Learn pumpkin carving at the Stratford Library

Joe Pedoto

The Stratford Library will offer “Pumpkin Carving Techniques” led by Stratford graphic artist Joe Pedoto at 7 p.m. Oct. 24, according to a release.

"The program, one of several special events being offered through November 13 in conjunction with the Library’s 'One Book, One Stratford' series, is free and open to the public," the release said.

          Pedoto’s favorite holiday is Halloween, the release said. "He’s been a graphic artist and designer for over 35 years and his work ranges from limited edition silk screen printmaking with the artists Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, Alex Katz, Will Barnet and LeRoy Neiman to digital print, web and photography projects (including 3D photography). He and his wife, Aimee were volunteers for 11 years with the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. For the Library program, Pedoto will have several pumpkins along with the stencils and images he uses to transfer designs. He will explain the tools he uses and each stage of the process for creating unique and beautiful Halloween pumpkins."

The event will be held in the Stratford Library’s Lovell Room.
 For more information, call the Library’s Programs and Public Relation Office at 203-385-4162 and for a complete list of “One Book” events visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org/one-book-one-stratford/.

  In the photo: Stratford graphic artist Joe Pedoto (right) with one of his pumpkin creations will be the special guest speaker for “Pumpkin Carving Techniques” at the Stratford Library on Oct. 24.

 

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

The Gustave Whitehead debate continues at the Stratford Library

 

Author Susan Brinchman

STRATFORD - The Stratford Library will continue its  “Sunday Afternoon Talks”, a monthly series of "informative and entertaining talks featuring prominent local guest speakers," at 2 p.m. Feb, 7 with author Susan Brinchman and Educator Andy Kosch, according to a release..'

The February topic is: “Gustave Whitehead: First in Flight”, based on Brinchman’s latest book about the aviator, the release said. The program  is free and open to the public.
See photos of Whitehead and his aircraft in 1901 here.

"The ongoing controversy over who flew first in America, the Wright brothers or Gustave Whitehead, continues to this day," the release said.  "The public is invited to meet Brinchman, via Skype, as she makes her case of Whitehead’s notable accomplishments which predate those of the Wright Brothers. Brinchman's discussion will cover Fairfield, Connecticut’s connection to the first man who accomplished the "first in powered flight" and the inventor of the airplane."

The release noted that the author "is uniquely suited to present documentation for the achievements of the controversial aviation pioneer. Brinchman is an expert on Gustave Whitehead and is an experienced educator and early aviation researcher with a love of history. A highly successful educator for 36 years, she holds four California teaching credentials including social sciences, with a master's degree in educational technology. She resides in California."

Her new book, "Gustave Whitehead; First in Flight," "utilizes her key research for the past five decades, where she was present for key events such as interviews with witnesses and familiar with the places Whitehead lived and flew."

Educator Andy Kosch also will be a live guest speaker at the Library bringing a replica of the Whitehead #21 model. "Kosch has been involved in the Gustave Whitehead plane project for the past 30 years, having flown a replica of the Whitehead plane at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in December 1986, or some 85 years after Whitehead successfully flew his heavier-than-air plane in Fairfield," the release said.

Autographed copies of Brinchman’s  "Gustave Whitehead; First in Flight" will be available for purchase after the Library talk.

For more information call the library’s Public Relations & Programming Office at 203.385.4162 or visit its website at: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

 

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

“The Beauty Around Us” on Display Through June

 

 A collection of original photography called, "The Beauty Around Us" by Stratford artist Kathleen Barron, is the current art exhibit through June 2015 at the Stratford Library, according to a release. 

The showing is free and open to the public and one of many art exhibits offered annually at the Library, according o the release.

"Originally from Long Beach, California, Kathleen Barron moved to the Lordship section of Stratford shortly after her graduation. This is her first exhibit at the Library," the release said.

Viewing hours for “The Beauty Around Us” are Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday & Saturday:  10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the release said. 

The art exhibit will continue through June 30 and is in the Main Lobby of the Stratford Library, 2203 Main St. in Stratford, Connecticut.

For more information call the library’s Public Relations & Programming Office at 203.385.4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

 

Photo Caption:  Original photography by Stratford artist Kathleen Barron will be on display at the Stratford Library through June.

A brewery and some books

STRATFORD - Two Roads Brewing Co. of Stratford celebrated “National Poetry Month” in April by honoring poet Robert Frost and the Stratford Library, according to a release.

The poet is the author of “The Road Not Taken” and the inspiration behind the brewing company’s name, the release said.

The company donated $1 to the Stratford Library for every pint poured on Tuesdays during April and this year raised "an impressive $1,009," the release said.  "The money raised will be used for adult books as well as upcoming music, film and lecture programs at the Library." 


Pictured with Stratford Library Director Barbara Blosveren are Two Roads partners, l-r,: Phil Markowski, Peter Doering, Brad Hittle and Clem Pellani.

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.

Monday Matinees” Series Continues Through June at the Stratford Library

  

 The Stratford Library’s “Monday Matinees” series continues with a screening of “Enough Said” on May 12, according to a release.

The series presents recent, popular films on monthly Monday afternoons at noon from September-June. The film showings are free and open to the public, the release said.

“Enough Said” is an adult romantic comedy about a divorced woman, played by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who decides to pursue the man she's interested in and then learns he's her new friend's hated ex-husband, played byJames Gandolfini, in his final film role, co-stars in the comedy, the release said.

 

The film is rated PG-13 and runs 93 minutes.

