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Join this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Dan Santat, as he inspires tweens and teens to tell their own stories through graphic novels. His winning book, A First Time for Everything, is a graphic memoir based on his own awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.

Dan Santat began drawing as a young boy and although he first studied microbiology, he pursued his passion in illustration. He spent many hours as a child and teenager teaching himself to draw by copying illustrations from comic books until he developed the unique, recognizable style that we see today. His talk will inspire listeners to draw their own story as well as give them practical tips on the creation of graphic novels.
 

All are welcome to join the Kemmerer Library Book Club! The group meets in the library every other Tuesday at 1:30p.m.
Books are available in hard copy or on the Kemmerer Kindles. 

Upcoming dates are:

Aug 6th - “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hill” by Robert Dugoni

Aug 20th - “Brooklyn” and “Long Island” by Colm Toibin

Sept 2nd - “The Glassmaker” by Tracey Chevalier 

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You’re invited to virtually step inside one of the greatest international achievements with a behind-the-scenes guide to space exploration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur.
Revealing a new perspective into the world of space exploration and the daring astronauts who make it possible, Dr. Levasseur will guide you through the Smithsonian’s Behind the Scenes at the Space Station and take you on a once-in-a-lifetime virtual tour of the International Space Station. 

You will learn what the astronauts do once they make it to the space station, from experiments to repairs and so much more! Have you ever wondered if plants could grow in outer space? Or how the space station doesn’t break down in outer space? Or how astronauts go to the toilet in microgravity?

Behind the Scenes at the Space Station is a treasure trove of information. Did you know that during a 24-hour period, the space station completes 16 orbits of Earth and the astronauts on board see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day? Or that the International Space Station is so enormous that it was launched in pieces and constructed in orbit?
Brimming with astonishing visuals, step-by-step explanations of everyday space work in action, and job profiles of the adventurous people who make it happen, Dr. Levasseur’s tour Behind the Scenes at the Space Station is the perfect way to spend an hour and experience life in space.

Join us to make button flowers! What a special treat to make as a gift or to keep for yourself! Button Bouquet–in a Salt & Pepper Shaker! Just like our July craft, these button bouquets in a parmesan shaker are so easy to make and so pretty to look at. 
Priority is given to Harding residents.

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Another college application season is around the corner, and stress is already beginning to ratchet up for teens and their parents. You’re invited to join us for this must-watch talk by Irena Smith, PhD. You will hear about constructive and healthy ways to approach the college application process, preserve your relationship with your teen, and help them define success on their terms instead of chasing the elusive “golden ticket.”

Irena is a former Stanford Admissions Officer who has spent 18 years advising accomplished, tightly-wound students in Palo Alto and around the world. She saw firsthand the extreme measures parents took to help their children gain admission to highly selective colleges and the toll it took on the children as well as on their parents.

At the same time, Irena’s own children struggled with developmental delays, learning differences, severe depression, and anxiety. She kept her double life—successful college counselor at work, anxious mom at home—tightly under wraps for years until a stunning realization: she was exactly like the anxious parents of the students she worked with, all of whom were equally terrified about their children's future. Irena’s memoir, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays, which candidly explores her personal as well as professional life, was published in 2023, and she has since devoted her time to speaking out about hard things: the heavy burden of generational expectations, teen and young adult mental health, and the importance of embracing a broader, more generous vision of what it means to succeed. To learn more about Irena’s personal experience as a parent, professional experience as a college admissions officer, and leave with tips on how to help your child approach the application process in practical, healthy ways–register now!

About the Author: Irena Smith is an author, former Stanford admissions officer, independent college counselor, and mother of three extraordinary children. She emigrated from the former Soviet Union with her parents when she was nine years old. In spite of her fierce insistence that she would never, not ever, learn English, she went on to earn a BA in English and then a PhD in Comparative Literature (both from UCLA, where she received a Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award and Dissertation Year Fellowship). Irena taught literature and composition at UCLA and Stanford before transitioning to college admissions, college advising, and writing. Her recently published memoir, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays is the winner of the Story Circle Network's Gilda Award, named in honor of comedian Gilda Radner to recognize honest, authentic writing that "makes us laugh even when we want to cry." It's been described by Forbes as “captivating and smart… a potential antidote to the fevered belief that being admitted to an elite college will spell the difference between a successful life vs. a doomed future.” She has given a TEDx talk on humanizing the college application process and writes about parenting, college admissions, and redefining success in her weekly Substack newsletter, The Golden Ticket (is not what you think). You can also find her on Substack at Personal Statements. 

