Tuesday, July 9th @ 1:00pm: The Ridgefield Commission on Aging and the Ridgefield Library will continue their monthly Senior Voices series with a special look at the programs and services available at the Library for Ridgefield seniors. Library Director Brenda McKinley and Head of Adult Services Rita Covelli will provide an overview of the wealth of resources available at the Library, with a closer look at services in the Donofrio Family Technology Center presented by Technology/Innovation Librarian Kathy Pickle, and a review of online offerings by Senior Adult Services Librarian Christie Mitchell. There will be time for Q & A after the presentation. Senior Voices is a free event and hybrid program. Individuals may attend in person or register to attend via Zoom through the Library. Participants are invited to enjoy light refreshments and conversation following the program.
This is a hybrid program which can be attended in person or as a webinar.
Tuesday, July 2nd @ 4:00pm: Teens who are rising grades 6-12 are invited to meet up in front of the Library, then go across the street to Ballard Park to clean up any trash, dropped items, etc. We will provide trash bags and gloves. Teens will get volunteer hours for attending this program.
Please wear closed-toed shoes, and, if it is sunny, sunscreen and a hat. We also encourage you to bring a water bottle.
Click here for more information and to register.
Monday, July 1st from 11:00am to 3:00pm: Lyme Connection, an organization that’s served Ridgefield for over 20 years, will be in the Main Lobby of the Library to give out Tick Kits – and lots of info about tick-borne illnesses. Learn how to enjoy all the great outdoor activities Ridgefield has to offer, while keeping yourself and your family safe from tick-borne disease!
Wednesday, June 26th @ 6:00pm: Families with children of all ages are invited to a comedy magic show! Ed Popielarczyk is a professional magician, balloon sculptor, flea circus ringmaster and storyteller who has been entertaining children and family audiences for over thirty years. His magic show is a comedy show that uses lots of audience participation. YOU are the stars of the show because you help to make the magic happen. Registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.
This activity is part of the Ridgefield Library’s 2024 Summer Reading Program: Adventure Begins at Your Library and is sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
Friday, June 21st: Ridgefield is joining over 1,000 cities worldwide for Make Music Day, a live, free, all-day musical celebration. Come join the fun! Performances on the Library Lawn will be held from 11:00am to 6:00pm.
Scheduled activities and performers on the Library Lawn:
Community Karaoke — 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
ACT of CT “Pop Up” Youth Choir — 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Charlotte Roth — 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Richard Zhuang & Maxim Curt — 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
PJ Giovanniello — 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Four Horsemen Songwriters — 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Elza Libhart — 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Performances on the Library Lawn will be canceled in case of rain.
Sunday, June 16th @ 2:00pm: The powerhouse duo of Amy Gallatin and renowned resophonic guitarist Roger Williams joined forces a few years ago to explore their mutual love of country standards, served up with an acoustic treatment in the bluegrass vein. The result is a toe-tapping blend of heartfelt vocals, soaring harmonies and red-hot picking, traditional yet modern and distinct.
Americana radio host Ed McKeon says: “Amy’s vocals, with the power and tone of her voice, are tempered by Roger’s baritone which has been sanded smooth by cigarettes and, shall we say, maturity. The song selections are perfect, the harmonies glorious, the sentiments wonderfully maudlin (like any good old country song).”
The two are enhanced by mandolin and vocals from Roger’s son, Berklee College of Music student JD, who–in the time-honored tradition of musical consanguinity–complements his father’s style perfectly, and by veteran bassist Bob Dick, formerly with the award-winning bluegrass band Front Range.
The Ridgefield Folk Concert Series is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
Click here to register and for more information.
Please note: The Library is closed Sundays in the summer from June 16th through September 1st. The Library’s Lower Level Programs Rooms will be open on June 16th for the Ridgefield Folk Concert, but the rest of the building will be closed.
June 12th @ 7:00pm: Join Ridgefield Conservation Commission commissioners Matt Sharp and Jim Liptack for a discussion of the over 55 miles of hikes that are available on Town open space. Learn how best to prepare and what to bring for a day hike as well as key safety tips. In addition, they will point out top hikes and sights for both experienced and beginning walkers. An updated Ridgefield walk book should be available coincident with the lecture as well as online.
Matt has planned and led backpacking trips to the Adirondacks, Appalachian Trail CT & NY, Yosemite, John Muir Trail, High Sierra Trail Sequoia/ Mt. Whitney, Teton Crest Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park and North Cascade National Park. In 2019, Matt became a Trail Maintainer for the CT Appalachian Trail.
Jim has been actively working with the Appalachian Mountain Club, as trail crew since 1978 and trail section manager since 1984. He has been a trail maintainer for the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association since 1984. For the last ten years, he has also been the overseer of trails for the Connecticut Appalachian Mountain Club, scheduling and overseeing all maintenance and construction on the trails.
Sunday, June 9th @ 2:00pm: Originally from Tennessee, now at home in New York’s Hudson Valley, Kate Prascher is a songwriter with a haunting, clear sound and vision. In her upcoming 2024 album, Prascher says the quiet parts loud and loud parts quietly. She evokes American folk tradition and calls it forward. Expect to hear new songs from a voice that has been described as having an “intangible vintage feel.”
The Ridgefield Folk Concert Series is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
Saturday, June 8th @ 2:00pm: Art collector and Ridgefield resident Joel Third will give a lecture about his collection of floral prints that span five centuries, from the 17th to the 21st. There will be a reception in the gallery immediately after Joel’s talk from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. Refreshments will be served.
Flowers have always played a big role in human lives, present at our beginning to our passing. We enjoy their natural beauty and the feeling of constancy and comfort they provide. This exhibition explores beautiful floral prints by a wide range of artists over five centuries. The prints in in this exhibit are from the Bettie Jane and Joel Third Collection.
Joel has been an avid antique and contemporary print collector for about 50 years. He was also past president of both the Ridgefield Rotary Club and Ridgefield Men’s Club. His impressive record of volunteerism and leadership at the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center is to be noted. The Museum has established a memorial scholarship in Bettie Jane’s name for high school students.
Born and reared in Northeastern Ohio, Joel graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in electrical engineering. He retired after 47 years as an international systems engineer and marketing director with ITT and Harris Corporations. He traveled all over the world for business.
Sponsors for this talk, reception and exhibition include: the host organization, The Ridgefield Library; refreshments from the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center; labels and and framing from The Frame Shop of Ridgefield; flowers from Soar Together and poster from Gerry O’Hare Marketing and Design Group.
Click here to register for this special lecture and reception.
Heartfelt thanks to our Library community for your support and to our colorful 2024 Gala Committee – some pictured below – for the creativity, time and work that goes into making this a wonderful evening! The 2024 Annual Great Expectations Gala, which celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the “new” Ridgefield Library, will honor Marcie and Peter Coffin with the Hope H. Swenson Visionary Award for their years of leadership and service to the Library’s vision and mission.
On June 1st we will celebrate Marcie and Peter Coffin’s many contributions to the Library. If you missed the chance to attend and would still like to support the Library Gala, donate here: https://ridgefieldlibrary.ejoinme.org/gala24donation .
Marcie, EVP Risk Management at Fairfield County Bank, and Peter, AIA and principal of Doyle Coffin Architecture, have strong ties to the Library. They raised their two sons in Ridgefield and spent countless hours participating in children’s programming and in summer reading contests. Peter served on the Board of Directors for a decade, including seven years as Board Chair. Most recently, the Coffins were co-chairs of the successful 2023 Great Expectations Gala. Each summer, the Coffins compete with a team of stalwart Library supporters in a local charity Bocce Tournament.
“It is fitting to honor Marcie and Peter on the 10th Anniversary of our beautiful Library,” says Brenda McKinley, Library Director. “We are grateful for their long history of commitment and dedication, especially for the lasting impact of Peter’s vision and professional counsel during the process of building our new Library.”
Following his years of Library Board leadership, Peter’s contributions included serving in an advisory role, through every phase of the development process for the new Library, from negotiations with the town, through the design, construction and the opening of the new Library in May 2014. Peter continues to offer his professional guidance to the Library, most recently with the completion of the Miller Terrace outdoor space.
