Great programs for adults and families to be offered at Milton Public Library

Milton Public Library hosts various activities and events throughout April

During the month of April, the Milton Public Library is offering some great programs for adults and families. Starting on Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:00 p.m., Toni Wiley, Executive Director of Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center in Dorchester, introduces us to the center which, for almost 50 years, has leveraged tennis to open doors of opportunity for some of Boston’s most under-served youth. The center is one of the 20 largest organizations in the U.S. that combines tennis with academic and life skills programming, a concept created by tennis great Arthur Ashe. In addition to youth programs, the center is the home to more than 300 adult members who rent courts, take lessons, compete on traveling teams, and share their time and talents with the younger members. Then on Wednesday, April 4th and and Wednesday, April 18th, Betty Siegel will offer her Drop-in Writing Workshop in the lower level Conference Room from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Come check out what other writers have to contribute and get tips for your drafts from an expert instructor.

There will be meetings of the Milton Knitting Group with Nina Zonnevylle on Thursday, April 5th from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 21st from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., also in the Conference Room, so come join others, bring your project, and learn tips and tricks from the very experienced and helpful Nina. This group is also just lots of fun so we encourage you to stop by if knitting is your passion. On Thursday evening, April 5th, there will be an artist talk with local painter David Dauer, who will be showing his work in the Library’s Wotiz Gallery from April 2nd through 30th. Mr. Dauer’s works are acrylic pieces and small water-based marker drawings, which emanate from current world events and religious readings through a surrealistic model. They utilize vibrant color, texture, and overlays of color washes. The reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. in the Wotiz Gallery, and the artist talk will take place as part of it from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the East Reading Room next to the exhibit. So please come and meet Mr. Dauer, attend his talk, and view this interesting display.

As the final musical program in our Winter series, a Piano Singalong Concert hosted by former staff member Dan Haacker will happen on Saturday, April 7th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. If you attended our similar concert last year, it was a blast and everyone gets to join in if they wish, since a song list and lyrics are provided to all. There will be several singers and pianists participating including librarian Jean Hlady and young local musician Rolland Platteel. Come sing or just enjoy listening to the oldies but goodies, led by some entertaining musicians. Next photographer Bob Michelson returns on Tuesday, April 10th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in a two-hour workshop called “Digital Photography with Your DSLR Camera, Basic.” Here are just some of the topics he will cover in this class: an introduction to the camera, all controls and functions; memory cards; low light; filters and accessories; basic composition, and more. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about your camera from an experienced presenter, and no registration is required for this program. Then on Saturday, April 14th from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., there will be the final event for our “Milton Reads” book A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towle. It is a road trip to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA and signup and a fee of $15 are required. This will be an outing by bus and to register, go to our website and check under the date.

On Tuesday, April 17th starting promptly at 6:30 p.m., there will be a screening of the excellent 2016 film called “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” This true story stars Jessica Chastain as Antonina Zabinska who, in 1939 Poland, successfully runs the Warsaw Zoo with her husband. They raise their family in an idyllic existence until their world is overturned when the country is invaded by the Nazis and they are forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed zoologist. To fight back on their own terms, the Zabinskis risk everything by covertly working with the Resistance and using the zoo’s hidden tunnels and cages to save families from Nazi brutality. The movie is rated PG-13 so is not suitable for young children, and the running time is 2 hrs, 6 min. If you have not seen “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” it is not to be missed.

Former Boston Public Library staff member and genealogy researcher Linda MacIver returns to present her Learn to Research Your Family Tree: Part 1 Workshop on Tuesday, April 24th from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. If you have always wanted to find out more about your family’s history and are not sure how to get started, this program is for you. Registration is required at our website and will open on April 3rd. Don’t miss this class which will teach you skills for a hobby that is the second most popular subject next to gardening! Also on Wednesday, April 25th, Library Director Will Adamczyk will hold his Local History Book Chat from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the lower level Conference Room. The book to be read in advance is Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer. Come join Will to discuss this interesting non-fiction title.

And finally on Monday, April 30th from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sara Truog and Connie Spiros will host the second Milton Library Cookbook Club. Calling all cooks! Each club meeting will feature a selected cookbook, and members will prepare a tasty treat from the book to bring to the Library to share. The cookbook chosen for April is Cooking For Jeffrey by Garten (2018). In order to participate, register through the library events calendar (as only registered cooks will be able to attend), and then borrow a copy of the book and choose a dish. Once you’ve chosen a recipe, contact Sara by Emailing ([email protected]) or calling her to let her know what you will be making. Space is limited and registration will open 3 weeks in advance of the club meeting. The details for this program can be found at www.miltonlibrary.org Bon Appetit!

For more information:

All of these programs are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library and also the Milton Woman’s Club supports our concert series. They are free and open to the public (unless there is a required fee indicated) and they are held in the Keys Community Room, unless otherwise indicated here. You can go to our website for more information or call Jean Hlady, Head of Reference/Adult Services, at 617-698-5757, x. 3. We will be looking for you at the Library in April!