Library To Host Virtual Talks On Pandemics & Conspiracy Theories

Adult Events

TEWKSBURY JOB SEEKERS NETWORK: Are You Working On The Right Things In Your Search? ON ZOOM (*RR)

Monday, June 1, 2pm

Where are you getting stuck in your job search? What’s working? What’s not? Come take a two-part approach to create focus and momentum in your job search: (1) Job Search Triage: Identify where the bottlenecks are located in your search. (2) Next Step Sprint: Once you identify your highest leveraged activity that, if achieved, will keep you moving forward, design a two-week sprint to achieve that outcome. Led by career and life coach Tom McDonough, the Director of Programs and founding board member for the Institute for Career Transitions. While Tom's career story has allowed him to experience many roles, its underlying theme is helping colleagues clarify and align personal and career goals with their core values. Register HERE.

Pandemics -- A World History ON ZOOM

Monday, June 1, 7pm

Five-time Emmy Award-winning folklorist John Horrigan will present a chronology of global pandemics from the Plague of Athens to the 1918 Influenza. John Horrigan is the host and co-creator of “The Folklorist” television series, which offers a captivating look at some of the lesser-known occurrences in history. John has won five Boston/New England Emmy Awards for his role on the show. He is also a prolific professional sports announcer, narrator, historical researcher and lecturer who has performed in over 2,500 venues across North America. Register HERE.

The Legend of a New England Ghost Ship ON ZOOM

Tuesday, June 2, 7pm

Author Jill Farinelli will discuss her book, "The Palatine Wreck: The Legend of the New England Ghost Ship." Two days after Christmas in 1738, a British merchant ship traveling to Philadelphia grounded in a blizzard on the northern tip of Block Island, twelve miles off the Rhode Island coast. The ship carried emigrants from the Palatinate and its neighboring territories in what is now southwest Germany. The 105 passengers and crew on board—sick, frozen, and starving—were all that remained of the 340 men, women, and children who had left their homeland the previous spring. They now found themselves castaways, on the verge of death, and at the mercy of a community of strangers whose language they did not speak. Some claim the ship was set ablaze to hide evidence of crimes, their stories fueled by reports of a fiery ghost ship first seen drifting in Block Island Sound on the one-year anniversary of the wreck. These tales became known as the legend of the Palatine, with the flaming apparition was nicknamed the Palatine Light. The eerie phenomenon has been witnessed by hundreds of people over the centuries, and numerous scientific theories have been offered as to its origin. Its continued reappearances, along with the attention of some of nineteenth-century America’s most notable writers, has helped keep the legend alive. Through years of painstaking research, Jill Farinelli reconstructs the origins of one of New England’s most chilling maritime mysteries. Register HERE.

Laughter Circle ON FACEBOOK LIVE

Wednesday, June 3, noon

This program is for all ages. This program combines voluntary laughter exercises with gentle breathing techniques to teach the body how to laugh without relying on jokes or humor. This is a participatory program where we will create moments to laugh in through guided actions. No need to bring a yoga mat--most of the program is seated, with options for standing or gentle movement. What are the benefits of laughter? Mood elevates. Stress, depression and tension decrease. Immunity improves. Lung capacity increases through deep breathing, enhancing oxygen delivery to all parts of the body. Endorphin and serotonin levels rise. Laughter provides an excellent internal massage to digestive tract as well as improving blood supply to the internal organs. People who laugh don’t worry as much as people who don’t laugh.

Conspiracies, Urban Legends & Rumors In A Time Of Crisis ON ZOOM

Wednesday, June 3, 7pm

Separating fact from fiction is not always easy, but at this critical time, it's more important than ever that we do so. In this presentation, professor Gordon Arnold will explore how rumor, innuendo, urban legends, and conspiracy theories undermine our ability to fully understand our situation. Attendees will examine the background to this phenomenon and the current situation in order to develop some practical tips on how to sort through the flood of stories we all hear and separate truth from fiction. Gordon Arnold is a Professor of Liberal Arts at Montserrat College of Art. He teaches courses in social sciences, film history, and animation history. Gordon's research has resulted in a series of books that explore the history and social contexts of U.S. films and culture, including "Conspiracy Theory in Film, Television and Politics," "Animation and the American Imagination," and "Projecting the End of the American Dream." In addition to his long-time teaching at Montserrat, Gordon has previously taught at Boston College, Curry College, Dean College, and the University of Rhode Island. Register HERE.

A Toast To Pilsner with James Beard Award Finalist Tom Acitelli ON ZOOM

Thursday, June 4, 7pm

On the night of April 17, 1945, Allied planes dropped 111 bombs on the Burghers' Brewery in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, destroying much of the birthplace of Pilsner, the world's most popular beer style and the best-selling alcoholic beverage of all time. Still, workers at the brewery would rally so they could have beer to toast their American, Canadian, and British liberators the following month. It was another twist in Pilsner's remarkable story, one that started in a supernova of technological, political, and demographic shifts in the mid-1800s and that continues in the craft breweries of today. Learn the story of this remarkable beer and the impact it has on today's craft beer movement from Tom Acitelli, author of the upcoming book, "Pilsner: How The Beer of Kings Changed the World." Tom Acitelli, a Cambridge resident, is the author of "The Audacity of Hops," "Whiskey Business," and "American Wine." He was a 2016 James Beard Award finalist who has written about alcohol for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Bloomberg View, among many others. Register HERE.

Youth Events

Tiny Tykes Story Time ON FACEBOOK LIVE

Monday, June 1, 10:30am

Story time for infants and toddlers with Miss Heather! Join her for stories, songs, movement and more! This program is on Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TewksburyLib).

Preschool Story Time ON FACEBOOK LIVE

Tuesday, June 2, 11am

Join Miss Kat for songs, movement, and a story or two! This program will be run live on the library's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TewksburyLib).

TEEN PROGRAM: Dungeons & Dragons One Shot ON DISCORD

Wednesday, June 3, 6pm

Robert Carter will be hosting a one-shot Dungeons & Dragons game on June 3 beginning at 6:00 pm. All you need is a free Roll20.net account and a free Discord account. Please prepare a level one character on Roll20 using the "standard array" system, or a pre-generated character can be supplied for you. Ages 11+. Space is limited. Please register with an email you have access to, as the links for this event will be sent out via email. Register HERE.