]]> Meghan Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:29:58 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11832

]]> Meghan Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:27:06 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11607
     The database is available both in the library and, through remote access, on patrons’ home computers via the Internet.  Remote access, of course, allows patrons to use the database 24/7.  The program features real instructors and allows users to connect with other students.  Continuing Education Units are offered on selected courses.
 
     Among the subjects offered are computer training, personal finance, GED training, pet and animal care, health services training, music and painting.  Courses include digital photography, life coaching, Microsoft Publisher 2007, MS Word 2007, time management, wedding planning, writing basics 101, dealing with difficult people, anatomy and physiology, cell and molecular biology, Excel 2007, to name just a few of the many offerings.

     For the course listings and availability details, contact Reference Librarian Beth Van Ness.  Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton.  Library hours are Monday-Thursday 10:00-8:00, Friday 10:00-5:00 and, beginning September 8, Saturday 10:00-5:00.  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:58:10 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11606      Representing a variety of media including watercolor, print, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the show includes works by Canton and other Farmington Valley artists:  Walter Kendra, Walt Hampton, Susan Crawford, Mary Louise Pech, Harriet Fox, Pat Carrigan, Lois McDonald, Kent McCoy, Chris London, Tom Kutz, Florin Firimiter, Ruth Warner, Arthur Chouinard, Selma Gage, and Helen Galick.
     In addition to the works which have been enjoyed by patrons in past exhibits of the library’s permanent collection are recent additions by Wick Knaus, Lori Knaus, Marcia Buch, and Gregory Kriss.
      Canton Public Library, which is at 40 Dyer Avenue, is open Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday 10:00-5:00, and, beginning September 8, Saturday 10:00-5:00.   For information: (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:52:00 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11353
     Through the month of August, Canton Public Library’s Gallery features the work of Chris O’Herron and Tom Kutz, two Canton artists who have studios in the Axe Factory.  The show opened on July 5 and will run through Friday, August 31.
     
     O’Herron, who grew up in Simsbury, draws upon the Connecticut landscape for inspiration, including the familiar tobacco fields and semi-rural settings near his home.  His landscapes are oil, and his portraits are oil or charcoal.  “With its subtle nuances, charcoal is an ideal medium for expressive portraiture,” said O’Herron.  His portraits of loved ones and family pets have become very popular commissions for him.
    
     Chris has donated his time and art to help raise money and awareness for the Junior League of Waterbury, Chip In For A Cure (a charity for Cancer research), "Shakespearience" (a non-profit educational group for kids), and several area churches.  He has also drawn a charcoal rendition of Simsbury’s famous “Pinchot Sycamore” which was included in – and later purchased from – the CT Department of Environmental Protection’s Art From CT Forests exhibit.  The traveling educational show featured 50 artists and craftpersons who created art using the material from one single CT Oak tree in order to promote forests and healthy
land management ideas.

     He has had solo shows in Connecticut at The McLean Home, Miss Porter’s School, FastFrame of Avon, and Gallery 101 Main in Collinsville.  He has exhibited paintings and portraits at the Maine Art Gallery in Kennebunkport, ME; the Beth Ellis Cove Gallery in Ogunquit, ME; Gallery On the Green in Canton, CT; Green Trees Gallery in Northfield, MA; Autumn Light Studio & Gallery in Avon, CT; the Talcott Mountain Music Festival in Simsbury, CT; and the Simsbury, Farmington and Prosser (Bloomfield) Libraries in CT.   His work can always be found on the walls of Brookside Bagels, in Simsbury, and Rootz Hair Salon, in Collinsville.

     He graduated from Syracuse University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration.  Beyond the classroom experience, he had the opportunity to study and paint in Florence, Italy, in 2000.

     Tom Kutz was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. “I have been taking pictures since I received my first camera at the age of 7,” said Kutz.   He attended Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating with a B.F.A. in Photo Illustration. “After college I traveled for a few years working on Cruise ships as a photographer. For the last 25 years I have worked as a commercial photographer photographing people, places and products.  My personal photos are based on a surreal reality.” Kutz has shown his work in galleries and shows throughout the last 30 years and has made Collinsville his home for the last 20 years.

     Said Kutz, “The photos that I create are usually based in a surreal point of view. I enjoy images that give the viewers a treat if they spend the time to look at them. Most of my pictures are very personal to me in one way or another. I tend to create art as an outlet for the daily stress of life. Sometimes the photos work, sometimes they don't, but  I enjoy using photography as my artistic medium.”

