The Oliver Wolcott Library offers a wide range of programming for adults, from continuing series like Monday
Scholars,
to lectures, book discussions, and author talks. All events are free and open to all.
Continue your journey of lifelong learning with us!
November Events:
November Mini Wreath
November Adult Take & Make - SOLD OUT!
Available beginning November 1*
*while supplies last!
November is a busy time of year for OWL! We were so inspired by all our beautiful wreath donations for our Annual Festival of Trees, we decided to put together a mini wreath take-and-make for patrons to decorate their homes with for the holidays. You may need your own glue or glue gun, but we’ve got the tiny wreath and accessories to ‘spruce’ it up ready to go!
Armchair Travel to Portugal & Spain
with Nancy & Ed Schuler
In-Person: Wednesday, November 4 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Registration is required - Register here
Join Nancy and Ed Schuler as they take you on a walking tour of Portugal and Spain. Visit the charming towns of Pontevedra and Ponte Lima in Portugal and the Galicia region of Spain. Learn about the Albarino and Port wines of Portugal. Walk part of the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) and learn about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Sunshine, fresh seafood, new wines and perhaps a taste of the famous Tarta of Santiago.
Pet Boredom Busters
Presented by the Connecticut Humane Society
In-Person & on Zoom: Friday, November 6 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Registration is required for in-person - Register here
Zoom link: click here at 1:00 PM Nov. 6
Bad weather, injuries, short winter days: These are just a few of the many reasons pets may not get enough exercise and become bored. Keeping pets entertained is important for their physical and mental health. Without enough activity, boredom can quickly turn into destructive behavior.
So, what can you do to curb your pets’ boredom and keep them happy and healthy? During this program, different tips and tricks to keep all types of pets active will be discussed. From snuffle mats to pet piñatas, and potted cat grass to braided rope toys, there’s something for everyone!
The program will cover dogs, cats and small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.
American Experience in WWII - A Nine-Part Book Discussion Series
With Historian Peter Vermilyea - Part 2
In-Person & on Zoom: Monday, November 9 from 3:15 - 4:15 PM
Registration is required for in-person - Register here
Zoom link: click here at 3:15 PM Nov. 9
This book discussion series explores World War II through the experiences of everyday Americans—soldiers and civilians, workers and families, women and men, and people of diverse backgrounds. Through acclaimed works of history and narrative nonfiction, participants will examine how the war transformed American life, from Pearl Harbor and the home front to combat, civil rights, the atomic bomb, and the challenges of returning home. Led by historian Peter Vermilyea, the series asks not only how Americans fought the war, but how the war changed America.
Part 2 - Book to be discussed: Infamy by Richard Reeves
Click here to read more about this series and Richard Reeves' book.
Non-Fiction Discussion Group
Thursday, November 12
Non-Fiction Group: 2:00 pm
Meeting will be held in the Library's Jamie Gagarin Community Room.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
The actress and filmmaker uses her dark sense of humor to describe the abusive relationship she had with
her overbearing mother while growing up as a child actress on Nickelodeon. Moderated by Tricia
Fiction Discussion Group
Thursday, November 12
Fiction Group: 3:30 pm
Meeting will be held in the Library's Jamie Gagarin Community Room.
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
A reimagining of American history in which Lindberg defeats FDR for the presidency in 1940, leading to a
rise in antisemitism. Moderated by Nancy R.
WORLD CAFÉ: A Musical Journey with Mandolin & Guitar
with Judy Handler & Mark Levesque
In-Person & on Zoom: Thursday, November 12 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Registration is required for in-person - Register here
Zoom link: click here at 6:30 PM Nov. 12
"It’s a perfect musical marriage. A rich, zesty guitar gumbo, Handler and Levesque crackle with tasty elements of classical, swing, Gypsy, Brazilian and a dizzying array of world-music flavorings." – Owen McNally, music critic, Hartford Courant
Come and enjoy an entertaining musical journey through many countries with Judy Handler & Mark Levesque. They perform their own inspiring arrangements on guitars and mandolin and will include music from the U.S., Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Peru and more!
Husband and wife duo, Handler and Levesque have performed over 3,000 concerts together over the past 32 years throughout the United States and Europe. They have created unique programs of guitar duets and music for guitar and mandolin.
We know you will enjoy their extraordinary sound, passionate performance, amusing anecdotes, and the joyful spirit of their music.
Ageless Seniors
An exercise class for senior women with Nancy Schuler.
In-Person & on Zoom: Tuesdays: 10:15 - 11:00 AM*
Registration not required for in-person.
Zoom Link: click here on Tuesdays at 10:15 AM
Let's talk balance, posture and well being. Join this senior women's exercise group on Tuesdays at 10:15 and let's work to keep moving at any age. You may attend the class in person, here at the OWL, or online in the privacy of your home. No prior experience is necessary.
* No class Nov. 24
Monday Scholars | Wonders of the National Parks: A Geology of North America
On Zoom only:
Mondays from 1:00 - 2:30 PM
September 28 - November 23*
*No meeting Oct. 12
ZOOM LINK: Click here at 1 PM on Mondays beginning September 28
Monday Scholars combines the best of online learning and engaging discussion!
Join us for the full 8 weeks or drop in to explore your favorite topics. Each week, we will watch two video lectures together and then engage in lively conversation afterwards. The conversation will be facilitated by OWL's Caroline Wilcox.
