Holiday program with Simon Brooks - Sunday 12/2 @ 4PM

Stop by the library on Sunday, December 2nd from 4 to 5 PM to hear award winning master storyteller, Simon Brooks shares his holiday yarns and tales. Folk and faerie tales speak to all ages, and allow us to put things beyond our comprehension, or experience, into context.  In this program, Simon will be selecting tales to tell form a large number of world stories more suited to grown-ups.  The story of the real Saint Wenceslas is one filled with murder and betrayal as well as wonder; the story of the Two Pickpockets of London is filled with ribald humor, and other stories Simon will tell will be brought to life by combining the intensity of a solo performance with the intimacy of a face-to-face conversation. Simon will also be accompanying some of his stories with a musical instrument. The performance is recommended for adults and teens only.  Sign up today!

Born in Gloucestershire, England, Simon moved to the United States in 1994.  He has been a professional storyteller since 2003.  He has captivated people all over New England with his musical instruments, such as the bodhrán and very special drums, and his stories.  He is known for extraordinary voices he uses which leave audience members wondering how so many memorable characters came out of one man.  

October adult programs

Feasting on 10-Minute Harvest Meals
Tuesday, October 2, 6:30 to 8:30

We all want to eat well but our busy schedules often keep us from taking the time to cook healthy meals.  Understanding what ingredients to stock up on at the local farm and what to have in your refrigerator, pantry, and freezer is key to whipping up a fast, healthy, and delicious meal.  Join chef Liz Barbour to learn how to use your pantry and your local market to create and cook delicious, healthy meals in 10 minutes


The Joy of Getting things Done
Thursday, October 11 7 to 8:30 PM

Is your life running you instead of the other way around?  Do you struggle to keep up with everyday demands and challenges? The problem is often not a lack of willpower or self-discipline; it's a lack of having effective systems in place. Life coach Linda King teaches systems and strategies that can help you use time more effectively, tackle overwhelming projects and incorporate new routines in your life

Antiques Roadshow: What's my Antique worth Plus tips of the trade
Tuesday, October 16, 7 to 9 PM

Join us for our own unique Antiques Roadshow and hear what licensed auctioneer and certified appraiser Ron Wackowski has to say about the items he sees that evening.  Registrants for this program are welcome to bring ONE 'portable' small item of interest and Ron hopes to be able to offer historic and monetary value on about 25 items (as time allows) during the evening.  The items will be placed on a large table and Ron will choose what items to focus on.  Ron, who has more than 40 years of experience with the antique trade, will also provide answers to the most common questions he is asked.

 

 

Halloween Special - The Vampire in Literature and Film: A Very strange love story
Tuesday, October 23, 7 to 8:30 PM

Dr. Sue Weaver Schopf, Associate dean and director of the Master of Liberal Arts Program, Research advisor in the humanities and lecturer at the Harvard Extension School, explores the evolution of the myth of the vampire.  The vampire is everywhere in popular culture today, Although this mythic creature has occurred in diverse mythologies for thousands of years, and occupied the literary imagination of authors and audiences for over two hundred, at no other time has it been represented in such an intriguing variety of ways. With what fears and fantasies in the human psyche does it connect?

Right Here in New Hampshire - April Programs

Stone Walls of New England
Tuesday April 10, 2012
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

 
Kevin Gardner, author of The Granite Kiss:Traditions and Techniques of Building New England Stone Walls, will talk about the history of New England stone walls and their cultural significance. Touching on history, technique, stylistic development, and aesthetics, Kevin explains how and why New England came to acquire its thousand miles of stone walls, the ways in which they and other dry stone structures were built, and how their styles emerged and changed over time. Differences in approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders, a discussion of restoration tips and techniques, and information about design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis will be included along with a question and answer period. Along the way, Kevin occupies himself building a miniature wall or walls on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket.

Kevin, for more than thirty years, has been a stone wall builder in a family business widely known for traditional New England stonework, particularly for historic restoration of antique structures. In addition to The Granite Kiss, he has published poetry, songs, and essays. From 1985 to 2010, Kevin was also a performance critic, feature writer, and producer for NH Public Radio; as well as a longtime professional actor, director, and teacher of theatre.

