Weston Public Library Under The Eaves Adult Happenings Newsletter - November 2023

Friends Book Sale

Friday, Nov. 3 - Sunday, Nov. 5

The Friends of the Weston Public Library are excited to announce the first library Book Sale since 2019! Patrons will find a host of books, movies, puzzles, games, and more at great prices. On Friday from 8am-9am early birds are invited to access the sale before everyone else for a $10 fee. The regular book sale schedule is as follows:

Friday, 8:00am - 9:00am ($10 fee)

Friday, 9:00am - 6:00pm

Saturday, 9:00am - 5:30pm

Sunday, 10:00am - 5:30pm

Every dollar raised is used for Library programs, services, and so much more. We hope you can join us!

Sunday Soundscapes: Jazz Combo

Sunday, November 12 at 4pm

A Celebration of Two Jazz Greats: Oscar Peterson and Stephane Grappelli.

The Friends of the Weston Library welcome you to our second Sunday Soundscapes concert, on November 12 at 4 pm. Connecticut pianist Matt DeChamplain and celebrated violinist Jason Anick team up in a special concert to launch their newest CD – a tribute to jazz legends and frequent collaborators Oscar Peterson and Stephane Grappelli. Joining them will be New York- based Matt Munisteri on Guitar and Brazilian-born Eduardo Belo on bass. If you don’t know “gypsy jazz”, you are in for a treat!

Click here to register. Suggested donation at the door is $20 for adults, $10 for students. We believe everyone should have access to this music, so if those donation levels are uncomfortable for you, please give whatever you can.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Where to Now?

Saturday, November 18 at 1pm

More than a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian expert Scott Licamele will discuss the critical question “Where to now?” and how the U.S. should respond to Russia and China’s threats to our national interests. Scott will also cover Russia’s role in the Middle East, its relationship with Iran and its long-standing support for Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Register here!

Scott Licamele is a Russia expert with over 20 years of experience dealing in the former Soviet Union. He has worked in various Russia-related capacities, including investment banking (at Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Renaissance Capital & Red Star Asset Management) and government-related activities (at an NGO in Russia which was financed by the United States Information Agency in the 1990’s). Licamele is an independent Russia analyst, currently unaffiliated with any Russia-related entities.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library

Craft for a Cause: Red Scarves

Through December 1, 2023

We will be accepting red scarves for the Foster Care to Success Project. Guidelines and information can be found here. You can drop off completed scarves anytime until December 1, 2023.

—— Special Events for Parents ——

Struggling Reader? Don't Delay, Learn What You Need to Know Today!

Monday, November 13 at 6:30pm

Are you concerned about your's child's progress in literacy? Do you want to know how you can help your child now? Attend this free educational workshop and learn more about how to help your struggling reader by understanding: Universal Screening; Tiered Intervention; Progress Monitoring; Science of Reading; and Signs of Dyslexia. Register here.

How to Ace the SAT: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Score

Thursday, November 9 at 6:30pm

In this free Zoom presentation, college consultant and SAT tutor Dave Wtorkowski of Big Green College Prep will present some of the best proven tips, tricks and strategies for improving your score on both the Math and Verbal sections. Topics include: When to guess on questions? How to pace yourself? What are the most effective ways to take practice tests? What kind of questions come up again and again? Is it better to take the SAT or ACT? Should you submit your scores to test-optional colleges? What's new for the digital SAT this spring? 30-minute presentation followed by Q&A. Register here.

Prepare for the New Digital SAT

Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30pm

Most colleges consider a student’s SAT® score to be one of the most important factors when making admissions decisions – there’s no denying that a great SAT score can help you get into a top college. Did you know the SAT® is changing in the U.S. starting in spring of 2024? It will be digital, adaptive, and there will be several content changes. Students in the class of 2026 and younger should plan to take the new exam.

Join us to learn about the new Digital SAT® and how you should plan to prepare. Register here.

The 4-Step Method to Getting Into Your First Choice College

Tuesday, November 28 at 6:30pm

Learn strategies that Dr. Donna Risolo of College Prep Tutors has used with 100s of students to help them get into their first choice college, and many offered substantial scholarship awards regardless of parent income. You will leave this presentation with concrete action steps that you can immediately apply to your college admissions process.  Dr. Donna will also be available for Q&A after the presentation. This presentation is open to parents and students of all grade levels. Register here.

—— Recurring Events ——

Book Discussions

Thursday, November 9, 10:30am (Hybrid)

The Door by Magda Szabo

Wednesday, November 15, 7:30pm (Virtual)

Foster & Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

To reserve a copy of the book, please email kbennett@westonct.gov If you would like to join either group virtually, please email westonlibrary@westonct.gov for the Zoom link.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library.

New Yorker Roundtable

Tuesdays, Nov. 14, 21, 28 at 11:30am

Meetings are hybrid, in-person at the library and online via Zoom.

Join the Friends of the Library New Yorker Group to discuss articles from the current issue on politics, current events, literature, and more. The New Yorker is available online with your Weston Public Library card at https://researchitct.org/popularmagazinespublic/. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library.

Sip and Stitch
Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7pm

Join friends and neighbors for a night of sipping and stitching in the Library's Community Room. Make a little progress on your needle work while chatting and sharing tips.

Please register. 

—— Service Spotlight ——

AtoZ World Food and AtoZ Food America

AtoZ Food World and AtoZ Food America showcase recipes, prep instructions/videos, cultural insights, culinary history, and regional etiquette. Going to visit France for Christmas? Why not learn how to make a bûche de Noël. Visiting Mexico for the first time? Learn what makes Chapulines, a street food, so special. Visit our website to access these great new offerings using your Weston Public Library card! 

Local History Resources

Learn more about the rich history of Weston through the library's Local History Resources including digitized versions of The Chronicle Quarterly, the Weston Forum, and more! 

Click here for access. 

Consumer Reports Online Access

Did you know that you can access current and back issues of this popular magazine for FREE? Through the state library's ResearchIT resource, you can read, download, and print individual sections including the popular Buyer's Guides. Check it out here!

Prepare for Your Next Big Trip with Transparent Language Online

Learn over 110 languages from all over the world, including indigenous languages from the Americas, English as a Second Language, and Irish Gaelic!

Sign up through the library website.

Homebound Delivery Service

Weston residents who are temporarily or permanently homebound due to health or disability issues or COVID concerns are eligible for the Library's free homebound delivery service.

Call the library at 203-222-2665 or email westonlibrary@westonct.gov for more information.

—— Librarian Picks ——

November Releases

What new releases are librarians most looking forward to in November? Check out the selection below from Weston's Adult Services Librarian, Anne.

Avoid the rush and place your holds early at www.westonpubliclibrary.org.

A Grandmother Begins The Story by Michelle Porter - Five generations of Indigenous women from Canada’s Prairie Provinces struggle for healing and meaning through the strength of familial bonds.

The Liberators by E.J. Koh - Adrift in a new country, South Korean expat Insuk grieves the loss of her past and her divided homeland, finding herself drawn into an illicit relationship that sets into motion a dramatic saga and echoes for generations to come.

Day by Michael Cunningham - As the world changes around them, a family weathers the storms of growing up, growing older, falling in and out of love, losing the things that are most precious—and learning to go on.

So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan - Collects three of the Booker Prize Finalist’s exquisite stories, newly revised and expanded, that each explore the dynamics that corrupt what could be between women and men: a lack of generosity, the weight of expectation and the looming threat of violence.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose - When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it's up to a fastidious maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty.