The Milton Public Library announces adult programs for May 2025

During the month of May, the Milton Public Library has some enjoyable programs for adults to offer you. For our ongoing events, the Library Knitting Group will meet on Saturdays, May 3 and May 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the lower level Conference Room. Come join others for this fun, drop-in group of knitters who share tips and tricks, work on their current projects, and make new friends!  Some knowledge of knitting is required as this is not an instructional class, but if you love to knit we encourage you to join us. No signup is required for this drop-in, but if you would like to get on the organizer’s Email reminders list, send a message to: [email protected]

Adult Yoga with Marianne Zullas will happen on Saturday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m., in the Keys Community Room. This ongoing program is a one-hour gentle vinyasa flow yoga class which is designed to create movement and space in the body. Students will practice asanas (yoga poses), and will also be introduced to exercises that will open some of the meridian pathways in the body to create a better flow of energy. Space is limited and you must register in advance here:  https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14051193

Also there will be a Chair Yoga class taught by Marianne Zullas on Thursday afternoon, May 8, starting at 3:00 p.m. in our Keys Room. This is a very beneficial practice for teenagers, adults, seniors, people in wheelchairs or those with physical disabilities or medical concerns. Some of the benefits are gaining core strength, improving mobility and flexibility, reducing stress, and aiding mental clarity. Advance registration is required as space is limited, so use this link to sign up:  https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14419339 Please join us!

There will be another fun adult craft workshop on Saturday, May 3, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. with Pop-up Art School, held in the Keys Community Room. This project is called: “Paint Hydrangeas using Acrylic” so join us for an engaging art class. Discover new techniques and enjoy a fun, social atmosphere. All materials are provided – just bring your creativity and enthusiasm with you!  Advance registration is required to attend, as space is limited so please sign up here: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/13703809 This workshop is geared to ages 13 and up. We hope you budding artists will consider attending!

Then on Tuesday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. there will be another virtual talk by the excellent naturalist and photographer Bob Michelson, who will tell us all about “The Restoration of Bird Island on Cape Cod” via Zoom. Bird Island is a tiny island off the coast of Buzzards Bay at the mouth of Sippican Harbor on Cape Cod, less than a mile from Marion, MA. Mr. Michelson travels out into Buzzards Bay to spend a couple days with bird researchers, as they study the Federally Endangered Roseate Tern, and Common Tern on Bird Island. There is an effort to repopulate this small island in the middle of the Bay that had been over-washed by several hurricanes, greatly diminishing the available critical habitat of these small coastal birds. Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link and you may use this link to do so:  https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14024690 At this website link you can also read more about this interesting nature presentation.

The MA Collaborative’s Online 50+ Job Seekers Group will meet twice this month, on Wednesday mornings, May 7 and May 21, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and the meetings are virtual, via Zoom. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your “Encore Career,” this free networking program is perfect for you!  Remember: 85% of jobs are found through networking. For all the details and to register, go here to receive the Zoom link for May 7: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/13673981 for the topic “Networking 2.0” and here for the topic on May 21 for “Interview Strategies:” https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/13674042 (Please note that each session requires an individual registration.)  Questions: call the Reference Dept. at (617) 898-4964.

Also on Wednesday, May 7, in person in our Keys Community Room at 7:00 p.m., there will be another meeting of our Celebrity Book Club with Sara Truog and Sally Lawler. Read what the celebrities are reading: join this group in a fun, relaxed discussion of books recommended by popular celebrities. This month we are reading: Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman, which was recommended by Barack Obama. You must register in advance to attend the program so use this link to do so: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14365834 To get a copy of the book, call the Reference Dept. at (617) 898-4964 or go online to www.miltonlibrary.org and place a reserve.

Next, on Thursday, May 8, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., staff members Tyler and Kathy run a Dungeons & Dragons program for adults held in our Conference Room. No past familiarity with D & D is required, and DM Kathy is running a homebrew campaign using D&D 5e. Registration is required, so if you would like to join this fun activity, please Email [email protected] to confirm a spot. Please join us!

