In This Issue

Academy Evening May 17

The Mead Public Library Foundation will host a guest speaker from the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters on May 17 in the library's Rocca Meeting Room beginning at 7 p.m. A reception will be held in The Loft beginning at 6 p.m.

The presenter is Curt Meine, a conservation biologist and writer based in Sauk County. He serves as Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Center for Humans and Nature, and as Adjunct Associate Professor at UW-Madison, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology

His topic is "The Waters of Wisconsin: Sustaining Our Aquatic Ecosystems and Resources." In this presentation, Meine said, we'll explore how we can build the long-term foundations for healthy water resources and resilient aquatic ecosystems-for sustaining the waters of Wisconsin that sustain us.

More information and registration for the free program is here.

Friends Annual Meeting April 23

The Friends of Mead Public Library will hold their annual meeting on Saturday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m. in The Loft.

A short business meeting will be held which will include the election of board members. Current members Nancy Stephani and Mary Ann Neuses are retiring from the board in April. Thank you for your service.

Library Director Garrett Erickson will present a program highlighting new services and programs at Mead Public Library.

Refreshments and a social time will conclude the event. New and current members are invited to attend.

footnotes

Volume 25, Number 4
April 2016

Sheboygan Connects on April 16

The second Sheboygan Connects event will be held at Mead Public Library on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sheboygan Connects is a day of free hands-on activities for children, teens and adults. You can learn something new and have some fun, and it's all free!

10am - 4pm in Jerry Black's Cafe
   Broom Making Demo with John Holzwart
   Coloring for All Ages Drop-in
   3D Printer Demo in 2nd floor Makerspace

10am - noon in 2nd floor Makerspace and Noon - 2pm in Landwehr Children's Library Ctr.
   Discover the Kano, a DIY computer kit designed to help people of all ages, especially kids, assemble a computer from scratch, and learn basic coding skills.

10 - 11am in the Children's Activity Room
   Children's Craft Drop-in, Make Butterfly and Minion Clothespins, Greeting Cards.

10 - 11am in the Rocca Meeting Room
   "Wonders of the Kettle Moraine" with Jackie Scharfenberg, state forest naturalist
The Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit is an amazing place sculpted by the glaciers of the last Ice Age. Discover the glacial and human history of the Kettle Moraine and what resources are available for folks to enjoy today. Age 12-up.

10am - noon in the Maas Teen Center
   Screen Printing Make and Take with Craig Grabhorn, JMKAC community arts specialist
Print a book bag or poster with the Sheboygan Connects logo or other art that will be provided. Bring one additional item to print if you'd like. All ages.

11am - 1pm in the Story Garden
   Face Paint Queens Christine Wolf & Dana Baldry
Kids 12-under can have their faces painted and watch this talented pair create balloon animals.

11:30am - 12:30pm in the Rocca Room
   "Split Lives: Amphibians" with Jackie Scharfenberg
Frogs, toads, and salamanders abound in Wisconsin. Through hands-on activities, learn about their split lives between water and land, and which species call this area home. Live animals too! Best for age 6-12.

Noon - 1:30pm in The Loft
   Theatre History Series, Part 1, with Tom Berger, Sheboygan Theatre Company managing director
This session focuses on the history of American theatre starting with amateur colonial troupes, all the way to the amazing story of the Federal Theatre Project. Activities, exploration of text and more. For teens and adults.

Noon - 2pm in 2nd floor Makerspace
   Artbots and Handmade Journals Drop-in
Create a robot with a foam cup and small motor and it will move on paper to make art. Learn basic bookbinding skills when you make your own journal. For all ages, but children need to bring an adult to help.

12:30 - 2pm in the Children's Activity Room
   Explore robotics with LEGO Mindstorms
Learn to create a robot using LEGO Mindstorms software and hardware. For age 7-up.

2:30 - 4pm in 2nd floor Digital Media Lab
   Intro to Stop Motion Animation
Make some clips on an iPad. For teens, grade 6-12.

Space is limited in all programs with participation on a first-come basis. Thank you to the Mead Public Library Foundation and the Friends of Mead Public Library for funding Sheboygan Connects!

