Stonington Free Library

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April 24, 2017

An Evening At Walden

April 22 was the day whose quality was artfully affected by the Stonington Free Library’s 9th annual Mystery Dinner with its theme based on Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. Approximately 145 ticket-holders gathered at 6pm for traditional drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the Library and, promptly at 7, dispersed to 19 appointed homes for sumptuous dinners that reflected this year’s theme.

Sibby Lynch was in charge of decorating the Library, which was done to a fare-thee-well with a horde of woodsy creatures, tools for survival in the wild, gardening and workshop accessories, lots and lots of greenery, a forest of branches, and streamers bearing thoughts from Thoreau’s books that have become adages for the present day. Thanks go to The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Adam’s Garden of Eden, Cask N’ Keg, Russ Burgess and Clare Sheridan of Charles Schwab – Mystic (who sponsored the cocktail party), and to Barbara Heuer whose wondrous calligraphy was central to the décor.

Financially, the event was a booming success with ticket sales over $13,000 — a matter of importance to the Library. In addition, a “Giving Tree” poster was set up on which guests could post their “Giving Leaves” with pledges to fund replacing and updating some of the Library’s desktop computers with laptops and expanding the new book collection. This initiative raised more than $5,000.

Of course, it all comes down to the success of the dinner parties. This year we had the largest number of volunteer hosts and hostesses ever — 19! The guest lists were put together with the aim of combining guests who don’t often see each other, and may not even know each other. The food, the drink, the conversation, the meeting of new people and the just plain fun of it all was extraordinary. See you next year—our 10th!

 

Article Attribution: Charles Harding

Filed Under: Homepage Tagged With: Mystery Dinner

 

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SFL THURSDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP – Join us on Thu
SFL THURSDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP - Join us on Thursday 6/8 @ 2pm to discuss Leaving Lucy Pear by Anna Solomon. "One night in 1917 Beatrice Haven leaves her newborn baby at the foot of a pear tree, and watches as another woman claims the infant as her own. The unwed daughter of wealthy Jewish industrialists and a gifted pianist bound for Radcliffe, Bea plans to leave her shameful secret behind. Ten years later she returns, but is inadvertently reunited the woman who has been raising Bea's abandoned child—now a bright, bold, cross-dressing girl named Lucy Pear, with secrets of her own." Email millie@stoningtonfreelibrary.org for more information!

Join us to hear Catherine DeNunzio share her new b
Join us to hear Catherine DeNunzio share her new book of poems, Enough Like Bone to Build On. https://conta.cc/3OVehy4
https://conta.cc/43A6REC

Most of us put off any discussion about this last
Most of us put off any discussion about this last stage in life. Why? It is going to happen to all of us whether we are ready or not. 

If you have questions or concerns about the last stage of life come join End-of-Life Doulas Noreen Kepple, Greta McGugan, and Lavina Kepple for conversations around this important topic. They are here to help get the dialogue started and navigate the issues surrounding dying.

Registration is strongly encouraged. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdywSQrhG6jo7s8USYB_klj1KLZVghf3BwC1tpgsHdoqtX2Pg/viewform?usp=pp_url

JUNE GRAB & GO Enjoy some old fashioned fun with p
JUNE GRAB & GO	Enjoy some old fashioned fun with paper dolls!  Color, cut, play! While supplies last.

See what's new this week at the Stonington Free Li
See what's new this week at the Stonington Free Library at:

*** http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?in&p=5591-335 ***

There are six new bestsellers, nine new children's books, and ten other new books.

 The new bestsellers this week include "Cherish," "No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model," and "Rogue Justice."

