Category: Events

Alzheimer’s Fantasy in the Key of G

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Join Kirsten Levy, an author with deep local roots (her great-grandparents were married in St. Joseph’s Church!) reading from her book. This author talk will take place on Monday, July 10 at 11am in the Hermann Room. Eight Cousins will have copies of the book for sale.

Alzheimer’s Fantasy in the Key of G is a tale in which unmoored thoughts become their own voyages into the past and future, revealing a story of family history and Irish immigration. Fran, the author’s mother, whose health is declining, is only one of the intertwined points of view telling the story.

A creative, narrative tale where fantasy and personal witness speak up for the patient.

Please register using the events calendar or contact the library.

Aging With Pride Screening and Discussion

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Decades of legal and structural discrimination have affected the well-being and economic status of many LGBTQIA+ older adults. The unique social, economic and health challenges they face are explored in the documentary Aging Matters: Aging with Pride, produced by Nashville Public Television. Join us for the viewing of this half-hour film that sheds light on what many in the Stonewall Generation have had to endure and fight for in hopes of enacting positive change for the community in the ongoing pursuit of equality. 

This event will take place Friday June 2, 2023 at 3:30pm in the Hermann Room. All are welcome, and there will be light refreshments. We encourage you to Register.

Supported by Waquoit Church, Falmouth Jewish Congregation, Neighborhood Falmouth, Falmouth Senior Services, Falmouth Human Services, Falmouth Public Library and No Place for Hate.

 

Great Decisions 2023

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Great Decisions, America’s largest civic discussion program on world affairs, is coming back to the Falmouth Public Library.  On Wednesday nights starting on May 31st and ending on September 6th, we will meet bi-weekly to discuss one of eight critical foreign policy challenges facing Americans in a non-partisan, open environment.  Prior to each session, participants will read the relevant chapter in the Great Decisions Briefing Book and watch the corresponding Master Class on DVD, which are available for checkout to participants at the reference desk.  Participants are encouraged to attend all eight sessions but you may choose to attend only certain topics.  Registration is required for each session and will be limited to 20 participants.  This program is sponsored by the Library Support Fund.

Energy Geopolitics …… Register Here
Wednesday, May 31st from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
How will changes in the energy industries impact relations between countries?  Access to oil and gas has long held an influence over the politics of individual nations and their relations with others. But as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change the way in which the United States interacts with the outside world? By Carolyn Kissane
 
War Crimes …… Register Here
Wednesday, June 14th from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
What is a war crime? How does this definition apply to recent events in Ukraine?  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread charges of war crimes and calls for justice. But what exactly are war crimes? Opinions of what constitutes a war crime have evolved, as have ways to identify and punish the perpetrators. How will the war crimes committed in Ukraine be dealt with? By Francine Hirsch
 
China and the U.S. …… Register Here
Wednesday, June 28th from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
How will the United States respond to China’s growing global presence?  For the past ten years, the United States and China have been locked in a competition for who has the greatest global influence. One major point of contention is the status of Taiwanese sovereignty, which has become even more relevant recently with the possibility that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may prompt China to take similar action regarding Taiwan. How will the United States engage a China which is increasingly seeking to expand its sphere of influence? By David Lampton
 
Economic Warfare …… Register Here
Wednesday, July 12th from 7:30pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
What comprises economic warfare? How have these measures been used recently against Russia?  Waging economic warfare consists of a variety of measures from implementing sanctions to fomenting labor strikes. Such tools are utilized by states to hinder their enemies, and in the case of the United States have been used as far back as the early 19th century. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, economic warfare has been the main means for the west to challenge Russia. How effective will these sanctions be at convincing Russia to cease its war? By Jonathan Chanis
 
Politics in Latin America …… Register Here
Wednesday, July 26th from 7pm -8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
What does the emergence of various left-wing governments mean for countries in Latin America? Electoral results in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region? By Jorge Castañeda
 
Global Famine …… Register Here
Wednesday, August 9th from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
What causes famine? How can it be prevented in the future?  Fears of global food shortages have followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined, and how is it different from simple food shortages? What if any remedies are there? By Daniel Maxwell
 
Iran at a Crossroads …… Register Here
Wednesday, August 23rd from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
What is the future for relations between Iran and the U.S.?  By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it? By Lawrence Potter
 
Climate Migration …… Register Here
Wednesday, September 6th from 7pm-8:30pm in the Hermann meeting room
How is climate change impacting human migration?  As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration? By Karen Jacobsen

Lecture: Montaigne’s Essays

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

We are happy to welcome Falmouth resident Dr. Francis Baudry to give a lecture on the 16th century French essayist Michel de Montaigne. Montaigne, who is viewed as the inventor of the literary essay, wrote exploring the psychology of the self. In his search for sincerity he wrote that he was “undertaking an enterprise without precedent, a portrait in every way true to nature, and the man I will portray will be myself.” Montaigne’s essays also give a rich portrait of life in 16th century France, its religious struggles and class inequality.

Dr. Baudry is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst affiliated with the Mt. Sinai Dept. of Psychiatry in New York, and is a member of The Soldier’s Project, an organization giving free mental health care to veterans and their families.

