Wilton Library February 2022 Virtual and In-Person Activities
Tuesdays, February 1, 8, 15 & 22 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.
Wednesdays, February 2, 9, 16 & 23 Family Story Time (In-Person), 10:30 – 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, February 3, 10, 17 & 24 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, February 3, 10 & 17 Jorie Graham: Poetry as contagious ceremony that might save the world (In-Person), 10:30 a.m. to noon. Please join us in person in the Brubeck Room for a 4-week literature seminar led by Judson Scruton, who will take us through selected works by the poet Jorie Graham. She has been called by the Poetry Foundation one of the most celebrated poets of the American post-war generation. According to poet-critic Calvin Bedient, she is “never less than in dialogue with everything. She is the world champion at shot-putting the great questions. It hardly matters what the title is: the subject itself is always ‘the outermost question being asked me by the World today.'” Advance registration is required. Register online or call 203-762-6334. There is no charge for this program. This lecture series is made possible with the support of the Literary Series in Memory of Amy Quigley. Please email Andrea Sato with any questions at asato@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, February 5 Watch the Amazing Acrobatics of Li Liu (In-Person) 11 to 11:45 a.m. Come to the Wilton Library on Take Your Child to the Library Day and see the amazing acrobatics of Li Liu! She will blend artistic cycling, acrobatics and balancing for a fun-filled program. She tells stories and incorporates Chinese folklore into her act. This program is generously sponsored by Mitch Ancona of Ancona's Wines & Liquors in Wilton and Ridgefield. Registration required. 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.
Sunday, February 6 Wilton Winter Carnival, 12 to 4 p.m. Wilton Library staff will welcome visitors during this year’s Winter Carnival. For this special event, the library will open its doors one hour early, at noon. Visitors of all ages are invited to warm up inside the library. We will be handing out grab-and-go winter craft kits - two different versions for teens and children - while supplies last. Teens in grades 6 to 12 can stop by to pick up a snowflake origami kit. Children ages 4 and up will receive a kit to create a snowman craft at home. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, February 7 through Friday, February 11 Make a Valentine with Cricut Shapes for Teens (Grab and Go) Available during library operating hours. Make a heartfelt and homemade Valentine for the special people in your life with this grab-and-go craft kit for teens in grades 6-12. Each kit will include enough material to make three valentines using cardstock and pre-cut Cricut shapes. You are welcome to use craft supplies available in the Teen Room (markers, glue, scissors) or take the kit for use at home. Registration not required. These kits will be available on a first come, first served basis in the Teen Room at the library, for students in grades 6-12 only. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, February 8 Teen Library Council (TLC) Meeting (Zoom), 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. 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, February 9 Encouraging Responsibility and Independence: The Importance of Positive Communication at Home, at School and in the Social Arena (In Person), 10 a.m. to noon. Join us in the Brubeck Room for an in-person session with school psychologist David P Sylvestro. Although auto manufacturers in Detroit have made “Planned Obsolescence” a dirty word, it’s okay to think of obsolescence as an important component of parenting. After all, as parents we want to do a good enough job guiding, shaping and preparing our kids so that they don’t actually NEED us anymore! Keeping our kids’ eventual independence in mind allows us to provide reasonable parameters for them, help them set goals, and titrate the responsibilities they can assume. A key part of this process is strengthening our own positive communication skills– how we encourage and reinforce our kids’ development in these essential areas.
School psychologist David P. Sylvestro, MA, CSP, will discuss ways parents can promote responsibility and independence through positive interactions with their kids who have LD, ADHD and Executive Function challenges. Dave served as school psychologist at Eagle Hill Schools for over 40 years and currently is serving in that position at The Southport School. He facilitates individual- and group-counseling sessions, parent support groups and Dads-Only groups, provides training and staff development to professionals, and presents at LD conferences worldwide. Co-sponsored by Wilton Library, SPED*NET Wilton, Wilton Youth Council and Wilton Public Schools. Registration is required. Please register online or call 203-762-6334. For information contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, February 9 Wilton Library Readers: Matrix by Lauren Groff (Zoom), noon to 1:30 p.m. Using Zoom, professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar discusses Matrix by Lauren Groff 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 munch your lunch while we discuss the book! Questions? Please email Karen Zeibak at kzeibak@wiltonlibrary.org. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, February 14 Valentine’s Day Crafts (In-Person), 4:15 to 5 p.m. On Valentine's Day, kids in Grades K thru 2 can join us to make Valentine's Day crafts. Unfolding Valentines, classic hearts with doilies and more! Masks MUST be worn at all times. Registration required. While it is our hope to offer this program in person, should circumstances require it we will switch to Zoom, prepare craft kits, and send all registrants an email with the link the day before the program. A separate email will be sent out to let participants know when they can pick up craft supply kits, if we need to move the program to Zoom. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, February 15 Poetry Discussion with Janet Krauss: The Poetry of Mark Doty (Zoom), 10:30 a.m. to noon. Please join us online as Janet Krauss leads a discussion of a selection of poems by Mark Doty. A readings packet will be emailed in advance of the program. Mark Doty, born in 1953, came into his own, recognized as a major American poet at the end of the 1990s. His poetry books Alexandria (1993) and Atlantis (1995) gained him recognition within the poetry world and reached lovers of poetry. He has written several books since the late 1990s. Philip Levine wrote that Doty was “a maker of big, risky, fearless poems in which ordinary human experience becomes music.” He has been the recipient of many awards and taught at several universities. He is a longtime resident of Provincetown, Mass. 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.
