Sunday, April 27th @ 2:00 pm:  On the Trail is a modern acoustic band that explores everything from bluegrass to contemporary pop, from stunning instrumentals to beautiful traditional songs. The group was founded through their shared love of bluegrass and traditional music. They have already gained recognition and praise for their exploration and strong execution of challenging traditional music, as well as for their new original music.

On The Trail features Austin Scelzo (fiddle and vocals), Tom Polizzi (mandolin and vocals), Charlie Widmer (guitar and vocals) and Matt Curley (upright bass and vocals). Their latest album “Where Do We Go From Here” is available for streaming on all platforms.

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

Click here for more information and to register.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ 7:00 pm:  You may not realize it, but there are many delicacies in your own back yard and surrounding woods. Violets, purslane, dock, fiddleheads, dandelions, chickweed, sorrel, garlic mustard and plantain are just a few tasty treats ready for the picking. Ridgefield Conservation Commission commissioner Erik Keller will teach you how to find delicious wild greens and flowers that make for spectacular salads and other dishes.

Erik Keller is a retired horticulturist and therapist at Ann’s Place, a not-for-profit facility that helps those with cancer. Erik has a Bachelor’s in Engineering Science from SUNY at Stony Brook. He has received certification from the University of Connecticut as a Master Gardener and from The New York Botanical Garden in Horticultural Therapy. He is also the author of the book A Therapist’s Garden.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Thursday, April 17th @ 7:00 pm:  This class offers a supportive space to experience heart-centered meditation in a grounded, accessible way. Whether you’re new to meditation or returning to deepen your practice, you’ll be guided step by step into greater connection, clarity and stillness.

Each session includes:

Come as you are—this is a space to explore, restore, and reconnect with your center.

Kathy Katts is the founder of Inner Source Ayurveda and Awaken with Kathy Katts. She teaches a heart-centered approach to meditation and intentional living, helping people reconnect with their center and live with greater presence.

Kathy’s journey began with her own healing—leaving a career on Wall Street to follow a deeper calling. Today, she guides others to slow down, tune in, and awaken the wisdom within.

This session has been made possible by programming support from Ridgefield Library’s Noreen L. Papa: Mother’s Live Your Life Fund. 

Click here to learn more and to register.

Tuesday, April 15th @ 7:00 pm:  The Ides of April is a celebration of National Poetry Month, a program of poems by Ridgefield’s beloved and esteemed Poet Laureate, Ira Joe Fisher. He will read from his own work and also that of other poets contemporary and past. Join us for a special evening to celebrate the joy of poetry.

Click here to learn more and to register.

April 14th, May 12th & June 9th:  Memory cafés are essentially social gatherings where individuals with memory impairment and their adult caregivers come together in a supportive environment, share conversation over a cup of coffee, or participate in fun, simple activities with the group. It’s an opportunity to meet with others for support, companionship and fun!

The programming provides structured activities to promote reminiscing, cognition, and engagement for those with dementia, while offering caregivers an opportunity to make new friends and build strong, supportive, social connections.  

This free series is offered in partnership with the Library, Ridgefield Parks & Recreation and Ridgefield Station Assisted Living & Memory Care and will be held on the second Monday of the month in January, February and March from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in the Charter Oak Room at the Ridgefield Recreation Center.  Caregivers and their loved ones should both register for and plan to attend all three dates to allow for continuity and a more personalized experience.

Registration is available online, in person at the Ridgefield Recreation Center, or by calling 203.431.2755 (press 1).    

Click here to learn more.

Don’t miss the Friends of the Ridgefield Library‘s multi-day Big Book Sale!  Great choices for readers of all ages and interests.

FRIDAY April 4:  10AM – 6PM

Friday 9:30 AM early entrance for card holders of Ridgefield Library as well as members of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library (must be both)

Friday 10AM – 12PM  $20 entry, but free for Friends of the Ridgefield Library

SATURDAY April 5:  9AM – 5PM

SUNDAY April 6:   1PM – 5PM

MONDAY April 7:   8AM-6PM

Volunteers are needed to help organize, set up and clean up after the sale; email Cris for more information about volunteering.

Saturday, March 29th from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm:  Scrabble players in grades 1-12 are invited to the 18th Annual New England School Scrabble Championship. The format for players is five 50-minute School SCRABBLE games played in teams of two using the official NASPA School SCRABBLE Rules (except for age limits) and the NASPA School Word List (NSWL23) as the lexicon. Points from this tournament will count toward the 2024-25 NASPA Youth Achievement Awards.

Championship, Intermediate and Novice divisions available for registration. There will be prizes for all ages, plus special prizes for high game and high play. Free entry and pizza lunch will be provided by the Library.

Game play begins at 10:00 am.

Click here to register to receive a reminder email about this event. Please email or send the downloadable Scrabble registration form to Cornelia at [email protected]. Paper forms are also available at the Children’s Services Desk at the Library.

This program is made possible through the generous support of our donors.

Sunday, March 30th @ 2:00 pm:  Suitable for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, How Joyous Effort Works and the previous books in Ettele’s How Life Works Series are a solid support for those already engaged with Buddhist teachings, and for those new to the philosophy who are interested in learning more. Books on the Common will have copies for purchase and signing.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Wednesday, March 26th @ 7:00 pm: Join us for the celebration of Ridgefield Poet Laureate Ira Joe Fisher’s latest book. This lyrical poetry collection offers an evocative exploration of life in Annville and the enduring rhythms of rural America. Through skillful and heartfelt verse, the poet captures the rich texture of small-town existence, painting intimate portraits of its people and their stories. Seasonal changes, particularly the stark beauty of winter’s snows and transformations, serve as a recurring motif, evoking both the passage of time and nature’s unyielding presence. These poems thrive on quiet moments of observation, transforming the seemingly ordinary into something deeply resonant.

Balancing wistful nostalgia with sharp, clear-eyed insight, this collection weaves a vivid tapestry of place and time. It celebrates the enduring beauty found in life’s quieter moments, offering a profound meditation on the interconnectedness of people, place, and the natural world. Learn more HERE.

Books on the Common will have books available for purchase and for signing.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Saturday, March 22nd @ 2:00 pm:  From the author of The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, an atmospheric novel about family, friends and falling in love, as a young man tries to find purpose on a struggling Icelandic cattle farm. With his signature blend of humor and tenderness, Nathaniel Ian Miller’s Red Dog Farm is about the bonds forged and tested between family, friends and lovers—and the act of building a home, together.

Suzanne Nelson, author of many children’s books and her recent debut historical novel, The Librarians of Lisbon, will be in conversation with Nathanial Ian Miller.

Books on the Common will have copies for purchase and signing.

Click here for more information and to register.