Tewksbury Library To Offer Cemetery Sleuthing, Virtual Cooking Class

Information via Tewksbury 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. Thank you to the Friends of the Library for generously sponsoring our programs.

Adult Events (In-Person Only)

IN PERSON: Become A Soup Master (*RR)

Monday, February 12, 7pm

Soup is one of the most nutritious and nourishing foods you can eat. But only when it’s made with less sodium and real ingredients. Ditch the store-bought salt bombs and come learn a variety of soups you can make at home, including Creamy Spinach Bisque, Low Sodium Garden Vegetable, Lentil Vegetable, and tons more! Review the latest soup supplies and other products to make life in the kitchen easier. Sample soup and recipes will be provided. This workshop is led by an instructor from Therapy Gardens. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library through a generous donation from 100 People Who Care Tewksbury.

IN PERSON: Meditation Class (3-Week Series) (*RR)

Wednesday, February 14, 11am

Chris Connolly, RN, BSN, owner of "Living My Dream Yoga," will lead a 3-week series of meditation classes. Classes will take place from 11am to noon over three consecutive Wednesdays -- February 14, February 21 and February 28 -- in the library's Meeting Room. Classes are designed for both those who are new to meditation and regular practitioners.

IN PERSON & VIRTUAL: Poetry Circle Discussion (*RR)

Wednesday, February 14, 1:30pm

Join us in person or virtually via ZOOM to read and discuss poems monthly on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:00pm. All poems are distributed one week prior to the meeting and are available in print at the library or via email. Please email Diane Giarrusso at dgiarrusso@tewksbury-ma.gov for registration information.

IN PERSON: Anti-Valentine's Day For 20’s & 30’s (*RR)

Wednesday, February 14, 6:30pm

Valentine’s Day. A day of giant teddy bears, overpriced Ubers, and (sometimes) Ben & Jerry's. If you're looking for a fun way to spend the night that does not include overcrowded restaurants and the umpteenth "surprise" proposal of the day, please join the Tewksbury Public Library for our Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. This event is suitable for singles, couples, and anyone in between. This event is for those in their 20s & 30s.

IN PERSON: AFTERNOON MOVIE -- The Holdovers (*RR)

Friday, February 16, 1:30pm

Enjoy a screening of one of Hollywood's newest DVD releases -- The Holdovers. A cranky history teacher at a remote New England prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go. Starring Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Much of the film was shot in Massachusetts. Comedy/Drama. Rated R. 2 Hours, 13 Minutes. Doors will open at 1:15pm. Candy & water will be served. A $1 donation is suggested. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library and Tewksbury Lions Club.

Adult Events (Virtual Only)

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP -- 3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself When Networking (*RR)

Monday, February 12, 2pm

How many informational interviews have you been on and then nothing happens? How often do you ask friends to keep their eye open for a job opportunity and don't anything? Sometimes it's really difficult for others to help you if you aren't clear or specific. (Never use the "I'll take anything" line.) Learn the three questions you should always ask yourself when on an informational interview or in a networking setting. The answers to these questions will forge real connections with others, and help clarify to them, and yourself, what you're really looking for. Led by Tewksbury resident Jack Wang, CEO of Longhorn Financial LLC, an independent financial services practice. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library through a generous grant from the Tewksbury Elks.

VIRTUAL: A Look Back At Morgan Freeman -- The Man Behind The Voice (*RR)

Monday, February 12, 6:30pm

With a deep, hypnotic voice that has provided countless narrations and voiceovers, Morgan Freeman is one of the best actors of his generation. With video clips and fun trivia interspersed, explore the life and career of the Academy Award-winning icon from his early days on PBS’s “The Electric Company” to his starring turns in such classics as “Glory,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Led by Frank Mandosa, a film historian and high school Film and English teacher. Mandosa -- host of the podcasts "Silver Screeners" and "Movies Across The Pod" -- has been giving film lectures at libraries, senior centers, and community centers across the state since 2012.

VIRTUAL: Black Girl Love -- Indie Romance Writers Panel (*RR)

Monday, February 12, 7pm

Just in time for Valentine's Day, enjoy a panel discussion with independently published romance authors Alexandria House, Katrina Jackson, and Ines Johnson. Learn about their journey to being self-published, the romance community, their books, and the rise of indie publishing in the last few years. Alexandria House is a former RN turned full-time independent author who pens steamy, relatable stories about black love. Katrina Jackson is a professor by day, who writes erotica, erotic romance, women's fiction and historical fiction by night. She writes racially diverse and often queer stories that show love and the world in all its beauty and colors. Ines Johnson, a writer and teacher, is the author of books where damsels cause the distress, princesses wield swords, moms save the world.

VIRTUAL: A Visit with the FDR Presidential Library ("Internment of Japanese Americans") (*RR)

Tuesday, February 13, 12:30pm

Following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, people on the West Coast worried that members of the region’s large Japanese American community might be working with Japan’s military to plan acts of sabotage. This presentation explores the backlash endured by Japanese Americans as the nation prepared for war. Led by Jeffrey Urbin, Education Specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

VIRTUAL: Middle-Eastern Inspired Plant-Based Cooking with Chef Alexa Joan (*RR)

Tuesday, February 13, 7pm

Chef Alexa will explain flavorful dishes that promote a heart healthy, high fiber, and low sugar diet. Get your kitchen passport ready to explore recipes that don’t require meat, but which are still packed with flavor. Widely spanning from North Africa through Asia, each Middle Eastern country has its own unique flavor, spices, and ingredients. Spices like coriander, turmeric, saffron, garlic, cinnamon, and cardamom are only the beginning! We'll also explore sumac, Aleppo pepper, mint, cumin, Ras el Hanout and Za'atar to enhance our Middle Eastern inspired cuisine. Led by popular personal chef Alexa Joan Wajed, who has both hospitality and culinary degrees, and was professionally trained in both Italy and America. While not in the kitchen, she is an accomplished artist, entrepreneur, and adjunct college professor.

