Wednesday, May 8
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.
Wednesday, May 8
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
LOCATION: New Pond Farm Education Center
Co-Sponsored by New Pond Farm Education Center and Redding Land Trust
Delve more deeply into nature, ecology and wildlife with a new bookclub focusing on science, conservation and natural history! Whether you're an avid birder, a devoted gardener or an enthusiastic weekend hiker, you'll expand your understanding of the world around us while also meeting folks who share a devotion to our planet!
The Nature Book Club is moderated by
Cole Tucker-Walton, a Redding Land Trust board member and author of
Redding's Big Outdoors column in the Redding Sentinel, and
John McLeran, a member of the Redding Land Trust and Town of Redding's Open Space Manager.
This bookclub will meet for three sessions on Wednesdays at 11:30 am at
New Pond Farm Education Center, 101 Marchant Road, Redding. Books will be available to borrow at the Library. Space is limited, so please register early!
UPCOMING — Register Below
Wednesday, May 8 — Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper (2023)
A self-described “Blerd” (Black nerd), Christian Cooper is an avid comics fan and expert birder who devotes every spring to gazing upon the migratory birds that stop to rest in Central Park, just a subway ride away from where he lives in New York City. While in the park one morning in May 2020, Cooper had an encounter with a dog walker, which exploded age-old racial tensions. Cooper’s viral video of the incident would send shock waves through the nation.In his bestselling memoir, Cooper tells the story of his extraordinary life leading up to the now-infamous incident in Central Park and shows how a life spent looking up at the birds prepared him, in the most uncanny of ways, to be a gay, Black man in America today.
Previous Selections:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (2015)
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille T. Dungy (2023)
Wednesday, May 8
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Registration Required Below
The Women and Money Roundtable is a monthly financial program created to empower and educate women on financial matters that impact their families and themselves. Join Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone virtually as they lead a lively and informative discussion on how to make sense of today’s financial markets.
The Women and Money Roundtable series will meet throughout the spring. Please register for each session separately.
April 10
May 8
June 12
Registered participants will receive a Webinar link on the day of the program. Include your cell phone number on the registration form and receive one text reminder, with link before the program begins.
About the Speakers:
Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.
Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor
Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.
This program is sponsored in partnership by the presenters and libraries in Fairfield and Westchester Counties.
Thursday, May 9
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.
Thursday, May 9
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Looking for unique Mother's Day gifts, or thinking about treating yourself to something special this spring? Visit
The Collective @ MTL: Community Pop-Up Market where you'll have the chance to shop small independent vendors from our community!
Browse the market, enjoy refreshments and sip some wine in the intimate setting of the Library.
Items for sale will include boutique and handcrafted jewelry, one-of-a-kind home decor items, personalized gifts, gourmet treats, unique clothing, accessories and more.
The sale will be open for shoppers from
2 to 7 pm
No registration required -- just drop in!
Monday, May 13
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
Monday, May 13
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
Monday, May 13
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!
Monday, May 13
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
Join our panelists for an evening where we address the presence of antisemitism in our community and how we can work together to respond when incidents arise.
Panelists include:
Julia Pemberton, First Selectwoman of Redding
Cantor Harriet Dunkerley, Temple B'nai Chaim
Rabbi Jason Greenberg, Temple Shalom
Jennifer Desmarais, Principal of John Read Middle School
Moderated by Dr. Daniel Barrett, Professor, Department of Psychology, Western Connecticut State University
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.
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.
Monday, May 13
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
Join our panelists for an evening where we address the presence of antisemitism in our community and how we can work together to respond when incidents arise.
Panelists include:
Julia Pemberton, First Selectwoman of Redding
Cantor Harriet Dunkerley, Temple B'nai Chaim
Rabbi Jason Greenberg, Temple Shalom
Jennifer Desmarais, Principal of John Read Middle School
Moderated by Dr. Daniel Barrett, Professor, Department of Psychology, Western Connecticut State University
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 Virtual option and you will receive a Zoom link on the day of the program. 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.
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.
Monday, May 13
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
Tuesday, May 14
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 8 meetings in this session running from April 2 to May 28.
Tuesday, May 14
10:30 am - 11:00 am
MTL Story Times @ Topstone Pond: Co-sponsored by the Redding Department of Parks & Recreation
Let's enjoy the outdoors together! We'll gather at Topstone beach for an outdoor Family Story Time with books, songs, and flannel board stories. Please bring your own beach chairs/ beach blankets.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED; include your phone number for a text update in case of inclement weather.
Photos and or videos from this event may be used on the Library's social media sites.
Tuesday, May 14
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Registration Required Below
Release your inner thespian and join the new MTL Script Reading Group. Our group is a whole new way to experience a play you never knew you needed. This casual monthly group will meet up to read classic and contemporary plays aloud. Our hope is to foster a collaborative environment and explore all types of theater.
Welcome to all who love or are curious about theater — no theater experience is required.
Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month.
Our Facilitators:
Liz Correa is a local mom who has missed reading plays. Her theater background includes New York City, regional and local theater. She was nominated for Best Actress (Escaleno, lead) at the PEPI; Seville, Spain. Escaleno (lead) also won Best Short Film. Liz graduated with a Masters of Art’s from Cornell University and was a student of Stella Adler Conservatory (Tisch) and Michael Howard Studios.
Eileen O’Brien is a retired award winning drama teacher and director who hails from New Haven. After living in Massachusetts and Florida, Eileen and her husband, Bob have come home to spend their retirement closer to their children and grandchildren in beautiful Connecticut.
Tuesday, May 14
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Registration Required Below
A changing season is a time for renewal and considering different points of view.
Join popular meditation instructor Alexa Owen virtually for this 8-week series to cultivate ease and growth. Each 30-minute session will include a short introduction to a contemplative topic, a 15-minute guided practice, and time to share reflections and ask questions at the end.
Incorporating a meditation practice into your routine has countless benefits, including decreased stress, lowered blood pressure, increased gratitude and focus, and overall improvement in mood and mindset. You’ll learn foundational practices that facilitate ease and wellbeing not only for yourself but for the loved ones with whom you share your space and energy as well. Sessions are designed to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to engage fully in the rest of your day and week.
Recommended for adults and high school students.
Register once to receive reminders for the full 8-week series, or drop-in using the direct link below. Registered participants will receive an reminder and link the day of the program. Include your cell number on the registration form to receive one text reminder.
CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM MEETING
Password: recharge
Dates:
Tuesdays at noon
February 13
February 29
March 12
March 26
April 9
April 23
May 14
May 28
About our presenter:
Alexa Owen is a meditation faculty member at Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, as well as a graduate of the Contemplative Psychotherapy Program and teacher training in Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT). She has delivered workshops on wellness and contemplative science at libraries, high schools, and universities; created mindfulness training content for values-driven organizations; and guided meditation through her work with the Anti-Racism Planning Group at Smith College School for Social Work, where she is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree. A certified yoga therapist and inspired student of social science, she is passionate about supporting people in fully embodying their lives through self-awareness, compassion, and flourishing in their intra- and interpersonal relationships. Alexa grew up in Redding and maintains connections to this special place through family, friends, and continued community offerings. You can learn more at her website: www.alexaowen.com
Tuesday, May 14
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.
Wednesday, May 15
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.
Wednesday, May 15
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
Born Ludwig “Van” (not “Von” — a distinction of significance) Beethoven, this German of humble birth would become arguably the most celebrated composer in the western world.
During this program, Professor Gil Harel discusses how music evolved in the decades leading up to Beethoven’s arrival in Vienna. Learn how music evolved logically and sequentially -- and radically, in the case of Beethoven.
Professor Harel will illustrate his points with both a piano sonata and a symphony, highlighting the profound innovations and remarkable expressivity in Beethoven's musical language.
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
About Our Speaker
Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is a musicologist and music theorist whose interests include styles ranging from western classical repertoire to jazz and musical theater. Previously, he served on the faculty at CUNY Baruch College (where he was awarded the prestigious "Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching").
Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Music at Naugatuck Valley Community College, where he has been presented with the AFT "Merit Award for Exemplary Service to the College" for 4 consecutive years. In 2020, he was honored with the coveted Connecticut Board of Regents (BOR) Teaching Award. At NVCC, Dr. Harel conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.
Wednesday, May 15
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
Born Ludwig “Van” (not “Von” — a distinction of significance) Beethoven, this German of humble birth would become arguably the most celebrated composer in the western world.
During this program, Professor Gil Harel discusses how music evolved in the decades leading up to Beethoven’s arrival in Vienna. Learn how music evolved logically and sequentially -- and radically, in the case of Beethoven.
Professor Harel will illustrate his points with both a piano sonata and a symphony, highlighting the profound innovations and remarkable expressivity in Beethoven's musical language.
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 Virtual option and you will receive a Zoom link on the day of the program. 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
About Our Speaker
Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is a musicologist and music theorist whose interests include styles ranging from western classical repertoire to jazz and musical theater. Previously, he served on the faculty at CUNY Baruch College (where he was awarded the prestigious "Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching").
Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Music at Naugatuck Valley Community College, where he has been presented with the AFT "Merit Award for Exemplary Service to the College" for 4 consecutive years. In 2020, he was honored with the coveted Connecticut Board of Regents (BOR) Teaching Award. At NVCC, Dr. Harel conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.
Wednesday, May 15
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Registration Required Below
Interested in history? This book club is for you! Led by members of the Library's Programming Committee, this book club selects engaging history reads and meets regularly for lively and engaging discussions.
Copies of the latest book will be available to borrow at the Library.
Upcoming Meetings and Book Selections:
May 15 —
Code Talker by Chester Nez
June 19 —
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo