Tewksbury Library Events, Week Of Dec. 2, 2024

Information via Tewksbury Public Library

Event Registration

Please register online using our Calendar of Events at www.tewksburypl.org or by calling 978- 640-4490. We strongly recommend registration for programs that are marked *RR.

Adult Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Science Squared Discussion Group -- Wicked Plants

Monday, December 2, 7pm

Join us on the first Monday monthly to discuss either a science themed book or a science fiction book. This month we will read and discuss Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart. Books are available at the front desk one month prior to the discussion.

IN PERSON: Adult Felting Night (*RR)

Monday, December 2, 7pm

Create a unique wreath brooch with wool roving and a barbed needle. Add colorful accents such as berries and a cardinal for a touch of charm. The wool roving allows for a soft, textured finish, and the barbed needle helps to shape and sculpt your design. Led by an instructor from the Pop-Up Art School. All supplies will be provided.

IN PERSON: Learn To Play The Ukulele (*RR)

Tuesday, December 3, 7pm

Want to try an instrument that is fun and easy to play? Join instructor Julie Stepanek as she shows the fundamentals of ukulele playing. Learn how to tune, strum and read chords. After a short lesson, you’ll be able to play songs. No experience necessary. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of hers.

IN PERSON: MORNING MOVIE – Wild Robot (*RR)

Wednesday, December 4, 10:30am

Enjoy a screening of one of Hollywood's newest animated films -- Wild Robot. After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose. Starring the voices of Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor. Animated Sci-Fi. Rated PG. 1 Hour, 42 Minutes. Doors will open at 10am. Candy & water will be served. A $1 donation is suggested.

IN PERSON: Armchair Detectives Mystery Book Group -- "In the Bleak Midwinter"

Wednesday, December 4, 1:30pm

Do you love a good mystery? Join the library's Book Club, "The Armchair Detectives!” This month, the group is discussing In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk. We will be meeting in person, but will have ZOOM up for anyone who can't make it to the Library. Please email Annalisa at amoretti@tewksburypl.org and she will send you the link to the meeting.

IN PERSON: Meditation Class (*RR)

Thursday, December 5, 3:30pm

Chris Connolly, RN, BSN, owner of "Living My Dream Yoga," will lead a 5-week series of meditation classes. Classes will take place from 3:30pm to 4:30pm over three consecutive Thursdays – December 5, 12 and 19 -- in the library's Meeting Room. Classes are designed for both those who are new to meditation and regular practitioners. This series is sponsored by Winchester Hospital to support safe events for the LGBTQIA+ Community. These classes are open to all.

IN PERSON: AFTERNOON MOVIE -- Coup! (*RR)

Friday, December 6, 1:30pm

Enjoy a screening of one of Hollywood's newest DVD releases – “Coup!.” During the Spanish Flu of 1918, a mischievous cook leads a revolt against his wealthy employer. Starring Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen, and Sarah Gadon. Comedy/Thriller. R. 1 Hour, 38 Minutes. Doors will open at 1:15pm. Candy & water will be served. A $1 donation is suggested.

IN PERSON: MOVIE with PUBLIC HEALTH MUSEUM – Philadelphia (*RR)

Saturday, December 7, 5:30pm

Enjoy a screening of “Philadelphia.” When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small-time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit. Starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Legal Drama. Rated PG-13. 2 hours, 5 minutes. Doors will open at 5:15pm. Candy & water will be served. After the film, stick around for a Q&A about HIV with Dr. Alfred DeMaria, former Medical Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and State Epidemiologist.

Adult Events (Virtual)

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP -- How To Create A Standout Resume (*RR)

Monday, December 2, 2pm

Searching for a job in today’s competitive, online job market means your experience and skills need to stand out from all the rest. This session will cover current resume best practices, including tips about what information to include, what to leave off, as well as formatting and content guidelines to give your experience more impact. Bring your resume questions for the Q&A afterward. Led by Elizabeth Gross, a former marketing executive at Monster.com and owner of Job Search Divas.

