Events
&
Programs
Please see regular branch programming on the
webpage.
Save The Date: Book Presentation & Author Talk
Thursday, March 5th, 2020 | 6:00 pm
Book presentation given by author and former ATF Federal Agent Wayne M. Miller. Hosted by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library. Thursday, March 5, 6:00 pm. Free and open to all. The event will include a book signing and reception. Wheelchair accessible; conveniently located near the Orange Line and bus connections.
Charlestown Branch Library | 179 Main Street | Charlestown, MA 02129
For more information: friendsofcharlestownlib@gmail.com | 617-242-1248
Burn Boston Burn is a true story, of a deep conspiracy developed and executed by nine men, including three Boston cops and a Boston firefighter, all determined to wreak havoc on the city and surrounding communities. It is also a story of the relentless investigators who eventually uncovered their plot. In the early 1980s, Boston was set ablaze, coincidentally not long after tax-cutting measures caused the layoffs of hundreds of police and firefighters. Over the course of two years, these “fire buffs” turned arsonists, were on a mission to keep the area ablaze with nightly multiple-alarm fires, with sirens wailing through the streets, and people too afraid to sleep. Two hundred sixty-four buildings were set on fire, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and hundreds of injuries.
Told from the perspective of Wayne M. Miller, the head ATF Special Agent in charge of the investigation during that time, Burn Boston Burn is a horrendous tale of political deceit and internal corruption. The book details the series of crimes that shook the city of Boston and became known as one of the largest arson cases on record in the history of the country.
Author Background:
For twenty-five years, Wayne M. Miller was a Special Agent, Criminal Investigator and Certified Fire Investigator for the U.S. Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He has been involved in numerous high profile criminal cases involving illegal firearms, bombings and arsons. He was also a member of the ATF National Response Team, responding to major fire and explosion incidents. During his career, Mr. Miller examined more than 2,300 fire and explosion scenes, responded to over twenty-five major incidents, and testified in more than forty cases in Federal and State civil and criminal courts. For the past seventeen years in the private sector, Mr. Miller has been a fire and explosion analyst for the Massachusetts-based Wright Group, Inc.
The Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library was formed in 1953, becoming the second Friends group to organize within the Boston Public Library system. As a non-profit organization, the Friends schedule four to six evening adult programs per year, helps to support programs for children held during the day, and maintains the library’s landscaping. The mission of the Friends remains today what it was in 1953: to serve as an advocacy and support group for the needs of the Charlestown Branch Library, its staff, and users.
www.friendsofcharlestownlib.orgwww.facebook.com/FriendsCharlestownBranchLibrary
www.bpl.org/branches/charlestown.htm
Save The Date: Holiday Concert!
Sunday, December 15, 3:30 pm | St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Church
St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Church and The Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library co-host a Holiday Concert.
Featuring the Copley Singers under the direction of Andrew Clarkson & Brian Jones with accompaniment performed by Mark Dwyer showcasing the church’s restored Woodberry & Harris organ
Sunday, December 15, 3:30 pm
St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Church
55 Warren Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Free and open to all with donations accepted on behalf of Harvest on the Vine Food Pantry. The church is wheelchair accessible and conveniently located near the Orange Line and bus connections. For more information: www.stmarystcatherine.org, info@stmarystcatherine.org, 617-242-4664.
The Copley Singers will perform carols, anthems and Christmas favorites – ancient and modern – from Europe and the Americas. Some examples will be sung a cappella, others will be accompanied by the Woodberry & Harris organ. The audience is invited to stand and join in singing both the festive and solemn carols.
The Copley Singers, a Boston-based choir founded in 2007, comprises a congenial group of auditioned volunteers and professionals – all dedicated to the art of fine singing and the joy of communicating their love of this art to the public.
Andrew Clarkson from St. Paul’s in Brookline and Brian Jones, Emeritus Director of Music, at Trinity Church in Boston, will share conducting duties.
