Knitting Together at the Museum
Area knitters are invited to gather in the Brown Mansion parlor for a cozy afternoon of knitting, conversation, and refreshments on Sunday, July 6, from 1-5 pm for Knitting Together. The program is free of charge and open to the public. Those who crochet or do needlework are also welcome to attend.
The Westchester Township History Museum, a cultural and educational service of Westchester Public Library, is housed in the Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Ave., Chesterton. The museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 pm. Groups may make reservations for tours by calling the museum at 983-9715.
For more information about museum programs and events please call 983-9715.
Civil War Medicine Program at Library Service Center
Children in grade 3 and up are invited to join Sarah Halter of the Indiana Medical History Museum for a program on Civil War medicine at the Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, on Wednesday, July 16 at 10 am. No registration is necessary, but space is limited to 60.
Halter will discuss medicines of the Civil War, with a focus on conditions in the field and the work of military surgeons. She will bring examples from the museum collection for viewing, including bullet forceps, a monaural stethoscope, a sample of hardtack, and more.
As part of the Westchester Township History Museum’s summer history camp, the program is recommended for children in grades 3-6, but the information provided will be interesting to older children as well.
The Westchester Township History Museum is a free cultural and educational service of Westchester Public Library. The museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. Groups may make reservations for tours by calling the museum at 983-9715.
WPL SWOT Survey
Westchester Public Library patrons are invited to participate in the library’s online SWOT survey. SWOT stands for “Strengths,” “Weaknesses,” “Opportunities,” and “Threats.” It is an analysis tool used in the early stages of the long-range planning process by organizations. SWOTs are used to evaluate an organization’s current strengths and weaknesses. They are also used to predict what opportunities and threats the organization may face in the future.
Earlier this year Westchester Public Library and its Board of Trustees conducted an internal SWOT analysis. Now the public has the opportunity to help the library conduct its external SWOT analysis by completing the online survey. The survey can be found on the library’s homepage at wpl.lib.in.us under “Patron Survey.” It only takes a few moments to complete, is user-friendly and anonymous. Patron feedback is greatly appreciated as it will help the library better serve the community.
Westchester Public Library serves the residents of Westchester Township with reciprocal borrowing agreements with most of the other public libraries in the area. The towns of Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres, and Porter are in the library district, with two branches available to patrons. The main branch, Thomas Library, is located at 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton (926-7696). Hageman Branch is located at 100 Francis Street, Porter (926-9080). The Westchester Township History Museum is an educational and cultural service of the library and is located at 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton (983-9715).
History Discussion Group at the Museum
History buffs and those who are simply interested in learning more about history are invited to Westchester Public Library’s History Discussion Group on Saturday, July 12, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. The group will meet in the parlor at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton. Registration is not necessary.
Fifty-five of the seventy-four delegates appointed to the Constitutional Convention held in 1787, a convention designed to revise the Articles of Confederation but which ended in replacing them, actually attended the convention. Which men were these, and why did some men come while others refused?
Delve into the history of the US Constitution. How and why was the Constitution written? Why were the Articles of Confederation discarded?
Please note that this is not a political or legal debate – it is a discussion of the events and people behind the document.
The group is open to anyone interested in history and conversations about history. Feel free to participate or sit back and listen.
For more information, please call or Leea at (219) 926-7696 or Serena at (219) 983-9715.
Poetry Appreciation Group at Thomas Library
If you enjoy reading poetry, or if you enjoy writing poetry or have always wanted to write poetry, the Poetry Appreciation Group is for you! The group will meet on Monday, July 14, in the Bertha Wood meeting room at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, from 6-8 pm. Registration is not necessary; attendance is free.
Share and discuss the craft of poetry at the Poetry Appreciation Group. The group serves as a forum for learning and discussion of the various forms and techniques of writing poems. Attendees will read and listen to poetry being read aloud by individuals among the group, including published authors’ work and/or original works done by local aspiring amateur poets who may want an audience or a constructive critique.
Those who enjoy reading, writing, or listening to poetry are encouraged to attend. The Poetry Appreciation Group meets on the second Monday of each month.
For more information, call Westchester Public Library, Thomas branch, at 926-7696.
Summer Concert Series and Family Film Series Continues with the County Minstrels and The Croods
Westchester Public Library’s free concert and family film series continues at 7 pm on Friday, July 11, at the bandstand in Thomas Park with The County Minstrels. The concert will be followed by the film The Croods at dusk, about 8 p.m.
Those who attend these events are invited to bring lawn chairs and picnics, blankets and bug spray. In the event of rain, the events will be offered in the Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton. Popcorn and soda will be sold in time for the movie by members of the Rotary.
The County Minstrels are on the move again, but this time they’re not sailing on tall ships. Travel with them as they visit the people, machines and events that are all part of our nation’s railroads. From passengers to workers, steam trains to electric trains, and train robberies to train wrecks, you’ll meet and experience them all with the County Minstrels.
With Susan Brown playing guitar, lap-dulcimer, penny whistle and vocals, Gary Brown adding encouraging rhythm and vocals, and Dorothy Pakan on lilting accordion and vocals, the Minstrels present a unique yet traditional sound.
