Wilton Library March 2022 Virtual and In-Person Activities
Tuesday, March 1 through Sunday, March 6 Read Across America Scavenger Hunt, during regular library hours. Visit Wilton Library the first week of March for Read Across America! Enjoy an interactive scavenger hunt, where you can search for the cover images of 10 Books about Diversity. Come to the Children's Library Reference Desk for the pictorial list of the cover images concealed around the Children's Department. Find them all to win a cool sticker!
Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 22 & 29 Big Kids Story Time (In-Person), 4:15 to 5 p.m. Children ages 4-5 are invited to a story time adventure! We will explore and chat about different exciting topics. There will be stories, songs, and some activities. Masks MUST be worn at all times by adults and children. Registration is required for each session. Masked walk-ins welcome if space allows. Caregivers must remain on library property. While it is our hope to offer this program in person, should circumstances require it we will switch to Zoom, and send all registrants an email with the link the day before the program. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 A Giant Awakes: Understanding China in the 21st Century (In-Person), 7 to 8:30 p.m. In this 5-part series to be held in the Brubeck Room, lecturer Jim Levey will examine China’s history, philosophies, and traditions from ancient times through the cultural revolution to try to better understand the underlying forces that explain China today. We are also looking at potentially offering the second part of this series, which focuses on modern China, including economic challenges, human rights, trade strategy, Taiwan and more. Jim Levey, formerly a partner at American China Mercantile and a senior manager at IBM, holds a Masters in China Studies from the Asian Institute, St. John’s University, New York. In 2018, he researched and wrote a new curriculum (reviewed by China experts at Columbia) that spans Chinese history from antiquity to present, to enable a more insightful view of “China in the Modern World.” Since then, he has delivered China lectures to numerous libraries and continuing education facilities. Registration required. Please register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. Contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org for information. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 23 & 30 Family Story Time (In-Person), 10:30 to 11 a.m. Children ages 2-4 and their caregivers are invited to our in-person story time. Kids will enjoy stories, songs, puppets, and rhymes. Masks MUST be worn at all times by adults and children. Registration is required for each session. Masked walk-ins welcome if space allows. While it is our hope to offer this program in person, should circumstances require it we will switch to Zoom, and send all registrants an email with the link the day before the program. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursdays, March 3, 10, 24 & 31 Mother Goose on the Loose (Zoom), 10:30 to 11 a.m. Children ages 6 months to 2 years old will enjoy this 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 Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursdays, March 3, 10, 17 & 24 Team STEAM Presents Engineering Fun (In-Person), 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join Wilton High School's Team STEAM, as they teach little engineers the basics of the engineering design process in a fun, creative, and hands-on manner! Each session will tackle a different engineering-related problem and discuss what it takes to be an engineer. For kids in grades K-3. Masks MUST be worn at all times by participants. Registration required for each individual session. 3DuxDesign kits provided by the Amadeo Family. While it is our hope to offer this program in person, should circumstances require it we will switch to Zoom, and send all registrants an email with the link the day before the program. Participants will need to pick up their bag from the Children's Library. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursdays, March 3, 17, 24 & 31 The Modern American Novel with Mark Schenker (Zoom), 7 to 8 p.m. Mark Schenker of Yale College returns via Zoom in a continuation of his 2021 lectures on classic novels. Having discussed the Victorian novel last spring and the modern British novel this past fall, he turns now to American fiction in the first decades of the 20th century. With reference to masterworks by five acclaimed American authors, he will consider the changing nature of the novel as an art form, the rise of modernism, the influence of the First World War, and the ways in which American fiction of the period resembles and differs from English novels of the same era. Attendees are not expected to read or reread all or even any of the novels, but a familiarity with them will of course make the lectures more meaningful. Here are the novels for each week: February 24 - The House of Mirth, March 3 - Winesburg, Ohio, March 17 - This Side of Paradise, March 24 - In Our Time, March 31 - The Sound and the Fury. No charge for the program. This lecture series is made possible with the support of the Literary Series in Memory of Amy Quigley. Advance registration required. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. You will automatically be registered for all five 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.