 

Movies in the upcoming “Monday Matinees” series are shown uncut on widescreen in the Stratford Library’s Lovell Room beginning at noon on April 14.  The winter/spring series will conclude on June 9 with a showing of "Man of Steel."

 

For more information, call the library at 203- 385- 4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.lvagnh.org

 

 

PRESS RELEASE                                                  CONTACTS:

April 28, 2014                                                           Doss Venema, Executive Director

                                                                                    Literacy Volunteers.  4 Science Park, New Haven

                                                                                    203-776-5899, Ext. 103

                                                                                    DossVenema@lvagnh.org

 

                                                                                    Veronica Douglas-Givan

                                                                                    203-572-4804

                                                                                    vdouglasgivan123@aol.com

 

 

APRIL 30 is SCRABBLE DAY in New Haven

People of all ages love to play Scrabble. It’s good, literate fun, it’s social and it’s surprisingly competitive. We know, because Literacy Volunteers has hosted an annual Scrabble Challenge fundraiser in New Haven for the past 15 years. Hundreds of players have competed for bragging rights while raising money to support the efforts of Literacy Volunteer tutors in the community. This year we are proud to announce that morning anchor Chris Velardi, of WTNH News 8 is hosting the event.

Join the fun on Wednesday, April 30 at the Wilbur Cross High School Cafeteria, 181 Mitchell Drive, New Haven from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.  Go to www.lvagnh.org to register your team. Four people play together as a team at each table. The cost is just $50/person or $200/table. That includes dinner, a raffle and two rounds of Team Scrabble, one with an opponent and one without. Everyone is a winner and the Grand Prize goes to the Team that collects the most Pledge dollars.

Several Literacy Volunteers students will speak about their experiences learning to read and speak English. Join us and take the opportunity to become part of the solution to the adult literacy crisis. You’ll love it!

 

 

30% of adults in New Haven read at the lowest level of literacy. They can’t read well

enough to fill out job applications or help their children with homework. Literacy

Volunteers is the non-profit agency that provides FREE tutoring for adults who need

help learning to read and speak English. Together we can solve the adult literacy crisis.

 

###########

Snakes: If you like them, the Stratford Library is the place to be Feb. 2

STRATFORD - The Stratford Library will celebrate ‘Take Your Child to the Library Day’ on Feb. 2. 

"This national day encourages families to visit their local library and discover its many resources. Special events will take place at the Library throughout the day," a release said.

The library is at  2203 Main St.

The day, dubbed “Happy Pig Day!” will "celebrate Mo Willems’ book characters Elephant and Piggie with crafts, stories, and games," the release said. 

At 2:30 pm Riverside Reptiles will present an animal show for children 5 to 12. 

also, sign up to participate in the Library’s ‘Reading Challenge.’ Parents and caregivers are encouraged to stop by the Library to read to their children for 15 minutes and receive a snack and goody bag, the release said.

All programs are free and open to the public. To register for events, call the Library at 203.385.4165 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

-

In the photo : Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles with a Baby Burmese Python. Snakes like this will be featured at Kleinman’s special show at the Stratford Library for “Take Your Child to the Library Day” on February 2.

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed.

 

'Dark Shadows' at the Stratford Library Oct. 12

The Stratford Library's "Friday Night Movies" series will screen the 2012 comedy, "Dark Shadows" at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12. 

The series presents recent, popular films on monthly Friday evenings, September through June.  The film showing is free and open to the public, according to a statement.

"Tim Burton's take on the cult Gothic soap follows a centuries-old vampire," Johnny Depp, "as he returns to his now-crumbling estate to meet his modern-day descendants. But what he finds is a house full of secrets and shadows.  The campy comedy also features Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Johnny Lee Miller and Helena Bonham Carter, the statement said" 

Movies in the series are shown uncut on widescreen in the Stratford Library Lovell Room.  "Dark Shadows" is rated PG-13 and runs 113 minutes.  Complimentary snacks are served.   Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, call the library at 203.385.4162 or visit www.stratfordlibrary.org.

In the photo:  Johnny Depp camps it up as a long-dead vampire with Eva Green as his nemesis in the Tim Burton comedy, "Dark Shadows."                                             

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

 

Come not between the dragon and his wrath

But do come to the Stratford Library when the Hudson Shakespeare Company Performs “King Lear”

STRATFORD - The popular Hudson Shakespeare Company of New Jersey will return to Stratford for its sixth annual season with a program of three productions performed outside in the library’s scenic amphitheatre, organizers said.

The presentations are free and open to the public.

The series begins with Shakespeare’s great tragedy, “King Lear” at 2 p.m. June 19, organizers said.

Shakespeare’s "dark journey is about a powerful man at the end of his life who has ruled and ruled absolutely for a very long time. King Lear has taught his three daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia that the world is a dangerous place and power and status must always be maintained. This single-mindedness dominates the family as Lear reluctantly gives up his power and divides his kingdom among his three daughters," organizers said in a statement. "The daughters, having their own issues with their father and each other, soon begin to exercise their own agendas."

Other plays in the Shakespeare series this summer will be “Much Ado About Nothing” July 10 and “The Tempest” August 14.

Patrons should bring a lawn chair or blanket to spread in the amphitheatre prior to the 2 p.m. show times.

In the event of rain, performances will take place in the library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room. For more information, call the Stratford Library Public Relations and Programming Office at 203-385-4162 or visit: http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/.

In the photo: The powerful King Lear (Thomas Cox) with his daughters Cordelia (Emily Best, left), Goneril (Brenda Scott, center) and Regan (Noelle Fair).

Editor's note: The information in this post was provided by the Stratford Library.