*Inkwells at the Library: A collection of antique inkwells, a gift from Miss Eleanor N. Burts and Mrs Robert P. Stokes, are on view at the library.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Jun 24, 2011 12:00 am

Childrenâs Programs

*Mother Goose Cancellations: Mother Goose for infants and 2-3 year olds will not meet for the rest of this month. Classes will resume Wednesday and Thursday, July 6-7.

*Summer Reading Kick off and Childrenâs Book Sale: Summer reading begins Monday, June 27, with performances by Full Effect Productions at 11 am and 2 pm, including magical tricks and stories from around the world. Free tickets will be available at the childrenâs circulation desk when we open at 9:30 am that morning.

The Friends of the Library will host a childrenâs book sale that day, 9:30 am to 5 pm, offering favorite titles and series to stock up for summer reading.

*Decorate our Summer Reading Wall: We need your help to decorate our summer reading wall in the childrenâs department.

Drop in between 1 and 3 pm on Tuesday, June 28, and make a hot air balloon out of colorful pieces of tissue and patterned paper.Â No registration is necessary.

*âWhat Gives?â â¦ Science with Bonnie Shugrue.

Ages 8-10 are invited to join us on Thursday, July 7, at 3 pm, to learn the science of bridge building.

We will construct a bridge out of cardboard that can hold a pile of books.Â A $3 material fee will be due the day of the program, and online registration is requested.

Â For Young Adults

*Cool Drinks & Cool Stories: Monday, June 27, 3-5 pm. Registration is required.

Enjoy a fresh, made-to-order fruit smoothie, and enjoy African folk tales and drumming with Eshu Bumpus and Ricardo Frota during the kick-off to our annual Teen Summer Reading Challenge.

Information will also be available about all of our summer programs for teens, along with the prizes to be awarded for summer reading for those entering sixth grade through senior year of high school. This yearâs grand prize is an Amazon KindleÂ®.

*Fantasy Food Prep for Teens â Thursday, June 30, 2 to 3:30 pm.

Get inspired for the Edible Books Contest in July (see details below). Learn basic techniques of cake decorating, working with fruits and veggies and more from our own Rachel Crosby & her mom, Lori, an expert kitchen team. Best of all, youâll get to take home what you make.

Online registration is required; the workshop is those entering grades 6-12.

*Creative Writing Summer Camp begins Thursday, July 7.

The Creative Writing Summer Camp for young adults welcomes a new leader this year, Connecticut author Sarah Darer Littman. Camp will meet from 3:30 to 5:30 pm for those entering grades 6-7, and 6 to 8 pm on for writers entering grades 8-9, on Thursdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 25, and Monday, July 28.

This program is for young people who love to write. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions. Each group is limited to ten students who either live or attend school in Newtown.

Sessions will allow time for writing and sharing stories as well as creative activities and one-on-one communication between adults and young people. Online registration is required.Â

*Harry Potter Movie Marathon: Leading up to the July 15 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, we have been showing all the Harry Potter movies in order at the library, and we will continue on Friday, June 8, with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 1 pm; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at 4; and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 at 7.

Please note, pizza slices should be pre-ordered for $1 each. Place your order at the 4 oâclock show or call ahead (203-426-4533) by 4 pm on July 8. There will only be a limited amount of extra pizza.

Adult Programs

*Got Cupcakes?

Experienced baker Mary Thomas will demonstrate some cool decorating tips on Tuesday June 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Learn how to design a flower or make a wild, but deliciously edible creature. Youâll get great ideas for CH booth Libraryâs Edible Book Contest and also for your next family celebration.

Online registration is requested (space is limited), and there is no charge.Â Â

*Escapes and Intrigues: Julie Stern, a retired teacher of English and philosophy, will be back at the library this summer to lead a discussion series on some classic mysteries. Copies of all of the books are available at the second floor circulation desk.

Programs are on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm will continue June 28 with The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchanan.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

*Altered Books Workshop: Artist Katie Stevenson will visit the library on Wednesday, July 6, at 6:30 pm, to lead a workshop on taking old board books and turning them into a beautiful work of art.

Examples of some of Katieâs masterpieces are at the second floor circulation desk. Registration is required, and a $6 supply fee will be due at the workshop. Class size is limited to 15.

*Insuring Your Future in the Event ofÂ a Catastrophic Event: Learn how to photograph your belongings for insurance purposes.

Staff from Ritz Camera will lead this workshop onÂ Monday, July 11, at 6 pm.

*Fly-Fishing Safari: Join guide and professional fly-fisherman Jim Turecek on Wednesday, July 13, at 7 pm, for a slideshow and lecture on fly-fishing.

Jim has fished for â and caught â just about every species you can catch on a fly rod.

*Edible Book Contest: Join us for a new event, The Booth Library Edible Book Contest.

