Portland Library

What’s new at the Portland Library!

Portland Library
20 Freestone Avenue
Portland, CT 06480
860-342-6770
www.PortlandLibraryCT.org

2015 Adult Summer Reading Program
This summer’s challenge is to “Escape the Ordinary” by exploring heroes, superheroes, and extraordinary people, places, and activities. It offers adults the opportunity to have fun, explore new interests, and to interact with other adults.
Summer Reading Club
Participants log the number of pages read to qualify to receive prizes. Online! They also have the option to write a review that will be shared with other “club members.”
2015 Adult Summer Reading Activities
Book Discussions: 8/6 at 6:30p.m.
Lunch and Learn: 8/11 at 12 noon
Movies in the Afternoon: 8/12 at 1:00p.m.
Movies in the Evening: 8/17 at 6:30p.m.
(For more information, see Adult Programs on the Library’s web site.)

Upcoming Special Events
Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30 pm ~
An All Ages Flash Read
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO “ESCAPE THE ORDINARY”!
Flash Read for All Ages
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us for the Portland Library’s first ever FLASH READ event! It’s based on the concept of Flash Mobs, which involve groups of people meeting at a preselected location (The Town Green) and breaking out in spontaneous READING! This is your invite; let’s see how many readers we can get at one time in one place. Bring a book or e-book, something to sit on, and join us on the Green. All ages are welcome and Friends of the Library will provide the ice cream social afterwards. In case of rain, the “Mob” will move inside. Registration is required!

Lunch and Learn
Tuesday August 11, 2015 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
A Healthy Eating Specialist from Whole Foods will present a program concentrating on healthy eating especially to promote cardiovascular health and to reduce inflammation.
Bring a lunch if you like. Dessert and beverages will be served. Registration required!
Monthly Book Discussion
All are welcome to attend. Titles are available to borrow; no reservations are necessary.

Thursday, August 6th at 6:30 p.m.
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley
In February, 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima and into history as they fought bravely and raised a flag. Now, the son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six young men who came together in a moment that will live forever.
Thursday, September 3rd at 6:30 p.m.
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
After more than a decade of tending to small children on a failing farm, Dellarobia Turnbow has surrendered to an obsessive flirtation with a handsome younger man. On the way to meet him at a secluded mountain cabin, she walks into something on the mountainside she cannot explain or understand: a forested valley filled with silent red fire that appears to her to be a miracle.

Movies in the Afternoon, Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.
Showing: Woman in Gold

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren, Max Irons, & Katie Holmes; Weinstein; directed by Simon Curtis; PG-13, 2015, 108 minutes.
Sixty years after fleeing Vienna, Maria Altmann attempts to reclaim family possessions that were seized by the Nazis including a portrait of her aunt. With the help of a young lawyer, Maria embarks upon a lengthy legal battle to recover this painting from Austria.

Movies in the Evening
Monday, August 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Showing: McFarland USA
Starring Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, & Ramiro Rodriguez; Walt Disney Studios; directed by Niki Caro; PG, 2015, 128 minutes. The coach soon finds that his team members, completely made up of Latino students, have great running abilities. The coach and the team must overcome the social issues of the 1980s in order to win a track championship. No reservations necessary! The Friends of Portland Library supports the Library’s DVD collection.
Read & Recycle: Save the Date!
The Friends of the Portland Library’s next intake date of gently used books & DVDs is Saturday, September 26th.
Art Exhibit by Paula Slym and Amanda Rasch
Paula J. Slym, Coyote Run Art: Paula specializes in acrylic painting, but she also enjoys watercolor.
Self-taught, Paula’s work is unfettered by the structure of a professional artist; she paints with emotion,
focusing on unique landscapes or majestic animals, and this is evident in each of her unique pieces. Paula’s pieces are part of many local collections. This is her second show at the Library and her first show with her daughter, Amanda Rasch. Their art is available for purchase unless otherwise noted.
On Display in August 2015
In August, the Library will have a large display of Newly Arrived materials and will feature beach reads as well as nonfiction books commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
From our special displays in August, check out DVDs
of Epic movies and Music CDs of Wind Instruments.

