Author David Hajdu Visits Presidents Day

A monthly guide to your community library, its programs and services

Issue No. 250, February 2010

January holidays The library will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 15 in observance of Author David Hajdu visits Presidents Day. Meet David Hajdu, author of is alone worth the price of admission, Heroes and Villains: Essays on Music, a poignant portrait of a brilliant mu- Movies, Comics and Culture, on Fri- sician whose star might have risen AARP Tax Help Volunteers from the AARP/IRS- day, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. even higher had he been born in a sponsored tax assistance program will These reviews say it all: “In different era. Hajdu’s essays never assist low income Port residents with this rollicking collection of essays, fail to amuse, please and provoke.” simple tax returns. Limited openings; Hajdu (The Ten-Cent Plague; Lush — Publisher’s Weekly call Ext. 136 for availability. Life) combines the cutting candor of “I’m ready to give [jazz] a Lester Bangs and the measured and second chance, thanks to the won- judicious cultural learning of Lionel derfully lustrous and effortlessly Comeback Moms . . . Trilling as he takes aim at subjects instructive essays in David Hajdu’s . . . or Dads: Returning to Work. Reg- ranging widely from jazz, rock and sparkling new collection…Hajdu istration is in progress. Please join us country music and cartoon charac- traces the familiar history of jazz, but on Wednesday, February 3, from 11 to ters like Elmer Fudd. Hajdu writes with a poet’s passionate yearning, not 1 for part II of this workshop. Call Ext. affectionately about the old Warner a scholar’s bored yawn. He makes 136 for more information. Brothers cartoons, recalling the re- you want to rush out and get hold of spite they provided from the tumult of the music about which he writes, no the 1960s. In another essay, he uses matter what you may have thought Friends’ news the release of Joni Mitchell’s album, about it in the past.” — Chicago The Friends of the Library welcomes Shine, as an entrée into a moving Tribune John McWhorter as its Bogen Lecture retrospective of her music and a bit Pianist Ken Kresge’s nimble series speaker on Sunday, March 7 at of mourning over her recent absence fingers provide the accompaniment 2 p.m. (see story on page 2). from the music scene. Hadju’s open- to some of these essays. ing essay on jazz great Billy Eckstine Susan Isaacs will moderate the Friends’ Book & Author Luncheon on Friday, May 14. She will introduce speakers Linda Fairstein, whose new book Hell Celebrating Black Gate will be out in March, and Thomas Fleming, author of The Intimate Lives History Month of the Founding Fathers. Napoleon Revels-Bey and the Nu Mo Swing Ensemble perform FOL say thanks selections from the Great Jazz The Friends’ annual fundraising ap- and Blues Songbook, in a concert peal has already resulted in contribu- dedicated to Bessie Smith, Bil- tions from long-time supporters and lie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sara first-time donors. “We are so grateful Vaughn and Betty Carter on Friday, for our community’s loyalty and sup- February 19 at 7:30 p.m. port,” says Friends president Amy Our Neighborhoods of New Bass. “The more donations we receive, York series visits Harlem on Fri- the more programs and activities the day, February 26 at 3 p.m. Join Friends can fund in our wonderful Ronald J. Brown for a look at the library.” transformation of Harlem into an African-American Mecca. In the late 19th century, well-to-do black Knick- Learn a Language Port Washington Library card hold- erbockers moved to 138th Street. ers can now access Mango’s Online Then came black immigrants from Language Learning System from the throughout the Caribbean, followed library website (click on the Mango by migrants from throughout the icon). Mango Basic is designed to country. The outbreak of World War teach users simple conversation skills I drew hundreds of thousands from in 22 foreign languages and includes the rural South, and beginning in 14 English as a Second Language 1965, tens of thousands of African courses. Mango Complete provides immigrants added still another advanced language skills for 9 foreign layer to the complex mix. Witness languages and includes 3 English as this phenomenal history marked a Second Language courses. If you by the Harlem Renaissance, the need help getting started call us at great Depression, the Civil Rights 883-4400, Ext. 111 or send an e-mail Movement, religious ferment, and to [email protected]. today’s gentrification. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Napoleon Revels-Bey and the Nu Mo Swing Ensemble perform on February 19 at 7:30 p.m. From the Library Director’s Office We Earned Five Stars sensors in back office areas and The Port Washington Public hallways throughout the building. Library was named a 5 star library The Library Board of Trust- after a national poll was conducted ees is planning for the installation measuring per capita use of the of solar technology as part of a roof 7,258 U.S. public libraries in the replacement which will be partially areas of library visits, circulation, funded through a LIPA rebate, the Internet use, and program atten- Port Washington Library Foun- dance. We are proud to say that we dation, and a state capital grant are one of only 85 libraries nation- awarded to the Library by Senator ally to received 5 stars. Craig Johnson.

