Community Crafters Thursdays, January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30 –Noon Join us in the Kennebunk Room each Thursday morning to knit, crochet, do needlework or whatever other creative endeavor you are working on. The Library will provide the space to work and socialize; you just need to bring along your own project.
Voting Down the Rose Saturday, January 4 at 3:00 p.m. Please join us for a talk by Anne B. Gass, author of a biography of her great-grandmother, Florence Brooks Whitehouse entitled Voting Down the Rose: Florence Brooks Whitehouse and Maine's Fight for Woman Suffrage. Slides of historic photos accompany this lively talk and there will be time set aside for Q & A. This program is part of a yearlong series of events sponsored by the York Diversity Forum celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Copies of Gass’s book will be available for purchase and signing. (Snow date: Jan. 18 at 3 PM.)
Italian Conversation Tuesday, January 7 at 6:30 p.m. Parliamo Italiano! Join us for casual conversation in Italian. Suitable for those with intermediate to advanced conversational skills in the Italian language.
In partnership with area practitioners, the library is pleased to offer a weekly meditation program. Dress comfortably and if you have your own cushion, please bring it with you. The library has a limited number of meditation cushions available on a first come, first serve basis. This program is free and open to all ages and abilities. No prior experience needed.
“The Great Hack” Camden Conference Community Event Sunday, January 12 at 3:00 p.m. This 2019 documentary explores how a data company named Cambridge Analytica came to symbolize the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election: the weaponization of personal data from Facebook for political purposes. Directed by Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim. 114 minutes. This film is being shown as part of the Camden Conference Community Events Program. The 2020 theme for the Camden Conference is “The Media Revolution: Changing the World” and the Conference itself will take place in Camden on February 21-23, 2020. FMI: www.CamdenConference.org
“America the Anxious” Book Talk Tuesday, January 14 at 10:30 a.m. Mary Behnke, York resident and former educator at the University of Chicago and Phillips Exeter Academy, will present a book talk on Ruth Whippman’s book, "America the Anxious: Why Our Search for Happiness is Driving Us Crazy and How to Find It for Real." The search for happiness is a universal one. Aristotle's "Ethics" deals with the relationship between happiness and virtue; through the ages others have added their advice. Whippman relates the competition of our late Capitalist society to America's high reported rate of unhappiness. Although "America the Anxious" is written in a humorous, memoir form, it contains sharp, insightful cultural judgments. A native of the U.K., the author sees America through a wide angle lens. (Please note, Book Talks are intended to serve as an introduction to a new book. It is not necessary to read the book prior to the meeting. These are NOT author talks.) This talk was rescheduled from December 3 due to snow.
Susan Ricker Knox Exhibit Art Reception Tuesday, January 14, 4:45 – 6:45 PM Works by Susan Ricker Knox (1874-1959) will be on exhibit on the main level of the Library January – March. This is a Community Collects Exhibit with pieces from private collections and public institutions brought together solely for this exhibition. Susan Ricker Knox was born in Portsmouth, but maintained a lifelong connection with York. She began summering in York as early as 1893 and, after attending art schools in Philadelphia and New York, returned to build her arts and crafts cottage and studio in York Harbor where she and her widowed mother spent half of every year for more than thirty years. She was known originally as a portraitist of mothers and children, but after 1922, her work took a major turn that made Knox one of the most famous women artists in the country. She painted immigrants coming into the country at Ellis Island and later painted Native Americans and people of Mexico and Central America. Historian Richard Candee will speak about Knox and her work. Refreshments will be available. All are welcome.
York History with James Kences Thursday, January 16 at 10:30 a.m. James Kences will lead a new history series for 2020 that will focus on York in the 17th century. This monthly series will feature an intensive examination of the 1600’s as revealed in the study of a group of personalities, who together, represent the momentous changes the town was to experience in the formative period. The January session will look at Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his role as proprietor of the region.
Monthly Poetry Evening Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. Please bring poems to share - either your own or favorite poems by someone else. The prompt for January is “pine”; the topic is open for interpretation. Readings from poetry books are welcome. Readings occur in round table format and are facilitated by Priscilla Cookson. Drop-ins welcome.
Curt Bessette and Jenn Kurtz Winter Concert Series Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 p.m. After hosting many years of Winter Concerts, Curt and Jenn return to actually host ... themselves! Performing many of their original tunes they will also be including music from their Veterans Tribute concerts, AND highlights from their "Woodstock 50th Anniversary" program! Come enjoy an afternoon of songs and stories and Jenn's wonderful harmonies!
Medicare Seminar Wednesday, January 29 at 2:30 p.m. Informative and educational seminars offered by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging are designed to help answer your Medicare questions. Certified State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Counselors will present information on Medicare in easy to understand language. Topics include: Benefits, coverage, premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, complaints and appeals, rights and procedures, and more. Please register in advance by phone (207) 396-6500, (800)-427-7411or online at www.smaaa.org
Art Exhibits at the Library
On the Main Level:
Susan Ricker Knox
Works by Susan Ricker Knox (1874-1959) will be on exhibit on the main level of the Library January – March. This is a Community Collects Exhibit with pieces from private collections and public institutions brought together solely for this exhibition. Susan Ricker Knox was born in Portsmouth, but maintained a lifelong connection with York. She began summering in York as early as 1893 and, after attending art schools in Philadelphia and New York, returned to build her arts and crafts cottage and studio in York Harbor where she and her widowed mother spent half of every year for more than thirty years. She was known originally as a portraitist of mothers and children, but after 1922, her work took a major turn that made Knox one of the most famous women artists in the country. She painted immigrants coming into the country at Ellis Island and later painted Native Americans and people of Mexico and Central America. Historian Richard Candee will speak about Knox and her work at a reception on Tuesday, January 14 at 4:45 p.m. Refreshments will be available. All are welcome.
In the Community Room:
Saltwater Sky Local artist Maryse Newton uses large brush strokes and palette knife in her latest collection inspired by the surrounding saltwater and vast open sky. Greys, blues, whites, and greens all emerge in these crisp, clean airy works on canvas. ‘Saltwater Sky’ will be on display until February 1, 2020.