Author: Sue

Joy of Learning classes for fall, on Zoom!

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(This session was in October 2021, but all four Forgotten Histories lectures can be viewed here on our Youtube page!)

Come join us in October for our ever-popular “Joy of Learning” series! Joy of Learning classes have been offered here for many years, in April and October. They are taught by educators and other experts on a volunteer basis, for adults and for and teens at a high school/college learning level.   Come learn something new and have fun!

Due to the pandemic, they will be held on Zoom this fall.   This program is free, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.

We are offering two classes this October.

The Great Gatsby (limited to 20 participants-register by clicking here)

Mondays, October 4, 18, 25 and November 1, 10-11 AM (doesn’t meet on Columbus Day)

  1. Scott Fitzgerald‘s novel, The Great Gatsby, follows Jay Gatsby, a man who orders his life around one desire: to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier. Gatsby’s quest leads him from poverty to wealth and to complications he did not perceive. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsbyis a classic piece of American fiction.

Through shared inquiry, participants will explore the ideas, meaning, and themes presented in The Great Gatsby.

Joanne Holcomb, retired English teacher of 35 years and English/language arts department head for 14 years at Falmouth High School, will lead a 4-session discussion on Zoom. She has taught several literature classes for us at Joy of Learning!

Please read the first two chapters before the first session. As it is a literature discussion class, space is fairly limited, so please register early to ensure that you can attend. There will be library copies available at the reference desk to check out. 

Forgotten Histories: The Unknown Stories of Portuguese and Cape Verdean Immigrants and How They Shaped the Cape (register by clicking here)

Tuesdays, October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 10-11 AM

This course uses recent research uncovering unknown histories of Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigration to Falmouth and Cape Cod. Classes will focus on immigrants and settlement of the town and Cape in four key historical periods (early mid 1800s; the Industrial Agricultural period 1870-1930; WW II and its aftermath; and the 1960s-1980s). Key themes to be explored the whys and where’s of migration, and stories of conflict and cooperation in the town between Yankee and Portuguese and among different groups of Portuguese speaking settlers. The class will dispel some of the myths of about Falmouth’s Portuguese-speaking communities and offers a chance to understand how this migration fit into broader regional, US and world history. 

Miguel Moniz (PhD Anthropology, Brown University) is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research in Anthropology at ISCTE/Institúto Universitário de Lisboa in Portugal, and has been the Michael Teague Visiting Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at Brown University and the Hélio and Amelia Pedroso Visiting Professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His work and publications have focused on Portuguese-speaking migration to North America; and have been supported by fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, the European Research Council (ERC), Portugal’s National Science Foundation (FCT), the Luso American Foundation, and the US National Endowment for the Humanities. He is a Falmouth native and a graduate of Falmouth High School. 

Lew White is a fourth-generation Azorean-American descended from strawberry farmers and founding families of the Fresh Pond Holy Ghost Society. He graduated from Falmouth public schools and Northeastern University in Boston. Now a retired technologist, small businessman, and educator,  he is researching the history of the Portuguese in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.  He lectures locally, has authored two books (including Sopas – a brief history of Portuguese islanders, the cape Cod town of Falmouth, and the Feast of the Holy Ghost), and an article in Spritsail Magazine.

 

Second live concert on the library lawn with Matt York!

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We are excited to bring back musician Matt York for another live, outdoor acoustical performance on the lawn on Tuesday evening, August 3rd, from 6-7:30 pm (rain date Tuesday, August 10th). Bring your chair or blanket!

Longtime New England singer/songwriter Matt York will perform some of the greatest songs of the past fifty years. The music will range from the early days of Motown and the British Invasion to modern hits. Matt will tell the stories of the songs and artists and perform songs by iconic songwriters like John Lennon, Bob Dylan and many more.

Matt grew up in Foxboro, Massachusetts and began playing Boston’s clubs as a teenager. Since then, he’s played on stages throughout the United States and Canada. He has three albums and a recent single. Check out his site at mattyorkmusic.com!

The Boston Globe named his album “Bruisable Heart” on of their top albums of 2019, and he has been nominated twice as Best Male Artist by the New England Music Awards.  The Boston Herald said of his album, “Boston, Texas”, that the singer-songwriter uses basic building blocks-Buddy Holly’s chords, Hank Williams’ swagger, Steve Earle’s boozy wisdom, Paul Westerberg’s straight-up drunk wisdom-to construct an album of beauty, optimism and heartbreak”. Matt’s music explores a cross-section of everything from straight-up rock and roll to hints of country. 

This is a free event. We thank the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library for sponsoring this concert!

