BECKET ATHENAEUM

Book Club

2009-12-05T12:40:00.003-05:00

"The Time Traveler's Wife"
by
Audrey Niffenegger

is the book chosen for the next book club discussion
which will be held on

Tuesday, January 5th at 3 pm

Movies Recently Added to Our Collection

2009-12-05T12:33:00.000-05:00

17 Again

American Girl

The Code

Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons

The Deal

Dexter: The First Season

Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas/ Horton Hears a Who

Duplicity

Elmo’s World - Happy Holidays

The Grinch

Just Cause

Lakeview Terrace

Land of the Lost

Lights: The Miracle of Chanukah

Meet Dave

My Life in Ruins

Peanuts Holiday Collection

Perfect Holiday

The Proposal

Seven Pounds

Smother

Speed Racer

Steel City

The Wendell Baker Story

The Wizard of Oz

New Books Added to Our Collection

2009-12-02T17:12:00.002-05:00

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
Breathless by Dean Koontz
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safra Foer
Fourfold Path to Healing by Thomas S. Cowan
Fresh Air with Terry Gross by Terry Gross
Good Eats The Early Years by Alton Brown
Half Broke Horses, a True Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
How to Roast a Lamb by Michael Psilakis
Ivy Portfolio How to Invest Like the Top Endowments & Avoid Bear Markets by Mebane Faber
Last Words by George Carlin
Life After Death :The Evidence by Dinesh D'Souza
Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio by David Gardner
NPR Funniest Driveway Moments by Mel Brooks
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas
Viking in the Wheat Field: A Scientists Struggle by Susan Dworkin
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Save the Date

2009-10-20T18:55:00.000-04:00

Announcing the 10th Annual
Becket Athenaeum Holly Ball

Saturday, December 5th
Tickets: $45 each

This year the Holly Ball will be held at the locally owned Pioneer Grill in Chester. Entertainment will be supplied by local musician Dave Bacon. Space is limited--we recommend reserving early.

Put on your party shoes and join us for fine food, good music, fascinating company, and a fabulous raffle!

Call or e-mail for more information or to make a reservation:
BecketAthenaeum@gmail.com ~ 623-5483
(Please contact the library, not the Pioneer Grill)
Thank You!

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

2009-09-24T08:39:00.003-04:00

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH

7 PM

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

THIS MOVIE IS RATED PG

AND IS 94 MINUTES LONG

October Book CLub Meeting

2009-09-10T15:11:00.003-04:00

"RED BADGE OF COURAGE"
by
Stephen Crane

is the selection for the next book club discussion
which will be held on
Tuesday, October 6th at 3pm

September Book Club Selection

2009-08-06T17:40:00.002-04:00

"The Good Earth"
by Pearl S. Buck

is the next book club selection

THE BOOK CLUB WILL BE MEETING ON

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST AT 3PM

Space Game Day

2009-08-06T17:38:00.002-04:00

Please Join Us On
Saturday, August 8th at 12 noon
for
SPACE GAME DAY
(other board games will be available to play also!)

refreshments will be provided

Book Club Selection for August

2009-07-25T09:36:00.002-04:00

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

by Mary Ann Shaffer

is the selection for August

The discussion will take place on

Tuesday, August 4th at 3 pm

2009-06-24T09:37:00.007-04:00

SCHOOL'S OUT

PIZZA & MOVIE PARTY

FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH

PIZZA AT 8:30

MOVIE AT 9:00

WE WILL BE SHOWING

INKHEART

THIS MOVIE IS RATED PG AND
IS 106 MINUTES LONG

Book Club Selection for July

2009-06-06T14:42:00.002-04:00

"The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal"

by
Lily Koppel

The book club will be meeting on Tuesday, July 7th at 3 pm to discuss this book

New Movies for June

2009-05-30T11:58:00.007-04:00

BEAUTY SHOP
BIG RIG
BLACK DOG
THE COLOR OF FREEDOM
THE COMMITMENTS
DOUBT
FEAST OF LOVE
FEVER PITCH
FIVE DAYS
FLAWLESS
GIRLS ROCK!
HIGHWAYMEN
HOG HEAVEN RIVER RUN WILD
HOOSIERS
I DON'T BUY KISSES ANYMORE
KLEPTO
LUCKY NUMBERS
MARLEY & ME
PERSONAL EFFECTS
PERSONAL SERGEANT
REGARDING HENRY
SARAH SILVERMAN PROGRAM SEASON ONE
SECRET LIFE OF BEES
SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE
ST. PETER
STUCK ON YOU
THREE AMIGOS!
THREE BAD MEN
THE TIGER & THE SNOW
THE TOMMY KNOCKERS
TWILIGHT
WESLEY CASH