Mark Dwyer, Organist and Choirmaster at the Church of the Advent in Boston, will support the choir as well as the congregation. He will be performing several of the songs on the sonically amazing Woodberry & Harris Opus 100 of 1892, which has 3 manuals, 37 stops, and 41 ranks of pipes (2501 pipes). The organ’s voicing and power make it suitable for a wide range of music.
Background information on the co-presenters:
St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Church is an intentionally inclusive community welcoming all of the many people who make up the diverse neighborhood of Charlestown. The Church strives to build a vibrant parish that develops and strengthens their faith and worship. With the goal of being community-oriented, the parish is involved in the local and global issues of our times and is dedicated to service, action, and compassion. The Harvest on the Vine Food Pantry is dedicated to helping all needy members of the local community regardless of religious affiliation. Established by the parishioners of the St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Harvest on the Vine is located in the former St. Catherine’s Annex building on Vine Street. The Pantry provides a twice-a-month distribution of food to Charlestown residents.
The Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library was formed in 1953, becoming the second Friends group to organize within the Boston Public Library system. As a non-profit organization, the Friends schedule four to six evening adult programs per year, helps to support programs for children held during the day and maintains the library’s landscaping. The mission of the Friends remains today what it was in 1953: to serve as an advocacy and support group for the needs of the Charlestown Branch Library, its staff, and users.
www.friendsofcharlestownlib.org
www.facebook.com/FriendsCharlestownBranchLibrary
www.bpl.org/branches/charlestown.htm
Save The Date: An Evening with Sirgourney Cook
Thursday, November 14th, 6:30pm | Charlestown Branch Library
“What Am I Doing Here?” is Sirgourney Cook's life-long musical journey encompassing gospel / soul / jazz / pop / opera. She is an operatic soprano by profession, but her musical journey, to arrive at this point, has certainly not been achieved by taking and abiding by the traditional route.
“What Am I Doing Here?” is a solo performance that will contain a repertoire of music that also reflects the route Cook has taken musically, from a childhood immersed in gospel music, to touring worldwide as a backup singer for international pop star Jennifer Hudson. With a narrative creatively woven throughout and one that is always questioning, Cook will take the audience on her personal musical journey, which will ultimately lead her back to her love for gospel, God, and classical music. For this performance, Sirgourney Cook will be accompanied by Katie Barr on the piano. The concert is presented by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library in partnership with the North End Music & Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC). It is free and open to all, followed by an informal Q&A and reception.
“Opera may be a third act for Cook, but I expect many more will follow. Sirgourney, keep your eyes on the prizes…all of them.” (Lee Eiseman, Publisher, The Boston Musical Intelligencer)
Further Background:
Sirgourney Cook, who now lives with her husband in Buffalo, NY, is an alumna of the Boston Opera Collaborative and member of the Boston Lyric Opera chorus. She returned to Boston this past summer to perform as a soloist with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra’s presentation of “Symphonic Space Odyssey: 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing” and “Deep River”. She holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Longy School of Music of Bard College. As an opera singer and educator, she uses music as an avenue to inspire, educate and advocate for underprivileged youth.
Katie Barr is a pianist, vocal coach, and teacher in the Boston area. She holds a B.S. in Music Education and has completed her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Save The Date: June 6th - June 8th, 2019
Giant Spring Book Sale
Charlestown Branch Library
179 Main St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Hundreds of newly-added titles for adults, young adults, and children. Great selection of DVDs and CDs as well. Very low prices!
FIRST PICK PREVIEW (MEMBERS-ONLY):
Thursday, June 6, 2019, 5PM - 8PM
Open to current Members of the Friends of the Charlestown Public Library
Members save 50% throughout the sale
Not a Member? Join today!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Friday, June 7th, 2019, 10AM - 5PM
Saturday, June 8th, 2019, 10AM - 2PM
Presented by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library. Wheelchair accessible. Conveniently located near the Community College Orange Line and Bus 92.
