Milton Public Library offers virtual programming for adults in February, 2021

The Milton Public Library is offering some enjoyable and educational virtual programs in the month of February.  On Tuesday, 2/2 at 7 PM, filmmaker and author Craig Dudnik will tell us about a people paying a big price for rights and liberties that many of us take for granted.  His talk will be about his documentary called “Evanston’s Living History – The Fight to Escape Racial Discrimination.”  This is the story of the Crawford Family which begins with African American Anthony Crawford who was born into slavery in 1916 in South Carolina, but acquired 400 acres of prime cotton land through Emancipation.  What happens to Anthony ultimately is tragic, but his family eventually moved north to Illinois and found hope, happiness, and success in the city of Evanston.  Their life in Illinois becomes a lesson in courage and tenacity about a group of people who transformed a community through dignity and humanity to assume influential positions in government as mayor, fire chief, police chief and more.  Please join us to gain insight into the important message from Craig’s research to celebrate these extraordinary Americans.  You can register and see details at the link listed below.  Also if you would like to watch the film in advance – which is not required to participate – you may reserve the DVD at www.miltonlibrary.org or call (617) 898-4964, or you can stream the film with a Milton Public Library card at Kanopy through our website here: https://miltonlibrary.kanopy.com  Please do not miss this excellent discussion!

Then on Tuesday, 2/9, at 7 PM, sign up to hear local author and WCVB television host Ted Reinstein who will give his program called: “Fighting Back: New England Underdogs.”  This presentation will profile several extraordinary people who overcame enormous odds and daunting challenges to create, succeed, or just live a life of inspiring worth and dignity.  While some of the stories are culled from Mr. Reinstein’s three books, others are from more recent Chronicle programs.  The author is best known in New England as a journalist and reporter for “Chronicle,” Boston’s celebrated (and America’s longest-running, locally-produced) TV news-magazine.  Ted is also a talented actor, is the co-author of a full-length play plus several short dramatic titles, and he has a passion for the theatre.  From every corner of New England, he’s found the offbeat, the unique, the moving, and the just plain memorable.  Advance registration is required and you may sign up at our website – see link below.   

Naturalist and photographer Joy Marzolf returns on Tuesday, 2/16 at 7 PM to give a talk called “The Mammals of New England.”  This program is about the large range of mammals found around our region, from the woods, fields and suburbs to the seashore.  From the shy fisher to the comical chipmunk, rabbits, foxes, deer, coyotes and even black bear might visit neighborhoods, sometimes under the cover of night.  Learn about animal behavior, tracks, and signs to help figure out who is in your area.  Also animals of the shore will be discussed, like harbour, gray or even harp seals, or dolphins and whales offshore.  This event is great for all ages, so please include the kids too!  Advance registration is required and opens on January 26th at the link listed below.

The Virtual Library Knitting Group is happening again on Saturday, 2/27 at 10 AM.  This informal meeting offers an opportunity each month for people to see each other online, chat, bring a project to work on, and have friends on hand to ask questions when they need help.  This is a fun, ongoing get-together, which just gives everyone “social knitting” for good company too.  Knitters and all fiber artists are invited to attend, but in order to participate, Email [email protected] (Jean Hlady, Head of Adult Services/Reference) and she will make sure you get on the list to receive the Zoom connection link beforehand.  (No signup is required for this program at our website.)

The final February MPL program for adults is happening on Thursday, 2/25 at 7 PM, and it is a talk called “The Orphan Train Movement – History and Legacy” with Michael Brophy.   This professional genealogist and historian will tell us about the real-life story of the 19th and 20th centuries movement of sending orphaned children from the counties out into the country for adoption.  From 1854 to 1929, over 200,000 children were transported from New York to the Midwest and beyond in the United States.  The history and legacy of the movement will be explained and discussed, and you will learn about the Children’s Aid Society of New York who had to care for 3,000 children in NYC in 1850.  Many children were chosen for adoption and given Bibles, but were never formerly given a new home.  For all the details about any of these talks and to register, please go to this link: https://tinyurl.com/y5h8u7xz  or check out  www.miltonlibrary.com and click on “events” from the main page.

All of these program are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library and are held via Zoom online.  They are free and open to the public, advance registration is required, and for questions, Email [email protected]  or call Jean Hlady at (617) 898-4964.  

We hope to see you for a fun virtual Library event soon!