Heading into June at Waterbury Public Library
May 28, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout June 21 UPDATE: The silent reading party scheduled for Saturday, July 22, has been called off due to the rainy weather forecast. It has been rescheduled in August. See the event information below in this post.
June 19 UPDATE: The June 20 program has been moved to Friday, June 21, due to the weather forecast for extreme heat. Organizers will determine whether to hold it indoors or outdoors.
June is knocking and calendars are filling up. Waterbury Public Library programs for June include exercise, book sales and a presentation from meteorologist Roger Hill and other local travelers about their excursions to Antarctica.
But before the month ends, there are several late-May events on May 29-30 to share including a flim screening on May 29 of the documentary “Anxious Nation” about anxiety, mental health and young people, and a new group Silent Reading Party get-together on the 30th in collaboration with Bridgeside Books and The Phoenix.
Details on these below followed by highlights from the June calendar. For complete listings of programs and events for all ages, visit the library’s website at waterburypubliclibrary.com.
May 29: Documentary screening, discussion with Hannah’s House
Hannah's House therapists Gary Frankel and Cathy Hirce will host a film screening and discussion in the Steele Community Room at the municipal complex from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.
The free event features the documentary “Anxious Nation,” a feature-length film focused on anxiety and mental health, particularly involving young people ages 10-26.
The film explores the ways anxiety shows up, the concepts of nurture/nature, situations in homes and society that contribute to the problem, mental health on college campuses, and the impact of anxiety in lower socioeconomic communities, especially among people of color.
Frankel and Hirce will discuss stigma, loneliness, isolation, disconnection, suicide, the role of social media, incorrect diagnoses, and the effects on mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the filmmakers: “Our mission is to create a unified community for people struggling with anxiety that encourages open dialogue and the sharing of coping strategies. By shining a light on this often-hidden issue, we seek to create a more compassionate and understanding society that supports those grappling with anxiety.”
Find more information about the film including a trailer online at anxiousnation.com. The screening event is appropriate for high school-age students, parents, etc. Free, but reservations are appreciated by emailing or calling chrissy@hannahshousevt.org or 802-496-9715.
Hannah’s House is a nonprofit mental health resource center with offices in Waitsfield and Waterbury focusing on services for children, teens, adults and families.
May 29: Queer Reads takes up ‘Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion’
The library’s Queer Reads meetings are monthly on the last Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library or outdoors if it’s nice. May’s discussion centers around Bushra Reyman’s “Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion,” one of NPR’s Best Books of the Year. Come to listen and discuss. All are welcome.
May 30: Monthly Silent Reading Parties begin
*JUNE 22 READING PARTY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST
Bring a book, read a book. That’s it. The first of a monthly collaboration by the library, Bridgeside Books on Thursday, May 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This first gathering will happen at The Phoenix Art Gallery and Music Hall.
What’s involved? A Silent Reading Party is an opportunity to join with other readers and read silently. It’s a time for you to feed yourself with prose or poetry, fiction or fantasy, a graphic novel or a biography. Gather with other readers, enjoy the space and quiet, enjoy your time away from whatever it is that is urgent. It’s a time to reflect, relax and enjoy.
Waterbury Public Library Director Rachel Muse and Bridgeside Books owner Katya d'Angelo are set for a Silent Reading Party at The Phoenix on Thursday, May 30. Courtesy photo
Chairs are available but feel free to bring a floor pillow, yoga mat, camp chair, or any comfortable seat for reading. The session starts at 5:30, with reading for an hour or so, followed by sharing. For example, what is one word that describes your book?
Check the Waterbury Public Library and Bridgeside Books websites for the next dates, times and locations. They will be held in various spots around town. So far, the June and July Silent Reading Party events are scheduled:
(JUNE 21 update) THIS READING PARTY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 17: Saturday, June 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the CCC Charles Smith trailhead at Little River State Park (weather permitting). This is at the parking lot on the left just before you reach the dam.
Tuesday, July 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hope Davey Park pavilion in Waterbury Center.
JUNE PROGRAMS
All summer: Adult Summer Reading
Challenge yourself to read a bit differently this summer with Waterbury Public Library’s Adult Summer Reading programs. The library has Bingo Cards for both general readers and the hard core regulars.
