Avon Free Public Library

Since the 1980s when near death experiences became part of the public consciousness, they have held endless attraction for people. Why do they resonate so powerfully within us? Join Dr. Raider, hear the latest medical research and discover a simple, natural way to connect with the inner light talked about by those who’ve experienced a NDE. Through a simple time-honored method of meditation, you too can explore those realms of peace within you.Dr Raider draws parallels between near-death experiences and those had by people who meditated throughout the ages, coming from all backgrounds, in all countries and all faith traditions. He then gives the audience an opportunity to learn a simple meditation technique that can enable them to experience the peace and the Light that people who have had NDEs talk about.
Matthew Raider, MD, is a clinical physician and coordinating director of the Geriatric Teaching Program in Family Medicine at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut. He has been practicing meditation for over 30 years. Dr. Raider is a physician with a strong interest in meditation and its relationship to health. He lectures extensively about the healing power of meditation at hospitals, schools and private venues throughout the United States and Canada.
Presenter: Matthew Raider received his M.D. degree with honors from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1979. He had a clinical practice for 42 years during which time he was the medical director of several health care facilities in central CT. Dr. Raider has been active in teaching geriatric medicine and has helped coordinate the geriatrics curriculum for medical residents at Middlesex Hospital in CT. He still is actively involved in teaching residents, medical students and nurse practitioners. Dr. Raider has had a long interest in meditation going back over 50 years. He is also a contributing author to “Meditation as Medication for the Soul” by Rajinder Singh. Dr. Raider has a particular interest for the health benefits of meditation and he has lectured extensively in hospitals and libraries in the U.S. and Canada as well as at the United Nations fairly recently.

Local Event: Meditation and the Near-Death Experience (Virtual Event) 

Hartford County

Avon

Connecticut

Meditation and the Near-Death Experience...

Since the 1980s when near death experiences became part of the public consciousness, they have held endless attraction for...

Meditation and the Near-Death Experience (Virtual Event) 

Join us for an in-person, ticketed event with Christina Baker Kline, sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library.&nbsp;

Inspired by the true lives of Chang and Eng Bunker, the world-renowned conjoined twins from Siam, and their marriages to sisters Sarah and Adelaide Yates (Kline’s own distant relatives), this novel reimagines one of the strangest and most revealing family stories in American history — and offers a piercingly intimate perspective on an extraordinary chapter of the past.
Set in the Blue Ridge foothills of northwestern North Carolina in the 19th-century, The Foursome begins with Eng and Chang’s arrival, their presence stirring fascination and unease. As the twins build a plantation worked by enslaved labor and begin to introduce themselves to the community, Sarah and her sister Adelaide find themselves drawn into the orbit of these enigmatic men. What follows is an intimate and emotionally charged exploration of their unconventional marriages, as Sarah and Adelaide navigate the complexities of intimacy, judgment, and their own evolving desires.
Christina Baker Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including Orphan Train,&nbsp;The Exiles,&nbsp;Please Don’t Lie&nbsp;(co-authored with Anne Burt), and the forthcoming&nbsp;The Foursome&nbsp;(May 2026), Christina Baker Kline is published in more than 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes &amp; Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities, and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;and&nbsp;The New York Times Book Review,&nbsp;The Washington Post,&nbsp;The Boston Globe, and&nbsp;The San Francisco Chronicle.

Local Event: The Foursome: Christina Baker Kline (Ticketed Event/Friends Fundraiser)

The Foursome: Christina Baker Kline (Ticketed...

Join us for an in-person, ticketed event with Christina Baker Kline, sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library. 

Inspired...

The Foursome: Christina Baker Kline (Ticketed Event/Friends Fundraiser)