     CantonPublic Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton.  Library hours are Monday-Thursday 10:00-8:00, and Friday 10:00-5:00 and Saturday 10:00-1:00 through August 25).  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:04:37 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11326      The Friends of the Canton Public Library are busy collecting and organizing donations for their September book sale, a process that began on June 20.  Over the summer they will be collecting books, music CD’s, recorded books, and DVD’s for their sale on September 8 and 9.  All those books that are spilling out of your shelves could find a new home and earn some money for the library in the process.  And of course your  donations will make the 2012 Friends Book Sale bigger and better than ever and will give you a tax deduction.
 
     Book and other items may be dropped off any time during library hours:  Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Friday and Saturdays from 10:00-1:00 through August 25.  The last day for dropping off books is Saturday, August 25.
 
     The Friends have been holding a book sale for over 30 years, beginning with a table at the Lions Club Flea Market, later moving to Joel Fried’s Funnybones at the Canton Green shopping complex, then to a booth on Sam Collins Day, and finally to the Canton Community Center in 2003.  Along with a change in location has come a huge increase in the number of items for sale.  And as technology has burgeoned and media have proliferated, the “book sale” has become more than just books.
 
     What hasn’t changed is the reputation that the Friends of the Canton Public Library have built over the years.  “Everybody says how organized we are.  We sort and categorize to the nth degree,” said Carol Stevens, who heads up the drive. 
 
     As a volunteer organization, the Friends are always looking for a few good volunteers, especially for help with the book drive, which requires constant and extensive sorting throughout the summer.  Anyone wishing to volunteer a few hours is asked to contact Carol Stevens by leaving a message at the library, 693-5800.  Training will be provided.
 
     The Friends emphasize that all donated items must be in good condition.  Books that are yellowed, ripped, tattered, highlighted, or underlined cannot be accepted for the book sale.  Magazines, encyclopedias, textbooks, the Time-Life series, computer books, condensed books, and VHS tapes will not be accepted. 
 
     CantonPublic Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue in Canton.  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:16:58 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11169     It has become very cool to be a geek, and Canton Public Library will be a very cool place to be a geek this summer.  Children’s Librarian Heather Baker has announced the theme for the library’s summer reading program:  “The Great Geek Summer of 2012.”  Young readers will have many programs and events to fill their summer hours.
 
    Being a geek has become a culturally popular phenomenon.  A geek is one who has an intense passion and an extensive knowledge of a particular theme or topic, such as superheroes, vampires and zombies, Star Wars, Star Trek, or legos.  Geeks demonstrate thorough involvement in their passion and nearly encyclopedic mastery of the topic.
 
    “The Great Geek Summer of 2012” is a summer reading theme unique to Canton Public Library, according to Baker.  “The theme grew out of the community,” she said.  The town is a comfortable place for both kids and adults to pursue their “geeky” interests, and the library supports those pursuits.
 
    The summer reading program officially begins the week of July 2 and wraps up the week of August 13.  Our fourth annual Pool Party & Dunk Tank will be held on August 16 at Mills Pond for school-aged participants (you have to earn your way in!)  The Pool Party is sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Public Library, with the help of the staff of Canton Parks & Recreation.  Our Preschool Music Party, with Starr & Shello, will be held on August 14 at the library.  Sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Public Library, the wrap party is for children aged 2 and up.  Refreshments will be provided by ShopRite of Canton.  No registration is required.
           
    Summer at the library is packed full of activities for all ages and all interests.   Programs include A Readers Theater Club, A Singers Theater Club, and two Book Buddies groups.  Movies on the Big Screen (with free hot popcorn) will be shown on Thursday evenings at 6:30. Tuesday morning drop-in story times with Ms. Heather will meet at 10:30 AM from July 3 to August 7.  
 
    An addition to the summer offerings is a craft series, “Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities,” which begins on Monday, July 2 and runs through Monday, August 6.  Themes for the crafting workshops, which will be held on Mondays at 4:30 PM, include straw rockets, match-box balloon-powered cars, and crash-test dummies.  Each activity will require separate registration and each may be geared for different age ranges.  Youngsters are limited to participation in two of the activities.
 
     Special events include a performance by the Canton High School Ukulele Club on Tuesday, July 10 at 7:00 PM.    On Tuesday, July 24, the library hosts Jim Napolitano and his Nappy’s Puppets in a Sing-Along, sure to be popular with children ages 2 and up.  (The puppet show takes the place of the drop-in story time on that day.)
 
    “Movies on the Big Screen,” always a popular outing for children, seniors,  and families, will feature many of the popular new releases, including The Mysterious Island, The Adventures of Tin Tin, The Muppets, The Goonies, Hercules, and The Lorax.  

    This summer the Book Buddies Program (Teens Read to Kids) features two groups, one meeting on Thursday mornings and one meeting on Wednesdays in the early evening.  Both groups will meet for five weeks, beginning the week of July 9 and ending the week of August 6.  Registration for children (ages 3-7) is absolutely required; registration opened on June 11.  Teen volunteerscan fill out an application in the children’s room.  The Book Buddies program is sponsored by the Canton Dental Center and Jason Kasprzak, DDS.
            
