Are you ready for the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse? Dubbed "The Great American Eclipse," this total eclipse will ONLY be visible on a narrow track stretching from Oregon to South Carolina across the U.S. However, this amazing celestial event WILL be visible from Connecticut as a partial, not total, eclipse. To view it safely, you need proper preparation. CCSU astronomy professor Dr. Kristine Larsen will discuss how to view this

eclipse and more on Tuesday, June 27 at 7:00 pm in the Griffin Room. All are welcome to this free program. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you would like to reserve a seat.

The Great American Eclipse

The Life and Legend of Meriden Diva, Rosa Ponselle

On Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 6:30 pm in the Griffin Room, Valerie Bubon, teacher,

lecturer and opera singer, will present a program of the extraordinary career of Meriden-born opera diva, Rosa Ponselle. The program will include an overview of Rosa Ponsell’s

career with audio excerpts from her opera and high-lights from her radio broad-cast years from 1934 – 1936. Also, a film clip of Ponselle’s MGM screen test will be shown. A question and answer period will follow. Ms. Bubon teaches “Exploring Opera” through the Meriden Adult Evening School. She served as President of the Rosa Ponselle Fund of Meriden and coordinated opera concerts at the Ponselle Museum when it was

housed at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center. Ms. Bubon was a member of the Greater New Britain Opera Association and appeared in many of its productions, making her opera debut in Franz Lehar’s “Merry Widow” in 1988. All are welcome to this free program cosponsored by the Meriden Historical Society. Contact the Community Services Department at (203) 630-6349 if you would like to reserve a seat.

June 2017 Www.meridenlibrary.org

Meriden Public Library

News

Get ready for the

S u m m e r Re ad i n g

Challenge!

Check the library

w e b s i t e a t

www.meridenlibrary.org

for details.

Inside this issue:

College– getting there

from here

2

The Grumbly Pug 2

Of Words and Images

winners

2

Friends News

Monthly Library

Programs

3

Children’s Programs 4/5

Teen Programs 6/7

Friends Membership

Application

8

Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450 (203) 238-2344

Summer Hours

Coming The library will be

closed on Saturdays

from July 1 to

September 2.

Whether your children or grandchildren are learning to crawl or learning to drive, you can help make a college education a reality. Join Bill Passarelli on Saturday, June 17 at 3:00 pm in the Cook Room for “College – getting there

from here,” a college sav-ings presentation. In this seminar, we will discuss questions to consider as you establish a college savings goal, strategies to help you reach your goal and features and benefits of

various education savings plans. All are welcome to this free program. Contact the Community Services De-partment at (203) 630-6349 or Bill at (203) 294-1305 if you would like to reserve a seat.

Nancy Falis “N”

Carol Ann Keough “I”

Denise Sarrazin “J”

The winners have been invited to the September

The winners of the Meriden Poetry Society and Paul Ott “Of Words and Images” contest are:

Sara Nicoletti “O”

Deirdre Purdy “I”

College—Getting There from Here

Of Words and Images

The Grumbly Pug

Laura Van Wormer, Stacey Wright Roberts, The Friends of the Meriden Public Library

and The Augusta Curtis Cultural Center

cordially invite you to a reception

celebrating the publication of

THE GRUMBLY PUG

by Meriden’s own Jennifer Niland Wright.

5:30—7:00 pm Thursday, June 8, 2017

At the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center, 175 East Main Street, Meriden, CT

Refreshments will be served.

All proceeds from the sale of books benefit the building fund for the renovation and

expansion of the Meriden Public Library.

Page 2

Meriden Public Library

meeting to receive their prize. The winning photographs can be seen at www.meridenlibrary.org.

Museum Passes

Receive free or reduced admission to over 25 museums, zoos, and other attractions through the Meriden Public Library’s Museum Pass program. Museum passes can be reserved online through the library’s website. Many of the passes are printable and can be printed from home. Only five of the passes must be picked up at the Children’s library. For a list of museum passes and instructions, go to the children’s section at www.meridenlibrary.org.

The Friends of the Library are getting a Facebook page, properly titled the ‘Friends of the Meriden CT Public Library’. Currently the page boasts items such as the Friends bookstore hours and donation policies, contact

information, upcoming events, and with your sup-port, plenty of posts. You don’t have to be a member to ‘Like’ or post on the page, but for any-one wanting to join, the page’s ‘About’ section has a link to the Meriden

Library website and the downloadable membership form for the Friends. Remember to ‘Like’ the page and tell friends on Facebook to do the same, and never miss a $5 bag sale at the bookstore again!

A tree grows in

Brooklyn

By Betty Smith

Thursday, June 8 1:30 pm

Marion Cook Room All are welcome.

Coming to Facebook: The Friends of the Library

Classic Book Club

Movies at the Library

La La Land

Thursday, June 22

Two showings:

1:00 pm

And

6:00 pm

Page 3

Www.meridenlibrary.org

Monday, June 12 in the Cook Room

and Monday, June 26 in

Griffin Room A

2:00 pm

Chess Club

Wednesday, June 28

6:30 pm Seminar Room

Save the Date—Friends Summer Social will be on August 25th. Watch for details in the July/August newsletter. We hope all of our Friends that have not renewed their membership for 2017 will do it soon. A membership form is attached to the newsletter. Thank you. Next Friends meeting—Tuesday, June 20 at 4:30 pm in the Marion Cook Room.

Friends News

Coloring and Coffee

Friday, June 2 12:30 to 2:00 pm

and Tuesday, June 20 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Supplies are provided.

All are welcome.

Writer’s Network

Wednesday, June 28 7:00 pm

Griffin Room A

Anyone interested in writing is welcome.

TUESDAYS 10:30 a.m. Terrific 2’s & 3’s Ages 2-3 w/caregiver

11:30 a.m. Preschool Storytime Ages 3-4 years old

6:30 p.m. Bedtime Storytime Ages 2-3 w/caregiver

WEDNESDAYS 10:30 a.m. Wiggles Rhymes & Storytimes Ages 2-3 w/caregiver

6:30 p.m. Reading Stars! Ages 3-4 years old w/caregiver

THURSDAYS 10:30 a.m. Start on Stories Babies and toddlers w/caregiver

Join our interactive storytimes with your child and enjoy early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays, puppets, music and body movement. All first time participants must show proof of age.

Storytimes start week of June 19 and end week of August 7.

Meriden Public Library ● Tomie dePaola Children’s Library ● 105 Miller St. Meriden, CT 06450

Phone: (203) 630-6347 ● E-mail: childrenslibrary@meriden.lioninc.org

Painting Craft

Join us for a fun painting craft! Appropriate for grades K-2. Play clothes suggested, though

smocks will be available. Register online through the Event Calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Wednesday, June 14 3:30 pm

Stop in to the Children’s Room with friends or family to play some board games! Games help children practice a variety of skills, including numbers, shapes, counting and grouping, letter recognition and many others. Games also help with social skills and fine motor skills- and everyone has a lot of fun!!

Drop-in Game Day! Thursday June 15 - All Day!

Fairy Tale STEM

Storytime

Wednesdays June 28-Aug 9

2:30 pm in Griffin Room

For children entering K-2nd Grade

Ex;lore fun engineering projects based

It’s Elementary!

Tuesdays June 27-Aug 8

2:30 pm in Griffin Room

For children entering 3rd & 4th Grade.

Join us for an entertaining story or two,

Register online or call 203-630-6347.

Summer Big Events begin June 19!

Tickets will be available at the Children’s

Information Desk on June 5th for the

following events. All events are FREE!

June 19 6:30 pm Robert Rivest, Come-dy June 23 10:30 am Sciencetellers: Pirates

Lost at Sea!