Join us for an in-person event to celebrate the release of A NOVEL CRIME, by Deborah Levison. Deborah will be in conversation with Marilyn Simon Rothstein.
<img src="https://www.avonctlibrary.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/levison-books-300x157.jpg" srcset="https://www.avonctlibrary.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/levison-books-300x157.jpg 300w, https://www.avonctlibrary.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/levison-books.jpg 571w">
About A NOVEL CRIME:
She wanted to write the perfect novel. Instead, she became the perfect villain.
Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye.
When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into her bolder, blonder alter ego, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor. As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With looming deadlines and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.
May Cobb calls it “uproariously funny” and “ingeniously plotted,” Samantha Bailey describes it as a “wickedly hilarious delight” and Gregg Hurwitz says it “packs in the drama and tabloid-worthy conniving.”
Deborah Levison:&nbsp;Debbie’s life has two parts: first in Canada, at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, and second in Connecticut, with three children, two doodles, and one husband.&nbsp;She is an award-winning writer, published in national and international media. Her first book, a true crime about a murder that involved her family, is THE CRATE. Inspired by real-life abuses at elite New England private schools, A NEST OF SNAKES followed. Her third book, A NOVEL CRIME, is about a romance writer desperate for a bestseller.&nbsp;Debbie’s dream of storytelling began one summer night by a camp bonfire as she listened to a ghost story: The Monkey’s Paw. The memory still makes her shiver.&nbsp;Visit her at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.debbielevison.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.debbielevison.com</a>.
Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of four novels, WHO LOVES YOU BEST, CRAZY TO LEAVE YOU, HUSBANDS AND OTHER SHARP OBJETS, &nbsp;LIFT AND SEPARATE. She grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from NYU, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, married a man she met in an elevator and owned an award-winning advertising agency for more than twenty-five years. Marilyn is an engaging speaker who has addressed thousands of avid readers–from Dallas to Atlanta to Miami to Memphis (and of course, Avon!).&nbsp;
Books by both authors will be for sale at this event.
Please register, so we can set the community room up with appropriate seating.

Local Event: A Novel Crime: Deborah Levison in conversation with Marilyn Simon Rothstein (in-person)

A Novel Crime: Deborah Levison in conversation...

Join us for an in-person event to celebrate the release of A NOVEL CRIME, by Deborah Levison. Deborah will be in conversation...

A Novel Crime: Deborah Levison in conversation with Marilyn Simon Rothstein (in-person)

Meet mystery writers Edwin Hill, Jenna Blum, Joseph Moldover! This dynamic author panel will field questions about murder, mayhem, and all things novel-related.&nbsp;&nbsp;Books by each author will be for sale at this event. Author bios appear first, then the descriptions of their new books.~~~
Edwin Hill is the Edgar and Agatha Award–nominated author of the standalone thrillers What Happened Next (coming in 2026),&nbsp;Who to Believe and The Secrets We Share, and Little Comfort, The Missing Ones, and Watch Her in the Hester Thursby series. He has been featured in Us Weekly magazine, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and Library Journal, and was recognized as one of Six Crime Writers to Watch in Mystery Scene magazine. Edwin lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts, with his partner, Michael, and his favorite reviewer, their Lab Edith Ann, who likes Edwin’s first drafts enough to eat them. A lot of people helped him create this series, and he is a big believer in paying forward.
Jenna Blum is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of novels THOSE WHO SAVE US, THE STORMCHASERS, and THE LOST FAMILY; novella “The Lucky One” in anthology GRAND CENTRAL; memoir WOODROW ON THE BENCH; audio course “The Author At Work: The Art of Writing Fiction”; and WWII audio drama THE KEY OF LOVE, available on every major podcast streaming platform. Jenna is one of Oprah’s Top Thirty Women Writers, with her work published in over 20 countries, and cofounder/CEO of online author interview platform A Mighty Blaze. Jenna’s first novel, THOSE WHO SAVE US, won the Ribalow Prize, awarded by Hadassah Magazine and adjudged by Elie Wiesel, and was a Borders pick and the #1 bestselling novel in Holland. THE STORMCHASERS was a Boston Globe bestseller, a Target Emerging Authors pick, featured in Elle Magazine, and a bestseller in France and Holland; THE LOST FAMILY, also a bestseller, was an Indiebound pick and garnered starred reviews from all four major trades: Booklist, Publishers’ Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal. Jenna’s bestselling memoir WOODROW ON THE BENCH was a Midwestern Booksellers’ pick and is now available in paperback. Jenna’s latest novel, psychological thriller MURDER YOUR DARLINGS, is available from Harper Collins 01/13/26.
Joseph Moldover, a clinical neuropsychologist, is the author of the young adult novels&nbsp;Every Moment After&nbsp;and&nbsp;Just Until. His short fiction has appeared in&nbsp;McSweeney’s Internet Tendency,&nbsp;Pangyrus,&nbsp;Stonecoast Review,&nbsp;MonkeyBicycle,&nbsp;One Teen Story,&nbsp;Typehouse,&nbsp;The MacGuffin, and elsewhere. From 2020–2023 he co-hosted the online program and podcast&nbsp;Authors Love Bookstores&nbsp;for A Mighty Blaze. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and their four children.

