cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 9
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Library talk: World War I, segregation, censorship and a nation at a crossroads By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
A world war was a conflict Americans were not eager to engage in, nevertheless, Connecticut played a big part even before the United States officially declared war in April 1917. This was the first world war. Jen Busa from the Connecticut Historical Society talked about the state’s involvement in a Cheshire Public Library Zoom presentation Feb. 25, called “Facing War: Connecticut in WWI.” The state’s General Assembly ordered a war census that was the foundation for the logistics of personnel, machinery and supplies at
Daniel W. Storms, Jr., of Stamford, was a private in Company A of the 15th New York Regiment. He was among several Black residents of Connecticut who served in World War 1.
hand. Librarian Kathleen Larkin noted that the census at that time asked whether members in the household could swim, drive a car, or ride a horse. The war census served as the earliest framework for the national Selective Service. Throughout the U.S., 2.8 million men were drafted and two million men voluntarily enlisted. In Connecticut, 60,000 men served in the U.S. forces with about 3,000 serving the Allied forces. Once America declared war, Gov. Holcomb,a Southington resident, created the Council of Defense, to establish and coordinate war boards in each town, organizing loan drives,
National Archives
See WWI, A4
Library metrics reflect new paradigm for services The Cheshire Public Library’s take and make craft program, that prepares kits for patrons to take home, is just one of the ways the libary has adapted services during the pandemic. Joy VanderLek, The Cheshire Citizen
Cheshire Adult Education During the COVID quarantine last year, the
By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
library closed its doors for a time. Circula-
Enrichment classes are forming tion material check-outs now! dropped 48%, but As COVID’s one-year milestone is reached since partially reopening in September, this March, there have been so many those numbers have quickly rebounded, Upcoming Online Classes:
changes to daily routines. Along with evsaid CPL Director Beth Crowley. eryone else, the Cheshire Public Library On theSpices, upside, library card registrations has made changes to its operations, as the and Cooking with Herbs PSAT Prep, have increased to 13,533 for Cheshire resistaff, facility and programs adapt. While dents this year. That’sSeminar, up 17 percent. DigiLevel Selling some servicesAlbanian have slowed down, others1, Home tal content materials have skyrocketed. have gotten a boost during this era of restrictions. Instant Piano and Guitar Lessons, Balloon
See Metrics, A2 Twisting, and Replacement Window Workshop
Enrichment classes are forming now! Upcoming Online Classes:
Cooking with Herbs and Spices, PSAT Prep, Albanian Level 1, Home Selling Seminar, Instant Piano and Guitar Lessons, Balloon Twisting, and Replacement Window Workshop COME AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW! For more information, call (203) 250-2450 or visit
COME AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW! For more information, call (203) 250-2450 or visit www.cheshire.k12.ct.us/district-departments/adult-education.
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Cheshire Adult Education