Bookmarks at the Museum presents Tallgrass & Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky
Join LuAnne DePriest and Ronnie Earley for Bookmarks at the Museum on Thursday, January 15, at 2 pm at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton. DePriest and Earley will jointly review two Sandra Dallas books: Tallgrass and Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky. Refreshments will be served.
Lives were turned upside down during World War II when the US government opened Japanese internment camps for American citizens of Japanese descent who lived near the west coast. Tallgrass focuses on a small Colorado town and the internment camp there.
After a young girl is murdered, all eyes (and suspicions) turn to the newcomers and strangers – the Japanese Americans interned at the camp. Rennie Stroud has just turned 13 and sees her town as she’s never seen it before. She will discover secrets that can destroy even the most sacred things.
Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky brings us back to the Colorado internment camp at Tallgrass, only this time we see through the eyes of 12-year-old Tomi Itano, a second-generation American of Japanese descent whose family is moved to the internment camp after her father is wrongly taken away as a spy.
Tomi becomes bitter, wondering how her country could treat her and her family as an enemy. What does she need to do to prove she’s an honorable American?
Bookmarks takes place on the third Thursday of the month at the museum and on the third Friday of the month at Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. 4th St., Michigan City.
It is not necessary to read the book before attending. Books are available at both Thomas and Hageman Libraries.
The museum, a free cultural and educational service of Westchester Public Library, is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. Call 983-9715 for more information.
History Discussion Group at Thomas Library
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, January 10, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. The group will meet in the Bertha Wood meeting room at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton.
In August 1945, President Truman approved the plan to drop an atomic bomb on two Japanese cities in the hopes of ending WWII. It would come to be one of the most widely debated and impactful events in world history.
Join the group and delve into the motivation, the science, and the controversy of using the atomic bomb to end WWII. Should Truman have approved the use of the bomb? Were there other options? What kind of impact did the action have on Japan, the US, and future world affairs?
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 Serena Sutliff at (219) 983-9715.
Meet the Author: Stefan Barkow
Join Chesterton author Stefan Barkow at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton, on Sunday, January 18, when he will present his new book In Sickness and in Hell: A Collection of Unusual Stories. The program will take place from 2-3 pm. Refreshments will be served.
In Sickness and in Hell: A Collection of Unusual Stories was inspired by everything from childhood fears to existential crises and written for anyone willing to risk a look into the darkness. These are stories of evil and innocence, of damnation and forgiveness.
Barkow says, “I write to entertain but also to explore ideas, so I’m really looking forward to hearing what kinds of conversations my fiction inspires. Honestly, I’m a bit nervous about what the reaction will be; a number of these pieces go against some people’s closely-held beliefs. But I have faith there’s an audience looking for intelligent fiction that isn’t boring, and I’ve done my best to offer that in this book.”
The collection is available now in paperback from Amazon. It will also be available soon on Kindle and Nook. Copies of the book will be available at the program for $7 each.
The Westchester Township History Museum is a free educational and cultural service of Westchester Public Library and is open to the public free of charge Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information please call the museum at 983-9715.
Crochet Club Resumes at Thomas Library
Westchester Public Library’s Crochet Club will resume on Wednesday, January 14, from 3:30-4:30. Crochet Club will take place in the Children’s Department at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, each Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Class size is limited, so registration is required. Children age 9 and up are invited register, even if they attended previous sessions.
Attendees will learn beginning crochet from instructor Sadie Steciuch. Previous participants will be able to practice what they’ve learned and hone their skills. Children are asked to bring a size G crochet hook and a skein of medium weight acrylic yarn.
For more information, contact the Children’s Department at Thomas Library, 926-7696.
Midwinter Magic Show
Warm up this winter at the Midwinter Magic Show help at the Westchester Public Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, on Friday, January 16, at 7 pm. All ages will enjoy this family show.
Come watch the thrilling and entertaining magic show by Gary Kantor. Kantor’s magic has been enjoyed by over 30,000 children. The show is packed with vanishing acts, mind-reading tricks, and a variety of hilarious tricks that will have children rolling on the floor with laughter.
For more information, contact the Children’s Department at Thomas Library, 926-7696.
Saturday Movie at Hageman: When the Game Stands Tall
Westchester Public Library’s monthly film series, Saturday Movies at Hageman, will continue on Saturday, January 17 with When the Game Stands Tall. Come to Hageman Library, 100 Francis Street, Porter, at 2 pm. Library films are free of charge and open to the public.
Inspired by a true story, When the Game Stands Tall tells the remarkable journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladoucer, who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered records for any American sport.
Enjoy free popcorn while watching the movie.
When the Game Stands Tall is rated PG. Copies of the movie will be available for check out at Hageman Library and Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, after the showing.
For more information, call Hageman Library at 926-9080.
Block Party at Hageman Library
Hageman Library, Westchester Public Library’s Porter branch, will resume Block Parties for children ages 2-5 years old and their caregivers. Come to the party at 100 Francis Street, Porter, on Wednesday mornings at 11 am beginning January 14. Registration is not required; participation is free. Cookies will be served.
Block Party is a special play time for kids – beginning with a great story and fun music. Attendees will then use their imaginations to build. This building program offers the chance for children to play independently or together to design and build unique structures. Materials will be supplied by the library – children will supply the imagination!
“While playing, children learn about their world, acquire skills necessary for critical thinking, discover how to solve problems, and develop self-confidence. Play encourages healthy brain development while fostering exploration skills, language skills, social skills, physical skills and creativity…Libraries have long emphasized pretend (dramatic) play.” (Sue McCleaf Nespeca for the Association for Library Service to Children)
For more information, call Hageman Library at 926-9080.
Intro to Computers Class at Thomas Library
Bits and Bytes will continue at Westchester Public Library with Intro to Computers. Intro to Computers will take place in the computer classroom located in the Serials/Automation Department on the second floor of Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave., Chesterton, on Tuesday, January 27, from 6-8 pm. The class will be repeated on Thursday, January 29, from 1-3 pm. Registration for both classes is underway.
To reserve your spot, visit or call the Serials Department or register online at http://www.wpl.lib.in.us/. Click on the Bits and Bytes link. The class is free of charge.
Do you know nothing about computers but want to know more? This class will cover computing from the beginning to modern computers. Learn how to use the mouse and the keyboard, about clicking and double clicking, when to use the right or left click, and more.
For more information or to reserve your spot in the Intro to Computers class, please call the Serials/Automation Department at 926-7696, extension 1125.