All are welcome to join the Kemmerer Library Book Club! The group meets in the library every other Tuesday at 1:30p.m.
Books are available in hard copy or on the Kemmerer Kindles. 

Upcoming dates are:

Aug 6th - “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hill” by Robert Dugoni

Aug 20th - “Brooklyn” and “Long Island” by Colm Toibin

Sept 2nd - “The Glassmaker” by Tracey Chevalier 

REGISTER

We invite you to join us as we chat with the amazing New York Times bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved novel Remarkably Bright Creatures. You don’t want to miss this deep-dive exploration of friendship, reckoning, hope, and so much more!

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium—and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance 30 years ago.

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over 30 years ago.

As she works, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old, invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope–a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. Register now for a conversation you just don't want to miss!

About the Author: Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, was published by Ecco/HarperCollins (US) and Bloomsbury (UK) in Spring 2022 and was an Instant New York Times bestseller and has sold a million and a half copies. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she’s now missing the mountains in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.

 

We will be joining Kristen Eannetta, M.Ed on zoom, as she strives to answer a parent’s most challenging question on a daily basis: "What do I put in my kid’s lunchbox?".  Kristen’s presentation will give participants an overview of ingredients to avoid in products, the negative effects of these ingredients on kids as it relates to their education, swaps for better choices, and healthier lunch options!

As a mother and a teacher for the last 10 years, Kristen has seen the direct impact food has on our children; as well as, on herself.  Her goal has been to raise awareness about making more informed choices about what we eat.

 

Nestled in the heart of southern Tuscany, Massa Marittima is a town rich in history, culture, and culinary delight. Its medieval architecture and picturesque landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for experiencing the true essence of Tuscany. Surprisingly, it is not one of the top tourist destinations.  One of the most delightful aspects of a visit to Massa Marittima, especially during the summer, is the opportunity to savor the region's exquisite cuisine. Tuscan summertime food is a celebration of fresh, local ingredients and traditional cooking methods, creating flavors that are both simple and profound. 
In lieu of travel to Tuscany, you can join Elaine Trigiani on a live virtual visit incorporating both sightseeing and cooking on Saturday, August 31 at 12:30p.m.

REGISTER HERE
(https://www.elainetrigiani.com/benvenuti-massa-register)

 Once you register, you will receive an email confirmation. NOTE that the link to join the program is sent via email on the Tuesday prior to the program, a reminder will be sent on Friday, and the program is live on Saturday, August 31 at noon. 

All are welcome to join the Kemmerer Library Book Club! The group meets in the library every other Tuesday at 1:30p.m.
Books are available in hard copy or on the Kemmerer Kindles. 

Upcoming dates are:

Aug 6th - “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hill” by Robert Dugoni

Aug 20th - “Brooklyn” and “Long Island” by Colm Toibin

Sept 2nd - “The Glassmaker” by Tracey Chevalier 

REGISTER


Don’t forget to register for this incredibly moving virtual chat with New York Times bestselling author Garrett Graff! An expert at capturing the human drama, Graff will speak about his body of work with particular focus on his oral histories, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day. 

Much has been written and said about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the profound impact they had on America and the world. But those names, stories, and memories have never before been collected in one place to tell the full, 360-degree story of what happened that day, and in the days after. In The Only Plane in the Sky, award-winning journalist Garrett Graff draws on never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, and original interviews and stories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members to paint the most comprehensive, minute-by-minute account of the September 11 attacks yet, all told in the words of those who experienced that dramatic and tragic day. 

In his most recent work, When the Sea Came Alive, Graff explores the full impact of a world changing event: D-Day, one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. This book dives deep into the complexities—from the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world.

Graff’s work, filled with impressive detail, captures a human drama and history like no other. Register today!