Local Event: Edwin, Jenna, and Joseph: Murder Has Never Looked This Good (in-person)

Edwin, Jenna, and Joseph: Murder Has Never...

Meet mystery writers Edwin Hill, Jenna Blum, Joseph Moldover! This dynamic author panel will field questions about murder,...

Edwin, Jenna, and Joseph: Murder Has Never Looked This Good (in-person)

Finding and identifying birds can be difficult, particularly in summer. Join CT Audubon for an introduction to the joys of birding by ear. Learn tricks to help you recognize common bird songs and some of the tools available to help.

Local Event: Birding by Ear (In-Person Event) 

Birding by Ear (In-Person Event) 

Finding and identifying birds can be difficult, particularly in summer. Join CT Audubon for an introduction to the joys of...

It has become fashionable in the last few years to scale the seven highest peaks on each continent or walk across a continent or visit every country in the world. In this vein, our speaker, Dr Richard Benfield took four journeys in 2023 to the four geographic poles: North Pole, South Pole and the other two. Other two? Where are they? In this one- hour presentation we will focus on the four poles and the animals and people who live there: their landscapes, their livelihoods and their flora and fauna. Our presentation will show that even you can go there (though one of the poles is somewhat challenging) and take you into geographical worlds where few venture … and you will also learn for your next trivia contest where the other two poles are located on earth!
Presenter: Dr Richard W. Benfield was formerly Professor of Geography at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut where he taught courses in Human Geography, the history and management of National Parks, Plants, Predators and Parks, Russia, The European Union and many of the courses in the department’s tourism track. Prior to coming to Central he was Senior Program Coordinator in the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma where he instructed citizens of the new Russian Federation on privatization and the transition to a market economy. He obtained his doctorate in geography from the University of Oklahoma in 1998. Prior to commencing his teaching career at the University of Oklahoma, he was Vice-President of Marketing at Whistler Ski resort, Canada, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Executive Director of the Banff-Lake Louise Chamber of Commerce and a tourism marketing executive with the Government of Alberta.
In 2013 his book Garden Tourism was published by CABI Press, Abingdon, England.

Local Event: Penguins, Polar Bears, Parks and Peaks: Bio-Geographical Journeys to the Four Pole (In-Person Event)

Penguins, Polar Bears, Parks and Peaks:...

It has become fashionable in the last few years to scale the seven highest peaks on each continent or walk across a continent...

Penguins, Polar Bears, Parks and Peaks: Bio-Geographical Journeys to the Four Pole (In-Person Event)

The scientific community has been exploring the use of meditation as a healing modality. Join Gerry Gorman a long-time meditator as he discusses the extraordinary effect of meditation to reduce stress-related responses, improve concentration, and enhance clarity of thought and mental equilibrium. He will also present a simple, time-tested, ancient, and effective meditation technique. There will be a short meditation sitting as well.
Presenter: Gerry Gorman has spent many years as a professional engineer, engineering manager, and business development executive of various technology companies. He also established his own engineering firm, from which he recently retired. With over 40 years of experience practicing meditation, he has seen firsthand how this simple technique can have a profound impact on one’s life. Gerry offers programs throughout the country, sharing the many benefits of meditation and how it can offer a new, calmer perspective in a stressful world.
As a national speaker, Gerry teaches a practical meditation technique and explores how this simple, effective method can be the key to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. His popular workshops offer important, life-changing tools for inner growth and personal development.

Local Event: Reducing Stress in Everyday Life through Meditation (Virtual Event) 

Reducing Stress in Everyday Life through...

The scientific community has been exploring the use of meditation as a healing modality. Join Gerry Gorman a long-time...

Reducing Stress in Everyday Life through Meditation (Virtual Event) 

Learn about the behavioral and structural adaptations that make hummingbirds unique, what threats they face, and how you can help protect them.

