Wilton Library Association Newsletter
January 2008
in this issue
-- Once Upon a Poem with Ben Van Vechten
-- Tales to Tails: Read to a Pooch on January 5th
-- January Art Exhibits and Receptions
-- In the Midst of Winter Series Lecture on January 8th
-- Boyar and Zeigler to Lead January Book Discussions
-- Lights Out at the Library Planning Session
-- Digital Photography Class on GIMP with Michael Franco
-- Spotlight On: Extended Evening Hours
-- Indian Festival Celebrating Sikh Culture
-- Yoga and College for Teens in January
-- Nutrition and Diet Talks by the Experts
-- Did You Know?
-- Ruby Bridges Film for Kids on Sunday, January 20th
-- Candlelight Concert: Concertante Music Ensemble
-- Winter Story Times Are Here!
-- Open Mic Night for Teens
-- Connecticut's Own Concert: Pianist Dan Kreiger
-- Creating Lasting Family Connections Workshops Start This Month
-- New Book Club for Kids Begins
-- Author Talk: House of Happy Endings with Leslie Garis
-- Save These Dates for Our Scholarly Constitution Series!
Happy New Year! This is officially the time of both reflection on the past and of anticipation of all the future holds in store. It is in both spirits that I want to highlight for you first, a very special memoir and author, and second, a special series that kicks off next month. As mentioned in the newsletter that follows, we are thrilled to bring author Leslie Garis to the stage in the Brubeck Room on January 31st, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Part of the outstanding author series that has brought Gail Tsukiyama, Dick Morris, and Charles Grodin to the Library this fall, her appearance is sure to draw a full house, and I don't want you to miss your opportunity to register and be seated. Leslie is a former Wilton resident and friend - and her amazing memoir, House of Happy Endings, has garnered tremendous critical acclaim. Please join me on the 31st to welcome her as she talks about her illustrious family's past. Further, upcoming during the next three months is the fruit of a wonderful collaboration between the Wilton Historical Society and the Wilton Library. I'd particularly like to thank Owen Williams for his role in designing the The United States Constitution: A Living Legacy series and the Clifford family for their sponsorship. The very first installment will feature famous author and State Historian Christopher Collier on February 3rd, and I hope you'll mark your calendar now and register so as not to miss the exceptional talk he'll have in store. Sincerely, |
Once Upon a Poem with Ben Van Vechten ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 The incomparable Ben Van Vechten will lead another of his very popular poetry seminars throughout the month of January. Entitled Once Upon a Poem, the series will explore the work and writing techniques of several poets Thursdays from 10:30 am to noon.
Please register in advance (space is limited) and pick up your poetry packet before the first session. Session dates are: |
Tales to Tails: Read to a Pooch on January 5th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 There will be doggies galore in the Children's Library on Saturday, January 5th, from 2 to 3:15 pm when students in grades 2 and up can have fun reading to a certified therapy dog for 10-15 minutes. Kids can bring a book from home or choose one from the Library's shelves. Boosting reading skills can be tons of fun when furry friends are a part of the action!
As you might imagine, advance registration is required as dogs and space are limited. The Library will call to confirm registrations and assign time slots. If you have questions about this marvelous program, please call Pat Bergin at 762-3950, extension 265, for more details. We are most grateful to the dog owners who volunteer their time to help others. |
January Art Exhibits and Receptions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Please join us on Sunday, January 6th, from 11:30 am to 1 pm to meet artist Ariane Beigneux and view her exceptional collection of portraits. The exhibit will run through Wednesday, January 30th, and a portion of the proceeds from sales of the art will benefit the Library's Art Fund, allowing us to purchase materials about art and art instruction for the collection. If you would like to purchase a piece, just let a member of the staff know, and he or she will contact the artist to complete the sale.
The following Friday, January 11th, from 6 to 8 pm, you're invited to a reception for the annual PTA Council's Reflections show. Artworks from Wilton kindergarten through 12th grade students will be on exhibit in six categories: dance/choreography (new category), literature, film/video production (new category), musical composition, photography, and the visual arts (which include art forms such as drawing, painting, print making and collage). This exhibit will run through Friday, January 25th. |
In the Midst of Winter Series Lecture on January 8th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Tuesday, January 8th, from 4 to 5:30 pm, participants will learn about Caring for a Loved One Who Is Ill. This second of a five-part series sponsored by Mid-Fairfield Hospice will deal with the rewards and challenges of caregiving and include information on risks and health-preserving strategies. Please register in advance to let us know you are coming.
