The Short List

Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library.

The Summer Reading Program is open to children of all ages from preschool through high school. Children must read 10 hours to complete the Summer Reading Program. Great prizes that children will earn by completing the Summer Reading Program are: An Ice Cream Cone from Sweet P’s on Main St in Essex, Tickets to a CT Defenders Game or a New Britain Rock Cats Game, and several others that have not been confirmed yet… Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Essex Summer Reading Program.

Check our website for a complete list of summer activities for kids. http://www.essexlib.org/services-childrens.html

Come meet newly published author, LJ Sigersmith on June 20th at 1p.m. He will be signing his picture guessing book, “Looking A Little Closer At Things” Copies of the book will be available for purchase. See what this charming 6 year-old author has to say about his publishing experience.

Popular Essex Library staff member Cathy Burgard is retiring as Head of Adult Services on June 27^th, a position she’s held with her trademark creativity and enthusiasm for the last six years. Cathy’s contributions to the cultural life of our community have been tremendous. Her summer Foreign Film Series showcased little-known cinematic gems to ever-growing and appreciative audiences. Parlons Francais, her class in conversational French, ran for three happy years with the same dedicated group of adult students. Cathy helped to develop, and maintains, the Library’s handsome new website. The educational, entertaining programs she’s offered have covered the spectrum from environmental issues to world music, wine tasting, foreign affairs, and literary scholarship, a measure of her own wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. Essex Meadows readers will miss Cathy’s lively book groups, reader’s advisory services, and exemplary patron support. All of our patrons and her fellow staff-members will miss Cathy’s good cheer, ready laugh, and
warm heart. Her grandchildren’s gain is our loss. Have fun at the beach, Cathy!

Please join the Essex Library community in a fond farewell party for Cathy on Friday, June 27^th at 5p.m.

The Essex Library Association’s Board of Trustees has named Richard Conroy as the Director of the Library.

Mr. Conroy, who begins work in Essex on June 16th, most recently served as Head of Information Technology Services at the Stratford Public Library. He was previously employed as the Head of Adult Services and Reference Librarian at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme. Mary Fiorelli, Director at Old Lyme, praised Mr. Conroy for his “strong leadership skills, project management experience, excellent librarianship and ability to work with all constituencies in a small town environment.”

Educated in Connecticut, Mr. Conroy holds Master of Library Science degree from Southern Connecticut State University, an M.A. in American Studies from Trinity College and a B.A. in English from Central Connecticut State University. He came to library science later in life after a wide-ranging career that included owning and running a B&B in Maine, managing warehouse operations for a wholesale wine and spirits distributor and managing operations for a trucking company. Mr. Conroy also served as a Board member and Chairperson on the Portland, CT Board of Education from 1995-1999.

The new director was picked from a pool of more than thirty applicants in a nationwide search that lasted nearly four months. “We were impressed by Richard’s enthusiasm for the profession, his tact and his amiability.” said Search Committee co-chair and Board Vice President Stephanie Degen-Monroe. Hans Ullstein, Chair of the Personnel Committee and co-chair of the search committee added that “We think Richard has the right mix of skills to lead the library at this stage in its development.” The Search Committee also included Trustee and President of the Friends of the Essex Library Janice Atkeson, , Trustees Maureen Heher and Casey O’Brien, and former Trustees William Chatman and Edward Castner. Michael Hammond, President of the Board of Trustees, applauded the work of the Search Committee. “They were a very cohesive group and very thorough in their deliberations. They’ve made an excellent choice.”

Please come meet Mr. Conroy at the Library on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:30-8p.m.

On Wednesday, May 21st at 4 p.m., Amy Forbes from the Treehouse Players in Deep River will present a theater workshop for children ages 6-12. Dress comfortably for fun music and movement activities. Call the Library to register: 767-1560.

The Library will be closed this Sunday, May 11th to celebrate Mother’s Day. We will also be closed on Monday, May 26th in honor of Memorial Day.

The Friends’ Book Sale will take place on Saturday, May 17th from 10-5 and on Sunday, May 18th from 1-5. All books are half-price on Sunday. The Library will be closed on Saturday, May 17th although patrons will be allowed to check materials in and out…no computers will be available and access to some materials may be curtailed due to the book sale. The Library will be open as usual on Sunday, May 18th.