Local Event: Welcoming Hummingbirds (In-Person Event) 

Welcoming Hummingbirds (In-Person Event) 

Learn about the behavioral and structural adaptations that make hummingbirds unique, what threats they face, and how you can...

Meet some of Connecticut’s native turtle species and learn about the troubles they face in the changing environment, as well as what everyday people can do to help them thrive in their own backyards. Presented by Turtle Haven, an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating sick and injured turtles and helping them get back to their homes in the wild.

Local Event: Turtles in Trouble and How You Can Help (In-Person Event) 

Turtles in Trouble and How You Can Help...

Meet some of Connecticut’s native turtle species and learn about the troubles they face in the changing environment, as well as...

Turtles in Trouble and How You Can Help (In-Person Event) 

Meditation has been valued in the East for centuries as beneficial to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Now, Western medicine, through research-based studies is recognizing the efficacy of meditation for improving wellness. Meditation presents proven benefits for spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health; as well as improved brain function and performance. Meditation can help to achieve balance, wellness, and aid in pain management. There is clear and compelling support for the value of meditation for the health of the spirit, upon which the health of the body and mind are based. Join Ankaj Goel, long time meditator for this informative program. There will even be a chance to try this meditation practice.
Presenter: Ankaj Goel is a Director of Quality Assurance in the Healthcare Industry and has many years of experience in problem solving and quality assurance. He has an extensive background in leading teams and working in complex architecture that runs on multiple technologies and platforms. He currently develops test strategies for applications and data products. Ankaj was educated as a mechanical engineer. He has been meditating for over 15 years and is very impressed with the results he has experienced personally. For the past 10 years Ankaj has been conducting meditation workshops where he discusses the benefits of meditation and how to incorporate this practice into one’s daily routine. In his presentations Ankaj explores how meditating regularly can help us physically, mentally and spiritually. He also leads meditation programs at his work as part of a Wellness club where he is teaching meditation as a tool to reduce stress and bring sanity in the current stressful corporate environment. Ankaj also teaches teenagers in the community about how beneficial meditation is by including this practice into their daily lives.

Local Event: Meditation as a Powerful Tool for Resiliency (Virtual Event) 

Meditation as a Powerful Tool for Resiliency...

Meditation has been valued in the East for centuries as beneficial to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Now, Western...

Meditation as a Powerful Tool for Resiliency (Virtual Event) 

Afpl Connecticut

Michael Lemanski

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Farmington

West Hartford

Canton

Simsbury

Greater Hartford

Newington

Jay Kenney

Windsor

Wethersfield

Granby-East Granby

Southington

<h2>Join us for our Annual Epilepsy Walk in Farmington</h2>
This year, we’re bringing the community together not just to walk, but to gather for a&nbsp;Purple Picnic&nbsp;celebration afterward (Food&nbsp;provided by EFCT).
This family-friendly event is all about connection, support, and showing our strength as a community. Walk alongside individuals and families impacted by epilepsy.
Vendors will be on site sharing resources, services, and information designed to support those living with epilepsy and their caregivers. Whether you’re coming to honor a loved one, meet others who understand your journey, or learn more about epilepsy, we can't wait to see you!
Any teams who fundraise $100 or more, will receive a free sign with their team's name on it!
Wear your purple, and join us for a meaningful day of awareness, advocacy, and community.

Local Event: Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Join us for our Annual Epilepsy Walk in Farmington
This year, we’re bringing the community together not just to walk, but to...

Ethan Allen

Get Your Home Ready for Summer at Ethan Allen!
👍 Top 3 reasons to visit Ethan Allen today: 1) complimentary design service, 2) new products, and 3) great savings. If you’ve never stopped by, come see what makes our furniture so special. If you know us, come in to kick off the next phase of your project.
24-MONTH FINANCING†† on purchases of $2,200 or more made with your Ethan Allen Platinum Credit Card. Down payment or advance payment may be required. Visit ethanallen.com/platinum for details.
<a href="https://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/make-appointment?StoreID=147" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Schedule a complimentary appointment with a designer here!</a>

Local Event: Get Your Home Ready for Summer at Ethan Allen!

Get Your Home Ready for Summer at Ethan Allen!


