HPL Recent Events - 2019

Annual Library Book and Bake Sale
Books you don't need at prices you can't resist!
        Saturday, June 8 - 10 am - 3 pm - at the Library
The HPL will be having its annual book sale during Hopewell Borough's town-wide yard sale. Stop by the Library to browse the books -- and to check out the tasty treats being sold by the Friends of the Library.
HPL "Wednesday Night Out" Lecture Series -- June
Paradise on the Hudson:
    The Creation, Loss, and Revival of a Gilded Age Garden
         Wednesday, June 5, 2019,   7 pm - at the Hopewell Theater
             5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Local author, Caroline Seebohm, author of the upcoming book Paradise on the Hudson: The Creation, Loss and Revival of a Gilded Age Garden, will talk about the preservation of the famous Untermyer garden in Yonkers, New York, as well as other gardens that have been preserved in the U.S. and England.

Few people today have ever heard of him, but in the early years of the twentieth century, Samuel Untermyer took on the rich, the entrenched establishment, the robber barons, and the most powerful corporations in America. He also turned his estate into one of the most extensive and ambitious gardens of the Gilded Age. Located on the banks of the Hudson, it boasted extravagant structures based on Greek models, 60 greenhouses, and a staff of 60 gardeners. After Untermyer’s death, the garden went into a steep decline, until a restoration program brought a significant part of the original gardens back to their former glory. In Paradise on the Hudson, seasoned writer and garden historian Caroline Seebohm shares all this and more, telling a fascinating story of a dazzling Gilded Age garden created, lost, and re-found.
 
Caroline Seebohm is author of many books, including Rescuing Eden, The Man Who Was Vogue: Conde Nast, Private Landscapes, and others. She is also a journalist, biographer and researcher whose works include illustrated books, magazine articles, biographies, and a memoir. She is an authority on traditional English and American decorating and decorators.
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Part of the recently-restored Greek Garden of the Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, NY
Hidden Gardens of Hopewell:
      Tour Seven Wonderful Gardens in Hopewell Borough
         Saturday, June 1, 2019, 10 am - 3 pm. Rain or shine.

The Friends of Hopewell Public Library invite you to come out and explore the "Hidden Gardens of Hopewell."

Seven unique and contrasting Hopewell Borough gardens are featured this year, including the elegant grounds of the Ralston House ("the Castle") and the intimate "Buddha’s Garden of Second Chances" on the neighboring Castle Lane property.

Tickets for this self-guided tour are $20 (or $25 day of the Tour). Purchase tickets at the Hopewell Public Library, 13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, N.J., or through PayPal below.
Purchase through PayPal (major credit cards accepted).
Note: Bring your PayPal receipt to the Hopewell Public Library staff to retrieve your official numbered Garden Tour ticket.
Soffits, Brackets, and Chimleys:
      Hopewell Boro Architectural Walking Tour
         Saturday, May 25, 2019 - Tours from 10 am - 2 pm

Sign up for one of four separate one-hour architectural walking tours focusing on Hopewell Borough's architectural history. Experience the different architectural styles and see examples “in the wild.”

The tours are free, and will start from the Hopewell Public Library at 10:00, 10:30, 12:30, and 1:00.
Registration is required - visit the Library, or call 609-466-1625. Walk ins may be available on the day of the tour.

The tours will be led by archaeologist Ian Burrow, architect Max Hayden, chair of the Hopewell Township Historical Preservation Commission, and architect Alison Baxter, chair of the Hopewell Borough Historical Preservation Commission. Architect Michael Mills also helped develop the tour.

Also stop by the library to chat with Commission members and see our display on historical architecture.

Sponsored by the Hopewell Public Library and the Hopewell Borough Historic Preservation Commission.

See tour wrap-up on Facebook.
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Tour Team:
Max Hayden, Alison Baxter,
Michael Mills, Ian Burrow
This event is part of the Hopewell Valley Heritage Weekend, May 23 - 27, 2019, celebrating the rich heritage of the Hopewell Valley with a full weekend of events, all of which are free to the public.
Local Author Presentation
Picture This: My Journey from Words to Images
         Wednesday, May 22, 2019,   7 pm - at the Hopewell Train Station
             2 Railroad Place, Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Local artist and author Charles McCollough will discuss his book, Picture This: My Journey from Words to Images, a memoir of a dyslexic, illustrated with forty years of drawings from his journals made as he traveled throughout the world teaching how our faith leads to social justice.
 
Discovering that he was dyslexic as he was finishing his PhD in theology, McCollough eventually came to see it as an asset rather than a liability. He used visual imagery to enhance his teaching and ministry while working in local churches and on the national staff of the United Church of Christ. He shows us that images can speak as powerfully as words.
 