Make something edible and book related and bring your creation to the library on Saturday, July 16, at 10 am.Â Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

No time to be creative? Then just come and enjoy the show and see what other Newtowners have cooked up!

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown. Call 203-426-4533 or visit CHBoothLibrary.org to register for any of the above listings, and for information on additional programs and offerings.

Patricia Anzellotti

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It seems a lot of the discussion around the flagpole focuses on vilifying drivers who pass on the right, but the real issue is being overlooked. If Chapter 248 Section 14-251 were enforced, we wouldn’t see this problem to begin with. That statute prohibits stopping in the middle of a roadway to yield to cross traffic—as so often happens with cars waiting to turn from Church Hill. When vehicles stop illegally in the travel lane, they effectively create a blockage. Other drivers then either sit through unnecessary delays or carefully pass around them on the right, which is fully permitted when the vehicle ahead is “illegally parked” in the roadway. Instead of punishing drivers reacting to the obstruction, enforcement should focus on the cause: vehicles unlawfully stopping and backing up traffic in the first place. If that behavior were addressed, the need to “go around” would largely disappear.

Borough Board of Burgesses Continues Traffic Safety Discussion

John, you raise an important point — these situations are tragic, complicated, and often far less clear-cut than the headlines make them seem. In the Fredericksburg case, the full facts still aren’t publicly known, and like so many of these stories, there’s conflicting information. It was apparently the back door at 3 a.m. — was it justified to use deadly force? We don’t know yet. What we do know is that the homeowner has been charged, and as you rightly noted, that is very serious. But this is also where perspective matters. These cases are quickly sensationalized in the news and on social media, yet when the dust settles, the outcomes are rarely publicized. People forget that in our system, you are innocent until proven guilty. Try to find much coverage of the convication in the case of the Fairfield Realtor vehicle homicide, or updates on the woman who shot her husband a couple of Christmases ago, or even the pedestrian death in Sandy Hook a year or so back. The follow-through simply isn’t there, and public opinion is often shaped only by the first round of headlines. At the end of the day, these situations remind us how split-second decisions in the middle of the night can change lives forever — which is exactly why the right to protect one’s property, home and family is so fiercely debated, and lucky constitutionally protected.

Late Night Prank Gone Wrong

First the low hanging fruit. Dave; it was a joke, please get over it. You are the only person in Newtown that thought I really wanted to build a stadium on 6 Commence Rd. Now on to Alex. You might not appreciate my writing style or my selection of words, but let's not loose sight of the fact that by responding to my letter in the manner that you did, you have removed any doubt whatsoever that you have no idea of the quantifiable benefits you are dismissing not only for the town, but also for protesters. Either you stopped listening at the word "ordinance" or you never started.. Your constitutional rights to assemble were never in question and would actually be strengthened and there would be literally no impediments. We could even title it "The Alex Villamil Ordinance" if you want. It could be your legacy and actually show Newtown your willingness to work in a bipartisan way for the betterment of the town. Businesses would be protected. Traffic wouldn't be interrupted. The town would save hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime. And maybe most importantly, the town could prevent another tragedy while mitigating legal risk in the event something terrible happens at a protest. Nothing bad could never happen in Newtown right? All that could be accomplished by a simple, non-intrusive ordinance unless all the detriments to our town are intentional in order to bring more attention to your cause. Alex, this was not me throwing a temper tantrum. Believe me, you will know it if that happens. I am just putting Newtown first. From that perspective, if you think critically, the regulation is necessary. It makes sense logically, rationally, and is reasonable. There is absolutely no down side. None. I would be willing to sit down with you to see if we could come to some type of compromise if you want. Let me know. You would be amazed how much you can accomplish when there is dialogue amongst neighbors.

It’s About Dialogue Amongst Neighbors — Not Regulation

A popular prank circulating on TikTok is “ding-dong-ditch” where a group of young people violently bang or kick someone’s door late at night and then “ditch” or run. On May 3 three high schoolers here in Fredericksburg Va. were participating in such a prank. One homeowner assumed, as in this case, an attempted break in and also took measures to defend his family and property. As the youths were running away he fired, striking an 18 year old graduating senior in the back killing him and seriously injuring a second youth. A wasted life, a family shattered, and the homeowner charged with murder.

You’re absolutely right — no one should ever feel unsafe in their own home. Being startled awake by violent banging at your door late at night is no joke, and it’s a stark reminder that danger can come without warning. That’s why I’m thankful for the right to protect ourselves, our families, and our property. In a moment like that, you don’t get a second chance to call for help before you act — you have to be prepared. Our homes should be a place of peace, not fear, and the ability to defend them is a right worth safeguarding.

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*Inkwells at the Library: A collection of antique inkwells, a gift from Miss Eleanor N. Burts and Mrs Robert P. Stokes, are on view at the library.

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