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BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES
Haunted Burlington: Thea Lewis, local author and paranormal expert, will speak about her recently published book Haunted Burlington: Spirits of Vermont’s Queen City. Thea is also the creator of the Queen City Ghostwalk Tour, which operates yearly from August 29 through October 31 and was named a “top ten Halloween event” in Vermont Living Magazine (2008). In addition to giving ghost tours and writing, Thea is the Director of Creative Services for Burlington’s CBS affiliate, WCAX-TV. Thea Lewis reveals Burlington’s most remarkable ghost stories, from the matron of a Civil War Orphanage who still makes bedtime rounds on Home Street, to renowned Lake Champlain hermit Isaac Nye, who unexpectedly appears at his old property the Shanty on the Shore. UVM also boasts a prodigious number of ghosts, such as outspoken anti-Catholic Jessie Jacobs who started haunting the Jacobs Building she donated when it became home to the Roman Catholic Club, and the Coolidge Hall spook that favors staring contests. With humor and insight, Haunted Burlington uncovers the best mix of legends and real-life scares that the Queen City has to offer. Join us for this exciting presentation. Bring a lunch, if you desire. Tea and dessert will be served.
Wednesday, April 14th at noon
Exploritas: What makes Exploritas (Elderhostel) the world's best not-for profit educational travel organization? Mirriam Black, a local Exploritas Ambassador will speak about how Elderhostel brings world class travel opportunities to people over 55. It allows travelers to select their preferred activity levels while engaging with persons with common interests and a love of learning. She will provide guides to new, year round adventures offered by Elderhostel and describe how instructors who inspire, provide inside connections to sites, families, foods and fun make it possible for the traveler to enjoy the sights, smells, and taste of places they have always wanted to visit. Bring a lunch. Tea and dessert will be served.
Wednesday, May 19th at noon
The Art of Action Exhibit: Shaping Vermont’s Future Through Art was commissioned by the Vermont Arts Council and the Lyman Orton to create suites of artwork that address issues identified by Vermonters as essential to our states social, cultural, and political landscape. Ten artists were selected from over 300 applicants to participate. Two concurrent exhibits have been touring the state in the past year and the tours will be recombined in Burlington, with the complete collection hosted by Art’s Alive at Main Street Landing’s Union Station from July 1 thru July 15th. Three of the artists will join us to talk about how the ideas for their works were generated and the creative process that followed. Bring a lunch. Tea and dessert will be served.
Wednesday, June 9th at noon
GREAT DECISIONS
The Library will be hosting a Great Decisions Discussion Program. The Great Decisions Discussion Series was developed by the Foreign Policy Association in 1954 and is the oldest and largest grass-roots world affairs educational program of its kind in the country. Roger Bourassa is the moderator for the discussions at the South Burlington Community Library. Each discussion focuses on a timely global and thematic issue related to U.S. Foreign Policy. Participants are required to read the corresponding chapter in the “briefing book.” Registrants may purchase their own copy of the “briefing book” in the library for $18.00. Discussions are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. from February to June and September to November. Registration is required for the discussion groups. Please call the Library at 652-7080 to register.
Global Crime: From the booming sex trade in Eastern Europe, to online fraud syndicates in Africa and the drug cartels of Asia and Central America, crime is becoming increasingly organized and globalized. How can countries better protect citizens seeking the benefits of a globalized world from being exploited? What international actors can effectively fight global organized crime?
April 1st at 7:00 p.m.
U.S.-China Security Relations: China's influence is growing, along with its military expenditures. How will this growth affect China's relations with its neighbors and with the U.S.? Will China's expanding military and economic power affect traditional U.S. roles and U.S. alliances in East Asia? How will countries like Japan, South Korea and India respond?
May 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Global Financial Crisis: The global financial crisis that began in late 2007 revealed major deficiencies in the regulation of markets and institutions, all of which came perilously close to collapse. Emergency measures to prevent a full collapse of the global financial system have led to mixed results. How will governments and the world community respond to this challenge?
June 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Russia and Its Neighbors: Russia's policy of maintaining a “sphere of influence” in former Soviet satellites has been challenged in recent years by movements against pro-Russia regimes. Russia has pushed back by cutting Ukraine's natural gas supply and intervening in Georgia's campaign in South Ossetia. Will Russia regain its traditional leadership role in the region?
September 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
The Persian Gulf: Now more than ever, the Persian Gulf region offers many difficult challenges to U.S. policymakers. How will Obama's direct appeal to Arabs and Muslims impact U.S. foreign policy in the region? What will the fallout of withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq be? Can the U.S. and its allies prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?
October 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that military force alone cannot ensure peace in all conflicts. How can the U.S. successfully integrate the tools of peace building into its statecraft? At what point do poverty, disease and climate change threaten national security? What role can non-governmental actors play in supporting government led efforts?
November 4th at 7:00 p.m.
AN AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA
Enjoy professional artistry presented in an accessible, informal setting! Attending the opera is made easy by your Library, as we are delighted to host the Green Mountain Opera Festival’s Emerging Artists again for a summer recital. This is the fifth year that the South Burlington Community Library has offered a program associated with the celebrated and popular Waitsfield, Vermont based Opera Festival.
On Sunday, June 6th the singers in the Emerging Artists program of the Opera Festival will perform at 2:00 p.m. in the Library. The concert is free, but admission will be by ticket only. Tickets are available at the Library as of March 15th. You must pick up tickets prior to the performance date. No telephone reservations will be taken. There’s a limit to two tickets per person, and the supply is on a first come, first served basis. (Seating space is at a premium at the Library, so if you later decide that you will not use your ticket, kindly return it to the Library for someone else to enjoy).