You may want to mark your calendar for additional topics and dates: |
Boyar and Zeigler to Lead January Book Discussions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Wednesday, January 9th, from noon to 1:30 pm, professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar will take on The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen. All are invited to join the Wilton Library Readers as they discuss this first novel, set against the backdrop of one of the most virulent epidemics that America ever experienced - the 1918 flu epidemic - that has been called "a powerful tale of morality in a time of upheaval." Please register in advance and bring your lunch!
On Tuesday, January 22nd, at 11 am, our Senior Center Book Discussion will meet with Bill Ziegler. This month, the group will talk about Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie. Inspired by the life of one of his sisters, who had eloped to New York with a disreputable lover, its sympathetic depiction of Carrie's love affairs shocked readers when the book was first published in 1900. The novel broke new ground in American fiction with its gritty realism and has endured as a classic tale of fate. Call the Senior Center for details and to register at 834-6240. The Wilton Senior Center is located at Comstock Community Center on School Road. |
Lights Out at the Library Planning Session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 The exciting and popular Lights Out at the Library program will take place this year on Saturday, April 5, for boys in grades 2-4. Parents interested in finding out more about this wonderful overnight at the Library that includes games, activities and refreshments should attend an information session this month on Friday, January 11th, from 11 am to noon. Call Lesley Keogh or Laura Schwemm for more details at 762-3950. |
Digital Photography Class on GIMP with Michael Franco ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Camera guru Michael Franco will lead another in his very popular digital photography series on Saturday, January 12th, from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Michael will teach participants about GIMP, a free, fully functional image processor and show how to download, install, and use this free alternative to Photoshop Elements.
Handouts will include instructions on how to find, download, and install this capable tool, while the demonstration portion of the class will take participants through the layout and some of the tools. Please register in advance. Mark your calendar for future sessions: |
Spotlight On: Extended Evening Hours ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Last May, as part of the Town budget, taxpayers approved adding 5 hours a week to the Library's open hours. We were until that point open only 54 hours per week, ranking 14 (next to the lowest) in a 15-town radius in terms of public library access. Our guess was that students and commuters would benefit most from this initial addition, so we added hours at the end of weekdays as soon as the new fiscal year began.
Starting in July, we began staying open until 8 pm Monday through Thursday and kept careful track of visitors during the last hours of these days. The record of additional use is impressive and growing; added visitors per hour grew from an average of 36 in August to 115 in November. We expect that dramatic trend to continue as word spreads that the Library is open in the evenings for computer use, for study groups, for research, or for simply sitting in a comfortable chair with a good book, new magazine, or the daily newspaper. A pundit once wrote, "the best thing a library can be is open"... and there is some truth to that assertion. The relatively modest cost (roughly $5,000 per year per extra hour) has already yielded great rewards for those stopping by at the end of the day. Come see for yourself! |
Indian Festival Celebrating Sikh Culture ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 We are fortunate, on Saturday, January 12th, from 2 to 3 pm, to be able to present a lively and informative program about Sikh culture and heritage for children in grades two and up. Wilton Library volunteer and WHS junior Angad Singh will discuss two festivals:
Angad will also have a dance and drum performance before discussing his December visit to Pingalwara Home for the Disabled in Amritsar, India. Refreshments will be served and registration is required for this unique and entertaining program. |
Yoga and College for Teens in January ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Now that exams are approaching, I want to remind teens that they can reserve study rooms to use day or night up to 8 pm during exam week by callling the Reference Desk (762-3950, extension 211). In addition, we have a two-fold approach to academic help for teens in this first month of 2008:
Teens can learn to focus and de-stress before finals on Sunday, January 13th, from 3 to 4:15 pm when Siri Robinson conducts an introductory yoga class with an emphasis on relaxation to help them before exams begin. Students should bring their own yoga mats and comfortable clothes. Please register in advance. And we'll serve up pizza & talk about college with the Greenes on Wednesday, January 30th, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Howard and Matthew Greene, well-known education and planning consultants will talk with high school students (teens only, please - no parents) about the college planning process. Please register in advance for this program, as well. |
Nutrition and Diet Talks by the Experts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Wednesday, January 16th, from 7 to 8:30 pm, Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo will return to the Wilton Library to speak about his new book, The GenoType Diet: Change Your Genetic Destiny to Live the Longest, Fullest and Healthiest Life Possible. A naturopathic physician, educator, and researcher, Dr. D'Adamo will discuss a diet that can be programmed for each individual's unique genetic makeup and is designed to maximize a person's health and well being. Books will be available for purchase and signing and we ask that you register in advance.