Your Green Library The Library continues in its efforts to GO GREEN with its latest installation of variable speed drive motors which reduce the amount of air volume fed into the various spaces of the building once a set John McWhorter is speaker building temperature is reached. The slower our fans run, the less for Bogen Memorial Lecture energy we consume. It is expected that this improvement, partially The Friends of the Library miscegenated, abbreviated and in- funded by a grant from New York welcomes John McWhorter as teresting,” says bestselling author, State Library Construction Aid, its Bogen Lecture series speaker linguist and Manhattan Institute will save the Library approximately on Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Mr. Senior Fellow John McWhorter. $2,000 per month in electrical McWhorter’s topic is “The Story of A contributing editor to The costs. English: When It Wasn’t English, New Republic, he has taught lin- The Library has also made a How It Became English, and What guistics at the University of Cali- concerted effort to reduce electri- English Is About To Be.” fornia at Berkeley and has been cal consumption by installing light “English is genuinely weird — widely profiled in the media.

Sci-Fi favorites from 1957 This month we screen The L. Cahn directed. mass (Brian Donlevy) suspects that a Incredible Shrinking Man, a classic The Invisible Boy. Young Richard high-security factory is the site of an from the year 1957. Here are other Kyer plays with Forbidden Planet’s alien invasion. sci-fi favorites from that banner year, Robby the Robot in Herman Hoff- 20 Million Miles to Earth. Nathan all available in our circulating DVD man’s delightful fantasy. Juran’s movie about an ever-growing and VHS collections: Kronos by Kurt Neumann. A reptile from Venus features fabulous spaceship sends a giant robot to de- special effects by Ray Harryhausen. Beginning of the End. Reporter vour the Earth’s energy sources. The 27th Day. An alien from a dy- Peggie Castle and scientist Peter The Land Unknown. A helicopter ing planet gives each of five earthlings Graves battle huge locusts. Pro- crew descends into a foggy Antarctic a device that can destroy mankind, ducer/director Bert I. Gordon also chasm and discovers a world ruled by and twenty-seven days in which not to photographed the low-tech special dinosaurs. A Virgil Vogel picture. do so! William Asher directed. effects. The Monolith Monsters. Geolo- The Cosmic Monsters. Cosmic gist Grant Williams finds fragments rays transform insects into giants in of a meteor that grow gigantic, topple Gilbert Gunn’s production. and reproduce. Directed by John The Deadly Mantis. Released Sherwood. from a million-year deep freeze, a The Monster That Challenged the gigantic praying mantis heads for World. Atomic tests unleash menac- the U.S. Directed by Nathan Juran. ing mega-mollusks in Arnold Laven’s Fiend Without a Face. Marshall movie. Library co-sponsors Thompson fends off flying brains in The Mysterians by Ishiro Honda. scholar visit at C.W. Post Arthur Crabtree’s shocker. Aliens from the planet Mysteroid have The Giant Claw. Jeff Morrow come in peace — all they ask is to mate and Mara Corday match wits with a with Earth women! Holzer speaks giant buzzard from a “godfor-saken Not of This Earth. Paul Birch anti-matter universe.” A Fred F. plays an alien who needs constant on Lincoln and Sears production. blood transfusions. Charles B. Grif- Invasion of the Saucer Men. fith and Mark Hanna scripted for Obama Teenagers encounter extraterres- producer/director Roger Corman. trials (designed by Paul Blaisdell) Quatermass 2 (a.k.a. Enemy from story on page 7 with deadly needle-claws. Edward Space) by Val Guest. Professor Quater- MAC plans for spring!

