Children’s Programs

*Story Hour Registration: Registration for fall story hours begins October 14.

Four classes are being offered for two year olds and their caregivers on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 10:00-10:30.

Classes for 3-5 year olds take place Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 11 to 11:45 and also Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 1 to 1:45.

Children must be 2 or 3 years of age on or before the start of the program on October 27 and a resident of Newtown to be eligible for this free program. Registration forms will be available in the children’s department beginning October 14. No phone registrations will be accepted, but you can call the children’s department for more information at 426-3851.

Young Adult Programs

*Book Discussion: Join us on at 4 pm on Wednesday, October 22, for a discussion of Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer. Liz Arneth and Margaret Brown will lead the group in conversation about boy wonder Artemis and his attempted rescue of his kidnapped father. Books are available in the Young Adult area; the group will meet in the story room on the first floor. Register at the main floor circulation desk or by calling the library.

*Teen Read Week: Younger readers are invited to participate in Teens’ Top Ten, a nationwide online poll of current favorite for teens during the 6th Annual Teen Read Week, which runs this year the week of October 19-26. Visit www.ala.org/TeenRead; look over the list of nominees in the YA area and make your decisions either online or come into the library to vote.

Also in conjunction with Teen Read Week, there will be poetry workshops on Monday, October 20, and Wednesday, October 29, each running from 3 to 4:30. These workshops will be for young readers interested in learning about or improving their poetry writing. It will be led by retired English teacher Liz Arneth and will be in part a preparatory workshop for a poetry reading night next month.

The Poetry Reading Night for students in grades 7-12 will be hosted by the library on Friday, November 7, beginning at 7 pm. Registration the workshops and the poetry reading night is requested; visit the main floor circulation desk or call the library.

On View At The Library

*A new exhibition of art by the Newtown-based Gisela has opened at the library and will remain on view until October 24. The show offers a compilation of works spanning the artist’s 25-year career including works in graphite, oil, pen and ink, marker and pastels.

Gisela invites the public to her opening reception, which is planned for Sunday, October 12, from 2 to 4 pm, in the library’s meeting room.

*Jean Mann will have a display of her porcelains beginning October 19. The artist invites the public to her reception on Sunday, October 19, from 1-3 pm, also in the library’s lower meeting room.

Adult Programs

*Book Talks: It’s always interesting to discuss a book with a group, so come join one of the library’s ongoing book groups for some great conversation and lively discussion. New members are always welcome. Groups will be discussing a variety of great books in October. Stop by or call the library for the schedule.

*Computer Classes: Dan Tannenbaum will leading an introductory computer class on Saturday, October 11, from 9 am to noon, and an intermediate class on Saturday, October 18, also from 9 am to noon. Participants need to sign up at the circulation desk for the classes and a $10 supply fee is charged for the intermediate class.

*Travel Program: The Intrepid Travelers will be back at the library on Wednesday, October 22, at 7:30 pm, to talk about the stone age culture of New Guinea. They’ll return the following week, on October 29, to talk about Antarctica and Sir Ernest Shackleton. This is much more than a travelogue. Sign up at the circulation desk or by calling the library.

*Alliance Française Program: Alliance Francaise of Northwestern Connecticut will sponsor a screening of the film Conte d’Ete, which is in French with English subtitles, on Sunday, October 26, at 2 pm. A discussion will follow the film.

*Blood Pressure Screenings: Ashlar of Newtown will sponsor its next free blood pressure screening on Wednesday, October 29, from 10 am to noon, in the library’s Genealogy Room. Appointments are not necessary. The screenings are done by a registered nurse, who also has related health information available.

*Frida Postponed: The Frida Kahlo programs originally scheduled for October have been postponed until December.

The movie Frida will now be screening on Thursday, December 4, and the talk and slide show about the artist’s life will take place on Thursday, December 11. Watch this column for more details.

*Entertainment Books Are Here: The 2004 Entertainment Books, filled with discount coupons for area attractions, restaurants, etc, have arrived and are available for $22. You may also order books for other areas of the country. A great gift idea!

*PTA Activity Calendar: The 2003-004 PTA Activity calendar is on sale at the library for $10.  Full of school holidays, the half-day schedule, and many other important community events to keep in mind during the school year, these calendars are selling quickly.

CH. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533 to register for any of its programs or for additional information.