Children’s Programs

*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.

*CT CHIP Child ID Program is sponsored by Hiram Lodge #18 of Newtown. Parents or guardians receive a “Purple Pack” consisting of a brief recorded interview of their child, a digital still photograph, fingerprints of both hands, a dental bite impression, and a cheek swab DNA/scent sample for safekeeping.

This free opportunity will be Saturday, October 29, noon to 5 pm in the meeting room.

*Hands on Science: What’s The Buzz?

Science educator and Sandy Hook resident Laurie Borst will lead her next Hands-On Science Workshop, Kaleidomania, for children ages 7–10 on Wednesday, November 2, at 4 pm. Create colorful kaleidoscopes and investigate the properties of light during this one-hour workshop. Register online; a $3 material fee is required.

An additional workshop on Wednesday, November 19, at 4 pm, will be Target Practice (design a catapult to use in a competition).

*The World of Monet with artist Kristine Humber: Children will paint in the style of Monet using watercolors or oil pastels. Each child will make a piece of a larger painting to be displayed on the wall in the children’s department.

The program will take place on Thursdays from 4 to 5 pm: November 3 for children ages 5–8 and November 17 for ages 8–10. Register online; a $5 material fee is due on the day of the program.

*Instrument Petting Zoo: Children ages 3 and up can explore the violin and cello in this hands-on demonstration with music educator Kaite D’Angelo on Sunday, November 6, from 3 to 4 pm. Katie will talk about the Suzuki method and why it works, even with very young children. No registration required.

 

YA Programs

*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.

*Make a bracelet or necklace using bits of bone and beads strung together in creative ways. Artist Katie Stevenson will lead the group on Monday, November 14, from 3:30 to 5 pm. The class is limited to 15 participants in grades 5–12 (age 10 & up). Registration a must; a $6 material fee required.

*Young Writer’s Salon will be Sunday, November 20, at 3 pm. Writers of poetry or short stories in grades 6–10 will read their original works to an audience in a coffeehouse setting. Turn in a copy of your reading by November 14 to Margaret Brown, YA librarian. The Newtown community is invited to attend.

 

Programs For Adults

*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, November 15, 7:30 pm, in the Antiques Room, Julie will lead a discussion on Sea Wolf by Jack London. The series continues on Tuesday, December 6, at 7:30 pm, with Secret Sharer, Typhoon, and Youth by Joseph Conrad.

*Get Clued In — Poisons To Die For: A lecture for mystery writers of all ages and with any level of experience.

On Tuesday, November 1, at 7 pm, 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.

*Whatever the Cost: One Woman’s Battle to Find Peace with Her Body: Jenifer Beaudean became a cadet in 1987 in only the 11th class to include women at the United States Military Academy. She talks of her struggle to assimilate into this bastion of male competition as she engaged in the never-ending battle to make the uniform look good, societal pressure, family comments, and the West Point quest for perfection. All this quickly evolved into an eating disorder.

On Wednesday, November 2, at 7 pm, she will talk about her new book, Whatever the Cost and the remarkable journey that concludes with Jenifer’s victory over her bulimia and a message of hope for all women. Register online; books will be available for purchase.

*Basic Computer Skills for Seniors: Learn basic computer skills: the mouse, clicking, how to type a letter, what the Internet is and how to access it. For the true beginner! The class is Friday, November 4, 9 to 11 am on the third floor and will be repeated on November 18. Call to register.

*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.

*Looking to do something new and exciting in your life? Barbara Traynor will discuss her book Second Career Volunteer, a first-hand account of achieving verve — the special ability to pull something off with panache and wild, chaotic, unpredictable passion in the reckless pursuit of pleasure, no matter how outrageous.

On Tuesday, November 22, at noon, learn about organizations in the United States and other parts of the world who utilize volunteers to supplement staff, offering housing, meals, and even stipends. It is a lifestyle worth investigating. A light lunch will be served; reservations are required.

*Amy McKearney taught skiing in Connecticut for more than ten years and was a member of PSIA-AASI, national organizations of skiing and snowboarding instructors, and now she wants to share all she has learned with parents who want to teach their children some of the skills. The workshop will be Tuesday, November 22, at 7 pm. Register is required.

*On Friday, December 2, from 9 to 11 am, on the third floor, Diane McKeever will explore the Google search engine for online job sites and help determine the sites for different employment levels. Signup is limited to ten.

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

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 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.

Curator Mary Thomas would like to create a display of some of the work of 20th Century artists Harrie Wood and Rhys Caparn. If anyone owns any artworks by these Newtown residents, and would share them for a brief time with the community, call to the library.

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.