“Booked for Lunch” is an enjoyable monthly get together for adults only, where people bring a bag lunch and chat about books they’re reading and ones they’d like to read, to share ideas. This month the club will meet in the Conference Room on Monday, May 12, at 12 noon. Come meet new people, do some silent reading for the first half hour, and then converse for the second half hour. Please register in advance by using this link:  https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14365856  Please join us!

On Tuesday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. in our Keys Room, retired Judge Dennis Curran will visit us for an interesting in person talk called: “Great Trials: The Disappearance of Dr. Parkman: Blood & Ivy at the Harvard Medical School.”  The 1849 murder of Dr. George Parkman in Boston stands as one of the most – if not the most – sensational trials of the 19^th century. This case has it all: a grisly murder, a dismembered corpse, a wealthy victim, a respected suspect, a questionable lead witness for the prosecution and unusual court proceedings. Nearly 60,000 spectators were ushered through the Boston courtroom in 10-minute intervals. An all-out media blitz ensued, with journalists traveling from Europe to Boston to cover the trial. Ultimately, the case spawned books, documentaries and even an iPhone app!  No signup is required to attend – just please come and join us for a fascinating look at legal history!  There are more details found here about this event: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14054316  Email [email protected] for any questions and we hope you will come to hear this excellent legal scholar.

There will be another meeting of the group called “Boozy Bookworms, Under 40” on Thursday, May 15, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., which may be the perfect fit for you. Facilitated by library staff members Tory Fiske and Micaela Soucy, this book club will meet offsite at Steel & Rye for lively discussions over delicious food and drinks. Please note that attendees are responsible for purchasing their own food and refreshments, and we recommend arriving 15 minutes early if you plan to order. This program is for OCLN library card holders under the age of 40 and you must register for the in person event as space is limited. Use this link to sign up:  https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14185031

Then Historian Bob Begin will return to the MPL on Tuesday, May 27, in person starting at 7:00 p.m. in our Keys Room to give a talk called: “Searching the Northwest Passage.”  The Northwest Passage is a sea route over northern Canada which was thought to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Arctic Ocean. Great Britain, with her Royal Navy and global shipping capability, was obsessed with the exploration and transit of this region which would enhance her trade in the East and also eliminate thousands of miles of transit to the East. By the beginning of the 19^th Century, England – with her obsessive thirst for new trade and territory – would launch several expeditions, the most famous being that of Sir John Franklin in 1845 and 1848. You do not need to register to attend this talk, although if you would like to read more about It and about Mr. Begin, go to this link: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14194418  We are hoping to see all you history buffs join us for this educational talk!

Finally, there will be the Wednesday Monthly Movie for adults happening on May 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. and the title is: “White Bird” starring Helen Mirren (c2024). From the world of “Wonder,” which sparked a movement to “choose kind,” comes the inspirational next chapter: “White Bird.”  (Note: You do not have to watch “Wonder” in order to enjoy this movie.)  Struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian (Bryce Cheisar) is visited by his grandmother (Helen Mirren) and is transformed by the compassionate and heroic story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during WWII. You will learn how a young Jewish girl (Sara Blum, played by Arielle Glazer) was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II, and how the boy she and her classmates once shunned became her savior and best friend. It is not a true story but is based on the author R.J. Palacio’s own family history. This is truly a wonderful film that everyone should see! The running time is 2 hours and the rating is PG13 because of war violence, so it is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 12 but great for adults and older children. No signup required and we hope to see you there!  For further details though, you can check out this link: https://miltonlibrary.libcal.com/event/14105590

All of these events are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the MPL and are free and open to all. Questions?  Call the Reference Dept. at (617) 898-4964 or Email [email protected]  We hope you will consider attending a program in the month of May!