Save The Date: May 16th, 2019 @ 6PM
Gerard F. Doherty, "Friend of the Year" Tribute
Gerard F. Doherty: a "Friend of the Year" tribute presented by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library. Thursday, May 16, 6:00 pm award presentation, with intermittent serenading performed by tenor Wes Hunter. Free and open to all, including a reception. Conveniently located to the Orange Line and bus connections. Charlestown Branch Library, 179 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 02129.
Gerard F. Doherty, the son of a Boston firefighter and lifelong native and resident of Charlestown, got to be in the middle of it all. Doherty just may be the only man who had a seat at the table with all three Kennedy brothers, John, Bobby, and Ted. His political advocacy work led him to be involved with some of the most influential moments of the Kennedy brothers' political lives, both on a local level and a national level.
In other words, Gerard F. Doherty has many tales to tell. And the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library shall be providing an opportunity to gather and be fascinated by what he has to share.
Doherty's book They Were My Friends – Jack, Bob and Ted: My Life in and out of Politics, published in 2017, weaves the story of his unlikely rise to the top of Massachusetts political leadership and how he became the man behind the Kennedy political machine at key moments in history. He also shares accounts of his work helping Presidents Carter and Johnson win the White House, and much more.
Doherty has a treasure trove of stories when it comes to the history of Massachusetts politics and the golden age of the Kennedy political dynasty. But he also knows all too well of the daily concerns of families and their struggles of loss, so real in every pocket throughout the city. He also knows firsthand the power of childhood friendships and how those relationships can carry you through difficult times throughout your life.
There will be ample opportunity to engage him in dialog, not only about that era in U.S politics, but also about Charlestown's direct connections to that era. He is also probably the first local person anyone should seek out if they are interested in running for political office themselves!
"Gerry has been by my family's side through triumph and tragedy They Were My Friends is not just a memoir of a rich political career and generational friendship — it is a roadmap for any public servant today, searching for a way forward in undoubtedly difficult political times." (Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III)
In the course of the gathering, Gerard F. Doherty will be serenaded by tenor Wes Hunter.
Further background information:
Gerard F. Doherty was born and still lives in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston. He was educated at Malden Catholic High School, Harvard University and Suffolk University Law School. He was a two-time State Representative and MA State Democratic Party Chairman. He was active in the campaigns of Jack, Bob and Ted Kennedy and became their friend. He was also involved in the presidential campaigns of Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter. He built a successful law practice with a specialty in real estate development.
www.gerardfdoherty.com
www.facebook.com/gerardfdoherty
Wes Hunter is affiliated with the North End Music & Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) as a performing artist and a teacher. According to NEMPAC's Artistic Director, Hunter is "a phenomenally engaging performer with a beautiful, bright tenor voice." NEMPAC is the key resource for quality music arts programming in the North End/Waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods in Boston. Their mission is to empower artists of all ages and abilities through a wide array of educational offerings and professional performing arts programs. A music school and a music performance hub, NEMPAC believes that all are musicians and performers, and prepares individuals to be the best version of themselves through music artistic experiences and training programs.
www.nempacboston.org
www.facebook.com/nempac
www.tenorwes.com
The Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library was formed in 1953, becoming the second Friends group to organize within the Boston Public Library system. The Friends schedule four to six evening programs a year, support the Reading is FUNdamental programs for children, and maintain the library's landscaping. The mission of the Friends remains today what it was in 1953: to serve as an advocacy and support group for the needs of the Charlestown Branch Library, its staff and users.
www.friendsofcharlestownlib.org
www.facebook.com/FriendsCharlestownBranchLibrary
Save The Date: Book Presentation
Moxie and a Good Sense of Balance: Nancy Drew and the Power of the Teenage Girl, a book presentation given by author, Lynne Byall Benson. Hosted by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library. Thursday, March 28, 6:00 pm. Free and open to all, including a book signing and reception. Wheelchair accessible; conveniently located near the Orange Line and bus connections. Charlestown Branch Library, 179 Main Street, Charlestown. For more information: www.friendsofcharlestownlib.org, friendsofcharlestownlib@gmail.com, 617-242-1248.