Tuesdays: Exercise with Qi Gong
Qi Gong with Judi Byron is back with a nine-week summer series on consecutive Tuesdays, at 10 a.m. in the Waterbury Public Library’s garden beginning on June 4.
Based on a form learned from Robert Peng, Judi will lead participants through various movements designed to move the body in both powerful and restorative ways. Activate your energy centers and enhance qi flow with this series “Qi Gong for Vitality & Peace.” Register with an email to judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com to reserve your space. In the event of rain, class will be held in the SAL Room.
Wednesdays: Mindful Movement series
Balance out energetic summer activities with gentle stretching, guided mindfulness, and restorative rest with Mindful Movement on the Library lawn this summer. Becky Widschwenter of Mindful Movement invites all levels to this inclusive yoga series. Participants work at the level their body informs, and adaptations and modifications are encouraged. Wednesdays at noon during the summer months: June 5, 26; July 17, 31; August 14. Weather permitting. Bring a mat and any props that bring comfort to your practice. Shade is variable. Sunscreen and water are suggested. If the weather is inclement, class will be canceled. Register with Becky at this link.
June 13: First Summer Pop-Up Book Sale
The Waterbury Farmers Market is a sure sign of summer and the Friends of the Waterbury Public Library once again plan to bring their love of all kinds of books to Rusty Parker Memorial Park one Thursday a month at 4 p.m., weather permitting. They will have a tent with books and puzzles for sale to raise funds for the library. Stop by to say hello and browse a variety of genres – there will be something for everyone. The first pop-up will be Thursday, June 13, weather permitting.
MOVED TO JUNE 21: June 20 (rain date June 21): Summer Solstice Full-Moon Meditation
A full moon rises over the Worcester Range. File photo Gordon Miller
Summer Solstice is being ushered in by the full strawberry moon this month. Join River Buffum and harpist Judi Byron for an enchanting afternoon of guided meditation accompanied by beautiful harp music set against the backdrop of the fragrant and colorful library garden. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on, then make your way down to the Farmers Market afterward. Come celebrate this celestial event symbolic of strength, growth and abundance.
This event is free to the public and no registration is required. Scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, in the Waterbury Public Library garden. In case of rain, it will take place on Friday, June 21, at the same time.
June 25: Antarctica adventure recap
Gentoo penguins on Cuverville Island off the west coast of Graham Land in Antarctica. The island supports a breeding colony of about 6,500 pairs of gentoo penguins, the largest of this species on the Antarctic Peninsula. Courtesy photo
Earlier this year, a local group of travelers from Waterbury went to the most remote, pristine and fragile environment in the world -- Antarctica.
Says meteorologist Roger Hill: “Go now while you can!”
Presenters are Hill along with the library’s Judi Byron and Pauline Nolte on Tuesday, June 25, at 6:30 p.m. for “Antarctica- Pristine, Precious and Penguins.”
An Ice Arch on Guepratte Island in the Palmer Archipelago in Antarctica. Courtesy photo
On the Antarctic Peninsula where Roger, Judi and Pauline have all voyaged, air temperatures increased by nearly 3℃ towards the end of the 20th century, causing ice to melt and glaciers to retreat and collapse. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this is five times the mean rate of global warming.
Roger’s presentation will focus on the climate change aspects. Judi will present about the land and wildlife and share pictures and videos of animals including whales and seals, birds such as penguins and albatross, and plenty of icebergs. Pauline traveled separately and will share from her experience as well.
Come to hear about the rapid change taking place on the world’s most remote continent and why we should be concerned and to enjoy the images from a land with very little human population.
June's Queer Reads title is a new graphic novel. Courtesy image
June 26: Queer Reads picks up a non-fiction graphic novel
The June Queer Reads book and discussion will take up the title, “Queer: A Graphic History.” Activist-academic Meg-John Barker and cartoonist Jules Scheele illuminate the histories of queer thought and LGBTQ+ action in this groundbreaking non-fiction graphic novel. Stop by the front desk and ask for a copy. The discussion happens on Wednesday, June 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Waterbury Public Library Adult Program Coordinator Judi Byron at 802-244-7036 or judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.