Events Calendar for the Scotch Plains Public Library, Scotch Plains, New Jersey (NJ)

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
The Fanwood Memorial Library is pleased to present a very special screening of an important and compelling documentary feature, “A Walk To Beautiful”.

At its premiere at the 50th Annual San Francisco Film Festival in 2007 it won the Audience Choice award and has continued to garner recognition including a 2009 News EMMY Award for Long Form Informational programming, the International Documentary Association’s (IDA) Best Documentary award in 2007 (beating Oscar nominees Sicko and Taxi to the Dark Side), and many others.

This compelling and beautiful film will be shown on Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00 pm at the Fanwood Memorial Library. Admission is Free.

Director Mary Olive Smith, who also co-produced and shot much of the footage in Ethiopia, will be on hand to answer questions about the topic of fistula, the making of this film and more. The film is produced by New York based Engle Entertainment and more information on the film and fistula is available at www.walktobeautiful.com.

"Even death would be better than this. This is not life," says 25-year old Ayehu. She lives in a ragged lean-to behind her mother’s house, thrown out by her husband after a weeklong labor left her with a stillborn child and an obstetric fistula, a condition that makes her incontinent. Shunned by neighbors, unable to work or even live indoors because of her condition, Ayehu is one of thousands of women in rural Ethiopia who suffer from obstetric fistula. It’s a tragically common consequence of obstructed childbirth in developing where doctors are scarce and obstetric care is practically nonexistent. Girls are undernourished and overworked, married off before puberty. Pregnant as young as 12 or 13, their bodies are unable to handle the trauma of childbirth. This condition, once quite common all over the globe and still prevalent in many third world countries, has been completely eradicated in the US and other first world countries for more than one hundred years.

The title of this compassionate documentary refers to the journey Ayehu and many young women make on foot and by bus from their remote villages to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to have corrective surgery. Australian husband and wife doctors Reginald and Catherine Hamlin opened the hospital in 1974 to treat fistula patients free of charge. Now widowed and elderly, the remarkable Dr. Catherine Hamlin continues to oversee the work of the hospital’s dedicated staff.

Walk with these five women from the despair of their conditions to hope, confidence and transformation as they undergo treatment and take control of their lives. DON’T MISS a rare opportunity to see this moving and inspiring tale.

For more information contact the Fanwood Memorial Library at 908.322.6400 or visit online at www.fanwoodlibrary.org.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

Teen Digital Photography Club
Wednesday, February 10th - 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
With photographer Connie Pinkowski, for middleschoolers, grades 5 - 8, on ten Wednesday afternoons during the school year. Attendance is limited to 10 members and priority will be given to those who register for the entire series.This group is funded through a Union County Heart grant.
For more information call (908) 322-5007, x204

Ukulele Intergenerational Masterclass
Thursday, February 11th - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Fanwood Library - Fanwood Room
The Fanwood Memorial Library is pleased to present a series of Ukulele Masterclasses every Thursday evening in February starting at 7:00.
The class will be conducted by local residents (and father and daughter team) Barry and Tessa Mitterhoff.

Tessa is an avid and accomplished ukulele player and a freshman at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Barry, her father, is a world-class musician who spends much of his time these days playing mandolin and other stringed instruments with Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna. When he’s not on the road with this seminal rock band he makes his home in Scotch Plains and has a busy schedule teaching and playing with other area groups and performers.

Mandolin virtuoso Barry Mitterhoff has developed an international reputation for his versatility, having adapted the mandolin to musical styles as diverse as bluegrass, opera, Jewish Klezmer, Dixieland, old-time, classical, Brazilian, Italian and 19th-century American duo-style.

A veteran of bluegrass, Klezmer, Celtic, folk, and rock-influenced bands including "Tony Trischka and Skyline" and "Bottle Hill," Barry has toured the Jamband and Americana scene since 2002 with rock legends Jorma Kaukonen, and Hot Tuna. He performs regularly with Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys, as well as Silk City, a band he formed with his Skyline bandmates Danny Weiss and Larry Cohen. He has also performed with musical greats including Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, Bob Weir, and Govt Mule.

Barry appeared at the Metropolitan Opera with renowned singer Jerry Hadley, played and recorded with folk-singer Tom Chapin; appeared at the Smithsonian Institute and elsewhere with hard-hitting singer, songwriter and labor activist Hazel Dickens and performed with innovative "free" music composer Eugene Chadborn at New York City’s Knitting Factory. In addition, Barry has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and New York’s famous Rainbow Room, and has performed in concert and at music festivals throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Europe. He's contributed music to the score of films such as "You've Got Mail," "Mickey Blue Eyes," "The Rookie," and the Coen Brothers' "Intolerable Cruelty.