New Hampshire Master Chorale with 

Director Dan Perkins
Sunday April 15, 2012
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM

The New Hampshire Master Chorale is a non-profit choir established in the spring of 2003. This premier chamber ensemble is dedicated to excellence in the art of choral music performance. Members of the group are trained singers, auditioned from throughout New England, who have performed as soloists and in choral ensembles throughout the world. The ensemble's mission includes performance series in New England, educational outreach, national and international touring, commissioning and premiering of works by New Hampshire composers, recording, and collaborative projects with other excellent performing arts organizations. 

Dr. Daniel R. Perkins, Music Director, holds the degrees Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Choral Music from the University of Southern California, and Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University. He continued his studies as a Fulbright scholar in Helsinki, Finland. While there, he worked as the associate conductor of the Finnish Chamber Choir and associate conductor of the Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus.
We thank the Friends of the Amherst Town Library for the funding of the Sundays at 4 music series this year.

'Uprooted': Heartache and Hope in New Hampshire - Facilitated film discussion
Tuesday April 17, 2012
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

 
'Uprooted' is a 30-minute documentary based on interviews collected during the New Hampshire Humanities Council's Fences and Neighbors initiative on immigration. It tells the story of five refugees who escaped from war-torn countries to resettle in New Hampshire. The film explores what it means to be a refugee, how it feels to make a new life in a strange place, often without English language skills, family, jobs, or community contacts.  The film leaves us pondering questions of belonging and citizenship. What does it mean to be an American? Once a refugee, are you destined always to be a refugee? What are our responsibilities toward one another?

New Hampshire Humanities Council facilitator John Krueckeberg will introduce the film and lead the post-film discussion.  A Professor of History at Plymouth State University with expertise in American social and cultural history, John taught four years in Arizona near the U.S./Mexico border. This program is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Songs of Old New Hampshire
Tuesday April 24, 2012
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Drawing heavily on the repertoire of traditional singer Lena Bourne Fish (1873-1945) of Jaffrey and Temple, New Hampshire, musician Jeff Warner offers the songs and stories that, in the words of Carl Sandburg, tell us 'where we came from and what brought us along.' These ballads, love songs, and comic pieces reveal the experiences and emotions of daily life in the days before the movies, sound recordings, and for some, books. Songs from lumber camps, the decks of sailing ships, the textile milss, and the war between the sexes offer views of pre-industrial New England and a chance to hear living artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.

New Hampshire Humanities Council presenter, Jeff Warner, connects 21st century audiences with the music of everyday lives of 19th century people. He presents musical traditions from the Outer Banks fishing villages of North Carolina to the lumber camps of the Adirondack Mountains and the whaling ports of New England. Warner accompanies his songs on concertina, banjo, guitar, and several 'pocket instruments,' such as bones and Jew's harp. Warner is a Folklorist and Community Scholar for the New Hampshire Council on the Arts. He has toured nationally for the Smithsoniam Institution and has recorded for Flying Fish/Rounder Records and other labels.  This program is offered with funding support from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
  

March Programs - It's a Mystery to Me!

Forensic Science Roadshow

Tuesday March 13 - Now on Thursday, March 15
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Venture into the world of CSI with this interactive program that introduces you to the world of forensic science.  Learn about the history of forensic science, functions of a forensic scientist, gunshot residue, metal detector, footwear impressions, fingerprints, DNA, blood, and crime lights. Presenter Paul Zambella (Ret.) was employed as a Forensic Scientist at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory for 36 years.  His functions in the laboratory included crime scene investigator, criminalist, drug analyst, serologist and toxicologist.

Take the Mystery out of Gluten Free Cooking and Do some Detective Work on Other Food Allergies
Tuesday March 20
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Chef Oonagh Williams returns by popular demand to offer a wealth of knowledge on gluten free cooking and demonstrate and share delicious samplings of her excellent creations!