This event will occur at 11am on Friday March 24 in the Hermann Meeting Room. Please register.

An America Divided: Can we Live With One Another? with Emma Green (Virtual Program)

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Join Emma Green, a staff writer at The New Yorker, for a virtual program streaming online via Zoom on Tuesday March 14 at 7:30 pm. Emma will lead us in a difficult but essential discussion around the ways in which Americans are divided – politically, religiously, economically – within communities and even families. What has caused these ruptures and what are some ways for us to come back together?

This program is presented in cooperation with the Ashland Public Library and our participation is funded by the Friends of the Library. Register at the Ashland Public Library web site to receive the Zoom link.

Kanopy Movie Club

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

A Book Club But For Movies!

The Falmouth Public Library has a new movie club!  It’s like a book club but for movies!  Watch the selected movie from the comfort of your own home prior to the movie discussion meeting using Kanopy which is free with your Falmouth Public Library card.  Then join us in-person at the library for an in-depth discussion of the movie.

The Kanopy Movie club meets on the last Thursday of the month from 3pm-4pm in the Bay meeting room.  This winter we will be discussing Award-Winning and Film Festival Nominees.  To register to attend a movie discussion, click on the registration links below or call Adult Services at 508-457-2555 ext. 7.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016/PG-13/1h 41m) …… Register Here

Our first movie discussion meeting will be on Thursday, January 26 at 3pm in the Bay meeting room where we will discuss Hunt for the Wilderpeople directed by Taike Waititi. Watch this movie prior to our meeting on Kanopy by clicking this link: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/1490627.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople had 25 award nominations with 22 wins including 2016 Best Narrative Feature at the San Francisco Film Festival, 2016 Audience Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival/Independent Film Festival of Boston and 2017 Best Film at the New Zealand Film and TV Awards.

Movie synopsis: “Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky (Julian Dennison) gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella (Rima Te Wiata), the cantankerous Uncle Hec (Sam Neil), and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws are forced to put aside their differences and work together to face their options.”

The Farewell (2019/PG/1h 40m) …… Register Here

In February we will be discussing the movie The Farewell directed by Lulu Wang on Thursday, February 23rd at 3pm in the Bay meeting room.  Watch this movie prior to our meeting on Kanopy by clicking this link:  https://www.kanopy.com/en/falmouth/video/6440402.

The Farewell had 105 award nominations with 35 wins including 2020 Golden Globe Winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, 2020 Best Independent Film from Hollywood Critics Association and 2019 Audience Favorite at the Sundance Film Festival (London).

Movie synopsis: “Chinese-born, U.S.-raised Billi (Awkwafina) reluctantly returns to Changchun to find that, although the whole family knows their beloved matriarch, Nai-Nai (Shuzhen Zhao), has been given mere weeks to live, everyone has decided not to tell Nai Nai herself. To assure her happiness, they gather under the joyful guise of an expedited wedding, uniting family members scattered among new homes abroad. As Billi navigates a minefield of family expectations and proprieties, she finds there’s a lot to celebrate.”

Columbus (2017/NR/1h 40m) …… Register Here

Then in March we will discuss the movie Columbus directed by Kogonada on Thursday, March 30th at 3pm in the Bay meeting room. Watch this movie prior to our meeting on Kanopy by clicking this link: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/5480974.

Columbus had 33 nominations with 12 wins including 2017 Narrative Feature at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, 2017 Special Jury Award at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries and 2017 Best Cinematography in a Feature Film at the Rahway International Film Festival.

Movie synopsis: “When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin (John Cho) finds himself stranded in Columbus, Indiana; a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), an architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. Burdened by the future, they explore both the town and their conflicted emotions and find respite in one another and the architecture that surrounds them.”

Friday Films: Movies at the Library!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Friday Films is back starting January 13th and running through May 19th!  Bring your own popcorn and join us on select Fridays at the library to watch newly released movies.  Scroll down to check out the dates, times and movies and to register to attend.   

These movie viewings are free to the public and are sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.

 

Friday, January 13th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
The Woman King (Rated PG-13;Run Time 2h 15m)

“The remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a ferocity unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, it follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca as she trains the next generation of recruits and prepares them for battle against an enemy determined to obliterate their way of life.”


Friday, January 27th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
Ticket to Paradise (Rated PG-13;Run Time 1h 44m)

“David and Georgia, two divorced parents who can’t stand each other, head to Bali after their daughter, Lily, announces her plans to marry a local islander she just met while on holiday. They decide to put aside their differences and work together to stop the wedding, believing that doing so will keep Lily from making a dreadful mistake similar to their own.”


Friday, February 10th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
Till (Rated PG-13;Run Time 2h 10m)

“Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. In Mamie’s poignant journey of grief turned to action, we see the universal power of a mother’s ability to change the world.”


Friday, February 24th at 2:45pm in the Hermann meeting room
The Fablemans (Rated PG-13;Run Time 2h 31m)

“Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.”


Friday, March 10th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
Devotion (Rated PG-13;Run Time 2h 19m)…… Register Now

“Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.”


