Tewksbury Public Library Events, Week Of Aug. 26, 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. Thank you to the Friends of the Library for generously sponsoring our programs.

Adult Events (In-Person)

OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES: A Tribute To Elvis Presley with Rick Anthony

Monday, August 26, 6pm

Enjoy a concert from one of New England's top Elvis performers, Rick Anthony. Don't be Cruel. Put on your Blue Suede Shoes, and get All Shook Up! Elvis is coming to the library. Rick Anthony is a dynamic entertainer zoomed into big-time entertainment practically overnight. Born in Lawrence, Rick began paying tribute to the late Elvis Presley for audiences when he was 14 years old at a school lip-sync contest. He borrowed an Elvis style jumpsuit, a terrible wig, and took home 1st place. He decided to use his own theatrical talents and studied the voice and energetic performance style of Elvis to create his own high-quality performances. Through the years, Rick has achieved many awards and performed for audiences throughout New England, Florida (including Walt Disney World), Canada, and as far east as the Azores, Portugal. This concert will take place on the library's back lawn. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled.

IN PERSON: Adult Board Game Night (*RR)

Tuesday, August 27, 6pm

Enjoy playing board games while socializing with others! This month, board game extraordinaire Jonah McCreary will be teaching us how to play two games -- Sushi Go Party and Coup. Additionally, several tables will be available for "open play" if you'd like to bring your own games or borrow one of the library's games to play. Light refreshments will be provided.

IN PERSON: MORNING MOVIE -- Ezra (*RR)

Wednesday, August 28, 10:30am

Enjoy a screening of one of Hollywood's newest DVD releases -- Ezra. Comedian Max co-parents autistic son Ezra with ex-wife Jenna. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing cross-country road trip. Starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga and Robert De Niro. A Dramatic Comedy. R. 1 Hour, 41 Minutes. Doors will open at 10:15am. Candy & water will be served. A $1 donation is suggested.

IN PERSON: Neverland Book Club

Wednesday, August 28, 1:30pm

The Neverland Book Club is a club for adults, where we read children's books! This month, we will be discussing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Books can be picked up at the circulation desk up to a month prior to the book club date.

IN PERSON: The Page-Turners Fiction Book Group

Wednesday, August 30, 6:30pm

This month, join us for a discussion of The Measure by Nikki Erlick. New members are always welcome! Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk one month prior to meeting.

IN PERSON: 1-on-1 Summer Tech Help (*RR)

Friday, August 30, 10:15am-1:45pm

The Tewksbury Public Library is offering 30-minute 1-on-1 tech help sessions. Assistant Reference Librarian Renee will provide help in the following areas: smartphone basics; tablet basics; basic use of hardware and software for desktops/laptops; email; and guidance on some of the library’s digital services, such as Libby (free eBooks and eAudiobooks). Please bring your device with you.

Adult Events (Virtual)

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP – Reinvention: What To Ask Yourself Before Changing Careers (*RR)

Monday, August 26, 2pm

Many job-seekers are trying to reinvent themselves. They do this because the world is changing around us rapidly and they need to keep up or want to switch to a new field. What does reinvention mean, exactly? What are the benefits, costs, and risks? What questions must be answered before attempting a career change? Join us to learn how to leverage your skills, passion, and the job market as part of your own career transition. You’ll receive a list of resources and recommended books, and be ready to formulate your plan. Led by Ed Lawrence, a professional résumé and profile writer who is dedicated to helping people gain meaningful employment or transition to a new career.

VIRTUAL: Armchair Travel To Greece (Rhodes & Symi) With The Traveling Librarian (*RR)

Tuesday, August 27, 10:30am

Join Jeff Klapes, the Traveling Librarian, for his newest armchair travel presentations. This series highlights travel photography and stories and travel tips about destinations around the world. This month, travel to Rhodes and Symi, two jewels of the Dodecanese islands in the eastern Aegean, both of which captivate visitors with their distinct charms. Rhodes boasts a rich history, its ancient ruins and medieval Old Town echoing tales of knights and ancient civilizations. Meanwhile, tiny nearby Symi enchants with its colorful neoclassical architecture cascading down hillsides to azure waters below. Both islands offer pristine beaches, delectable cuisine, and warm hospitality, making them quintessential destinations for cultural exploration and seaside relaxation in the Greek isles. Jeff is the recently retired Head of Reference Services at the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield and an avid traveler and photographer.

