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Hamilton-Wenham
Public Library
April Newsletter
Friends Annual Meeting:                         
Hank Phillippi Ryan

Tuesday, April 29, 7:30. Hank Phillippi Ryan is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston's NBC affiliate. She's won 30 EMMYs, 12 Edward R. Murrow awards and dozens of other honors for her ground-breaking journalism. A best selling author of mystery novels, Ryan has won multiple prestigious awards for her crime fiction: the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and most recently, the coveted Mary Higgings Clark Award.  Open to the public.
Fly Fishing Workshop  Tuesday, April 8 & 15, 7:00-8:30, Captain Derek Spingler & Captain Nat Moody teach and demonstrate the fundamentals of fresh & salt water fly fishing and casting. There will be time for you to try casting, too! Topics covered: fly rod selection, reels, lines, fly selection for salt & fresh, knot tying & leader designs. Space is limited, registration is required! Call 978-468-5577 or email [email protected]. Funded by the Friends.
1828 Diary of Caroline Whittredge
Saturday, April 12 at 1:30.  In 1828, the population of Hamilton was about 700 people and there were less than 150 dwellings in the entire town. There were no trains, trolleys, cars, drug stores, or telephones. The stage coach came by once or twice a day. So what was going on in this small town? It turns out quite a lot.  In a small diary found in the archives of the Hamilton Historical Society a young woman, Caroline Whittredge, left us a brief but interesting picture. Dallas Bradel, the transcriber of the diary will speak at the Library, all are welcome to enjoy the lecture and refreshment. Presented by the Hamilton Historical Society.
In this issue
The Humble Clam
First Fridays series
Teen News
Children's Room
Book Clubs
Senior Living Options
New Pass: Einstein's Workshop
Thank you Friends!
Ongoing programs

Closed: Patriots' Day Monday April 21.  

  

Movies:

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug [PG-13]  

Fri. April 18, 1:30-4:15 &

Sat. April 19, 12:30-3:15

 

Willy Wonka  [G]

Tue. April 22, 1:30-3:15

Mary Poppins [G]

Fri. April 25, 1:30-4:15 

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The Humble Clam with food historian Joe Carlin, Wed. April 30 at 7:00.
For Colonialists, clams were a survival food, consumed during periods of want. New England farmers set their pigs free on the clam flats to eat their fill, and long line fisherman, trolling for cod off George's Bank, used clams as bait. Today this mollusk is a cultural icon and symbol of New England cuisine. This talk explores how the humble clam, dug from the mud, became the symbol of New England summers. Funded by the Friends.
'First Fridays' Series
Celebrate Shakespeare's 450th Birthday!
Author Doug Stewart presents The Boy Who Would be Shakespeare: A Tale of Forgery and Folly. Friday, April 4, 10:30. In London in the winter of 1795, a 19 year old clerk named William-Henry Ireland pretended he discovered an unknown play in Shakespeare's handwriting while rummaging in an old trunk. He hoped to impress his chilly, Shakespeare-worshiping father, instead, he caused a public sensation. Scholars, dukes, the future king, the poet laureate -people who should have known better- were overjoyed.
'Mingling Souls on Paper' presented by Bonnie Hurd Smith, Friday, May 2, 10:30.  Judith Sargent Stevens was twenty-three years old, lovely, and intellectually curious. John Murray was a robust thirty-three-year-old man whose charismatic presence and outgoing personality dominated the room. But Judith was married. Any thought of a romance with John was out of the question. Instead, Judith hoped they could "surely, and with the strictest propriety, mingle souls upon paper" by writing to each other. Using Judith Sargent Murray's letters to tell the timeless love story of these two prominent eighteenth century figures, Bonnie Hurd Smith skillfully brings to life the story of their fourteen-year friendship, their twenty-seven-year marriage, and the many years they supported each others' work with mutual respect and affection. This talk complements Bonnie's book "Mingling Souls Upon Paper": An Eighteenth-century Love Story. 
All lectures are free and open to the public, generously funded by the Friends of the Library.
Teen Think Tank meets on Thursday, April 3 at 6:30. Stop in to be a part of the future events and happenings for teens.

Poetry Contest Accepting Submissions 
Put on your poet's hat and gear up for the Library's 4th annual Themed Teen Poetry Contest, the Library's teen advisory board chose "Technology" as the theme. Two cash prize winning categories: grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. Honorable mentions will be awarded. Contest ends on April 30, 2014. Finalists will be notified by phone or email on or about May 8th. Please review the rules carefully before submitting, pop by or view them online.

