Community Calendar

Adults, ages 19 and older, are invited to a hybrid community book club that brings readers together to explore the American Revolution through shared reading, conversation, and film. Each month, participants will watch a preview from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, along with additional short videos connected to the featured book, before taking part in an informal discussion.

The featured title for this session is “The Notorious Benedict Arnold,” by Steve Sheinkin. This fast-paced, engaging biography explores the complex story behind America’s most infamous traitor, who was also once one of its most effective Revolutionary War heroes. Drawing on firsthand accounts and vivid battle scenes, the book portrays Arnold as reckless, ambitious, and deeply flawed, tracing his rise as a daring military leader and the political rivalries that ultimately led to his betrayal of the Patriot cause. Widely praised for its clarity and narrative drive, the book offers adult readers a nuanced and compelling look at the moral tensions and personal decisions that shaped the Revolutionary era.

The program runs approximately 45–60 minutes and is free and open to the public. To register virtually, please visit: https://shorturl.at/FalKH. Copies of the book are available at the Granville Branch.

On Tuesday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance will be hosting their 43rd annual banquet featuring Chris Benda (a.k.a Illinois Botanizer) presenting Botanical Humor: You Never Knew Plants Were So Funny.

Chris has been teaching about plants for over 12 years and during that time has developed a unique teaching style that includes lots of puns, jokes, and whimsical pop culture references. The program is sure to keep you entertained and equipped with fun ways to learn about plants and teach others about plants.

The event includes a silent auction that features nature related items with proceeds from the auction used to support activities at the Chapters two preserves, Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve and Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve. The silent auction starts at 5:30 p.m.

The banquet takes place at Highland Community College Student Conference Center in Freeport and includes a full turkey or vegetable lasagna dinner with delightful desserts for $32 for adults (kids 12 and under are free). The meal will be served at 6:00 p.m. with the program following the meal.

The deadline for reserving your meal for this event is March 21st, however reservations are not necessary to attend the program (no meal) which starts at 7:30 p.m. The cost for the program only is $5 for adults with no charge for children and students. Further details about the banquet including the registration form can be found at www.nwilbirdnaturealliance.org

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

Lowden Gallery Artist: Ellen "Ellie" R. Bartels
March 1 - April 30

​Ellie has a BA degree in Education and a BFA in Studio Art , both from the University of Washington. She taught art, K – 12, in Orangeville, Il for 12 years. She currently lives in Freeport, Il.

Ellie states, “ The process of transforming paint and canvas into an appealing and effective image scares, frustrates, excites and inspires me.

My work starts out with a subject or theme in mind, usually based on my personal response to nature or a past experience, and a general plan on how to accomplish my goal. As it progresses spontaneity and intuition take over and my unconscious becomes the director.
​
I have found that both oils and acrylics work well as vehicles for translating my inner vision to outer reality. Both comply with my enjoyment of layering paint and working the canvas by scraping, rubbing, scratching through, dry brushing, etc., to create depth and texture and to bring the surface to life.

It is my wish that the viewer will want to spend time with my work, to contemplate its meaning, discover its complexities, or to just enjoy the colors and shapes.

The Black & White PLUS Photography Show is a juried exhibition celebrating the strength and versatility of monochrome photography. This show invites photographers to explore imagery created without full color (including traditional black-and-white, sepia-toned and cyanotype), focusing instead on composition, contrast, light, shadow, texture, and visual storytelling.

The gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10-4 or by appointment.

Live music very Wednesday thru Saturday. Artists are listed on the Anderson Gardens website. This is event FREE and open to the public!

Shade Grown Coffee is an inspiring documentary that explores how cultivating coffee beneath native tropical trees can strengthen local communities, slow deforestation, and protect critical wildlife habitat, all while giving your daily cup a better aftertaste. The film takes viewers inside the coffee-making journey, from harvesting ripe cherries to brewing the perfect cup, and features passionate farmers, roasters, and baristas from around the world who are working toward a more sustainable future. Made for coffee enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, this film invites viewers to better understand their role as consumers and to savor their next cup of coffee with deeper appreciation, and greater purpose. The film is 1 hour and 15 minutes, is rated G, and made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public.

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

Lowden Gallery Artist: Ellen "Ellie" R. Bartels
March 1 - April 30

​Ellie has a BA degree in Education and a BFA in Studio Art , both from the University of Washington. She taught art, K – 12, in Orangeville, Il for 12 years. She currently lives in Freeport, Il.

Ellie states, “ The process of transforming paint and canvas into an appealing and effective image scares, frustrates, excites and inspires me.

My work starts out with a subject or theme in mind, usually based on my personal response to nature or a past experience, and a general plan on how to accomplish my goal. As it progresses spontaneity and intuition take over and my unconscious becomes the director.
​
I have found that both oils and acrylics work well as vehicles for translating my inner vision to outer reality. Both comply with my enjoyment of layering paint and working the canvas by scraping, rubbing, scratching through, dry brushing, etc., to create depth and texture and to bring the surface to life.

It is my wish that the viewer will want to spend time with my work, to contemplate its meaning, discover its complexities, or to just enjoy the colors and shapes.

The Black & White PLUS Photography Show is a juried exhibition celebrating the strength and versatility of monochrome photography. This show invites photographers to explore imagery created without full color (including traditional black-and-white, sepia-toned and cyanotype), focusing instead on composition, contrast, light, shadow, texture, and visual storytelling.

The gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10-4 or by appointment.