Sunday, March 6 WLA/WHS Scholarly Series: Tycoons: Bane or Benefactors? – Susan Berfield (Zoom), 4 to 5 p.m. In the 15th year of collaboration between Wilton Library and Wilton Historical Society, the scholarly lecture series will focus on the theme of “Tycoons: Bane or Benefactors?” During this program, “J.P. Morgan: An American Aristocrat,” Susan Berfield of Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg News will discuss J.P. Morgan, the most influential financier of the Gilded Age. He wasn’t the richest, but that didn’t matter; he was commanding in a way none could match. He had an aristocrat’s disdain for public sentiment and the conviction that his actions were to the country’s advantage, no explanations necessary. We’ll examine those actions and the legacy of “the boss of bosses.” Susan Berfield is an award-winning investigative reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg News where she has covered some of America's largest corporations. She has been interviewed on PBS NewsHour, NPR's All Things Considered, Marketplace, On Point, and elsewhere. The Hour of Fate: Theodore Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, and the Battle to Transform American Capitalism was the winner of the 2021 Theodore Roosevelt Association Book Prize, a finalist for the Presidential Leadership Book Award, and an Amazon Best Book of the Year. The moderator is Stephen Hudspeth. No charge to attend; donations welcome. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org for additional dates, topic and speaker details, and registration. Registration required for each individual session. Additional dates: March 13 - Henry Ford’s Borrowed Humanity: How the Same Man Lifted and Then Lost America; April 3 - Mark Zuckerberg: Poster Child for Promise and Peril in the Tech Sector; April 24 - The Perils of Great Men, Business, Ideology, and Questions about Capitalism. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, March 8 Teen Library Council (TLC) Meeting (In-Person), 4 to 5:15 p.m. The Wilton Teen Library Council (TLC) is a monthly group for youth in grades 6-12 who are interested in becoming more involved with the library. All Wilton teens are welcome. Benefits include: helping librarians choose teen materials, brainstorming ideas for teen programs, gaining experience working in a leadership role, and helping the community through service projects. Each meeting will consist of a small group activity and discussion of upcoming events. We will meet the second Tuesday of each month and ask that you attend all meetings. Registration is optional, but we recommend submitting a TLC application before your first meeting. Please contact Teen Services at (203) 762-6342 with any questions. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, March 9 Wilton Library Readers: Deacon King Kong by James McBride (Zoom), noon to 1:30 p.m. Using Zoom, professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar discusses Deacon King Kong by James McBride this month. Space is limited and registration required. Must have a Zoom account. An email link will be provided to all registrants before the meeting. Please note that the Zoom link will be sent to you from kzeibak@wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library Readers group meets the second Wednesday of each month through June. Feel free to enjoy 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.
Thursday, March 10 through Thursday, March 17 Help Locate Liam the Library Leprechaun (In-Person), during library operating hours. Help locate Liam the Library Leprechaun! Every year during the week before St. Patrick's Day, Liam, a mischievous Leprechaun, finds himself hiding spaces around Wilton Library. If you find him, you can take a selfie with him! Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, March 10 Author Talk: Barbara Anne King – The Apple King (Zoom), 7 to 8 p.m. Weston author Barbara Anne King's latest novel, The Apple King, is an enthralling World War I historical family saga about a Croatian immigrant whose impulsive act has consequences decades on. Will a shameful secret keep him from aiding his Fatherland’s freedom? It is a powerful story of family, fate, guilt, and redemption. The Apple King is the 2021 winner of the Connecticut Author Project Award for adult fiction. The contest is sponsored by the Indie Author Project, a community of authors, librarians, curators, and readers. 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 your copy of The Apple King. 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. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, March 12 (Not) Just for Kids – Animals and Their Instruments: Woodwinds (In-Person), 3 to 4 p.m. Children ages 4+ with their families are invited to this presentation by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. Listen to each instrument - what do you hear? An elephant? Sea creatures? Norwalk Symphony musicians will be joined by Norwalk Youth Symphony members as they bring their instruments to life in Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals. The woodwind instruments (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, and Bassoon) are featured in this presentation. For ages 4+ with caregivers, masks MUST be worn by all. Registration required for each member of your party. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Sunday, March 13 WLA/WHS Scholarly Series: Tycoons: Bane or Benefactors? – Julie Fenster (Zoom), 4 to 5 p.m. In the 15th year of collaboration between Wilton Library and Wilton Historical Society, the scholarly lecture series will focus on the theme of “Tycoons: Bane or Benefactors?” During this program, “Henry Ford’s Borrowed Humanity: How the Same Man Lifted and Then Lost America,” author and historian Julie Fenster will discuss Henry Ford, possibly the first American tycoon who was considered "beloved" but who turned darker in the years after the success of the famous Model T. Henry Ford was a homegrown hero to the working class but also regarded as an unwelcome radical by big business. After the first decade of the Model T, Ford became a darker and yet darker presence, fanning Fascism and anti-Semitism, while provoking bitter labor disputes at his company. Julie M. Fenster is an author and historian. She has written many books on the American story, including two with a direct relationship to Connecticut: the award-winning Ether Day, which describes the uncoordinated efforts of Horace Wells of Hartford and two men from Boston in developing the first surgical anesthetic; and, the New York Times bestseller Parish Priest, a biography of Father Michael McGivney, who founded the Knights of Columbus in New Haven. The moderator is Stephen Hudspeth. No charge to attend; donations welcome. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org for additional dates, topic and speaker details, and registration. Registration required for each individual session. Additional dates: April 3 - Mark Zuckerberg: Poster Child for Promise and Peril in the Tech Sector; April 24 - The Perils of Great Men, Business, Ideology, and Questions about Capitalism. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, March 14 Make it! Watercolor Painting Class (In-Person), 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join artist and educator Dana Wolfson for an hour and a half long watercolor painting class in the Brubeck Room. Using a variety of sensory-rich warmups, color mixing, and still-life subjects as inspiration, participants will have the opportunity to express themselves creatively and continue to refine (or begin to develop!) their own particular artistic style. All levels of experience are welcome to attend. Art supplies and materials will be provided. This program is suitable for adults and older teens, age 16+. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, March 15 DIY Yarn Wall Hanging for Teens (In-Person), 4 to 5 p.m. Learn how to make a decorative wall hanging using yarn, beads, and a wooden dowel. All supplies provided. This program is for teens in Grades 6-12. Space is limited, so please register.
