Connections Winter 2010/2011

THE PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY MAGAZINE Winter 2010 –’11

Explorer headlines as the festival celebrates its fifth anniversary

ALSO

Interviews with authors David Hazony and Mark Alpert Designer Jonathan Adler Resources for job-seekers

2 CALENDAR DECEMBER Dec. 1

Dec. 2

Dec. 3

Dec. 5 Dec. 6

Dec. 7

Dec. 8

Dec. 9

Dec. 10 Dec. 11

Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 14 Dec. 15 Dec. 17

Dec. 18

Dec. 19 Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Dec. 27 Dec. 28

Dec. 29 Dec. 30 Dec. 31

7 p.m., Ask a Lawyer 7:30 p.m., U.S. 1 Poets Invite 6 p.m., Film: “Christmas in Connecticut” 7 p.m., Witherspoon-Jackson Genealogy 7 p.m., Simplicity Parenting 10 a.m., Film: “Shanghai Express” 4 p.m., Game On! 7 p.m., A Cappella Night 3 p.m., Princeton Writers Block 7:30 p.m., Mystery Book Club 7:30 p.m., Continuing Conversations on Race 8:30 a.m., Tuesday Networking Breakfast 2 p.m., TEDx Princeton Library 8 a.m., TEDx Princeton Library 11 a.m., Home-School Book Discussion 6:30 p.m., Origami Club 7:30 p.m., Author Leonard Barkan 10:30 a.m., Fiction Book Group 11 a.m., Indoor Farmers Market 4 p.m., Game On! 10 a.m., Go Between Club 10:30 a.m., Quickbooks Workshop 11 a.m., Movie Club 1 p.m., Count Me In — Plus 1:30 p.m., Fun With Paper 2:30 p.m., Word for Word 2 p.m., Sid Bernstein Presents 7 p.m., Noodle Talk 7 p.m., Film “Tell Them Anything You Want.”

7 p.m., Engaged Retirement 6:45 p.m., SCORE Seminar 9:15, 10:30 a.m., Home-School Book Group 10 a.m.: Film: “Gaslight” 4 p.m., Game On! 2:30 p.m., Heads and Tales Club 4 p.m., Film: “Where the Wild Things Are” 1 p.m., Scrapbooking Circle The library will close at 1 p.m.

The library is closed 2:30 p.m., Film: “Toy Story 3” 2:30 p.m., Gingerbread Man 10:30 a.m., Wendy Zoffer (family music) 2:30 p.m., The Mitten 7 p.m., Socrates Café 2:30 p.m., The Warmest Season 2:30 p.m., Penguins 10 a.m., Film: “The Glenn Miller Story” The library will close at 1 p.m.

For an up-to-date listings of all Princeton Public Library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

Jan. 10

Jan. 11 Jan. 12

The library is closed

Jan. 3

7:30 p.m., Mystery Book Club 7:30 p.m., Continuing Conversations on Race 7:30 p.m., Michael and Elizabeth Norman

Jan. 4

7 p.m., Tuesday Technology Talk

Jan. 5

7 p.m., Author Jean Baur

Jan. 6

7 p.m., Witherspoon-Jackson Genealogy

Jan. 7

10 a.m., Film: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” 4 p.m., Game On!

Jan. 8

10 a.m., Go Between Club 11 a.m., Movie Club 1 p.m., Count Me In — Plus 2:30 p.m., Word for Word 4 p.m., Film: “Despicable Me” 3 p.m., Author Deborah Fallows 3 p.m., Author Betty Lies

Jan. 9

Feb. 1 Feb. 3

Feb. 4 Feb. 5

Jan 13-24 PRINCETON ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL

Schedule online at www.princetonlibrary.org/peff Jan. 13 10:30 a.m., Fiction Book Group

11 a.m., Indoor Farmers Market Jan. 14 9:15, 10:30 a.m., Home-School Book Group

4 p.m., Game On! Jan. 15 2:30 p.m., Heads and Tales Club Jan. 17 The library is closed Jan. 18 8:30 a.m., Tuesday Networking Breakfast Jan. 21 10 a.m., Film: “Rainman” 4 p.m., Game On! Jan. 24 7:30 p.m., U.S. 1 Poets Invite Jan. 25 10 a.m., American Red Cross Blood Drive

7 p.m. Socrates Café 7 p.m., Film: “Departures” Jan. 26 7 p.m., Sustainable Princeton Awards Jan. 27 6:30 p.m., Film: “Emmanuel’s Gift”

7:30 p.m., Author Robert Kurzban Jan. 28 4 p.m., Game On! Jan. 29 1:30 p.m., Fun With Paper 4 p.m., Film: “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” Jan. 30 3 p.m., Bill Collins and the Poetry Music Project Jan. 31 7:30 p.m., Author Nannerl O. Keohane

Feb. 6 Feb. 7

Feb. 8 Feb. 9

Feb. 10

Feb. 11 Feb. 12

Feb. 13 Feb. 14 Feb. 18

Feb. 19

7 p.m., Tuesday Technology Talk 7 p.m., Witherspoon-Jackson Genealogy 7 p.m., Build It 10 a.m., Film: “Reversal of Fortune” 4 p.m., Game On! 10 a.m., Oh Snap!

3 p.m., “A Seat For Rosa” 6:45 p.m., SCORE Seminar 7:30 p.m., Mystery Book Club 7:30 p.m., Continuing Conversations on Race 7 p.m., Engaged Retirement 11 a.m., Home-School Book Group 4 p.m., Jonathan Adler 6:30 p.m., Origami Club 7 p.m., Circulo de Lectura 7:30 p.m., Author Lawrence P. Jackson 10:30 a.m., Fiction Book Group 11 a.m., Indoor Farmers Market 7 p.m., Build It 4 p.m. Game On! 10 a.m., Go Between Club 10:30 a.m., Quickbooks Workshop 11 a.m., Movie Club 2 p.m., World Story Festival: Africa 2:30 p.m., Word for Word 3 p.m., Princeton Girlchoir 7 p.m., Noodle Talk 9:15, 10:30 a.m., Home-School Book Group 10 a.m., Film: “Million Dollar Baby” 4 p.m., Game On! 1:30 p.m., Fun With Paper 2:30 p.m., Heads and Tales Club 4 p.m., Film: “Alice in Wonderland” Feb. 20 1 p.m., Scrapbooking Circle Feb. 21

Feb. 22 Feb. 23

Feb. 24 Feb. 25 Feb. 26 Feb. 28

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JANUARY Jan. 1

FEBRUARY

11 a.m., Farming in and Around Princeton 6:30 p.m., Handsome Molly 6:45 p.m., SCORE Seminar 7 p.m., Noodle Talk 7 p.m., Engaged Retirement 11 a.m., Home-School Book Group 6:30 p.m., Origami Club 7 p.m., Circulo de Lectura 7:30 p.m., Princeton SymphonySoundtracks

10,

13,

Stories in Russian

Sat. noon.

Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19

8:30 a.m., Networking Breakfast 7:30 p.m., Author David Hazony 7 p.m. Socrates Café 6:30 p.m., Film: “I Am Sam” 7:30 p.m., U.S. 1 Poets Invite 7 p.m., Build It 10 a.m., Film: “Benjamin Button” 4 p.m., Game On! 2 p.m., Chinese New Year 7:30 p.m., Author Mark Alpert

Princeton Environmental Film Festival SPOTLIGHT More Princeton Environmental Film Festival coverage ... Pages 9-12

Fabien Cousteau, son of Jean-Michel Cousteau and grandson of Jacques Cousteau, appears Jan. 14 at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival.

The undersea heritage of Fabien Cousteau

Upholding a family tradition of caring for our oceans

By ANNE LEVIN

I

Connections Staff Writer

n Fabien Cousteau’s family, reunions often took place in the middle of the ocean. The extended kin would spend holidays aboard the expedition ship Calypso, where his grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, and father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, would be involved in some sort of undersea exploration and filming.

“It certainly wasn’t unusual for me, because I didn’t know any better,” says Cousteau, looking back on his childhood. Now 43, Cousteau was 4 years old when he made his first plunge with a scuba tank. “It was only later on in life when I realized that vacations for other people weren’t quite the same thing,” he says. “The best place for us to meet as a family was on an expedition.”

Cousteau, who will appear at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival Jan. 14, has inherited his family’s fascination with the sea. He is a prominent explorer and environmental advocate who travels around the globe trying to educate people about the plight of the oceans. Born in Paris and educated in France and the United States, he graduated from Boston University.

