Calendar

Join us for a repeat of last year’s event! Paint a pumpkin, create a graham cracker haunted house, and more! Ages 3+

Join us for this special event — A Meat for Tea author reading with Andrew Varnon! Andrew will read his essay “The Other Side of the Net”. This event is drop-in. 

In “The Other Side of the Net,” writer Andrew Varnon imagines playing tennis with the ghost of David Foster Wallace, the author of the monumental novel Infinite Jest. Wallace committed suicide in 2008, but has a devoted following of readers and fans. In his essay, Varnon describes how he came to read Wallace’s novel Infinite Jest through his interest in tennis. The novel is partially set at the fictional Enfield Tennis Academy in Massachusetts. In the tennis community, Wallace is also known for his essay on tennis icon Roger Federer, “Both Flesh and Not,” and is widely credited with the appellation for tennis as “chess on the run.” In his essay, Varnon engages Wallace’s writing style – complete with end notes – and explores the idea of how the activity of reading and writing is, in fact, like playing tennis.

Writer and teacher Andrew Varnon lives in Greenfield with his wife and family. He is the boys tennis coach at Greenfield High School and an active recreational tennis player. He is also a journalist and an award-winning poet. “The Other Side of the Net” was originally published online at The Smart Set (www.thesmartset.com/the-other-side-of-the-net/) and was republished locally in Meat for Tea. Varnon presented a portion of his essay to the David Foster Wallace Conference in Normal, Illinois, this June.

Author and artist Grace Desmarais is back! Grace will give background on her medical experience and then discuss her comic Spoons: a dairy on chronic illness, Tubes: diaries from the hospital and her up-coming book Healing Year. She will then hold a Q&A. At the end, attendees will have an opportunity to buy her mini comics and have them signed.

Artist Bio: 
Grace Desmarais is a French-Canadian illustrator and cartoonist. She currently lives in Eastern Massachusetts and spends most of her time drawing.

Grace Desmarais primarily self-publishes auto-bio comic while also being involved in a variety of anthologies. Most of Grace’s work is rooted in subjects like art history, dis/ability and personal experience. Her long-term goal is to be a published author/illustrator with a committed comics publisher.

State Representative Dan Carey will hold office hours at the Library. Drop-in and talk about the issues important to you! Learn more about Representative Carey on his MA Legislature webpage.

Participants will learn to work with conflict and effortlessly redirect it in a way that protects themselves. This program will provide an experiential study of self-defense techniques, personal awareness and partner relationships. Interactive instruction and demonstration will be followed by gentle, physical activity.

Participants will practice cultivating the skill and courage to stay in the present moment and face things as they are with an open heart. This is taught in a non-competitive and collaborative atmosphere suited for people of all ages, sizes, and athletic ability, no martial arts background is necessary.

Marin Goldstein began his study of Aikido in 1998, receiving his Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in 2016 from Robert Nadeau Shihan, 8th Dan (who was a direct student of the founder Morihei Ueshiba). Marin has primarily studied under the tutelage of Nadeau Shihan, but has also had the pleasure of studying with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Mary Heiny Sensei, Denise Barry Sensei, Forrest Kan Sensei and many other amazing teachers and practitioners too many to name but who have all encouraged the evolution of his practice. 

Participants will learn to work with conflict and effortlessly redirect it in a way that protects themselves. This program will provide an experiential study of self-defense techniques, personal awareness and partner relationships. Interactive instruction and demonstration will be followed by gentle, physical activity.

Participants will practice cultivating the skill and courage to stay in the present moment and face things as they are with an open heart. This is taught in a non-competitive and collaborative atmosphere suited for people of all ages, sizes, and athletic ability, no martial arts background is necessary.

Marin Goldstein began his study of Aikido in 1998, receiving his Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in 2016 from Robert Nadeau Shihan, 8th Dan (who was a direct student of the founder Morihei Ueshiba). Marin has primarily studied under the tutelage of Nadeau Shihan, but has also had the pleasure of studying with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Mary Heiny Sensei, Denise Barry Sensei, Forrest Kan Sensei and many other amazing teachers and practitioners too many to name but who have all encouraged the evolution of his practice. 

State Representative Dan Carey will hold office hours at the Library. Drop-in and talk about the issues important to you! Learn more about Representative Carey on his MA Legislature webpage.

Sherrill Hogen will give a talk about the current situation in Palestine based on her July visit there – her 16th annual fact-finding trip to the area.  She will include historical background and stories from people she interviewed. A slide show will illustrate the human face of Palestinians in the West Bank. We will have light refreshments.

Sherrill is a retired social worker who lives in Charlemont. She is an activist for peace and justice, concentrating on Palestine and racial justice issues. She is a member of the Ashfield United Church of Christ, Racial Justice Rising and the Middle East Peace and Justice Coalition.

Celebrate the New Year with your own Noise Maker! Drop in and create one to get started! We will have materials ready for you! Ages 3+

Participants will learn to work with conflict and effortlessly redirect it in a way that protects themselves. This program will provide an experiential study of self-defense techniques, personal awareness and partner relationships. Interactive instruction and demonstration will be followed by gentle, physical activity.

Participants will practice cultivating the skill and courage to stay in the present moment and face things as they are with an open heart. This is taught in a non-competitive and collaborative atmosphere suited for people of all ages, sizes, and athletic ability, no martial arts background is necessary.

Marin Goldstein began his study of Aikido in 1998, receiving his Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in 2016 from Robert Nadeau Shihan, 8th Dan (who was a direct student of the founder Morihei Ueshiba). Marin has primarily studied under the tutelage of Nadeau Shihan, but has also had the pleasure of studying with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Mary Heiny Sensei, Denise Barry Sensei, Forrest Kan Sensei and many other amazing teachers and practitioners too many to name but who have all encouraged the evolution of his practice.