He now adds to this impressive resume Ukulele teacher at the Fanwood Memorial Library. For more information about this free event, please contact the library at 908 322-6400.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library

LOVE LETTERS
Sunday, February 14th - 1:00 & 5:00 PM

The CHELSEA on North Ave. in Fanwood
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library will host a production of the play “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney.

This fund-raising event to benefit the FRIENDS of the Library will be held at The Chelsea on South Ave. in Fanwood.

Originally produced on Broadway and starring Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst, “Love Letters” is composed of correspondence exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. In this evocative, touching, and frequently funny play, what is implied in the letters is as revealing and meaningful as the words the actors actually recite.

Fanwood residents and professional actors Leslie and Ann Minski star in this production. The husband and wife troupe have long theater experience and are both involved locally in many volunteer activities.

There will be 2 performances - at 1:00 & 5:00 PM
Tickets are onsale now at the Fanwood Memorial Library and the Scotch Plains Public Library. $15 for Seniors and Friends of both libraries and $18 for General Admission.
Please note that this play is not suitable for young children.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library

Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, February 16th - 1:00 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss THE ROAD HOME, by Rose Tremain.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Ukulele Intergenerational Masterclass
Thursday, February 18th - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Current Events for Everyone
Monday, February 22nd - 10:30am to 11:30am

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
Join with Prof. Christopher Gibbs for the - February discussion: SECURITY AND TERRORISM in our world today. This open and exciting discussion group meets monthly at the library.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library

Adult Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, February 23rd - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
This month's selection is DODSWORTH by Sinclair Lewis. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Read the book, join in on the discussion
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

TEENS GAMES & BOOK
Tuesday, February 23rd - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Fanwood Room
Have your read THE HUNGER GAMES???Come to the library and discuss the book and play our own version of THE HUNGER GAME. Refreshments and prizes will be awarded.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by FML Teen Group

Teen Digital Photography Club
Wednesday, February 24th - 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm

Scotch Plains Library
With photographer Connie Pinkowski, for middleschoolers, grades 5 - 8, on ten Wednesday afternoons during the school year. Attendance is limited to 10 members and priority will be given to those who register for the entire series.This group is funded through a Union County Heart grant.
For more information call (908) 322-5007, x204

Ukulele Intergenerational Masterclass
Thursday, February 25th - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Evening Book Club
Monday, March 1st - 7:15 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss THE TUE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL, by Louise Murphy
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Teen Digital Photography Club
Wednesday, March 3rd - 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm

Current Events for Everyone
Monday, March 15th - 10:30am to 11:30am

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
Join with Prof. Christopher Gibbs for the - March discussion: MORALITY IN PUBLIC LIFE. This open and exciting discussion group meets monthly at the library. For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library

Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, March 16th - 1:00 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss THE PLACES IN BETWEEN, by Rory Stewart.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

An Evening with Author Naomi C. Desiderio
Tuesday, March 16th - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
Cranford resident Naomi C. Desiderio, author of HELL AT SEA, will be at the library to discuss and read from her book. Copies will be available for sale and signing.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

Adult Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, March 23rd - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
This month's book selection is SMALL ISLAND by Andrea Levy. To reserve a copy of the book and to join in on the discussion please ask/call the circulation desk.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, April 20th - 1:00 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss OLIVE KITTERIDGE, by Elizabeth Strout.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

An Evening of Italian Music with Salvatore Chiarelli
Wednesday, April 21st - 7:30 to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
Noted tenor Salvatore Chiarelli will be at the library singing all or your favorite Italian/Neapolitan songs and arias. Don't miss this chance to hear Mr Chiarelli!
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library

Adult Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, April 27th - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
This month's selection is MY LIFE IN FRANCE by Julia Child. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Read the book, join in on the discussion
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

Evening Book Club
Monday, May 3rd - 7:15 pm

Scotch Plains Library
We will discuss THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. This month's meeting will be held in the Music Room.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Adult Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, May 18th - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
This month's selection is MANHUNT by James Swanson. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. Read the book, join in on the discussion
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, May 18th - 1:00 pm

Scotch Plains Library
We will discuss ALL MY SONS, by Arthur Miller. This month's meeting will be held in the Music Room.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Evening Book Club
Monday, June 7th - 7:15 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss HANDS OF MY FATHER,by Myron Uhlberg.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Afternoon Book Club
Tuesday, June 15th - 1:00 pm

Scotch Plains Library Community Room
We will discuss WINNIE AND WOLF, by A.N. Wilson.
For more information call (908) 322-5007

Adult Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, June 29th - 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Fanwood Library - Adult Department
The book for discussion this month is GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Steig Larssen. Copies of the book will be available at the circulation date 4 weeks before the discussion night. All are welcome to read the book and join the discussion.
For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400
Organized by Fanwood Memorial Library

This is a listing of ALL upcoming events.