The talented singers accepted into the Festival’s nationally competitive summer opera school will perform selections from G. F. Handel’s opera, Orlando, in Italian, at the Library.
Following the concert, please plan on attending a reception hosted by the Friends of the Library, where our guest artists enjoy having an opportunity to share their stories. There you can also learn about other Opera Festival events or visit the Green Mountain Opera Festival website.
June 6th at 2:00 p.m.
ANGELA EASTERLING CONCERT
Angela Easterling was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Much of her childhood was spent on the farm that has been in her family since 1791. A performer all her life, Angela had begun playing guitar and writing songs while studying at Emerson College in Boston. Angela embraced her heritage in a big way as a writer and an artist on her debut album “Earning Her Wings”, chosen as “Americana Pick of the Year” by Smart Choice Music. Angela released her second album “Black Top Road”, in July 2009. The title song tells of her family’s struggle to hold on to the family farmland. Angela has a special gift and has been called “a bright shining star on the horizon.” The concert will be held at the Library and is free and open to the public. For all ages.
Tuesday, April 20th at 7:00 p.m.
GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSICIANS
The Green Mountain Chamber Musicians will perform at the Library. More information to follow.
Monday, July 12th at 7:00 p.m.
POETRY READING GROUP
South Burlington Poetry Reading Group is forming! Come help us create a lasting fellowship of poets. Anyone who writes, has wanted to write, or would like to come to listen to local poets are invited (please no poetry slammers). Poets interested in working on perfecting their reading voice are encouraged to attend. We are looking to set up a group of South Burlington poets who would like to meet once a month to read aloud our own poetry, share encouragements, and socialize as a local group of poets. Quarterly readings at local businesses or schools would be an additional objective. We look forward to meeting with you! Please bring a few samples of your poetry to share. Space is limited so please call the Library at 652-7080 to reserve a spot.
March 31st at 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
LEGISLATIVE FORUMS
South Burlington's state representatives Ann Pugh, Sonny Audette, Helen Head, and Frank Geier will hold legislative forums on Monday evenings on March 22nd, April 26th, May 24th and one pre-session forum on November 29th starting at 7:00 p.m. Topics will include economic development, energy, health care, education, transportation, and more. This is an opportunity for citizens to voice their questions, concerns and ideas.
KNITTING
Have you always wanted to learn how to knit? Do you need help in
finishing a project? All levels of knitters are welcome - this class is for beginners and for more
experienced knitters who want help with their ongoing knitting
projects. Kathy Talbert, Instructor.
Every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES
Come to participate with other book lovers in these friendly and lively discussions of thought provoking literature. Naomi Miller will host and facilitate the group meeting. She will briefly introduce the book by presenting background information about the author, setting, book reviews, suggestions of similar books or other relevant topics. A limited number of copies of each title are available at the Library one month prior to each meeting. The discussions will be held on Thursdays, at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.
- March 25th – The Secret River by Kate Grenville
- April 22nd – Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King
- May 27th – As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
- June 24th – Embers by Sandor Marai
- July 22nd – Breadfruit by Celestine Vaite
MORNING BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES
Come to participate with other book lovers in these friendly and lively discussions of thought provoking literature. Naomi Miller will host and facilitate the group meeting. She will briefly introduce the book by presenting background information about the author, setting, book reviews, suggestions of similar books or other relevant topics. The discussion will be held on Thursdays, at 10:30 a.m. at The Senior Center at The Pines, 7 Aspen Drive, in South Burlington. All ages are welcome. A limited number of copies of each title are available at the Library one month prior to each meeting.
- April 8th – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
- May 13th – The Secret River by Kate Grenville
- June 10th – The Man who Owned Vermont by Bret Lott
- July 8th – Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
VERMONT HUMANITIES COUNCIL BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES: RETELLINGS
The novels in this series are all classic works re-imagined and retold from a different character’s perspective. Scholar, Merilyn Burrington, will moderate the series. Books will be available in the library sometime in January. This series is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. The book discussions will be held in the Library Conference Room on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
- March 24th - March by Geraldine Brooks (Origin: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott)
- April 21st - Finn by John Clinch (Origin: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain)
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY THROUGH RESTORATIVE PRACTICES BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES
Please join us for a book discussion series entitled “Celebrating Community through Restorative Practices,” as we use four compelling texts to engage in dialogue on restorative practices, “an emerging field of study that enables people to restore and build community in an increasingly disconnected world” (www.iirp.com).
Department of Education Safe Schools Coordinator Charles Johnson and PACT co-chair Susie Merrick will co-facilitate our dialogue, as we look closely at one book per month over a four-month period.
Our texts are the following:
- The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop by William Ury
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
- My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor
- Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows Older by Elkhonon Goldberg
Our first gathering will be Wednesday, April 21st at 12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m., to discuss The Third Side. Author William Ury explains, drawing on his training as an anthropologist and his work among primitive tribes and modern corporations, that fighting isn't an inevitable part of human nature. We have a powerful alternative -- The Third Side -- which can transform our daily battles into creative conflict and cooperation at home, at work, and in the world.
We thank our community members, parents and guardians, students, and educators for taking time to bring their unique and important voices to the dialogue. For more information, please call 660-3189. Books are available at the Circulation Desk in the Library.
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