by a grant from GE Capital.

*Art Experiences: Artist and educator Randi Rote will inspire kids to create collages in the style of picture book artist Leo Lionni during two workshops.

Ages 8-10 can join Randi for the workshop on Wednesday, October 20, at 4 pm.

Class size is limited and registration can be done online. A $3 material fee is due on the day of the program.

*Science Fun: Educator Bonnie Shugrue will conduct an “Icky Science” workshop on Thursday, October 21, at 4 pm. Ages 7-10 will have the opportunity to make and play with gooey mixtures and solutions.

A $3 material fee is due the day of the program; online registration is requested. 

Young Adult Programs

*Halloween Show: The teen drama group Mask & Wig Players will present their Halloween show, “Ghosts Among Us,” on Sunday, October 24, at 3 pm.

Inspired by a tour of the library attic, the young thespians in grades 6-12 are will perform their versions of local ghost stories and spooky tales. Please join us.

Programs For Adults

*“Mark Twain, A Book Discussion Series” with Julie Stern: In this year that will see the publication of Twain’s autobiography, so scandalous that it was kept under wraps for 100 years after his death, let’s read and discuss classic works by Mark Twain and see why he may well be the greatest American novelist.

Join us on Wednesdays at 7:30 for the following titles: The  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, October 22; and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, November 10.

*Book Groups: The Daytime Book Group will discuss Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F. Saint on Monday, October 18, at 1 pm; The Evening Book Group will discuss The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway on Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 pm; and The Nonfiction Book Group will meet to discuss Lost City of Z on Tuesday, November 2, at 1 pm.

Newcomers are always welcome at any of the library’s book discussion groups.

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown. Call 203-426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org to register for any of the above listings, and for information on additional programs and offerings.