Wilton Library in October Halloween Crafts, College Q&A, Poetry, Author Talks and more
Monday, Oct. 4 College Q&A with Matthew Greene, 7 – 7:45 p.m. Join educational consultant, Matthew Greene, for a live Q&A session. We'll have a discussion about testing, deferring admission and the latest updates on the college scene. Come prepared with questions. Recommended for high school juniors and seniors and their parents. Registration is required and space is limited. Must have a Zoom account. An email link will be provided to all registrants the morning of the event. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesdays, Oct. 5 through Nov. 23 Virtual Intermediate Chess Club, 4 – 5 p.m. Kids in kindergarten through high school are invited to join this virtual chess class. Each week students will learn new strategies and then pair up using Chess.com to practice playing. This class is geared toward intermediate players who know basic game play. Classes are taught by instructors from the award winning Chess Club of Fairfield County, LLC. Students must create a chess.com username prior to the start of class. Registration is required, the fee is $80 for an eight week session. Payment must be made at the time of registration. Zoom links will be sent out the day of the program. Questions? Call 203-762-6336 or email aszabo@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesdays, Oct. 5, 12 & 19 Ready to Read Story Time, 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Children ages 4-5 are invited to a story time adventure at the library! We will explore and chat about different exciting topics. There will be stories, activities and so much more. Story time will be in the Reference Area Courtyard. Attendees should bring blankets to reserve spaces. Masks MUST be worn at all times by adults and children. Social distancing must be maintained, therefore space is limited. Registration is required for each session. Masked walk-ins welcome if space allows. Caregivers must remain on library property. Email contact for questions: tcoperine@wiltonlibrary.org. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesdays, Oct. 6 through Nov. 17 Zooming Family Story Time, 9:30 – 10 a.m. Join us for an interactive Zoom story time geared especially for children ages 2-4 years. Children and their caregivers will have fun listening to stories, singing songs, learning rhymes, and doing movement activities, all while building literacy skills. Registration is required for each date, and a zoom link will be sent out the day before the program. For more details or if you have any questions, email Miss Amy at alilienharper@wiltonlibrary.org. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesdays, Oct. 6, 13 & 20 Courtyard Story Time, 10:30 – 11 a.m. Children ages 3 - 4 years and their caregivers are invited to this outdoor, in-person story time. Story time will be in the Reference area courtyard. Kids will enjoy stories, songs, puppets, and rhymes. Bring a blanket to reserve your space. Masks must be worn at all times by adults and children. Social distancing must be maintained, therefore space is limited. Registration is required for each session. Masked walk-ins welcome if space allows. Questions? Email alilienharper@wiltonlibrary.org. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesdays, Oct. 6 through Nov. 17 Curious Minds – STEAM Club, 4:15 – 5 p.m. Kids in grades 1 and 2 are invited to explore STEAM with fun, hands-on activities! Each week we will learn about different science topics such as the water cycle, magnetism, living creatures, and more. A book will also be featured. Registration is required for each session. Classes are limited to 8 students, masks required and social distancing will be maintained. Questions? Email aszabo@wiltonlibrary.org. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, Oct. 6 Wilton Library Author Talk: Susanna Kearsley – The Vanished Days, 7 – 8 p.m. Via Zoom, international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley discusses her new novel, The Vanished Days, a historical tale of intrigue and revolution in Scotland, where the exile of King James brought plots, machinations, suspicion and untold bravery to light. A former soldier investigates a young widow’s secrets, but he is far from objective, leading to a multi-layered tale of adventure, endurance, romance...and the courage to hope. Susanna Kearsley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA award winner known for her meticulous research and exotic settings. Her lush writing has been compared to Mary Stewart, Daphne