Summer Hours

2009-05-17T18:59:00.005-04:00

Our hours have changed
We are now open

TUESDAY 1 PM - 7 PM

THURSDAY 1 PM - 7 PM

SATURDAY 9:30AM-3:30PM

Book Club Selection for June

2009-05-05T17:15:00.003-04:00

"The Persian Pickle Club"
by Sandra Dallas
is the book chosen for the next discussion
which will take place on
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 at 3 pm

New Movies Added in May

2009-05-05T14:30:00.006-04:00

13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING
AUSTRALIA
BARACK OBAMA
THE BARBIE DIARIES
BIRD BY BIRD WITH ANNIE
DARK MATTERS
FLASH OF GENIUS
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
THE LONGSHOTS
PINGU SOUTHPOLE ADVENTURES
QUANTUM OF SOLACE
ROOM
WILLOW
A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA

Video Games Added to Our Collection

2009-04-18T13:30:00.004-04:00

PlayStation 2
Avatar The Last Airbender
Eragon
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
The Legend of Spyro The Eternal Night
NCAA Football 06
NFL - Madden 2005
NFL Madden 05
Superman Returns

PlayStation 3
2KSports Major League Baseball
SONIC The Hedgehog

Wii
Agatha Christie And Then There Were None
Barbie Horse Adventures Riding Camp
NFL - Madden 07
Safecracker- The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure

XBOX 360
Namco Museum Virtual Arcade
The Simpsons Game
Ultimate Alliance

Eclectic Book Club

2009-04-07T18:19:00.003-04:00

The Book Club has chosen to read
"Sarah's Key"
by Tatiana de Rosnay
for the next discussion
which will take place on Tuesday, May 5th at 3 pm

New Movies Added to Our Collection

2009-03-26T19:00:00.009-04:00

THE AIR I BREATHE
ANDRE
BARBIE & THE MAGIC PEGASUS
BARBIE PRESENTS THUMBELINA
BATTLE IN SEATTLE
BOLT

BURN AFTER READING

THE DUCHESS
EAGLE EYE

EASTERN PROMISES

THE EXPRESS-THE ERNIE DAVIS STORY

THE GOOD SHEPHERD
HAPPILY EVER AFTER FAIRY TALES FOR EVERY CHILD

I AM NOT A TARGET!

INTERNET SAFETY: THE SAFE SIDE
MAMMA MIA!
THE MATRIX
THE NAMESAKE

NIGHT AT RODANTHE

RELIGULOUS

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP
RIGHTEOUS KILL
SAFE FROM HARM
SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK!
SPACE CHIMPS

THEN SHE FOUND ME

TROPIC THUNDER

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

W
WAR, INC.
THE WOMEN
THE X FILES : I WANT TO BELIEVE
YOGA FOR STRESS RELIEF

Becket Washington Community Bulletin Board

2009-03-24T22:18:00.001-04:00

BECKET-WASHINGTON COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

www.BWCommunity.blogspot.com

We are pleased to announce that as part of the effort to support the exciting plans that came out of the economic summit, a Becket-Washington online bulletin board is up and running! The purpose of this website is to create a cohesive source of community information, events, resources, and projects. Here you will find a calendar of community events, posts about community initiatives, a listing of local businesses…and more to come! If you have events to add, a local business to list, an announcement to post, or an update on a community initiative, please e-mail: BWCommunity@gmail.com. This is a work in progress--suggestions are welcome. We look forward to building this website into a central means for residents to find and offer help during these difficult times, to build toward a strong and abundant future for Becket and Washington, and simply to find easily accessible ways of enjoying our rich and wonderful community!

