Children’s Programs

*Valentine Craft Workshop: Marie Walker will conduct a Valentine craft workshop for children ages 6 and older on Saturday, January 31, from 1 to 2 pm. A $3 material fee is due upon registration, and the class is limited to 15 students.

For more information call the children’s department directly at 426-3851.

*Winter Story Hours: Sign-ups for preschool story hour begins Tuesday, January 20, and will run until only Wednesday, January 28.

Classes for 2-year olds and their caregivers will place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 10:30.  Classes for 3- to 5-year olds are on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings from 11 until 11:45 and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons beginning at 1.

All classes are free and open to Newtown residents. Registration forms are available in the children’s department and must be filled out in person only; no phone registrations will be accepted.

Young Adults

*Book Discussion: There’s still time to sign up for a special program we’re planning around Holes by Louis Sachar. The library has many copies of this terrific book about Stanley Yelnats, the family curse, stolen sneakers, Camp Green Lake and the warden who is looking for something big. Books are on display in the YA area.

We’ll be showing the movie, rated PG, and then discussing the book on Wednesday, January 28, from 4:30 to 7:30. This program is designed for readers in grades 5-8, and will include pizza for dinner. Sign up at the main floor circulation desk or call the library.

*Creative Contests: We have information and entry forms for four creative contests for young adults this winter. Stop in the library’s Young Adult area and choose from “World of Words,” an essay contest celebrating family connections to other homelands with top individual cash prizes of $25, $50 and $100; “Playstages,” a playwriting contest for short plays written by individuals or groups, with a top prize of $500 for a library program; “Get On Board and Read,” a contest to create a poem, essay, painting or video about how a favorite book is meaningful to you, with prizes including a meeting with the skateboarder Tony Hawk and other prizes; and “IMPAC-CT State University Young Writers’ Annual Competition,” a poem, essay or fiction contest with a top prize of $1,000.

Hurry, deadlines are approaching.

*We Love Chocolate, How ‘Bout You? Diane Buchanan will be offering a chocolate candy program on Tuesday, February 3 (snow date February 10), from 3:30 to 5 pm. Participants will create goodies like painted lollipops, peppermint bark, peanut butter cups and other surprises just in time for Valentine’s Day.

This workshop is limited to 12 students, grades 6 and up. Sign up can be done at the main floor circulation desk or by calling the library. Please bring a $5 supply fee with you the afternoon of the program.

Now On View

*Cityscapes & Landscapes: Newtown artist Ruth Newquist, famous for her lovely watercolors of familiar Newtown landmarks and scenes of SoHo, is offering an exhibition of her works on the library’s main floor until February 29. The show can be viewed during library hours.

The exhibition, “Cityscapes & Landscapes: Oils & Watercolors by Ruth Newquist,” features new works by Mrs Newquist in both oils and watercolors focusing on the vibrant street scenes of New York City as well as the tranquil meadows and barns of Newtown.

*Another Local Artist: Newtown artist Carol Ruzicka, a designer, illustrator and painter, has works on view this month in the Olga Koepkne Memorial Meeting Room (the library’s lower meeting room). Ms Ruzika’s home and studio are in Newtown. In addition to painting, the artist has created numerous illustrations for national magazines although she says in an online artist’s statement that she has deliberately shifted her focus away from commercial work since 2000.

Adult News

*Book Groups: Take time out from your busy schedule and do something for yourself. Join a book discussion at the library.

Future discussions include Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough on Tuesday, February 3, at 1 pm; Confederates in the Attic on Thursday, February 5, at 7:30 pm; The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway on Monday, February 9 at 1 pm; and The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 pm.

*Do-Ahead Chinese Party: Celebrate the Chinese New Year with a free cooking demonstration by Norma Chang on Tuesday, January 27, at 1 pm. Learn some stress-free entertainment tips and sample some great authentic recipes. The program is free but you must sign up at the library as there is a limit of 40 participants.

*Getting Your Affairs in Order: Attorney Robert Fisher will give a talk on legal issues, including power of attorney, living wills and getting your affairs in order, Thursday, January 29, at 7:30 pm. Sign up at the circulation desk or by calling the library.

*Paint The Town … Folksy: Artist Leslie Troy returns to the library for a two-session painting class being offered on Wednesdays, February 11 and 18, from 9:30 am to noon each week. After learning about the lines, color palettes and architectural styles of some much loved Newtown buildings along our historic Main Street, participants will put brush to canvas and learn how to paint in the folk art style.

No previous artistic experience is required. The class is limited to 15 people and there is a $10 supply fee. Registration can be done by calling the library.

*Foreign Film Series – Newtown a la Cannes: The library is debuting a new series in February, where will be offer first run, award-winning, independent films from foreign countries.

The first film will be screened on Thursday, February 12, at 7:30 pm. Hop, from Belgium, is an award-winning film that tells the story of Justin and his father who set out to enjoy a soccer game together, only to unleashes a drastic chain of events.

The film is in French and Dutch with English subtitles.

Then on Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 pm, the library will show Inch’Allah Dimanche, from France. This film provides viewers with a deeply moving memoir of an Algerian immigrant family and their experiences in post World War II France. The film is in French with English subtitles.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533. Winter hours are 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday, noon to 5 pm on Friday, 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 1 to 5 pm on Sunday.