VIRTUAL: TEWKSBURY WRITING GROUP -- Advice From Author Avram Lavinsky (*RR)

Tuesday, August 27, 7pm

Are you a writer -- or an aspiring writer -- looking for some support? The Tewksbury Writing Group is open to everyone who's interested in writing -- all genres, all skill levels. Each meeting -- which will take place via Zoom -- features a guest speaker (typically a published author or editor) offering some tips of the trade. The August 2024 guest speaker is author Avram Lavinsky. Avram Lavinsky has been short listed for numerous awards including the Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize, the Al Blanchard Award for New England’s best crime story, and the Claymore Award for best young adult novel. His work has appeared in Boston Literary Magazine, the San Antonio Review, Savage Planets, Shotgun Honey, Black Cat Weekly, Punk Noir, Mystery Tribune, Deadly Nightshade: Best New England Crime Stories 2022, and The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023. He’s even earned starred reviews from the nation’s toughest critics, his three teenage sons, although not often. The group is facilitated by author Dale T. Phillips.

VIRTUAL: Learn How To Make Homemade Jams ("Home Canning With Confidence") (*RR)

Tuesday, August 27, 7pm

Learn how to make your own homemade jams from local stone fruit. Chef Afton Cyrus, of Jam Sessions, will offer a virtual cooking demo that will include an overview of food preservation basics, a demonstration of boiling water bath canning making Small-Batch Spiced Peach Jam from start to finish, and a Q&A session. Food safety, canning do’s and don’ts, and recommended equipment and resources will also be covered. This workshop is ideal for beginners just getting started as well as experienced canners seeking to refresh their skills and knowledge. Leave with recipes and resources to can and preserve at home safely and confidently this growing season. Cyrus worked for 8 years at America's Test Kitchen, where she created and edited content for multiple New York Times Bestselling and IACP Award-winning cookbooks, including The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs, The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs, The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists, and Bread Illustrated.

VIRTUAL: Moviegoing In America -- Nickelodeons To Movie Palaces To IMAX To Netflix (*RR)

Wednesday, August 28, 7pm

Ever since the movie industry was born in the 1890s, audiences have thrilled to watch stories come to life on the big screen. At first, this screen wasn’t very big—nor was attending the stuffy local nickelodeon all that pleasant. But by the 1920s, extravagant movie palaces were constructed in downtowns all over the country and moviegoing was transformed into a luxury experience. Sadly, this would end in the 1950s with the rise of the suburbs and the explosion of drive-in theaters, followed by shopping mall multiplexes. Today, going to the movies can be either overwhelming—at seven-story IMAX theaters—or thoroughly unpleasant, as your neighbor gobbles nachos and beer and teenagers talk and text throughout the film. And with the advent of the pandemic, for most of us, moviegoing is now just a memory. Explore the fascinating history of movie theaters and examine how the experience of moviegoing has changed over the decades. And whether movie theaters will survive in the age of Netflix. Led by Brian Rose, a professor emeritus at Fordham University, where he taught for 38 years in the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

VIRTUAL: My Life Tracking The Great White Shark with Dr. Greg Skomal (*RR)

Wednesday, August 28, 7pm

Dr. Greg Skomal will discuss his new book, Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark. The shark biologist who quite unexpectedly found himself in the middle of the newest white shark hotspot tells his story and the story of these magnificent creatures. Learn about this remarkable conservation success story, which is loaded with cutting-edge science, drama, and controversy. From the fascinating early days of shark research on the east coast to the consequences of the so-called Jaws effect and the heart-stopping moment when he found himself beneath a 17-foot white shark off Cape Cod, Skomal sets the record straight about this iconic species. Skomal -- in addition to being an accomplished marine biologist, underwater explorer, photographer, and author -- is a leading white shark expert in the Atlantic. He is a senior fisheries biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and currently directs the Massachusetts Shark Research Program. Skomal is a regular on Shark Week and Shark Fest and is the author of The Shark Handbook.

VIRTUAL: Henri Matisse -- Master of Color, Magician of Modernism (*RR)

Thursday, August 29, 10:30am

The remarkable career of Henri Matisse, one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, fundamentally altered the course of modern art. Spanning six and a half decades, his vast creative output encompassed painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic arts, and paper cutouts. Examine his extraordinary life and many of his important works. His friend and sometime rival Pablo Picasso once said,” All things considered, there is only Matisse.” Led by Janet Mandel, a retired 32-year art history teacher, who now presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at colleges & universities, libraries, museums, senior centers, and community centers.

VIRTUAL: Downeast Connections -- Artists Inspired By Maine (*RR)

Thursday, August 29, 7pm

Maine’s remote, rocky shoreline has been a beacon to American artists for generations. Survey the work of some of the most celebrated artists inspired by the state’s distinct landscape and way of life. Examine work by artists including Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, and Ashley Bryan. Led by art historian Jane Oneail, founder of Culturally Curious, a company that curates and delivers art appreciation programs for audiences worldwide.

Teen Events (In-Person)

Teen programs will resume in early September.

Children’s Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Preschool Playgroup

Thursday, August 29, 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.