Postcards from Falmouth Local History Series with Christopher Setterlund

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We are delighted to welcome local author Christopher Setterlund for Zoom presentations on two Tuesday evenings, July 20th and July 27th at 7 pm! He will be discussing his book, Historical Restaurants of Cape Cod, on July 20th.  He will also be back the following week, on, July 27th, for a presentation about historical hotels and night spots, from his books Iconic Hotels and Motels of Cape Cod and Cape Cod Nights: Historic Bars, Clubs and Drinks, where he will emphasize historical Falmouth spots including the Dome, Terrace Gables and Brothers Four.

Christopher is a 12th generation Cape Codder –his family is the Doane Family that helped to settle Eastham.  He currently has 6 published books, including several of the “In my Footsteps” Cape and Islands travel books, and he produces a podcast called the “In My Footsteps Podcast” which covers everything from New England history and travel to lifestyle and 1980’s nostalgia. Also, visit Christopher’s page, christophersetterlund.com, for more information about him and his work!

Both events are free and appropriate for adults and teens. Postcards from Falmouth Series is a Falmouth Public Library local history project made possible through a Library Services and Technology Act grant, and administered through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  Registration is required before the events, to receive the Zoom link. Please register online for the July 20th event by clicking here, and the July 27th event here, or contact the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.

 

Rare Book Specialist and Brattle Book Shop Owner Ken Gloss

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We are delighted to welcome Ken Gloss, rare book specialist and owner of the internationally known Brattle Book Shop in Boston’s Downtown Crossing area for a Zoom presentation on Tuesday evening, July 6th at 6:30 pm! Please register online to receive the link by clicking here or contact the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.

Ken will discuss the value of old and rare books, and even do an appraisal or two as time permits! Ken, a rare book specialist and appraiser who is frequently on national TV and WGBH radio, will talk in part about the history of his historic bookshop, which goes back to circa 1825. He is a second-generation owner.

He will describe and exhibit some of his favorite finds and relate some of the joys of the “hunt,” as well as explain what makes a book go up in value. He has many fascinating anecdotes to share as well as guidelines for what to look for when starting a collection. There is also a Q&A session before the conclusion of his talk.  If you would like a book of yours appraised, email the information beforehand, with a couple of photos, to info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org (subject line: Appraisal). Ken will give free verbal appraisals of a couple of these at the end, and can do so for others at a later date. For more information about Ken and future talks, call the store toll-free at 800-447-9595, or visit their website, www.brattlebookshop.com!

This event is free and appropriate for adults and teens.  

Live music on the lawn with Matt York!

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We are excited to present a live, outdoor concert on the lawn by musician Matt York on Tuesday evening, June 29th, from at 6-7:30 pm (rain date Tuesday, August 3rd)! Bring your chair or blanket.

This outdoor series is an acoustical performance. He will be telling stories and playing songs by the great band the Highwaymen, which consisted of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings, and answering questions at the end.

Matt grew up in Foxboro, Massachusetts and began playing Boston’s clubs as a teenager. Since then, he’s played on stages throughout the United States and Canada. He has three albums, “Boston, Texas”, “Between the Bars” and “Bruisable Heart”-he also released a single in May 2020, “Scent of Sin”.

The Boston Globe named his album “Bruisable Heart” on of their top albums of 2019.  The Boston Herald said of his album, “Boston, Texas”, that the singer-songwriter uses basic building blocks-Buddy Holly’s chords, Hank Williams’ swagger, Steve Earle’s boozy wisdom, Paul Westerberg’s straight-up drunk wisdom-to construct an album of beauty, optimism and heartbreak”. Matt’s music explores a cross-section of everything from straight-up rock and roll to hints of country. Also, check out his website at mattyorkmusic.com!

This is a free event. We thank the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library for sponsoring this concert!

Peter Colt, author of The Off-Islander and Back Bay Blues

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We are pleased to welcome mystery author Peter Colt on Wednesday evening, June 16th, at 7 p.m., for a Zoom presentation by the Falmouth Public Library! He will talk about his writing process, and his two P.I. Andy Roark novels, The Off-Islander and Back Bay Blues, one of which takes place on Nantucket. You can register to get the Zoom link by clicking here, or contact the Reference Department at 

As Publishers’ Weekly wrote about Back Bay Blues: “Colt’s excellent second hard-boiled mystery featuring Boston PI Andy Roark (after 2019’s The Off-Islander) finds Roark, a Vietnam War vet still traumatized by his combat experiences… Colt makes his wounded lead sympathetic, and balances a gripping plot with further development of Roark’s character.” 

