Category: Events

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.

Cape Cod Archaeology: Past, Present, and Future

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to join us for a lecture about the archaeology of Cape Cod. There are two options to attend: join us in person, in the Hermann Meeting Room at 6:30pm on Wednesday November 16, or use a Zoom link that will be provided upon registration to attend virtually from home.

Above and below-ground archaeological artifacts and features provide a partial view into the 12,000-year human history of Cape Cod. Archaeologist Holly Herbster will discuss what sites on the Cape can tell us, how archaeological study has changed, and how the field fits into other ways of knowing about the past. 

Holly Herbster is a Senior Archaeologist/Principal Investigator at the Public Archeology Laboratory, Inc. Over the past 25 years she has directed more than 200 projects in southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Martha’s Vineyard, ranging from primary background research to large-scale archaeological excavations. She has collaborated extensively with Native American groups in Massachusetts and her research focus includes documentary and ethnohistoric studies, especially those related to seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Nipmuc and Wampanoag communities. She is a co-author of the book Historical Archaeology and Indigenous Collaboration: Discovering Histories That Have Futures which was the Society for American Archaeology’s 2021 scholarly book award winner. 

Therapeutic Qi Gong Class

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson
Join us in the Hermann Meeting Room from 11am-12pm on Tuesdays, November 1, 8, 15, and 22 for a short series of classes to sample Therapeutic Qi Gong with Alexandra Lancaster. Please register for these free classes, as space is limited. For this series, register once for all four classes, as the classes will build on each other. If you cannot attend all four classes, please leave the space for someone who can.
 
Therapeutic Qi Gong consists of 36 repeated movements that target the muscles and joints of the body from head to toe.  The movements are done slowly and gently and incorporate deep breathing to help you focus on yourself during this time, making this routine a meditative one in addition to its stretching, coordination and balance challenges. This series of movements can be learned, allowing you to do it on your own in sections or in its entirety.  It all takes place while standing, although the assistance of a chair or a wall is allowed :-).  
 
Alexandra Lancaster learned Therapeutic Qi Gong ten years ago by taking an in-person course off-Cape, and she continues to be re-certified every few years.  Although these movements are part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and channel the energy along the meridians, this course will concentrate only on the physical movements and the focusing of the mind. No mat is needed, but comfortable clothing is. Socks are encouraged; shoes that are flat and not too supportive are ok; athletic sneakers, of course, are fine if you need them.
 
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Morning Movie Classics: Movies at the Library!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The Falmouth Public Library will be showing three classic movies from the 40’s and 60’s in the Hermann room on Saturday mornings at 10:30am in October, November and December! Scroll down to find out the dates and movies!

These movie viewings are free and are sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.  Registration is required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, October 29th at 10:30am in the Hermann Room

The Birds (1963) (Rated PG-13; Runtime 2 Hours)……….Register Now

“Director Alfred Hitchcock’s apocalyptic, allegorical thriller centers on an avian assault on a California coastal town, where ferocious fowl fall upon a chicken farmer, a schoolyard full of children and a socialite.”

 

Saturday, November 12th at 10:30am in the Hermann Room

Casablanca (1942) (Rated PG; Runtime 2 Hours)……….Register Now

“Academy Award winners Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman light up the screen in one of the most enduring romances in movie history. Rick Blaine owns a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Casablanca, frequented by refugees desperate to escape German domination. Despite the ever-present human misery, Rick manages to remain uninvolved in World War II now raging across Europe and Northern Africa. But all that changes when Ilsa Lund walks through the front door of Rick’s club–Rick must now choose between a life with the woman he loves and becoming the hero that both she and the world need.”

 

Saturday, December 17th at 10:30am in the Hermann Room

It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) (Rated TV-G; Runtime 2 Hours)……….Register Now

“While rich businessman Mike O’Connor resides in Virginia, his luxury townhouse in New York City appears vacant. However, in reality, drifter Aloysius “Mac” McKeever has been staying there. Mac invites Jim, an unemployed veteran who has just been evicted from a building owned by O’Connor, to stay at the house without revealing he’s squatting. When O’Connor’s daughter, Trudy, shows up as well, she falls for Jim and tries to help him.”

An Illustrated Tour of Falmouth Cemeteries

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join the Falmouth Public Library, Oak Grove Cemetery Association of Falmouth, and Falmouth Genealogical Society for a ‘Welcome to the Graveyard: An Illustrated Tour of Falmouth’s Cemeteries’ presentation by The Gravestone Girls on Wednesday, October 19th from 6pm-8pm in the library’s Hermann meeting room! (Photo Credit: “Oak Grove in Winter” by Carol Knox)

‘Welcome to the Graveyard: An Illustrated Tour of Falmouth’s Cemeteries’ is a 90 minute illustrated ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history and symbolism. From the colonial New England burial grounds of the 1600s and 1700s, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century and into 21st century locations, this program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years. Prior to the show date, The Gravestone Girls will hit the road and go through the cemeteries in Falmouth, taking pictures for use in building the presentation with as much local content as possible.  Q&A to follow.

