Submitted by Tammy Eustis
(April 25, 2025) — The following programs and events will take place at Killingworth Library during the month of May, 2025. Please remember that all library programs require pre-registration, so that staff can prepare supplies and seating. Visit the Calendar on the library’s website – killingworthlibrary.org – or call 860-663-2000.
Tic Tac Towhee – Begins Thursday, May 1, 2025. Everyone’s favorite bird identification game returns! Starting on the first day of May, download a game sheet and instructions from our webpage, or pick up a copy in the library. Simply identify the birds, and submit your entry by May 31, 2025 to be entered into a drawing for a grand prize! Participants who return a completed game sheet will receive a bird nesting ball (while supplies last), provided to the library by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County and Pocketful of Posies. The grand prize winner will be contacted during the first week of June, 2025.
Mother’s Day Surprise – Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. We’re making Mother’s Day extra-special! Attendees will learn a poem, a song, and make a gift. At 11:15 a.m., we’ll invite in all the moms and other special people to see and hear our Mother’s Day surprises. Appropriate for ages 3 and up.
Connecticut Goes to War: 80th Anniversary Tribute – Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. History educator Phil Devlin returns with a fascinating talk on World War II. Few people realize that of the more than nine thousand Americans buried in the well known American cemetery in Normandy, three are women, and two of those women were from Connecticut. Few also realize that the highest ranking American General killed in the war was heroic General Maurice Rose of Middletown, who served under General George Patton. The interesting stories of the six Fuller brothers from Suffield who served in the war are also part of the presentation, as is the story of Ulmont Whitehead of Hartford, killed aboard the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Additionally, there are many interesting stories related to the creation of Bradley Field, as well as stories about the people who trained there…and more. The talk will be 45 minutes, with time for questions at the end. A follow-up to this program is planned for September 2, 2025.
Adult Movie Night – Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Join us for a viewing of Midnight in Paris, written and directed by Woody Allen, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay. Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancee (Rachel McAdams), he has taken to touring the city alone. On one such late-night excursion, Gil encounters a group of strange — yet familiar — revelers who sweep him along, apparently back in time, for a night with some of the Jazz Age’s icons of art and literature. The more time Gil spends with these cultural heroes of the past, the more dissatisfied he becomes with the present. We will be meeting in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00 p.m.. The movie runs 1 hour and 30 minutes. Feel free to bring your own snacks and (covered, non-alcoholic) drinks!
Author Talk: Houdini’s Last Handcuffs – Friday, May 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Author Charlie Young will be at Killingworth Library to discuss his novel, Houdini’s Last Handcuffs, as well as his family’s legacy of research on Harry Houdini and stage magic. More about the book: “Houdini’s Last Handcuffs weaves a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and fantasy in 1950’s Manhattan. On the 30th anniversary of Houdini’s death, three young friends, given the gift of a mystical Ouija board by the enigmatic writer Walter Gibson, find themselves thrust into a world of wonder. While the adults attempt to reach Houdini in a séance at his former residence, the children unknowingly call upon the great magician, not through the Ouija board or séance, but via an enigmatic pair of handcuffs from their father’s magic collection. Houdini, in dire need of their aid, reveals a hidden notebook filled with scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. This notebook is a puzzle, locked behind Houdini’s cryptic code.”
Great Gatsby Night – Saturday, May 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Barrel House. Killingworth Library invites you to one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties. As invites go, this is the hottest ticket in town – or lack thereof – as it’s a free event! We will be celebrating the book’s 100th anniversary and hosting our new Friends of the Library group. Step back in time and into the glitz and glamour of the roaring twenties, where you can spend the evening listening to live music, clinking glasses with the Friends of the Library, and learning about this new group. There will be Gatsby-inspired props and photo opportunities, and dressing up is encouraged (but not required). Follow killingworthlibrary.org or facebook.com/killingworthlibrary for further details. Welcome back to the Roaring Twenties! We can’t wait to see all of you there.
Art for All: Painting with Acrylics – Monday, May 12, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. Ever wonder what it might be like to try abstract painting with acrylic paints? How would you get started? This mini-presentation, for the beginner or dreamer, will introduce you to the possibilities of what you can do with this medium – even if you can’t draw a straight line. We’ll discuss basic terms, types of acrylics, brands to love and brands to avoid, use of water, using tools (palette knives, brushes, hair dryer, tape, combs and spinner), types of canvas and paper, combining colors, and just how to get started. Helen Hadley, a retiree who paints and donates proceeds of her sales to breast cancer research, will bring humor and tips to this fun presentation! Appropriate for adults and seniors.
String Some Bling This Spring! – Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Create a colorful paper Spring garland with your own handmade ornaments, to bring cheer to your room or to give as a gift. As usual, all materials will be provided, and there will be oodles of embellishments to add to the bling. For ages 13+.
Prepare Your Inner Mama Bear – Friday, May 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Killingworth Library is proud to present a special session aimed at building a safer citizenry. This session will be free, but please register, as space will be limited. This will be an introductory seminar for the non-Martial Artist, interested in developing life and property-protecting wisdom to pair with their powerful in-born instinct to fight back. This workshop does not require Martial Arts experience, athletic experience, or indeed any prior knowledge.
This is about expanding what we know… to support what we know deep down. No one will be expected to do anything during this seminar apart from taking a seat and taking notes. Depending on who attends and their experience/fitness/interest levels, we may get into some practical movements. The seminar is geared toward having people develop an understanding of the elements of safety for themselves and their family and property…NOT learning how to kick and punch and throw and block. Please visit the library’s Calendar for further details on this event.
