DATE OF EVENT: Through May 25, 2014
Needlework through the Ages Exhibit at the Museum
Needlework through the Ages is the new temporary exhibit now on display at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton. The exhibit will run through May 25. The museum, housed in the historic Brown Mansion, is open to the public free of charge Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 pm or by appointment.
In 2009, participants in the museum’s monthly Knitting Together program sought and acquired a weekly meeting time at Hageman Library, Westchester Public Library’s branch at 100 Francis Street, Porter. Originally called Hooks and Needles, the group decided to rename themselves the Knit-Wits and Pearls of Wisdom. The Knit-Wits offer an informal learning time from 9-10 am on Thursday mornings, and just general knitting and chatting from 10 am-noon.
A member of the Knit-Wits is an intrepid thrift store shopper with a passion for saving beautiful things. One of the beautiful things she found was the crocheted outfit on a Barbie doll. Reaction amongst members of the knitting group was unanimous: the outfit was incredible and belonged in the museum. As that thought took began to take shape, many of the members spoke of techniques that have almost been lost and of items handed down to them. Some of these things are in the exhibit, which was designed and installed by the Knit-Wits group.
The display follows the development of needlework techniques and tools through decades, even centuries, and compares techniques from the 1800s to today. Some of the tools included in the exhibit are 100 years old or more.
View items created with crochet, counted cross-stitch, knitting, lace-making, and more, including tablecloths, curtains, afghans, baby clothes, lace gloves, a purse crocheted with plastic bags, and a bell pull.
Find out where the song Pop goes the Weasel came from and what it has to do with needlework. Children will enjoy playing with the stitching cards on display.
The museum is a free educational and cultural service of Westchester Public Library.
For more information, please call the museum at 983-9715.
DATE OF EVENT: April 9 and 12, 2014
Mad About Mysteries presents works of Patricia Cornwell
Former CHS teacher and library board member Sharon Robbins will present the works of contemporary American crime writer Patricia Cornwell at April’s Mad About Mysteries. Mad About Mysteries will take place at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton, on Wednesday, April 9, with a repeat presentation on Saturday, April 12. Both sessions begin at 2 pm. Refreshments will be served. Cornwell is widely known for her popular series featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts, along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Over 20 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell numerous awards. Cornwell’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in 36 languages and 120 countries. She has authored 26 NY Times bestsellers. 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.
DATE OF EVENT: Sunday, April 13, 2014
Nature Series to Continue at Museum
Westchester Township History Museum’s annual Nature Series will open with a visit from Dr. Noel Pavlovic of the US Geological Survey on Sunday, April 13, at 2 pm. No registration is necessary. The museum is housed in the historic Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton.
Dr. Pavlovic is a research ecologist at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station in Porter. Pavlovic will discuss plant diversity in the dunes and dunes wildflowers.
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.
DATE OF EVENT: April 12, 2014
Library Film Series to show The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
Westchester Public Library will show The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug on Saturday, April 12, at 5 pm. Meet at the Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton. No registration is necessary; attendance is free of charge.
The Hobbit returns in Desolation of Smaug. After successfully crossing the Misty Mountains, Thorin and company must seek aid from a powerful stranger before taking on the dangers of Mirkwood Forest – without their wizard. If they reach the human settlement of Lake-town it will be time for Bilbo Baggins to fulfill his contract with the dwarves. The party must complete the journey to Lonely Mountain; Baggins must seek out the secret door that will give them access to the hoard of the dragon, Smaug.
Where has Gandalf gone? And what is his secret business?
Enjoy munching popcorn while watching the movie.
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, rated PG-13, has a running time of 161 minutes.
For more information, call the Audio-Visual Department at 926-7696.
DATE OF EVENT: April 12, 2014
Family Film Series at Hageman: Hop
Westchester Public Library’s Family Films series will continue at Hageman Library, 100 Francis Street, Porter, on Saturday, April 12, at 2 pm with Hop. Library films are free of charge and open to the public. In Hop, the Easter Bunny is busy in his factory on Easter Island. But his son, E.B., has dreams beyond becoming the next Easter Bunny. E.B. leaves the island to pursue his dream of being a drummer and ends up in Hollywood where he meets Fred, a young man who is also a disappointment to his father because he can’t find a job. They become unlikely roommates. The Pink Berets, an elite bunny force, is dispatched to bring E.B. home, adding to the hilarity of the movie. Carlos, the chick foreman on Easter Island, plots to take over the Easter holiday, unless E.B. and Fred can stop him. Hop is rated PG with a running time of 95minutes.
For more information, call Hageman Library at 926-9080.
DATE OF EVENT: Saturday, April 12, 2014
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, April 12, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm in the Bertha Wood meeting room at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton. Registration is not necessary.
Was Thomas Jefferson a Socialist? Discuss Thomas Jefferson’s presidency and some of the decisions he made; analyze them from various angles. Jefferson is considered one of our nation’s greatest presidents by many, but did some of his decisions reflect socialist thinking?
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.
DATE OF EVENT: April 10, 2014
SUBJECT: Eating Well for Healthy Living Series Continues at Thomas Library
Registered Dietetic Technician Gia DeMartinis will lead the next program in the Eating Well for Balanced Living series for adults at Westchester Public Library. The program will take place in the Bertha Wood meeting room at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, on Thursday, April 10, from 3:30-5 pm. Registration is not necessary.
Eating Well on a Budget: Don’t Let the Poor Economy Threaten Your Diet and Health was the January 29 session that was postponed due to weather. Learn keys of planning and choosing nutritious food and meals that are good for the body and the wallet.
The next session of Eating Well for Healthy Living, Keys to Healthy Weight Loss, will take place on Monday, May 19, from 3:40-4:30 pm. The program is a repeat of the February 6 class.
DeMartinis earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity Christian College with a Biology major and a minor in Chemistry. She also earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Nutrition from Central Arizona College. She has worked at Kraft General Foods performing vitamin analysis of foods. She also served a Dietetic internship at Methodist Hospitals in Gary and Merrillville and Methodist Cardiac Rehab Center and Outpatient Diabetes Clinic, and worked at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville.
For more information, please call the Reference Department at 926-7696.
DATE OF EVENT: April 14, 2014
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, April 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.
For more information, call Westchester Public Library at 926-7696.
World Book Night 2014
Westchester Public Library will once again celebrate World Book Night on April 23. On World Book Night 2014, “book givers” will each give away 20 copies of a specially-printed, not-for-resale WBN edition of a book they have read and loved (from this year’s WBN list, selected by librarians and booksellers) to complete strangers – people who may never have owned a book of their own. To promote this event, libraries and bookstores – as organizational participants in the event – form a nationwide advocacy and distribution network. Library (and bookstore) organizational participants and individual book givers each have an important role in this annual celebration of literacy by publishers, bookstores, libraries, and individuals who love books and reading.
Book givers for 2014 have already been selected by World Book Night. Those who are interested in being a book giver in 2015 may sign up at worldbooknight.org beginning fall of 2014.
For more information call Thomas Library at 926-7696.