    Readers Theater is for youngsters ages 6 and up who love to perform and are able readers.  The group, which this year has a Dr. Seuss theme, will meet for the week of July 30 to August 6 with a “Summer Seuss Celebration” performance on the evening of August 6th.  Readers Theater will once again be led by Heather Nielsen, a recent Hampshire College graduate who will be a Masters Degree candidate at the University of Massachusetts in the fall.  This will be Nielsen’s fourth year leading the program.

   Singers Theater, led by Michael Coderre, will meet from July 12 to 19 with a performance on July 19^th.  Singers Theater is for ages 8 and up, does not require an audition, and will use music based on the interests and abilities of the participants.  Coderre has a Master’s Degree in Voice and in Music Composition from the University of Alberta.  He is Director of Choirs at Bristol Eastern High School and the Music Director at Asbury United Methodist Church in Forestville.  He has more than 20 years of experience working with youth performers and singers of all ages.

     Registration is required for both the Readers Theater and Singers Theater programs, and youngsters and parents are warned that these programs fill up quickly.  All participants must be available for their performances.  

    Tuesday Morning Drop-In Story Times with Ms. Heather will meet every Tuesday morning from July 3 to August 7 at 10:30 a.m.  Themes will include superheroes and local heroes, birds behaving badly, platypuses, a galaxy far away, and “yarn-bombing,” to name a few.  Story time includes stories, songs, a short movie, a craft and a snack, for ages 2 and up.

    Thanks to a technology grant from The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, youngsters will have some very exciting science programming this summer on Friday afternoons from July 6 through August 10.  Using our new laptop computer lab, educators from The Talcott Mountain Science Center will present entertaining and educational programs on sound waves, astronomy, bubbles and optical illusions.  The programs are geared for different ages and require separate registration.  Advance registration is required, and youngsters may register for up to two programs.

    Summer Reading Logs for school-aged children and preschoolers will be available starting on the last day of school.  Coupons/Prizes/Bracelets earned for the completion of summer reading goals will be available only starting on July 2 through August 16.  The library will also have copies of the books from all Canton schools summer reading lists, and we have copies of those lists available in the library all summer long. 

    As in years past, the summer reading program is supported by a number of community businesses, including Applebee’s, Ben & Jerry's of Canton, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Canton Creamery at Petals & Paws, McDonald's of Canton, and Riverfront Mini-Golf, all of which will supply coupons for reader treats.

    Prizes will be supplied by other businesses, Bremar Rental, Benidorm Bike, Canton Dental Center, Children's Museum of Connecticut, Collinsville Canoe & Kayak,  Cosi of Avon, Glow Cove of Canton, ImagineNation Museum, International Skating Center of Simsbury, Joe Pizza, Jump Zone, Kiddly Winks, Perfect Toy of Avon, Simsbury Commons Cinema, Ski Sundown, Target, Warner Theater of Torrington, Wal-Mart of Avon, Flatbread Company, Joni’s Child Care, Larsen Ace Hardware, and ShopRite of Canton.  Every prize winner—child, teen, and adult—will, in addition to his or her prize, walk away with a gift certificate to Flatbread Company in The Shoppes of Farmington Valley.  And every child and teen who wins a prize will also receive a book, many of them signed by the author.  (This is, after all, summer reading.)

    Registration for one-time programs and the program series began on Monday, June 11 for Canton residents. Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton.  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Thu, 31 May 2012 12:48:23 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=6128&BlogID=212&BlogPostID=11130      For the month of June, Canton Public Library’s display case will hold its first “Couples Collections,” featuring the collections of Ray and Dru McNeill.  The display will run from Friday, June 1 through Saturday, June 30.  On display will be hourglasses and alphabet books.
 
     Originally from West Hartford, Ray moved to Canton in 1968. He has been fascinated by hourglasses since he was a boy. Ray has acquired quite a few from various sources including antique shops, tag sales, catalogues, friends, and family.  He has one which is made from an old mill company spool; one that hung from a ship to keep it level as the movement of the sea caused it to rock; and another, his favorite, which is a plexiglass column with the hourglass itself set inside. Ray’s collection includes various materials and a variety of colored sands.
           
     Ray's wife, Dru, has been collecting alphabet books for a number of years. Perhaps her years as a teacher in Canton encouraged the idea for this type of book.  Her specialty alphabet books come from a number of sources, including catalogues and museums.
 
     Library hours are Monday-Thursday 10:00-8:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00-5:00.  Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton.  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org

]]> Meghan Thu, 24 May 2012 10:48:30 GMT