McCollough has served as artist in residence at five seminaries, and they have his sculptures on permanent display. He is a participant in the annual Hopewell Tour des  Arts, and his sculptures can be seen in his Hopewell barn studio. He and his family have lived in Hopewell for 45 years, and in retirement he is still sculpting, drawing, and giving presentations. Some of his sculptures will be on display and his books will be for sale at the presentation.
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Charles McCollough
HPL "Wednesday Night Out" Lecture Series -- May
Co-sponsored by the Let Me Run wellness program for boys
Film Screening and Panel Discussion -- The Mask You Live In:
       Is American Masculinity Harming Our Boys, Men, and Society?
         Wednesday, May 1, 2019,   6:30 pm - - at the Hopewell Theater
             5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Join the Hopewell Public Library for a free community screening and panel discussion of The Mask You Live In. This award winning documentary follows real accounts of boys and young men as they struggle to navigate their way through America’s narrow definition of masculinity. 

Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.

This conversation is vital, not only for the health of our boys, but also for our society as a whole.  Parents of children of any age are encouraged to attend.  The film is recommended for ages 14 and up.
 
A panel discussion will follow the screening.  The panel will include: Jonathan Woods, LCSW, who has been in clinical practice since 1979 and is current director of Comprehensive Mental Health Services, a multidisciplinary outpatient practice; Megan Mormile, LPC, who has worked with adolescents for over twenty years focused primarily around dealing with stress, anxiety, social issues and school related difficulties; and Hopewell resident Laura Smelas, regional director of Let Me Run Central NJ.
 
This program is co-sponsored by Let Me Run.  Let Me Run is a nonprofit wellness program that inspires boys to be themselves, be active, and belong.  Let Me Run seeks to break down negative societal pressures that require males to mask their authentic selves behind a performance of masculinity, in which the most praised emotions are anger, aggression and pride. Its purpose is to reduce the challenges associated with a lack of emotional expression in pre-teen and teenage boys, which can lead to stress, sickness, disease, addiction, and violence. “We nurture and celebrate every aspect of what it really means to be a boy, and we let them run.”
HPL / Shade Tree Special Presentation
In the Company of Trees:
       Honoring the Sacred Power, Beauty and Wisdom of Trees
         Wednesday, April 24, 2019,   7 pm - at the Hopewell Train Station
             2 Railroad Place, Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Pennington author Andrea Sarubbi Fereshteh will speak about the powerful connection between trees and human beings through the ages, as well as shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing.” In addition, she will share some of her favorite woodland spots for hiking and relaxation.  Ms. Fereshteh’s first book, In the Company of Trees, was was published this January by Simon & Schuster. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
 
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgetown University, Andrea Fereshteh writes for educational institutions, nonprofits and freelance publications. She has been practicing yoga and meditation for more than a decade and leads weekly meditation sessions in the tradition of John Main, OSB. Her interest in blending mindful and contemplative practices with nature led her into the woods of Central New Jersey where she has practiced forest bathing for the past three years. Her husband and three lively sons provide a constant source of joy and inspiration. Spirituality Health called her book “a delightful global journey through the forests of the world,” and Environmental Magazine praised it for its “fascinating facts, trivia, and stories celebrating nature and the magnificent life of trees and their invaluable place in our lives.” This presentation is cosponsored by the Hopewell Public Library and the Hopewell Advisory Shade Tree Commission.
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Andrea Sarubbi Fereshteh
HPL "Wednesday Night Out" Lecture Series -- April
Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Author, Aviator, Liberated Woman
         Wednesday, April 3, 2019 - 7 pm - - at the Hopewell Theater
             5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Historian Jim Davidson continues his lecture series about the lives of the Lindbergh family.  Anne Morrow Lindbergh is well known for having been the wife of pioneering and controversial aviator Charles Lindbergh.  She was the mother of their six children, including their young son Charles Jr., who was kidnapped and murdered in 1932.  This presentation will cover her privileged New Jersey upbringing, a whirlwind life in the spotlight, troubled marriage, retreat to Europe, and even pre-war Nazi connections.  
 
Often overshadowed by her famous husband, Anne Lindbergh was an accomplished aviator in her own right and was a noted author, having received numerous prestigious honors and awards in recognition of her contributions to both of those fields. Her many written works included poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, culminating with Gift from the Sea, which became a mainstay of many American women. She was a woman of her time and is relevant to ours.
 
Jim Davidson is president of the East Amwell Historical Society (eastamwellhistory.org), a member of the township’s Preservation Committee, and a driving force behind the new East Amwell Museum. He also served 15 years on the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Committee. A lifetime Hunterdon County resident, Jim is a former history teacher and an avid collector of Lindbergh memorabilia.
HPL "Wednesday Night Out" Lecture Series -- March
Mindfulness and Skills for Living with Intention and Awareness
         Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - 7 pm - at the Hopewell Train Station
             2 Railroad Place, Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Mindfulness is the practice of pausing, slowing down, and observing our internal experience - thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, action urges, and our external experience. It opens a connection to what is going on around us in the present moment.
 