ABOUT THE COURSE:
Explore the remarkable forces that shaped North America through its extraordinary national parks. Geologist, journalist, and National Geographic programming director Ford Cochran takes you beyond the familiar sights, revealing the geology, history, and little-known stories behind these treasured landscapes.
Discover how tectonic collisions built mountains, volcanoes transformed the land, glaciers carved the terrain, oceans reshaped coastlines, and rivers and earthquakes continue to shape the continent. Cochran explores national parks across the United States, along with exceptional parks, monuments, and preserves in Canada, Mexico, and beyond, while also touching on botany, zoology, and atmospheric science.
No scientific background is necessary—just curiosity and a sense of wonder. These fascinating lectures will deepen your appreciation of some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth and enrich any future visit to them.
Click here to read more about this series.
December Events:
Trivia Night @ OWL
Let the Brain Games Begin!
In-Person: Thursday, December 3 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Registration is required - Register here
Put your knowledge to the test at OWL’s trivia night! Participate with a group or participate on your own! All adults are welcome to join in for a night of fun and refreshments. There will be 5 rounds, each covering a different topic. At the end of the 5 rounds, the team with the most points will receive gift cards to a local business!
Each team may have up to 5 members (or you can play alone). If you do not have a team but would like to be on one, teams can be formed with other solo players on the night of the event.
American Experience in WWII - A Nine-Part Book Discussion Series
With Historian Peter Vermilyea - Part 3
In-Person & on Zoom: Monday, December 7 from 3:15 - 4:15 PM
Registration is required for in-person - Register here
Zoom link: click here at 3:15 PM on Dec. 7
This book discussion series explores World War II through the experiences of everyday Americans—soldiers and civilians, workers and families, women and men, and people of diverse backgrounds. Through acclaimed works of history and narrative nonfiction, participants will examine how the war transformed American life, from Pearl Harbor and the home front to combat, civil rights, the atomic bomb, and the challenges of returning home. Led by historian Peter Vermilyea, the series asks not only how Americans fought the war, but how the war changed America.
Part 3 - Book to be discussed: Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose
Click here to read more about this series and Stephen E. Ambrose's book.
Non-Fiction Discussion Group
Thursday, December 10
Non-Fiction Group: 2:00 pm
Meeting will be held in the Library's Jamie Gagarin Community Room.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny & Murder by David Grann
The story of the 18th-century British warship Wager, which wrecked off the coast of Patagonia, leading
to a dramatic story of survival and murder among castaways. Moderated by Bill
Followed by holiday party @ 5pm!
Fiction Discussion Group
Thursday, December 10
Fiction Group: 3:30 pm
Meeting will be held in the Library's Jamie Gagarin Community Room.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Scientist Victor Frankenstein uses dead body parts to create a sentient creature, leading to tragic consequences
for both creator and creation. Moderated by Olivia
Songs of the Holiday Season
with Eric Hansen, Dee Hansen & Neal Humphreys of Entwyned Early Music
In-Person & on Zoom: Thursday, December 10 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Registration is required for in-person - Register here
Zoom link: click here at 6:30 PM Dec. 10
Step into the holiday spirit with us as we welcome back Eric Hansen, Dee Hansen and Neal Humphreys; the trio that is Entwyned Early Music!
On their historic instruments, they will perform arrangements of beloved traditional songs of the holiday season. You will hear joyous carols such as Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, and The Holly and the Ivy. Songs such as Twas in the Moon of Wintertime and What Child Is This? evoke awe and mystery. Jubilant Celtic carols conclude the program as we look forward to the new year.
About the Musicians:
DEE HANSEN: A Professor Emeritus of Music Education at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, Dee is an accomplished Renaissance and Baroque flautist with a background in choral singing and guitar. She holds a master's degree in music history and a Doctorate of Musical Arts and is an active member of Amherst Early Music and Early Music America. She is also exploring the early music lever harp.
ERIC HANSEN: Retired Electronic Resources Coordinator for the Connecticut State Library, Eric is an accomplished lutenist and former professional bassist who has performed on numerous recordings, including two gold and two multi-platinum albums. He holds a master's degree in music history and completed postgraduate musicology studies at the University of Chicago. He continues to perform with Entwyned Early Music and is active in the Lute Society of America, Amherst Early Music, and Early Music America.
NEAL HUMPHREYS: Manager of Hartt Academic Support Services at the University of Hartford, Neal holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Cello Performance from The Hartt School. An adventurous, cross-genre musician, he performs music ranging from early Baroque to jazz, punk, and hip hop. His credits include collaborations with renowned composers and a performance on Kenny Garrett's Grammy-nominated album Beyond the Wall.
About Our Zoom Events:
All of our Virtual Zoom Events are live. They are not recorded. To participate/join the event, you need to use the exact link connected to the event. Once you click on the link at the specified date and time, you will be prompted to open Zoom, the virtual meeting program we are using. All you need is an internet connection and a device or computer with a webcam and audio. Most computers have built-in webcams. No passwords or confirmation codes, just click the link and follow the prompts.
More security, more privacy: In response to concerns about privacy in a virtual meeting space, we have enabled additional security features in Zoom and updated our meeting links to be protected, private, and secure. These new, unique links can also be accessed through our e-newsletters. To receive secure information regarding these events, please subscribe to our e-newsletter! Click here to learn more about our e-newsletter offerings.