School is almost out! Check out our summer reading
School is almost out! Check out our summer reading program and all the special events planned for this summer. https://conta.cc/3CahAK5


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Events Calendar

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  • June 2023

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Featured 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

Featured May 31 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

On Wednesday's from 1-3pm knitters and crafters of all skill levels are welcome to bring projects to work on. This is a laid back meeting for knitting, sharing and asking

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1 event, 3

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

MYSTERY DINNER 2023

June 3 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

MYSTERY DINNER 2023

BOOKS AND BEYOND - The Power of Your Library Card For over a decade, the Mystery Dinner has been the Stonington Free Library’s signature annual fundraising event. Join us for cocktails at the

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1 event, 5

10:00 am - 7:00 pm

June Grab & Go Paper Dolls Ages 4 and up

June 5 @ 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

June Grab & Go Paper Dolls Ages 4 and up

0 events, 6

1 event, 7

Featured 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

Featured June 7 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

On Wednesday's from 1-3pm knitters and crafters of all skill levels are welcome to bring projects to work on. This is a laid back meeting for knitting, sharing and asking

2 events, 8

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

SFL THURSDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP

June 8 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

SFL THURSDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP

Join us on Thursday 6/8 @ 2pm to discuss Leaving Lucy Pear by Anna Solomon. "One night in 1917 Beatrice Haven leaves her newborn baby at the foot of a

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

CONVERSATIONS ON DEATH AND DYING

June 8 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

CONVERSATIONS ON DEATH AND DYING

Most of us put off any discussion about this last stage in life. Why? It is going to happen to all of us whether we are ready or not. If

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0 events, 10

1 event, 11

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

CATHERINE DENUNZIO POETRY READING

June 11 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

CATHERINE DENUNZIO POETRY READING

Catherine DeNunzio’s poems range widely. But they all share a single quality: They are deeply, eloquently human. No matter what their focus—a snakeskin, a bird’s wing, a baby’s silver cup—these

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0 events, 13

1 event, 14

Featured 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

Featured June 14 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

On Wednesday's from 1-3pm knitters and crafters of all skill levels are welcome to bring projects to work on. This is a laid back meeting for knitting, sharing and asking

2 events, 15

2023-06-15

Juliet Grames discusses The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

Juliet Grames discusses The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

June 15

Juliet Grames discusses The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

More details coming soon.

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

JULIET GRAMES AUTHOR TALK

June 15 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

JULIET GRAMES AUTHOR TALK

Juliet Grames was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in a tight-knit Italian-American family. Her debut novel, The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna (Ecco/HarperCollins), was shortlisted for

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1 event, 21

Featured 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

Featured June 21 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

On Wednesday's from 1-3pm knitters and crafters of all skill levels are welcome to bring projects to work on. This is a laid back meeting for knitting, sharing and asking

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0 events, 27

1 event, 28

Featured 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

Featured June 28 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

On Wednesday's from 1-3pm knitters and crafters of all skill levels are welcome to bring projects to work on. This is a laid back meeting for knitting, sharing and asking

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May 31
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June 3
June 3 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

MYSTERY DINNER 2023

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June 5 @ 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

June Grab & Go Paper Dolls Ages 4 and up

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June 7
Featured Featured June 7 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Event Series

Knitting Group

June 8
June 8 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

SFL THURSDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP

June 8 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

CONVERSATIONS ON DEATH AND DYING

June 11
June 11 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

CATHERINE DENUNZIO POETRY READING

June 14
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Knitting Group

June 15
June 15 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

JULIET GRAMES AUTHOR TALK

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PO Box 232
Stonington, CT 06378

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© 2023 · Stonington Free Library · Photography by Peter Goldberg · Design & Development by // DESIGN AGENCY //

  • MY LIBRARY
    ▼
    • YOUTH LIBRARY
    • ADULT LIBRARY
    • USING THE LIBRARY
    • LIBRARY SERVICES
    • LIBRARY CATALOG
    • DIGITAL LIBRARY
  • WHAT’S HAPPENING
    ▼
    • BOOK GROUPS
    • NEWS
    • EVENTS
  • SUPPORT
    ▼
    • THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON 5K
    • BOOK SALE
    • CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 2020
    • MYSTERY DINNER
    • SPONSORSHIP
    • BOOK SALE
    • SUPPORT US
    • SUPPORTERS
    • VOLUNTEER
  • ABOUT US
    ▼
    • OUR MISSION
    • OUR PEOPLE
    • OUR COMMUNITY
    • OUTREACH
  • DONATE NOW