Milton Public Library to host fun adult programs throughout May

Programs include book clubs, workshops, movie viewings, and more

During the month of May, the Milton Public Library is offering many entertaining and educational programs which we encourage you to attend! On Wednesday, May 1st, Library Director Will Adamczyk will hold his Local History Book Group at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room and the book to be read in advance is The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser (c2008). On March 18, 1990, two men dressed as policemen broke into Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and walked out with a dozen masterpieces worth $500 million. To date, not one painting has been recovered. Check out this fascinating read and join Will for a lively discussion. Also on Wednesday, May 1st, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a fun talk with Massachusetts storyteller Anne Barrett called “Hollywood: Wild West to Movie Mecca.” Discover how Hollywood evolved from a small, conservative community into a glittering movie mecca full of glamorous stars and eye-popping scandal. Ms. Barrett will show clips of early films that launched the movie industry and discuss the technology revolution that made it all possible. On Thursday, May 2nd, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Milton writer Suzette Standring will host a program called: “A Mother’s Day Gift: Writing A Memory Workshop.” This class is designed to be an easy and memorable experience for all writers, whether novice or seasoned. No registration required.

For our ongoing programs, the Library Knitting Group will meet on Thursday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 18th at 10:00 a.m., and you can just stop by as no signup is required. Come meet others and get tips for your handmade projects. Technology Library Chris Callaghan will hold his Drop-in Device Help on Tuesday, May 14th at 10:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. Come see Chris to learn how to download books, movies and more on your electronic device. AlsoInstructor Betty Siegel will again offer her Drop-in Writing Workshop in six Wednesday sessions this season, starting on May 8th and May 22nd, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. All of these ongoing programs will be held in the lower level Conference Room.

There will be an author talk by Alison O’Leary, on Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m., about her World War II non-fiction book called: So Close to Home (c2017), which was co-authored with Michael Tougias. This story is about a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico, on May 19, 1942, which stalked its prey 50 miles from New Orleans. It set its sights on the freighter Heredia with 62 souls on board, most of which were merchant seamen, but there were also many civilians, fast asleep in their berths. The Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. Ms. O’Leary is a journalist and former Boston Globe correspondent and editor. Come and hear this fascinating presentation, where copies of the book will be for sale. Then on Monday, May 13th at 7:00 p.m., we are again offering the free training called “Computer Test Drive with Chris.” If you are new to computers and want to brush up your skills, you should sign up for this helpful program. Learn the basics of Windows-based PCs, try some mouse exercises and learn to access the MPL resources. Laptops are provided, but registration is required at www.miltonlibrary.org as space is limited.

There will be a fun author talk on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 p.m., with Jeff Romano which is about day hiking opportunities in New England. Mr. Romano has written several books on the subject, including 100 Classic Hikes in New England (c2010). He has also published numerous outdoor articles for The Boston Globe and when not hiking, he directs public policy activities for the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Please join us for a great program, where Jeff’s books will also be for sale. The Cookbook Club with Connie Spiros and Sara Truog will hold another meeting on Monday, May 20th from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. See our website and events list for the title of the chosen book and all the details about how to sign up. Only registered cooks may attend this club.

Our Tuesday Night at the Movies pick which will be screened on Tuesday, May 21st at 6:30 p.m., is “Adrift” which stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin. The film is based on the inspiring true story of two free spirits whose chance encounter leads them first to love and then to the adventure of a lifetime. As they set out on an ocean journey, Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp could not anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins, and she must find the strength to save herself and the only man she has ever loved. Do not miss this one! It’s rated PG-13 for “injury images, peril, language, brief drug use, partial nudity, and thematic elements” so is not suitable for young children. The running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes. And finally there will be a very entertaining program by Milton author Cully Lundgren on Wednesday, May 29th at 7:00 p.m., about his family’s year living in rural Nicaragua. The book is called Mom, There’s A Scorpion in my Pants (c2018) and his wife Miriam and their two son will be at this event as well. In 2016, the family picked up from their comfortable life in Massachusetts and landed in a small village in Nicaragua. They did not speak Spanish or know any of their neighbors, and had to learn to go without water and electricity for long periods of time. They stayed there for about a year, and had to learn how to do laundry by hand, to coexist with spiders, wild dogs, and scorpions, to ride out earthquakes and floods, and to communicate in another language. This is their fascinating story, so please join us to hear about it at the Library.

For more information:

All of these programs will be held in the Keys Community Room, unless otherwise specified here, and are free and open to the public. They are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library, and for more information contact Jean Hlady, Head of Reference, at 617-698-5757, x.3 or go to www.miltonlibrary.org. Please come visit the Library this May!