Sunday, March 21 at 3 p.m. Pianist Jennifer Tao Selections from Schumann and Chopin

 Sunday, April 11 at 3 p.m. Dave Sear with Peter Pickow Jean Ritchie Folk Concert

 Sunday, May 2 at 3 p.m. Pianist Daria Rabotkina Sunday, February 21 at 3 p.m. Selections from Schumann and Beethoven Apollo Trio with guest violist Misha Amory Music Advisory Council concerts are Pianist Marija Stroke • Violinist Curtis Macomber • Cellist Michael Kannen privately funded by donations to the Library Foundation story on page seven

Carlos Page exhibits sculpture in Main Gallery

Sculptor Carlos Page will where he continues his work today. exhibit his work in the Main Gal- Over the years Carlos has partici- lery this month. The Art Advisory pated in many nationally juried arts Council will host a reception for the festivals and design shows. artist on Saturday, February 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. Page was born in Buenos Ai- res, Argentina. In 1989 he moved to San Francisco to work as an appren- tice to Argentine artist Pepe Ozan. It was there that Carlos had his first experiences working with steel, concrete and other materials. After a brief return to Buenos Aires, Carlos moved to New York City to reside and study. He began In the Photography Gallery — Marty Schmidt: An Eclectic Look at Long attending Hunter College in 1996 Island Aviation, through February 28 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in January of 2001 with a bachelor’s degree from Hunter’s Honors program. Within that program, Carlos Pulitzer Prize-Winning New Yorkers focused on the study of art. He began to create his first sculptures The library has been awarded who came from other places to live at Hunter, drawing his inspiration a Reading & Discussion grant and work in New York, references from the energy of the people and from the New York Council for the Joseph Pulitzer’s life here, as well as places that he encountered during Humanities for an original concept the immigrant experience. his extensive travels. series by program coordinator Jes- The first title in the series, In February 2001 Carlos sica Ley: “Pulitzer Prize-Winning Junot Diaz’s The Brief, Wondrous opened a sculpture and furniture New Yorkers.” Life of Oscar Wao, will be discussed studio in Hoboken, New Jersey, In the latter years of the 19th on Saturday, March 20 at 11 a.m. century, Joseph Pulitzer stood Others in the series: Interpreter of out as the very embodiment of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri on April American journalism. The lasting 17, Vera, Mrs.Vladimir Nabokov by influence of the Pulitzer Prizes on Stacy Schiff on May 15 and Eden’s online . . . all the time journalism, literature, music and Outcasts by John Matteson on June drama is attributed to his visionary 19. The series will be moderated by acumen. Peter West, professor of English at visit us at www.pwpl.org Our choice of four authors Adelphi University. ½ February Library Kids Welcome to the page for Children’s Services. Be sure to look here for upcoming exhibits, programs and articles relating to Children’s Services and the Parenting Information Center. Parents: Please comply with the age guidelines for these programs and be prepared to show proof of local residency.

Vacation Week Programs “Dream Big!”with Roger Day – Tuesday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. Funny lyrics and catchy beats have made the name Roger Day synony- mous with zany infectious fun for kids. For children in grades K and up with an adult. Tickets required and will be available in the Children’s Room beginning February 8. Co-sponsored by the Children’s Advisory Council, which is privately funded by donations to the Port Washington Library Foundation. Family Film: “Up” – Wednesday, February 17 at 2:30 p.m. The fun begins when a widowed balloon salesman ties thousands of bal- loons to his house and flies away on a magical adventure with an 8-year-old stowaway. No tickets required. Parents: Please be aware that the rating for this film is PG. Parental guidance is suggested – you may consider some material not suitable for your children. Erik’s Reptile Edventures – Friday, February 19 at 2:30 p.m. Join Erik Callender for a live animal show. Meet Godzilla, a green iguana, Fendi, a blood python and Blueie, a blue tegu. For children in grades K Early Childhood and up with an adult. Tickets required and will be available in the Children’s Room beginning February 8. Co-sponsored by the Children’s Advisory To register and/or inquire about availability for the following programs, Council, which is privately funded by donations to the Port Washington please call Children’s Services at 883-4400, Ext.150. Library Foundation. Mother Goose Rhyme Time Ages birth to 17 months with an adult – siblings welcome. Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Story times have begun - call for availability.

