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Family Story Time (birth-5)
Wednesday, April 24
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Registration Required It's time for Family Story Time! We'll sing, dance, and read together. This event is designed for children birth - 5 but interested older siblings are welcome to attend. You only need to signup once for all the Family Story Time sessions. It is okay to miss sessions. Questions, please email Lisa at Lisa@marktwainlibrary.org Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Great Composers Part II: Mozart — The Ultimate Wunderkind (In-Person)
Wednesday, April 24
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required BelowMozart was born in 1756 and lived during times of tremendous change in European society.
Indeed, just a few years before his death, the Bastille was stormed and the French Revolution was launched. During this program, Professor Gil Harel, a musicologist and music theorist, discusses how Mozart reflected his era, and how in particular, his late operas articulate the ethos of 18th-century Aufklaerung (Enlightenment) thought.
This is a hybrid series of programs that will take place both live at the Library, and virtually over Zoom. For a full experience we recommend attending this program live at the Library.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen to register for the In-Person option and you will receive an email reminder. Include a cell for a text reminder.
Would you prefer instead to attend the program virtually over Zoom? Click here to register for the virtual event.
Great Composers Dates & Topics:
- Part I March 27 — Bach's Pursuit of Musical Perfection
- Part II April 24 — Mozart: The Ultimate Wunderkind
- Part III May 15 — Beethoven's Musical Language
Great Composers Part II: Mozart — The Ultimate Wunderkind (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 24
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required BelowMozart was born in 1756 and lived during times of tremendous change in European society.
Indeed, just a few years before his death, the Bastille was stormed and the French Revolution was launched. During this program, Professor Gil Harel, a musicologist and music theorist, discusses how Mozart reflected his era, and how in particular, his late operas articulate the ethos of 18th-century Aufklaerung (Enlightenment) thought.
This is a hybrid series of programs that will take place both live at the Library, and virtually over Zoom. For a full experience we recommend attending this program live at the Library.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen to register for the In-Person option and you will receive an email reminder. Include a cell for a text reminder.
Would you prefer instead to attend the program in-person, at the Library? Click here to register for the in-person event.
Great Composers Dates & Topics:
- Part I March 27 — Bach's Pursuit of Musical Perfection
- Part II April 24 — Mozart: The Ultimate Wunderkind
- Part III May 15 — Beethoven's Musical Language
Fine Wine or Sour Grapes? Let’s Talk About Aging (In-person)
Thursday, April 25
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Registration Required Below Co-sponsored by Redding's Commission on Aging "Aging is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been," David Bowie Aging happens... so let’s talk about it! Join a new, informal discussion group as we talk, listen, learn — and figure out how to turn sour grapes into fine wine. The conversation will be facilitated by Redding residents Jean Rexford and Kathleen Brandt. The group will meet at the Library the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Potential topics will include maintaining relevancy, resiliency, dealing with ageism, acceptance and compassion. Spring Meeting Dates: March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23, June 13 and June 27. Our Facilitators Jean Rexford — Jean started the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety in 2005 to promote patient safety, improve the quality of health care and protect patient rights. Jean is a former member of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board and Redding's Commission on Aging. Kathleen Brandt — Kathleen is vice chairman of the Redding's Commission on Aging. After nearly two decades working as a registered nurse, she became an attorney in 1996, specializing in patient advocacy litigation.
Cooking with the Thirsty Radish — Spring Sweets (Virtual)
Thursday, April 25
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
Join us virtually as we welcome back Vanessa Young from The Thirsty Radish for a three-part cooking series that celebrates the coziness of winter and welcomes the freshness of spring!
For her third and final session, Vanessa will help us welcome spring with some delicious treats that showcase the season!
Dates & Topics Wednesday, January 10 at 7 pm — Snow Day Favorites Tuesday, March 5 at 7 pm — Breakfast Buns and Brunch Coming Up: Thursday, April 25 at 7 pm — Spring Sweets (Register Below) Whether infused with floral flavor or packed with refreshing brightness, spring treats take on a different flavor that matches the season. Learn how to make simple and delicious recipes from lightly sweet snacks to desserts. These beautiful treats are also perfect for celebrations like Mother’s Day. Registration is required for this Zoom program. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link the day of the program. Include your cell phone number to receive a text reminder. About our presenter:
Vanessa Young is a cooking
How to Find the Right College For You (Teens and Adults) Zoom program
Thursday, April 25
7:30 pm
Please register below to receive a Zoom link the day of the program. With over 2,000 four-year colleges in the United States for students to consider, how can you identify the school where your teen will thrive the most? Where do you start looking? During this interactive workshop, Priyanka Shingala
Priyanka has been working in the test prep and college counseling industry for 11 years and started her own business Let’s Talk College, LLC in 2018. Her goal is to help you organize your college applications process in the most painless, low-stress way possible.
Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
It Takes a Village
Friday, April 26
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Registration Suggested Below It Takes a VillageFridays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:030 a.m.
This program is presented in partnership with the Town of Redding
It Takes a Village is designed to support new parents as they navigate every aspect of life with young children, and to help foster meaningful connections between other parents and caregivers. We believe that supporting families during this very important time is vital to the physical and mental health of both parent and child, and to the community as a whole.
Parents and "Villagers" of all ages are welcome to attend.
About the Facilitator
Jess Tyson is an entrepreneur, author, community-builder, and mother of two. She started her virtual assistant agency, Don't Panic Management, in 2011, and opened a small co-working and community space in Redding—Georgetown Collective—in 2023. After employing dozens of mothers over the years and learning firsthand the demands that motherhood puts on the bodies and minds of birthing women, she has become a fierce advocate for parental rights in the workplace and beyond. According to Tyson, American society does not value or support mothers the way it should, and the lack of support has taken a toll on the mental and physical health of women everywhere. Tyson said, the data shows that we were not built to care for young children alone and that it truly does take a village to raise a child. She is excited to lead and support this group and usher in a new wave of thoughtful, confident, and cared-for children. We can't pour from an empty cup, and while this chapter is difficult, we don't have to go through it alone!
MTL Youth Chess Club (Recommended for Grades 4-8) IN PERSON Program
Monday, April 29
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Registration recommended; drop-ins welcome. We invite young chess players and chess enthusiasts to participate in our newly launched Youth Chess Club. No prior chess knowledge is required; all levels of experience are welcome to participate! The library will provide chess boards and pieces for all to use. While this program is recommended for grade 5-8, older teen players are welcome too! About our facilitator: Matthew Shirvell (aka Coach Matt) is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for over 6 years. He has competed in USCF tournaments across the country, worked as a tournament director to run some of the largest events in the state, and has helped his students reach their goals. Recently, in January 2023, one of his students earned sole 1st place in a USCF event with a perfect score! The club will meet every Monday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. except on holidays or as otherwise noted. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian
Adult Chess Club (In-person)
Monday, April 29
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Registration Recommended, See Below We invite all adult chess players and chess enthusiasts to participate in our newly launched, weekly Adult Chess Club. No prior chess knowledge is required; all levels of experience are welcome to participate! The library will provide chess boards and pieces for all to use. As space is limited, we recommend participants register for each program that they plan to attend. About our facilitator: Matthew Shirvell (aka Coach Matt) is an avid chess player who has been teaching chess in Connecticut for over 6 years. He has competed in USCF tournaments across the country, worked as a tournament director to run some of the largest events in the state, and has helped his students reach their goals. Recently, in January 2023, one of his students earned sole 1st place in a USCF event with a perfect score!
MTL Writers’ Group (Virtual)
Monday, April 29
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Registration Required Below The Mark Twain Library's Writers' Group meets via Zoom on the second and fourth Monday of the month. In this session the group will be reading and discussing Write Your Novel From The Middle by James Scott Bell In addition to reading books on writing craft, the group's mission is to provide a supportive environment for those looking to share their love of writing with others. The group also serves as a potential source of accountability and feedback for ongoing writing projects. Facilitation of the group will be shared by group members. Prior to attending, it is recommended that group members obtain their own copy of Write Your Novel From The Middle by James Scott Bell Click Here to attend Zoom Meeting (For registered participants only) Password: Write
Creative Collective Discussion Group: “The Creative Act” (Virtual)
Tuesday, April 30
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Registration is closed for this session. Please join us for our next session in June.
Have fun and make friends while cultivating your creativity in our weekly group discussions about art, creativity and so much more! Our facilitated conversations invite participants to consider imaginative and alternative viewpoints about the creative process in a congenial, relaxed Zoom setting. Empower your creativity and feed your brain by joining us in the Creative Collective Discussion Group!
This spring, our exploration into the power of creativity continues with the book The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Copies of the books are available for loan at the Library's front desk.
The Creative Collective meets weekly on Tuesdays. Register once for the 9 meetings in this session running from April 2 to May 28.
Click Here to attend Zoom Meeting (For registered participants only)
Weekly Drop-In Knitting Circle (In-Person)
Tuesday, April 30
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Meets Tuesdays, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Our popular weekly drop-in knitting circle continues to meets every Tuesday in the Library's Mark Twain Room. Share your knitting, crochet, and needlepoint project or learn basic techniques like casting on, knit, and purl stitches. Each week brings an opportunity to learn something new and there is always someone who can help with any problem.
Paths To Autistic Empowerment: Open Communication and Self-Advocacy
Tuesday, April 30
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below April is Autism Awareness Month, a time for sharing stories and providing opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. Jeremy Farrell, an Autism Spectrum Disorder Advocate, provides a roadmap to help those with autism and their loved ones find ways toward open communication and advocacy. As an autistic individual who has been on his own personal journey, Jeremy has unique insight on cultivating autistic empowerment. Jeremy goes beyond the textbook “dos and don’ts” for those on or off the autism spectrum, providing actionable steps toward empowerment. Jeremy will use examples from his personal and professional life to provide a comprehensive understanding of the common barriers autistic individuals face in everyday life and how to break through those barriers. Jeremy K. Farrell is a passionate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Advocate and a proud person on the spectrum himself. He has been working with children with developmental disabilities, specializing in autism, since the age of 15. Since graduating from Southern Connecticut State University, he has run social skills groups for kids through Western Connecticut Behavioral Health. He has also worked with autism-focused organizations to provide recreational resources for clients. He spent time working as a University Assistant for Southern Connecticut State University, where he traveled around the state as the Leader of Community Outreach and Recruitment for the Listening to Faces Speech and Language Autism research with Yale’s Child Study Center. About Our Speaker
Jeremy K. Farrell is a passionate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Advocate and a proud person on the spectrum himself. He has been working with children with developmental disabilities, specializing in autism, since the age of 15. Since graduating from Southern Connecticut State University, he has run social skills groups for kids through Western Connecticut Behavioral Health. He has also worked with autism-focused organizations to provide recreational resources for clients. He spent time working as a University Assistant for Southern Connecticut State University, where he traveled around the state as the Leader of Community Outreach and Recruitment for the Listening to Faces Speech and Language Autism research with Yale’s Child Study Center.
In his role as the Director of Family and Personal Growth at Planning Across the Spectrum, Jeremy has consulted with businesses and organizations, aiding them in understanding autism to effectively serve their autistic clients. More recently, he has been involved as a Certified Job Coach for the Connecticut Autism Waiver program, empowering autistic adults to establish their own businesses and advocating for the autistic community by offering webinars and presentations built on what he’s learned through his personal and professional life
Family Story Time (birth-5)
Wednesday, May 1
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Registration Required It's time for Family Story Time! We'll sing, dance, and read together. This event is designed for children birth - 5 but interested older siblings are welcome to attend. You only need to signup once for all the Family Story Time sessions. It is okay to miss sessions. Questions, please email Lisa at Lisa@marktwainlibrary.org Photos & videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
MTL Cookbook Club: “The Woks of Life” (In-person)
Wednesday, May 1
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Registration Require Below Join us for the MTL Cookbook Club – part book club, part culinary tasting! Each meeting will focus on a particular cookbook from the Library's collection. Group members are invited to read the book, select a recipe to cook and enjoy sampling with one another as we discuss. Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every other month.Register online and we'll be in touch with details about the meeting and your recipe selection to share with the group. Space is limited.
This Month's Pick: The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family by the Leung Family
Copies of this month's cookbook will be available to check out at the front desk beginning April 1. Browse the book and let us know what recipe you plan to make and share at our next meeting. See below for recipes already selected.
Chosen Recipes:
Fast Sizzled Cucumber Salad
Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Lazy Veggie Noodles
Shanghai Cold Noodles
Old Shanghai Potato Salad
Chicken Curry Puffs
Pork, Mushroom and Cabbage Dumplings
Milk Bread
Chinese Bakery Cream & Fruit Cake Reinvented
Pineapple Cakes
Bearing Witness: Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day (In-Person)
Thursday, May 2
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below As a descendant of two Holocaust survivors, Redding's Renee Bronner Pessin will mark this Holocaust Remembrance Day (May 5—6) by telling the story of her parents, Helen and Sam Bronner, who met while imprisoned in a concentration camp. Helen was the only survivor of more than 50 members of her immediate and extended family, while Sam and one brother were the only survivors of his immediate family. The couple became separated during the war, but they eventually found each other following liberation. Soon after, Helen and Sam got married and immigrated to the United States to start a new life in Brooklyn, NY. Renee shares the story of her parents through excerpts of her mother's video testimony to the Shoah Foundation and through family pictures that survived the horrors of the Holocaust. About Our Speaker
Renee Bronner Pessin has been a Redding resident for over seven years. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Renee has worked as a registered nurse, editorial associate for scientific journals and for over 20 years, she has worked as a biomedical grant and manuscript editor.
This program is part of the Conversations Series, created in partnership by the Redding League of Women Voters and the MarkTwain Library. This award-winning series offers opportunities to continue and expand conversations on race, justice and democracy. Community members can exchange ideas, hear differing perspectives and talk about our ever-evolving democracy.
Make Beaded Friendship Bracelets with MTL Teen Craft Club (Recommended for Grades 5-8)
Friday, May 3
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Please register below. The MTL Craft club is a fun space for teens to relax, have snacks, and craft! During each meeting, we’ll make a different craft, starting with beaded friendship bracelets during our May 3rd meeting. For each craft made, we ask that participants make another to be donated to local shelters, hospitals, or charities. No experience with crocheting and crafting necessary to participate. Light refreshments will be served. The club is run by Redding teens Kristina and Kieran, the co-presidents of Joel Barlow High School’s craft and crochet club, which donates crocheted blankets and other crafts to hospitals. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian Image credit: "A Wave of Blue Yarn," knitpicks.com
Frog Frolic Family Festival
Saturday, May 4
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Click here to learn all about the Frog Frolic Family Festival! A Day of Fun for Everyone! SATURDAY, MAY 4TH, 2024 - 10AM-4PM @ Redding Community Center - 37 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT 06896
MTL Open Mic: A Literary Event for Teens and Adults (Registration for AUDIENCE MEMBERS)
Sunday, May 5
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Please register below. Mark Twain Library invites local writers and lovers of literature to join us for an open mic event! Read your own work or someone else’s work, or just listen to others read. All literary genres are welcome, but participants should limit their readings to no more than 5 minutes. We will also accommodate drop-in readers as time permits. About our emcee: A high school senior in New York City, Anisha is an avid reader and is very passionate about writing (particularly poetry), and is an active member of her school’s poetry club. In 2021, she received the Scholastic Silver Key Award for her poetry and is an alumna of the Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer Program. This fall will mark Anisha's second time hosting a popular teen poetry workshop series focusing on social justice and activism at the Mark Twain Library. REGISTRATION FOR READERS/PARTICIPANTS Light refreshments will be served. Program contact: Sarah Zimmermann (sarah@marktwainlibrary.org), Teen and Reference Librarian