During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.
Pearls from Carol is a delightful local author book based on 20 years of writing by Connecticut resident, Carol Ruggiero. Upon her death, her husband, Albert, compiled over 300 short stories and poems into a volume of writings. It is a charming book that is both very funny and easy to read. One chapter is devoted to Carol’s poetry that runs the gamut from very amusing and clever to biting poignancy.
Mel Schwartz escaped the Great Depression on a bicycle adventure he’d remember for the rest of his life. But when Alzheimer’s takes Mel’s memories away, it’s left to his grandkids to recreate the life-changing bike trip and find those memories again.
Guided by old photographs of the 1945 trip, they search for places aged by time. But while searching for Grandpa Mel’s past, the two are confronted with their own fraught history. If they’re going to complete the turbulent journey, they’ll have to face their own emotional potholes and tumultuous relationship. With the help of a grandmother learning to live alone for the first time, Mel’s lifelong friend and co-adventurer on the bike trip, and a family collection spanning 1950s film reels to 1990s video tapes, Cycle of Memory explores the importance of intergenerational connection, healing painful pasts, and leaving a meaningful time capsule for the future. “Powerful, inspiring, and moving.” - Eilon Caspi BSW MA PhD, Gerontologist & Dementia Behavior Specialist “Cycle of Memory is beautiful, thoughtful, real, poignant and fitting for all ages and audiences. The care, authenticity, and courage that it takes to love and stay connected to family was very inspirational.” - Lisa Peterson, Nationally Board Certified Music Therapist working with seniors with memory loss and their caregivers “Cycle of Memory is very moving, with a real sense of family and place; there is much for reflection or discussion, suitable for an audience that wants to stick around after a viewing.” - Mark Poarch, CEO Alzheimer’s BRACE Registration begins December 17th
Thursday, January 4th at 6pm Chris Lengyel is a close up magician and illusionist who has performed his show "Faster Than The Eye" (formerly Nothing Up My Sleeves) at venues all over the east coast of the United States. He has been featured on national and international television, and has performed for numerous celebrities including The Impractical Jokers, WWE Hall of Famer, Scott Hall, The cast of NBC's "The Voice", YouTube Sensation, Kevin "LA Beast" Strahle, and the legendary Las Vegas magician duo, Penn and Teller. Chris has been working on sleight of hand for over 15 years. He specializes in intimate magic that will leave any audience, big or small, baffled and scratching their heads! Offstage, he played a big part in the re-branding and return of Crystal Pepsi, he has overcome ulcerative colitis, a disease that nearly killed him, and plans on one day performing for a sold out crowd at "The World's Most Famous Arena", Madison Square Garden. Registration begins December 20th
Thursday, December 28th 6pm Saturday, December 30th 12pm Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. No experience necessary. Join Vanessa in reviving old and damaged jewelry. Participants are encouraged to bring old, sentimental, and broken costume jewelry to repair or transform into new pieces. Additional costume and vintage jewelry pieces to work with will be provided by the instructor.
The FOCUS Autism Spectrum Unplugged is an informative and unique presentation by a panel of experts. Comprised of FOCUS alumni, students, staff, and parents, the Spectrum Unplugged is facilitated by Executive Director, Donna Swanson.
Panel members provide honest perspectives and share their personal experiences about living with autism. Audiences will learn strategies and interventions, the importance of relationships, and common misconceptions about living with autism. Panel presentations are an effective tool for increasing awareness and understanding. The story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness.
A Look Inside It’s a Wonderful Life Thursday, December at 6:30 Registration begins November 15th Voted the most inspirational movie ever made by the American Film Institute, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life has been a beloved Christmas classic for many generations. The snowbound streets of Bedford Falls, the desperate travails of George Bailey, and the discovery of Zuzu’s petals have become traditional signatures of the holiday season. Yet when the film was released in 1946, it was a box-office flop, won no Academy Awards, and was largely forgotten—until it was rediscovered through endless airings on local TV stations beginning in the 1970s and on annual Christmas eve broadcasts on NBC starting in 1992. This talk will examine the fascinating story of It’s a Wonderful Life, looking at the challenges of how it was made, its surprisingly dark portrait of small-town life, and how it became the ultimate portrayal of holiday goodwill and cheer. Presented by Brian Rose, who brought you The Golden Age of Hollywood and The Golden Age of TV this past winter! Thursday,November 2nd at 6:00pm Registration begins October 15th Arnie Pritchard inherited his father's World War II Army footlocker. It contained hundreds of letters and other documents from his time in the Army, and from working for the United Nations refugee and displaced persons program in Europe after the war. The letters, mostly to his parents in Rhode Island, are vivid and insightful. They portray a young man who had rarely been outside New England as he adjusted to a new way of life - to new places and new people, to fear, to his role as a leader, and to a world both wider and more brutal than anything he had known.
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Attendance at juvenile programs is limited to children of the age group for which the program is intended and their caregivers. |