Cookbook Club

Tuesday, June 7, 12:30 pm

Gales Ferry Community Center

There is always something for everyone to enjoy at our Ledyard Cookbook Club which typically meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Gales Ferry Community Center. 

In June, we explore two cookbooks by Jeanine Donofrio: The Love & Lemons Cookbook and Love & Lemons Everyday to refresh our palettes this month.

We will break in July and resume in August with Around the world in 120 Salads: Fresh Healthy Delicious by Kate Caldesi, and The Complete Salad Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to 200+ Vibrant Dishes Using Greens, Vegetables, Grains, Proteins and More by America’s Test Kitchen. 

Click on any book cover to place a hold.

Stock Discussion

Tuesday, June 7, 7:00 pm

Bill Library and on Zoom

Is the Next Economic Recession Imminent?

Join us for a discussion of topics pertinent to stock investment. Harry Pearson will facilitate the discussions and participants are encouraged to join in the Q & A. The link to join Zoom will be found on the library website.

Will not meet in July or August.

American Presidents Book Discussion

Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 7:00 pm

Bill Library and on Zoom

President: James Garfield, Book: Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

The American Presidents Book Discussion group will focus on the White House years of former American presidents. We discuss the impact American Presidents have had while in office, and their trials and triumphs.

Will not meet in July or August.

Senior Center Book Discussion

Wednesday, June 22, 2022  10:30 am

Ledyard Senior Center                    Ages 55+

This month, we discuss the book This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. A book about a family that makes our hearts and minds open, “This is how a family keeps a secret . . . and how that secret ends up keeping them. This is how a family lives happily ever after . . . until happily ever after becomes complicated. This is how children change . . . and then change the world” Google Books. Click on the book cover to place a hold.

We will break in July and resume August 24 to discuss our book for the summer:  The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake. Books are handed out at the previous month's meeting or can be picked up at the Gales Ferry Library. New members are always welcome!

Lisa Hall Brownell

Gallows Road Book Presentation and Signing

Saturday, June 4, 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Ledyard resident, Lisa Hall Brownell presents her historical novel, Gallows Road, a historical fiction novel based upon the 1753 true story of Sarah Bramble, a teen condemned to death by hanging for allegedly killing her baby.

Ukulele Workshop with Julie Stepanek

Holdridge Pavilion at the Ledyard Town Green

Saturday, June 18, 11:00 am

Teen/Adult Program

Want to try an instrument that is fun and easy to play? Join Julie Stepanek as she shows the fundamentals of ukulele playing. You'll learn how to tune, strum and read chords. After a short lesson, you'll be able to play songs. No experience necessary. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of hers.

Becoming an iNaturalist in Homegrown National Park--Creating Pollinator Pathways

Tuesday, June 21, 6:30 pm via ZOOM

Join Tim Wachtmann from Plantscapes of New England, who will discuss the importance of conserving and enhancing biodiversity in our landscapes. Tim will show us how to create a Pollinator Pathway and build local sections of the “Park” from our individual residences, business properties and public spaces. He will also demonstrate the use of the iNaturalist citizen science app. Join us to learn how to create and grow a citizen-led biodiversity corridor in any locality. This event is hosted by the Ledyard Seed Library-Ledyard Public Library & is co-sponsored by Mystic & Noank Library, Public Library of New London & Preston Public Library.

Save the Date

One Book One Region Kickoff Event

Branford House, Avery Point

Tuesday, June 28, 5:00 pm

We are happy to announce that One Book One Region is back for another year of community reading and discussion. The 2022 selection for One Book One Region is Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann. Judy's life long battle for respect, acceptance, and inclusion has paved the way for national milestones, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Click on the book cover to place a hold.  Details about our Gales Ferry book discussion are coming soon.

Sunflower Rug Hooking Circle

Gales Ferry Community Room

Thursday, June 30,10:30 am

Ages 12 and up

In June, we start a three part series on Rug Hooking at the Gales Ferry Community Center. Come hook a beautiful sunflower with us, no experience necessary, and make this sign of peace, hope and summer! We will provide everything you need.  Work here with us and take your kit home in between sessions to work on and just watch your sunflower come to life! 

Take and Make Monday

Bill Library and Gales Ferry Library

Available on a first-come first-served basis

Each week a different activity or craft will be available for you to pick up and take home to complete at your leisure. Activities will be geared toward preschool and early elementary ages.

Chess for Kids

Bill Library

Saturday, June 11,11:30 am

For ages 8 and up

Kyle Pearson will lead kids and adults in chess strategy and practice. The instructor will provide all boards unless you would like to bring your own.

