Stage, and editor of ten theatre-related books. This program is free and funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library a n d t h e M e r i d e n Foundation. All are welcome.
Meriden Public Library will be hosting the program Gettysburg: One Woman’s War performed by Michèle LaRue on Saturday, November 9 at 3:00 pm in the Griffin Room.
The performance consists of three stories from Elsie Singm aster’s classic Gettysburg. The stories are ”July the First” – War comes to Gettysburg – where are the armies? “The Battleground” – Lincoln comes to Gettys-burg – where will it end? and “Mary Bowman” – Sightseers come to Gettysburg – where has it led?
Singmaster’s 1913 short
story collection vividly explores the physical and emotional terrain of a Civil War icon. With towns-woman Mary Bowman, live the war and its legacy, from the cannons’ first roar to its echoes a half century on.
Michèle LaRue has a degree in Acting from the University of Kansas and gained extensive acting experience while “making the rounds” in New York City. She has worked off-stage as well performing marketing research and editorial work for the pres-tigious Theatre Projects Consultants, writer-editor for Theatre Crafts maga-zine, senior editor at Back
Gettysburg: One Woman’s War
Origami With Day
Join us on Saturday, November 2 at 1:00 pm in the Griffin Room for an Origami workshop. Day Panyasith will be teaching us how to make Christmas ornaments.This class is open to adults and children ages 8 and up and accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This class is free and all are welcome.
This program is funded by the Meriden Foundation and the Friends of the Meriden Public Library. Please reserve a seat by contacting the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349, email [email protected] or
v i s i t
www.meridenlibrary.org and sign up on our adult calendar.
November 2013 Www.meridenlibrary.org
Meriden Public Library
Mark yourcalendars:
Dec. 2—World Crisis and
the Pathway to Peace
Dec. 9—Russian Duo (music program) Dec. 11—Secrets to
Permanent Weight Loss
The Central CT Civic Youth Orchestra will be performing at the library in December. Watch for the date!
Inside this issue:
Simplifying the Financial Aid Proc-ess
2
Strategies and Re-sources for Healthy Aging
2
Saving the Farm 2
Art of Stained Glass in Meriden Churches
3
Rockets’ Red Glare 4
Children’s Library Teen Programs 4 5 Friends of the Library News 6
The Library will be closed on Monday, November 11
to observe Veterans Day.
Meriden Public Library will be hosting the program “Simplifying the Financial Aid Process” by Jennifer Philips on Monday, No-vember 4 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room.
This seminar will provide parents of college bound children with tips on securing the best possible financial aid package. T h r o u g h o u t t h e presentation, Ms. Philips will explain the various stu-dent loans, grants, and scholarships available, the critical financial aid forms
and deadlines, the various components of a financial aid offer, ways to shrink college costs, and how to best compare and appeal
offers in extenuating circumstances.
Jennifer Philips was the Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Fairfield University and has been helping parents and stu-dents navigate through the financial aid process for the past seven years. Two years ago she took on the position of Education Director for the Association
o f B u i l d e r s a n d C o n t r a c t o r s . T h i s experience in combination with the work she did at Fairfield University has given her a greater perspective on financing the various types of education that are out there.
This program is free and funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library a n d t h e M e r i d e n Foundation.
Dudley farm in Guilford, CT but it is also a story of ten generations of the Dudley family and how each strug-gled to survive and prosper, each in their own way. This program is cosponsored by the Meriden Historical Society
Author James Powers will be presenting his book Saving the Farm: A Journey through Time, Place and Redemption on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room.
This book is not only about the history and preservation of the
Simplifying the Financial Aid Process
Saving the Farm
Strategies and Resources for Healthy Aging
ing at MidState Medical Center will speak about the benefits of the Center, re-sources available to sen-iors in the community and how to keep seniors inde-pendent.The Connecticut Center for Healthy Aging, a not for profit member of Central
Connecticut Senior Health Services, is a resource and assessment center designed to enhance access to services and information related to at-taining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers
Join the CT Center for Healthy Aging for a pres-entation on "Strategies and Resources for Healthy Ag-ing" on Tuesday, No-vember 12, 2013 at 2:00PM in the Griffin Room.
A representative of the new CT Center for Healthy
Ag-Download free music weekly using your Meriden Library card.
Click on the Freegal logo to learn more.
Click on the Zinio logo to start downloading the latest Magazines. All you need is your Meriden Library card.
Meriden Public Library is hosting the program The Art of Stained Glass in Meriden Churches by Amy Prescher on Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 pm in the Griffin Room.
Ms. Prescher is an art and architectural historian who teaches art appreciation and art history at Middlesex Community College and CCSU. She has a
certification in historic preservation from the University of Bamberg, Germany, and graduate degrees in art history from Yale.
Ms. Prescher serves on the Historic District Commission in Berlin and is an enthusiastic advocate of C o n n e c t i c u t c u l t u r a l resources.
Her Meriden art appreciation class usually does drawings of Meriden buildings and they have a church tour at St. Mary's which started her interest in stained glass.
