Adults’ Featured Events

Social Security 101 Workshop

Wednesday, March 29, 4:00 p.m. on Zoom
Registration required.

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtfuitqjouH9Asa081ZDUxUfj88835lkY2

Want to find out how to get the most from your social security benefits? Do you qualify for disability, survivors and spouse benefits? How does early retirement affect your benefits? Answers to these questions and more will be provided by Benjamin Rhodes, III, Metropolitan Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration.

Come learn about taking your benefits at age 62 vs. your full retirement age as well as when and how to enroll in Medicare, working in retirement and more. You will also learn about all the services that can be completed at Social Security’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov. Before attending the workshop, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and print out your Social Security Statement.

Register on Zoom link  or call (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com to sign up.

Afghanistan After The Withdrawal: An Update With Pamela Constable
In collaboration with the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council

Wednesday, March 29, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event.

In five reporting visits to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Pamela Constable has seen a gradual and disturbing trend in the new religious authorities, from promises of amnesty and moderation in governance to increasingly repressive decrees limiting personal freedoms of all kinds, especially for women, as well as the revival of the brutal punishments they carried out in their first period of power in the late 1990s. At a time the impoverished the country is suffering from terrible economic hardship, its leaders have decided to impose harsh rules that will jeopardize their access to international aid and support. The issue at hand is why they have done this, and where it will lead.

Salt Marsh Haymaking in the Northeast

Tuesday, April 4, 7:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event.

Did you know that our salt marshes – home to fish, birds, crabs and turtles – were actually used for agriculture over hundreds of years? Well into the 20th century, coastal farmers regularly harvested salt hay for their livestock and other purposes. Scenes of marsh haystacks were romanticized in postcards and oil paintings for decades.

Ranger Shaun Roche from Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge presents on the fascinating lost practice of salt marsh haymaking.

Great Decisions Discussions

Tuesday, April 11, 6:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.

Essex Library and the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) are partnering to bring the Political Affairs Council’s Great Decisions discussion series to the community. For over 65 years, the Great Decisions program has given an inspiring example of the role citizens can play in discovering, discussing, and deciding how to meet some of the world’s greatest challenges.

The program provides information including in-depth articles with maps, historical background, and present and future policy options for eight of the most critical issues facing America each year. Great Decisions 2023 takes you beyond the headlines by providing a look at eight of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the world.

Reading booklets are available at the Essex Library.

The topic for the April 11th meeting is Energy Geopolitics. Future meeting dates TBA at the April 11th meeting.

Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com

Beyond the Breed: Exploring Dog DNA

Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Registration required.

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMode-qqT8uGd2eTP6pPMJatMVUmSro-0vl

Are you curious about the genetic make-up of your furry family members? Dog owners are becoming increasingly interested as the popularity of canine DNA testing and “Breed Reveal Parties” grows.

This Connecticut Humane Society program provides the skills needed to identify dog breeds based on phenotypic characteristics, a basic understanding of canine genetics, and background information in canine evolution.

Register on Zoom link  or call (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com to sign up.

Authors In Conversation: The Exceptions Author Kate Zernike in Conversation with Sam Tanenhaus

Saturday, April 15, 4:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.

In 1999, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology admitted to discriminating against women on its faculty, forcing institutions across the country to confront a problem they had long ignored: the need for more women at the top levels of science. Written by the journalist who broke the story for The Boston Globe, The Exceptions is the untold story of how sixteen highly accomplished women on the MIT faculty came together to do the work that triggered the historic admission. Author Kate Zernike will discuss her most recent book, The Exceptions, with Sam Tanenhaus, former Editor of The New York Times Book Review.

Kate Zernike has been a reporter for The New York Times since 2000. She was a member of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for stories about al-Qaeda before and after the 9/11 terror attacks. She was previously a reporter for The Boston Globe, where she broke the story of MIT’s admission that it had discriminated against women on its faculty, on which The Exceptions is based.

Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com

Needlework Group

Mondays (ongoing), 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the library

Knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and more are welcome! Come and do needlework with other craft enthusiasts. Bring your crafts, your works in progress, your finished pieces, your patterns, and craft along with others while swapping tips, tricks, and conversation.

French Conversation Group

Tuesdays (ongoing), 4:00 – 5:15 p.m. at the library

Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
Facilitated by Debbie Griswold

Second Tuesday of Every Month (ongoing), 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the library

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging. To help people who care for those with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter facilitates about 90 support groups around the state. People talk about their experiences and offer suggestions to deal with topics including medical, legal, behavioral and financial problems. The trained group facilitator is there to listen, help guide the conversation and to provide information about resources in the community.

This support group is FREE and open to the public. 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900 or email at ehelpline@alz.org

Genealogy Interest Group

Wednesday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. at the library

Meet up with other genealogy aficionados, talk about resources, share your own genealogy journey, ask questions, and more! Great group for beginners looking to get into the community and long-time enthusiasts looking to meet new friends and share their passion.

Meets for the first time on March 29 and will continue to meet monthly on the last Wednesday with enough interest.

SCORE At The Library

Thursdays (ongoing), 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the library
Masks required

The Southeastern Connecticut chapter of SCORE provides free and confidential advice on starting and growing small businesses. Appointments must be scheduled in advance, either by calling (860) 388-9508 or downloading a request form. SCORE is also offering information and assistance with the Paycheck Protection Program and SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Instructions for Using Zoom

You do not need to have a Zoom account to join the Library’s Zoom meetings. To connect with video, you will need to be connected to the Internet, either from a computer, iPad or cell phone. A link for each meeting will be provided in the monthly newsletters and on the Library’s website. All library programs and meetings offered on Zoom are moderated by library staff and are recorded; the library does not offer Zoom recordings to the public. The Library records all programs and reports all Zoombombing, attempted Zoombombing, and/or misuse of our public programming platform to federal and local law enforcement.

For more detailed instructions see: Instructions on using Zoom, a free video-conferencing software.

To Connect with a Computer:

To Join a Zoom Meeting from your computer, click the links provided for each meeting, OR

1. Go to https://zoom.us
2. Click on ‘Join A Meeting’ located in the upper right area of the screen
3. Type the meeting number in the window then click ‘JOIN’
4. A ‘Launch Application’ window will appear
5. Click ‘Open link’

If you have trouble getting the Zoom meeting to open, please be sure to use the Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer browser. To download Google Chrome to your device, see instructions here: https://www.google.com/chrome/

To Connect with an iPad or iPhone:

1. Download the Zoom app from the App Store, located here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307
2. Click the link provided for the meeting

To Connect with an Android device:

1. Download the Zoom app for Android, located here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en_US
2. Click the link provided for the meeting

To Connect with a land line phone:

If you’re joining the meeting by phone, call this number: 1 (646) 558-8656. Once you’re connected, then dial the meeting ID number to join the meeting.