Tewksbury Public Library – Week of August 10th, 2025

Library To Hold 20 Programs This Week, Including Touch-A-Truck At Livingston Park!

Adult Events (In-Person)

OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES: White Street Band

Monday, August 11, 6:30pm

Enjoy a concert from the Merrimack Valley’s very own White Street Band. The band offers an energetic blend of rock and blues that will get you up and partying. The band’s members are experienced musicians who all started in high school garage bands and folk groups (didn’t everybody?) and provide a skillful combination of solid vocals with accomplished musical riffs. Originally formed in 2000, the band plays a varied set list ranging from classic rock legends such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Steve Miller Band, Tom Petty, The Youngbloods, The Doors, and Bob Dylan to driving blues makers Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton & J. Geils, with a little Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen mixed in. No registration required. This concert will take place on the library’s back lawn. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled. To supplement the cost of next year’s concerts, the Friends of the Library will be selling raffle tickets and accepting donations at a table near the stage.

IN PERSON: Science Squared Discussion Group

Monday, August 11, 7pm

Can’t attend Crafternoon??? Try CrafterDARK, a monthly crafting date after work! Calling all knitters, crocheters, needle workers, beaders, and colorists! Bring your own craft project to the Library and work on it while enjoying conversation with other crafters. (Please, no crafts involving glue or paint.) Take advantage of the many books available at the library to get ideas for your next project or to explore a new craft. We will be meeting in person.

OFFSITE: Walking Tour Of The Tewksbury Hospital Campus (*RR)

Tuesday, August 12, 6:30pm

Come explore the history of the legendary Tewksbury State Hospital, which opened its doors in May 1854 as the State Almshouse. Led by a knowledgeable volunteer guide from the Public Health Museum, join this 60+ minute walking tour to explore life in days past, the history of a vibrant community, its architecture, the lives of its patients and staff, and its connection to public health. Meet in front of the Public Health Museum (365 East Street), located on the grounds of the Tewksbury State Hospital.

IN PERSON: MassHire Lowell Mobile Career Center

Wednesday, August 13, 10am-2pm

The MassHire Lowell Mobile Career Center is visiting Tewksbury! Every Wednesday from August 6-October 29, the Mobile Career Center will be parked outside the library from 10AM-2PM to help job seekers. The MassHire Lowell Mobile Career Center is a mobile bus unit that has been equipped with solar panels to power workstations within the bus to allow for Career Center services to hit the road to all of our local communities, cities and towns. It will provide information on: Career Services; Current Training Programs; Job Search Events; and Hiring Events. No registration is required. In the event of severe weather, the event may be cancelled or cut short.

IN PERSON: Non-Fiction Book Group

Thursday, August 14, 10:30am

Join us for a discussion of American Journey: On the Road with Henry Ford, Edison, and John Burroughs by Wes Davis. This discussion will be conducted in person in the First Floor Meeting Room. No registration required. Copies of the book are available for check out at the Front Desk.

IN PERSON: Meditation Class (*RR)

Thursday, August 14, 3:30pm

Chris Connolly, RN, BSN, owner of “Living My Dream Yoga,” will lead a 4-week series of meditation classes. Classes will take place from 3:30pm to 4:30pm over four consecutive Thursdays — August 7, 14, 21 and 28 — in the library’s Meeting Room. Classes are designed for both those who are new to meditation and regular practitioners.

OFFSITE: Tewksbury Community Market at LIVINGSTON PARK

Thursday, August 14, 4pm-7pm

The Tewksbury Community Market takes place on Thursdays, from 4pm to 7pm, from June 5, 2025 from September 25, 2025, in the parking lot behind the Tewksbury Recreation Center at Livingston St. Park (288 Livingston Street). The market has 70 vendors overall, with 30-35 vendors present on any given week. Each week’s lineup of vendors is listed on the Market’s website at www.tewksburymarket.com.

Adult Events (Virtual)

VIRTUAL: The Invention of Charlotte Brontë — Her Last Years and the Scandal That Made Her (*RR)

Monday, August 11, 2pm

Author Graham Watson will discuss his new book, The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life. Based entirely on rarely seen private letters, Watson sheds new light on the dramatic events of Brontë’s turbulent last years of grief, fulfillment, and tragedy — and exposes the astonishing media scandal that followed her early death, when her friends and family battled to control how history would remember her. Join us as Graham discusses Charlotte’s life, writing, and death as well as his own research and writing of this book. Watson is a specialist in the Brontës and Elizabeth Gaskell, and he is currently researching Victorian literary identities at the University of Glasgow.

VIRTUAL: A New York City Tour Of More Gilded Age Mansions Of Museum Mile (*RR)

Tuesday, August 12, 2pm

Explore more of New York’s gilded age mansions in the Upper East Side Carnegie Hill historical district. Nestled between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue in the upper 80s and lower 90s, Carnegie Hill is chock full of elegant historic architecture. Highlights include the former Andrew Carnegie mansion, now the Cooper-Hewitt Museum; the former Otto H. Kahn House, now Convent of the Sacred Heart; and the former Warburg Mansion, now The Jewish Museum. Led by Ginny Poleman, owner of New York City Encounters. A graduate of Cornell University, Poleman is a licensed New York City Sightseeing Guide, a trained docent for the Municipal Art Society, and a trained educational guide at Manhattan’s largest art museum.

