Author Archives: Erin Lewis

VIRTUAL – The History of Carole King

The History of Carole King

Monday, March 16, 2026

2:00 – 3:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**

Carole King was writing pop hits in her teens. “Will You Still Love Me,” “Up On The Roof,” “The Loco-Motion,” “One Fine Day.” This alone would be the basis of a standout career. Carole’s fortunes however explode in 1971 with the release of her solo album “Tapestry.” It was #1 for 4 months and stayed on the album chart for over 6 years! More and even bigger hits. “You’ve Got A Friend,” ”So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel The Earth Move.” It’s an amazing story of a young, earnest songwriter whose mix of gently rocking pop, folk and soul music touched and warmed us all.

Led by Gary Wenstrup, who has taught courses on the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Motown Records for the Continuing Education Departments of College of DuPage and Oakton (IL) Community College. Wenstrup has lectured at over 80 public libraries. Besides being featured on radio broadcasts and in newspaper articles, he is also a reoccurring guest on the widely respected podcast “Something About The Beatles.”

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaboration of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

VIRTUAL – The Little Gems of Ireland

The Little Gems of Ireland

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

2:00 – 3:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**

Ireland is so much more than shamrocks, pipers and the Blarney Stone. Follow our trail as we visit the sites of Dublin, paying special attention to the National Gallery of Ireland to check out their Caravaggio and Vermeer. Then off to Trinity College to take in the Book of Kells. The Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and all those castles with enchanting names like Kylemore, Clifden and Dromoland are calling to us. St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time for this magical travelogue. Led by avid traveler and library lover Mary Maguire. 

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaboration of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Virtual Art Talk Afternoons

Join us virtually for a variety of art history webinars during the month of March!

Raphael: Artist & Visionary

Thursday, March 5, 2:00 – 3:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

The Italian painter and architect Raphael became one of the defining figures of the High Renaissance — revered for his grace, harmony, and masterful balance of beauty and structure. His lyrical use of form, color, and composition not only defined an era but continues to shape our understanding of artistic perfection. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will exhibit more than 200 of his drawings, paintings, tapestries, and decorative works from March 29, 2026 to June 28, 2026. Enjoy this unique window into Raphael’s creative process and the depth of his artistic thinking. Led by Janet Mandel, a retired 32-year art history teacher, who now presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at colleges & universities, libraries, museums, senior centers, and community centers.

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaborations of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

John Singer Sargent — A Masterful Stroke Of Genius

Thursday, March 12, 2:00 – 3:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

Learn how the gifted artist John Singer Sargent began a promising career, primarily as a portrait painter in Paris, until a scandal in 1884 caused him to decamp France and move to England where he contemplated giving up portrait painting, until he found his way once again, becoming internationally famous during the Gilded Age art world of the late 1880’s, running through the first quarter of the 20th century. Led by artist Neill Slaughter, Professor Emeritus at Long Island University. He has taught fine arts courses at the university level as well as exhibited his drawings and paintings nationally and internationally for more than forty years.

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaborations of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Sarah Miriam Peale — America’s First Female Professional Painter

Thursday, March 19, 2:00 – 3:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

Sarah Miriam Peale was the daughter of artist James Peale and niece of Charles Willson Peale. In 1824, Sarah and her sister Anna were the first women accepted to the Pennsylvania Academy of Art in Philadelphia. With more than 100 commissioned portraits, Sarah is considered America’s first female professional painter and the most prolific painter in Baltimore during the mid 19th century. Explore Sarah’s works over more than a 40-year career. Led by art historian Martha Chiarchiaro, owner of Seeing History.

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaborations of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Fun on Creativebug

March Fun on Creativebug!

As the seasons begin to shift, March’s classes offer inspiring ways to play, repurpose, and express your creativity. Think bright ideas, clever techniques, and projects you’ll love to show off!

Using your library card and PIN, create your own account for FREE and nurture your creative side with 1000+ video classes in painting, knitting, crafting, sewing & more!

Bag Charm Party: 25 Baubles for your Bags – March 1

Dear Craft Friends and Trinket Enthusiasts: This is your invitation to Twinkie Chan’s Bag Charm Party, a colorful and playful place to learn how to make 25 adorable bag charms with a gigantic assortment of materials. Charms are a whimsical way to express your personality, feel a little bit fancy, and celebrate the stuff you love, for people all ages and all styles. They’re fun to trade, a blast to make with friends, and your everyday bag or purse will truly become one-of-a-kind. This multifaceted class is both a bag charm bonanza and an adventure through many crafts. Twinkie – a longtime treasure-collector and designer of imaginative accessories – shows you how to make bag charms out of beads, paracord, chain, tiny toys, Shrinky Dinks, Perler beads, polymer clay, hot glue, and more. If you’re already experienced in a particular craft, this is your moment to shine and make an amazing charm with it. If you’re trying one of these crafts for the first time, it’s a no-pressure opportunity to experiment and play, because even the weirdest charms are fabulous. What kinds of textures, colors, and tiny knickknacks are you drawn to right now, and what will your bag charms look like?

