Town of Blackstone Public Library Releases Activity-Packed November Schedule of Events

BLACKSTONE — Library Director Lisa Cheever and the Blackstone Public Library Board of Trustees are excited to invite community members to join in on the fun during an incredible November at the library, with a slate of events that includes an afternoon crafting scarecrows, a ballet performance from The Nutcracker, and preparations for the 11th annual Cookie Walk fundraiser. The Blackstone Public Library is located at 86 Main St.

Monthly Activity Highlight:

No Experience Necessary to Enjoy the Experience of Painting

The Blackstone Public Library invites community members to experience the joys of painting during Adult Paint Night with Lisa Autumn. The event is taking place first on Friday Nov. 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and then again on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

No experience is necessary. This is a beginner’s painting class for adults. 

The Adult Paint Night with Lisa events will give guests a chance to paint a surreal flower scene. Supplies will be provided. Participants are just asked to bring their enthusiasm for painting and a willingness to learn.

• WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday Nov. 7; and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library, 86 Main St.
• MORE INFO: Each painting session has a limit of 16 seats. To register, please call 508-883-1931 or inquire at the circulation desk.

Children’s Programs:

Celebrate the 106th Anniversary of Children’s Book Week at the Blackstone Public Library with Dog Man and Miss Tressy

Young readers and their families are invited to celebrate the 106th anniversary of Children’s Book Week on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m., at the Blackstone Public Library, joining Miss Tressy to make posters with characters from the children’s graphic novel series Dog Man.

The event, which is being held to promote reading, will also feature a drawing for a book by Dog Man author Dav Pilkey. Everyone will get an 8.5-inch-by-11-inch poster, and Dog Man posters will be displayed around the library for everyone to
enjoy.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: No registration is required. This even is appropriate for children ages 5 and up.

Nutcracker at the Library: Get in the Holiday Spirit with a Special Ballet Performance 

The Nutcracker ballet is coming to Blackstone Public Library, with a special performance of the holiday favorite to be performed on Monday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Costumed dancers will be coming from Heritage Ballet in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to perform the “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” from their seasonal holiday production of The Nutcracker.

The dancers will then instruct children in some simple ballet steps following the
program. The ballet dancers will also be available for photos after the performance.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: This event is appropriate for children ages 4 and up.  To register, please call the library at 508-883-1931 or email
  tcollier@cwmars.org.
  

Prepare for Turkey Day with the Thanksgiving Craft Drop-In

A drop-in Thanksgiving craftmaking hangout will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Drop in between 5-7 p.m. to do some turkey-themed arts and crafts. All participants will walk away with a delightful turkey craft. This event is aimed at children ages 4 and up.

• WHEN: 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: No registration is required.
  

Wag, Read, Repeat: Therapy Dogs Return to Blackstone Library

The therapy dogs are back at the Blackstone Public Library and they’re not leaving without hearing a story. Children are invited to read books aloud to a specially trained and certified therapy dog as part of the “Wag and Read – Reading with a Therapy Dog” program on Monday evenings starting on Nov. 3. These Monday evening meetups are scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 24. This is a chance for children ages 5 and up to practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog who never complains, judges or spoils the ending.

• WHEN: Monday evenings, including 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 24.
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration required. To reserve a spot, call 508-883-1931 or email Children’s Librarian Tressy Collier at tcollier@cwmars.org.

Adult Programs at the Blackstone Public Library:

Get Help with Applications with Jenna Gouin

Need assistance with an application for public assistance? How about a referral to a community organization? Jenna Gouin will be at the library to help during her office hours during two separate sessions in November. Book a 30-minute session and get it done. Gouin, who earned master’s degrees in business administration and organizational leadership from Nichols College in 2015, provides assistance to clients through this program in partnership with the Blackstone Valley Partnership for Public Health. Examples of tasks Gouin helps clients with include MassHealth registration, signing up for fuel assistance and applying for Social Security benefits.

• WHEN: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 24
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Visit the events page at blackstonepubliclibrary.org or call 508-883-1931 to sign up. This event is sponsored by Dean Bank.

Give it Your Best Shot at the Photography Club

Join other photographers to discuss various topics, including equipment and techniques. Each month, the Blackstone Photography Club hosts a guest speaker, exploring all things photography-related and providing special insight into the craft. Snacks will be provided.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 for more information or to register. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Library.

Luminous Autumn Art: Adult Crafting at the Blackstone Library

Join library staff member Jean Piechocki on one of two for Adult Crafting with Jean to make a luminous autumn decoration.

Add some warm lighting to your cozy autumn decor with a Fall Tabletop Light.

No experience? No problem — all supplies are provided, and all skill levels are welcome.

There are two opportunities to attend this class: Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. or Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. Registration is required. Each class is limited to 20 participants, so sign up early.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13; or 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required.  For more information or to sign up, please contact library staff member Jean Piechocki at jpiechocki@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931. This event is funded by a donation from the Blackstone Library’s LIG MEG, authorized by the Board of Library Trustees.

Make Wooden Scarecrows at the Senior Crafting Corner at the Library

Seniors of Blackstone are being invited to join the battle against pesky crows. The Senior Crafting Corner for November will teach senior participants how to make a wooden scarecrow. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants and limited to community members who are 60 years or older.

• WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m.
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. This event is for those who are 60 years or older. Call the library at 508-883-1931 for more information or to register.