Lynne Byall Benson’s new book Moxie and a Good Sense of Balance: Nancy Drew and the Power of the Teenage Girl starts with: “Nancy Drew first saved the day on April 28, 1930, when she found the missing will, bested the interlopers, and set all to right in The Secret of the Old Clock.” Anyone growing up inspired by the Nancy Drew mysteries will be in earnest to continue past that first sentence.
The literary character of Nancy Drew, created by the Stratemeyer publishing syndicate in the 1930s, has continued to endure for more than eighty years, with all the books still in print. Successfully solving complicated mysteries, Nancy Drew offered girls the role model of a confident, independent young woman, functioning simultaneously within what was considered appropriate, within the sphere of her gender, but also outside of that sphere in terms of her so-called moxie.
Nancy Drew’s portrayal in these books has changed over the years, reflecting changing social norms, becoming a more obedient and less independent in the 1940s, as women returned to traditional roles after World War II. Surprisingly, the Nancy Drew of the 1970s and 1980s did not reflect the changes brought about by the women’s movement and instead was transformed into a glamorous, globe-trotting professional private investigator in The Nancy Drew Files.
The publishers soon came to their senses and brought back the plucky Nancy of old. Her cars can almost serve as a metaphor of how her character has morphed over time. Nancy first started out driving a blue roadster in the early volumes. In the 1970s, it becomes a blue convertible. Next it was a blue Ford Mustang. Then in the early 2000’s, Nancy started driving a blue Hybrid.
In Benson’s Moxie and a Good Sense of Balance: Nancy Drew and the Power of the Teenage Girl, Nancy Drew is analyzed as a proto-feminist role model. In addition, Benson also provides a comprehensive bibliography of sources that can be used by scholars and teachers.
Background information:
Lynne Byall Benson is a lecturer in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UMASS Boston and also an adjunct professor in the English Department at Bunker Hill Community College.
www.facebook.com/lynne.byallbenson
The Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the Boston Public Library was formed in 1953, becoming the second Friends group to organize within the Boston Public Library system. The Friends schedule four to six evening programs a year, support the Reading is FUNdamental programs for children, and maintain the library’s landscaping. The mission of the Friends remains today what it was in 1953: to serve as an advocacy and support group for the needs of the Charlestown Branch Library, its staff and users.
www.friendsofcharlestownlib.org
www.facebook.com/FriendsCharlestownBranchLibrary
www.bpl.org/branches/charlestown.htm
Save The Date: Annual Holiday Concert
The Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library
& St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish present:
The Copley Singers, under the direction of Brian Jones, will perform carols, anthems and Christmas favorites—ancient and modern—from Europe and the Americas. Some examples will be sung acapella; others will be accompanied by the restored Woodberry & Harris organ. The audience will be invited to join in festive and solemn carols. Wheelchair accessible. Conveniently located near the Orange line and bus connections.
Seasonal joy and inspiration are promised in abundance!
The Copley Singers, a Boston-based choir founded in 2006, are auditioned singers and professionals dedicated to the art of fine singing and the joy of communicating their love of the art to the public. Brian Jones, Emeritus Director of Music at Trinity Church, Copley Square, is an active organ concert artist and guest conductor with many recordings to his credit. Peter Stoltzfus Burton, Organist and Choirmaster at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Newport, will support the choir and congregation. The sonically amazing Woodberry & Harris Opus 100 has 3 manuals, 37 stops and 41 ranks of pipes (2,501 pipes).
For more information: St. Mary Church • 617-242-4664 • www.stmarystcatherine.org
Please consider becoming a member of the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library. Your support enables us to host programs like this. Family membership to the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library is less than $2 a month!