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.
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.
Check out the Falmouth Public Library’s new Narrative Nonfiction Book Club picks for the upcoming Fall ’22 and Winter ’23 session! Come pick up a copy and join us to share your thoughts as we read across the genres of nonfiction, from history to adventure, memoir/biography, and beyond with books that read like a novel.
We meet on the 1st Thursday of every month from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The group will meet in the Hermann meeting room and for those who wish to join us from home, you can join us via Zoom. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
To register, click on the date you wish to attend and fill out the registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Adult Services department at 508-457-2555 x 7, info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org or text 833-209-9922.
“As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animal are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on a journey that is every bit as mythical as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise.”
“One late spring evening in 2010, Shannan Gilbert – after running through the oceanfront community of Oak Beach screaming for her life – went missing. No one who had heard of her disappearance thought much about what had happened to the twenty-four-year-old – until seven months later. Lost Girls is a portrait of unsolved murders in an idyllic part of America, of the underside of the Internet, and of the secrets we keep without admitting to ourselves that we keep them.”
“Weaving history and personal reflection into one narrative, Philbrick argues for Washington’s unique contribution to the forging of America by retracing his journey as a new President through the former colonies. He paints a picture of 18th century America as divided and fraught as it is today, and he comes to understand how Washington entranced, compelled, enticed, and stood up to the many different kinds of citizens he met on his journey.”
“In Remember, neuroscientist and acclaimed novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them. You’ll learn whether forgotten memories are temporarily inaccessible or erased forever and why some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds (like a passcode) while others can last a lifetime (your wedding day). And you’ll see how memory is profoundly impacted by meaning, emotion, sleep, stress, and context.”
“Across our planet since the dawn of humankind, this nefarious pest, roughly the size and weight of a grape seed, has been at the frontlines of history as the grim reaper, the harvester of human populations, and the ultimate agent of historical change. Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquitos’ reign through human history and her indelible impact on our modern world order.”
“An unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; and of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul.”
We are delighted to welcome Sean Kortis from Mass Audubon on Friday afternoon, September 23rd at 2 pm, for a presentation at the Falmouth Public Library! Please register by clicking here. Also, Sean will be leading a tour of the vernal pools for us at Ashument Holly on Friday morning, October 7th, check our calendar for more details!
Vernal Pools are scattered around the Cape Cod landscape and are home to a variety of secretive creatures. The eastern spadefoot toad is one of them, and is also the rarest frog species in Massachusetts. Through unique and seldom seen photographic documentation, we will explore the secret life history of this elusive and little known species and what efforts are underway in our region to save this amazing animal.
Sean Kortis is the Adult Program Coordinator for Mass Audubon’s Cape Region. Sean has a long history of working with Mass Audubon dating back to 2011. They previously worked for the organization as a Teacher Naturalist and spent several years as a technician for the Spadefoot Toad Restoration Project. Sean also spent the last 8 years working in the field of environmental conservation and protection as a Natural Resource Officer where they managed the study and protection of endangered species on Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable. Sean shares a passion for environmental learning, exploration, and is working to better understand how our connection to nature can guide us towards a future of sustainable living in a rapidly changing world.
While all ages are welcome, the talk is aimed at adults and teens. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Falmouth Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
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!
From July 11th through August 29th, stop by the Falmouth Public Library lawn on Mondays from 1pm to 3pm (weather permitting) to play some of our new, fun, outdoor games!
We’ll have Cornhole, Giant Checkers, Giant 4-In-A-Row, Giant Jenga, Giant Left Center Right, Giant Yard Dice, Kan Jam and Spikeball!
Library Lawn Games are fun for all ages and everyone is welcome to come and play! For more information about the Library Lawn Games and how to play, click here.
The Falmouth Public Library will be showing two summer movie classics in the Hermann room on Wednesday Nights in July, Independence Day from 1996 and Jaws from 1975! These movie viewings are free to the public and are sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library. Registrations are required and each movie is limited to 60 participants.
“When a young woman is killed by a shark near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and grizzled ship captain Quint offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.”
The Falmouth Village Association will be showing double feature movies on the library lawn every Wednesday at dusk (6pm-10pm) starting July 27th and ending August 31st! BYO blankets and chairs and join us on the library lawn to enjoy some outdoor family fun with Movies Under the Stars. These movies are weather dependent and are free to the public. No registration is required.