Raising Heritage Chickens in Your Own Backyard
Wednesday March 21
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Come and discover the wonderful world of Heritage Chickens!  Explore how to raise and maintain these hardy, productive and beautiful birds right in your own backyard.  Presenters David and Jennifer Valentine, whose farm is located in Mont Vernon, NH, will cover an array of topics including: a brief history of heritage chickens, general husbandry, coop building and designs, bio-security and disease control, predator control, chick hatching/raising and how to order these amazing rare and endangered breeds. 

Crime in Literature: Exploring Mystery and Detective Fiction
Tuesday March 27
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Professor Melissa Pennell (UMass Lowell) loves discussing mystery and detective fiction with other readers!  Be it talking about the legacy of Robert Parker, the fiction of Dennis Lehane, the history of the mystery genre, the topic of reinventing the Hard-Boiled Tradition, the Police Procedural, New England Mystery and Detective Fiction, Culinary Mysteries, or classic and contemporary works of detective fiction, Melissa can share all kinds of interesting information. 

 

First Quarter Moon Skywatch

Thursday, March 29

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Come and learn about about astronomy with local New Hampshire Astronomical Society member Ed Ting! A 30 minute presentation will be followed up by a skywatch where participants can take a look at the first quarter moon. NHAS members will set up with telescopes across the street from the library

Button Up NH and Sundays at Four

In case anyone missed it, we've uploaded both the handout (PDF Format) and the presentation itself (Powerpoint format) for the Button Up NH program held by the Amherst Conservation Commission, UNH Cooperative Extension, and the Amherst Town Library:

The Presentation

The Handout

In other news, we're halfway through our  Sundays at Four music series, which is generously funded by the Friends of the Amherst Town Library.  Please stop by next month for our March and April concerts:


A Celtic Celebration: Aubrie Dionne and Piper Runnion-Bareford in Concert
Sunday, March 18 at 4 PM
 Aubrie and Piper have played together for several years.  They debuted as a duo with the Lakes Region Symphony, performing the Mozart Harp and Flute Concerto.  Other performances include the Manchester Chamber Players, Plymouth State University Faculty Concert Series, and the Nashua Library Music's on the Menu concert series.  



New Hampshire Master Chorale with Music Director Dan Perkins
Sunday, April 15 at 5(not 4!) PM

The New Hampshire Master Chorale is a non-profit choir established in the spring of 2003. This premier chamber ensemble is dedicated to excellence in the art of choral music performance. Members of the group are trained singers, auditioned from throughout New England, who have performed as soloists and in choral ensembles throughout the world.

Human Spirit: Adventures and Challenges

As people, we experience adventures and challenges both on larger-than-life and more personal scales. We'll explore this aspect of the human experience with our new programming series: Human Spirit: Adventures and Challenges. We have a very full slate of programs during both January and February. Due to space concerns, registration is Required for all programs.

Mountain Climber Craig John: Everest and More

Tuesday, January 10th 7-8:30 PM 

Kicking off the series is mountain guide and climber, Craig John, who will present on his ascent of Mount Everest's north ridge, as well as his numerous expeditions to Kilimanjaro, Cho Oyu, Mount Rainer,

Craig has been a professional mountain guide since 1987. He has 189 ascents of Mt. Rainier by 12 different routes to his credit and has done over fifty high altitude expeditions worldwide including successful ascents of Everest by the North Ridge in Tibet, and Cho Oyu (the 6th highest in the world), 18 ascents of Kilimanjaro and ten expeditions to Denali. Craig guides for International Mountain Guides based in Ashford, Washington and The International Mountain Climbing School in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Homer's Odysseus

Tuesday, January 17th 7-8:30 PM

Sebastian Lockwood portrays Odysseus in this chatauqua living history program.  We begin at Book V with Odysseus weeping on Calypso's Island.  We then cover the great encounters: Princess Nausika, the Cyclops, Circe, Hades, the Lotus Eaters.  We end on Ithaka, with the recognition scenes, confrontations with the suitors, and resolution with Penelope. 

Sebastian Lockwood is a professional storyteller of epics.  He teaches cultural anthropology and storytelling at New Hampshire Institute of Art and is involved with the storytelling curriculum at Lesley University Creative Arts program and Endicott College.  He holds a M.A. in Social Anthropology, Cambridge University, U.K. and a M.A. in Education and English, Cambridge University, U.K.