Friday, March 24th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (Rated PG-13;Run Time 1h 45m)……Register Now

Filmed on Cape Cod! “Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, bookstore owner A.J. Fikry’s life is not turning out as he expected as he struggles both emotionally and financially. After his wife’s tragic death, he feels lost and left behind in the rapidly evolving world of today. As he tries to keep his store afloat, he begins to drink his sorrows away, ultimately hitting rock bottom when his most prized possession, a series of Edgar Allen Poe poems, are stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, the unexpected arrival gives Fikry a new lease on life, and love, that are greater than he ever imagined.”

 

Friday, April 7th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
A Man Called Otto (Rated PG-13;Run Time 2h 6m) ……Register Now

“Otto Anderson is a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors.  When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down.”

 

Friday, April 21st at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
Living (Rated PG-13;Run Time 1h 42m) ……Register Now

“Set in 1950’s London, an ordinary, humorless civil servant, reduced by years of oppressive office routine to a shadow existence, decides at the eleventh hour to turn his dull life into something wonderful.”

 

Friday, May 5th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
80 For Brady (Rated PG-13;Run Time 1h 38m) ……Register Now

“As the New England Patriots reach the Superbowl in Houston, four female fans become determined to go to the game and meet quarterback Tom Brady, which proves a more memorable experience than they anticipated after the Patriots fall behind by four touchdowns.”

 

Friday, May 19th at 3pm in the Hermann meeting room
Invitation To A Murder (Rated PG-13;Run Time 1h 32m) ……Register Now

“In this homage to Agatha Christie, a reclusive billionaire invites six seemingly random strangers to his island estate in the south of England. Aspiring detective Miranda Green finds the mysterious invitation too alluring to pass up. When another guest turns up dead, Miranda must get to the bottom of the malicious plot behind the gathering.”

Joy of Poetry Reading Sessions

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Still looking for new practices to begin 2023? Why not join us at the library to read poetry with visiting poet Joan Michelson. 

This will be a hybrid group, available in person or by Zoom. We will meet on three Tuesdays: Jan. 17, 24, and 31, at 11am, to read and discuss poetry. For the first session, January 17, we will read the poetry of William Carlos Williams; for the second, Joan suggests Theodore Roethke; the third poet remains to be chosen!

Please register for each session; you’ll receive the Zoom link if you prefer to attend virtually:

Tuesday January 17, 11am. William Carlos Williams. Register.

Tuesday January 24, 11am. Theodore Roethke. Register.

Tuesday January 31, 11am. Tess Gallagher. Register.

If there is enough interest, the library would love to begin hosting a regular poetry session – so even if you can’t make it to these sessions, be in touch with us and we can reach out to you! Email info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at 508-457-2555 X7.

 

Understanding Yourself and Others Through Early Memories

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Join us for an interactive lecture with psychologist, Professor Emeritus and author Arthur Clark on Thursday afternoon, November 17th at 2:00 pm in the Hermann Meeting Room.

Although many people find the first memories of childhood to be a familiar and intriguing topic, what is largely unknown about early recollections is their potential to reveal insights into an individual’s personality and outlook on life. In the early 1900’s, the Viennese psychologist, Alfred Adler, discovered that early recollections as a projective technique provide a person a tested means of understanding what life is like or about. Various personality and sensory dimensions emerge in early recollections that assist in grasping an empathetic understanding of a person.  

Art will discuss the process, and then demonstrate with a shared memory from a volunteer member of the audience (or perhaps two!).

Arthur Clark, EdD, is an Emeritus Professor at St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY. As a licensed psychologist, he has extensive experience with clients in school and clinical settings. He is the author of Dawn of Memories: The Meaning of Early Recollections in Life, Defense Mechanisms in the Counseling Process, Empathy in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Perspectives and Practices, and Early Recollections: Theory and Practice in Counseling and Psychotherapy, over 50 articles, and a blog for Psychology Today, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dawn-memories.

This lecture is appropriate for adults. Please register online or by calling the library at 508-457-2555 X7.

Lethal Tides with Catherine Musemeche

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30pm in the Hermann meeting room as we welcome author Catherine Musemeche.  She will be speaking about her latest book Lethal Tides: Mary Sears and the Marine Scientists Who Helped Win World War II.  To register for this author talk and book signing, click here. 

“Weaving together science, biography, and military history, Lethal Tides is a powerful, revelatory history essential to our understanding of oceanography and naval strategy, and – more importantly – chronicles the gripping story of an unsung woman who was pivotal to the U.S.’s success against Japan in WWII.”  

Catherine Musemeche is a graduate of the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas and the University of Texas School of Law.  She has been a pediatric surgeon for more than three decades.  Catherine’s first book, Small, was longlisted for the E.O. Wilson/Pen American Literary Science Award and was awarded the Texas Writer’s League Discovery Prize for Nonfiction in 2015.  Her second book, Hurt, was named one of the top ten EMS books of the decade.  She has also contributed to Smithsonian Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times’ “Motherlode” blog, KevinMD.com, Creative Nonfiction magazine and EMS World.

This event is free to the public and copies of her book will be available from Eight Cousins for purchase at the event.