The Minecraft Club is run by teens, and welcomes all ages who play well with others. The club meets every Wednesday, 2:30 to 4:30 in the Library.  Bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership, beginners and advanced players are welcome.
Children's Room
Dads & Donuts  Sat. April 12 at 11:00. Celebrate dance & dinosaurs with a reading of Brontorina and other stories especially for Dads with children ages 2 and older.  The morning concludes with coloring, snacks and social time.
Tessie Paws to Read Thur. April 17, 4:00-5:00.  Tessie, our 3 year old Labradoodle Certified Therapy Dog, invites you to "Paws To Read".  Anyone who wants to practice reading, is an emerging reader, or who wants to gain confidence by sitting back and relaxing with a comforting, non-judgmental presence, sign up with the Children's Librarian.  
Art Club for preschool and older, Thur. April 2, May 22 & June 19 at 3:30. Drop in for a fun art project with Betsy, no experience or registration necessary. 
Pajamas & Books with Sue Shepard Tue. April 1 &15, 6:30-7:15.  Coordinated Family & Community Engagement of Hamilton-Wenham presents this pajama story time with Sue Shepard. Enjoy a cozy winding down at the end of the day. Spend time with your child enjoying books, music and intentional time together. For parents aged 0-5. Children are invited to attend in pajamas and with a favorite stuffed friend. Please register with Lisa: 978-468-5489, [email protected].
Reading with Your Child: Preschool Parade of Books Thur. April 3, 6:30-7:30 Lead by Lisa Davis, Speech Pathologist of Cape Ann Early Intervention and our own Lorraine Der.  Learn how to choose and read books that your child will love, learn from, and remember. Explore new and old titles and activities to support your child's stage of development. Register with Lisa: 978-468-5489, [email protected]
Early Literacy Activities: It's not Just Books!  Thur. April 10, 6:30-7:30 Lead by Lisa Davis, Speech Pathologist of Cape Ann Early Intervention and our own Lorraine Der. This session is designed for learning about a range of early literacy activities. Register with Lisa: 978-468-5489, [email protected].
Registration for weekly storytime programs begins on Monday, April 14 at 10:00.  Full schedule and details are on the children's blog, or stop by.
Family Board Game Night Wed. April 16 from 4:30-5:30 & 6:30-7:30. Stop by to engage in some old-fashioned family fun. We will have an assortment of games for you to enjoy together as a family; stay for a few minutes or a whole hour.
Positive Parenting: Tips and Tricks for Relationship Building with your Child Thur. April 17 from 6:00-8:00. Presented by Maura Letourneau, a certified trainer of the CSEFEL Model Center for Social Emotional Foundations in Early Learning), Behavior Consultant and Classroom Coach. Please RSVP for this free event to Lisa Cheney: 978-468-5489, [email protected].
April Vacation: New England Aquarium's Tidepool Adaptations Wed. April 23.  Children ages 3 and up can join us for this unique, hands-on program.  Registration is required, in-person at the Children's room, no phone or email registrations accepted. Ages 3&4: 2-2:45, Ages 5&6: 3-3:45, Grades 2-6: 4-4:45. This free program is provided by a generous grant from the First Church of Wenham. 
For more information contact Lorraine Der, Children's Librarian at [email protected] 978-468-5577 or check the Children's Room blog
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stack o books
Book Clubs  
Mystery Mayhem meets on the 2nd Tuesday at 10:30. Join us to explore mystery & suspense, can you solve the mini-mystery of the day? The April 8th meeting theme is: "Ain't Got No Body: Cozy Mysteries." Swing by for a list of suggested titles. 
Literary Luncheon meets on Tuesday, April 15 at 11:30. Chris Bohjalian's The Light in the Ruins. (Shapiro's The Art Forger is too popular get enough copies at once, so it has been bumped.) Bring your brown-bag lunch, beverages and dessert will be provided.
The Elder Insider: 411 on Senior Living Options
Wed. April 9, 5:30- 7:30. How do we make the decision to relocate to alternative senior housing? What are the costs and comparisons? Whether you want to down-size, relocate or are just curious, this seminar will explain the choices available to you today. Presented by the Elder Insider, please RSVP to JoAnn: 508-843-1869.
NEW PASS!  We have a great new pass to offer our patrons: one that offers a hands-on learning drop-in workshop for children. Call us or go online to reserve your pass for 2 hours of experimental play. Check out their website.
Thank you to the Friends for 6 new computers in the Reference area.  They are wonderful!
Thank you also to all the Friends who worked on the book sale: sorters, boxers, movers, and sales folk. Thanks again to everyone who donated books or came out to make purchases, it was a great event.
Ongoing Programs
Hamilton-Wenham Mothers' Club: Infants Group-  Mondays 11-1
Knitting- Mondays 12-2.
Hamilton-Wenham Mothers' Club: Toddlers Group- Wednesdays 10-12
Cribbage- Thursdays 10-12
Bridge- Wednesdays 10-12, and Fridays 1:30-4:30 (some exp. required)