Celebrate National Poetry Month

Mead Public Library will celebrate National Poetry Month in April with several events.

Sheboygan poet Lisa Vihos will present three "Playing with Poetry Workshops" on Mondays, April 4, 11, and 18, at Mead Library beginning at 6:30 p.m. Adults and teens are welcome to attend the free programs.

Vihos is the 2015 winner of the "Wisconsin People and Ideas" poetry contest and one of the editors of Stoneboat Literary Journal. She said, "Poetry helps us see and hear more deeply by focusing our attention in unexpected ways. Through reading the poems of poets (both past and contemporary) and writing our own, we'll look at different aspects of ourselves and the world around us each week. No writing experience is necessary, just a desire to explore and a willingness to play. Come as you are, leave as a poet!"

In April, Mead Public Library also will host areas in the library where patrons can write their own ekphrastic poem and leave it for others to read, or take it home with them. A ekphrastic poem is inspired by a work of art in any other media.

A final program will be "Poetic Pairings: How Poetry Speaks" on Monday, April 25, at 6:15 p.m. The evening will feature "poetic pairings" shared by Sheboygan County luminaries and local poets, along with an open mic for anyone who wishes to share an original poem or an old favorite. All ages are welcome.

Explore the Art of Theatre

Sheboygan Theatre Company will partner with Mead Public Library to offer three free Master Classes in the art of theatre on Saturdays, April 16, 23 and 30, at noon.

The focus of the first class will be the history of American theatre, starting with amateur colonial troupes, all the way to the amazing story of the Federal Theatre Project. The second class will focus completely on the history of Wisconsin theatre in particular, examining our state's rich theatrical history. Then the third class will bring you up to date with the fast-changing nature of both professional and regional theatre.

With activities, exploration of text, and interactive examinations of how set and costume design have changed throughout American theatre history, our hope is to provide an entertaining and educational series that changes how you look at your cultural heritage.

The presenter is Tom Berger, Managing Director of STC. He works with and/or oversee a small contracted staff, a 15-member volunteer Board of Directors, several contracted designers, directors, and musicians, and sometimes upwards of 100 volunteers.

STC is in its 82nd season, an almost completely volunteer organization, nonprofit and among the largest and oldest community theatres in the Midwest. STC works in conjunction with the Sheboygan Area School District and the Community Recreation Department.

Up and Coming Events at Mead

KIDS & FAMILIES

Preschool Storytime, a 30-minute early literacy storytime for children age 3-5.
Wednesdays through May 18, 9:30 & 10:30 am

Wii Gaming Drop-in for grades 2-6.
Wednesdays, April 6 & 27, May 4 & 25, 3:15-5 pm

LEGO Club, drop-in fun for grades K-6.
Wednesdays, April 6, May 4, 3:15-4:30 pm

Little Listeners, a 20-minute early literacy storytime for children 2-up.
Thursdays through April 28, 9:30 & 10:30 am

Sundown Storytime, 30 minutes of fun and learning for kids of all ages and their families.
Thursdays through April 28, 6:30 pm

Science-4-Fun, hands-on science for grades 1-6.
Wednesdays, April 13 & May 11, 3:30 pm

Read to "Faith," the Therapy Dog
Mondays, April 11 & May 9, 6-7 pm

Art4Fun for grades 2-6. Learn, create, have fun.
Wednesdays, April 20 & May 18, 3:30 pm

Chess for Youth instruction for all ages.
Wednesdays, April 27 & May 25, 3:30-4:30 pm

JUST FOR TEENS

Learn to use an Arduino microprocessor to make interactive projects, 3D printer demo.
Fridays, April 15, May 20, 3-5 pm

BOOK GROUPS

For adults; no registration required. Pick up a copy of the book or reserve/purchase it yourself.