On Sunday, June 1st at 4:00pm, the Essex Library will host a presentation and book signing by Jan Mann, author of Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket. With the price of gas expected to soar even higher this summer, many Connecticut residents will find this book the perfect companion to take on daytrips in their own backyards. Mann gives a detailed description of forty-two diverse destinations with daytrip information suitable to a variety of ages and interests. Readers will be introduced to new places as well as get updates on well-known tourist spots. Those who attend will also enjoy tasting some of the favorite picnic basket recipes included in the book.

Jan Mann is the founder of the Open Circle Writer’s Group and is a member of Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. She has long had a passion for day tripping and has enjoyed many years of designing special outings for friends and family before embarking on the adventure of writing this day tripping book.

The event is free but seating is limited. To register, or for more information, call 860-767-1560.

THE WORLD’S NEW SUPERPOWER, THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Story Behind Peace in Europe and the Euro

“There is one international body that is not as well known as it should be,” says Jerome Wilson, a member of the Southeast Connecticut Committee on Foreign Relations, “and that is the European Union.” Wilson will introduce what he terms “this remarkable world body ” at a program at the Essex Library on Sunday, May 18 at 4:00 p.m.

Wilson will note the sheer immensity of the European Union, which is far larger in size and economic output than our own United States. The 27-member nation body extends from Ireland in the west to Romania in the east, from Finland in the north to Italy in the south. Members of the group include Europe’s major powers, Germany, France and Britain, and smaller countries, Malta and Slovenia.

The major accomplishment of the European Union, according to Wilson, is that for over half a century there has been peace among Europe’s major powers. “No more World Wars, which we were dragged into, no more saturation bombings of German and English cities, no more millions and millions killed, no more death camps, no more atrocities …”

In addition to being a peaceable union, the European Union has set up a single, free market for European goods, services, capital and labor. Internal border controls and tariffs have been eliminated.

Then there’s the euro. In less than ten years, the euro has become a major world currency. To make way for the euro, the French franc, the Italian lira, the Spanish peseta, the Greek drachma and the German mark are no more, although Britain has stuck with the pound.

Jerry Wilson has written a number of op-ed pieces on the European Union and recently appeared on WNPR’s Faith Middleton Show on the same topic.

John Meisel, MD will present “How Can I Get the Best Healthcare?” on Wednesday April 16 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Library. He will offer advice on how to get the most out of doctor visits, searching the Internet for medical information, finding community resources, keeping personal medical records and combining the best of traditional and natural health treatments.

Dr Meisel has experience in diverse healthcare settings including the medical office, hospitals, emergency rooms and urgent care. He has a strong interest in integrating conventional and natural medicine, minor office surgery, community and preventive healthcare.

This free program is sponsored by VNA Community Healthcare. Seating is limited. Please call toll free 1-866-474-5230, to register.

The Opera Club will be held at the Essex Library on the first Wednesday of the month beginning April 2 from 4 to 5 PM. We are offering five presentations to prepare listeners for the Salt Marsh Opera’s presentation of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Ivoryton Playhouse in October. The presenters include the following:

April 2: George Willauer, retired Professor of English at Connecticut College, will speak about the literary, cultural and historical background of Lucia, including Sir Walter Scott and Romanticism.

May 7: Diana McVey, SMO’s Lucia, will offer insights about preparing to sing the demanding title role in the opera.

June 4: Stephan Tieszan, Concertmaster of the SMO Orchestra, will discuss how Donizetti orchestrated Lucia and why he made certain choices in instrumentation.

NO EVENTS IN JULY OR AUGUST

September 3: Carol Werner-Feiertag, Stage Director for the production, will discuss staging Lucia for the Ivoryton Playhouse.

October 1: James Kuslan, who presented a fascinating illustrated lecture on the Opera Events series, will talk about madness in opera as well as bel canto, and will play sound clips of great Lucias, including Maria Callas.

If you plan to attend any or all of the lectures please call the Ivoryton or Essex Libraries for up-to-date information before each presentation in the event that the venue is changed. There is a $5 suggested donation to defray the cost of the speakers.