Du Maurier, and Diana Gabaldon. She wrote the bestsellers The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden. and her popular and critically-acclaimed books are available in translation in more than 20 countries. Susanna will be in conversation with Lauren Willig, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Pink Carnation series, Band of Sisters, and All the Ways We Said Goodbye. Lauren visited Wilton Library to promote The Fall of Poppies with her co-authors. See the library’s registration link for more details about the author. Registration required. Must have a Zoom account. An email link will be provided to all registrants a few days before the event. Go to elmstreetbooks.com to order copies of The Vanished Days. A portion of the proceeds benefit Wilton Library. The media sponsor of our author talks is GOOD Morning Wilton. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursdays, Oct. 7 through Nov. 18 Mother Goose on the Loose, 10:30 – 11 a.m. Children ages 6 months to 2 years old will enjoy a fun virtual story time with music, puppets, picture books and nursery rhymes. Registration is required and space is limited. Registrants will receive an email link to the Zoom meeting the morning of the program. For more details, email Mrs. Keogh at lkeogh@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org.Wilton Library, 137 Old Thursdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21 & 28 What’s “Modern” About the Modern British Novell? A Consideration of Four Novels by Four Authors, 5 – 6 p.m. Mark J. Schenker of Yale College returns to the library for a four-part series on great English fiction of the modern age. He will focus on four novels - one from each of the first four decades of the 20th century. He will consider the legacy of the Victorian Age and the transformations wrought by WWI; modernism’s intense interest in the value of the primitive; the fragmentation of a central culture and the rise of alienation; the problem of evil; and the influence of disciplines as varied as psychology and physics on the literary representation of character and reality. Attendees are not expected to read the novels, but a familiarity with them will make the lectures more meaningful. Here are the novels for each week: Oct. 7 - The Secret Agent, Oct. 14 - Howards End, Oct. 21 - Mrs. Dalloway, Oct. 28 - Brighton Rock. No charge for the program. This lecture is made possible with the support of the Literary Series in Memory of Amy Quigley. Please note: this will be an in-person event at the library with a live-streaming component. Registration required. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. You will automatically be registered for all four sessions in the series. Please email Michael Bellacosa at mbellacosa@wiltonlibrary.org with any questions. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Friday, Oct. 8 Draw Monsters with Rick, 4 – 5 p.m. In this Zoom program, kids in Grades 3 and up can learn to draw monsters with award winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski. Kids will learn to draw a variety of creepy, scary and funny creatures. The Zoom link will be sent the morning of the program. Registration required, Grades 3 and up. Participants should have paper and a writing utensil. Questions? Call the Wilton Children's Library at 203-762-6336. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, Oct. 12 Author Talk: Mark Rubinstein – The Storytellers, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Wiltonian Mark Rubinstein will discuss his book The Storytellers: Straight Talk from the World's Most Acclaimed Suspense and Thriller Authors at this live in-person event. The Storytellers takes readers inside the hearts and minds of famous suspense and thriller authors, their personal stories, and their sources of creativity. ''How did the author come up with this idea? Their characters? Is some of this story real?'' Mark Rubinstein is a physician, psychiatrist, and mystery and thriller writer, and he asked these kind of questions while interviewing forty-seven authors, including Michael Connelly, Ken Follett, Meg Gardiner, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and Don Winslow. Mark Rubinstein's thrillers Mad Dog House and its sequel Mad Dog Justice were both finalists for the Foreward Book of the Year Award. The Lovers' Tango won the gold medal in Popular Fiction at the Benjamin Franklin Awards. The discussion will be moderated by writer/filmmaker Megan Smith-Harris, founder and Executive Director of the Fairfield Film Festival. Registration required.
To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. This will be an in-person event at the library with a live-streaming component. When registering, please let us know if you expect to attend in-person or to watch the Zoom stream. When you register, you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a free copy of The Storytellers. Go to www.elmstreetbooks.com to order your copy of The Storytellers. The bookseller will also be selling books at the Library the night of the event. A portion of the proceeds go to Wilton Library. The media sponsor of our author talks is GOOD Morning Wilton. For more information, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org, call the library’s reference librarians at 203-762-6350 or email reference@wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 Wilton Library Readers— Homeland Elegies, Noon – 1:30 p.m. Using Zoom, professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar discusses Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar. Must have a Zoom account. An email link will be provided to all registrants before the meeting. Questions? Please email kzeibak@wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library Readers meets the second Wednesday of each month through June. Feel free to munch your lunch while we discuss the book. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 How to Pay for College, 7 – 8 p.m. Join us for this Zoom workshop led by financial advisor and certified college planning specialist Sean Flynn. With education costs rising year after year, paying for college is a concern for most families. Additionally, the financial aid process can be confusing, intimidating, and often frustrating. In this workshop, you’ll learn about which colleges offer the best financial aid packages, how to avoid mistakes on the FAFSA and CSS profile, how students can receive more free money and less loans, why private universities can cost less than a state school, and how families of all income levels may be eligible for financial aid. Registration is required and space is limited. Must have a Zoom account. A link will be sent the morning of the program. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, Oct. 14 Divorce: What to Consider, 7 – 8:30 p.m. This in-person seminar from experienced Divorce Coach Lisa Williams, Attorney Mediator Maurice Segall, and Financial Advisor Matthew Chamberlin will cover a variety of topics on the legal and financial process of divorce. They will answer common questions such as: How do you navigate the process? What are the steps that you need to take? What professionals will best serve you in this process? What common misconceptions do people have about divorce? This talk is appropriate for people who are getting divorced, contemplating divorce, people you know who may be thinking about divorce, and professionals who work in the divorce community. There is no cost to attend this program. Registration required. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. FYI: Wilton Library does not share patron information from its registration list. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Friday, Oct. 15 Movin’ and Groovin’ with Jill, 4 – 5 p.m. Join this engaging Zoom program where we will play interactive nutrition and fitness games, participate in kid-friendly exercises, and learn about MyPlate and the food groups. Good nutrition and physical activity are essential for children to maximize their full academic potential, reach their physical and mental capabilities, and achieve lifelong health and well-being. They will gain nutrition knowledge that is science-based and a mindset that nutrition and physical activity are fun. Jill Patterson, RDN is an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, certified fitness instructor and personal trainer. Registration required for ages three to eight. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org. A Zoom link will be sent the morning of the program. Questions? Call 203-762-6336. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, Oct. 16 CT Poetry Society Workshop –In-Person Meeting, 2 – 4 p.m. Please join us for the next CT Poetry Society workshop live and in-person. All that's required is the willingness to share some poetry that you have written by reading it aloud to the group. Poets should email a copy of their poems to Ray Rauth at rayrauth@optonline.net. He will distribute the poems to the group shortly before the session. To facilitate discussion, space is strictly limited to just 15 attendees. No charge but online registration is required. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334.Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, Oct. 18 Halloween Children’s Zooming Zentangle Fun, 3:30 – 5 p.m. This Zoom program is for all artists, doodlers and Halloween fans. If you love to draw or doodle, but think you are not a good artist, this is the program for you. Using a few simple steps and techniques, anyone can learn to create intricate artwork. In this Halloween inspired class, we will be working in black and orange. We will be doing different tangles and this class will work equally well for first-timers and those who have more experience. For children in grades 3-6. Registration is required. Please register all attendees. Participants will be contacted to pick up supplies a few days before the program. The Zoom link will be distributed no later than the morning of the program. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register online. Please note: supplies and space are limited. We ask that patrons register only if you are sure you can attend. Email alilienharper@wiltonlibrary.org with any questions. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, Oct. 19 The College Process: How to Cope With Uncertainty and Support Your Teen, 10:30- 11:30 a.m. Please join us at the library for an interactive discussion with clinical psychologist and parenting coach, Susan Bauerfeld, Ph.D., who will provide concrete strategies for coping with uncertainty that can lower the stress level for both you and your teen as you navigate the college process together. Uncertainty is one of the many challenges that naturally accompany the college process. Yet the pressure associated with attempts to reduce and/or eliminate uncertainty often account for an inordinate amount of the stress. Add an ongoing pandemic, with its own high levels of uncertainty, and you’ve got a stressful challenge on steroids. This talk will show you how to shift away from trying to eliminate the uncertainty and toward coping with it. This free event is intended for parents of 10-12th graders. Co-sponsored by Wilton Library, Wilton Youth Council and SPED*NET Wilton. For questions about the program, or to submit a question to Dr. Bauerfeld in advance, please email info@wiltonyouth.org. Registration is required. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, Oct. 19 Navigating the College Application Process, 5 – 6:15 p.m. In this Zoom program, college counselor Priyanka Shingala explains the common missteps to avoid during the college application. She will discuss the different types of college applications, the applications cycles: early action, early decision, rolling admissions, and regular admissions, the do’s & don’ts of completing an application (honors/achievements, activities, recommendations & the “additional information” sections), how to link Naviance to the Common App. Registration required. This program is aimed at High School Seniors; their parents are welcome to join. Prior to the presentation, all students should create a Common App account so that they can make changes/notes as they go, and have their Naviance login info handy. This is a virtual program. A Zoom link will be emailed the morning of the session. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, Oct. 20 Poetry Discussion with Janet Krauss: The Poetry of Emily Dickinson, 10:30 a.m. – noon. Janet Krauss leads a discussion of a selection of poems by Emily Dickinson. Emily Dickinson of Amherst, Massachusetts was born in 1830 and died in 1886. She lived among other great New England writers of her time: Longfellow, Hawthorne, Emerson, Melville, Poe and Whitman on Long Island. She was timelessly modern in her style of writing different from the flowery, rhyming style of her contemporary women poets. Dealing with ageless themes of love, death, hope, grief, and religion that affect all of us, she mastered the art of writing verse.
