The adjustment for American veterans returning from war (depicted brilliantly by The Best Years of Our Lives after World War II and Coming Home and Born on the Fourth of July after the Vietnam War) extends to their families. “My late father, David Rust, was a member of the ‘Flying Tigers’ that flew dangerous missions over China and Myanmar [Burma] during World War II,” says Irvington-based telecommunications consultant Julia Rust. “I was born after he was discharged from the Air Force, but everything about him until his death in 2014 was influenced by the war—the way he moved, the way
Read More
Archives for Events
“When a Man Loves a Woman” Comes to the Library
On Thursday, January 18, from 2-4:30 p.m., the White Plains Public Library will present a free screening of the 1994 film When a Man Loves a Woman in the second-floor auditorium. The movie, which chronicles a wife’s alcoholism and rehabilitation and her husband’s inner conflicts, complements the Library’s Shaken and Stirred short-story discussion series on works centered around the multi-faceted use–and abuse–of alcohol in our culture. Meg Ryan and Andy García play a couple with two young daughters. Their outwardly idyllic life is shattered not only from the binge drinking by Ryan’s character but also by her recovery, which brings
Read More
‘Mixed Media’ Art Exhibit
Rick Rogers is a self-taught artist who “grew up visiting galleries and museums and soaking in the riches of the masters.” His path was unusual as a park ranger for 10 years on the 4,300-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation (where he and his family lived for 34 years), but that would evolve into his co-founding Westchester’s Art in the Parks program and curating the reservation’s gallery. Rogers subsequently spent 10 years at the Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, Conn., doing maintenance and art installing. While on the job, he “had the good fortune to meet many great artists
Read More
George Latimer Public Forums
Members of George Latimer's transition team will hold a series of open public forums in the Library Auditorium this week. Share your views on a wide range of topics at the following events: Wednesday, December 13, 6pm. Topic: Criminal Justice Thursday, December 14, 6pm. Topic: Social Services/Human Rights Tuesday, December 19, 7pm. Topic: Operational Services Can't make it? Email your comments to LatimerTransition2017@gmail.com
Read More
Family Films Showing December 2017 in the Trove
Sunday Cinema continues at the Trove this month with a great selection of new and classic family films. Here’s a quick look at some of the titles we’ll be showing at 2:00 p.m. in Galaxy Hall throughout the month of December. Note: we have one extra weeknight film on Wednesday, December 20. Descendants 2 (2017) – December 3 This is the very popular sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants and it continues with an exciting story and great soundtrack. Rated TVG, 111 minutes. Frozen (2013) – December 10 The wildly popular animated Disney hit for all ages. It
Read More
‘Social Media 101’ Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide
Social Media–Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.–is as revolutionary to communications in the 21st century as the telegraph, telephone, radio, television and, yes, the computer were to the 19th and 20th. But innovation comes with the challenge of acclimation, and to meet it, White Plains Public Library digital media specialist Austin Olney will host two Social Media 101 programs in the main floor's Edge Media Lab on Tuesday, November 28, at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 13, at 11 a.m. “We are targeting seniors and those who are not familiar with modern technology and software,” says Olney. “Social media is a popular resource, and it is
Read More
A Lively Evening at the Library
To celebrate the re-opening of the first floor, the Foundation held its annual fall Gala in the Hub on the evening of October 21st. Nearly 200 people attended the event, which marked the Foundation's 22nd anniversary. A highlight of the program was hearing from author Sloane Crosley who spoke about growing up in White Plains. All guests received a copy of Crosley's most recent book, the bestselling novel, The Clasp. Her work has appeared in Elle, Esquire, GQ, New York Magazine, Bon Appétit, The New York Times, Vanity Fair and more. Crosley's next book, Look Alive Out There, will be published
Read More
Art in the Castle Returns This Week
Art in the Castle is rolling out its second season with the help of Lily Fearon, a talented Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate at Purchase College. The monthly art classes offer 3rd-5th grade White Plains residents the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of artists' media including pencil, oil pastels, charcoal, collage material, water color and acrylic paints. Fearon displays library books on famous artists from various periods to encourage conversation in a nurturing and fun environment. She teaches the children new techniques at each session covering concepts such as mixing colors, brush stroke, still life studies, shading
Read More
Chess Club Comes to the Trove
Chess teaches us to think, visualize, problem solve, strategize and take risks. Play the game that spans cultures and generations. By learning chess, one of the oldest and most fascinating of games, you can make a friend and learn a little sportsmanship. The Chess Club meets Monday nights at 6:30 p.m.in the Trove. Ages 7 and up—teens, adults and grand masters—are welcome. No registration required.
