FEATURED PROGRAMS
uCreate: STAR WARS PARTY
Saturday, May 3 | 1p | Lovell Room
May the 4th be with you! We’re celebrating Star Wars Day a day early with:
*Star Wars I Spy & a drop-in craft all day in the Children’s Dept.
*A Death Star cyanotype Grab ‘n Go Kit for adults
*A showing of Revenge of the Sith from 2 to 4:30 pm in the Lovell Room.
Costumes encouraged! There will be snacks & prizes at the movie.
SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT Series (part 3)
Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Tuesday, May 6 | 11am | Lovell Room
Explore the four essential elements of cooking in our new discussion series! Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat will be our inspiration for this three part discussion series. Registered dietitian Siddhi Sheth, MS, RDN, CDN from ShopRite of Shelton will lead our discussions on how learning to use salt, fat, acid, and heat will improve your cooking skills. There will also be tasty recipe demos at each session.
March 4 is on “Salt”, April 1 on “Fat”, May 6 on “Acid”, and “Heat” will be incorporated into all three sessions.
Read along and come with your questions or just come to learn more about these essential cooking elements.
COPIES OF THE BOOK ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CHECK-OUT DESK.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
CELEBRATE ALL PETS!
Saturday, May 17 | 2:30pm | Lovell Room
Join us for a creative afternoon where you can design a personalized bandana for your furry friend using the Cricut! The Stratford Animal Rescue Society will be joining us! Come and meet some of the adorable shelter pets that are available for adoption. In addition, We will be gathering donations for STARS. If you’re interested in contributing, please visit their website for a list of items needed for donation.
This program is for adults ages 18 and up. Registration is required.
PROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap
Thursday, May 29 | 6pm | Lobby
Join our houseplant cutting swap! Bring cuttings from your houseplant to our Propagation Station and trade plant babies. It’s a great chance to share your love for plants, connect with fellow enthusiasts, exchange tips, and grow your indoor garden. All plant lovers from beginners to experts are welcome!
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
WORKSHOPS:
Guided Chair Yoga & Meditation
Thursday, May 1 | 12:30pm | Lovell Room
Thursday, May 15 | 12:30pm | Lovell Room
Instructor Laurie Trupp leads this unique one hour class that combines gentle chair yoga poses with relaxing guided meditation at the beginning and end of class. The yoga poses will be done seated, as well as standing with the chair used as a prop for balance. Registration is required.
Register HERE for May 1
Register HERE for May 15
Webinar: MEDICARE 101 (Virtual)
Saturday, May 3 | 10am | Virtual – register for link
Are you currently enrolled in Medicare? Will you be turning 65 over the next year or two? Learn about eligibility, how and when to enroll, when you can make changes, and the insurance options available to you. This program will simplify the choices you need to make, help you make more well-informed decisions and explain what Medicare means for you! This is an educational event.
You must self-register in advance for this educational event. Registrations will be accepted through one day before the program.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Workshop: DRIVE ALIVE DRIVER RETAINING
Saturday, May 17 | 10am | Lovell Room
The Stratford Library, in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), will offer another session of the “AARP Driver Safety Program”, a classroom driver retraining program designed to help older persons improve their driving skills. Persons 50 years of age or older are eligible to participate in the library program and will receive a certificate of completion at the end of instruction. The course is limited to 20 participates only and there is a nominal fee of $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members charged by the AARP.
REQUIRED REGISTRATION CAN BE MADE HERE
TALKS:
Music: GROWING UP IN THE WOODSTOCK GENERATION
Sunday, May 4 | 2pm | Lovell Room
The exciting multi-media Growing Up In The Woodstock Generation as presented by Marc Black is a nostalgic treat for everyone! Proud recipient of the Key to the Town of Woodstock and New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Marc, will guide you through a multi-media program of song, storytelling and laughter. His partner, Susan, will accompany the show with evocative visuals from the era.
Dance: LI GARDEN DANCE COMPANY – CHINESE FOLK DANCE
Saturday, May 10 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Li Garden Dance Company of Stamford, known for their innovative dance style which is rooted in classical Chinese dance and modern dance, will present four dances: Dancing to Dunhuang Strings, Passersby in Misty Rain, Ode to Pear Blossoms and Enchanted Waves.
Sunday Afternoon Talks: AUTHOR SHERRY MINNITI D’ELIA
Sunday, May 18 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Sherry’s book, Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Aging that You Wish Someone Had Told You: Plus…What You might Be Able to Do About It! is the perfect little book to bring knowledge, levity, and acceptance about getting older for women of all ages. She provides tips throughout the book that can be funny or practical; either way, your attitude about aging will improve.!
Copies of Sherry’s book will be available for purchase following her talk.
Talk: RESEARCHING OUR ROOTS – DIGGING DEEPER
Monday, May 19 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Genealogical research is both rewarding and challenging. Have you hit a roadblock in your ancestral research? Are you not sure how to find more generations of your family? Join instructor Sarah Miller as she shares tips and tools to help you dig deeper into your family’s past.
LIMITED TO 15 PEOPLE ONLY! REGISTER HERE.
CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: JOB SEARCH HELP
Monday, March 10 | 10am to 12pm | Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
This workshop will introduce you to the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and demonstrate how it can empower your job search efforts.
The same material will be presented in each 2-hour workshop, participants only need to attend one of the sessions.
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm session
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, May 5 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others! Meets the first Monday of the month.
Don’t Know Much About Book Discussion
Wednesday, March 12 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join the adult book discussion of THAT PART WAS TRUE by Deborah McKinlay. A lonely British woman strikes up a pen pal friendship with a successful American author and they offer each other help and support with their relationship dramas before agreeing to finally meet up in Paris. In this affecting and “rewarding” epistolary novel, two unlikely divorcés — a romantic pessimist and a newfound bachelor — get a second chance at love (New York Times Book Review).
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Books On Tap
Books, Brews, and Bantor
Tuesday, May | 7pm to settle, 7:30pm to talk
Join us at the Whiskey Barrel located at 251 E. Main St, Stratford.
We will be discussing A WELL-TRAINED WIFE: MY ESCAPE FROM CHRISTIAN PATRIARCHY by Tia Levings, an unforgettable and timely memoir about a woman’s race to save herself and her family and details the ways that extreme views can manifest in a marriage.”This book stands out among other narratives about overcoming religious trauma in that it peels back the layers of Christian fundamentalism, exposing why it’s so attractive to people hungry for assurance and certainty. A devastatingly triumphant story that will be a beacon for many women who suffer in silence.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred)
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
Books Over Coffee
Wednesday, May 28 | noon | Lovell Room
JAMES by Percival Elliott
From Percival Everett-a recipient of the NBCC Lifetime Achievement Award and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, and numerous PEN awards-comes James, a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “cult literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
PLAY & CREATE:
Knit Wits
Wednesday, May 14 & 28 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own project.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.
Crocheting
Wednesday, May 21 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome). Learn the art of crocheting! This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
MOVIES:
Monday Matinees: Gladiator II
Monday, March 10 | 12pm | Lovell Room
Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. Blockbuster sequel to the Oscar winning “Gladiator” from 2000.
R, 148 minutes