Wednesday, July 27th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Star Wars: A New Hope (Rated PG; Runtime 2 hours)
“Young Luke Skywalker leaves his desert home planet to rescue Princess Leia and become a Jedi knight.”
~ 8pm Movie: Apollo 13 (Rated PG; Runtime 2.3 hours):
“The true story of the Apollo 13 space mission where astronauts are stranded in their crippled spacecraft while the ground crew race against time to bring them home.”
Wednesday, August 3rd from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: My Dog Skip (Rated PG; Runtime 1.5 hours)
“Set in Mississippi in the late 1940s and based on Willie Morris’ boyhood memoirs, eight-year-old Willie loses his only friend in the world to the draft until his mother gives him a puppy for his birthday.”
~ 8pm Movie: Dog (Rated PG-13; Runtime 1.6 hours)
“Briggs and his companion Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, haul ass down the Pacific Coast in time to catch their best friend’s and handler’s funeral.”
Wednesday, August 10th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Sing 2 (Rated PG; Runtime 1.8 hours)
“The ever-optimistic koala, Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet, all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world.”
~ 8pm Movie: The Greatest Showman (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“An original musical screenplay brings to life the story of P.T. Barnum and his creation of “the greatest show on Earth”.”
Wednesday, August 17th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Coco (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events.”
~ 8pm Movie: McFarland, USA (Rated PG; Runtime 2.1 hours)
“Inspired by the 1987 true story, the movie follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White, a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school.”
Wednesday, August 24 from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Ratatouille (Rated G; Runtime 1.8 hours)
“A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession.”
~ 8pm Movie: Julie and Julia (Rated PG-13; Runtime 2 hours)
“Julie Powell is a frustrated insurance worker who wants to be a writer. Trying to find a challenge in her life, she decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ in one year, and to blog about it.”
Wednesday, August 31st from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Ron’s Gone Wrong (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“The story of Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler, and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device, which is supposed to be his ‘Best Friend out of the Box.’ Ron’s hilarious malfunctions, set against the backdrop of the social media, age launch them into an action-packed journey in which boy and robot come to terms with the wonderful messiness of true friendship.”
~ 8pm Movie Chistopher Robin (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“The young boy, who loved taking adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a gang of spirited and loveable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into that world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.”
As summer is coming, it seems like a great time to repost the video from Larry Dapsis’ Zoom presentation on ticks from a year ago!
Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Massachusetts, and is now considered a public health crisis. In addition to Lyme, deer ticks can carry the pathogens that cause other illnesses.
This program reviewed the basic life cycle and ecology of deer ticks, incidence rates and distribution of tick-borne illnesses. It included a three-point protection: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Yard and Protect your Pet. Tick-Borne diseases are preventable! Also, for even more information on ticks and bugs, click here to go to Larry’s page on the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension site.
Larry Dapsis has been an entomologist since age 5. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science & Biology from Fitchburg State University and an M.S. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. He has forty years of professional pest management experience, for vegetables, cranberries and households. He joined Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in 2011 as the Deer Tick Project Coordinator and Entomologist, and he is a member of the Barnstable County Task Force on Lyme and other Tick-Borne Diseases.
Below the Edge of Darkness is this year’s WHOI & FPL Community Read, and author Edie Widder will be here in person to do a select reading from her book, Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea, followed by a short Q&A and then a book signing on Saturday, June 11th from 1pm-2:30pm in the Library’s Hermann meeting room! Registration is required, you can do so by clicking here. Copies of the book will be available for purchase by Eight Cousins at the event.
She will then go right to WHOI’s Redfield Auditorium for a community conversation with Sam Harp, WHOI’s Vice President for Advancement, followed by a Q&A with the audience from 4 pm – 5 pm-you can register for that here!
“A pioneering marine biologist takes us down into the deep ocean to understand bioluminescence—the language of light that helps life communicate in the darkness—and what it tells us about the future of life on Earth.”
“Dr. Edith Widder is an oceanographer, a marine biologist, and the co-founder, CEO, and senior scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, a non-profit organization where she is focusing her passion for saving the ocean into developing innovative technologies to preserve and protect the ocean’s most precious real estate: its estuaries.”
For some videos of Edie, and some further books on the topic, go to our WHOI & FPL Community Read page by clicking here!
The WHOI & FPL Community Read 2022 is part of Dispatches from an Ocean Planet: A Celebration of Film and Literature presented by the Yawkey Foundation and WHOI.