Scrap it Up: Learn How to Preserve Family Memories

Scrap your other plans for the evening. A family history scrapbooking class is being held on Monday, Nov. 3, starting at 5 p.m. at the Blackstone Public Library. This is an opportunity to create beautiful scrapbooks, meant to preserve memories and family history. Guests at this Blackstone Public Library event are asked to bring at least four photographs each to use in the scrapbook, along with information about the subject. The rest of the supplies will be provided by library staff.

• WHEN: 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. For more information or to sign up, please contact library staff member Jean Piechocki at jpiechocki@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931. This program is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Federal Library Services Act, as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Contribute to the Annual Cookie Walk, Blackstone Public Library’s Important Fundraiser

Sign up now to support the Blackstone Public Library by contributing some time and cookie-baking abilities. Bakers are being enlisted for the annual Cook Walk, an important fundraiser held by the Blackstone Public Library to support programming not covered by the library’s operating budget.

The cookies need to be prepared ahead of the Dec. 13 event, so baking recruits are needed as soon as possible. In addition to cookies, contributors are asked to provide other special items, such as lollipops, seasonal breads, and pies.

• MORE INFO: Anyone interested in being a baker for the annual Cookie Walk should call Ellen Goudreau at the library at 508-883-1931 or email her at egoudreau@cwmars.org.

Young Adult Programs at the Blackstone Public Library:

Have It Your Way

Choose your own path and join the fun with fellow middle school-age students at the Choose Your Own Adventure Read-Aloud Book Club. Group members get to decide together on which path to take as they go through Choose Your Own Adventure stories each Tuesday afternoon. This group of adventurers invites participants to read the stories out loud together.

• WHEN: 4 p.m., every Tuesday in November
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration required. Open to 5th through 8th-grade students. For more information or to register, call 508-883-1931 or email Mandi Whipple, Young Adult Librarian, at mwhipple@cwmars.org.
  

Influence the Future of the Library

The monthly meeting of the Teen Advisory Board gives local youth a chance to make their voice heard regarding the future of the Blackstone Public Library and its Young Adult Area. Teenagers now have a chance to share their opinions on books, materials and programs at the library. Come on down and have a say.

• WHEN: 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: No registration required. Open to students in grades 5 through 12. For more information, call 508-883-1931 or email Mandi Whipple, Young Adult Librarian, at mwhipple@cwmars.org.
  

Cursive Comeback: Keep in the Loop with Old-Fashioned Penmanship

Cursive handwriting used to be a standard part of the curriculum in schools, but its use has sharply declined in recent decades, falling out of favor as education has become more digital. But it’s making a comeback, including at the Blackstone Public Library, where younger generations will be able to practice their penmanship at 5 p.m. every Thursday.

• WHEN: 5 p.m., every Thursday in November
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: No registration required. Open to students in grades 5 through 12. For more information, call 508-883-1931 or email Mandi Whipple, Young Adult Librarian, at mwhipple@cwmars.org.

Technology 101: Learn the Basics of Computers, Smartphones and the Internet

For all the tech novices out there, here’s your chance to learn the basics of email, the internet, computers, social media and smartphones. Technology Assistant Hannah Rishel is offering basic hour-long classes on how to use technology, including online library services, such as databases and ebooks.

• WHEN: Scheduling by appointment
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Classes are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 or by emailing Technology Assistant Hannah Rishel at hrishel@cwmars.org.

Ongoing Book Groups:

The Blackstone Book Group Treks into ‘North Woods’

The Evening Book Group, also known as the Blackstone Book Group, offers participants the chance to discuss amazing works of literature with like-minded readers. This month the group is delving into “North Woods,” by Daniel Mason, a 2023 novel that tells the story of a single house in New England over the course of several centuries. The novel, Mason’s sixth, is a work of historical fiction that spans the earliest American colonies to the present day. The home’s inhabitants and visitors include a set of Puritan lovers, twin sisters, a crime reporter, a cougar, and a pair of mating beetles. Copies of the book can be found at the circulation desk.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Renee Milliken at rmilliken@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Get Spooked with the Grim Reader’s Society, a Horror Book Club

The strange, scary and mysterious world of horror literature comes alive with the Grim Reader’s Society, also known as The Horror Book Club, at the Blackstone Public Library. This monthly book club focuses on spooky, spine-tingling tales. The Grim Reader’s Society welcomes newcomers, if they are brave enough. Scaredy cats are welcome, too. Copies of the book of the month are available at the front desk.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Tressy Collier at tcollier@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Saddle Up with a Book at the Senior Center

The Senior Center Book Club is back with a meeting scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18. This group meets on the third Tuesday morning of every month at the Senior Center on St. Paul Street. Monthly books are available at the library’s front desk or the Senior Center. New members are always welcome.

• WHEN: 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18
• WHERE: Blackstone Senior Center, 15 St. Paul St.
• MORE INFO: Contact Ellen Goudreau at egoudreau@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Spend an Afternoon Recapping the Latest Book of the Month

The Afternoon Book Club meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Join the group for a lively chat and a cup of tea. Take a seat, relax and unwind during an afternoon of great conversation about the Afternoon Book Club’s latest book of the month. Newcomers are welcome. Copies of the book of the month are available at the front desk.

• WHEN: 3 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Donna Foster at dfoster@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.