Toddler Story Time Ages 2½ to 3½ with an adult. Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Story times have begun - call for availability.

Preschool Story Time Ages 3½ to 5 without an adult. Fridays at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Story times have begun - call for availability.

Valentine’s Day Craft Monday February 8 at 12 noon or 1 p.m. A seasonal craft, stories and songs. Ages 2½ to 5 with an adult. Registra- tion begins February 1.

Pajama Story Time in English and Spanish Tuesday, February 9 at 7 p.m. Come in pajamas for stories, songs and fun activities. Ages 2½ to 6 with an adult. Family members welcome. Registration not required. Kindergarten through Sixth Grade To register and/or inquire about availability for the following programs, Pajama Story Time please call Children’s Services at 883-4400, Ext.150. Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. Come in pajamas and listen to bedtime stories. Ages 2½ to 6 with an adult. Family members welcome. Registration not required. After School Story Time For children in grades K to 2 without an adult. Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Story Play Hooray times have begun - call for availability. Monday, February 22 Book Bunch A music and movement program. Ages birth to 18 months with an adult Thursday, February 18 at 4 p.m. at 10 or 10:45 a.m. Ages 18 months to 2½ years with an adult at 11:30 a.m. Book discussion for children in grades 3 and 4. Call for availability. Ages 2½ to 5 with an adult at 12:30 p.m. Registration begins February 12. Tweens’ Night Out Parent Child Workshop Friday, February 19 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, February 24 and March 3, 10, 17, 24 Students in grades 5 and 6 are invited for “What’s a Mutt-i-gree?” Join from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Lauraine Merlini from the North Shore Animal League and learn more Spend time with your child and meet new people in an educational and about dog breeds and what jobs they were designed to do. Participants creative environment. Each week a different resource professional is on will design and create their own mutts. Registration begins February 12. hand to discuss speech and hearing, physical fitness, nutrition and behav- Page Turners ior. For children ages 18 to 29 months with an adult – siblings welcome. Tuesday, February 23 at 7:15 p.m. In-person registration begins February 5. Birth certificates are required as Book discussion for children in grades 5 and 6. Call for availability. proof of age; families must be Port Washington residents; priority given to first time registrants. Co-sponsored by the Port Washington Public Library Kiwi the Cat Learns About Food Family Place and funded with private donations to the Port Washington Fridays, March 5, 12 and 19 at 4 p.m. Library Foundation, the Judith C. White Foundation and United Way. Join Robyn Littman R.D., C.D.N. for an interactive and educational 3-ses- sion nutrition workshop. Children in grades K to 2 (without an adult) will Hands On Music learn about carbohydrates, proteins and fats and their role in our diets. Monday, March 1 at 12 noon or 1 p.m. There will be take home materials, food demonstrations and tastings. Music, stories and songs. For ages 18 months to 5 years with an adult – Limited registration begins February 26. Parents: Please alert the children’s younger siblings welcome. Registration begins February 22. librarians and Robyn about any food allergies. MAC welcomes Apollo Trio and Misha Amory