June 26 6:30 pm Bubble Dance Party June 30 10:30 am Children’s Museum of

Southeastern CT—Meet the

Animals! (Live Animal Show)

May 2017

Creating Comic Book Characters

Wednesday, May 10, 17 and 24 3:30—5pm Cook Room

Matt Ryan is back to teach you about the art of character design. Over a series of three classes you will explore the different aspects of character creation including posture, emotions and details. Space is limited. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Snacks and drinks provided. Sign up online through the library’s event calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Meriden Public Library 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450

203-630-6347

Your Dream Life with Susane Colasanti

Tuesday, May 16 6:30—8pm Griffin Room

What can you do right now to make your dreams a reality? YA author Susane Colasanti will be here to share what's worked for her, and what

you can do to create a plan and work towards achieving your goals. A Q&A and book signing will follow the event. Books will be available for purchase. Sign up online through

the Event Calendar at meridenlibrary.org or call 203-630-6347.

T-Shirt Decorating Thursday, May 18

6-8pm Cook Room

Decorate your own t-shirt with Karen Rossi. Come and learn different fabric painting techniques. Size large white shirts will be provided or bring your own from home. Snacks and drinks provided. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Space is limited. Sign up online through the library’s event calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Make Your Own Body Scrub Thursday, May 25

6:30—8 pm Griffin Room

Come and learn how to make your own homemade body scrub. Each participant will make two different types, a lemon sugar scrub and a cinnamon coffee scrub. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Space is limited. Sign up online through the Library’s event calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Teen Advisory Group Thursday, May 11

4-5pm Cook Room Join the Teen Advisory Group (TAG) of the Meriden Public Library for your chance to help plan events, suggest books and give input on all things related to the Teen Center, all while earning community service credit. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Sign up online through the Library’s Event Calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Teen Anime Club Friday, May 12

2:30-4:30pm Griffin Room

Are you a fan of anime, manga or just like Japanese culture? All are welcome, whether you’re an otaku or just discovering anime and manga. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Snacks and drinks provided.

Minecraft Meetup Thursday , May 18

4-5pm Griffin Room

We will have a few laptops available or you can bring your own laptop or device. Be sure to bring your account login information to sign into Minecraft. Open to K-12 graders. Sign up online through the Library’s Event Calendar or call 203-630-6347 to reserve a laptop for the use during the program. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Monday Night Card Duels Monday, May 22

6-7:30pm Griffin Room Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering? Come and play with your friends at our monthly Trading Card Game Night. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Bring your own deck or learn how to play from one of our members. Drop-in! Open to grades 4-12.

Protip of the month: Need to brush up on some stuff for final exams? Check out Learning Express for a little extra help.

Teen Chef Thursday, May 4

6-8 pm Griffin Room

Come and learn how to cook from a professional chef. Kashia Cave will be here to teach some new recipes. Open to anyone in grades 6-12. Space is limited. Sign up online through the Library’s event Calendar or call 203-630-6347.

Friends of the Meriden Public Library Membership Application

2017

NAME (please print): _______________________________________________

Additional Names (list others in household covered by this membership):

__________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ State: _______ Zip code: ________

Home Phone: ________________________ Work Phone: ________________________

E-mail: _____________________________

( ) $100.00 (or more) CORPORATE

( ) $100.00 (or more) BENEFACTOR ( ) $15.00 INDIVIDUAL

( ) $40.00 PATRON ( ) $25.00 FAMILY ( ) $7.00 SENIOR CITIZEN

( ) I WISH TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL DONATION

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Indicate areas of interest - check as many areas as you desire

___ Library Advocacy ___ Book Sorting ___ Internet Sales

___ Newsletter ___ Book Sale ___ Daffodil Festival

___ Membership ___ Bookstore ___ Website

___ Mailing/Clerical ___ Book Transportation ___ Any Area Where Needed

___ Publicity

Please make check payable to: Friends of the Library (FOTL)

Return to: Friends of the Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller St., Meriden, CT 06450

Questions? Call 203-639-1505

In order to maximize the effect of your membership funds, we will not be providing membership cards;

your cancelled check will be your proof of membership.

Thank you!