Three Hours of Gelli Plate Play – March 4

Join e bond (& co-maker Courtney Cerruti) in this three-hour session making abstract mono prints with gelli plates. e uses mono printing on gelli plates as a tool in many different ways: to warm up (mark making), to loosen up (layering onto existing pieces of art), and to make piles and piles of “future good stuff” (i.e. collage pieces for use in future projects like handmade books, fabric, and patterns).

This time together will be used to create and pull prints, talk about processes, and look at some of e’s previous projects made using these techniques in her personal art practice. Grab your gel plate and come play with us!

Make a Paper Fortune Teller – March 4

Paper can become almost anything with the right tools and a bit of imagination. In this class, artist, author, and paper lover Courtney Cerruti shows you how to transform a simple square of paper into a classic three-dimensional paper toy from childhood. Often called a fortune teller, chatterbox, or cootie catcher, this playful paper game folds flat so it can be tucked into a pocket, lunchbox, or purse—ready to spring to life at a moment’s notice. Courtney teaches you how to fold a fortune teller at any size, then shares some of her favorite ways to decorate and personalize it. As fun to make as it is to play with, this timeless paper toy invites creativity and joy for makers of all ages. 

Make a Quilt Block Sweatshirt – March 11

If you love to quilt, wear your heart on your sleeve—or front and center—by adding a quilt block to an upcycled sweatshirt. In this class, artist and sewist Faith Hale shows you how to take a spare quilt block and prep it with an easy appliqué technique that makes it sweatshirt-friendly. You’ll learn how to confidently position and attach your block for a clean, secure finish. This is a lovely way to showcase meaningful scraps, orphan blocks, or favorite patterns. The process is surprisingly simple, and the results are effortlessly charming and totally wearable.

Make an Upcycled Flower Press – March 25

Building a flower press may sound complex, especially with the need for cutting and drilling wood, but this version uses materials you’re more likely to already have on hand. By upcycling an old, damaged book, along with some cardboard, printer paper, and simple hardware, you’ll be able to make a functional flower press for practically no cost. Preserving flowers this way is a timeless art form, allowing you to save botanicals from meaningful moments and transform them into lasting keepsakes. This class emphasizes building the press but Cobrina will cover pressing the flowers as well.

Crafting in Spring -Craft-a-Logue

A curated collection of classes, articles, patterns and printables to inspire you on your creative journey!

Virtual – Amalia Kussner’s Paintings & the Characters of the HBO Series ‘The Gilded Age’

Amalia Kussner’s Paintings & The Characters of the HBO Series ‘The Gilded Age’

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 PM via Zoom

Register online!

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**

Amalia Kussner was one of the preferred artists of Gilded Age New York especially in the 1890’s, even though she painted miniature portraits. In the now critically acclaimed HBO series, The Gilded Age, Kussner actually painted 6 of the characters, including Mrs. Astor, the reigning matriarch of the social scene and her two daughters. Portraits were also done of the fictional Mrs. Russell and her daughter Gladys, who closely matched the real-life persons – Alva Vanderbilt and her daughter, Consuelo. Kussner even met Ward McAllister, the arbiter of Gilded Age society, advising her not to pursue her career as an artist, and thankfully she ignored him. How Kussner interacted with these famous people, and the portraits themselves, can provide more insights into their lives. Led by Kathleen Langone, historical researcher, host of the podcast, “People Hidden In History,” and author of the book, Miniature Painter Revealed: Amalia Kussner’s Gilded Age Pursuit of Fame and Fortune. 

Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library and a collaboration of libraries.

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

2026 Mass Center For the Book Reading Challenge

12 Months 12 Books

  • January: A book about or set in winter – Suggested related titles
  • February: A book outside your usual genres or come in to MPL to spin our Genre Wheel! Can’t stop by? Spin the virtual genre wheel online!
  • March: A book featuring an unlikely friendship
  • April: A short story or essay collection
  • May: A book set in Massachusetts
  • June: A book with a sympathetic villain
  • July: A book found at a Little Free Library, tag sale, or used bookstore
  • August: A book that could be considered taboo
  • September: A book about a journey
  • October: A mystery, thriller, or ghost story
  • November: An adult classic you’ve never read
  • December: A book that connects to your heritage or cultural identity

How the challenge works:

  • Choose a book that fits the monthly challenge.
  • After you read, fill out this form to tell Mass Center for the Book about the book.
    • Using their submission manager, you will be able to log in and access the entries you’ve logged throughout the year.
    • Dedicated readers will be invited to a year-end celebration hosted by Mass Center for the Book.
    • Mass Center will be drawing two names on the last day of each month to win a free book! Make sure you get your entries in before the end of the month.
    • If you read a book in each of the 12 months, you will be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 2 totes filled with books.
    • Visit Mass Center for the Book for full information!
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