Cousteau resisted the family “firm” at first, freelancing as a graphic designer and marketing eco-friendly products for the company Seventh Generation. But his beloved seas were calling to him, and after 12 years he decided he had to do what he could to save them. He joined his father 11 years ago on a filming expedition to South Africa. Two years later, National Geographic hired him to host a special on the notorious shark attacks that took place at the Jersey Shore in 1916. In 2005, Cousteau completed his first self-produced film, “Mind of a Demon, “which debunks the notion that great white sharks are killing machines.

“Everyone worries about getting bitten by a shark. But when you cross the road, you’re •continued on Page 12

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4 EVENTS Books and Authors

The thrill of science Princeton grad Mark Alpert combines a love of science with his talent for writing in a series of thrillers

By ANNE LEVIN

Connections Staff Writer

S

ince his days as a Princeton University undergraduate, Mark Alpert has juggled his two passions: science and writing. A 1982 university graduate, Alpert majored in astrophysics at Princeton, immersing himself in his studies with J. Richard Gott III, but also made time to study creative writing. After graduation, he decided to pursue poetry rather than physics, entering the master’s degree program in writing at Columbia University and studying with such literary giants as Octavio Paz, Derek Walcott, and Susan Sontag.

But Alpert soon realized that poetry wouldn’t pay the bills. Journalism was the next stop on his career path, taking him to two small newspapers and later to Fortune magazine. In 1998, he landed at the prestigious journal Scientific American, where he specialized for a decade in making complicated scientific concepts understandable for a broad spectrum of readers.

If that job was a happy mix of his talents, consider Alpert’s more recent gig: author of a series of science-based thrillers. Two years ago, Simon & Schuster published his first book “Final Theory,” which quickly became an international best seller.

“I guess you could say I’ve found my niche,” says Alpert, who will appear at an author talk and book-signing of his newest title, “The Omega Theory,” on Feb. 28. With the theories of Albert Einstein looming large in both “Final Theory” and “The Omega Theory,” Alpert’s visit to Princeton is timely. Just two weeks later, on March 14, the town and the library join other communities throughout the world in celebrating Pi Day, the great scientist’s birthday and the celebration of the most revered mathematical constant in the known universe.

In “Final Theory,” Alpert takes the premise that Einstein succeeded in discovering a unified field theory, but hid the result, fearing it could lead to weapons far more powerful than the atom bomb. In the present day, several contenders (the U.S. government, a savage mercenary bent on revenge, various scientists) all scramble to uncover the theory. In “The Omega Theory,” the same science historian from the first book, and his beautiful, quantum physicist wife, scramble to stop a team of religious fanatics from altering the fate of humankind.

“I’m really enjoying writing these thrillers,” says Alpert, who is hard at work on book No. 3. “I was able to leave Scientific American to concentrate

solely on this, and it’s going well.”

Alpert lives in Manhattan with his wife and two young children. Born and raised in the city, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School and came to Princeton in 1978.

“I was a total science geek,” Alpert says. “I was hell-bent on being a scientist. But when I got to Princeton, I was kind of intimidated. It was a really small department, with some really, really smart people. I was awed. But I had some great professors.”

Among the most influential was Gott, who encouraged Alpert to write his undergraduate thesis on the application of the theory of relativity to Flatland, a model universe with only two spatial dimensions (length and width, but no depth). The resulting paper was published in The Journal of General Relativity and in Gravitation in 1984 and has been cited in more than 100 physics papers since then.

“It was my dream to fill out a notebook and have it mean something,” says Alpert. “Professor Gott gave me the best compliment when he said to me, ‘This solution is non-trivial.’ ” Once he made his way to Scientific American in 1998, Alpert soon discovered his strength. “It was like coming back to my roots,” he says. “I learned to translate expert stuff in a language that non-scientists could understand.”

He has continued that practice in writing thrillers. “The key is to not put too much science in it,” he says.

“The Omega Theory” will be released on Feb. 15. Researching the book, Alpert traveled to Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. “It’s an amazing place, mostly desert, that sits on this huge bubble of natural gas,” he says.

“It became part of the thriller.”

Princeton figures prominently in Alpert’s first book. One scene takes place at Einstein’s house on Mercer Street. In fact, the physicist/main character lives there. “I became fascinated by Einstein while writing the book,” Alpert says. “After it came out, I got e-mails from people all over the place about Einstein. It was amazing.”

Alpert cites former Princeton professor John Archibald Wheeler, who coined the term “black hole,” as the guiding spirit for “The Omega Theory.”

“I never knew him, but I certainly knew his work,” Alpert says. “He did so much to make cosmology a real subject. He was a giant of science at Princeton.”

The author is looking forward to returning to his college town for the reading and book signing on Feb. 28. “I used to go to the library. I volunteered at the hospital’s rehab center (Merwick). I have good memories of the town and I’m happy to come back,” he says.

Mark Alpert / Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.

FICTION BOOK GROUP Led by Kristin Friberg. Conference Room.

“Cooking with Fernet Branca” by James Hamilton-Paterson This funny send-up of Italian cooking/holiday/romance novels is written from the alternating perspectives of two foreigners who have purchased neighboring Tuscan houses. They snipe at each other while finding each other, all the while downing copious amounts of the wine in the title.

Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m.

“The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid Changez is a young Pakistani who was educated at Princeton and is employed at a first-rate valuation firm, living the American dream. But he grows to resent the United States and all it stand for. He tells his story to a nameless, mysterious American who sits across from him in a Lahore café.

Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m.

“Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson A preacher who has lived almost all of his life in an Iowa town is in failing health and writes a letter, a consideration of his life, to his 7-year-old son. Robinson takes the story away from being simply the reminiscences of one man and moves it into the realm of a meditation on fathers and children, particularly sons. Feb. 10, 10:30 a.m.

5

Words to live by Author David Hazony finds in an ancient text statements of principle to guide modern life

By ANNE LEVIN

Connections Staff Writer

A

ccording to the polls, most Americans cannot name more than four of the Ten Commandments. Even fewer can name all 10. What do they teach us? What do they promote?

These questions, and the public’s ignorance of the answers, have fascinated author David Hazony for years. In his book “The Ten Commandments: How Our Most Ancient Moral Text Can Renew Moral Life,“ the Princetonreared Hazony takes a fresh look at this ancient moral text. What he reveals is not just a set of obscure laws, but a valuable approach to life.

Hazony will appear at the library Feb. 21 to talk about his book and the issues it raises. The son of Israeli parents, he spent a large chunk of his childhood in Princeton, attending Riverside School, John Witherspoon Middle School, and, very briefly, Princeton High School and Princeton Day School.

“My parents’ families moved to Israel from Eastern Europe in the 1920s and ’30s, and we moved to the U.S. in 1965,” Hazony says. “My father was a physicist at the time, though he later switched into different fields of engineering. He was on the Princeton faculty until 1983, when we all moved to Boston.”

The family attended the Jewish Center of Princeton, and Hazony celebrated his Bar Mitzvah there. “Hebrew was spoken in our home,” he says. “It was a secular, Israeli, BenGurionite kind of home. There was a respect

David Hazony discusses his book “The Ten Commandments: How Our Most Ancient Moral Text Can Renew Moral Life” on Feb. 21.

for Jewish tradition and religion, but we were a secular home.”

As he grew up, Hazony became more observant. “I started studying in various orthodox yeshivas,” he says. “I undertook to go through the whole Bible in Hebrew. It was really a trip, largely because it’s such a fascinating text. There was so much in it that I simply had no idea about despite having a good Jewish education and growing up in the most Christian country on earth. It was kind of a homecoming, and an introduction to stories and songs and politics and prophecies and bad guys – all of these incredible books and stories. Reading through it once is just enough to scratch the surface and show what you’re missing.”

Hazony studied at Columbia University but ended up with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yeshiva University. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he lives. He is a full-time writer who has been featured in the New Republic, The Forward, Commentary, Moment, The Jerusalem Post, The Jewish Chronicle, The New York Sun, and Jewish Ideas Daily. He contributes regularly to Contentions, the weblog of Commentary magazine. Hazony is an expert on the philosopher Eliezer Berkovits.

MYSTERY BOOK GROUP

“In the Shadow of Gotham” by Stefanie Pintoff Set in 1905, this story finds young police detective Simon Ziele investigating a brutal murder among New York’s upper class in Dobson, a small

David Hazony / Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

CIRCULO DE LECTURA

Led by Gayle Stratton. Conference Room

“Sworn to Silence” by Linda Castillo Ohio’s Amish country serves as the bucolic backdrop for romance novelist Castillo’s chilling mystery debut, in which a serial killer shatters the stillness of a small town, leaving its citizenry terrified and on guard. Kate gets involved while facing her own disturbing past.

Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

When he decided to take on the Ten Commandments, Hazony was immediately impressed by their spirit of redemption. “There’s a whole outlook on life there,” he says. “It’s not just about faith, but about how to build a good society and be good people.”

In Israel, Hazony notes, everyone is taught about the Bible from a young age. “In America, it is seen as a symbol of one side in a very deep, culturally divided society,” he says. “In Israel, the attachment to the Bible is driven from the secular side. Every student studies it, and takes exams on it as part of graduating. Every soldier gets a free Bible when they finish their basic training. This comes not out of a religious belief, but from a secular belief. The result is that in Israeli culture, you find the Bible all over popular music, films, and artistic expression.”

Hazony looks at the Ten Commandments as “…a kind of placeholder,” he says, “an encapsulation of what this sort of Biblical (Old Testament) approach to life is. The Bible is filled with laws, but these 10 are much more than laws.

They are statements of principle. That was the genesis of (my) reading each of them as a value and an ideal. If you take all 10 of them together, you get a coherent approach to life.”

Moderado por Lucía Acosta

community along the Hudson River. The book won the Mystery Writers of America /St. Martin’s Minotaur First Crime Novel Award in 2008.

Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.

“A Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam”

by Chris Ewan The compelling antihero of this comic whodunit is Charles Howard, an established author of mysteries featuring a burglar-detective. Howard, who is a successful burglar himself, receives a cryptic invitation while finishing his latest novel in Amsterdam.

Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

“El cielo llora por mí” por Sergio Ramírez Una novela policíaca narrada con tensión e ironía, una visión ácida de una sociedad en la que las fuerzas del bien son a veces las fuerzas del mal.

Miércoles 12 de enero, 7 p.m.

“Todas mis vidas posibles” por Beatriz Rivas Una Beatriz que quisiera ser todas las Beatrices para, con cada vida imaginada, abrir de nuevo todas sus posibilidades y permitirse aquello que la ficción, atinadamente, pone a nuestro alcance.

Miércoles 9 de febrero,7 p.m.

6 EVENTS Books and Authors THINKING ALLOWED Author appearances co-sponsored by the library and Princeton University Press

Leonard Barkan (“Michelangelo: A Life on Paper”)

He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and sculpted the statue of David. But there was more to Michelangelo than his famous works of visual art. He was also a writer, as author Leonard Barkan discusses in his new book. Michelangelo not only filled hundreds of sheets of paper with exquisite drawings, sketches, and doodles, but also, on fully a third of these sheets, composed his own words. Barkan reveals the artist’s marginal notes to his most enduring masterpieces; workaday memos to assistants and pupils; poetry and letters; and personal expressions of ambition and despair surely meant for nobody’s eyes but his own. Barkan is the Class of 1943 University Professor of Comparative Literature at Princeton University. His books include “Unearthing the Past: Archaeology and Aesthetics in the Making of Renaissance Culture”; “The Gods Made Flesh: Metamorphosis and the Pursuit of Paganism”; and “Satyr Square: A Year, a Life in Rome.”

Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

Robert Kurzban (“Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite”)

Kurzban shows us that the key to understanding our behavioral inconsistencies lies in understanding the mind’s design. The human mind consists of many specialized units designed by the process of evolution by natural selection. While these modules sometimes work together seamlessly, they don’t always, resulting in impossibly contradictory beliefs, vacillations between patience and impulsiveness, violations of our supposed moral principles, and over-inflated views of ourselves. Kurzban, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, explains the roots and implications of our inconsistent minds, and why it is perfectly natural to believe that everyone else is a hypocrite.

Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. Fireplace Area, second floor

Nannerl O. Keohane (“Thinking About Leadership”)

How does it feel to actually hold power? In this book, Keohane draws on her experience as the first woman president of Duke University and former president of Wellesley College, as well as her expertise as a leading political theorist, to deepen our understanding of what leaders do, how and why they do it and the pitfalls and challenges they face. She considers the traits that make a good leader, and provides insights from leaders through the ages including Aristotle, Queen Elizabeth I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Nelson Mandela. Keohane is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Affairs and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. She is the author of “Higher Ground: Ethics and Leadership in the Modern University and Philosophy” and “The State in France: The Renaissance to the Enlightenment.”

Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.

Lawrence P. Jackson (“The Indignant Generation”)

Jackson’s book is the first narrative history of the neglected but essential period of African American literature between the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights era. This was the epoch of Richard Wright, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and many other influential black writers. Jackson examines the political and artistic milieu in which they produced their greatest works. He looks at the tumultuous decades surrounding World War II, restoring the “indignant” quality to a generation of African American writers shaped by Jim Crow segregation, the Great Depression, the growth of American communism, and an international wave of decolonization. He also reveals how artistic collectives in New York, Chicago, and Washington fostered a sense of destiny and belonging among diverse and disenchanted peoples. Jackson is professor of English and African American studies at Emory University. He is the author of “Ralph Ellison: Emergence of Genius” and a forthcoming biography of Chester Himes.

Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.

U.S. 1 POETS INVITE

BOOK LAUNCH

Poets read for 20 minutes each, followed by an open mic session. Co-sponsored by the library and U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative. Fireplace Area, second floor

Betty Bonham Lies

Bernadette McBride and Eric Heller McBride is the Poet Laureate of Bucks County. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including Schuylkill Valley Journal, Ibbetson Street Press, and The Penwood Review, as well as the anthology “And the Questions Are Enough.” Heller has been a teacher, technical writer, and now directs the marketing for SightLogix, a Princeton-based technology company.

His poems have appeared in Kota Press Poetry, US1 Worksheets, and the Delaware Valley Poets’ Thatchwork Anthology; his 2010 US1 publication has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.

A Tribute to Robert Burns The U.S. 1 Poets join the worldwide celebration of the life and works of the Scottish Bard, born on Jan. 25, 1759. In addition to readings of Burns poems, the evening will feature Princeton resident Anne Witt, a specialist in Scottish music,

singing a selection of Burns songs written from the female point of view. Local poet and Scots native Linda Arntzenius will read Burns’ most famous narrative poem “Tam o’ Shanter.” Members of the U.S.1 Poets and audience members are asked to bring a favorite Burns poem to read at an open mic session following the presentations.

Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Jane McKinley and Kathe L. Palka A professional oboist and artistic director of the Dryden Ensemble, McKinley began writing poetry seven years ago. Her manuscript “Vanitas” was awarded the Walt McDonald First-Book Prize and will be published by Texas Tech University Press in early 2011. Palka lives near Flemington, New Jersey and is a member of the U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative. She is the author of two chapbooks, “The Grace of Light, New Women’s Voices Series,” and “Faith to See and Other Poems.”

Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.

Lies has taught English and creative writing for many years to students ranging from kindergarten-age to adults. She is currently a Distinguished Teaching Artist for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and a Dodge Poet for the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. She was awarded the state Governor’s Award in Arts Education twice, and an alumna award for distinguished achievement in arts education from Carleton College. She is the author of two books of poetry and four books of prose. Her newest book of verse is “The Day After I Drowned.”

Jan. 9, 3 p.m.

Fireplace Area, second floor

WRITERS TALKING The Caroline Llewellyn Champlin Writers Talking Series

Michael Norman and Elizabeth Norman This married couple has written the story of the worst defeat in U.S. military history, the four-month fight for the tiny peninsula of Bataan in the Philippine Islands, the first major land battle for America in World War II. On April 9, 1942, more than 76,000 men under American command surrendered to their Japanese captors, who set them walking 66 miles to prison camp, a notorious walk that came to be known as “The Bataan Death March.” The book “Tears In the Darkness” is history written as story, with thousands of sources and hundreds of interviews woven into a tight narrative that recreates those dramatic days and the men – Americans, Japanese and Filipinos – who lived them.

Authors Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman, who live in Montclair, spent 10 years researching and interviewing for “Tears In The Darkness.” They made four trips to Asia and crossed America several times for the book.

Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Deborah Fallows

The author and linguist will present a lecture on Chinese language and culture titled “Dreaming — and Thinking —in Chinese,” followed by a book-signing. Fallows is the author of “Dreaming In Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.” She has recently lived in Shanghai and Beijing and traveled throughout China for three years with her husband, writer and journalist James Fallows. While in China, she worked for the Internet Project at the Pew Research Center, looking at Internet use in China. She worked previously in data architecture for Oxygen Media and at Georgetown University. A freelance writer, her work has been published in The Atlantic, Slate, The Washington Monthly, National Geographic, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and other media.

Jan. 9, 3 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the library and Families of Children from China.

Music EVENTS 7 Sid Bernstein Presents

The legendary concert promoter, responsible for bringing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to American shores, returns to the library with his partner, John Anthony, president of Banner Records, to present their newest discoveries. Pop singers Amanda Perko and Rachel Conrad will perform, and fashion model Tamara Frae will also appear.