About the Author: Garrett M. Graff has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security. The former editor of Politico and contributor to Wired and CNN, he’s written for publications from Esquire to Rolling Stone to The New York Times, and today serves as the director of the cyber initiative at the Aspen Institute. Graff is the author of multiple books, including the FBI history The Threat Matrix, Raven Rock (about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans), When the Sea Came Alive (an oral history of D-Day), and the New York Times bestsellers The Only Plane in the Sky and Watergate, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History.

Please join us for Great Decisions 2024!
Please sign up once and plan to attend all 4 fall sessions. The dates are: TBD

The topics being covered are as follows:

NATO’s future

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February
2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
has come under increased scrutiny, not because
NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because
of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors.
Will expanding membership in NATO protect
countries, or will it further provoke Russia?
 
Understanding Indonesia
 
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually
invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s
largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority
nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN,
why does it fly below the radar? What are current
issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can
the country play in Asia?
 
High Seas Treaty
 
Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise
the high seas, which are facing a degradation of
ecosystems due to climate change and the increase
in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing,
pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated
High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity
Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to
address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince
nations to participate?
 
Pandemic preparedness
 
Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many
lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international
policies. Although this pandemic seems to have
waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics?
Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus
emerge on how to manage global health challenges?

Join us along with Arlene Ferris-Waks, Director, Complaints and Investor Outreach of the New Jersey Bureau of Securities in the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General as she presents Investment Fraud.

Investment Fraud – Learn about the many different types of investment scams and the ways that investors can protect themselves from becoming victims of these types of fraud. This discussion will also include so-called "romance scams" as well as cryptocurrency scams.

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Join us as New York Times bestselling author and philosopher Nate Klemp helps us explore pathways back to openminded living when he talks to us about the core tenets in his new book Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World. 

With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. We close off to ourselves by compulsively checking our devices. We close to each other by getting caught in echo chambers of outrage. But what if there’s another way? In this climate of distraction and division, Nate Klemp’s Open offers a path back to a way of living that is expansive, creative, and filled with wonder.

Drawing on personal stories, scientific findings, and traditional wisdom, Klemp explores why we close down when faced with stressors or threats―then reveals why training ourselves to fully engage even with discomfort, pain, and sadness leads to greater well-being in the long run. 

About the Author: Nate Klemp, PhD, is a philosopher, writer, and mindfulness entrepreneur. He is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Start Here, the New York Times critics’ pick The 80/80 Marriage, and his newest book, Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World. His work has been featured in the LA Times, Psychology Today, the Times of London, and more, and his appearances include Good Morning America and Talks at Google. He’s a cofounder of LifeXT and founding partner at Mindful. For more, visit nateklemp.com or @Nate_Klemp on Instagram.
 

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If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate? If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny? Join us as we chat with mega-bestselling author Liane Moriarty about her newest novel Here One Moment. Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world.  

In Here One Moment, aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed. Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.” Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable. 

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel. Be sure to register now!

About the Author: Liane Moriarty is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Truly Madly Guilty, Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, The Hypnotist’s Love Story, What Alice Forgot, Apples Never Fall, and Here One Moment. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

In the U.S. political system voter profiles are targeted by all parties and candidates. Demographics can be political destiny. What do the 2024 polls indicate about the demographic trends that will be important in this election cycle? Also, what will be the impact of the Electoral College system of selecting the president on the outcome in 2024?
Presented by Professor Ian Drake, Montclair State University

Join us to talk all things food - recipes, memories, restaurants, etc. In October we will be sharing our favorite SIDES FOR THE HOLIDAYS recipes.

Join us for an engaging conversation with art historian Jay Schuck, as he discusses Leonardo da Vinci's artistic theories and practices in relation to the conditions of his time. Works to be examined include the Virgin of the Rock, the Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, and more.

The World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, was held in 1893 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World. Not to be outdone, Norway’s contribution to the Fair set out to show that its forbears arrived in North America well before Columbus ever set sail. How? By building and sailing a replica of a true Viking ship across the Atlantic, thereby proving that the Vikings could have made the trip centuries before Columbus was even born. It was not until the 1960s, over 67 years after the Chicago World’s Fair, that conclusive evidence of Viking settlement in North America was finally established, at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Timothy Boyce will tell the story of the Viking Ship, its amazing transatlantic voyage in 1893, its receptIon in the New World, and its subsequent history.