Throughout May, enjoy the paintings by two local painters: Lee Hoey and Jennie Terminiello.  Flowers, landscapes, Italian scenes, and different subjects are done in acrylics and other mediums.  The exhibit is located in the Wotiz Gallery of the main floor of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton.  The exhibit is free and is sponsored by The Friends of the Milton Library.

On May 5, enjoy a free and open reception for the artists from 6-8 p.m. in the Wotiz Gallery.

Now about the artists!

Lee Hoey is a former Fine Arts teacher at Fontbonne Academy, and Jennie Terminiello  studied acrylics with her.  Lee is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, was voted “Teacher of the Year 1989, Golden Apple Award, Boston Globe,” is a Master of Decorative Painting, and has taken continuing education classes in art.  She is a resident of Milton and has lectured many times at various chapters of the Society of Decorative Painters, Painting, Gardening, Interior Design & Gourmet Cooking.  She also started out as a mural artist for businesses in Boston, which supported her during her college years, and is a scrimshaw artist, and interior designer, having lectured about murals and furniture design.  She is also a member of several educational societies and committees.  Jennie took lessons from watercolorist Allen Chambers as well as studying with other art teachers, and is also a resident of Milton.

This is what Lee has to say about her work with older art students: “I was thrilled to see that an artist over 85 years old, still creating, won a prize in the over 60 competition in March 2016.  What thrills me even more and fills my heart with joy is to watch my students, all over 60 years old, stand back and take in what they have accomplished.  The expressive charge behind each painting or drawing adds a touch of magic to their efforts and it surprises them immensely.  We are always being told that it is too much effort to learn anything new, especially when we are convinced erroneously that art is a talent only certain people have.  Anyone can learn to draw or paint and yes, it may take a different kind of lesson plan for some, but it is totally possible and it is a wonderfully healthy tool for our well-being and confidence.  We are never too old!  I am so very proud of each person I teach and our brains are still growing with life giving knowledge.”

For more information about displaying your art at the library, contact Jean Hlady, Adult Services Librarian, at (617) 698-5757, x. 3.

Our ongoing programs in May will include “Coloring for Adults” on Sunday, the 16 at 2 PM.

On Wednesday, May 25 at 7 PM,  Library Director Will Adamczyk will host his “Eclectic Book Club.”  The book to read in advance is Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  It is a dystopian science fiction novel, shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize.  Please come join him for a fascinating discussion, and copies of the book are available to reserve by calling the Reference Dept. at (617) 698-5757, x. 3.

Also our drop-in workshop “Knitting with Nina” continues on both Thursday, May 5 at 7 PM and Saturday, May 29 at 10 AM.  And Will Adamczyk offers his “First Friday Book Chat” on the 6^th at 11 AM.

All programs are held in the Keys Community Room except the book groups, knitting and coloring which are in the lower level Conference Room.  These programs are generously supported by the Friends of the Milton Public Library and are free and open to the public.  Call (617) 698-5757, x. 3 or check www.miltonlibrary.org.

Arias and art songs in English and four languages and classical music will delight concert goers on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. downstairs at the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue.  Performing will be Milton pianist Judy Cobble and tenor Joel Davidson. Some examples are Neapolitan songs, French popular songs, and art songs by Faure, Schubert, and Beethoven.  Don’t miss this free concert, co-sponsored The Friends of the Milton Public Library and The Milton Woman’s Club.

Mr. Joel Davidson is an attorney and a graduate of Milton Academy. He has a Certificate in Jewish Liturgical Music from hebrew College and serves as High Holiday Cantor at Congregation Ahavas Sholom in Saugus, MA.  He is also organist at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester and is a classical pianist.  Joel sings in many foreign languages, including Yiddish, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Hebrew.

Ms. Cobble has been accompanying singers, instrumentalists and choruses on the South Shore for many years, as well as being the pianist/director of musicals for theatre groups.  She has a Bachelors of Music from DePauw University and did graduate study at Boston University in Musicology.  She has also sung in many choral groups, and her favorite composers for the piano are Mozart, Chopin and Debussy.  Please come and listen to an enjoyable presentation of beautiful pieces by the masters.   

Help girls to gain a positive self-image and to learn to communicate on social media in better ways –  great program for mothers and daughters.  On Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Milton Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton, learn from “Media Girls,” a Boston based non-profit that gives girls the skills to critique media messaging, and to create content that lifts up girls and women.  Do you have a young blogger in the family?  “Media Girls” publish participants’ work on its  blog and blasts it into the world with their social media.  Their vision is to help girls understand their worth comes from who they are internally, and from what they contribute to the world.  This program is free and is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

Get ready for warm weather exploration!  On Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Kevin Rogers, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands, will give a one-hour talk in the Keys Community Room, lower level at the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton. The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

The harbor islands call out with a sense of mystery and lure transmitted to each individual in a special way.  Come find your place on the islands – it could change your life!  This group offers boat tours, lectures, meetings and social gatherings all related to the islands.  Mr. Rogers will give an interesting overview of the area and the services provided there.  Come and enjoy learning more about this fun place to visit.

The Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands have expanded educational, environmental, and recreational opportunities in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area.  They have provided volunteer service to the islands since 1979 and they give visitors information about the area through interpretive tours, educational programming and a welcoming preesence on the islands.

Enjoy the latest free film offered through the Library’s “Tuesday Night at the Movies” series. On Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Milton Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton, the movie, “Everest”, is inspired by the incredible true events surrounding the attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain.  “Everest” documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits in one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.

This movie is exciting, thrilling, and will move viewers. “Everest” stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, and more.  It’s rated PG-13 for intense peril and disturbing images and is 2 hrs, 2 min in length.

The movie is free to the public and is sponsored by The Friends of the Milton Public Library.

Mystery lovers! Come meet two great suspense authors on May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Milton Public Library, lower level, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton.  Hallie Ephron and Hank Philippi Ryan will entertain with insights into their award winning books. The event is free to the public and is sponsored by The Friends of the Milton Public Library. Book sales and signing will follow the event.

Milton resident Hallie Ephron’s latest book,  “Night Night, Sleep Tight”  is a Mary Higgins Clark awards finalist.  Story line:  Los Angeles 1986: When Deirdre Unger arrived in Beverly Hills to help her bitter, disappointed father sell his dilapidated house, she discovers his lifeless body floating face down in the swimming pool. At first, Deirdre assumes her father’s death was a tragic accident. But the longer she stays in town, the more she suspects that it is merely the third act in a story that has long been in the making. The sudden re-surfacing of Deirdre’s childhood best friend Joelen Nichol—daughter of the legendary star Elenor “Bunny” Nichol—seems like more than a coincidence. Back in 1958, Joelen confessed to killing her movie star mother’s boyfriend. Deirdre happened to be at the Nichols house the night of the murder—which was also the night she suffered a personal tragedy of her own. Could all of these events be connected?  Her search to find answers forces Deirdre to confront a truth she has long refused to believe: beneath the slick veneer of Beverly Hills lie secrets that someone will kill to keep buried.

Mystery novelist Hank Philippi Ryan’s book, “What You See Now” is an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel and her book won a Library Journal Best of 2015.  Story line: Why would a father abduct his own child? A wedding is planned in Jane Ryland’s family, but there’s a calamity instead. Nine-year-old Gracie—supposed to be the flower girl—has been taken by her stepdad. Where are they? Is the girl in danger? Reporter Jane Ryland learns there’s a limit to the bonds of family—and learns to her peril what happens when loved ones are pushed too far.In her newest ripped from her own headlines thriller, Ryan explores the terrifying realities of today’s constant surveillance and the dire consequences to those unwittingly in the spotlight. Characters Jane and Jake are face to face with deception, intrigue, and—if they make the wrong decisions—disaster.

For more Milton Library event information, please visit their website.

Journalist Bob Halloran tells the tale of John Willis, the only white man to rise to the top ranks of the Chinese mafia in Boston, in his new book, White Devil: The True Story of the First White Asian Crime Boss.  Come hear his fascinating story on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keys Community Room lower level of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186.  Admission is free and the event is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.  Refreshments will be provided and a book signing will be held.

Bob Halloran is a New England sports anchor for WCVB-TV and an Emmy Award winning journalist. His previous books include Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward, and Impact Statement: A Family’s Fight for Justice against Whitey Bulger, Stephen Flemmi, and the FBI.

This event will be preceded by the Friends of the Milton Public Library Annual Meeting, at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Nothing heralds spring like birds!  Bird watchers will enjoy beautiful photography by Peter Christoph who will give a talk and slide presentation, “Birds of the New England Swamp.”   His program will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 7 p.m. on the lower level of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186.  Admission is free and the event is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.  Get into spring!