Ukulele Workshop with Julie Stepanek

Holdridge Pavilion at the Ledyard Town Green

Saturday, June 18

10:00 am Family Program: children must be with accompanying adult

Want to try an instrument that is fun and easy to play? Join Julie Stepanek as she shows the fundamentals of ukulele playing. You'll learn how to tune, strum and read chords. After a short lesson, you'll be able to play songs. No experience necessary. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of hers.

Creation Station

Gales Ferry Community Room

Thursday, June 23, 10:30 am

For ages 6-18

Join us in the Gales Ferry Community Room to create a Aztec Sun Plaque.

Robotics Workshop

Bill Library

Saturday, June 25, 10:30 am

Ages 10 and up

Join us for a robotics workshop! With the help of the Robotics and Automation Society section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, participants will be using the mbot2 (mbot neo) platform and will be taught some basics about programming the robot using block-based software.

Storytime at Nathan Lester House

Saturday, June 25, 2:00 pm

All Ages

Join Mrs. Burt for storytime on the grounds of the Nathan Lester House. After storytime be sure to explore the building and grounds of this local treasure!

Geer Hill One-Room School House Tour

Tuesday, June 28, 10:30 am

Ages 5 – 12

Come for a tour of this one-room school house that was built in 1813. Mrs. Burt will read a story and we will do a colonial craft. Parking will be available at a nearby house so plan for a short walk to reach the event.

4-H Ocean Discovery

Wednesday, June 29, 10:30 am

Ages 6-11

Registered participants will receive different 4-H activities you can build, either at home or with Mrs. Burt at the library. Each activity has a how-to video and a suggested book to read. Topics will include bioluminescence, submarines, octopi, breeches buoys, and deep sea cupcakes. You must register for each week individually.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Ongoing                                                 Birth – 5 yrs.

A free program that encourages you to read one thousand books with your child before he or she begins kindergarten. It’s easy, fun, and a great way to bond with your young child!

Ukulele Workshop with Julie Stepanek

Holdridge Pavilion at the Ledyard Town Green

Saturday, June 18, 11:00 am

Teen/Adult Program

Want to try an instrument that is fun and easy to play? Join Julie Stepanek as she shows the fundamentals of ukulele playing. You'll learn how to tune, strum and read chords. After a short lesson, you'll be able to play songs. No experience necessary. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of hers.

Teen Trivia: Avatar the Last Airbender

Bill Library

Wednesday, June 29, 2:00 pm

5 – 12 Grade

Are there any trivia fans out there? Test your skills and you may be the winner of a gift card to Cloak and Wand in Mystic. Sign up in teams or individually to participate. 

Sunflower Rug Hooking Circle

Gales Ferry Community Room

Thursday, June 30,10:30 am

Ages 12 and up



Learn the simple and artistic craft of rug hooking! We will meet three Thursdays and all materials will be provided. You can take your project home between classes to work on it and no experience is necessary.

LitLoot! Summer Box

Registration Opens: June 1

Pick Up: July 1

7 – 12 Grade

Sign up to receive a box with specially selected books, a craft, stickers, treats, and more!

News from the Ledyard Seed Library

It’s not too late to visit the Ledyard Seed Library at Bill Library and choose some free gardening seeds. Keep your garden producing well into the later season. If you’ve taken seeds from the Seed Library, we would love for you to share pictures with us! From seedlings to produce, please share your gardens with us. You can email photos to Laura at lnorcia@ledyard.lioninc.org

A Word from the

Friends of Ledyard Library

Half Price Book Sale

June 6-11, 2022

Visit the meeting room at Bill Library, and the Book Cellar at Gales Ferry Library, each of which are open during normal library hours. All sales go towards support of the library. 

June is Audio Book Appreciation Month. There are a variety of audio books for all ages to choose from at either library, along with e-audio books through Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla.

The Friends are currently in need of the following volunteers:

• 1-2 people to carry books to the basement at Bill Library for sorting. This would be weekly or bi-weekly, at your convenience when the library is open.
• A Membership Chair, who would check the Membership file at Bill Library every few weeks, update the Excel file, and send confirmation e-mails or send letters. Renewal letters are sent in the fall, and a group stuffs envelopes and labels envelopes.
• A Vice President

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sarah Desormier, President

860 464-9538, Friends@Ledyard.lioninc.org

Janice W. Bell Historical Research Room

at the Bill Library

Special hours in June: Open Tuesdays on June 7 & 14 and Mondays June 20 & 27

Other days by appointment.

Looking for volunteer opportunities this summer? We are looking for teen and adult helpers in the following areas: Digitization (scanning photos and historical documents) and indexing transcripts of historical documents, as well as non-computer jobs such as adding obituaries to our file. Training provided for all tasks. Enjoy a few hours of air conditioning and help us make Ledyard & Gales Ferry history more accessible!  

Contact Andrea Buka at research@ledyardhistory.org or 860-464-9912 (Bill Library) for more information or to make an appointment.