Janet Krauss, who has two books of poetry published, “Borrowed Scenery,” Yuganta Press, and “Through the Trees of Autumn,” Spartina Press, has recently retired from teaching English at Fairfield University. Please see the library’s registration link for more details. No charge for the program. Advance registration required. Register online in order to receive the Zoom session invitation link and readings packet. Please email Michael Bellacosa at mbellacosa@wiltonlibrary.org with any questions. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, Oct. 21 Teen Courtyard Writing Group, 4 – 5 p.m. Are you in grades 7-12 and love to write poetry, prose, and everything in between? Join us at the library for the first meeting of the Teen Courtyard Writing Group. We'll spend some time freewriting based on prompts, and you'll have a chance to learn about National Novel Writing Month in November. All teens in grades 7-12 are welcome. Registration required, space is limited. Bring a writing utensil and a notebook or paper. This is an outdoor program subject to cancellation if the weather is bad. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, Oct. 25 Zentangle Art Workshop: Zooming with Amy, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Join Amy, Wilton Library's certified Zentangle instructor, for a fun and relaxing online Zentangle art session. This meditative art form uses simple steps to teach practitioners how to create beautiful patterns. Suitable for anyone who doesn't believe they can draw, as well as experienced artists. For adults and teens, ages 13+. See the library’s registration link for suggestions of supplies needed. Registration is required and space is limited. An email link will be provided to all registrants prior to the session. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register and for short video tutorials. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, Oct. 26 Senior Center Book Discussion: The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, 11 a.m. – noon. Bob Marafioti leads a discussion of The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein. This group meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from September through May, excluding December. Please note: Call the Senior Center for details and to register at 203-834-6240. Wilton Senior Center at Comstock Community Center, 180 School Road, Wilton. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, Oct. 26 Medicare Bootcamp, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Please join us at the library for a community conversation for those who will be new to Medicare in the near future. Ever wonder how to sign up for Medicare, when you are eligible, or what your options are? Learn the 'ins and outs' of Medicare enrollment and how to avoid mistakes that can be costly. Our speaker is Claire Volain, CHOICES Manager for the Southwest CT Agency on Aging. She has been with the agency for three years and has been in the human services field for more than ten years. Please bring your questions! No charge. Registration recommended. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesdays, Oct. 27 through Nov. 17 Indoor Story Time, 10:30 – 11 a.m. Children ages 3-4 and their caregivers are invited to our in-person story time. Story time will be in the Brubeck Room. Kids will enjoy stories, songs, puppets, and rhymes. Bring a blanket to reserve your space. Masks MUST be worn at all times by adults and children. Social distancing must be maintained, therefore space is limited. Registration is required for each session. Masked walk-ins welcome if space allows. Questions? Email alilienharper@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, Oct. 27 DIY Halloween Pillows for Teens, 6 – 7:15 p.m. Join us at the library to learn how to make a spooky mini throw pillow to decorate for Halloween. Make your choice of ghost or black cat. All supplies provided and no sewing skills necessary. This program is for teens in Grades 7-12. Space is limited due to social distancing, so please register. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, Oct. 28 Make a Halloween Snow Globe, 4 – 5 p.m. This Zoom program teaches kids how to make Halloween Snow Globes with mason jars. For kids grades 3 and up. An email will be sent out when registrants can come and pick up their crafts materials. They will need some liquid glue and water. A Zoom invitation link will be sent on the day of the program and Mrs. Keogh will show everyone how to make a scary or funny Halloween Snow Globe. Registration required. Any questions email lkeogh@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950