Ridgefield Library

February 15th @ 7:00pm:   An enormously popular event in 2022, “An Evening of Rap, Hip-Hop & Poetry” returns for 2023, this time featuring five of Connecticut’s best-known spoken-word performers: Iyaba Ibo Mangingo, “Goddess” Tymani Rain, New London Poet Laureate Josh Brown (aka “AnUrbanNerd”), MayaRose, and Sharmont “Influence” Little. Ridgefield Poet Laureate Barb Jennes will host and lead a brief talk-back at the program’s conclusion.

IYABA IBO MANDINGO is a painter, poet, writer, actor, playwright, and Master Teaching Artist. In addition to three poetry chapbooks—41 Times, Amerikkkan Exile, and 40 days & 40 nites of write—Iyaba authored full-length poetry collection, You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56.

GODDESS TYMANI RAIN is a multifaceted artist who placed 3^rd in the 2023 Z Experience Poetry Slam and ranked 17^th in the 2021 International SIPS competition. Tymani currently hosts Poetz Realm Open Mic in Bridgeport on the 1st and 4th Wednesday of each month.

JOSH BROWN (aka AnUrbanNerd) is a rap and spoken-word artist who currently serves as the poet laureate of New London. Josh also directs the ScHOLA²RS House Learning Community, an organization focused on increasing the graduation rate of black men studying at UConn.

MAYAROSE has performed theatre, improv, and poetry throughout CT, NY, and LA. MayaRose’s first book, Poems from My Broken Heart, was published in 2016. She currently cohosts the Coffeehouse Speakeasy open mic at Studio Hill Gallery in Woodbury.

SHARMONT “INFLUENCE” LITTLE has won over 100 poetry slams nationwide. He was a five-time member of the CT slam team Verbal Slap, was the 2018 Connecticut Grand Slam Champion, and opened for the NAACP Image Awards in 2009.

Registration is encouraged.

February 9th @ 6:30pm:  In this online lecture, ArtScapades will look at the lives and works of four African American artists who were working around the turn of the 20^th century. Horace Pippin, Laura Wheeler Waring, Aaron Douglas and Archibald John Motley addressed the themes most pertinent to the era, including slavery, racism, the role of blacks in World War I and the shift of the African American art world to New York, specifically to Harlem.

Please register to receive the Zoom link for this program.

February 4th:  Help us celebrate the 12th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day!  On the first Saturday in February, thousands of libraries across the world celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day by offering free, fun, fabulous activities for families. The Ridgefield Library is an ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends and have fun.  And Take Your Child to the Library Day is the perfect time to discover something new:

9:00am – 5:00pm — Indoor Story Walk.

9:00am – 5:00pm — Library Scavenger Hunt.

10:30am -11:00am — Wild Things Storytime with Ms. Kathleen.

Take Your Child to the Library Day activities are open to families with children of all ages.  No registration is required.

January 25th @ 6:00pm:  Ridgefield Schools, the Ridgefield Library and SPHERE are proud to present Andrew Komarow (pictured right) of Planning Across the Spectrum and Steven Rubin (pictured left) of Drazen Rubin Law, who will cover the following topics in this online presentation:

January 23rd @ 1:00pm:  This educational learning session is brought to you in collaboration with the Town of Ridgefield Commission on Aging as part of its 2023 Speaker Series.

Everyone needs an estate plan. It protects you and your assets during your life and after. Will you be prepared when life takes a turn? Who will pay your bills if you can’t? How will your estate be divided amongst your heirs? Connecticut estate planning, probate and elder law expert, Attorney Lynda Lee Arnold, will explain estate planning basics and the documents every adult should have. You will learn answers to questions like:

· What is the difference between a will and a trust? Why won’t a will be sufficient by itself?

· Do you need a power of attorney and what should it say?

· What are health care directives?

You will walk away knowing what you need to do to build an estate plan that will protect you and your assets. If you already have an estate plan in place, you will learn about important updates that you may be advantaged to make.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Educational Learning Session and Q & A

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Refreshments and networking

Please register here for this hybrid event that you may join in person or remotely via Zoom. (The Zoom link will be provided when you register and also in a reminder email.)

January 13-28:  The 2023 Escape Room Fundraiser at the Ridgefield Library invites you to board a 1903 luxury passenger train — can you solve the clues to stop the runaway train before time (and track) run out?  This annual fundraiser helps to support the Library’s operating budget. Each private 60-minute session costs $250 and accommodates between 3-8 participants. This event is great for groups of adults, groups of teens and families with children ages 10 and up.  Click here to learn more and make a reservation.

January 12th @ 6:00pm:  Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that impacts children’s ability to read, write, and spell. Decades of research studies related to dyslexia have been conducted – however, there are still common misunderstandings about its identification and the types of instruction that are most effective. The presenter will define and explain dyslexia and how it may co-occur with other learning difficulties, including ADHD, executive function difficulties and dysgraphia.

Dr. Margie B. Gillis, Ed.D., CALT, is the founder and president of Literacy How, Inc. , a non-profit organization that provides professional learning opportunities and coaching for educators on how best to implement evidence-based practices in the classroom. She has worked at the policy level through the Connecticut State Department of Education and is an advisor for ReadWorks, Understood, and the International Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction. She is on the Editorial Board of IDA, Perspectives and The Reading League Journal. Margie believes that learning to read is a civil right and that all children can learn to read and benefit from evidence-based instruction.

This program is made possible thanks to the Couri Family Education Fund.

Please register here.

NOW January 7th @ 2:00pm:  The Softer Side of Celtic combines music, stories and a wee bit of history from Scotland, Ireland and England into a program that will keep you on the edge of your seat! There will be singing, laughing, clapping and perhaps foot stomping. Jeff Snow’s concerts are interactive,  inviting questions and input from the audience. The typical concert includes music on the guitar, bouzouki and autoharp. Celtic Culture is woven deeply throughout the fabric of America and especially so in the Northeast.  This concert will also feature some holiday music. More information can be found at http://www.jeffsnow.net/concerts.html

The Ridgefield Folk Concert Series is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.

Learn more and register.

December 30th @ 11:45am:  Families with children of all ages are invited to join us at the Ridgefield Library as we count down to 2024 with a balloon drop at the stroke of noon! Children are invited to make a craft beforehand and enjoy refreshments and a kids’ dance party with DJ Miles from Bach 2 Rock following the balloon drop. Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is required for refreshments.

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR FAMILY UNIT AND INDICATE HOW MANY CHILDREN IN YOUR PARTY IN THE COMMENTS. No need to register each individual.

Parents must remain in the building for the duration of the program. Children under the age of 12 cannot be dropped off.