Dec. 12, 2 p.m.

Amanda Perko

Rachel Conrad

Bill Collins and the Poetry Music Project This singer, songwriter, poet, and musician will perform his latest program, a solo of original poetry backed by recorded instrumental music with vocal improvisations. The Poetry Music Project is a performance-driven combination of poetry and prose in conjunction with musical jazz arioso, which is a style of solo singing between recitative and aria.

Jan. 30, 3 p.m.

Princeton Girlchoir

Members of the Princeton Girlchoir will present “A Girl’s Life: Choral Music For and About Girls of the World.” The girls will sing music from a variety of time periods and cultures, including Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major, written during the Venetian composer’s employment at an orphanage for girls, and Caldwell and Ivory’s “Beneath the African Sky,” based on the real-life experience of Clementine, a refugee of the Rwandan genocide. Audience members will have a chance to learn more about diverse music written by female composers and the quandaries of love and marriage in contemporary pieces such as “Dance On My Heart” and “Rockabye Baby.” Associate Director Kelly Ann Nelson Westgate will conduct the choir, accompanied by Ryan Brechmacher.

Feb. 13, 3 p.m.

Funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

PRINCETON SYMPHONY SOUNDTRACKS

The Beethoven Difference Get a behind-the-scenes look into the workings of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra as a prelude to its Jan. 23 performance at Richardson Auditorium with a lecture by Beethoven scholar Scott Burnham. The focus will be Beethoven’s Eroica symphony, a highlight of the upcoming program. Burnham is the Scheide Professor of Music History at Princeton University. This is an illustrated lecture exploring the musical values of Beethoven’s “heroic” style, explaining the huge impact the composer had on the rest of Western musical history. Burnham will guide the audience to listen for the ways in which Beethoven quickly absorbed the ethos of the Viennese classical style of Haydn and Mozart and inflected that style into his own, iconic voice.

Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Library cardholders are invited to read about Beethoven and listen to recordings of his music from the collection.

Among the books recommended are “Beethoven Hero” by Scott Burnham; “Beethoven and His World,” edited by Scott Burnham and Michael P. Steinberg; “The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824,” by Harvey Sachs; and “Beethoven, The Music and the Life,” by Lewis Lockwood. The library’s CD collection includes recordings featuring some of the top conductors and soloists, including Fürtwangler, Haitnik, von Karajan, Brendel and Richter.

Rossen Milanov, music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

Scott Burnham

8 EVENTS Film FRIDAY FILM CAFÉ Enjoy cookies and coffee while watching a late-morning film. Our theme for fall is “Academy Award Winners Past and Present.” Dispensa Café will provide refreshments.

“Shanghai Express” Marlene Dietrich stars in this 1932 feature directed by Josef von Sternberg. “It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lily,” drawls Dietrich as she embarks on a train journey from Peking to Shanghai during the Chinese civil war. Sternberg’s most colorful and languorous film is laden with atmosphere thick enough to cut with a knife.

Dec. 3, 10 a.m.

“Gaslight” This 1944 classic starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten won Academy Awards for Bergman and for the Victorian set designs. Boyer plays a deceitful husband who tries to deliberately drive his wife insane. George Cukor directs.

Dec. 17, 10 a.m.

“The Glenn Miller Story” This entertaining biography of the big-band leader who created a new sound in music and died at the height of his popularity authentically captures the spirit of the ‘40s. James Stewart is perfectly cast as Glenn Miller and June Allyson plays his wife. This 1954 film was directed by Anthony Mann.

Dec. 31, 10 a.m.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” A young woman raised by a pair of liberal, sophisticated parents announces her intention to marry a brilliant scientist she met on vacation. One little problem though . . . the parents have a problem with the fact that their daughter loves a black man. Katherine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier and Spencer Tracy star; Stanley Kramer directs.

Jan. 7, 10 a.m.

“Rain Man” Dustin Hoffman is unforgettable as the autistic savant Raymond, whose brother Charlie Babbitt ( Tom Cruise) wants to swindle money out of him. But when the brothers journey across America together, Raymond teaches Charlie a few lessons about life. The 1988 film is directed by Barry Levinson.

Jan. 21, 10 a.m.

“Reversal of Fortune” Based on Alan Dershowitz’ best-selling novel about the notorious von Bulow case, this 1990 drama directed

by Barbet Schroeder is a mystery as well as a story of the super-rich and a study of man’s darker impulses.

Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close star as Claus and Sunny von Bulow in this suspenseful portrayal of the crime and two men’s efforts to demolish the prosecution‘s case, thus reversing the jury’s devastating verdict.

Feb. 4, 10 a.m.

“Tell Them Anything You Want”

In the years preceding the making of the film “Where the Wild Things Are,” directors Spike Jonze and Lance Bangs capture an intimate portrait of famed children’s writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak in his Connecticut home. From the early sketches and toys he made with his brother Jack to his most celebrated book, Sendak reveals the provocative and prolific imagination that has spawned over half a century of work. He muses about significant incidents in his youth, the controversy surrounding his books, and reveals an almost humorous obsession with death that has subtly influenced his work.

Dec. 13, 7 p.m.

ENABLE FEST

In this partnership with Enable Inc., which aims to help individuals with disabilities lead full and independent lives within the community, the library is offering a new film series. Each screening is followed by a discussion.

“Emmanuel’s Gift”

This film tells the moving story of a disabled man in Ghana whose goal is to change the terrible fate of the more than 2 million disabled people in his country.

Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.

“I Am Sam”

A mentally retarded man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter, and in the process teaches his coldhearted lawyer the value of love.

Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Series continues March 23 with “Praying For Lior” and concludes April 21 with “Autism: The Musical.”

“Million Dollar Baby” Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Hilary Swank star in this 2004 film based on the book “Rope Burns” by FX Toole (aka former trainer Jerry Boyd). Eastwood also directs. The movie takes place in a boxing gym in Los Angeles. The ex-lighter who runs the gym is approached by a young woman who is determined to establish herself as a boxer.

Feb. 18, 10 a.m.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this 2009 movie starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett tells the bizarre story of Benjamin Button, who is born as an old man and ages in reverse until he becomes a baby. In his fifties, he falls in love with a 30-year-old woman and must come to terms with what will be the ultimate result of his relationship.

Feb. 25, 10 a.m.

WORLD CINECLUB “Departures”

When a symphony orchestra in Tokyo disbands, a cellist is left without a job. He and his wife return to his hometown and the crumbling remains of his mother’s old house. Looking for a new career, he suddenly finds himself working in the coffin industry.

Meanwhile, he discovers a sacred part of Japan’s cultural heritage as he journeys into its heartland. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008.

Jan. 25, 7 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the library and L’Association Francophone de Princeton.

9

Five years and growing As the Environmental Film Festival celebrates a milestone, its organizers look back at memorable moments

By ANNE LEVIN

Connections Staff Writer

A

nyone who has visited the Princeton Public Library during the past 12 months is aware that 2010 was a year of celebration. But the centennial is not the only significant milestone being marked by the library: The Princeton Environmental Film Festival also has a birthday worth noting. The festival turns five this winter, prompting its organizers to look back, take stock, and consider the future.

In its first four years, this annual gathering of filmmakers, environmental activists, and the public has become a local tradition and earned some official recognition in the process. The festival was honored at the 2008 annual conference of the American Library Association with the Highsmith Innovation and Excellence in Programming Award. The festival is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the leading environmental film festivals.

The 2011 festival, Jan. 13-24, takes viewers on an international journey, allowing them a broader look at the state of our environment.

Among the featured titles: “Gasland,” “Houston, We Have a Problem,” “Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home,” “Oceans,” “Jane’s Journey,” “I Bought a Rainforest,” “Bag It” and “This Way of Life.”

Featured speakers include Chelsea Sexton, featured in “Who Killed the Electric Car” and a producer of the upcoming follow-up film “Revenge of the Electric Car,” on Jan. 13. Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, will speak on Jan. 14 and show footage of his experiences in ocean exploration and his not-for-profit organization Plant a Fish, which educates people and empowers local communities to restore the ocean world. (See related story.) Josh Fox, director of the acclaimed documentary “Gasland,” appears on the closing day of the festival, Jan. 23. The Philly Zoo brings a family-oriented program starring some live animal residents.

“The festival has grown and changed. We try to add new components each year, but the bottom line is that we want to feature interesting and

Margaret O’Gormon

Festival founder Susan Conlon, right, with producer Sven Huseby at the 2010 screening of “A Sea Change.”

compelling films,” says Susan Conlon, the festival’s coordinator and PPL’s teen services librarian. “It starts with the films, rather than the issues.

