Library Events for April 2013

Wednesday April 3rd at 7:00 pm
First Wednesday Book Club

We'll be discussing this month's book, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. May's book, The Great Northern Express by Howard Frank Mosher will be available at the front desk after April 3rd. Free and open to all. Join anytime!

Thursday April 4th at 7:00 pm
From Bhutan to New Hampshire with Bhagirath Khatiwada

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom situated between the two big Asian giants, India and China. It is known to the world as one of the most exotic tourist destinations in the world. The model for the mythical Shangri-La, Bhutan is a country of heart-stopping beauty. It declares itself to be the country with the highest Gross National Happiness. Yet tiny Bhutan has generated the largest number of refugees in the world in proportion to its total area and population. More than 100,000 citizens were forced to leave Bhutan between 1990 and 1995. So far about 65,000 Bhutanese have been resettled in the U.S. with approximately 1,800 of them in New Hampshire. A former refugee from Bhutan, Bhagirath Khatiwada came to the United States in August of 2008. He is Board Chair of the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH) and works as a Caseworker at Lutheran Social Services of New England. Mr. Khatiwada has authored a series of social studies text books for grades six and seven through Asia Publication in 2008 in Nepal and is one of the Contributing Editors of the Bhutan News Service. He completed his Master’s degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University in 2005. Currently, he is pursuing his Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of New Hampshire. Free and open to all.

Friday April 5th at 7:00 pm
Like a Bird Flying: Poetry & Letters to His Daughter from New Hampshire
by Walter Clark

   “Crinkling my sleep ear,
The chill of spring peepers
   And underneath those
   Blabber of toads…”

This is the voice of Walter Clark, serious poet and prose writer of both close descriptions and idiosyncratic depictions of the landscape he loved. In his retirement from university life to New Hampshire he wrote poems of perception and contemplation, joy, despair, and resolution. He also wrote letters to his daughter Alison. Through them we roam at night between snowdrifts, dismember a beaver dam, learn how post-and-beam carpenters walk, welcome a mouse invasion, and boil maple sap all day. A longtime professor at the University of Michigan, Walter Clark retired to Hancock in 1993 where he pursued many interests, including becoming a trustee of the Hancock Town Library. He died at his home in 2008. Join local authors Jane Eklund, Howard Mansfield, Sy Montgomery, Julia Older and musician Steve Schuch for an evening of the poetry and prose of Walter Clark. This program is free and open to all.

Thursday April 11th at 7:00 pm
The Poetry of Lea Banks

We are privileged to host a reading by poet Lea Banks. Lea Banks is the author of the chapbook, All of Me (Booksmyth Press, 2008), a collection of poems. She is a poet, non-fiction writer, and facilitator of writing workshops, private tutorials and manuscript consultations. Lea is the founder of the Collected Poets Series, the former poetry editor of the Equinox, and editorial assistant for the Marlboro Review. She attended New England College's MFA program and facilitated stroke survivors' writing workshops. Her poems, "All of Me," and "Hallelujah," have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Lea was a finalist for the Pavel Srut fellowship in Prague. In addition, she won fellowships with the Philanthropic Education Organization (2008), American Association of University Women (2007), and Yellow Fox Foundation (2006).  In March of 2013 she was a fellow at the Vermont Studio Center. Lea has been published in many journals including American Poetry Journal, Boiling River, The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Diner, The Equinox, The Recorder, Slipstream, Survivor's Review, Sweet, Tattoosday, and Poetry Northwest.  Her chapbook is being re-issued as a paperback by Booksmyth Press. Free and open to all thanks to the Friends of the Hancock Town Library.

Saturday April 13th at 3:00 pm
4th Annual Poetry Gathering

April is Poetry Month! Please come listen and share a poem. This is our 4th annual poetry gathering at the Hancock Town Library. All are welcome. Call 525-4103 for more information. Organized by “Three or More…Poets.”

Tuesday April 16th at 7:00 pm
The Hourglass Readers Present Antony & Cleopatra

The Hourglass Readers will present a reading of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. Catherine Behrens will direct a cast that includes Wendy Almeida, Mark DiPietro, Peter Eisenstadter,  Morganna Ekkens, Helmut Heidl, Clare Margand, Matt McDougall, Dan Patterson, Chris Pratt, Scott Rodenhauser, Katrina Spenceman, and Robert Wellington.  Live music will be provided by Jenny Holan. The Hourglass Readers is dedicated to performing readings of classical works in abridged versions, allowing actors and audiences to explore works not often performed.  The Hourglass Readers is a performing partner with The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company of Keene. Free and open to all.


