Programs at the Library

It's that time again! In September we will host quite a variety of programs, speakers, series, authors and just plain fun!

The Healthier Living Worshop, a six week series, will be offered for the second time here at the library beginning Thursday, September 4th from 1:30pm to 4pm. Moderators, Anne Ferguson and Bonnie Alexander from the Vermont Department of Health, will be on hand to teach you how to deal with frustration, fatigue, and pain, improve strength, flexibility, and endurance, manage medications, learn healthy eating habits… and much more. Since space is limited you have to register ahead of time by calling the Central Vermont Medical Center Community Health and Education Department 802-371-4198 or email galena.magee@hitchcock.org.

Johnson State College Professor Frederick Wiseman will show a movie, Darkness Falls, and discuss the discovery of Lake Champlain in 1609 by Samuel Champlain from a native perspective. This is part of Vermont Archaeology Month a partnership between Vermont Archaeological Society and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

Two authors will talk about their books: Madelyn Holmes and Ann Micou. Holmes' book, Students and Teachers of the New China, will be interesting in light of what television viewers saw during the Olympics. Micou's book, A Guide to Fiction Set in Vermont for Children & Young Adults, presents descriptions of 441 picture books, easy readers, and children’s and young adult fiction with a Vermont setting and published between 1838 and 2007.
Holmes will be here on Wednesday, September 17 at 7pm and Micou on Thursday, September 25 at 7pm.

On Wednesday, September 10 at 7pm poet and essayist Jim Schley will talk about why he still loves Robert Frost. He will tell us why this complicated poet (and difficult, cantankerous man) continues to engage his and other modern sensibilities and imaginations.

We have something really fun for Displaced Southerners! We are looking for folks raised in the south that miss their southern friends, food, accent and culture. So, if you or someone you know is a “displaced southerner” and feels the need to visit with folks that share their heritage or just want to eat and “tawk” with other folks who know what pink eyed purple hull peas are, mark your calendar for September 23 at 6:30pm.

Another three-week series on Mondays at 6:30pm is called, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AGING –for elders and those who care for and about them. This free series will show you how to have“less difficult” conversations with your family members that resolve crucial issues related to aging.

6:30-8:30pm
Monday, September 15: Get a grip on family history so you can talk about the money
Monday, September 22: Deal with fears lurking in discussions about health
Monday, September 29: Sort out the relationship between home and identity.

Co-sponsored by Montpelier Community Justice Center, Central Vermont Council on Aging & KHL

Don't forget to pick up a program schedule at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library!

David Dobbs - providing a gift of vermont authors

Last Fall David Dobbs, local author, library supporter, family guy, blogger, and generally fun person, came to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library with a great idea: how about a monthly program series by local authors talking about their passions. We thought this was a great idea and invited David to organize this series for the Library. He's done it and it's great. So far we've had David speak about his love of neuroscience, Eric Zency talk about the second law of thermodynamics, David Goodman talk about Dick Cheney and this week we will hear from Jody Gladding as she talks about her love of slate. Jody is also a trustee of KHL. The series is called, Why I Love What I Love. Each month there is a page-long interview in The Bridge with that month's author and each program is videotaped by ORCA Media. The programs are viewed on the public access channel and a DVD copy of the presentation is available at the library. The programs are always on the second Wednesday of each month - no programs in July or August. David is already gearing up for next year's selection. If you see David around town - please thank him for his gift to us.

Join us this Wednesday, February 13 at 7pm in the Hayes Room for Why I Love Slate by Jody Gladding.

An Evening with Vermont Women of Mystery

Last night at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library we had a great time with four Vermont mystery writers in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Sisters In Crime an organization that promotes the professional advancement of women mystery writers. The organizer of the "Evening" was Robbie Harold a former KHL Trustee, theater buff, and author of a mystery(not yet published), organizational consultant and member of Sisters In Crime. Our four authors were Nancy Means Wright, Carla Neggers, Sarah Stewart Taylor, and soon to be published author, Jennifer McMahon. Each author read from her most recent book and then, as a panel, answered questions about character development, story ideas, research, the dual role of mother and writer, favorite authors and the importance of libraries in their life. Sarah Stewart Taylor recounted her local librarian's angst at informing young Sarah that there were no more Agathie Christie novels left to read. She had read them all! Carla Neggers, author of more than 50 novels, started writing at a young age sitting up in a tree with pen and pad. Nancy Means Wright used a real life murder in the Northeast Kingdom as her story line with her neighbors as the characters in the book. Nancy's first mystery was written when she was 9 years old with the main character an obnoxious brother. Her mother destroyed it! Jennifer, whose book will be published on April 10th, said that this is her fourth book and the first that's published. Following the program we enjoyed a "Death by Chocolate" reception in the dimly lit library. It's always fun to be in the library after hours sipping coffee and eating dark chocolate cake, cookies, brownies, and biscotti. Today I received emails from Sarah Stewart Taylor with a link to her blog where she talks about our program last night, and one from Jennifer McMahon with a link to her "grog". Jennifer plans to blog on last night's program next week. This program came together with the help of a lot of people: Robbie Harold, Wayne Fawbush, Susan Reid, Marjorie Strong, Roberta Downey, Rachael Grossman, George Spaulding and all four authors and their families. If you missed this program you'll be able to watch it on the local access television channel. Once again the wonderful community-minded people at Onion River Community Access taped this program. The library has books by all four authors - we'll receive Jennifer's soon. Check them out or buy a copy at Bear Pond Books that's been authographed by the author.