The films bring us on the whole journey. And there is always the essential question: Does the film tell a good story?”

The festival’s planning committee has expanded to include a middle school student, some high school and college students as well as adults.

The committee starts meeting in March and then previews films for the next few months. “We don’t start with a lot of preconceived notions,” says Conlon. “We watch the films and go from there, seeing which ones complement each other. So we’re looking at them not only individually, but also how they fit together to make a strong schedule for the event.”

Conlon polled some members of the PEFF Planning Committee for comments on what they consider highlights of the first five years.

“This seems like an odd moment to have such a big impact, but I’ve taken on the Norwegian attitude expressed in ‘A Sea Change,’” wrote Dorothy Mullen. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

I’ve stopped making excuses so I don’t have to walk the dog in the rain. I encourage the teachers to bring the children out to their school gardens in less-than-ideal weather but to dress well. I turn the thermostat down and wear a hat and sweater indoors because it’s better to heat myself with wool than the whole house with fossil fuels.”

Lindsey Kaymen’s favorite films have been those about ordinary people inspired to try and make a difference: “Big River,” “A Sea Change,” “The Chances of the World Changing” and “No Impact Man” among them.

•continued on Page 12

Dorothy Mullen

Steve Hiltner, center, with the Sustainable Jazz Trio

10 EVENTS Princeton Environmental Film Festival

‘Peaceable’ movie-making James LaVeck’s and Jenny Stein’s film focuses on the transformational connection between farmers and animals

By ANNE LEVIN

Connections Staff Writer

W

hen James LaVeck and Jenny Stein screen their films, audiences tend to become emotional. The couple, whose non-profit organization Tribe of Heart produces documentaries in search of a more just and compassionate future, have grown accustomed to these intense reactions.

Making movies that encourage a sense of awakening about the state of the world and the environment, they are interested in changing the way people think.

LaVeck is the producer and Stein the director of “Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home,” which will be shown at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival. As with all of their screenings, they will lead a discussion following the film.

“People are often exposed to information they didn’t have before they saw the film,” says LaVeck. “So there is this phenomenal opportunity for opening a dialogue on topics that are normally so politicized that a real dialogue just doesn’t happen.”

The subject of “Peaceable Kingdom” is the awakening conscience of several people who grew up in traditional farming culture and have come to question the basic premises of their inherited way of life. The film provides insights into the amazing, life-altering connections they make with animals in their lives, while also making clear the complex web of social, psychological and economic forces that have led them to their present dilemma.

“Peaceable Kingdom” has been presented at seven film festivals and been honored with several awards. Filmmaking comes naturally to LaVeck and Stein, who are both personal and professional partners.

Filmmakers Jenny Stein and James LaVeck will appear at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival.

They were aspiring Hollywood screenwriters, and later marketing and communications consultants in California’s Silicon Valley, before making the decision to radically change their focus.

“Our story goes back 13 years, which is when we made the conscious decision to change the course of our lives,” says LaVeck, who is the producer of Tribe of Heart films; Stein is the director and editor. “We realized that we were really being affected by issues of justice, sustainability, poverty, and so many other things, and that we needed to change. But we weren’t able to do anything to affect that change. We had a lot of good things going, but there was something missing.”

The couple relocated to Ithaca, N.Y., where they have been ever since. LaVeck grew up in rural New York state; Stein graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca. “We wanted to focus on addressing the present problems of our time,” says LaVeck. “We have become much happier as a result. There is something about making that decision to commit fully to this path that enriches your life.”

Among Tribe of Heart’s other awardwinning films is “The Witness,” about a Brooklyn construction worker who becomes an impassioned animal advocate. As with “Peaceable Kingdom,” the story is focused on awakening and change.

“We have developed a theory that just as fear is catching, maybe this awakening thing is catching, too,” says LaVeck. “We have had our own awakening in the area of animal issues, and saw it as a great opportunity for exploration.”

LaVeck likens the subjects of “Peaceable Kingdom” who have drastically altered their farming practices, to people who have had experience in the military and then worked for peace. “We believe the awakening of consciousness is a universal process,” he says. “When people make changes out of concern for others, the power that results is really something special.”

Jan. 15, 7 p.m.

11

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS The Future of the Electric Car

“Bag It”

In 2006, as many as 5,000 modern electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. Today, less than five years later, the electric car is back, with a vengeance. With almost every major carmaker now jumping to produce new electric models, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” which will be released in the spring, follows the race to be the first, the best, and to win the hearts and minds of the public around the world. Producer Chelsea Sexton will discuss the upcoming film. Sexton is an unlikely car geek; both her work on the General Motors EV1 electric vehicle program and her passion were featured in the 2006 film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Jan. 13, 7 p.m.

Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five minutes, disposable bags that they throw away without much thought.

But where is “away?” Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to the environment, marine life and human health? This film follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic world. Berrier is not a radical environmentalist, but an average American who decides to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with plastics.

Jan. 21, 7 p.m.

“Climate Refugees”

“Gasland” The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States.

The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a “Saudi Arabia of natural gas” just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a crosscountry odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. The film is part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, and part showdown.

Fox will attend the screening to speak and answer questions from the audience.

Jan. 23, 1:30 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the library and the American Jewish Committee.

“I Bought a Rainforest” Like many children attending school in the 1980s, Jacob Andrén helped raise funds to save the rainforest. Twenty years later, he wonders what happened to all those trees that he and his classmates bought with the money they made by selling things at flea markets and bake sales. He decides to travel to the rainforest to try to find his trees and see if their efforts made a difference. The film shows that individual action can make a difference, while at the same time reflects on the freedom of childhood and about using that inspiration to make a change.

Jan. 16, 2 p.m.

“Jane’s Journey”

“This Way of Life” Set against the imposing mountains and isolated beaches in a remote part of North Island, New Zealand, the film is an intimate portrait of a Maori couple and their six children, their relationship with each other, nature and horses. The film is a blueprint for how to live with little. It is a modern parable of one family’s unconventional and incredibly positive response to the questions that confront many families in these anxious times.

Jan. 23, 4 p.m.

“Jane’s Journey” More than two decades ago, Dr. Jane Goodall gave up her career as a primatologist and her private life to devote her energies to saving our endangered planet.

Now 75, she has been spending 300 days a year scouring the globe on her mission to spread hope for future generations. In this film, we accompany her on her travels across several continents, with unprecedented access to her past.

Jan. 16, 4 p.m.

“This Way of Life”

All films and times are subject to change. For a complete list of festival events, please visit “Gasland”

“I Bought a Rainforest”

www.princetonlibrary.org/peff

12 EVENTS Enrichment

Fabien • continued from Page 3

about 100,000 times more likely to get hit by a car,” Cousteau says. “We have a warped perspective of what is dangerous and what isn’t. The most dangerous thing on this earth is human beings. But we are also the most wondrous thing on this earth.

“A shark is a shark,” he continues. “It has a role that is very defined. It is the garbage-cleaner of the oceans, and it performs very well because it is a dinosaur, and has been around for millions of years. We’re just babies. We’re toddlers on this planet. We haven’t fallen into a balance with nature, which is crucial for our long-term existence.”

On a recent dive to the Maldives, Cousteau was shocked to find no sharks at all. He used to see them all the time. “We’ve fished them out,” he says. “We’ve slaughtered them. We won’t have any in 10 years. It’s alarming. As much as I relish the experience every time I dive, more and more I see alarming signs of the failing health of our planet.”

Cousteau loves the sea. “For me, it is, quite simply, home,” he says. “It’s bliss. It’s peaceful.

It’s all of those things that are not land-based in many ways. It’s a magical, alien world. To me, to be able to spend even a limited amount of time in the ocean is something akin to the magic of the womb, I guess. I certainly feel more comfortable in the ocean than I do on land. It’s a place that always holds something new, something mysterious. There are always mysteries around the corner, waiting to be discovered.”

Among Cousteau’s recent initiatives is Plant A Fish, which uses the positive action of “replanting” undersea flora and fauna in environmentally stressed areas. “It’s definitely a message of hope, a vehicle for empowerment,” he says.

“We plant trees all over the place. Why not in the ocean?”

Saving the watery parts of the planet is nothing new to the Cousteau clan.

The threat posed by garbage in the ocean – plastics, in particular – has been a focus for decades. “My family has been talking about this for over 30 years,”

Growing • continued from Page 9

“Some wonderful films with this theme that will be shown in January include ‘And This is My Garden,’ ‘I Bought a Rainforest,’ ‘The Story of STRAW,’ and ‘Gasland,’” Kaymen wrote.

