On Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Dan Clark, the “Singing Trooper,” and his wife, opera singer Mary Colarusso, will perform a free concert of Irish songs in the Keys Community Room (lower level) of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton, MA  02186.  Admission is free and the event is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Library.

Dan Clark has performed in uniform in many, many venues while representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during his 20-year career.   During his tenure with the State Police, he performed at more than 2500 events for Federal, State, Local and Military functions.   He sang 26 foreign National Anthems, in native dialect, for visiting dignitaries and sporting events.   He also could be heard on “Radio Disney” as Trooper Dan” while promoting safety for children.

Mary Colarusso, a coloratura soprano, is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, holding a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance.  Since graduation, she has been the lead soprano for both the Lowell Opera and Boston Bel Canto Opera companies, where she performed her title roles of Violetta in La Traviata and Gilda in Rigoletto.   She has also performed with the Boston Classical Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony, and was featured by Joyce Kulhaywick on her Channel 5 WCVB Arts and Entertainment segment.   Mary currently appears in concert with her husband to audiences around the nation.  In the Fall of 2005, Mary and Dan performed for former President and First Lady George and Barbara Bush as part of their efforts during the Bush-Clinton Katrina Relief.   She has also sang the National Anthem for the NE Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Marathon, and aboard the USS Constitution.

Speakers and storytellers!  Join us for a rip-roaring Story Slam with host Andrea Lovett, and the theme is “Believe It or Not.”  The event is free.  Sign up that night at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 25 in the Keys Community Room of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton 02186.  Admission is free to the public and sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Library.

Bring your storytelling A game!  Ever wear a beard of bees?  How about a climb up Mt. Washington in a pair of socks?  It’s a chance to share your funny, quirky or unbelievable tale.  Storytellers will have five minutes to hold their listeners spellbound and prizes will be awarded.  Trivia and refreshments! This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.  Guest judges will include Bob Halloran of SportsCenter 5 and Steve Collier, a popular English teacher at Milton High School.

Enjoy a fascinating documentary, Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution starting promptly at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 23 in the Keys Community Room of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton 02186.  Admission is free to the public.

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles made a statement of its own: a fashion statement.  The legendary event pitted the five lions of French couture – Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pierre Cardin with five American designers, Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass –  and created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, race, business and catwalks.  When African American models Bethann Hardison, Pat Celeveland, Alva Chinn, Billie Blair, Noram Jean Darden, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina Warsuma boarded the plan to Paris, they had no idea they would help change the course of fashion and pull off its biggest coup.  Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution tells this story.  This is a free screening and is open to all.  The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

It’s time for the Big Reveal for Milton Reads’ 2015 book selection:

This year the entire town of Milton will be reading The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.

A current non-fiction best seller, The Boys in the Boat tells the story of the men who rowed crew for the 1936 US Olympic team in the Games of the XI Olympiad. The individual stories of each man on the crew and their composite team strength is set against the backdrop of World War II.

“This book is one of our most requested and most popular,” says Sally Lawler, part of the Library staff and a member of the Milton Reads committee. “And Milton loves the sport of rowing!” Library director Will Adamczyk explains, “the many themes, the terrific story, and the timeliness all make this book engaging reading, and it’s the best of sports writing.”

The United States almost didn’t compete in the controversial 1936 Olympics held in Nazi-ruled Berlin, because the games were positioned by that government to demonstrate ideological and real power. The games were boycotted by some countries. In the United States, some Jewish organizations recommended boycotting and African American groups favored going for the gold to prove a point. That’s the same Olympics where Jesse Owens won four gold medals in track events.

During March, a variety of fun programs for all ages and interests will be part of Milton Reads.

And what happened to those 9 men in their boat? Well… get over to the library and check out the book. Multiple copies of The Boys in the Boat is available to check out at the library; it is also a terrific audio book. Milton Reads is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Library.

During the months of February, March and April, artist Miriam Wotiz will display her oil and watercolor paintings at the Milton Public Library. Her works have been described as spontaneous, striking and luminous, and she interprets, rather than imitates, scenes from nature.  Her paintings capture the fleeting effects of light and color and allow the viewer to participate in the visual experience. During the three-month exhibit, a few works by her son, Howard Lizotte, will be included.  His works are “encaustic paintings” which are works in pigmented wax.  Enjoy the free exhibit on the Main Floor of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA  02186.  For more information, visit the library’s event section of the library’s website.  (miltonlibrary.org)

Mrs. Miriam Wotiz’s paintings are in permanent collections of U.S. senior corporate officers and are included in private collections in London, Tokyo, Lisbon and St. Maarten.  She is listed in the book Artists of New England.

Ms. Wotiz is a magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, and has received numerous awards and has exhibited her paintings in solo and juried shows throughout Massachusetts and Maine.  She was invited to display her watercolors at the opening of the Milton Art Museum and served as an artist-in-residence at the American Heart Association’s annual fund-raising event, “Art for Heart.”  Miriam belongs to the North Shore Arts Association, the Concord Art Association and the Western Maine Art Group.

She was on the Advisory Council and former Treasurer of the Milton Art Association and past President of the Canton Art Association.  She is also a member of the Professional Affiliated Artists of the Milton Art Museum.

For more information about displaying your art at the library, contact Jean Hlady, Adult Services Librarian, (Reference Department) at (617) 698-5757.”

Will your favorite movie win? The envelope, please! Movie critics Ty Burr and Janice Page of The Boston Globe return with lively banter and predictions for the popular “Handicapping The Oscars.” On Thursday, February 19, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Keys Community Room of the Milton Public Library, The Boston Globe film critics for Movie Nation will discuss the likely winners for this year’s Academy Awards.  Find out how your favorite movie may fare.  Overflow parking at Town Hall across from the library.

Ty Burr’s book, Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame will be available for sale and autographing. With brilliant insight and entertaining examples, Burr reveals the fame game at its flashiest, most indulgent, occasionally most tragic, and ultimately it’s most culturally revealing.

The event is sponsored by The Friends of the Milton Public Library and is free to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.miltonlibrary.org or contact Jean Hlady, 617 697-5757.

In honor of Black History month, enjoy the film, “Fruitvale Station” starting promptly at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 12 in the Keys Community Room of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton 02186.  Admission is free to the public.

This is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler and it is his first feature-length movie.  It is based on the events leading to the death of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old young man from Hayward, CA and his experiences on the last day of his life before he was fatally shot by BART police in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009.  This is a tragic true story which should not be missed. The production debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film.  Forest Whitaker is one of the film’s producers.  This film received critical acclaim upon its release and earned other awards.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.