To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, March 19 CT Poetry Society Workshop (In-Person), 2 to 4 p.m. Please join us for the next CT Poetry Society workshop at the library! All that is 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. Registration is required. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Sunday, March 20 Candlelight Concert at Wilton Congregational Church: Marc-Andre Hamelin (In-Person), 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wilton Candlelight Concerts presents their first concert of the 2022 season on Sunday, March 20, 2022, featuring pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin. Mr. Hamelin will present a program of works by Bach, Prokofiev, Scriabin and Beethoven. The Baltimore Sun praised his "distinctive artistry," and The New York Times noted his 'flawless control of touch and shading." The March 20th concert will take place at 4 pm at the Wilton Congregational Church, just north of Wilton Center on Route 33. Tickets may be purchased on the website www.wiltoncandlelightmusic.org or at the door: adults, $30; seniors, $25; students, free. For more information, call 203-417-7203. Candlelight Concerts benefits the Wilton Library Association and happily accepts individual and corporate tax-deductible contributions. Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Road (Route 33), Wilton; www.wiltoncongregational.org; 203-762-5591.
Tuesday, March 22 Senior Center Book Discussion: The Cove (In-Person), 11 a.m. to noon. Please join us as Janet Krauss leads a discussion of Ron Rash's The Cove. This group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from September through May, excluding December. Call the Senior Center for details and to register at 203-834-6240. Comstock Community Center, 180 School Road, Wilton.
Wednesday, March 23 Author Talk: Philip Clark - Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time (In-Person), 7 to 8 p.m. Please join us for an in-person presentation by Philip Clark, author of the acclaimed biography Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time. First published in 2020, the centennial of Brubeck's birth, a new expanded edition has just come out in the U.K. with a U.S. release to follow. Mr. Clark will tell us the backstory about how his book came into being and fill us in on the expanded content in his new edition along with busting some myths about the jazz legend. He will also incorporate musical examples to illustrate how many of Dave's grooves and harmonies have seeped into rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop and more. We'll hear how Dave's influences have landed in places where jazz musicians and composers don't typically leave their marks. Philip Clark is a music journalist and author who has written for many leading publications including The Wire, Gramophone, The Guardian, Jazzwise, Financial Times and London Review of Books. He is trained as a composer, but these days prefers to play improvised music. Registration required. Please register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, March 29 Learn How to Make Homemade Pasta for Teens (Zoom), 6 – 7 p.m. Join Food Explorers on Zoom to make homemade pasta! Learn how to make pasta dough from scratch, mix, knead and roll all without a pasta machine. You’ll just need a rolling pin instead! You’ll need the following ingredients: flour, 2 eggs, salt, olive oil and your favorite pasta sauce. This program is for teens in grades 6-12. Registration is required. The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent via email the day before the program. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, March 30 Clara Schumann: Ultra Pianist, Performer and Pedagogue (Zoom), 7 to 8 p.m. In this Zoom session, Jeffrey Engel will discuss the remarkable career of Clara Schumann and play selected excerpts from her compositions. At Clara’s death in May of 1896, an obituary appearing in the Manchester Guardian proclaimed her “the greatest pianist of her sex that the world has ever known.” This was not hyperbole. Even as a child prodigy, Clara was placed in the top tier of her contemporaries, both male and female. In some ways she was also ahead of her time. Clara promulgated music by Beethoven, Chopin and Robert Schumann that was largely unknown to the public. She was the first to perform from memory. Clara was also an influential teacher and composer of talent, even though she stopped writing music before the age of forty. She was unquestionably one of the great musicians of the nineteenth century! Jeffrey Engel has been giving lectures devoted to music history for some fifteen years. As a cellist, he played with numerous orchestras in France including that of the Paris Opera, performed in chamber ensembles and taught in municipal conservatories. Since 2004, Mr. Engel has taught at Northwestern Connecticut Community College (Winsted). He was a contributor to the 2001 edition of the "New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians." In 2010 he was selected by 'Litchfield Magazine' as one of the fifty most influential people in Litchfield County. Registration required. Register online at www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334 for Zoom link. Contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org for information. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.