Tuesday, February 15 Cut the Cord (Zoom), 7 to 8:30 p.m. "Cut the Cord" is an entertaining Zoom presentation meant to help cable-TV customers break the expensive and often frustrating cable service cycle and gain lower costs, greater control and a vastly expanded selection of entertainment and communication choices. Attendees will learn how to get out of a cable service agreement, find and negotiate the best internet/broadband access deal, and get started with streaming services for a vast range of entertainment options... many of which are free! The presentation covers the details of streaming equipment (some of which attendees may already own) and how to explore the ever-expanding list of channels and services that streaming—as well as the "forgotten" free resource of broadcast TV—can bring to your living room. Support issues such as quality home WiFi and low-cost home phone service are covered as well. You don't need advanced technical expertise... just the right information! James Gifford has been a writer, editor and publisher for 30 years, focusing on bringing complex subjects to introductory and novice audiences. He has spent much of the last decade writing about consumer economics and advocating for consumer rights. He is an independent speaker with no ties or interests to any cable, communications, online, entertainment or equipment companies. Registration required. Sign up online or call 203-762-6334. Contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org for information. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, February 16 Photography and Self-Discovery (Zoom), 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please join us for this Zoom session on photography and self-discovery: capturing your personal stories with your smart phone or camera. Are you ready to explore your creativity? Laurie Klein has been a photographer and educator for over 40 decades. As a wedding photographer for more than 25 years, she and her camera are the story tellers that create memories and legacies. Join Laurie Klein for an evening of discovery. Your photographs are speaking to you - can you hear them? Laurie Klein is recognized worldwide for her images of the Female Form in the Landscape and infrared photography. Her work embodies a soft, passionate style that most often depicts the human experience in nature. She has been teaching for more than 40 years, and her work has appeared in hundreds of publications and numerous gallery exhibitions. Registration required. Please register online or call 203-762-6334. Contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org for information. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, February 17 DIY Mouse Pad Craft for Teens (Zoom), 4 to 5 p.m. Make your own mouse pad using cork tiles, mod podge, and a little creativity. This craft is suitable for teens in grades 6-12, and all supplies will be provided. Pick up your supplies at the teen department, then meet with us on Zoom on Thursday, February 17 at 4pm to learn how to make it! Supplies are limited, and registration required. All participants will receive information on how to pick up your craft bag at the teen department in the week before the meeting. The Zoom link will be sent the day before the program. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, February 19 CT Poetry Society Workshop (In-Person), 2 to 4 p.m. Please join us for the next CT Poetry Society workshop live and in-person. 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. Online registration is required. Register online or call 203-762-6334. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Tuesday, February 22 Senior Center Book Discussion: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (In-Person), 11 a.m. to noon. Please join us as Carol Kaelin leads a discussion of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. This group meets on the 4th 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, February 23 Draw Impossible Animals with Rick Stromoski (Zoom) 3 to 4 p.m. Calling all kids in grades 2 and up. Would you like to learn to draw a platypussycat, a bengalbunny, a koalabird, and more impossible silly animals? Join us on Zoom for a fun, interactive cartooning program with Rick Stromoski. Have plenty of paper, pencils, and coloring supplies on hand for this unusual drawing experience. Registration required. Zoom link will be sent by the morning of the program. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Wednesday, February 23 Writing a Legacy Letter (Zoom), 7 to 8:30 p.m. This Zoom workshop invites you to write your own legacy letter. A legacy letter (also called an “ethical will”) is a written document that allows you to share your life lessons, express your values and transmit your blessings to future generations. A legacy letter is shorter than a memoir, typically just a few pages. Writing one is a rewarding experience that creates an enduring gift for family, friends and other loved ones. This introductory workshop includes discussion and brief writing exercises to help you examine your life history, explore your values and capture important insights. It offers advice, encouragement and a model structure to help you draft and complete your own legacy letter. Because this is an interactive workshop, attendance is limited to 20 attendees. Speaker Jay Sherwin created the Life Reflections Project to educate people about legacy letters and ethical wills; he now teaches classes and workshops on legacy writing and helps people craft their own legacy documents. Registration required. Please sign up online or call 203-762-6334. Attendance is limited but waitlist is available once the session is full. Contact asato@wiltonlibrary.org with questions. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Thursday, February 24 DIY Lip Gloss for Teens (Zoom), 3 to 3:45 p.m. Learn how to make your own homemade lip gloss. It's fun and easy. We'll provide the supplies, and then we'll all meet on Zoom to see how it's done.This craft is for teens in grades 6-12. Supplies are limited, and registration required. All participants will receive information on how to pick up your craft bag at the teen department in the week before the meeting. The Zoom link will be sent 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, February 24 and 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 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. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Saturday, February 26 League of Women Voters Legislative Dialogue (Zoom), 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Please join us on Zoom as Wilton Library and the Wilton League of Women Voters present a Legislative Dialogue to give our elected state legislators an opportunity to present their priorities for the 2022 Connecticut Assembly session, and for constituents to provide them feedback and ask them questions about issues facing our town and state. Senator Will Haskell (District 26), Representative Stephanie Thomas (District 143), and Representative Tom O'Dea (District 125) have been invited. Registration required in order to receive the Zoom invitation link. Please register online or call 203-762-6334. Email the League at wiltonlwv@gmail.com with any questions you would like the legislators to address. Constituents will also be able to submit questions during the virtual event. To register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.
Monday, February 28 Zentangle Art Workshop: Zooming with Amy (Zoom), 3 to 4:30 p.m. Join Amy, Wilton Library's certified Zentangle instructor, as she guides us through a fun and relaxing Zentangle art session on Zoom. 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. Zoom link will be sent no later than the morning of the program. Visit www.wiltonlibrary.org to register and for short video tutorials. Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-3950.