VIRUTAL: Sight & Sound -- The Integration of Montage & Music in American Film (*RR)

Wednesday, February 14, 10:30am

Having motion pictures be accompanied by music has been a tradition in Hollywood that goes back to the silent film era when pianos and organs were commonplace in theaters. Movie directors working closely with composers, have continually attempted to enhance the audience involvement and enjoyment of their films by adding musical scores and specific motifs that help us identify with particular characters or which add an atmospheric tone to certain scenes. Examine how great directors such as Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, and William Wyler teamed with outstanding music composers such as John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, Maurice Jarre, and Dmitri Tiomkin to make filmgoers laugh and cry or add the elements of fear or suspense while creating some of the most memorable motion pictures in the history of Hollywood. Led by Rich Knox, a retired school teacher and administrator, who lectures on musicals, films, and opera to libraries across the country.

VIRTUAL: A Beginner’s Guide to Cemetery Sleuthing (*RR)

Wednesday, February 14, 7pm

Cemeteries hold invaluable clues to genealogical research. Etched in stone are names, symbols and abbreviations that not only tell us more about our ancestors but also about their place in time. Learn strategies to help locate your ancestor’s burial place, how to make the most out of a visit and how to decipher a variety of symbols. Includes a list of Erin’s favorite cemetery resources. Led by Erin E. Moulton, who writes books and tracks dead people. As a researcher, slipping into old records and exploring past lives is something she has done for herself and for others for over 14 years. Erin is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, The New Hampshire Historical Society, The New Hampshire Society of Genealogists and she serves on the landmark committee for the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. She has written several books, mostly for children.

VIRTUAL: Creative Couples of Paris -- Elisabeth Le Brun & Elizabeth Gardner (*RR)

Thursday, February 15, 10:30am

Élisabeth Le Brun, the renowned court painter to Marie Antoinette, was forced to flee into exile for 12 years during the French Revolution, while her husband remained in Paris to become a curator of Napoleon’s Museum, formerly the Louvre. Elizabeth Gardner, an American artist from New Hampshire, also painted in Paris, but 80 years after Le Brun and, after a 17-year engagement, married the leading French academic painter in Paris, William Bouguereau. Explore how each of their artistic lives reflected the historic events of their time. Led by Martha Chiarchiaro, owner of Seeing History, who has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, the Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE), libraries, senior centers, and garden clubs.

VIRTUAL: A History of Activism Through Cookbooks (*RR)

Thursday, February 15, 7pm

Food has often been a way for activist communities to fundraise, connect, and spread the word about their cause. Explore the origins of the link between food and activism with the abolitionist food writers of the Civil War. Examine suffrage cookbooks from the turn of the 20th century and the earliest LGBTQ cooking pamphlets from the 1906s. Analyze the People's Cookbook of Philadelphia, a community of organizers depicted through recipes. Learn how food is still used to connect and advocate for causes to this day. Led by Sarah Lohman, a culinary historian and bestselling author of several books, including her latest, Endangered Eating: Exploring America’s Vanishing Cuisine.

VIRTUAL: Understanding the Voting Behavior of Young People (*RR)

Friday, February 16, 10am

Learn what the research says about why some young people vote and others do not? Led by Dr. Bobbi Gentry, Associate Professor of Political Science at Bridgewater College. Gentry earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the City University of New York in political science with an emphasis in political psychology. Her current research includes youth voting behavior, teaching and learning in political science, and elections.

Teen Events

IN PERSON: No-Sew Pillow (*RR)

Tuesday, February 13, 3:30pm

Join us for a craft you can hug! We will be making no-sew pillow aka a "tied" pillow--a variety of fabrics and felt will be available, and we will be making our pillows in either a circle, square, or heart shape. Materials will be provided for every registered attendee, so be sure to register while supplies last! If you have any questions, please email Kate, our Teen Library Assistant, at kjennings@tewksburypl.org. This event is open to anyone in grades 6-12.

Children’s Events (In-Person Only)

IN PERSON: Tiny Tykes Story Time

Monday, February 12, 11am

Tiny Tykes Storytime is designed for young children ages 0 to 18 months. Older siblings are always welcome to join in. Join us for a fun session of stories, songs, fingerplays, instruments, and gentle movement that help build early literacy skills. Babies experience the sounds and structure of language through rhythm, rhyme and repetition.

IN-PERSON: Sprouts Story Time

Tuesday, February 13, 11am

Join Miss Kat for stories, songs, movement, instruments, dancing and more, and get your early literacy skills on! Sprouts Storytime is designed for is designed for little ones 18 months through 4 years, but siblings are always welcome.

IN-PERSON: Children's Fiction Book Club

Tuesday, February 13, 6pm

This month we'll talk about Lemons by Melissa Savage. This program is intended for children ages 8 to 11.

IN-PERSON: Preschool Playgroup

Thursday, February 15, 11am

Preschool Playgroup is back! Learn some literacy skills and have some fun while you're at it! This program is hosted by Community Teamwork