The Gravestone Girls “create decorative artwork using the beautiful and primitive images carved on olde New England gravestones; give lectures and tours on cemetery art, history and symbolism as well as teach gravestone rubbing classes! Their work aims to entertain and educate on the historical perspective of old cemeteries by documenting and preserving the beautiful art they contain.”

Registration is required.  To register, click here or call the library at 508-457-2555 extension 7.

This program is co-sponsored by the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library, the Oak Grove Cemetery Association of Falmouth, and the Falmouth Genealogical Society.

Bounty Film Screening and Panel Discussion (Virtual Event)

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

To honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day, on Saturday October 15, from 4-5:30, we are co-hosting a virtual film screening and panel discussion of the film Bounty. This 9-minute documentary features Penobscot parents and children commemorating their survival by reading and reacting to the Phips Proclamation, a government-issued proclamation that motivated colonial settlers to hunt, scalp, and murder Indigenous people.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with Mishy Lesser, the learning director of the Upstander Program; Gkisedtanamoogk, Mashpee Wampanoag, co-chair, Maine Wabanaki State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag, museum educator and historian.

This event is presented by the Falmouth Public Library with the support of the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library; the Woods Hole Public Library; the Mashpee Public Library; and LINK. LINK is a local group dedicated to the belief that when we can come together in respectful, trusting, and committed relations we can link Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge in a way that can move all of life towards a safer, more balanced, and wholesome future.

To register to attend this Zoom event, please sign up at the Mashpee Library’s site: https://tinyurl.com/bountyfilm .  After registering, you will receive an email with the Zoom link. 

Library Lectures for CREW Climate Prep Week

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

This year the Falmouth Public Library will be participating in CREW’s Climate Preparedness Week (Sept. 26-30) with two lectures: one via Zoom, and one in person.

Tuesday September 27, 6-7pm (Zoom)
The Planet’s Health and Yours: Facing the Invisible Impacts of Climate Change
Richard Delaney, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative (CCCC)
Register to receive the Zoom Link.

This webinar will provide an overview of climate change impacts we see, experience, and know on Cape, including economic, environmental justice, physical and mental health, and ecosystem impacts. Delaney will also discuss what you can do and share information about the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative.

This program is co-sponsored by CLAMS libraries: Aquinnah Public Library, Brewster Ladies’ Library, Centerville Public Library, Eastham Public Library, Falmouth Public Library, Eldredge Public Library, Mashpee Public Library, Provincetown Public Library, Sturgis Library, Truro Public Library, Provincetown, Wellfleet Public Library, Yarmouth Town Libraries, Yarmouth Port Library.

Wednesday, September 28, 6:30-8pm, Hermann Meeting Room
Climate Crisis: How Do I Live With This?
Dr. Heather Goldstone, Woodwell Climate Research Center
Please register to attend this in-person talk.

Humanity faces an unprecedented situation; greenhouse gas levels and global temperatures are higher than they have been at any time in human history. Increasingly severe heat waves, droughts, floods, and fires are impacting communities around the world, and coastal communities like Cape Cod face additional threats from sea level rise and ocean warming and acidification. Confronting this reality can be difficult, but understanding both the risks and opportunities before us can be a source of determination and optimism. And some of our most powerful solutions lie in connecting with nature and community. 

Dr. Heather Goldstone oversees Woodwell Climate Research Center’s communications activities, bringing the rich stories of Woodwell scientists to diverse public audiences. She has extensive experience as both a scientist and a journalist, and she is passionate about melding data and narrative in climate change stories that build awareness and inspire action.

 

Mimi Schlichter Author Talk & Art Exhibit

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Stop on by the library to see Mimi’s art and then come hear her speak about her 54-day project!

