Banned Book Series Highlights Week 

It could be said that America is in the middle of a culture war. A significant part of that war--and one that is central to our freedoms--is what we can read and what we can say. The Norfolk Library invites us to engage in the discussion this week through its Banned Book series of virtual programs. There can be no more important discussion, but there is plenty of fun on the horizon, too. Read on!
And for more about what’s happening, visit norfolkct.org's calendar section, your daily directory to Norfolk living. Be sure to forward this newsletter to a friend so they can sign up for a free subscription.

Beginning Tai Chi Classes at Battell Chapel

Beginning Tai Chuan is being offered Fridays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Battell Chapel; Tai Chi is taught Mondays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. ($100 per month/$25 per class). All are welcome to join. Some of the proceeds benefit the Church of Christ. Click here for more information.

Books & Boots to Discuss "The Mother Tree" 

The Norfolk Library's Books & Boots series will discuss "The Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard Saturday, September 17, at 8:30 a.m. while hiking the Norfolk Land Trust's Ells Crane Trail. Meet at the trailhead on Route 44 and bring water and insect repellant. All hiking abilities are welcome. Any cancellation will be posted on the Norfolk Librarywebsite and social media by 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 17.  This program is in partnership with the Norfolk Land Trust. Click here to register.

"Mountain Express" Hike is Sunday     

A Housatonic Heritage Walk is slated for Sunday, September 18, at noon along the Mountain Express Rails to Trails project. Norfolk's brief but illustrious history of passenger trains (the Mountain Express) comes back to life with a historical hike along remnant sections of the railroad right-of-way in town. Join the hike at Station Place. For more information, click here. To Register: [email protected] or 860-542-5953.

Banned Book Week Series Starts Sunday  

All are invited to a discussion of First Amendment protections at the Kent Town Hall Sunday, September 18, at 3:00 p.m. New York Law School Professor Emerita Nadine Strossen and long-standing member of the Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee Olivia Scully, will discuss current censorship issues in our country and locally. The event, moderated by Kent Memorial Library Board President Sandy Edelman, is free and open to the public. Register here. 

TED Talk Looks at Reality 

The Norfolk Library continues its summer discussion series of the “Top 10 TED Talks That’ll Change Your Life," Monday, September 19, with Isaac Lidsky speaking on "What Reality are You." Similar to a book group, the program discusses selected TED Talks that participants watch ahead of time. Discussions then take place virtually through Zoom on Mondays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. The discussion group  ends with this Talk. Click here to register. 

Women & Money Series Sponsored by Library 

The Norfolk Library will partner with the Darien Library to present an informal series, meeting monthly, with financial experts Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. They will lead participants in an easy-to-follow discussion on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, covering the latest market news and how that might affect decision making. They’ll also give background and context for understanding market movement, and strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. The series is geared to women, but provides information useful to all. To register, click here. Remaining sessions will be held October, 12, November 09 and December 14.

Library Sponsors Virtual Program on Censorship 

The Norfolk Library will present a virtual program "Free Expression for Young People" Monday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m. via the American Library Association. Books most frequently targeted for censorship are those that capture the attention of younger readers. This program examines censorship of content for young people and their rights from the perspective of authors who have written about or defended intellectual freedom for young people. Register for this virtual event.

Young Adult Author Will Discuss Banned Books 

The Norfolk Library will present a virtual conversation Tuesday, September 20, at 6:00 p.m. with New York Times-bestselling author Jennifer Niven about censorship and the implications for teens and the communities where books are banned. Niven is the author of 11 books, including young adult novels. Her "All the Bright Places" has been targeted for removal in multiple locations, and "Breathless" was one of 52 books initially removed from shelves in Utah’s largest school district. Register for this virtual event here.

Virtual Program Looks at Strategies to Defend Books 

The Norfolk Library will present a virtual program via the American Library Association Thursday, September 22, at 1:00 p.m. discussing practical strategies to defend against challenges to books on library shelves. Ripped-from-the-headlines scenarios will be used as discussion prompts to provide practical strategies and resources that librarians can use. The conversation will be lead by librarians from a variety of backgrounds. Register for this virtual event.

Town Offers Transportation to Big E 

Anyone interested in taking the Town of Norfolk bus to the Big E, the regional agricultural exposition in Agawam, Mass, on Monday, September 26, should contact the Selectmen's Office at 860-542-5829 by Thursday, September 22. The bus will leave Norfolk at 10:00 a.m. There will be a $5 fee for the ride.

Special Heads Up: Haystack Book Festival Starts Soon 

Usually, we keep our listings to the coming week, but there is something a little farther out that we especially want to highlight: the upcoming Haystack Book Festival, which kicks off September 30 with a Brendan Gill Lecture by Tomi Obaro, writer and editor for BuzzFeed. The Festival will continue through October 2 with a wide variety of lectures. Check the town website's calendar for all the details. 

Municipal Meeting

The City Meadow Committee's regular meeting is cancelled so only the Recreation Commission will meet this week at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Things change and sometimes meetings are cancelled, so check here before heading out the door.