Adults’ Featured Events

Tackling Your Digital Photo Organization

Thursday, January 28th at 1 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required. 
Are your digital images and videos a growing mess? Do you understand the “cloud”, backup vs sync and the differnence betwen google photos, dropbox, amazon photos and apple photos? Cathi Nelson,CEO of the Photo Managers, will explain in simple terms the best practices for getting your digital photo mess under control.

Cathi Nelson is the author of Photo Organizing Made Easy; Going from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed. Cathi Nelson is the founder of APPO (Association of Personal Photo Organizers).

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlcemurzMpHtSUjC6ie9qV4KbHBKAsrS1e

Yale Science Communication with “Games, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life”

Wednesday, January 27th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration required.
Artificial intelligence is no longer just the stuff of science fiction. Today, machine learning has been applied to improve almost all aspects of our everyday lives. Join Yale Science Communication speakers Will Johnson, Bronwen Garand-Sheridan and Raghav Sehgal as they explore how the power of computing can help us do everything from playing a game of chess to finding cures for cancer to understanding how we share our emotions and feelings through music.

Hear from the speakers of “Games, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life”. The speakers will talk a little about themselves and briefly describe what they will be talking about in the upcoming talk.

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdu6qrTkoHNyrestqg7iJQHqHRxYtyhhQ

Managing Your Money in Challenging Times: The Basics, A 5-Part Series

Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Registration required.
UConn Financial Extension educator Faye Griffiths-Smith will offer a free 5-part financial literacy series beginning Tuesday, January 26th at 6:30 pm. It will be held every other Tuesday through March 23 on Zoom. We hope you can attend all the sessions but it isn’t a requirement.

Part 1, January 26th: Making Change, Getting Started

Zoom registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrdO6srTMjHtZfxtckYGD7VvNe5W8oPVqT

Part 2, February 9th: Creating Your Spending Plan

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsduyhqD4sHtHq4_6YM5AuXKmhs8HqmwtJ

Part 3, February 23rd: Following Your Spending Plan

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrdu2hqjoqG9RrZNm6sLSsOdIrljrfiihc

Part 4, March 9th: Managing Your Credit

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArf-CoqjguE9z4cYju0u4UPLTFCfXBEobc

Part 5, March 23rd: Dealing with Debt

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdeusqTkuG9SyeH1lh_gQyY_Mo6LetNz0

Stay Healthy and Prepared In 2021 Series presents “Top Tips for Winter Storm & Flooding Readiness”

Wednesday, February 3rd from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Zoom
UConn Extension Educator Mary Ellen Welch will talk about making your personal supply kit and making pet and car emergency kits. She will also cover basic weather terms and their meanings and risks. Welch will provide recommendations for staying in touch with family and friends, how to stay safe if you stay or go, and tips for dealing with power outages. This is the first of a 3-part series. Each part has its own registration link.

Mary Ellen Welch is an Extension Educator at the University of Connecticut. Her expertise is in Healthy Homes to support the health, stability and safety of people in their residences. She also teaches disaster preparedness for people in communities that are impacted by coastal and inland flooding and severe storms.

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvcO6grD0iHNWoEhHIaRuBmCS0lG1B-bD-

Propagating Native Plants From Seed

Saturday, February 6th at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Registration is required.
Including native plants in your garden is a great way to help pollinators. Expand your native plantings inexpensively by growing them yourself from seed. Learn how in this virtual workshop with Certified CT Master Gardener Jim Sirch, who will discuss different germination requirements for different kinds of seeds and how to plant a plastic milk jug filled with a seed selection to stratify over the winter. Proper after care will be discussed. Free seeds will be provided to registered attendees, while supplies last.

Jim Sirch is the Education Coordinator at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. He was past president and is currently on the board of the Hamden Land Conservation Trust. A certified CT Master Gardener, Jim gives talks throughout the state on gardening for pollinators and growing native plants from seed and is dedicated to helping improve backyard biodiversity. Jim was featured in the Members Making a Difference section of the Summer 2016 issue of the American Horticultural Society’s American Gardener magazine. Jim also authors a weekly nature blog called Beyond Your Back Door.

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctdOqhrjMrH9Gb-PsV4Ra4e_CXj-yTUuWM

What’s Up? Backyard Astronomy for 2021 (and Beyond)

Thursday, February 18th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required.
How can I get started in stargazing? What treats does the cosmos have in store for us over the next 12 months? Join CCSU astronomy professor Dr. Kristine Larsen in a journey through space and time as we preview astronomical events that you can view from your own backyard (as well as helpful hints for using that pair of binoculars you probably have stashed away in a closet to enhance your sky watching).

Dr. Kristine Larsen has been an astronomy professor at CCSU since 1989. In addition to her teaching and research, she has devoted much of her time to advancing the work of amateur astronomers. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Springfield Telescope Makers of Vermont, is past president of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, and is the Editor of the Astronomical League’s Reflector magazine.

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrceCgqzMqHd1AmPGAsWSzf2GxtaeT4oWi

On-Going Programs

Alzheimer Caregiver’s Support Group

The Alzheimer Caregiver’s Support Group has been placed on temporary hold until further notice. We look forward to resuming at a later date.

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. The Essex Library is honored to collaborate with AACC in hosting a monthly caregivers support group which offers caregivers a place to share, learn and feel welcomed. 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
ehelpline@alz.org

bereavement groupBereavement Support Group

Due to pressing counseling and emergency response needs at Middlesex Hospital, we regret that the library’s bereavement counseling sessions have been placed on temporary hold until further notice.  We look forward to resuming this service at a later date.

Additional bereavement resources may be found at the Center For Hospice Care Southeast Connecticut: https://www.hospicesect.org/bereavement-services

Grieving is tough –  but you don’t have to go it alone. The Essex Library is now hosting a Bereavement Support Group, with leadership provided by Chaplain Dennis McCann, head of pastoral services at Middlesex Hospital. The group is free and open to all. If you’re struggling with loss – of a spouse, a parent or other family member, or a close friend –  please consider coming to a meeting; sometimes just having a place to share our feelings makes them easier to bear.  No advance registration is necessary, and drop-ins are welcome.

Score LogoSCORE At The Library

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.