Stephen Hiltner is another committee member who was affected by “A Sea Change” and the weather/clothing quote in the film. “How about a fashion show for Global Warming Wear?” he wrote. “The public view of climate attire is stuck somewhere between Jimmy Carter’s sweaters and the Michelin Man. Certainly all the wondrous modern fabrics and timeless woolen standards can be brought together into a new fashion trend to capture the inner warmth and spirit of all Americans.”

Hiltner also remarked upon seeing the usual line of cars delivering youngsters to Littlebrook School on Walk to School Day. “But it was heartening to talk to one Mom who calls her bike her “new car” and whose son has made it his mission to bike to school this year every other day, regardless of weather.”

Margaret O’Gormon particularly likes two variations of films shown at PEFF. “Documen-

Cousteau says. “There is a garbage patch in every ocean. We’re talking about 100 million metric tons of garbage. The vast majority of it is plastic, which are dumped in our oceans every day. We’ve created this material for things we use for 30 seconds and then throw away, and most of the stuff that is floating around out there comes from our everyday lives.”

Plastic is not the only issue that worries Cousteau. There is the alarming fact that more than 60 percent of our total fish stock is gone.

“The wild fish are gone,” he says. “Some of them, like the blue fin tuna, are going extinct right in front of our eyes. It comes down to education and getting people to understand the enormity of the problem.”

Most of the problem, Cousteau says, comes from actions taken over the past 50 years. “I tell people I’m ashamed of my generation,” he says. “It’s awful what we have not done when we’ve had the power to do it. But the good news is that it’s not too late. We have precious little time, but we must turn the boat around. We can’t wait till tomorrow, for government and business to start making decisions for us.”

Cousteau is convinced that progress is possible – one person at a time.

“We’re at a critical stage here, and we can’t hit the snooze button one more time,” he says. “We’re in big trouble. The problem is much more enormous than what people talk about. But if we talk about enormity, the average person shuts down. How do we get the message across? How do we get people energized to do something about it?”

We all contribute to the problem, but we can all contribute to the solution, he says. “People protect what they love, but how can they protect what they don’t understand? Part of the reason as explorers we share our experiences with others is so that they can have a better understanding of what’s going on out there,” he says. “And by educating people, we can create positive change.”

Fabien Cousteau / Jan. 14, 7 p.m.

taries that highlight ordinary people creating and protecting their special places – “The Unforeseen” comes to mind as an example in this category,” she wrote. “The second type of movie is the one that distills a complex issue through clever use of narrative, photography, and animation. ‘King Corn’ is a fine example. These movies educate and inform.”

For Tom Adelman, the most memorable PEFF moments came not during films, but during panel discussions. “Though I come for a film, I end up accidentally sitting through a preceding panel discussion or a follow-up talk that quite often carries more lasting impact,” he wrote. “I think it’s because the live talk at the festival becomes quite energized, with the air so full of cinematic scenarios and statistical surprises, and random ideas flying around the room. … To me, the films at the PEFF set the stage for a series of rich community exchanges and learning sessions that makes Princeton in January feel positively urban.”

Conlon has narrowed a list of films to recommend from the festival’s’ first four years, and they are available in the library’s lending collection: “The Chances of the World Changing” and “Grizzly Man” from 2007; “The Unforeseen,”

“Manufactured Landscapes” and “King Corn” from 2008; “Burning the Future: Coal in America” in 2009; “Earth Days,” “No Impact Man,” “A Sea Change,” “Red Gold,” “Division Street,” and “Milking the Rhino” in 2010.

A full collection of DVDs from the PEFF is available for checkout. A search of the library’s catalog using keyworld PEFF shows a list of available films, many of which have public performance and/or educational license to be shown in schools and by non-profit organizations. The library and the Whole Earth Center of Princeton have once again teamed up to encourage people to check out the films and invite friends and family for pot-luck dinner screenings, check out a PEFF DVD, and receive a coupon to redeem at Whole Earth Center for $1 discount on groceries. Films can be checked out for a week.

“We started this program this year to encourage people to see films they liked, or ones they missed at the festival,” says Conlon, “and to encourage ongoing dialogue about the films and environmental issues.”

A complete schedule of films and presentations is available online at www.princetonlibrary.org/peff.

Enrichment EVENTS 13

Chinese New Year Celebration

Sustainable Princeton Awards Who are Princeton’s sustainability leaders? At this awards program, meet and talk to the 2010 Sustainable Princeton Leadership Award recipients.

These individuals are living and working in our community focusing on areas such as green building, healthy eating, buying local and much more.

Jan. 26, 7 p.m.

C

elebrate the lunar new year with ShwuFen Lin, instructor of Mandarin

with the Princeton Regional

TALK ABOUT IT

Schools, along with members

Witherspoon-Jackson Genealogy Group The group meets monthly to share ideas, listen to speakers and get beginners started with researching the history of families who lived in Princeton’s historic Witherspoon-Jackson community.

All interested in the history of this community or in African American genealogy are invited to attend.

Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

of local Chinese cultural groups.

Continuing Conversations on Race Members of Not In Our Town, the Princeton-based interracial and interfaith social action group, facilitate these discussions of race-related issues of relevance to our community and nation.

Dec. 6, Jan. 3, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

Conference Room

Noodle Talk Alan Goldsmith’s conversation game is designed to enrich interpersonal relationships through stimulating discussion of life experiences. It all begins when participants select a paper strip (“noodle”) from a container. Each noodle holds one or two questions. There are no right or wrong answers in these resulting discussions; just the truth of experience.

Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.

Quiet Room

Socrates Café In the spirit of Socrates’ belief that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” participants seek wisdom and knowledge through interactive discussion, questioning, and presenting multiple perspectives on topics of interest to the group. Everyone is invited.

Dec. 28, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, 7 p.m.

Conference Room

Scrapbooking Circle Assembling a scrapbook takes time and space to spread out. Both are offered at the monthly meetings of the Scrapbooking Circle. The library supplies a cropping station; scrapbookers bring their own books, photos and other supplies. A consultant is on hand at some of the sessions.

Dec. 19, Jan. 16, Feb. 20, 1 p.m.

Registration is recommended. Call 609.924.9529, ext. 220

Performances of music and dance, hands-on crafts and sample foods are all part of this two-hour observance.

Feb. 26, 2 p.m.

AARP Tax-Aide Program Seniors and people of low and moderate incomes can get free electronic tax preparation for federal and New Jersey state returns at the library on Monday mornings, from Feb. 7 to April 11. This assistance is for individual returns only.

The AARP Tax-Aide program does not handle complex returns such as those involving partnership interests (K-1s), businesses (Schedule C), or international work permits.

For best results, bring a copy of last year’s return, as well as documentation for current year income and expenses.

These should be official documents for income (a W-2, 1099, Social Security Year-End report or retirement account statement). For deductions, such as medical expenses and charitable donations, add up and bring a list of all the expenses for which you can provide receipts or other backup, if ever asked by the IRS. Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11

American Red Cross Blood Drive Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. More than 38,000 blood donations are necessary every day. If you are at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and are in good general health, you can do your part by donating blood in this six-hour event conducted by the American Red Cross.

Jan. 25, 10 a.m.

Appointments are preferred. Contact Susan Conlon at (609) 924-9529 ext. 247 or sign up at www.pleasegiveblood.org/ donate.

To schedule an appointment, please call 609.924.9529, ext. 220. Appointments are typically scheduled hourly between 9 a.m. and noon.

ENGAGED RETIREMENT Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Senior Resource Center, these seminars are designed to help make the transition to retirement or another major life change easier to navigate. Conference Room, second floor.

Take Care of Yourself This Holiday Season Fay Reiter, Professional Wellness Coach leads this session on holiday eating, fitting exercise into your schedule, coping with holiday blues, and managing stress. Reiter will discuss strategies for celebrating this special season without compromising your health.

Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

Downsize Your Possessions With Ease Ellen Tozzi of Natural Order Design is a professional organizer who will guide participants through the sometimes-emotional process of streamlining. She will share strategies on deciding what to keep and provide resources for the items to be released.

Jan. 11, 7 p.m.

FAQs About Money Ravi Ravindranath, Andy Petrone & Donna Sasson of Petrone Associates will answer some frequently asked questions about managing your money in requirement. Bring your own questions for this Q&A session.

Feb. 8, 7 p.m.

14 EVENTS Enrichment

Jean Baur The author will discuss her new book “Eliminated! Now What? Finding Your Way from Job-Loss Crisis to Career Resilience,” which deals with the emotions associated with job loss and reinforces key concepts, through case studies, about real people who rebounded from sudden unemployment.

Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday Networking Breakfasts

Jill Foster

Join fellow job seekers for networking and some assistance with the search. This group is for those who are currently unemployed, under-employed or seeking to make a career or job change. Each month will feature a guest speaker and an open discussion time on a relevant topic. At 10 a.m., there will be time in the Tech Center for the group to use the library’s databases and get assistance with technology.

Jim Donovan presents “This is Your Life, Not a Dress Rehearsal: Proven Principles for Creating the Life of your Dreams.” Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m.

Karen Tombacher presents “The Critical Cover Letter.” Jan. 18, 8:30 a.m.

Abby Kohut presents “Using LinkedIn to Connect and Create Career Opportunities” Feb. 22, 8:30 a.m.

TEDWomen @TEDxPrincetonLibrary

Our TEDx event, which has the theme “Women and Technology in the Age of Conversation,” will feature keynote speaker Jill Foster of Live Your Talk. We are a licensed site for the TEDWomen Conference and will be livestreaming the conference from Washington, D.C. Foster, a social tech enthusiast and the co-founder of DC Media Makers will lead the evening session at the SCORE EVENTS library. Founding editor of the blog community Women Grow BusiCounseling Service ness, she has been cited by ForThe mostly retired executives and small business owners of the Princeton Chapter besWomen as one of 30 women are available three hours each weekday for by-appointment counseling sessions for to follow on Twitter. Other speakers will include individuals who are considering starting a new business or are in business and are DEC. 7, 2 entrepreneurs P.M. - 9 P.M. & DEC. 8, 8 A.M. - 1 P.M. Katie DeVito, founder of NJinUnemployed; Hilary Morris of NJMyOur TEDx event, which has the theme “Women and Technology the Age of seeking advice. All counseling is free and confidential. Call 609.393.0505 to schedule Conversation,” will feature keynote speaker Jill Foster of Live Your Talk. We are a Melissa Klepacki PrincetonScoop; and Holly Landau of licensed site forWay; the TEDWomen Conference and will be of livestreaming the confera session. ence from Washington, D.C. Foster, a social tech enthusiast and the co-founder Landau Leadership.

Sarah Donner will provide music on Dec. 7. of DC Media Makers will lead the evening session at the library. Founding editor Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, 10 a.m. of the blog community Business, she has been cited by ForbesDec.Women 7, 2-9Grow p.m.

Tower Room, second floor.

Women as one of 30 women entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Other speakers Dec. 8 a.m. toUnemployed; 4 p.m. Hilary Morris of NJMyWay; will include Katie DeVito,8,founder of NJ

Seminars Advertising Your Small Business

Melissa Klepacki of PrincetonScoop; and Holly Landau Landau Leadership.

Registration is required.

Pleaseofvisit www.princetonlibrary.org Sarah Donner will provide music on Dec. 7.

to register.

Co-sponsored by the library, Mrs. G TV and Appliances, Monday Morning Flowers and Princeton Tour Company.

Featuring keynote speaker Jill Foster

Founding editor of Women Grow Business blog community This is a user-friendly presentation on how to make your advertising budget pay off.

You will learn the basic principles of how to create sales-generating ads across all media sources, from printed ads to television to the web, plus advice on how and where to spend your advertising dollars. Regardless of the size of your business, TUESDAY TECHNOLOGY TALKS or whether you are in business or just thinking about starting one, this is a real StaffIS Picks REGISTRATION REQUIREDNight opportunity to get a jump on the competition.

Visit http://tedxprincetonlibrary.wordpress.com/ registration.

Join the library staff asfor they reveal their search secrets, favorite Dec. 15, 6:45 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the library, Mrs. G TV and Appliances, Monday Morning websites, and other top picks from the Internet.

Flowers and Princeton Tour Company.

Social Media for Small Business Jan 4, 7 p.m.

Dr. Brinda Wiita will speak about the use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkenIn and Social Media Panel other social media to promote small business. Dr. Wiita is the executive director At this lively and interactive session, several social media of technology transfer and evaluation in business development for a global enthusiasts will share their best practices for making the most pharmaceutical firm. Her responsibilities include technology identification, of social media to communicate and engage. Panelists are Kristin evaluation, licensing and acquisition, and research collaborations. She manages a Weinstein, communications manager of the Special Olympics; website for submission of patented and patent-pending opportunities that may be Georgianne Vinicombe, owner of Monday Flowers; Stacey Katz, commercialized by a major pharmaceutical company and its affliliates. Dr. Wiita is Exit 8 Real Estate on Facebook; Khurt Williams, senior advisor, a neuroendocrinologist and pharmacologist with academic and industry research Information Security at Bristol-Myers Squibb; Kathy Magrino, experience in women’s health and mental health. writer, editor and marketing consultant; and Jeff Edelstein, Jan. 10, 6:45 p.m.

Trentonian columnist.

Financial Accounting and Financial Projections Feb. 1, 7 p.m.

Retired CPA Leon Petelle will cover accounting basics for the non-accountant small business person, basic tax considerations when starting/operating your small business, how to financially plan for, and then manage, your small business, and practical considerations for maintaining monthly financial records.

Feb. 7, 6:45 p.m.

The weather outside might get frightful, so our market vendors are coming in from the cold for the winter months.

Workshop Stop by the Community Room to sample locally made Quickbooks products such as artisanal cheeses, honey, and selected This free, hands-on workshop conducted by Oria Gonzales, a certified Quickbooks produce before the market returns to Hinds Plaza in May. trainer, is co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Area Chapter of SCORE. Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 11, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m.

Princeton Public Library | 65 Witherspoon St. | 609.924.9529

Indoor Farmers Market

Registration is limited and must be done through SCORE’s website: www.scoreprinceton.org.

Teens EVENTS 15

In what has become a tradition for talented teenage singers, we will welcome vocal groups from the four high schools in Princeton to this annual event. The singers take turns displaying their vocal prowess at this fun evening.The library extends its regular Friday hours for A Cappella Night, which is open only to students attending Princeton high schools.

Dec. 3, 7 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the library and Corner House.

Game On!

Children and teens can drop in to play board and video games and pingpong for 90 minutes on Friday afternoons after school.

Dec. 3, 10, 17; Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28; Feb 11, 18, 25, 4 p.m.

Third Floor

Special Super Bowl Edition of Game On! This special edition of Game On is geared toward the Super Bowl.

Football-themed video games, a pingpong tournament and a sports trivia game are planned as part of the fun.

Feb. 4, 4 p.m.

A CAPPELLA NIGHT

CALL FOR ENTRIES Eighth Annual Princeton Student Film & Video Festival Students in high school and college or up to age 24 are invited to submit their original short films of 20 minutes or less total running time for consideration for the annual festival. Those whose films are selected will be invited to introduce and talk about their work during the two nights of the festival.

Details and an entry form are available at www.princetonlibrary.org/teens Submission deadline: June 21 Festival dates: July 20-21

Movie Club

This monthly program is for middle and high school students interested in making movies.

Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.

Go Between Club

Participants in grades 6-8 meet monthly at the library to talk about reading and other interests, help with library events, plan programs and have a say in library services. Healthy snacks are provided and new people are welcome.

Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.

Conference Room

Count Me In — Plus

Last summer’s “Count Me In” math program for girls was such a success that the library has decided to follow it up with additional sessions. Girls in grades 7 and over are invited to join teacher Annie Rorem for three-hour sessions to explore the fun, the curious, the interesting, and the amazing aspects of math not necessarily covered in ordinary classwork. Rorem is a 2003 graduate of Princeton High School and has a master’s degree in mathematics from Wesleyan University. She teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math and science at St. Paul’s School.

Dec. 11; Jan. 8, 1 p.m.

Please register for each session separately by visiting the events calendar at www.princetonlibrary.org It is not necessary to attend all sessions.

16 EVENTS Children

MUSIC FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Wendy Zoffer This local musician has always loved singing for preschoolers.

She wrote “Grady the Duck” and “Jolly, Jolly Baby” when her own kids were small, and has continued composing songs throughout the years. She will present a family music program based on her recently released children’s CD, “Sing Me a Day.” Dec. 28, 10:30 a.m.

GIVE ME A BREAK Programs for winter vacation

The Gingerbread Man

Run, run as fast as you can to the Gingerbread Man story time and craft project.

Dec. 27, 2:30 p.m.

The Mitten

Listen to the famous story about the expanding mitten, then decorate your own.

Dec. 28, 2:30 p.m.

The Warmest Season

Contrary to popular belief, winter is the warmest season and we have the book and craft to show it.

Dec. 29, 2:30 p.m.

Penguins

Penguins don’t mind the cold. Neither will the one you make after hearing our story.

Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m.