Becket-Washington Economic Summit Report

2009-03-19T15:55:00.001-04:00

Report of the Becket-Washington Economic Summit

On March 12^th a lively group crowded into the Athenaeum to discuss both short-term and long-term solutions for our community in light of the economic crisis. It was an inspiring and encouraging evening, and I thank everyone who came. I hope those who were unable to be here will join us for our next meeting—and in the meantime there are plenty of ways to get involved. Through a process of defining problems, brainstorming ideas, selecting solutions, and volunteering, we were able to get several initiatives underway!

Below are the solutions that are currently in progress.

Barter/Swap Network. This may include a barter system in which people exchange services and labor hour for hour; a put-and-take at a given location; and/or a bulletin board (actual or online) for people to post items free for the taking.

Community Communication. This in many ways is related to all of the solutions. The idea is to find ways to get the word out about community events and services; to promote opportunities to socialize and get to know community members; and to create an easy means for people to connect about things like carpooling, swapping, etc.

Protect/Expand Becket-Washington School. The idea here is to stabilize the school, so that the threat of closing does not arise each time the district budget is tight, and to make the school an even more active, engaged part of the community. Possibilities transitioning to a K-8^th school, becoming a magnet school, and more. The hope is to keep jobs in Becket-Washington, and attract more families to our towns.

Develop Energy Conservation and Alternative Energy. Possibilities include practical suggestions for town institutions and individuals to lower their utility costs; informing people about energy audits; and developing more sustainable long-term local energy sources through, for example, wind or hydro power.

Becket-Washington Town Farm. This is a long-range solution to the problem of food cost and availability. The farm would provide fresh, natural eggs, milk, meat, etc. for the community. The food could either be purchased directly or through "farm dollars." Farm dollars would be earned through working on the farm, to one's ability, on a sliding scale.

Community Garden. This project is already underway, using land next to the Becket Town Hall!

Local Recreation. If there is more available locally, for all ages—sports, potlucks, clubs, etc.—we won't all have to drive so many miles just to "get out."

This is only the beginning. Many good ideas were set aside for the moment, but are quite worthy and may well be developed in due time. In the library we have big sheets of paper posted for each of the above solutions, and for other solutions--we welcome one and all to come in and add ideas, questions, suggestions, or brilliant insights.

It was very exciting that a number of people at the summit volunteered to get ideas rolling, and there have already been some meetings/actions towards the above solutions.

We are looking forward to more people getting involved! While some of these solutions are well underway, others need more people to really get off the ground. If you would like to join in one of the above solutions, e-mail us: becketathenaeum@gmail.com.

We will host another meeting to check-in, brainstorm, coordinate…and, of course, share food and drink, on April 28^th at 7p.m.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

2009-03-17T18:04:00.002-04:00

PLEASE JOIN US ON

THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH AT 7 PM
FOR THE SHOWING OF
WALT DISNEY'S
"BOLT"
THIS MOVIE IS RATED PG
AND IS
96 MINUTES LONG

POPCORN & JUICE WILL BE SERVED

March Newsletter

2009-03-09T17:59:00.002-04:00

Becket Athenaeum Newsletter

March 2009

"…for almost all people throughout history (and for most people still today) 'the economy' is just a fancy way of saying 'What's for dinner?' and "Am I having any?'"

--Bill McKibben

This month our theme is Economics. Believe it or not, we are excited about this theme! While the economy is certainly a cause for worry and stress to many of us, perhaps this will also be a time to rethink, to strengthen communities, and to create a better future for ourselves and coming generations.

For our display this month, we have some books to ponder and some books for practical ways of economizing. For food for thought, try Deep Economy by Bill McKibben, which explores why more is not always better, and how communities can create sustainability. This book is fascinating, yet not a laborious read. Or The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder exploring whether accumulating vast wealth and living a life of integrity really can go hand in hand.

If you want ideas for what you can do right now to save some pennies, have a look at America's Cheapest Family by Steve and Annette Economides, or Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills.

Looking for new ways to earn money? We have the 2009 editions of Writer's Market, Photographer's Market, and Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market.

If your worried about your investments, we have Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan:Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound in book and audio form.

If your concerned with saving money and going green, we have several interesting books on the topic if creating a green economy and on how to go green without going broke. It's always worthwhile to learn from the past. Check out the newly released Soul of a People:The WPA Writer's Project Uncovers Depression America.