On Thursday, January 17th, from 7 to 8:30 pm, Clinical nutritionist, Loryn Galardi, M.S., will talk about eating to reduce aging and disease. By concentrating on foods that eliminate or reduce inflammation in chronic ailments such as hay fever, heart disease, depression, diabetes, and premature aging, you can live a longer and healthier life. Please register in advance for this enlightening talk. And on Thursday, January 31st, at 7 pm, Ms. Galardi will continue with a discussion of the negative impact of artificial sweeteners and trans fats in diets. Advance registration is recommended. |
Did You Know? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Did you know that the Library has an extensive collection of magazines and newspapers to keep you informed and up to date? More than 200 daily, weekly and monthly publications can be found in the Children's Library, Teen Area, and Adult Reading Room. Almost all past magazine issues are available for checkout, and current issues are displayed for immediate access once they are delivered.
From time to time, we survey usage and determine whether or not to continue subscriptions. In addition, we listen to customer comments and requests, keeping our eyes and ears open for potential additions to the collection. One such recent addition is the Commercial Record, a weekly that covers the real estate, financing and construction field in Connecticut. It lists real estate sales, mortgages, bankruptcies and new corporations and has been published since 1882. It can prove very interesting and important reading - for buyers, sellers, investors, and those in construction-related fields. Drop in and check it out! |
Ruby Bridges Film for Kids on Sunday, January 20th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Sunday, January 20th, from 2 to 3:30 pm, Wilton Library will show Disney's Ruby Bridges to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This movie is appropriate for children age seven and older. Parents should plan to accompany their children. We'll serve free popcorn and lemonade and there will be an opportunity for informal discussion after the movie. No registration is required and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
In case you are not familiar with this beautiful tale, it depicts the courage of a six-year old who became the first black child to integregate the elementary school system in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her story is one of hope and encouragement for the entire human race, teaching the value of perseverance, forgiveness, and hope. |
Candlelight Concert: Concertante Music Ensemble ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Sunday, January 20th, at 4 pm, the Concertante Music Ensemble will perform at the Wilton Congregational Church. As solo performers who have won major national and international music competitions, these young string players have graced the premier stages of the world from New York's Carnegie Hall to London's Royal Festival Hall to Shanghai's Grand Theatre.
Candlelight Concert performances are on Sunday afternoons at the Wilton Congregational Church located at 70 Ridgefield Road. For further information and for tickets, call 203-762-3401 or 203-762-5019. A portion of the proceeds from this and other Candlelight Concerts benefits Wilton Library, making possible additions to our classical music collection. |
Winter Story Times Are Here! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Winter Story Times for kids begin this month (continuing through March 12th) and the schedule is chock full of fun, fantasy, and facts:
~~ Mondays for 4s/6s from 2 to 2:45 pm, beginning January 28th (register now) In addition, on Saturday, January 26th, from 3 to 4 pm, the Children's Library will host a special Folklore & Fantasy story time for children in grades K-4 with stories from Wilton Library's extensive folktale collection. Please register in advance for this special session. |
Open Mic Night for Teens ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Friday, January 25th, from 7 to 9 pm, teens in grades 7 through 12 are invited to sing a song, perform poetry, play an instrument, mime, or do a comedy routine on stage at the Library.
Participants are encouraged to bring their friends to cheer them on. Please register in advance or call 762-3950 for more information. |
Connecticut's Own Concert: Pianist Dan Kreiger ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Sunday, January 27th, at 4 pm, pianist, composer and class of 2003 Wilton High School graduate, Dan Kreiger, will join us for the third concert of the Sunday music concert series performing classical pieces from a variety of eras and composers, including Bach and Chopin. Dan has delighted audiences throughout his high school and college years, performing both solo and in ensembles. Come see how brilliantly he treats the classics on the stage in the Brubeck Room!