The County Minstrels is featured with the Indiana Arts Commission, and the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Arts and Humanities Council.
In The Croods, a prehistoric comedy, the world’s first family embarks on the journey of a lifetime when their cave is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures. Their outlook is changed forever.
The Croods is rated PG and has a running time of 98 minutes.
This series of concerts and films is partially funded through generous donations from the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club. The next concert will be on Friday July 18 with Mo’ Beat Blues. The film that night will be The Nut Job, rated PG.
For more information, please call the library at 927-7696.
Creative Writing for Young Adults at Thomas Library
Westchester Public Library will host Creative Writing for Young Adults in four sessions on Monday, July 28 and August 4, 11, and 18, from 3:30-5 pm. The four classes will take place at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, in the Bertha Wood meeting room. Registration is required and will begin July 14, 14 days prior to the first class date. Visit or call the Reference desk to register. Those who sign up should plan to attend all sessions. David Rodich will lead the sessions.
Creative Writing for Young Adults will offer attendees the opportunity to explore short-form creative writing using both fiction and nonfiction, with a particular focus on the difference between the two formats. The theme will center on the use of life experiences as creative fodder.
Rodich has a passionate interest in education. He is a graduate of Indiana University with both a B.A. in History and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. His experience ranges from teaching elementary school classes to helping prepare oral histories for the Library of Congress to freelance writing and research to tutoring. He is a published creative writer who has traveled across Europe, New Zealand and the United States.
For more information or to register, call Thomas Library at 926-7696.
Mad About Mysteries presents works of Laurie R. King
Join LuAnne DePriest for Mad About Mysteries at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton, on Wednesday, July 9, with a repeat presentation on Saturday, July 12. Both sessions begin at 2 pm. Refreshments will be served.
DePriest will present the works of Laurie R. King, focusing on the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. Mary Russell met the retired Holmes in 1915 and became first his apprentice and then his partner. Beginning with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, Russell and Holmes move through the Teens and Twenties in amicable discord, challenging each other to ever greater feats of detection.
Laurie R. King is the best-selling author of 22 novels and other works. She has won or been nominated for an alphabet of prizes from Agatha to Wolfe. King has also co-authored a number of nonfiction works and anthologies, including Crime Writing, The Grand Game, Studies in Sherlock, and a number of short stories and ebooks.
The museum is a free cultural and educational service of Westchester Public Library and is open to the public Wednesday-Saturday from 1-5 pm or by appointment. For more information please call the museum at 983-9715.
Civil War Exhibit at the Museum
The Westchester Township History Museum will open a new temporary exhibit, Westchester at War: The Civil War, on Sunday, July 13 from 2-4 p.m. Visit the exhibit at your leisure, listen to some great music from the period, and learn what life was like for area residents—at home and at war—during the Civil War. The museum is located in the Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Ave., Chesterton.
For the last few years historical and cultural institutions across the country have been recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. With the new exhibit, the Westchester Township History Museum lets visitors take a look at the war from a local perspective.
Although Civil War military actions took place hundreds of miles away from this area, local residents experienced the effects of the war on battlefields and at home. Almost 300 Dunelanders joined the Union in fighting the Civil War. Those who remained behind had to continue their daily activities while awaiting news from the battlefield and letters from loved ones. But what were those daily activities? What was life like in Westchester Township during the Civil War?
The Westchester Township History Museum will answer those questions and more in the new temporary exhibit Westchester at War: The Civil War. The exhibit will highlight local people, events, and activities in this area during the war. Visitors will be able to see some of the museum’s fascinating artifacts from this period—including army discharge papers, magazines, letters, and photographs—as well as items on loan from community members.
The exhibit will be open to the public July 13 through September 28.
The Westchester Township History Museum is a free educational and cultural service of Westchester Public Library and is open to the public Wednesday – Sunday from 1-5 pm or by appointment. For more information call the museum at 983-9715.
IndieFlix database now Available via WPL
Westchester Public Library is pleased to announce the launch of IndieFlix for Libraries, a premier online streaming service that provides access to award-winning independent films, shorts, and documentaries from around the world.
With a WPL library card, patrons now have unlimited access to thousands of free streaming film-festival hits, including the best of Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, and more. IndieFlix is available on Apple®, Android™, and all Internet-enabled devices. Films may also be watched on a television with AppleTV, Roku, or Xbox devices.
Use your Westchester Public Library barcode number to create a free IndieFlix account when you visit www.wpl.lib.in.us. If you already have a Zinio digital magazine account, access IndieFlix by using the same login. If you don’t have a library card, visit either Thomas or Hageman Library to sign up for one – also for free.
Westchester Public Library serves the residents of Westchester Township with reciprocal borrowing agreements with most of the other public libraries in the area. The towns of Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres, and Porter are in the library district, with two branches available to patrons. The main branch, Thomas Library, is located at 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton (926-7696). Hageman Branch is located at 100 Francis Street, Porter (926-9080). The Westchester Township History Museum is an educational and cultural service of the library and is located at 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton (983-9715).