What Endures: A discussion Series led by Emily Archer

Three part series: Wednesday, January 18th, Tuesday, January 31, and Wednesday, February 15 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Feats of extreme physical endurance, technical challenge, and athletic skill make the news.  Those who scale the highest mountains, sail uncharted seas, and dive unfathomable depths are the stuff of legend and bestsellers.  But what about those whose marathons are hidden in hospital corridors or ordinary suburban living rooms, who climb their Everests unnoticed?  Perhaps you have known people who swim upstream through impossible illness, or who daily walk some wild unmapped path with their families.  What keeps their spirits alive?  How do they persist against the odds?  This winter you are invited to 'get the news' of extraordinary, ordinary people who meet their unsought human challenges with honesty, humor, and great presence.  Read a rich mix of poems, stories and essays, and come reflect together in this new three-part discussion series, held on Wednesday, January 18, Tuesday, January 31, and Wednesday, February 15, 2012.  This series is led by Emily Archer, long-time facilitator of public humanities programs, in collaboration with Ruslyn Vear, Head of Reference and Adult Programming at the Amherst Town Library.

Denali Delmar's No Knead Miracle Bread Workshop

Tuesday, January 24 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Craisin-pecan bread? Asiago cheese bread? Rosemary onion bread?

You can make ALL these delicious breads and more when you take Denali Delmar's No Knead Miracle Bread Workshop. Her simple method will have you baking like a pro in no time at all!Professional Bread Baker Denali Delmar has taught bread making classes for more than 20 years.  The author of Holiday Breads, Denali completed workshops at the Culinary Institute of America and operated her own bakery for a decade.

Adding Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years: A Roadmap to Enhance Longevity and Wellness
Tuesday February 7 7 to 8:30 PM
This program presents the latest research on the physiology of aging and longevity enhancement by exploring four areas of the world where people live the longest. Learn how specific lifestyle changes can biologically slow down the aging process.  Explore the role of genetics in aging and how lifestyle choices affect the expression of our genes. Discover how to create a plan or 'roadmap' that will incorporate this important research and protect your most important asset: your health and vitality. Presenter Paula Koppel is a registered nurse and geriatric nurse practitioner for over 25 years. Paula is a graduate of Duke University School of Nursing and has a master's degree from Boston University and advanced certificate in counseling and psychology from Lesley University. Paula was the Director of Geriatrics at Winchester Hospital for many years. In 1999, she established her own consulting company and is known for developing innovative approaches to healthcare for middle-aged and older adults. 





It's Not About the Hike
Tuesday, February 21 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Meet two fifty-plus year old non-hikers who started walking the sidewalks of Keene and ended up climbing the 67 4,000-footers in New England.  They have now reached the summits of over 190 mountains since 2006, hiking through all seasons. This presentation is for hikers and non-hikers, people who are sedentary or active, outdoor enthusiasts and indoor homebodies, and everyone in between; it is the story of their journey. 

Exploring America's Tackiest Tourist Photos with humorist Darren Garnick
Tuesday, February  28 7:00 to 8:30 PM

When you go on vacation, are you camera shy or do you aggressively pursue every amusement park mascot, funny road sign and goofy statue for a photo-op? If you fit into the latter category, come participate in Amherst's Tacky Tourist Photo Night as humorist Darren Garnick guides you through the Do's and Don'ts of silly travel photography.  As curator of TackyTouristPhotos.com, Garnick seeks contributions from your childhood vacation albums and your latest creative cell phone pics for possible inclusion in an offbeat coffee table book. Darren is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, business journalist and certified sucker for kitschy roadside attractions and tourist traps.  His favorite travel moments include helping rescue a lost tree sloth in Costa Rica, giving PEZ dispenser gifts to tribal leaders in the South Pacific, and sprinting up the 'Rocky Steps' in Philadelphia without collapsing.  He is also the Boston Herald's 'Working Stiff' columnist and a contriburor to Slate.com and New Hampshire Magazine.

Fun at the Zentangle Workshop!

Just had two great Zentangle workshops with local artist Suzanne Binnie. Just wanted to share this neat picture Suzanne sent us from the second workshop of everyone's Zentangle pieces: