Kids Sewing Workshop: Sew a Playing Card Holder (Grades 4-5) | June 17, 3:30-5:00 pm

Summer is an excellent time to play card games with friends. Make it easier to track all the cards with a handmade playing card holder! In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will learn how to thread a sewing machine, sew straight stitches with an accurate seam allowance, pivot around corners, and sew topstitching as they create a practical item that’s also great for gifting. 

Grades 4+5, Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/kids-workshop-sew-a-playing-card-holder/

Enjoy an acclaimed movie taken from a celebrated book!

Small Things Like These, the acclaimed 2024 historical drama directed by Tim Mielants and adapted by Enda Walsh from Claire Keegan’s Booker Prize–nominated novella, offers a powerful meditation on moral courage and institutional silence. Set in 1985 in a small Irish town, the film follows coal merchant Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy). He uncovers disturbing truths about the local convent’s treatment of young women, echoing the real-life atrocities of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/june-movie-small-things-like-these/1H 38M

PG-13

Free outdoor family movie nights are back at The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens on the third Friday of each month June through September, this time with an exciting new twist. Each screening will be part of a themed evening experience, featuring pre-movie fun which might include trivia, games, live music, sing-alongs and interactive audience activities.

On June 20, we'll be screening "The Birdcage," sponsored by National Iron Bank. In this 1996 remake of the classic French farce La Cage aux Folles, engaged couple Val Goldman (Dan Futterman) and Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart) nervously arrange a dinner to introduce their very different families. Val’s father, Armand (the late Robin Williams), who runs a flashy Miami nightclub, agrees to tone things down for the evening and hide his long-time relationship with Albert (Nathan Lane), the club’s larger-than-life star. The goal? To impress Barbara’s father, played by the late Gene Hackman, a buttoned-up political figure with traditional views.

Movie rolls at dusk. Check our website, Instagram or Facebook accounts for any changes or updates.

Beyond the Basics: Foundation Paper Pieced Quilt Blocks | June 24, 2:00-4:00 pm

Level up your sewing skills with this intermediate workshop! Do you like the look of intricate quilt blocks but dislike fiddly cutting, measuring, and trimming? Foundation paper piecing might be the technique for you! In this workshop, you’ll learn how to “sew by number” and create a beautiful quilt block by machine stitching fabric on top of a removable paper template. Once you know the basics, you can visit the Makerspace during Open Hours to create more blocks and transform them into a fully finished quilted project! Ages 18+, Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/beyond-the-basics-foundation-paper-pieced-quilt-blocks/

Join the Gunn Library Book Club on Thursday evening for a rewarding discussion on celebrated author Niall Williams's beautiful book, The Time of the Child.

Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean he has always been set apart from the town. His eldest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father's shadow, and remains there, having missed one chance at love – and passed up another offer of marriage from an unsuitable man.

But in the Advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy's lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the winter passes, father and daughter's lives, the understanding of their family, and their role in their community are changed forever.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/gml-thursday-book-club-the-time-of-the-child-by-niall-williams/

Mini Makers Cricut Puzzle Lab | June 28, 10:00 am-2:00 pm (Drop In)

Join us in the Junior Library for a fun project using one of our high-tech maker machines! Create a work of art on cardstock paper and transform it into a puzzle with a bit of help from the Cricut and our Makerspace Specialist. Stop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm! Ages 5+

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/mini-makers-cricut-puzzle-lab/

Learn how to use the library apps Libby and Kanopy to take books, audiobooks, movies, and shows with you wherever you travel this summer! After a brief introduction to these apps, we’ll help you use them to curate lists of digital books and movies to enjoy on your next road trip, plane ride, or relaxing afternoon at the lake. Please bring your library card and a phone to this workshop.

Ages 18+.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/tech-tuesday-books-and-shows-on-the-go/

July 10, 5:30-7:00 pm

Calling all adventurers! Gather your friends and visit the Makerspace to level up your D&D campaigns with personalized wooden dice trays. You’ll learn how to use some CNC magic to design and create a completely customized accessory for your games- you pick the shape of the tray and the number of slots for dice, and add a personal touch with engraving! *This workshop will focus on the design part of the process. Trays will be cut on the CNC after the workshop and may be picked up from the library at a later date.