In this session participants will experience at least three ways to integrate mindfulness into your daily lives, with a special emphasis on mindful (vs. mindless ) eating. You will also receive information on reading material and other mindfulness resources.
 
Our culture values multitasking and speed, yet we often feel overwhelmed, tense, and exhausted when we constantly do several things at once. We may sometimes feel as if we are on automatic pilot, disconnected from our bodies, minds, and emotions. When we practice every day activities mindfully, such as breathing, moving, and eating, we feel more connected with ourselves and our world, more focused, satisfied, and accomplished.
 
Michele Naphen, MSW, LCSW, has studied and practiced mindfulness since 1987. She teaches mindfulness skills privately, and in the Adult and Women's Trauma Intensive Outpatient Programs for Princeton House Behavioral Health in Hamilton. Michele has participated in trainings and retreats with leading mindfulness teachers, including John Welwood, Ph.D, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy trainers.
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Michele Naphen
HPL "Wednesday Night Out" Lecture Series -- February
      / Black History Month Presentation
If These Stones Could Talk
         Wednesday, February 6,   7 pm - at the Hopewell Theater
             5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell NJ
             Free and open to the public

Elaine Buck and Bev Mills, authors of the new book If These Stones Could Talk, continue to share stories of their journey uncovering histories of the African American community in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and surrounding regions of New Jersey.
 
In her foreword for the book, Emma Lapsansky-Werner, Professor Emeritus of History at Haverford College, writes, "Elaine and Bev’s story is about both race-based pain and interracial triumph; it’s about pettiness and greed and prejudice and ignorance and exclusion. But it’s also about teamwork and mutual human concern, and about the intricacies of family life among and between White and Black Americans, stretching from the eighteenth and nineteenth century into the twenty-first century. ... Here, in a narrative that is partly memoir, partly detective story, the reader meets a fascinating parade of characters."
 
Trustees of the Stoutsburg Cemetery Association, and co-founders of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck began collaborating over a decade ago researching the lives of their African American ancestors who resided in the Sourland Mountain region and surrounding areas. After many years of research, examination of records, deeds, church records, and collection of oral histories, Mills and Buck published their book in November 2018.
 
The Hopewell Public Library's Wednesday Night Out series is held on the first Wednesday of each month. These events are free and open to the public – no registration is required. Due to the size limitations of the library building, these talks are usually held at the Hopewell Train Station or the Hopewell Theater.
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Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck
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Cookbook Book Club
         Thursday, January 17, 2019,   6:30 - 8:30 pm - at the Library

We will be trying a new approach, using a common ingredient -- lemons -- instead of a common cookbook. Let the creative (citrus) juices flow! Advance registration is requested. For more information and updates see the Book Clubs page on the HPL website under the Activities & Events menu, and the website Calendar.
PictureDebra Liese
Senior Memoir Writing Group
         With local educator Debra Liese
         Starting Wednesday, January 9, 2019,   1 - 2 pm - at the Library
             Open to all interested seniors.
             Preregistration is requested: Stop in the Library to sign up, or call the HPL at 609-466-1625

Join a supportive, non-critical group especially for seniors who are looking to explore life experiences through writing. This is an excellent way to record memories for friends and future generations, make connections with other writers, and revisit formative experiences in a nurturing environment. All levels of experience are welcome.
 
The Senior Memoir Class will have a series of regular meetings to work on literary forms of autobiographical memoir, "miro" memoir, and brief personal essays. This is a non-critical workshop where students will explore the slippery nature of memory, study examples of memoirs, and experiment with imagery and symbolism to bring their stories to life. Students will write their own pieces outside of class for sharing and light workshopping during class sessions. Discussion will focus on shared resonance and helping to develop clarity in writing style.
 
Debra Liese (MFA) is a mother of three, publishing professional, certified educator, and occasional essayist. She has taught writing for children and adults at the Arts Council of Princeton, and started a memoir class for seniors via the Princeton Senior Resource Center. She has special interest in children's literature and therapeutic writing.
Hours
  Mon.  10 am - 8 pm
  Tue.  12 pm - 8 pm
  Wed.  12 pm - 8 pm
  Thu.  12 pm - 8 pm
  Fri.  12 pm - 5 pm
  Sat.  10 am - 2 pm
  Sun.  Closed
Address
  13 East Broad Street
  Hopewell, NJ 08525
Telephone
  Phone:  609-466-1625
  Fax:  609-466-1996
Social Media
Email
  HPL@redlibrary.org
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