Violinist Curtis Macomber, Hall at Carnegie, and the Chamber Mozart on the Square festival, Bos- cellist Michael Kannen, and pianist Music Society of Lincoln Center. The ton’s Gardner Museum, Houston’s Marija Stroke play together as the Apollo Trio had its debut at the Ken- DaCamera series and Washington’s Apollo Trio. The Music Advisory nedy Center in May, 2009. Phillips Collection. Council welcomes the Apollo Trio Starting in the summer of 2010 Mr. Amory is a founding mem- and violist Misha Amory to our stage at Chamber Music Northwest, the ber of the Brentano String Quartet, on Sunday, February 21 at 3 p.m. Apollo Trio will be premiering and which enjoys a distinguished con- Formed in 1997 after play- performing Borscht Belt Memories, cert career in the United States and ing together in the Soirées des a new piece being written by David abroad. The Quartet has been in Junies Music Festival in the south Schiff in the jazz, klezmer, and clas- residence at Princeton University of France, the Apollo Trio has sical styles for the trio, clarinetist since 1999. performed to critical acclaim in the David Krakauer, and bass trombonist Mr. Amory holds degrees from United States and in Europe. In ad- David Taylor. Yale University and the Juilliard dition to frequent appearances at Since winning the 1991 Naum- School. His principal teachers were American music festivals — from burg Viola Award, Misha Amory has Heidi Castleman, Caroline Levine and the Mostly Mozart Festival in New been acclaimed as one of the leading Samuel Rhodes. Himself a dedicated York to Chamber Music Northwest American violists of his generation. teacher, Mr. Amory serves on the in Portland, Oregon, and on various He has performed with orchestras faculties of the Juilliard School in New chamber music series — the trio has in the United States and Europe, York City and the Curtis Institute in also performed at prominent New and has been presented in recital at Philadelphia. York venues, including Caramoor, New York’s Tully Hall, Los Angeles’ Bargemusic, Avery Fisher Hall, Weill Ambassador series, Philadelphia’s At right: Misha Amory