Read More
College Readiness Workshop Series Begins Sept. 27
Next week marks the start of the Edge's College Readiness Workshop Series, run in partnership with The City of White Plains, Westchester Library System, Tomorrow’s Genius, and the New York State Department of Financial Services. The series will cover five key topics for students and their families: SAT vs. ACT, College Applications, the College Essay, College Financing, and College Repayment: SAT vs. ACT (September 27) – These two entrance exams, while similar, have subtle differences that can help you best showcase your academic skills. Learn how to choose between the two, and how to think about the optional essay. College
Read More
The Edge Launches New Community Service Group for Teens
On Monday, September 18, the Edge, the White Plains Public Library’s teen library, will hold its first Volunteer Interest Meeting for the “Do Gooders,” a new community service group for teens. “Do Gooders” follows the announcement that The Allstate Foundation awarded the White Plains Public Library a $25,000 grant for teen programs through “Good Starts in the Edge.” With the launch of “Do Gooders,” teens can earn volunteer hours for school or clubs, or just work to make a difference in their community. The library will provide resources and assist the teens in planning their own projects, such as learning
Read More
Come See The Mermaid, Chinese Blockbuster Aug. 15
What Gone with the Wind, Star Wars and Titanic are to the U.S., The Mermaid is to China. The Stephen Chow-directed fantasy on a mermaid entangled in greed, love and revenge has grossed $553.8 million since its February 2016 release. That set a box-office record in China, which makes it all the more special that the White Plains Public Library will present a free screening of The Mermaid at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, in The Trove (second floor). The Mermaid, in Mandarin with English subtitles, is the sixth of the seven-movie International Film Festival being shown at the Library this
Read More
Fall Gala – October 21
The annual fall Gala is Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 7-10 pm. We'll be celebrating in the Hub, our newly renovated first floor! This year, we're excited to welcome gala honoree & keynote speaker Sloane Crosley, celebrated author and graduate of White Plains High School. Sloane’s most recent publication is the bestselling novel The Clasp (“a highly comic, highly affecting novel”–NY Times Book Review, “A sad, hopeful, endlessly entertaining book,”–Time). Her essay collections, I Was Told There'd Be Cake and How Did You Get This Number, were both New York Times bestsellers and the former was shortlisted for The Thurber Prize. Sloane's
Read More
Workshop on Paying for College
Middle school students and their families are invited to a free workshop on the evening of May 2nd from 7- 8:30 pm in The Edge. Join us for pizza and the opportunity to learn about college scholarships and financial aid. You'll be introduced to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other resources so that in a few years when its time to apply, you'll be more prepared to start the process. Thanks to support from The Allstate Foundation, this program is presented through a collaboration with Latino U College Access. For more information, please call 914-839-0535.
Read More
Fake News Workshop 3/22 @ 7:00 PM
Fake news is a topic we hear a lot about, but is it as simple as figuring out what's fake and what's real? Join Librarian Ben Himmelfarb on Wednesday, March 22, at 7:00 PM for Present-Truth: How To Navigate the World of Fake (and Real) News. We will learn skills for determining what in the news is true and how to analyze your information sources to make sure you are the best informed that you can be. In this participatory workshop, we will also discuss strategies for dealing with rapid news cycles, social media dynamics, and how the library can
Read More
adults, children, current events, fake news, information literacy, news, politics, and teens.
‘Love Stories’ Returns
After a winter break, White Plains librarian Barbara Wenglin's popular “Love Stories” series resumes on March 16 with a discussion of Lorrie Moore's “Terrific Mother.” “It's a wry and witty tale in which the protagonist, Adrienne, tries to rebuild her life and ability to love following a devastating loss,” says Wenglin. “Terrific Mother” is among the 19 selections compiled by Diana Tesdell in the Love Stories anthology (Everyman's Pocket Classics, 2009). Copies can be borrowed from the White Plains Public Library, and there is also one kept at the upstairs reference desk. Eight of the love stories are in the spring
Read More
Paying and Planning for College
Tuesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. Need help help saving and paying for College? Join us! In this workshop you will receive: Information on the cost of college The different types of financial aid Opportunities for Hispanic student scholarships This is a bilingual program for parent and students in grade 6-8.
Read More
Digital Art Exhibit: Donna Faranda
It was three decades ago when artist Donna Faranda first used a computer to ‘paint' in points, or pointillism, the movement created by 19th century French impressionist Georges Seurat. “I had painted ‘traditionally,' with brush, watercolors, easel and smock, but I felt confined by my small apartment in Brooklyn,” she says. “My husband, Jan Novick, is an IT professional, and he helped me see the potential of painting digitally at a time when home computers were primarily word processors.” Technology and Faranda have both come a long way. “I now use Photoshop to create a montage from images that I have either drawn, scanned or found on the web. From these images,
Read More
Sensory-Friendly Show
On Sunday, November 13 at 2 :00 p.m. Autism Friendly Shows and Turtle Dance Music will present a Sensory-Friendly Music, Comedy and Bubble Show in the Trove's Galaxy Hall at the White Plains Public Library. The event is for children ages 2 years and up with their families. This 60-minute program will will be a “turtle-riffic musical experience designed to engage children through songs, movement, stories and interactive music technology. It is crafted to be inclusive for all children, including children on the Autism Spectrum, and a great time for parents and caregivers. Each song is accompanied by hands-on, visual,
Read More
Pace University Women’s Justice Center Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
Domestic violence toward a spouse, parent or child is probably the most unreported crime in the United States. “Victims transcend all socioeconomic levels, and there are many reasons why they may not feel comfortable or able to report the abuse, including fear of retaliation, concerns regarding children and their custody and safety, cultural concerns, financial concerns, and immigration and deportation concerns among others,” says attorney and Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) director of training, outreach and education Susan Carroll. “That’s why the Women’s Justice Center was formed in 1991 as the first of its kind in the nation.” Originally
Read More