VIRTUAL: Holiday Romance Book Recommendations with 'Library Journal' Reviewer John Charles (*RR)

Monday, December 2, 7pm

With the holidays right around the corner, take an hour to relax and find some good holiday romance reads! John Charles will give us his "best of" list of 2024 that will have your to-be-read pile tipping over and your holidays spent cozying up to a good book. Attendees will receive the list via email after the session. A retired public librarian, Charles is a book reviewer for Booklist and Library Journal, and the co-author of Romance Today: An A to Z Guide to Contemporary American Romance Writers; The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Mystery; and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Ultimate Reading List.

VIRTUAL: Jewish Genealogy -- Documenting Families & Communities Lost in the Holocaust (*RR)

Monday, December 2, 7pm

Learn how genealogical researchers can retrieve details about what happened to relatives and communities lost in the period of state sponsored executions known as the "Holocaust by Bullets." The "Holocaust by Bullets" is both the name of a book authored by the French Catholic priest, Fr. Patrick Desbois, and the terminology that has come to describe executions in the former Soviet territories and parts of eastern Europe that left millions of civilians, mostly Jewish, murdered and buried in unmarked graves. Ellen Kowitt will share her family story during this pivotal time of rising antisemitism, as a generation of survivors and eyewitnesses is passing away. She will review documentation from many sources, including “Yahad-In Unum” eyewitness videos, the USC Shoah Foundation and other recorded survivor testimonies, Yizkor books, Yad Vashem, USHMM, local community resources, and Russian Extraordinary Commission files. Kowitt is the founder of Sole Searching Genealogy & Historical Research and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and lectures at local and national conferences. Her articles appear in Family Tree Magazine. She currently serves as Director of JewishGen’s USA Research Division.

VIRTUAL: Tea Travels Through China (*RR)

Tuesday, December 3, 2pm

Learn all about traveling throughout China, from the tea fields of the Hunan Province to those of Anhui. View tea rooms in Shanghai and Beijing as well as historical ancient sites. The processing and harvesting of tea will be covered as well as the presenter's personal experiences with the growers and people of these countries. Led by Danielle Beaudette, proprietor of The Cozy Tea Cart, who has been selling high quality teas for over two decades.

VIRTUAL: A Visit with the Addison Gallery of American Art (Americans In Paris) (*RR)

Tuesday, December 3, 3pm

Enjoy a virtual tour and discussion of the Addison Gallery of American Art's latest exhibition -- "Americans in Paris: Artists Working in Postwar France, 1946–1962." The exhibition delves into the various circles of American artists who made France their home during the post-World War II era, and investigates the academies where many studied, the spaces where their work was exhibited, their interactions with European artists, and the overarching issue of what it meant to be an American abroad. Led by curator Debra Bricker Balken.

VIRTUAL: The Life & Works of Mark Twain (*RR)

Tuesday, December 3, 7pm

Learn about the life and works of Mark Twain (1835--1910), a humorist, journalist, lecturer, and novelist who garnered international fame for his travel narratives, including The Innocents Abroad (1869), Roughing It (1872), and Life on the Mississippi (1883), as well as for his adventure stories of boyhood, most especially The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), a book often considered the quintessential “great American novel." A gifted raconteur and irascible moralist, Twain transcended the apparent limitations of his humble Missouri origins to become one of America’s best and most beloved writers. Led by Dr. Bill Thierfelder, a retired college professor who taught a variety of Arts and Humanities courses for 32 years at several New York universities and colleges, including St. John's University and Dowling College.

VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group -- Interview Practice (*RR)

Wednesday, December 4, 9:30am

The Massachusetts Library Collaborative's 50+ Job Seekers Group meets via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30am to 11:30am. Informal networking takes place from 9am to 9:30am and 11:30am to noon. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career," this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking!

VIRTUAL: Robin Williams -- The Man of a Thousand Laughs & Tears (*RR)

Wednesday, December 4, 7pm

Anyone who has seen just five minutes of footage of Robin Williams performing can attest to his frenetic, warm-hearted zaniness. For every minute of laughter, he successfully delivered one of tears. Enjoy a look at the life and a career of this beloved Academy Award-winning actor and comedian. Led by Frank Mandosa, a film historian and Massachusetts high school Film and English teacher. Mandosa has been giving film lectures at libraries, senior centers, and community centers across the state since 2012. He is also the host of the "Silver Screeners" podcast and co-host of the "Movies Across The Pod" podcast.

