Category: Nature

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Posted on by Clint Johnson

On Monday, April 8th bring a chair or blanket and join us on the library lawn from 2pm-4:30pm for games, music and solar eclipse viewing!

In Falmouth, the solar eclipse starts around 2:16pm with a 89.3% max coverage around 3:30pm and ends around 4:39pm.  A free pair of solar eclipse glasses (provided by Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) will be available to attendees while supplies last.  

This event is weather permitting.  

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party Flyer

 

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at (508) 457-2555 x7 or by email at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

 

Falmouth Osprey Project

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Join the Falmouth Osprey Project’s Kevin Friel and Barbara Schneider on Tuesday February 20 at 11am in the Hermann Room for a presentation about the project’s work.

The Falmouth Osprey Project formed in response to the 2021 nesting season, which saw 9 fires and power outages directly linked to the fact that ospreys love to nest on utility poles. Since then volunteer teams have helped build replacement nesting platform sites on nearby non-utility poles so that the birds can nest safely, without the risk of electrocution. The Osprey Project has also worked with Eversource to help identify utility poles that need nest deterrants installed, since ospreys like to return to their nests year after year. The project has been successful enough in Falmouth that other Cape towns with many ospreys have looked to it as a model! Kevin and Barbara will share interesting facts about ospreys and their habits as well as many excellent photos, like the one illustrating this blog post.

This presentation is appropriate for all ages, although small children should be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so we encourage you to register.

 

Coming to a Neighborhood Near You with Ian Ives of Audubon

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Falmouth is abuzz with the talk of coyotes – what other wild animals are on the increase? On Thursday January 11, from 2-3pm in the Hermann Room, join Mass Audubon‘s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary Director Ian Ives as he explores the local increase in abundance of deer, coyote, fisher, turkey, bobcat and osprey and the conflicts, management measures and ethical considerations that arise as a result.

Ian Ives is the Director at Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture, Ashumet Holly, Barnstable Great Marsh and Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuaries on Cape Cod. His job responsibilities include overall management of the sanctuaries and staff, community outreach, advocacy, environmental stewardship and education. One of his primary goals is to engage the community in Mass Audubon’s mission work and expand activities at the wildlife sanctuaries he oversees. He holds a Master’s degree in conservation biology from Antioch University – New Hampshire. Ian has a strong background in wetland restoration and endangered species management and is leading environmental advocacy and conservation projects across the Cape to help protect rare wildlife and threatened natural resources they depend on. Formerly, Ian was a Field Biologist for Hyla Ecological Services in Concord MA and was a zookeeper at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.

This lecture is courtesy of the Board of Library Trustees. Please register as space is limited.

Fungus Author Talk and Outdoor Walk

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

Join us for one or both of the following events with Dr. Lawrence Millman.

On Wednesday November 15, at 6:30 in the Hermann Room, mycologist-author Lawrence Millman will be discussing his two most recent books as well as signing copies of them. Fungi of Naushon is the first ever account of the fungi on nearby Naushon Island, while Foraging With Jeeves & Other Offbeat Mycological Excursions is a collection of essays and stories — think science (the Salem witchcraft fungus), satire (a fungal Faust), and ethnography (how the Cree use a certain fungus as an insect smudge).

Please register!

As a follow-up to his Author Talk, on Thursday November 16 at 1pm Dr. Millman will lead a fungal foray in the Beebe Woods. The focus of the foray will be on fungal ecology and identification, not on edibility. Although the date is a bit late in the season for many fungi, you’ll still find a variety of different species, some of which will be in quite unusual places.  

Bring a hand lens or magnifier if you have one and a sense of curiosity. Dress appropriately for the weather and be aware that bad weather may cancel this event. We will meet in the Parking Area at Beebe Woods.

Please register.

 

Accessible Falmouth Walking Trails

Posted on by Phoebe Acheson

The Falmouth Public Library in partnership with Neighborhood Falmouth presents a talk on Falmouth’s handicapped accessible open spaces by Vicky Lowell, a founder of The 300 Committee Land Trust. This program will take place Thursday September 28, 1:30-3:00pm, in the Hermann Room.

This event is free and open to all. Please register as space is limited.

Neighborhood Falmouth is a non-profit organization that provides support services to seniors in the Falmouth community. The organization aims to help seniors live independently and maintain their quality of life by providing services such as transportation, grocery shopping, yard work, minor home repairs, and friendly visits. Neighborhood Falmouth operates on a volunteer-based model, where volunteers from the community are matched with seniors who need assistance. This allows seniors to receive personalized support while also fostering a sense of community and connection among volunteers and seniors. 

 

 

 

Entomologist Larry Dapsis: 2 Upcoming Talks!

Posted on by Sue

We are thrilled to have Larry back for not one, but TWO, informative talks on things many of us need to know!

On Thursday afternoon, July 20th at 1:30 PM, he will present “Ticks: Educate and Protect Yourself” (click here to register).

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 will review the basic life cycle and ecology of deer, dog and lone star ticks. He will present a three-point protection plan:  Protect Yourself, Protect Your Yard and Protect your Pet.  Tick-Borne diseases are preventable! An update on a new invasive species, Asian Longhorn Tick will be provided as well as information about a candidate Lyme vaccine. 

On Wednesday morning, July 26th at 11 AM, the talk will be “The Good, the Bad and the Bugly” (click here to register).

Gardening can be quite a challenge. Not every insect in a garden is a potential pest. We will review the common pests of fruits and vegetables, in addition to the fascinating natural enemy complex that helps keep them in check!

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.

These events are free and appropriate for adults and teens.  Please register by clicking the links above, or call the reference department at 508-457-2555 x 7.

March series on National Parks Service Units

Posted on by Sue

Tewksbury Library has invited other libraries to participate in this March weekly Zoom series at noon featuring National Park Service Units in Massachusetts, so we are posting links to the registration!  Please note that you must register on their site to get the Zoom links-click below for the links to registration and full descriptions-attend any or all! Recordings will be provided to registrants after the lectures.

March 1st at 12 pm: Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site Presents ‘Olmsted’s Life & Legacy, click here for the link

March 8th at 12 pm: Longfellow House-Washington’s HQ National Historic Site Presents “Past & Present Here Unite”, click here for the link.

March 15th at 12 pm: Boston African American National Historic Site Presents ‘Explore The Black Heritage Trail’, click here for the link.

March 22nd at 12 pm: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Presents ‘Stories From The Whaling Port’, click here for the link.

March 29th at 12 pm:  John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site Presents ‘From Beals St. To The White House, click here for the link.

 

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.