Library event will teach you how to ‘read’ your dog

Margaret Woodruff, Library Director

At the Dog Communication presentation this Monday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. you can learn the answer to questions like: Is a yawn always just a yawn? Why does a dog shake off even when it is not wet? Why is a growl a good thing? Is a tail wag always friendly?

This popular, long-running dog communication and safety lecture is a multimedia extravaganza of fun where the audience also gets to test their “dog reading” skills.

Dog trainer Deb Helfrich demystifies dog communication, reveals some common dog-human misunderstandings and explores how we can live safely and happily together. At the end of the presentation, the audience engages in several interactive exercises to practice reading dog body language.

Participants will also enjoy free access to a carefully curated online resource of supplementary learning materials. Registration appreciated but not required.

Special events

Vermont furbearers exhibit
Thursday, March 7
One last day to visit the furbearers exhibit which ends today, Thursday, March 7. Explore animal pelts, scat, skulls and track casts on loan from Vermont Fish & Wildlife in the children’s area.

Writer’s Studio
Tuesday, March 12, 6:30 p.m.
Looking for a welcoming spot to share your writing? Join us for the third session of the three-town Writer’s Studio, a positive atmosphere to share feedback about writing projects big and small.

Geoff Gevalt of the Vermont Young Writer’s Project facilitates this monthly meetup that rotates among our three neighboring libraries. Email if you’re interested in joining the group.

Pollinator potential
Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m.
Join Julie Parker-Dickerson, local pollinator enthusiast and leader of the Pollinator Pathways project in Charlotte, to find out about simple ways you can create or enhance pollinator habitat, especially with annual and perennial plants that bloom from early spring into late fall, attracting pollinators to your flower and vegetable gardens throughout the growing season. Time for discussion and your own pollinator stories. Registration appreciated, but not required.

Photos by Susanna Kahn. More than 20 people showed up Monday, Feb. 26, to hear Rep. Chea Waters field questions which seemed to focus exclusively around taxes. Many hands were raised and many expressed frustration with the potential for very high taxes.
Photos by Susanna Kahn. More than 20 people showed up Monday, Feb. 26, to hear Rep. Chea Waters field questions which seemed to focus exclusively around taxes. Many hands were raised and many expressed frustration with the potential for very high taxes.

St. Patrick’s Day music
Saturday, March 16, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Join Mike Walker and Beeswing for an informal music session at the library to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. For all ages.

‘Beaverland’ book talk
Tuesday, March 26, 5:30 p.m.
Allaire Diamond, Vermont Land Trust ecologist, leads a discussion of “Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America.” Discover how the beaver story has played out in Vermont and learn more about the book. Copies of the book available at the circulation desk.

Children’s programs

Preschool story time
Tuesdays & Fridays, 10 a.m.
Join us at the Charlotte Library for preschool stories, crafts and activities. No registration required. Age 2 and over.

Preschool play time
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.
Play in the preschool years enables children to explore and make sense of the world around them, as well as to use and develop their imagination and creativity. We’ll be exploring the sensory table, sorting, playing with blocks, play dough. These are a few of the open-ended projects planned for Wednesday morning play-based learning at the Charlotte Library.

Let’s LEGO
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Drop-in for LEGO free play! We’ll have loads of LEGO bricks out along with some books and prompts for inspiration. For all ages. Please note children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Programs for adults

Stillwater meditation
Saturdays, 9 a.m. (except Feb. 24 & March 2)
Poetry and meditation are offered freely and in person to the delightful community of Charlotte. You are invited for quiet reflection, contemplation and gentle meditation instruction. Respect for all beings and faiths is a foundational quality of our time together. Beginning and experienced meditators are welcome.

Senior center book discussion
Thursdays in March, 1 p.m.
Maybe you’ve read the book “Lessons in Chemistry” or seen the TV show? The Charlotte Senior Center sponsors a discussion of this New York Times bestseller. Elizabeth Zott is a gifted research chemist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show. Register through the Charlotte Senior Center at 802-425-3864. This program takes place at the senior center at 212 Ferry Road. Copies available at the Charlotte Library.

Sustainable Charlotte book discussion
Wednesdays, March 13-April 4, 7 p.m.
In “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World,” Katharine Hayhoe argues that when it comes to changing hearts and minds, facts are only one part of the equation. We need to find shared values in order to connect our unique identities to collective action. Explore this book and discuss possibilities for our community and world. Copies available at the circulation desk. Register for the Zoom link.

Mystery book group
Monday, March 18, 10 a.m.
In “Mr. Campion’s Farewell,” Mike Ripley takes up the challenge of completing an old manuscript, which became Mr. Campion’s farewell. Campion himself plays the central role in this quintessentially British mystery, but there are appearances, too, from all of Margery Allingham’s regular characters, from Luke to Campion’s former manservant Lugg, to his wife Lady Amanda Fitton and others. The dialogue is sharp and witty, the observation keen, and the climax is thrilling and eerily atmospheric. Copies available at the circulation desk.

Men’s book group
Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Join the discussion of “American By Day” in person or on Zoom. It’s a gripping and timely novel that follows Sigrid, the dry-witted detective from Derek B. Miller’s best-selling debut “Norwegian by Night,” from Oslo to the United States on a quest to find her missing brother. Copies available at the circulation desk.

Better Together book club
Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m.
“Never Enough” is the definitive book on the rise of the toxic achievement culture that’s overtaking kids’ and parents’ lives. It offers a new framework for fighting back. Copies available at the circulation desk. The e-book and audiobook are available on Libby.

Men’s Book Group
Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Stay tuned for title details. This is a hybrid event. Join the discussion at the library or on Zoom at http://tinyurl.com/bde3bktn.

Short story selections
Wednesdays, March 20 & Wednesday, April 3, 1 p.m.
Join library director Margaret Woodruff to share and discuss short stories old and new via Zoom. The group meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Library contact information:
Margaret Woodruff, director
Cheryl Sloan, youth services librarian
Susanna Kahn, tech librarian
Phone: 802-425-3864
Email

The Charlotte Library Board of Trustees meets on the first Thursday of the month. The next meeting is March 7 at 6 p.m. Contact the library or visit the library website for more information.