If you need a break from thinking about the economy, we have current best sellers, including Heart and Soul by Maeve Benchy, Run for Your Life by James Patterson, and The Yankee Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci. We also have new DVDs and audios, and will be adding to our video game collection this month.

"Henry Ford was right. A prosperous economy requires that workers be able to buy the products that they produce. This is as true in a global economy as a national one."

--John J. Sweeney

BECKET-WASHINGTON ECONOMIC SUMMIT

We hope everyone received an invitation to our economic summit. We are excited to share ideas that will help our community in the short term and down the road. Some of the ideas we plan to discuss are simple matters, for example creating a small community fund to help folks with one-time unexpected expenses such as minor car repairs; setting up an exchange system similar to Freecycle but more personable; or organizing a local barter network Other ideas are on a large scale and have potential to create prolonged stability for our towns, such as creating a sustainable Town Farm; organizing an artist's collective; or spring-boarding off of the Athenaeum's Media Apprenticeship Program.

Light refreshments will be served so come with an open mind and an appetite!

"A creative economy is the fuel of magnificence"

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

A WORD ABOUT MILDEW

Many of you have seen the wonderful progress of our "circuit riders" who have been weeding the Adult and Children's non-fiction sections. Some of you have also expressed concern that many of the books we have weeded are going to the transfer station. This is as painful for us as it is for anyone, but the books going to the transfer station all suffer from serious mildew. Mildew is very contagious and spreads through book collections quickly. It is also very unhealthy to breathe. While we are proud to have passed along hundreds of books to worthy causes, including the Prison Book Project, the effort to rebuild New Orleans public library system, and local family shelters, it would be irresponsible for us to donate mildewed books to such causes. Likewise it would be unfriendly of us to place such books in our annual book sale, as we do not wish for our discarded books to infect the book collections of unwitting patrons. Once the weeding is completed, we will be cleaning the shelves thoroughly in an attempt to stem the spread of mildew.

"Economics is a subject that does not greatly respect one's wishes"

--Nikita Krushchev

NEW MUSEUM PASSES

This year we have two new museum passes. The first is Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Museum in Lenox. Ventfort Hall is a beautiful Elizabethan-style mansion built in 1893, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are open year 'round and offer lectures, films, and tea-on-the-porch in the summer.

We are also excited to offer a pass to the Springfield Museums, also known as the Quadrangle Museums. Our pass covers admission to all four world-class museums, which are within walking distance of each other, and include the Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Art, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. The Springfield Museums is also home of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. This pass provides a wonderful opportunity for a rich and varied day-trip for families and individuals. Pack a lunch, picnic with The Cat in the Hat, commune with live fish and frogs, explore the art of Currier and Ives, learn about experimental automobiles made in western Massachusetts, and behold Samurai swords all in a square block!

"An economist is a man who states the obvious in terms of the incomprehensible"

--Alfred A. Knopf

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

EVERY SATURDAY, 11:00 READING TIME WITH PURR

Join Purr in our cozy corner for stories and laughter, every Saturday! Children of all ages welcome. We ask that parents remain in the library during storytime for children under the age of 2.

Thursday, March 12th, 7:00 ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Share, Hear, Plan, Eat!

Tuesday, March 17^th HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

3:00 NON-FICTION BOOKCLUB

7:00 POETRY WRITER'S GROUP

All styles are welcome! Share poems in a productive, inspiring environment. (This is an adult event.)

Thursday, March 26th, 3:00 MOVIE NIGHT

We will be showing "Bolt" with the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. This movie is rated PG.

Tuesday, March 31^st, 6:00 READER LEADER EVENT

All Reader Leaders with 100 points or more are invited for a Mythological Feast. Dress as your favorite mythological god/dess, person, or beast! Come with an appetite!

"If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."

--George Bernard Shaw

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

www.ecoeco.org Eco Eco…sounds like Zydeco, but this is the website for the International Society for Ecological Economics.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/ USDA low-interest loans and grants for rural homeownership, including loans and grants for home repair.

"If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians."

--Warren Buffett

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Help our small community thrive! Following are local services and businesses based in Becket and Washington. If you would like your business or service listed at the end of our newsletter, send us an e-mail!

Becket Country Store and Café

623-5500

Bird's Eye View Antiques

Specializing in iron gates, lighting, and country antiques.