This program is free and funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Foundation. All are welcome.
lousy, the irate business-m a n b a n k r o l l e d h i s son-in-law’s first major production, hoping he would fail. But this brilliant study of c h i l d h o o d n o t o n l y succeeded but changed the course of cinema history.
Cosponsored by Castle Craig Adult Learning Center.
F r i d a y , November 15 1:00 pm In the Griffin Room “The 400 Blows” When critic F r a n c o i s T r u f f a u t complained to his movie mogul father-in-law that too many French films were
M o n d a y , November 18 at 1:00 pm in the Griffin Room “The African Queen”
Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart sail down steamy African
The Art of Stained Glass in Meriden Churches
Movies with Critic Richard Alleva
The Rockets Red Glare
The body of the program is a b o u t C o n n e c t i c u t ' s involvement in the war, particularly when the Royal Navy took control of Long Island Sound, and repeat-edly harassed Americans on their own shores . . . and C o n n e c t i c u t Y a n k e e s r e s p o n d e d w i t h asymmetrical warfare and the terror weapons of the era.
Dr. Gordinier has a Ph.D in American History from UConn, a Masters in American History from L ehig h Uni ve rs i t y, a Masters in Education from Trenton State College and a Bachelors in Education from West Chester State College. This program is free and funded by the Friends of the Meriden Public Library and the Meriden Foundation. All are welcome.
Author Glenn Gordinier will be visiting Meriden Public Library on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 pm to present his book The Rock-ets’ Red Glare.
This presentation begins with the whys and where-fores of the United States declaring war in 1812, and concludes with the legacies of that war.
rivers to win World War I for the British Empire. Poet-critic-novelist James Agee and his favorite director John Huston made this story both a delightful comedy and a rattling good adventure.
Cosponsored by Castle Craig Adult Learning Center.
Chess Club
Wednesday, November 66:30 pm in the Seminar Room. Bring your chess boards and play a game with new opponents.
Writer’s Network
Wednesday, November 6 and November 20 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Cook Room.The Tomie dePaola Chil-dren’s Library at the Meri-den Public Library welcomes children ages 6-12 to our monthly LEGO Block Party on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.
This month’s program is a Challenge Month.
Children will be challenged to build a boat from LEGO
blocks that will float on
water. Completed LEGO block creations will be put on
display in the Children’s Library.
Registration not required and
l a t e a r r i v a l s a r e welcome. For more information, please e-mail M i s s G r e t c h e n a t [email protected] or call the Children’s Library at (203) 630-6347
Monsters University Saturday, Nov. 23
2:30 pm In the Griffin Room
pit”, and show off your mighty muscles and fancy footwork in the Superhero Training Camp!
A superhero-themed story-time begins at 1:30pm for kids in grades K-2. Parents Superheroes unite! Join us
for a super time on Friday, November 29, 2013. Drop in between 11am and 3pm to create your very own superhero mask and wrist guards, walk over a “lava
should bring a camera to capture the adventures of these young heroes! For more information, please call Miss Gretchen at the Tomie dePaola Children’s Library at (203) 630-6347.
LEGO Block Party Movies at the Library
Superhero Party!
Live Theater Performance for Children — “A Christmas Carol”
The Hampstead Stage Com-pany's performance begins at 10:30am in the Griffin Room. Tickets for this per-formance will be available in t h e T o m i e d e P a o l a C h i l d r e n ’ s L i b r a r y beginning October 23.
For more information, please call the Tomie dePaola Children’s Library at (203) 630-6347.
The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, and his journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas, comes to life during a festive live theater performance on Saturday, November 16, 2013 perfect for children K and up.
Children’s Storytimes
There are still some openings in our storytimes. Visit the Tomie dePaola Children's Library or call (203) 630-6347for more information or to register.
Museum Pass Reminder
As we get closer to school breaks and holidays, remember that the Library's Mu-seum Pass Program can get you into select local attractions and muMu-seums for free or at a reduced rate. This program is made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Meriden Public Library. For more information, visit the Tomie dePaola Children's Library or call (203) 630-6347
Come and duel with your friends at our monthly Yu-Gi-Oh! meetup on Monday, November 25th in Griffin Room B from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. If you have any questions contact Melissa [email protected] or call 203-238-2347
Come join the Teen Anime Club on Friday, November 22nd from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in the Griffin Room.
This month we're watching a show about Haruhi, a scholarship student at the very fancy Ouran High School. One day she acci-dentally breaks an antique vase and now must work at the school's Host Club to pay back the money.
We will also decorate cupcakes and cookies. This program is geared towards teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18. Registration is not required. Snacks and drinks will be provided. If you have any questions con-t a c con-t M e l i s s a at [email protected] or call 203-238-2347.
Calling all teen writers! In celebration of National Novel Writing Month the Meriden Public Library will be having a new writing group for teens between the ages of 13 to 18.