Get Your Home Ready for Summer at Ethan Allen!
👍 Top 3 reasons to visit Ethan Allen today: 1) complimentary design service, 2)...

Stanley-Whitman House

Historian and author Dayne Rugh spent years recovering the story of Colonel John Durkee: a Norwich-born soldier who served under Washington in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and who has been largely forgotten since he died in 1782. He opens the program in character, in period regimental clothing, then steps back to present an illustrated talk drawn from his biography, John Durkee: The Forgotten Story of Connecticut's Bold Man from Bean Hill. Copies will be available for purchase and signing at $20.00.
The program takes place in the fully accessible Spear Classroom. The historic house will be open for self-guided visits before and after.
Part of the FarmingtonCT250 programming series at Stanley-Whitman House. Stanley-Whitman House is a proud official affiliate of the America 250 | CT Commission. Join us for these commemorative events.

Local Event: A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on...

Historian and author Dayne Rugh spent years recovering the story of Colonel John Durkee: a Norwich-born soldier who served...

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

Town of Avon Senior Center

NAMI Farmington Valley Annual Meeting &amp; Speaker Presentation 
Join us for an insightful presentation with Dr. Christine Shapter, a board-certified psychiatrist whose work with the Connecticut Probate Court offers a unique perspective on the intersection of mental health care, individual rights, and the justice system.
Drawing from her real-world experience evaluating individuals with serious mental illness across Connecticut, Dr. Shapter will explore the complex challenges of balancing psychiatric needs with legal protections. This thought-provoking talk is a continuation of last year’s important conversation on this compelling topic.
Whether you are a caregiver, advocate, mental health professional, or community member interested in these issues, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 💚<h2>About our Speaker</h2>
Dr. Christine Shapter&nbsp;is a board-certified psychiatrist who has devoted her career to the Probate Court. She achieved her Medical Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine after working many years as a registered nurse. She subsequently completed psychiatry residency from the Institute of Living in 2018. Since that time, she has been traversing the State of Connecticut on a daily basis performing evaluations for the Probate Court, navigating the intersection between the psychiatric needs and the legal rights of our state’s most seriously mentally ill and vulnerable patients.
Dr. Shapter is board-certified in Psychiatry, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is an adjunct professor in the graduate nursing department at University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. She has co-authored articles published in Psychiatric Times, Aging and Disease, and Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity, and has given numerous presentations at national conferences. She was the winner of the Daniel F. Caruso Public Service Award in 2023, which was presented at the Connecticut Probate Assembly Annual Meeting in April. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.REGISTER&nbsp;NOW!

Local Event: Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness...

NAMI Farmington Valley Annual Meeting & Speaker Presentation 
Join us for an insightful presentation with Dr. Christine...

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

<h3>PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS for KIDS in Your Pool</h3>
<h3>For those making summer plans for their children this is a great opportunity. Availability for lessons on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays! Spots will fill up quickly so reach out now! Contact Gabriella Rand at 860-751-4784 or <a href="mailto:gabriellarand06@gmail.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">gabriellarand06@gmail.com</a>.</h3>

Private Swim Lesson for Kids

PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS for KIDS in Your Pool...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Posting Activity

Meditation and the Near-Death Experience (Virtual Event)

MAY

21

7:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

The Foursome: Christina Baker Kline (Ticketed Event/Friends Fundraiser)

MAY

26

1:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

A Novel Crime: Deborah Levison in conversation with Marilyn Simon Rothstein (in-person)

JUN

2

6:30 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Edwin, Jenna, and Joseph: Murder Has Never Looked This Good (in-person)

JUN

6

2:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Birding by Ear (In-Person Event)

JUN

9

2:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Penguins, Polar Bears, Parks and Peaks: Bio-Geographical Journeys to the Four Pole (In-Person Event)

JUN

10

2:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Reducing Stress in Everyday Life through Meditation (Virtual Event)

JUN

11

2:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Welcoming Hummingbirds (In-Person Event)

JUN

16

2:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Turtles in Trouble and How You Can Help (In-Person Event)

JUN

25

6:30 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Meditation as a Powerful Tool for Resiliency (Virtual Event)

JUL

16

7:00 PM

Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT

Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Get Your Home Ready for Summer at Ethan Allen!

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

Private Swim Lesson for Kids