Author Talk, Demonstration and Book Signing

The Falmouth Public Library is delighted to host local artist and writer Mimi Schlichter for an author talk and book signing on Saturday, September 17th from 4pm-5pm in the library’s Hermann meeting room.  Mimi will be discussing her most recent book The 54 and Then Some: The 54 Falmouth Beach Paintings in 54 Days Project Expanded Edition with The Other 46, as well as offering a demonstration of her alla prima oil technique used during the project.  This author talk, demonstration and book signing event is free to the public and registration is required.  To register, click here or call the library at 508-457-2555 extension 7.  (Photo Credit: Milt Williamson)

Mimi explains the genesis of the project on the back cover of the book, “On April 1, 2020 the Town of Falmouth closed its beach parking lots as a proactive measure to reduce Covid 19 viral spread.  It meant I lost the option of painting beach scenes from the front seat of my car.  They remained closed until May 24th.  A total of 54 days.  One year later, March, 2021, I found myself sitting in my car in a beach parking lost, painting and wondering “why didn’t I do this more often last year?”  Then I remembered.  I couldn’t get there.  The idea came to me to celebrate how life is different this year.  So on April 1, 2021, I began a series of 54 paintings of the Falmouth beaches.  My personal commitment was to complete the paintings in 54 days, one a day, every day, by May 24.  You hold in your hands the result of that commitment.  In this new expanded version, I include The Other 46, the paintings completed in the 46 days following the completion of the 54 project.  They take the alla prima “a painting a day” run to a full 100 days.”

“The Beaches and Beyond Art Exhibit”

Concurrently, “The Beaches and Beyond Art Exhibit” by Mimi Schlichter will be on display in the Adult Collections Room of the Falmouth Public Library for the entire month of September.  Mimi describes the show as a gradual exhibit.  Her intention is to begin with a representative group of paintings form the original 54-day project, while each week adding newly created, sometime still wet, oil paintings she plans to complete during the month of September.  The art exhibit will be on display from September 2nd through September 30th.  This art exhibit is free to view and no registration is required.  Just stop on by the Adult Collections Room during the library hours.

Mimi Schlichter moved from Pennsylvania to Cape Cod in 1997 to pursue painting in an environment of light and beauty, with nature as her inspiration.  She paints mostly in oils, while also enjoying the flexibility and spontaneity of watercolor pencils paired with ink.  It is her goal to bring to life scenes and visions that inspire, soothe, and bring joy, be they tiny minis at 2’x2′ or massive multi panel installations.

Estate Planning: Preserving Your Falmouth Home

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

We Love Our Falmouth Home. But Will Our Children? Should we Preserve the Legacy, and How?

Second homes are often the most valuable asset in your estate and require specialized planning to ensure the home stays in the family. Leaving your valuable family home in equal shares to heirs without a master plan is often a recipe for disaster.
 
Join estate planning attorney Tim Borchers, Esq., who will share successful approaches for your home’s protection, succession and preservation. He’ll be speaking in the Hermann Meeting Room on Wednesday Sept. 14 at 6:30pm; please register to attend. We will also be streaming the talk via Zoom, so even if you would like to attend remotely, please register to receive the Zoom link.
 
Tim’s speaking engagements have included radio shows, podcasts, lectures at MA and NY law associations and other Cape Cod community events.  He has CTFA, EPLS™ and AEP® accreditations and is an estate planner with Borchers Trust Law. He is also a co-author of Second Home Savvy.

Contribute Your Memories of the Falmouth Road Race

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

This year on August 21 Falmouth will host the 50th running of the Falmouth Road Race. As thousands of runners race from the starting line, in front of the Captain Kidd on Water Street in Woods Hole, they wind past Nobska Light, up Surf Drive, around Falmouth Harbor, to the finish line in Falmouth Heights.

At the Falmouth Public Library we have large collections of postcards of local landmarks along the path of the Road Race. We’ve created a Map so you can follow the runners’ route, with a glimpse at past views of the buildings and seashores they’ll see as they run.

Many Falmouth residents and visitors have run the Road Race over the years. The Falmouth Road Race web site has a wonderful year-by-year recap of the 49 races to date. Does it spark memories in you?

We’re building a digital archive of Road Race Memories at the library, and we’d love to hear your story.

Dig out your old photos, or take a picture of your collection of mugs and t-shirts, and write us a few lines about the years you ran, or watched, or got stuck in traffic! Library Director Linda Collins shared the following memory:

In 1999 race day was complete with torrential rains. Waiting at the the start,  I remember seeing runners with plastic bags taped over their shoes in an attempt to stay dry. As we came out of the woods along the beach we were running through ankle deep puddles. I wondered how the plastic bags were holding up. I turned to the runner next to me and he had the biggest smile on his face. We agreed, we were doing all the things our mothers taught us not to. We were running in the middle of the road, soaked to the skin, jumping in puddles, and talking to strangers. It doesn’t get any better.

She also found a page in her scrapbook about that year! You can see how wet it was even at the finish.

You can upload an image or type in a story without an image attached at our Contribution Link. Be sure you include your name and email address, and give us permission to publish your contribution at our web site. If you don’t have computer access, please feel free to stop by the Reference Desk and we can take down your story or snap a digital image of your old-fashioned paper photograph!

We look forward to hearing from you!