Peter Colt is an Iraq War veteran, a New England law enforcement officer and an FBI certified Crisis Negotiator. He spent over twenty years in the Army reserve and was deployed to Kosovo in 2000 and to Iraq in 2003 and again in 2008, and has had the fortune of knowing many Vietnam vets and U.S. Army Special forces soldiers. Born in Boston, he grew up on Nantucket and lived there in the 1970’s and 80’s. He currently lives in Rhode Island.

CIRCE, a Zoom Book Talk with author Madeline Miller

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Come join us on Wednesday, May 19th at 7 pm, for this wonderful Zoom event,  to go with this year’s Falmouth Reads Together-a discussion with the author herself!
 
We are excited to present Madeline Miller to discuss her New York Times bestselling book, CIRCE.  
 
“A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess’s story that manages to be both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right.”―The New York Times
 
“Miller follows her impressive debut (The Song of Achilles) with a spirited novel about Circe’s evolution from insignificant nymph to formidable witch best known for turning Odysseus’s sailors into swine…. Weaving together Homer’s tale with other sources, Miller crafts a classic story of female empowerment. She paints an uncompromising portrait of a superheroine who learns to wield divine power while coming to understand what it means to be mortal.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
 
Please register in advance, by clicking here.
 
 

Attracting Birds, Butterflies, Bees and Other Beneficials

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We are delighted to welcome naturalist and landscaper John root for a Zoom presentation on Tuesday evening, May 25th at 7 pm, by the Falmouth Public Library!

John will describe the essential roles played by birds, pollinators, and other beneficial wildlife, and provide guidance on meeting their needs for food, cover, and water. He will discuss a variety of plants that nourish these organisms throughout their lifecycles, and explain some organic methods for establishing wildlife habitat.

John is a landscaper in the Amherst, Ma area, and he has studied botany at a graduate level.  He has given numerous presentations on gardening and nature interpretation at libraries, senior centers and many other venues, and has previously led edible wild plant walks, taught science at a high school, and owned a daycare featuring arts and nature exploration. He is currently an organizer with Western Mass Pollinator Networks, promoting the establishment of pollinator habitat on public and private land.

This event is free and appropriate for adults and teens, and is sponsored by both the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library and the Falmouth Cultural Council.  Registration is required before the event, to receive the link. Please register online at falmouthpubliclibrary.org/events, or contact the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.

Missed this event?  You can now watch the recording of it anytime from our YouTube page!  Just click here.

The Garden Tourist returns!

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By popular demand, we are delighted to welcome garden designer and author Jana Milbocker back for an encore Zoom  presentation on Wednesday evening, May 12th at 7 pm!

Do you enjoy beautiful gardens? In this armchair tour of some of the best public gardens and hidden gems of New England, you will learn about each garden’s history, horticultural highlights and special events that will inspire you to plan your own visit!

Jana combines horticulture, design, and travel tips to educate, inspire and delight both new and seasoned gardeners. She loves to visit gardens and historic sites in the U.S. and abroad, and share her trips through her books, photos and blog. She published The Garden Tourist: 120 Destination Gardens and Nurseries in the Northeast in 2018, and The Garden Tourist’s New England in 2020, both available at the library.

She has lectured at flower shows in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New York and New Jersey, as well as a multitude of horticultural societies, garden clubs, and libraries in the Northeast. She is the owner of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design firm in the Boston area. She is the past president of the Holliston Garden Club, and she is active in the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and GardenComm International.

This event is free and appropriate for adults and teens, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.  Registration is required before the event. Please register online by clicking here for the form, or contact the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.

Design a Sunny Perennial Border

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We are delighted to welcome garden designer and author Jana Milbocker back on Wednesday afternoon, April 14th at 2 pm, for a Zoom presentation! She recently gave a wonderful one showing some beautiful gardens of the Northeast.

How do you create a sunny perennial garden that will delight you with colorful blooms and flowers for cutting from spring through fall? Learn about plant layering, new and reliable perennials, companion plants and design techniques that will make your garden POP!

Jana combines horticulture, design, and travel tips to educate, inspire and delight both new and seasoned gardeners. She loves to visit gardens and historic sites in the U.S. and abroad, and share her trips through her books, photos and blog. She published The Garden Tourist: 120 Destination Gardens and Nurseries in the Northeast in 2018, and The Garden Tourist’s New England in 2020, both available at the library.

She has lectured at flower shows in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New York and New Jersey, as well as a multitude of horticultural societies, garden clubs, and libraries in the Northeast. She is the owner of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design firm in the Boston area. She is the past president of the Holliston Garden Club, and she is active in the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and GardenComm International.

This event is free and appropriate for adults and teens, and is sponsored by the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library.  Registration is required before the event. Please register online by clicking here, or contact the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.