FEATURED PROGRAMS:
DRUMMING FOR WELLNESS
Wednesday October 8 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Join Craig Norton from Hands on Drumming for a 90 minute wellness oriented, participatory drum session. The workshop gives people of all abilities an opportunity to be musical, connect with others, create community and have fun. Drums will be provided. Free, but seating is limited.
Registration required
An Afternoon with the STRATFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT
Saturday, October 11 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Join us for a meet and greet with the amazing Stratford Firefighters! Explore the fire truck and boost your knowledge of fire prevention and safety.
Light refreshments will be served
This is an all ages program. Registration required
INTRODUCTION TO SOURDOUGH
Sunday, October 26 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Making your own sourdough bread seems so simple – flour, water, start & salt are all you need – but it is deceptively hard to master. Isabelle Laufer from Wild Rise will teach us what we need to know. And, everyone who attends will get their own sample of starter and a recipe card, ready to go home and turn into fresh bread!
Registration required
CONCERTS & THEATER:
Concert: THE SURVIVOR’S SWING BAND
Sunday, Oct 5 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Celebrate the Library reopening on Sundays with this nostalgic band playing fabulous music from the Great American Songbook! The Survivor’s Swing Band is a seven-piece ensemble features trumpet, saxophones, piano, guitar, bass, and drums.
Free and open to the public!
Concert: THE KENN MORR BAND
Saturday, October 12 | 2pm | Lovell Room
The band returns to the Library pleased to be touring in support of its latest release, “Still Shining”. Recorded at Sandy Brook Studios in Colebrook, CT, the album features eleven new songs penned by Morr highlighted by the cohesive playing of the Kenn Morr Band. The result is an organic collection of lush vocal harmonies and sparkling instruments—real musicians playing soulful music in real time.
Theatre: SHORT PLAYS FOR DISCUSSION
Saturday, October 25 | 3pm | Lovell Room
Three short political plays by local authors will be performed in a reading format with discussion to follow.
Performance: HALLOWEEN HAUNTINGS: Two Victorian Tales of Suspense
Tuesday, October 28 | 7pm | Lovell Room
In this unique one-woman show, professional actress Michèle LaRue portrays eight characters in two American tales of ghostly suspense. Written in the days of ominously flickering candles and kerosene lamps, “The Shadows on the Wall” and “The House That Was Not” continue to thrill. The Chicago-born and New Jersey – based LaRue tours nationally with her unique repertoire of century-old American TALES WELL TOLD.
TALKS:
Meet-the-Author: ROGER CHIOCCHI
Tuesday, October 7 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Local Stratford author Roger Chiocchi just released his latest book entitled, “The Brushy Ridge Militia” in late May. The book is about a group of bereaved parents who, after their children and loved ones have been killed in a school shooting, pledge themselves to do something about gun violence in the US. Meet the author and learn more about this politically charged thriller.
Sunday Afternoon Talks: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Sunday, October 19 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Arlington National Cemetery, one of America’s most important historical landmarks, is best known for more than 300,000 graves and famous monuments. But before this beautiful spot on the Potomac became a cemetery, guest speaker Cynthia Parzych had a very interesting history entwined with the early history of the Virginia settlement. Her talk, based on her book on the topic, presents the backstory of this iconic spot and highlights some of the stories of the interesting people who lived and were buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Meet-the-Author: DOUGLAS MOSER
SPECIAL FOR HALLOWEEN!!
Monday, October 27 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Connecticut-based, award-winning playwright and theatre director will read selections from his scathingly funny new novel, JAMES AND JIM, inspired by his years working behind the scenes at a prestigious, internationally recognized management consulting firm.
WORKSHOPS:
Workshop: CHAIR YOGA & MEDITATION
Thursday, October 9 & 23 | 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 required
Motivational Workshop: “PUBLIC SPEAKING – OVERCOMING THE FEAR”
Tuesday, October 14 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Nicki Bonn from Bonn Workshops will be here to help you become a better public speaker. In this workshop you will learn how to improve your communication skills and feel more confident when you have to talk in front of a group.
Registration required
CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: Organize Your Computer with File Explorer
Tuesday, October 14, 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
In this two-hour workshop you will learn how to navigate the File Explorer more effectively, use its search features to quickly find the files you need, become better at organizing your digital files and documents by creating folders, removing files you no longer need and recovering the ones you accidentally deleted.
The same materials are covered in both sessions today.
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm session
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, October 6 | 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!
Books on Tap (BOT)
Books, Brews, and Bantor
Tuesday, October 7 | 7pm to settle, 7:30pm to talk
Join us at the Whiskey Barrel located at 251 E. Main St, Stratford.
We will be discussing Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. A year in the life of the unforgettable Catalina Ituralde, a wickedly wry and heartbreakingly vulnerable student at an elite college, forced to navigate an opaque past, an uncertain future, tragedies on two continents, and the tantalizing possibilities of love and freedom.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Don’t Know Much About Book Discussion
Wednesday, October 8 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join the adult book discussion of Blue Light Hours by Bruna Dantas Lobato. From the National Book Award-winning translator, an atmospheric and wise debut novel of a young Brazilian woman’s first year in America, a continent away from her lonely mother, and the relationship they build over Skype calls across borders. Bruna Dantas Lobato paints a powerful portrait of a mother and a daughter coming of age together and apart and explores the profound sacrifices and freedoms that come with leaving a home to make a new one somewhere else.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk, and as a downloadable on Hoopla.
Registration required
Cozy Mysteries Night – NEW!
Tuesday, October 21 | 6:30pm | Board Room
Registration is required, thank you. Share your love of cozy mysteries with other fans! Talk about your favorite fall-themed cozy mystery books! Discover new authors! Enjoy pumpkin spice treats! Grab bookmarks and booklists!
Registration required
Book Over Coffee
Wednesday, October 29| 12 noon | Lovell Room
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier
Classic mystery is an ideal choice for October! This universally acclaimed novel has remained consistently in print since its original publication in 1938 and has frequently been adapted—for television, radio, the theater, and film—most notably in 1940 by Alfred Hitchcock, whose Rebecca received the Academy Award for Best Picture, and in the 2020 Netflix film starring Lily James and Armie Hammer.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
CREATE:
Knit Wits
Wednesday, October 1, 15 & 29 | 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 projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.
Crocheting
Saturday, October 4 | 3pm | Children’s Program Room
Wednesday, October 22 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration required
Unwind Your Mind
Monday, October 6 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Drop in the first Monday of the month and unwind from your day.
There will be coloring supplies, a big puzzle to work on, craft supplies to play around with, and snacks!
Do your own thing or work together, it’s all good.
Propagation Station – Houseplant Swap
Thursday, October 23 | 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
Cricut craft night- Day of the Dead
Thursday, October 30 | 5pm | Lovell Room
Join us in honoring the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by creating beautiful decorative candles. We will provide pre-cut designs and a variety of additional decorations.
This program is for adults 18 and up registration is required
MOVIES:
Sinners
Monday, October 13 | 12pm | Lovell Room
Set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta, the film stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as criminal twin brothers who return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Rated R, 137 minutes