Think spring! Bus trip! “It’d take a guy a lifetime to women who kept America going know Brooklyn t’roo an’ t’roo. An’ by working in the Brooklyn Navy even den, yuh wouldn’t know it Yard during WWII. After a walk on all.” So says a character in Thomas the Promenade to view the amaz- Wolfe’s Only the Dead Know Brook- ing skyline of lower Manhattan, lyn. We, the living, will be Brooklyn we’ll turn down Orange Street for Bound on Wednesday, May 19 to a tour of the Plymouth Church of visit a couple of sections of the the Pilgrims, once a stop on the most populated (2.5 million) and underground railroad and where second largest (70.61 square miles) Abraham Lincoln worshipped twice borough in New York City. during his presidency. Then back Our first stop is the Brooklyn on our bus to drive through Pros- Historical Society in Brooklyn pect Park, then we’ll stop for lunch Heights for a guided tour of its mu- at Magnolia in Park Slope. Our final seum and It Happened in Brooklyn, visit will be historic Green-Wood an exhibition which charts a diverse Cemetery, for a guided trolley tour. range of residents: Brooklyn’s earli- Moderate walking is involved; wear est Native American settlements, your most comfortable shoes! the men and women who fought in Payment of $80, all inclusive, the Revolutionary War on Brook- is due at registration, which begins lyn’s shores, the Brooklynites who Tuesday, March 16. Participation is worked to abolish slavery, and the limited to 25. Folk duo Buskin & Batteau Library co-sponsors scholar visit at C.W. Post performs on February 24 Holzer on Lincoln and Obama SoundSwap welcomes folk As professional jingle writers, duo Buskin and Batteau on Wednes- Buskin and Batteau’s voices and Much has been made of the Bicentennial Commission, will day, February 24 at 8 p.m. tunes have been heard in almost similarities between presidents explore both the likenesses and These classically trained sing- every American household. They’ve Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama the disparities between these er-songwriters have been making had us listening “to the heartbeat of — their humble upbringings, their two historic presidents and their music together for a generation. America,” living “in a Burger King backgrounds in law and starts in Il- presidencies and the lessons that They’ve been featured in the New Town” and climbing “all aboard linois state politics, to say nothing of Americans can learn from them York Times and Time magazine. Amtrak.” their incomparable public speaking in his presentation, Lincoln and They’ve appeared on the Today After a 13-year hiatus Buskin & skills. But the two men also have very Obama: Lessons from the Past, In- Show and played everywhere, Batteau are back on the road again. stark differences. spiration for the Future on Febru- including Carnegie Hall. They’ve Singer-songwriter-soloists David One spent less than a year in ary 3, 2010 at the C.W. Post Cam- jammed with Bruce Springsteen Buskin and Robin Batteau have put formal education while the other pus of Long Island University. and Yo-Yo Ma, and have had their the finishing touches on their long- studied at some of America’s finest The talk, to be held at 12:30 songs covered by (among others) anticipated new CD, Red Shoes and institutions of higher education. p.m. in the Interfaith Center, will Aretha Franklin, Judy Collins, Tom Golden Hearts, recently released by One was a Republican, the other a consider these two men, their Rush, Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Nouveau Retro Media. Democrat. relevance and resonance for the Mathis, Pat Benatar and Roberta This performance is sponsored Noted historian and Lincoln 21st century, and is co-sponsored Flack. And their work has been by an anonymous donor who wishes scholar Dr. Harold Holzer, co-chair- by the Port Washington Public honored by Clios, an Emmy and to dedicate it to the Clergy Associa- man of the U. S. Abraham Lincoln Library. a Grammy. tion of Port Washington. What’s new in TeenSpace for grades 7 - 12? Saturday, February 13 at 2 p.m. self falling in love with her emotion- century man who is possessing her teenager is transported to a parallel Fondue: It’s Hip to Dip ally disturbed friend, although he is cousin Pen, she inadvertently makes world where she is given a dangerous Jo-Ann Tiranno instructs this hands- still attached to a girl back home. him corporeal — and irresistible. assignment. on workshop that will have teens cooking up a communal pot of pizza Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson. One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels. In this fondue and classic chocolate fondue Orphaned British teenager Scarlett Martin. When 15-year-old Finn’s meditation on various kinds of love, for dessert. Teens will also learn Wakefi eld postpones her romance world falls apart after a violent sexual Mee travels across the country to proper fondue etiquette and fun fon- with the handsome son of the school encounter, the only person she can the court of the Princess Esperanza, due folklore. In-person registration groundskeeper in order to travel to talk to is her best friend, Audrey, until singing the life stories of some of the begins on February 1, in TeenSpace. Scotland with her American sidekick, beautiful boy Jersy moves back to people he meets. Workshop fee: $5. in search of clues to the murder of a town and both girls develop feelings boy who dropped dead after kissing for him that threaten to destroy their Love is in the Air: Scarlett. friendship. Romantic Novels for Teens Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. In all the Check out some of these books that Living in a neighborhood of drug celebrate love, with stories of crush- years she has watched the wolves in dealers and gangs in New Mexico, the woods behind her house, Grace es, lost loves, misguided infatuations high school junior Eddie Corazon, a and, of course, romance! has been particularly drawn to an juvenile delinquent-in-training, falls unusual yellow-eyed wolf who, in in love with a girl who inspires him to his turn, has been watching her with Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog. Morgan rethink his life and his choices. and her boyfriend Cam have been increasing intensity. best friends since they were chil- Ash by Malinda Lo. In this variation dren, but just before their shared on the Cinderella story, Ash grows Immortal by Gillian Shields. Falling 16th birthday Cam confesses that he up believing in the fairy realm that in love with the mysterious Seb- is a fairy who was switched at birth the king and his philosophers have astian, Evie, a scholarship student with a human child, and now the fair- sought to suppress, until one day she at the Wyldcliffe Abbey School, is ies want to switch them back. must choose between a handsome haunted by a sister-like fi gure that fairy cursed to love her and the king’s seems to be sending her a warning. After the Moment by Garret Frey- huntress whom she loves. mann-Weyr. When 17-year-old Leigh Gateway by Sharon Shinn. While changes high schools his senior year Swoon by Nina Malkin. When 17-year- passing through the Arch in St. to help his stepsister, he fi nds him- old Dice tries to exorcise a 17th- Louis, Missouri, a Chinese-American

CAR-RT SORT Non-Profi t Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 348 Published by the Port Washington, NY PORT WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 11050-2794 One Library Drive Port Washington, NY 11050-2794 Phone: 516/883-4400 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.pwpl.org LIBRARY TRUSTEES: Julie Geller, President Lee Aitken, Myron Blumenfeld, Patricia Bridges, Joseph Burden, Thomas Donoghue, John O’Connell LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Nancy Curtin EDITOR: Jackie Kelly POSTAL CUSTOMER Port Washington, NY 11050 pwpl Issue No. 250, February 2010