Books on Tap at Urbane Bar & Grill,
1231 N. 8th St., Sheboygan, Tuesdays, 6 pm
April 5:    "All the Light We Cannot See"
May 3:    "The Bees"

Book Discussion Group - With Joe Milicia, Thursdays, 2 pm
April 7:    "Ladies Paradise"
May 5:    "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank"

Nonfiction Book Discussion Group - With Leighanne Metter-Jensen, Tuesdays, 5:30 pm
April 12: "The Mushroom Hunters"
May 10:    "Born to Run"

Fiction Book Discussion Group - With Kim Dalhaimer, Thursdays, 6:30 pm
April 21:    "The Shipping News"
May 19:    "Dept. of Speculation"

FOR ADULTS & TEENS

"Make It @ Mead" drop-in, supplies provided.
Thursdays, 5-7:30 pm,
April 7:   Concrete stepping stone
May 5:   T-shirt craft projects

The Book to Art Club
Explore literature through discussion and hands-on creative projects (supplies provided).
Thursdays, 6 pm
April 14:    "Swamplandia!"
May 12:    "The Girl with All the Gifts"

Spanish-English Conversation Groups
Improve your fluency in either language.
Thursdays, April 14 & 28, May 12 & 26, 6-7 pm

Computer Basics offers help with word
processing, e-mail, Internet and more.
Thursdays, April 14 & 21, May 12, 1-2 pm

The Loft Knitting Circle open to all levels. Bring a project; knitting help available.
Saturday, April 9, 1-3 pm

Poetry Circle with Karl Elder.
Wednesdays, April 20, May 18, 6:15 pm

"A Glimpse of France"
French culture with Debbie Desmoulin. Tuesday, 6:30 pm
April 26:   Castles, Cathedrales & Beautiful Places Like Chamonix

"Playing with Poetry" Workshops
Reading and writing poetry, Lisa Vihos will help you learn about yourself and the world.
Mondays, April 4, 11 & 18, 6:30 pm

"Sheboygan: Tales of the Tragic & Bizarre"
Author Bill Wangemann will discuss his book.
Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 pm

"The History of American Theatre: From Colonial Shakespeare to Wisconsin to Modern-day Broadway"
Tom Berger, of Sheboygan Theatre Company, will offer three interactive classes with activities and exploration of text.
Saturdays, April 16, 23 & 30, noon

History of the City of Sheboygan Series - With Beth Dippel, Sheboygan County Historical Research Center executive director
"Sheboygan, Its First Fifty Years"
Thursday, April 21, 6 pm

"Sheboygan's Lakefront and Riverfront: A City Defined by Water"
Thursday, May 19, 6 pm

Friends of Mead Library Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 23, 1:30 pm

"Poetic Pairings: How Poetry Speaks"
"Poetic Pairings" plus open mic. Led by local poet Lisa Vihos. All ages welcome.
Monday, April 25, 6:15 pm

Seasonal Floral Arrangements
Tina Nohl, from the Wreath Factory at Otter Creek, will demo fresh and silk arrangements.
Thursday, May 5, 1 pm

Herbs for Nourishment and Health with herbalist Linda Conroy.
Tuesday, May 10, 6 pm

Academy Evening with conservation biologist Curt Meine (more details to be announced)
Tuesday, May 17, evening

MONDAY MOVIE MATINEE

Movies for adults, 1:30 pm
April 4:        "Counterfeit Traitor" (1962)
April 11:       "Theory of Everything" (2014)
April 18:       "Three Musketeers" (1948)
April 25:       "Merry Widow" (1934)
May 2:    "About Time" (2013)
May 9:          "National Velvet" (1944)
May 16:        "Lassie Come Home" (1943)
May 23:    "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (2015)

No registration needed for our programs (unless indicated). All of our events are free, thanks to funding from the Friends of Mead Public Library, the Mead Public Library Foundation, and the Kohler Foundation, Inc. (for Make It @ Mead and Art4Fun). To request ADA accommodations, email to: meadweb@meadpl.org at least a week in advance. Mead Library may take photographs and video at programs. Notify a staff member if you do not want to participate.

Regular Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9-8 * Friday & Saturday 9-5 * Sunday 1-5 (October-April)
Closed May 30

Thanks to the Friends of Mead Public Library for sponsoring the distribution of this e-newsletter.