Open May through October.

623-2029

Blanche Lennington

Cyber secretarial services; co-creative gardening consultation; energy balancing with flower essences.

22 Dragon Way, Becket

623-5438

BLennington@gmail.com

Blue Moon Chimney Service

Chimney sweeping, relining, stove installations, caps, masonry repair.

"Sweeping since '77!"

Douglas Reveley

623-0900

nosoot@hughes.net

Bucksteep Manor

Inn and Conference Center

623-5535

Bulzden Private Show Kennel

Leslea Stanton 623-8998

Canterbury Farm

Recreation, Lodging and Landscaping

623-0100

Cesco Plumbing

623-5323

Derrick Rodgers Horticulture Fruit Tree and Ornamental Pruning

Specializing in fine pruning of trees and shrubs, orchard restoration.

413-441-5366

Dream Away Lodge

623-8725

Hartwood School

Homebuilding, Woodworking & Timber Framing Workshops.

623-6677

Kushi Institute

Macrobiotic Foods, and Programs, Workshops and Conferences.

623-5741

Paintings Restored and Repaired

M.P. Richard 623-0174

Pat Parkins

Garden of the Goddess

Organic fine gardening, design, installation and maintenance of ornamental gardens, vegetable gardens, espaliered fruit trees, herb gardens, water gardens and small or large fruit orchards.

173 Bancroft Road

coyhawk@gmail.com

Tina Sweet Massage Therapy

Swedish, Hot Stone, and Deep Tissue Massage

CranioSacral Therapy

60 or 90-minute sessions available by appointment

623-6133

Tom's Everything Service

Masonry and Brick Work, Appliance and Furniture Removal, Deck Building, Light Carpentry, Junk Removal, Landscaping, House Cleaning, Painting, Roof Repair, Taxi Service, Tree Work, Window Washing and Replacement, Yard Work.

413-623-8728

Top Hat Services

John Lennington, Sr. Courteous, conscientious care for your trees and home.

22 Dragon Way, Becket

413-634-5438

JohnLennington@gmail.com

Wilson's Lawn Care

Also junk removal and clean-up jobs.

Mike 623-8728

The Becket Athenaeum encourages hiring/buying locally, but does not endorse specific businesses or tradespeople, and does not verify the quality or validity of businesses or services listed.

"The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have—and that is a moral problem, not an economic one."

--Paul Heyne

Calendar of Events for March

2009-03-05T11:58:00.004-05:00

March 3 - Book Club 3 pm
March 7 - Story Time with Purr 11 am
March 12 - Economic Summit 7 pm
March 14 - Story Time with Purr 11 am
March 17 - Non Fiction Book Club 3 pm
March 17 - Poetry Night 7 pm
March 21 - Story Time with Purr 11 am
March 26 - Family Movie Night 7 pm
March 28 - Story Time with Purr 11 am
March 31 - Reader Leader Event 6:30 pm

Book Club Selection for April

2009-03-05T11:50:00.003-05:00

"RUN"
by
Anne Hatchett

is the book chosen for April
the meeting will take place on
Tuesday, April 7th at 3 pm

Invitation!

2009-02-25T20:26:00.003-05:00

BECKET-WASHINGTON

ECONOMIC SUMMIT

JOIN US!

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 7:00 P.M.

While we are all hopeful that the recently passed economic stimulus package will be successful in revitalizing the national economy, perhaps there is more we as a community can do than wait and see. We have some exciting ideas to share, and we have faith that a community as resourceful, creative, and capable as ours can accomplish great things together.

What can we do in the immediate to help one another through this difficult time? What resources are already in place that can be built upon? (For example, the food bank, or the senior tax abatement program.) What new ways can we come together as neighbors to weather this crisis? How can town institutions--like the library--be most helpful?

What steps can we take toward long-term stability for our local economy, so that we are not hit so hard when the national economy declines? How can we envision a future for Becket-Washington that honors and makes use of the abundant skills and talents within our community, while also making our prevalent trades (for example contracting, artistry, tourism-related services) less vulnerable?

We encourage all residents to join us at the Becket Athenaeum for a discussion of ideas, from the smallest gestures to the most ambitious proposals.

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS SERVED