* Grades 6-12.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/teen-ddiy-make-your-own-dice-tray-grades-6-12/

Join us as we continue to explore contemporary American poets. For the next few months, we will focus on collections from Joy Harjo, Ocean Vuong, Tracy K. Smith, and Dianne Seuss. We will examine how these poets transform personal experiences through their craft.

* Copies will be available for check out at the circulation desk

About Mark Scarbrough:

A former academic, Mark Scarbrough, left the seminary to pursue his doctoral work in nineteenth-century American literature at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has presented papers on medieval literature at the International Medieval Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and American literature at MLA and regional MLA conferences. He wrote screenplays for various production companies and developed much of the original food content in the early 1990s for a small internet startup called America Online. Mark Scarbrough is the co-author of thirty-five titles and has a thriving cookbook career. In 2020, Mark published his memoir, “Bookmarked: How The Great Works Of Western Civilization F*cked Up My Life,” which Will Schwalbe described as “equal parts charm, wit, and withering self-reflection.” Having left the classroom, Mark now finds himself immersed in literature, leading grant-sponsored book groups and six- to eight-week literary seminars throughout Litchfield County, Connecticut, and Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Registration is required

| July 19, 11:00 am-12:30 pm

Bring your family, friends, imagination, and engineering skills to the Junior Library for a creative cardboard construction party! Have fun and express your creativity as you transform basic cardboard boxes and other recyclables into impressive castles, cars, costumes, arcade games, and more—ages 5+ with a caregiver.

Registration Encouraged: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/tri-town-cardboard-extravaganza/

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

Immerse Yourself in an Hour of French Conversation at the Gunn Memorial Library!

If you are an intermediate or fluent French speaker, join us for an hour of stimulating and immersive French Conversation. 

Over the hour, participants will read articles from French magazines covering cultural topics and current events. Guided conversations will encourage lively exchanges, helping participants refine their French while deepening their appreciation for Francophone culture.

This program is an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow Francophiles, share perspectives, and experience the richness of the French language in a welcoming environment.

Join us for a meaningful cultural and linguistic experience! 

Registration is required: www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/french-club-for-adults-2/ or call 860-868-7586

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

The Gunn Museum and Makerspace present a series of craft workshops inspired by artifacts from the Museum's collections. 

July’s workshop is all about vintage games! See some examples of board games from the museum’s collection, learn about their history, and make a small tray using recycled playing cards and paper folding techniques. All supplies will be provided; however, you may also bring your own pack of playing cards for the craft.

Ages 18+.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/crafting-history-vintage-games/

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

The Cricut is July’s Maker Machine of the Month! Learn about this fantastic machine and create an iron-on decal to personalize a t-shirt in this beginner-friendly workshop. Participants will learn how to use Cricut Design Space software to select a design for cutting, work with iron-on vinyl, and apply their design to a shirt using a heat press. Please bring a t-shirt to customize.

Grades 4-5.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/kids-workshop-custom-t-shirts-with-cricut/

Looking for a fun, active, and creative summer experience for your child? Pilobolus Kids Camp is back!

Pilobolus is an internationally acclaimed dance company that has delighted audiences for over 50 years. Using skills honed over decades of performance, our education initiatives—including summer camp— provide fundamental lessons about creativity, collaboration, and community through the joy of movement. 

Kids ages 6 to 12 will explore movement, storytelling, and improvisation while building confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills—all through Pilobolus’s signature approach to learning through play!

Two Sessions Available:

Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025

Week 2: July 28 – Aug 1, 2025

Location: Shepaug Valley High School, Washington, CT

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM daily

Sign up for one or both weeks! Each session $350.

Register here: pilobolus.org/camp

Free outdoor family movie nights are back at The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens on the third Friday of each month June through September, this time with an exciting new twist. Each screening will be part of a themed evening experience, featuring pre-movie fun which might include trivia, games, live music, sing-alongs and interactive audience activities.

On September 19, we'll be screening the 2012 animated Tim Burton film, "Frankenweenie." Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But then, tragedy strikes, and Sparky shuffles off this mortal coil. Victor is heartbroken, but his science teacher (Martin Landau) gives him an idea of how to jolt old Sparky back to life. The experiment is successful, and all goes well, until Victor's fellow students steal his secret and use it to resurrect other dead animals—with monstrous consequences.

Movie rolls at dusk. Check our website, Instagram or Facebook accounts for any changes or updates.