Dennis Public Library: February 2016

Mercy Otis Warren: Voice of the American Revolution

Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 pm

Join historian Lew Taylor as he discusses the life and writings of Mercy Otis Warren. Born in Barnstable, MA, Mercy Otis Warren was a female patriot who stoked the fires of revolution with powerful arguments. She incorporated many of her ideas into poems, pamphlets, and satirical plays, and she also wrote a three volume history of the American Revolution. Her keen interest in politics led to friendships with many of the famous leaders of the American Revolution, whose names are still remembered today.

Lew Taylor is a retired U.S. Army (Disability) Vietnam Veteran, the owner of I Cannot Live Without Books in West Dennis, and an instructor for the Academy of Lifelong Learning. He is currently writing a Master’s thesis on Mercy Otis Warren.

February Artist - Eileen Powers

Throughout the month of February, stop by our meeting room and enjoy the photography of Eileen Powers, which will be on display in the Benjamin Muse Meeting Room during most of the library's open hours.

As a graphic designer and illustrator, Eileen brings a keenly-trained aesthetic eye to the camera. She first learned to use the camera in high school on a borrowed 35-millimeter Argus. Today she uses a combination of film and digital to create her work. A few of her favorite cameras are the Holga, Diane, Contax G2, Canon Mark III, and, of course, the iPhone.

She is interested in the beauty and abstraction of ordinary places and daily life. While she shoots formal portraits, Eileen has a particular interest in street photography, documentary and landscape. All of the images in this show were shot in 2014-16 and printed in her studio. Eileen's ongoing projects include Campers of Sandy Neck; Dennisport: A Sea of Change; Hullabaloo: The Abstract Beauty of Boat Hulls; and Carnival in Provincetown. Eileen's latest project is a documentary of garages in America.

Eileen has studied with such notable photographers as Constantine Manos, John Paul Caponigro, Stella Johnson, and Terry Abrams. She attended the Maine Media Workshops, MassArt, Syracuse University, UMass Dartmouth, and Caponigro Studios in Cushing, Maine. She holds a B.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in advertising design. She lives in Centerville with Tom, Sampson, and the perennially fashionable, Ms. Louise Cheese.

Visit her website at http://eileenpowersphotography.com/ or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/capecoastalphoto/?pnref=lhc.

Irish harpist Mairead Doherty and Friends

Saturday, March 12 at 12:00 pm

Come join Irish harpist Mairead Doherty and her special musical guests for “A Remembrance of the 1916 Uprising in Music, Poetry, and Song.” The Easter Uprising was a pivotal event in modern Irish history, when Irish nationalists declared the establishment of an Irish Republic and staged a rebellion against the British government in Ireland.

The talented Ms. Doherty is a yearly favorite at Dennis Public Library, and her beautiful and educational performance is sure to entertain an audience of all ages.

Born in County Tipperary, Ireland, Mairead Doherty studied harp under the auspices of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. She has performed throughout Europe and North America.

School Vacation Week - "I LOVE to Read" Magic Show

Friday, February 19 at 11:00 am

Greg and Axel present the “I LOVE to Read” Magic Show, which features magic, comedy, and Axel the Magic Mutt. Did you know that every time you read a book, you go on an adventure? It’s true! Axel the Magic Mutt will show you how. By the time you leave, you’ll see that reading is something you want to do, not something you have to do. Get ready for the fun!

Although not necessary, Axel would love if you could bring some pet food donations for his friends in the local shelter.

School Vacation Week - "Pan" movie

Tuesday, February 16 at 2:00 pm

A live-action feature presenting a wholly original adventure about the beginnings of the beloved characters created by J.M. Barrie. Peter is a mischievous 12-year-old boy with an irrepressible rebellious streak, but in the bleak London orphanage where he has lived his whole life those qualities do not exactly fly. Then one incredible night, Peter is whisked away from the orphanage and spirited off to a fantastical world of pirates, warriors and fairies called Neverland. There, he finds amazing adventures and fights life-or-death battles while trying to uncover the secret of his mother, who left him at the orphanage so long ago, and his rightful place in this magical land. Teamed with the warrior Tiger Lily and a new friend named James Hook, Peter must defeat the ruthless pirate Blackbeard to save Neverland and discover his true destiny - to become the hero who will forever be known as Peter Pan. Rated PG; 111 minutes

Reflections from the Pacific Coast Trail: How Lessons Learned from One Woman’s Journey Apply to Us All

Saturday, February 27 at 12:00 pm

Come meet thru-hiker Wendy Johnston. From April to September of 2013, Wendy Johnston backpacked the entire 2,700 mile long Pacific Crest Trail from the US/Mexican Border to the US/Canadian border through California, Oregon, and Washington. Join Wendy for a compelling talk that focuses on the reasons she hikes long trails, some of the adversity she has overcome (both in life and on the trail), and the universal lessons that she has learned on her long hikes. She will also show a slideshow of photos taken along her PCT hike. A question and answer session will follow. It is Wendy’s hope that you will leave inspired and encouraged to follow your own dreams (hiking-related or not)!