VIRTUAL: Historical Fiction Book Recommendations with Bestselling Author Jane Healey (*RR)

Tuesday, August 12, 6:30pm

Love historical fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author Jane Healey each month for 30 minutes of historical fiction book recommendations. You’re sure to find something to like from Jane’s many enthusiastic reviews. Jane is the author of four historical fiction novels — The Beantown Girls, The Secret Stealers, The Saturday Evening Girls Club, and Goodnight from Paris. She is also the host of “Historical Happy Hour,” a monthly webinar and podcast featuring interviews with premier historical fiction authors and their latest novels.

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP — Job Search Triage (*RR)

Wednesday, August 13, 9:30am

Is your job search hemorrhaging time, energy, and resources? Right now, given the current state of your job search where do you need to focus to have the biggest impact and benefit in terms of landing. Learn a simple process to make more effective use of your time, energy and resources during your job search? Zero in on: What’s working? What’s not? Led by Tom McDonough, director of programs and founding Board member for the Institute for Career Transitions (ICT). A career and life coach, Tom has been part of the ICT coaching team since its inception. Though his career story has allowed him to experience many roles, the underlying theme is helping people clarify and align personal and career goals with their core values—their Unique Organizing Principle (SM) through body/mind/spirit integration.

VIRTUAL: Poetry Circle Discussion (*RR)

Wednesday, August 13, 1:30pm

Join us virtually via ZOOM to read and discuss poems monthly on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:00pm. All poems are distributed one week prior to the meeting and are available in print at the library or via email. We are an appreciation group, not a writing/critique group.

VIRTUAL: The History of Contagious Disease Hospitals in Massachusetts (*RR)

Wednesday, August 13, 7pm

Explore the complex history of contagious disease hospitals in Massachusetts from the 19th to the early 20th century, highlighting their role in shaping public health policy, immigration control, and institutional development. Often located near poorhouses, asylums, and prisons, these hospitals reveal how fear of contagion intersected with social reform, nativism, and evolving ideas about poverty and public responsibility. Drawing from historical records and case studies, examine how these institutions targeted immigrant and marginalized communities under the guise of care and containment, leaving a lasting impact on the Commonwealth’s institutional landscape. Led by Dr. Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson, MFA, EdD, an institutional historian and award-winning author.

VIRTUAL: The Museums Of The Vatican (*RR)

Thursday, August 14, 10:30am

Many visitors to the Vatican are drawn to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling and Raphael’s Papal Rooms, but the Vatican museums hold a wealth of art and history from ancient times to the present day. Explore highlights from the classical sculpture collection, the various stages in the painting of the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms, highlights from the Old Master painting collection, as well as contemporary religious art, all of which illustrates that the Vatican holds one of the finest collections of art in the world. Led by art historian Martha Chiarchiaro, owner of Seeing History.

VIRTUAL: Historical Romance Author Erica Ridley Discusses “A Waltz on the Wild Side” (*RR)

Thursday, August 14, 7pm

Author Erica Ridley will discuss her new historical romance novel, A Waltz on the Wild Side, the latest in the The Wild Wynchesters series. Advice columnist Miss Vivian Henry hates how the Wild Wynchesters flaunt so many privileges ordinary people could never emulate. But when her beloved cousin goes missing and the authorities shrug, Viv has no choice but to beg for help from the vigilantes she despises. Ridley is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of young adult horror thrillers and adult historical romance novels.

Teen Events (In-Person)

Programs will return in early September.

Children’s Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Chess Clinic presented by Tewksbury Recreation (*RR)

Monday, August 11-Friday, August 15, 9am-3pm

Kids in grades K-5 can learn how to play chess, with other fun activities, during this week-long chess clinic. Registration and cost information is through Chess Wizards at https://chesswizards.com/camps-registration.

IN PERSON: Family Story Time

Monday, August 11, 10:15am

Join us for stories, songs, movement, instruments, dancing, and more for the whole family. Get your early literacy skills on! All of our story times are interactive for children and their caregivers. Please be ready to participate and play. Don’t worry, we will have a printout with all of the songs and rhymes we are using so you can follow along!

OUTDOORS: Tie Dye

Tuesday, August 12, 2:30pm

It’s tie dye time! You must bring your own white shirt, but we’ll take care of the rest of the supplies. We can’t wait to see your colorful creations! This event will be held outside behind the library weather permitting (if it’s not raining or too hot to be safe!). Registration is not required, but the craft will be available while supplies last. 

IN PERSON: Preschool Playgroup

Thursday, August 14, 11am

Preschool playgroup is a weekly group where kids can meet, play, and learn. Pick up some literacy skills and have some fun while you’re at it! This program is hosted by Community Teamwork Incorporated in collaboration with Tewksbury Public Library.

OFFSITE: Touch-A-Truck At Livingston Park

Saturday, August 16, 10am

Our annual Touch-A-Truck event at Livingston Park from 10AM to 12PM wraps up our Summer Reading program. Join us as we explore a variety of vehicles, including: Dump Truck; Fire Truck; TPD Cruiser; The Mystery Machine; and more. Kona Ice will be selling shaved ice and Old Mill House Coffee will be selling coffee. This event is open to children ages birth – grade 5. Registration is not required. Rain date is August 23.