Advance registration is suggested and pre-registrants must arrive by 3:50 pm to be guaranteed seating. After 3:50 pm, and if space is available, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be admitted. Please note that a suggested donation of $10 per person will support more exceptional performances and programs at your Library. |
Creating Lasting Family Connections Workshops Start This Month ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Creating Lasting Family Connections workshops for Wilton class of 2015 parents will begin on Tuesday, January 29th. Fifth grade parents can choose one of four ten-week workshops:
Are you worried about those upcoming adolescent years? How do we help our children make safe choices? These workshops are endorsed by Dr. Gary Richards, Wilton School Superintendent. Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) is a nationally acclaimed parenting program where participants learn effective parenting tools to prevent risky behavior, raise resilient children, and enhance family relationships. CLFC workshops are facilitated and provided by Positive Directions and Wilton Youth Services in collaboration with the Wilton Library, Wilton PTA, Vision 2020, and the United Way. The fee to enroll is $200 if received by January 18, 2008 and $235 after January 18. Program includes two workbooks. Tuition scholarships are available on a confidential basis. Registration is limited to 13 participants per session. For additional information or to register, call 203-227-7644, extension 132, or email prevention@positivedirections.org. |
New Book Club for Kids Begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 On Wednesday, January 30th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, the Children's Library is kicking off a new book club with a Medieval Banquet. Intended for children in grades 2-6, this book club will offer much more than talking. Each month will have a theme (with suggested book titles). Children will read one of the books, and then come to the Library for a related meal, discussion, and activities.
Our first month will focus on the Middle Ages. Future book club topics include the 1960s, Roald Dahl, detective stories, among others. Registration for the club sessions is required. This exciting new program is sponsored by the Coyle Family Fund. Please call 762-3950 for more information about the book club or to register...of course, you may also register online. |
Author Talk: House of Happy Endings with Leslie Garis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 By now you know how popular our exceptional author events have become. On Thursday, January 31st, from 7 to 8:30 pm, former Wilton resident, Leslie Garis, will tell us about her intensely personal memoir of growing up in a very literary, but dysfunctional family. Encompassing the Bobbsey Twins to Uncle Wiggily, the family literary dynamics span three generations.
The New York Times hailed House of Happy Endings, saying Ms. Garis, a journalist best known for her profiles of literary subjects, deftly works through the evidence, constructing moving and memorable portraits of her family members, especially her doomed father, a sadly attractive figure, and her bewildered but courageous mother. Publishers Weekly gave the book a coveted starred review, calling it artfully stitched like a well-made quilt and then goes on to note: Garis's remarkable accomplishment in this memoir is to convey the normal, the enviable and the gothic with unsentimentalized affection, grace and painful honesty. Don't miss what is sure to be a fascinating evening. I will especially look forward to hearing Leslie, since our daughters were classmates and friends in nursery school! We will have books on hand for purchase and signing, with a portion of the sales benefitting future Library programs. Please register in advance, and arrive early to claim your seat. Pre-registrants must arrive by 6:50 pm to be guaranteed seating. After 6:50 pm, and if space is available, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be admitted. I'll see you there! |
Save These Dates for Our Scholarly Constitution Series! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Save these dates for a distinguished series entitled The United States Constitution: A Living Legacy made possible by a grant from Devereaux A. Clifford and Family and sponsored jointly by the Wilton Library and the Wilton Historical Society:~~Sunday, February 3rd, 2-4 pm, Connecticut and the Constitution with Chris Collier, author and State Historian (held at the Wilton Library) ~~Thursday, February 28th, 7:30 pm, The Founding with Akhil Amar, Southmayd Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University (held at the Wilton Library) ~~Sunday, March 16th, 2 pm, Panel Discussion (held at the Wilton Historical Society) ~~Thursday, April 24th, 7:30 pm, Interpreting the Constitution with Sandy Levinson, University of Texas/Harvard/Yale Law Schools (held at the Wilton Historical Society ). Click here for more details and to register. |
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone: 203-762-3950
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