VIRTUAL: The Art of Storytelling -- What Does The Art On Your Walls Say About You? (*RR)

Thursday, December 5, 10:30am

What does the art on your walls say about you? It can mirror who you are, your personal experiences, goals, and values. During this workshop, you’ll learn a 5-step storytelling framework and use it to create a short story for fun or work. Have a piece of art on hand to use as the inspiration for your story. Led by Jackie Davis, a marketing consultant, award-winning interior designer, and masterful storyteller. For 10 years, she appeared on the HGTV program "Decorating Cents," where she provided one-day room makeovers. Jackie is also an engaging speaker with a playful sense of humor who captivates audiences with wit and wisdom. She recently presented personal stories during the program "Stories From the Stage," which aired on World Channel and social media platforms.

VIRTUAL: What To Tidy When Company Is On The Way (*RR)

Thursday, December 5, 7pm

Company on the way? Need to get organized but don't have a lot of time? Learn what visitors notice first about your home. Discover how to make the most of your tidying efforts with what to focus on and what to leave for later. Led by professional organizer Jamie Novak, who is the bestselling author of Keep This, Toss That: The Practical Guide To Tidying Up and host of "The 10 Minute Podcast."

VIRTUAL: Eisenhower & The Media with the Eisenhower Presidential Library (*RR)

Friday, December 6, 2pm

When Dwight Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, he became the first president to hire a media consultant and with the guidance of his press secretary, James Hagerty, cultivated a relationship with the press that no prior president had ever done before. Eisenhower’s relationship with the media can be traced back to his campaign, where one of his campaign commercials was created by Walt Disney. The Eisenhower presidency changed the relationship between the media and the White House and gave the public far more access to the president than ever before. Led by Joy Murphy, Education Specialist for the Eisenhower Presidential Library.

20’s & 30’s Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Brunch & Board Games (*RR)

Saturday, December 7, 10:30am

Join Tewksbury Public Library on Saturday morning for a light brunch and fun board games in the meeting room! All board games will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own if you'd like to share! Coffee and tea will be available as well as breakfast snacks. This event is for those in their 20s and 30s and is sponsored by the Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library.

Teen Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Gingerbread House Decorating (*RR)

Wednesday, December 4, 4pm

Get a premade gingerbread house kit and get creative! You can eat your creation or take it home at the end. If you have any allergies, please let us know by emailing Emily at eleggat@tewksburypl.org. Open to teens in grades 6-12.

Children’s Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: The Poop Museum (*RR)

Monday, December 2, 4:30pm

Get ready to learn ALL ABOUT POOP! This event is open to children in grades 1-7. Some of the questions we answer in this pooptastic program are: What is poop? Does every animal poop? (Spoiler: NO!) Does every animal have a butt? (Spoiler: NO!) Is there really sweet, tasty poop that you can eat? (Spoiler: YES!) Is there really poop that you can play in? (Spoiler: YES!) Who is the world’s messiest, fartiest, pooper? Which animal does a poop dance? Which animal has poop attack power? Which animal eats their mom’s poop? and much more!

IN PERSON: Preschool Playgroup

Thursday, December 5, 11am

Preschool playgroup is a weekly group where kids can meet, play, and learn. Pick up some literacy skills and have some fun while you're at it! This program is hosted by Community Teamwork Incorporated in collaboration with Tewksbury Public Library.

IN PERSON: Baby Story Time

Friday, December 6, 10:15am

Baby Story Time is designed for young children ages 0 to 2 years old and their caregivers. Join us for a fun session of stories, songs, fingerplays, and gentle movement that help build early literacy skills. Babies experience the sounds and structure of language through rhythm, rhyme and repetition. All of our story times are interactive for children and their caregivers. Please be ready to participate and play. (Don't worry, we will have a printout with all of the songs and rhymes we are using so you can follow along!)