Thursday April 18th at 7:00 pm
Rally ‘Round the Flag: The American Civil War in Folksong
With Woody Pringle & Marek Bennett

Musicians Woody Pringle and Marek Bennett present an overview of the American Civil War through the lens of period songs, tunes, and music. Audience members participate and sing along in an energizing forum as we explore lyrics, documents, and visual images from sources such as the Library of Congress. Through camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes, we examine the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives, influence public perceptions of events, and simultaneously fuse and conserve cultures in times of change. This dynamic and engaging session features instruments such as banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, accordion, whistle, and guitar, and challenges participants to find new connections between song, art, and politics in American history.  New Hampshire native Marek Bennett is an award-winning cartoonist and musician who teaches and performs comics and music at schools and libraries throughout New England and the world beyond. He holds a B.A. in Music (Brown University) and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (Keene State College), and is a rostered teaching artist with the NH State Council on the Arts. Woody Pringle is both a musician and educator teaching at many NH colleges and organizations. His credentials include B.A. in Social Science (Johnson State College) and MBA (RensselaerPolytechnic Institute). His music is often aired on NH Public Radio's Folk Show and many radio stations throughout the country. This program is free and open to all thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Hancock Town Library.

Tuesday April 23rd from 2:00 – 3:00 pm
The Nurse Is In!
A nurse from Home Healthcare and Community Services will be at the library to check your blood pressure. Free and open to all.

Thursday April 25th at 7:00 pm
What She Learned! @ Great Dixter Gardens

Eleanor Briggs, a photographer and enthusiastic gardener living in Hancock, will share her experiences of a weeklong November seminar with Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter. This English garden was made famous by Christopher Lloyd, the provocative writer and horticulturalist.  Garrett worked with him for 14 years until his death in 2006 and continues his legacy of bold design and education of young plantsmen and women. Briggs photographs mostly in Asia and locally and has a studio in the Harrisville Mills. Free and open to all.

Friday April 26th at 7:00 pm
Australian Movie Night: Picnic at Hanging Rock

Peter Weir's masterpiece remains as indescribable as the unanswerable mystery at its core. 1975. Rated PG. Free admission and popcorn thanks to the Friends of the Library!

Save the date! Coming May 2nd, local author and birding phenom Eric Masterson will talk about his new book, Birdwatching in New Hampshire.

From the Children's Room
Rennie Timm, Children’s Librarian

Thursdays in April at 10:00 am
Laptop Storytime
Walking and talking, this babies to toddler story time is an interactive program for all pre-schoolers and their parents or care providers. We’ll share books, rhymes, songs, finger play & movement. Our goal is to foster an early love of books and literacy. At the end of the program, there will be playtime for parents and caregivers to share books, puzzles, or other literacy activities with their toddler. Dress comfortably as we will be sitting on the floor in the Children’s Room. No registration required, feel free to drop in anytime.

Tuesday, April 2 at 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Block Party: LEGO® Fun
Join us for the afternoon and let your imagination run wild. Hands-on learning opportunity to explore how things work. LEGO® bricks are provided by the library. All ages welcome.

Thursday, April 11 at 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Calling all Poets!

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Library. Join us for an afternoon of poetry writing. Various themes and ideas will be presented to write about. Art supplies will be available to illustrate the written words expressed in your poems.

Friday, April 19 at 6:00 – 7:45 pm
Movie, Popcorn & Trivia Night for Tweens & Teens

Middle School and High School Students are invited to gather with friends, munch on popcorn & watch a movie together.  Our feature presentation will be determined by the group in attendance.

Wednesday, April 17 at 3:15 – 4:15 pm
April Showers brings Watercolors?

Create colorful watercolor pictures of your favorite book illustrations.  We will use Magic markers and mists of water to transform your line drawings into magnificent watercolor illustrations.

Tuesday, April 23 at 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Spring Break Movie

Children of all ages are invited to gather with friends, munch on popcorn & watch a movie together.  Our feature presentation will be determined by the group in attendance.

Wednesday, April 24 at 2:00 - 6:00 pm
Open Play-  Block Party: LEGO® Fun

Join us for the afternoon and let your imagination run wild.  A hands-on learning experience to explore how things work. LEGO® bricks are provided by the library. All ages welcome.

Thursday, April 25 at 1:00-3:00 pm
“Bot and Boy”--Build your own Robot

Calling all engineers! Using recycled items (toilet paper rolls, soda bottles, aluminum foil, etc.) build the robot of your dreams. You may bring your own supplies from home, but be prepared to share them with the group. All ages are welcome. Parents are invited to join in the fun.