April 2016 Library Events

All programs take place at the Roslindale Branch Library and are free of charge, unless noted otherwise. Call the branch at 617-323-2343 for more information. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.

Memoir Writing Workshop
Saturday, April 2 & 9, 12PM to 2PM
Boston University Professor Naomi Lomba-Gomes will lead a memoir writing workshop. Bring your memories and a spirit of learning.

Artistically Senior with Michele Brooks: Blossoming Trees in Oil Pastels & Watercolors
Wednesday, April 6, 11AM
Art workshops for seniors. Please sign up at the circulation desk.

A Book and a Bourbon
Wednesday, April 6, 8PM, Redd’s in Rozzie
Tickets are $30 dollars per person for: two drinks, a selection of appetizers, and a year’s membership to the Friends. Come talk about Go Set A Watchman and get to know your neighbors.

Grade 3 Reading Circle
Mondays, April 11, 25 and May 2, 4:15PM – 5:45PM
We will be reading stories and discussing the children’s ideas about them, using Junior Great Books (Series 3 Book 1) on relationships, kindness and confidence. The Great Books Foundation creates reading and discussion programs for students and adults in the conviction that literacy and critical thinking help people of all ages become more knowledgeable, reflective, and engaged citizens.

Rozzie Reads Poetry discusses Common Threads poems
Tuesday, April 12, 7PM, Roslindale House, 120 Poplar Street
All are welcome to join us. You can find the poems on the link below, or simply attend and copies will be available. This year, the poems chosen are “O Taste and See” by Denise Levertov, “Chanson on the Red Line” by Susan Donnelly, “The Terrible Memory” by Alan Feldman, “Incident” by Natasha Trethewey, “The List Grows” by Danielle Legros Georges, “The House Remembers” by Robert Francis, “St. Kevin and the Blackbird” by Seamus Heaney. For more information, go to: http://www.masspoetry.org/commonthreads

Tai Chi for Adults
Wednesdays, April 13-27, 10:30AM-11:30AM
Please register at the circulation desk. Free exercise series with Body Mind Systems Martial Arts Center.

“Rescue Road” by author Peter Zheutlin
Thursday, April 14, 6:30PM

After receiving his own rescue dog from Greg Mahle, journalist Peter Zheutlin wanted to know about the man who delivered his best friend to him and his family, so he hit the road with Mahle to document these dogs’ journey to their forever home. Zheutlin will join us to discuss his book Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs, and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway.

Paintings Exhibit: Dreamy Italian Seascapes by Maria Conte
Reception: Saturday, April 16, 11:30AM-1:30PM
Local artist Maria Conte displays her lovely paintings based on her memories of growing up in Italy. She has painted seascapes from Ponza and Palmarola, two small islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Trina Ruffin Seminar: Ethnic Women and Business
Saturday, April 16, 11:30AM-1PM
A one day information session for Ethnic Women who are starting up a business or want to expand their business. Topics: Entrepreneurship, Fundraising, Writing a Business Plan and Branding.

April Vacation Art Workshop: Flower & Butterfly Wreath
Thursday, April 21, 1-2PM
A fun, free arts and crafts program for children ages 5-10 taught by Michelle Brooks. Supplies are limited. Registration is required. Register with the Children’s librarian or call 617-323-2343.

Adult Book Discussion
Thursday, April 21, 1:30PM
We will be reading Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett, Newcomers are welcome, and refreshments will be provided.

Third Thursday Reading Series with the Office of War Information
Thursday, April 21, 6PM-7:45PM
Community theater group Office of War Information will host readings of plays, including “No Second Chance”, “Exotic America” and “Pornography and Cheese” Visit offieofwarinformation.com for more information.

Poetry Workshop with Frances Donovan
Saturday, April 23, 12-2PM
Join local poet Frances Donovan to explore one of the oldest art forms. We’ll read work by well-known poets and explore the meaning of their words and the feelings they evoke in us. Then we’ll use prompts to create our own poems, focusing on positive feedback to nurture these new seedlings. Experienced poets and raw beginners — or the merely curious — are welcome. Donovan will also have a poetry display in the library during the month of April. For more info, go to gardenofwords.com.

Roslindale Village Walkable Film Series
Thursday, April 28, 5:30PM

Starting Your Own Seeds
Saturday, April 30, 10AM-12PM
Join us to demystify the process of choosing seeds and starting them, indoors and out. Bring extra seeds for a swap after the workshop.

Regular Children’s Programming
Arte y Cultura Hispana for children ages 4 -12, Mondays, 2:30-4:30PM

Preschool Movies, Mondays, 10:30AM

Toddler Time, Tuesdays, 10:30AM

Library Creative Drama: Wednesdays, 4-5PM

Lego Club, Thursdays, 4-5PM

Homework Assistance Monday -Thursday 3:30-5:30PM

Reading Readiness, Fridays, 10:30AM-11:30AM

Regular Adult Programming

English Conversation Group
Thursdays, 6PM & Saturdays, 9:30AM

Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11AM

Rozzie Reads One Book Youth Essay Contest Winners
Congratulations to all the winners of our essay contest. We asked young writers what they hope the next president elected in November will do to improve race relations in the country. We posted their essays here on our website, and you can read them below by clicking the titles. Our winners had some very powerful, thoughtful things to say that should be read by everyone!

1st Place: The Future President of the United States: Racial Issues by Ayia Elsadig, Grade 9
2nd Place: It is not only about Skin Color by Jasmine Hernandez Reyes, Grade 6
3rd Place: What our new president needs to do by Mustafa Jama, Grade 7

Thank You!
We wanted to take this time to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Rozzie Reads One Book! Thanks to the Parkway Rotary Club for their donation of funds to purchase Go Set A Watchman, and to our other partners Roslindale Transcript, 826 Boston, Birch Street House and Garden, Roche Bros. and Staples.

Questionnaire
If you attended any of our Rozzie Reads One Book events, we would love to get your feedback. Please take a moment to fill out this short, anonymous survey. Responses will be used for organizing future events. Go here to fill it out: Rozzie Reads One Book Questionnaire.

Books of the Month
Each month we feature themed book lists grouped for adults, teenagers and children, and can be borrowed from the Roslindale Library!

Poetry Books
April is National Poetry Month.  Check out this list of books by many of our favorite poets.

Books on Home and Gardening
Spring is here, and it’s time to beautify your home and garden.  We have a list of books that can help you out.

Longitude Books
Planning a trip?  Here’s a resource for finding books to prepare for and enrich your travel plans: www.longitudebooks.com   While set up to facilitate finding and purchasing books organized geographically, you can also take the recommendations and request them from the BPL.  Happy trails!

Quote of the Month:
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. – Maya Angelou

Support the Friends
All the work we do for library programming, publicity and building improvements is done with support from the community. There are many ways to support the Friends, like making a donation, becoming a Friends member and even shopping on Amazon!

Contact the Friends!
For information about the Friends, contact us.