Come meet other teen writers, share tips, techniques and even some of your own writing. The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 19th from 3-4 pm in the Cook Room. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
If you have any questions contact Melissa [email protected] or call 203-238-2347
Yu-Gi-Oh! Teen Anime Club
Teen Writing Group
Cuentacuentos
tener éxito. Todos están invitados a escuchar cuentos en espanol y en inglés y participar en una actividad
d e a r t e
(crafts). Habrá refescos y bocadillos. Gratuitos. Story hour is a fun program for families with preschoolers and children up to age eight. Reading together helps prepare children for
success in school. Everyone is invited to listen to sto-ries in English and Spanish a n d p a r t i c i p a t e i n crafts. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Free. For more information, please visit the Tomie dePaola Chil-dren’s Library or call (203) 630-6347.
Cuentacuentos – Bilingual storyhour -First and third Saturdays of each month 11am – noon in the Chil-dren’s Library.
La hora de cuento es un programa divertido para fa-milias con niños pre-escolares y hasta los ochos años. Leyendo juntos los niños se preparan para ir a l a e s c u e l a y
Meriden Page Turners Romance Readers Scrabble
Impossible Lives ofGreta Wells by
Andrew Sean Greer Thursday, Nov. 14 11:00 AM in The Seminar Room
Monday, November 18 3:30 pm In the Seminar Room Anyone who enjoys romance
novels is welcome.
Monday, November 4 and November 18 2:00 pm
In the Cook Room All skill levels welcome.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MERIDEN LIBRARY WILL BE HELD Monday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Marion Cook Room at the library
Minutes of the meeting held on October 28, 2013:
Attendees: President June Vandal, Vice President John Kenney, Secretary Phyllis Donovan, Treasurer Roger Vandal, Library Director Karen Roesler, Gil Alwang, David Butterfield, Susan Chappo, Gerry and Joan Dion, Linda Hanmer, Larry Kibner, Roger Kemp, Maureen Purcell and David Skinnon.
Meeting minutes for the September meeting were accepted as sent.
Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer’s report for September was explained and accepted for filing.
President’s Report: June thanked the 15 individual members who worked on the book sale with special thanks to Mario Cavallo for his poetry book signing and John Banks’ successful special membership drive with refreshments which brought in five new members and $146 in membership dues ($100, $25, and three $7 dues.)
Committee Reports
Bookstore: Next month, Christmas books, both craft and gift how-tos and fiction, will be featured at half price as well as “warm and fuzzy” romances (Macomber, Wiggs, etc.) along with Tom Clancy in the “gone but not forgotten” department. September profit was $505 and October store sales so far are just $384 with a week to go. Since the book sale, daily profits average $11 a day but will pick up as people shop for pristine books to give as holiday gifts.
Publicity: Ads for the book sale, submitted early, ran belatedly in the calendar, briefs and Front Porch sections of the Record-Journal and in the FOCL book sale listings online. Roger Kemp was away so the usual flyers weren’t distributed to local agencies. We will explore getting large outdoor signs made for strategic placement for future sales. We voted to pay $75 for a quarter page in the Kiwanis Kapers program.
Internet Sales: Sue Chappo is now helping Linda and Gerry with internet listings. Thirty eight books sold in Sep-tember for a profit of $259.78. Top sellers were “Cancer Management” for $49 and “Midsummer” for $22.
Membership: George Hamrah, 91, remembered to send in his dues recently. The November newsletter will offer members a chance to renew their memberships for next year before the end of this year for tax purposes.
Friends of Connecticut Libraries: Karen reminded us that the November FOCL conference will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central State University. She will attend and anyone interested may contact her for details. Selling books online and getting rid of excess books will be discussed.
Library Director: Karen has been library director for six years now. She requested that the Friends pay for museum passes to the Roger Williams Zoo ($110) and New Britain Museum of American Art ($75.) Request approved. She announced that people may download both free music and free magazines from the library’s website using a valid library card. LION is paying for it.
She is planning a new creative project, “Maker Space” to promote creativity, using folks from “Hacker Space” in the Enterprise Building to share ideas. She wants to buy a 3D printer for $2200 to be funded, along with staff training, by the Meriden Foundation
The library board approved the refinishing of two large oak tables (9 feet by 39”) from the old library to be set up and used in the present library.
Old Business: June announced that our recent three-day book sale brought in $895 ($347 Thursday, $290 Friday, and $258 Saturday) and that profits had dwindled over the past three sales. Gerry Dion suggested that we should try holding future book sales in the book store to cut down on moving stock, closing the store a day to stock up for the sale and again a day (or two) after the sale to replenish the shelves. We agreed to give it a try in the spring as the sales aren’t now bringing in enough money to justify all the work the few people involved put into the effort.
Friend of the Month: John Banks was given our “Friends of the Month” award for his monumental effort to attract new members at the book sale by organizing and providing refreshments for the membership drive and talking people into joining our ranks.
Sue Chappo provided a pumpkin spice cake for refreshments with David Skinnon again bringing in the cider to go with it. Many thanks to you both.