Recent Donations
Recent Donations in Memory of Sal Storo: Robert & Elaine Melvin, Noreen Deschenes, Michael & Jacqueline Garitta, Vincent & Cathryn Melvin, Michael & Roberta Leis, & Joseph & Kathryn Scott
Book Donations: Carolyn Freeman, George & Babs Scheer, Raymond Poet, & Paula Brown (In Memory of Karen L. (Kirsche) Miller)
Magazine Donation: Deane Happ

Library Summer Hours
(July - August 2015)
Mon. - Thurs. ~ 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri. 10 a.m. ~ 5 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. ~ 3 p.m.
Library Meeting
Library Board of Directors: Thursday, August 20th at 7:00 pm
Library Director
Janet Nocek, jnocek@portlandct.org

Children’s Department

Summer Reading Program:
Every Hero Has a Story! and Unmask! The Portland Library’s 2015 Summer Reading Program, Every Hero Has a Story (children) and Unmask! (teens), runs from June 19th –August 21st, 2015.

Minutes and books will be tallied throughout the summer via our online tracking system. Just go to www.portlandlibraryct.org and click on the Summer Reading Link. Participants of all ages may log onto the system to set up their profiles. If you need help, stop into the Portland library.

Participants must read 20 minutes or more per day for 7 days to receive 2 Book Bucks! Days do not need to be consecutive. Book Bucks can be spent in a variety of ways. You can buy a small prize or activity kit every week, or save your Bucks and purchase a bigger item! The more you read, the more Book Bucks you receive! So, whether you have read 10 books in 7 days or 2 chapters, EVERY time you hit the 140 minute mark after at least 7 days, you win!

At the end of the summer, your minutes and completed books can be printed out for your school’s Governor’s Reading Challenge. We will keep track FOR YOU! (Paper recording sheets are available, contact the Portland Library for more information.)
Creature Teachers Animal Show
August 5th at 6:30 p.m.What is a summer vacation without meeting some new friends? The Creature Teachers will be here with 8-10 of their special animal friends to teach us about the wonders and diversity of the creatures that share our planet. From cuddly to spiky, you won’t want to miss the chance to see these critters up close and personal. This program will be held on the Town Green near the gazebo. In case of inclement weather, it will move indoors to the large room at the Waverly Center.
Thank you to the Friends of the Portland Library for supporting this program!

Registration for fall story times will begin on Monday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m. Story time sessions will begin the week of September 14-18 and will be divided up into the following age groups: Bouncy Babies (ages 0-23 months), Tales for Twos (ages 2-3),Story Garden (ages 3-5) and Family Storytime (evening program best suited for kids ages 1-8).
Art Attack!
(Children going into grades 3-5) Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. August 5 Registration is required.
Children going into grades 3-5 will learn a new art technique each week to unleash their creative super powers! Don’t know what your creative super power is yet? Find out this summer! August 5th: Mixed Media Collage

Cartooning Workshop with Eric Fulford
Thursday, August 6th at 2:30 p.m.Illustrator and performance artist Eric Fulford will be here on Thursday, August 6, to teach teens the basics of cartooning. He will present a program on Cartooning and Character Design focusing on helping teens create a unique cartoon or comic book character. Eric will guide students through the brainstorming and sketching process, creating a finished character that can go on to become the star of its own story! Registration is required.

Museum Passes Book a trip today! List of Museums, etc.
Looking for something to do? Book a pass at the Portland Library for one of over 20 museums and zoos. Patrons (18 and over) may check out the passes; the passes allow for a set number of people to attend the museum for a reduced rate or free admission.

Featured Pass:
“No Child Left Inside”
Pass is valid only at Connecticut State Park & Forest Recreation Areas. This pass waives vehicle entrance fees for private passenger vehicles carrying fewer than 12 passengers. Valid for 2 adults and four children at Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull, and Gillette State Parks. For hours and directions to Connecticut State Parks and Forests, visit www.ct.gov/dep.

Have a news tip? Email Bill Maune