FUN WITH PAPER These Saturday afternoon workshops are for grades three and up. Space is limited to 20 per session. Registration is required online.

Create a Calendar

Linda Willimer from Stampin’ Up will teach us how to make an attractive calendar using paper, stamps, and a CD case.

This personalized calendar can be a unique holiday gift for someone on your list.

Dec. 11, 1:30 p.m.

Origami Gift Boxes

Make your own gift boxes and “upcycle” using materials such as magazine covers and wallpaper scraps. Laural Kruskal and other members of the Princeton Origami group will be on hand to demonstrate. Each participant will make at least two boxes.

Jan. 29, 1:30 p.m.

BFF Scrapbook Page In this animated Pixar film, Woody, Buzz and the gang are back, with the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Michael Keaton.

As Andy prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare, of all places. The untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so the

Great Escape plans get under way. A few new faces join the adventure, including Barbie’s counterpart Ken, a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants and a pink strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear.

Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m.

Bring in 6-8 photos of you and your BFF(s) and make a scrapbook page dedicated to your friendship. Karen Sue of the Princeton Scrapbooking Circle will lead the class.

Feb. 19, 1:30 p.m.

17 SATURDAY AFTERNOON FILM SERIES “Where the Wild Things Are”

Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker star in Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story about Max, a disobedient little boy who is sent to bed without his supper. Max creates an imaginary forest world populated by the wild things, exotic monsters and ferocious creatures who embrace him as their ruler.

Dec. 18, 4 p.m.

“Despicable Me”

In this animated feature with voices by Steve Carell, Jason Segel and, Kristen Wiig, the action takes place in a happy, suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences. A black house with a dead lawn has a vast secret hideout underneath.

Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru planning the biggest heist in the history of the world: He is going to steal the moon.

Jan. 8, 4 p.m.

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”

This animated feature has voices by Andy Samberg, Anna Faris and James Caan.

Based on the children’s book of the same name, the adventure story follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger, only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance.

Jan. 29, 4 p.m.

“Alice in Wonderland”

World Story Festival: Africa Grab your passport and your suitcase and prepare to be transported to Africa in this special event cosponsored by the library and the Cotsen Children’s Library of Princeton University. Meet friends from the university’s Princeton African Students Association and Voices of Africa, and visit their land by touring colorful displays, taking part in hands-on projects, and more. The event culminates with storyteller Tahira as she performs the African folktale, “The Gift of Song.”

Feb. 12, 2 p.m.

Oh Snap!

This photography workshop is designed to teach parents how to take better pictures of their children. Focusing on concepts easily put into practice, Kim Schmidt will talk about lighting, composition, perspective and age-appropriate techniques.

Schmidt is the owner of Kim Schmidt Photography LLC, and does natural-light, onlocation photography in the area. Participants will receive a handout with quick tips and notes. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Feb. 5, 10 a.m.

Please register from the online events calendar at www.princetonlibrary.org

Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter lead the cast of this Disney Studios 2010 release, directed by Tim Burton. Burton has his own, unique take on the classic Lewis Carroll story about a girl named Alice, who falls down a rabbit-hole into a fantasy realm populated by talking playing cards, the raging Red Queen and a stark raving Mad Hatter.

Feb. 19, 4 p.m.

Build It

In this series for children ages 8 and older, Princeton University engineering students will teach basic principles of engineering using fun tools such as LEGO Mindstorms robotic kits.

Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 7 p.m.

CLUBS

Unless otherwise noted, all clubs meet in the Conference Room, second floor.

Heads and Tales Children in second and third grades are invited to join the club and share their love of books with their classmates at monthly meetings.

Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m.

Word for Word This is where fourth and fifth graders can discuss what they are reading and get suggestions from other kids who love to read.

Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, 2:30 p.m.

Origami Club Anyone with a passion for paper folding is invited to meet for 90 minutes of new and interesting, often seasonal folding. Beginners are welcome. The club is not just for kids; adults are invited too.

In fact, an adult must accompany anyone under the age of 7.

Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.

Home-School Book Discussion Club Home-schooled children ages 7-9 meet to discuss the very best in children’s books.

Dec. 17, Jan. 14, Feb 18, 9:15 a.m. (ages 7-9), 10:30 a.m. (ages 10-12) Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. (ages 13-15)

Registration is required. For more information please contact Pamela Groves at 609.924,9529, ext 244.

Manga/Graphic Novels Club Readers ages 12 to 18 who delight in Manga and other graphic novels discuss their favorites.

Dec. 5, Jan. 22, Feb. 19, time to be announced

18 SPOTLIGHT Centennial Weekend

10.9.10

The gala party that inaugurated Princeton Public Library’s centennial weekend on Saturday, Oct. 9 was a sold-out, smashing success that exceeded everyone’s expectations. After attending a witty, informative lecture at Nassau Presbyterian Church by National Public Radio personality Terry Gross, partygoers ambled down Witherspoon Street to the library to begin celebrations under the lavishly decorated tent on Hinds Plaza. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served, followed by a gourmet dinner at tables on all three floors of the building. A silent auction of one-of-a-kind works by Princeton notables, plus more dancing and socializing in the tent, ended this historic evening on a high note.

19

10.10.10

The community turned out en masse for the library’s 10.10.10 all-day birthday party, continuing the weekend’s celebration both inside the building and outside, under the tent on Hinds Plaza. The fun began in the morning with a 5K Run and continued a few hours later with musical appearances

by Princeton High School’s Studio Band and a cappella groups, Princeton Girlchoir, children’s entertainer Joel Frankel, Princeton Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble, members of the American Boychoir, and Chris Harford and the Band of Changes.

At the end of the day, the elaborately decorated birthday cake created by Three Tiers Cake Studio was cut and served. Cupcakes baked by Vikki Hilton and Chris Houwen of McCaffrey’s Market; La Bella Cakery; The Whole Earth Center Bakery; and Jen’s Cakes & Pastries supplemented the slices of cake, and everything was gobbled up by enthusiastic celebrants.

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PA I D Princeton, NJ Permit No. 4

Executive Director: Leslie Burger Assistant Director: Peter Bromberg Programming Coordinator: Janie Hermann Youth Services Manager: Jan Johnson Public Information Director: Tim Quinn Princeton Public Library Sands Library Building 65 Witherspoon St. Princeton, NJ 08542 609.924.9529 princetonlibrary.org

Program Committee: Lucía Acosta, Leslie Burger, Susan Conlon, Kristin Friberg, Pamela Groves, Romina Gutierrez, Janie Hermann, Jan Johnson, Terri Nelson, Tim Quinn, Allison Santos, Barbara Silberstein Staff Writer: Anne Levin Illustrations: Lauren Acevedo

Frıends of the

Princeton Public Library

Editing and design: Tim Quinn

20 EVENTS Enrichment

“A Seat For Rosa”

This performance chronicles the day civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks took her epic stand for equality and justice. Through Mrs. Parks’ impassioned account of that moment, and the incidents that led up to it, a young person receives strength to face his own fear, in the form of a bully. This musical program by Yearning to Learn also reveals significant events in the struggle for constitutional rights and human dignity for all Americans.

Feb. 6, 3 p.m.

Farming In and Around Princeton: Past, Present, Future

It wasn’t so long ago that Princeton was surrounded by farms and countryside. With those days in mind, the library’s Community Room will showcase an all-day exhibit of old photographs, maps, documents, newspaper articles, and testimonies about the farm and families who worked the land. At 7:30 p.m., soil enthusiast and Princeton Farmers Market manager Judith Robinson will lead a panel discussion by a local historian, a 10th-generation farmer, a native species consultant, and a new farmer.

Jan. 10, 11 a.m.

Handsome Molly The local Molly Dancing ensemble will return to the library for a Plough Monday performance as part of the Farming In and Around Princeton. Molly dancing is associated with Plough Monday, the first Monday after the Epiphany, when young farmhands in East Anglia, some dressed as women (mollies), would sing and performing dances that satirized those of the gentry. Based in Princeton, Handsome Molly performs traditional English molly dances, as well as contemporary molly dances with an American flair. In more than a dozen years of performing, the troupe has danced at festivals and street celebrations throughout the U.S. and in England and Canada.

Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Farmers Market moves indoors for winter... Page 14

Jonathan Adler

The New Jersey-born interior designer, whose company Jonathan Adler Design creates pottery, fabric, furniture, and more, is well-known from his appearances on Bravo TV as well as the stores bearing his name in several U.S. cities. Adler is also an author.

At this event, he will sign copies of his latest book and talk about his life, career and unique style. He might even quote from his company’s manifesto, which includes statements such as, “We believe our lamps will make you look younger and thinner,” and “We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.”

Feb. 9, 4 p.m.