Name: Plant a Seed, Read! Family Movie Series
Start: 2026-07-01T15:00:00-04:00
Location: Essex Library Association

Essex Library Association

The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us for family-friendly movies that connect us with food, farms, &amp; nature. Popcorn provided.See <a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;EventID=591885&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Essex Library Website</a> for Movie Descriptions &amp; Age Ratings.

Local Event: Plant a Seed, Read! Family Movie Series

Middlesex County

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Essex-Chester-Deep River

Connecticut

Plant a Seed, Read! Family Movie Series

The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us...

Program for kids ages birth-5.
Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squish, pour, and play with a variety of textures and materials in a safe, supportive space alongside their caregivers. This program supports sensory development, fine motor skills, and social interaction—come play, learn, and make a (little) mess with us!
Program funded in part by the <a href="https://middlesexcountycf.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Community Foundation of Middlesex County</a>, and made possible by the GSB Grant Making Fund, and the Whelen Family Fund.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
No registration required. Drop in!

Local Event: Summer Sensory Play (Ages Birth - 5)

Summer Sensory Play (Ages Birth - 5)

Program for kids ages birth-5.
Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime...

The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us for family-friendly movies that connect us with food, farms, &amp; nature. Popcorn provided.
See the <a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;EventID=591886&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Essex Library Website</a> for movie titles, descriptions, &amp; age ratings.

The Mystic Seaport Museum visits to teach us about the Music of the Sea! Learn how the difficult work aboard ship, such as raising a sail or an anchor, can be made easier through music—hearing it, and moving to it. Listen to the feelings of sailors hidden in words of the song and join in the chorus of these work songs.
Examine a variety of musical instruments which were brought to sea, such a concertina, accordion, “bones,” and a fiddle.&nbsp;Open to all. Registration is required.Link to register:&nbsp; <a href="https://deepriverlibrary.libcal.com/event/16608694" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">deepriverlibrary.libcal.com/event/16608694</a>

Local Event: Sea Chantey: Music of the Sea

Sea Chantey: Music of the Sea

The Mystic Seaport Museum visits to teach us about the Music of the Sea! Learn how the difficult work aboard ship, such as...

Register <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2_pReXCJSzewS8k0v8ybsw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Join us virtually as Essex Library hosts nationally renowned textile expert Lynne Bassett, who will present an illustrated lecture entitled “Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams.” Through a variety of different primary artifacts, Bassett will show how both early and contemporary American have expressed their national and personal character through their clothing choices.
This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs.
About Lynne Bassett
Lynne Zacek Bassett is an independent scholar specializing in American historic costume and textiles. Bassett graduated with honors with a degree in American studies from Mount Holyoke College and earned a master’s degree in costume and textile history from the University of Connecticut. From 1995‒2000 she was the curator of textiles and fine arts at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Since going independent, Bassett has undertaken a number of large projects, including award-winning exhibitions and publications on textile topics ranging from the 17th century to the present day, which have taken her all over the United States and Zoomed to England. Her contribution to the field of historic costume and textiles has been recognized by the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, Historic New England, the Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife, and the International Quilt Study Center, which have all appointed her to membership in their honorary or advisory societies.

Local Event: Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams (Virtual)

Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The...

Register HERE. Join us virtually as Essex Library hosts nationally renowned textile expert Lynne Bassett, who will present an...

Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams (Virtual)

Register&nbsp;<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;EventID=591141&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a> or call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560.It's Shark Week! In celebration, the Essex library will host an author talk with Christopher Shaw Myers. Christopher is the nephew of actor Robert Shaw, the shark-obsessed fisherman Sam Quint in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster, Jaws.&nbsp;Christopher will share insights and entertaining tidbits from his book, Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond. For adults and teens.&nbsp;A screening of Jaws&nbsp;will follow the book talk promptly at 3:30 p.m.
This program is free and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.
Christopher Shaw Myers Chris Myers attended Trinity College, where he double majored in English Literature and Mathematics, and Columbia University, where he received a Master of Business Administration. After a thirty-year career in the hi-tech field, working with companies across the U.S. and Europe, Chris delved deeper into his family’s history to explore the magic that the Shaws cultivated in their lives.&nbsp;
ROBERT SHAW: An Actor’s Life On The Set Of JAWS And Beyond&nbsp;is not your traditional biography. Written in narrative style, it tells the story of actor and writer Robert Shaw—best known as Quint in Jaws—from the perspective of the women who shaped his life.&nbsp;
At its heart are his indomitable mother, who raised five children by herself after her husband committed suicide, and his sister Joanna, a pioneering Cambridge scholar, anti-Apartheid activist, mother of seven, and champion for women’s workplace rights. Their intertwined lives unfold across vivid settings: the Orkney Islands, wartime Cornwall, Apartheid-era South Africa, Broadway and London’s West End, and finally Martha’s Vineyard, where Shaw worked on Jaws and co-wrote the iconic USS Indianapolis monologue.&nbsp;
More than a portrait of a brilliant but polarizing actor, this is a sweeping family saga of strength, survival, and most of all, creativity—an intimate story of perseverance behind one of cinema’s most unforgettable figures.
Jaws When a massive killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Long Island, it's up to the local police chief, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfus, Jaws (1975) is rated PG and has a 2h4m runtime.

Local Event: Athor Talk: Christopher Shaw Myers on Jaws Actor Robert Shaw (For adults and teens)

Athor Talk: Christopher Shaw Myers on Jaws...

Register HERE or call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560.It's Shark Week! In celebration, the Essex library will host an author...

Athor Talk: Christopher Shaw Myers on Jaws Actor Robert Shaw (For adults and teens)

Join us for an inspiring evening with author Matt Grace as he visits our clinic to share the story behind his upcoming memoir, God Doesn’t Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life That Almost Killed Me.
With more than 20 years of sobriety and thousands of hours mentoring individuals and families, Matt brings a powerful message of hope, healing, and lasting transformation. This special event will include a live discussion on addiction, recovery, faith, and the journey to rebuilding a life with purpose.
Guests attending the event will have the exclusive opportunity to receive a sponsored copy when it is released.
Whether you are personally in recovery, supporting a loved one, or simply looking for encouragement, this evening is for you.
📍 6 Business Park Drive, Suite 103A, Branford, CT 📅 Thursday, July 9 🕕 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reserve your spot today.

Local Event: Author Event - Meet Matt Grace Recovery Activist

New Haven County

Branford

Author Event - Meet Matt Grace Recovery Activist

Join us for an inspiring evening with author Matt Grace as he visits our clinic to share the story behind his upcoming memoir,...

Join us for Jurassic Classroom!
This is a mobile dinosaur fossil display where participants can browse and examine specimens at their leisure. An educator is on hand to answer any and all questions.
This is a walk through mobile exhibit. No registration is necessary. All are welcome.

Local Event: Dinosaur Show & Tell

Dinosaur Show & Tell

Join us for Jurassic Classroom!
This is a mobile dinosaur fossil display where participants can browse and examine specimens at...

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Discover a great selection of hearty perennials hand-propagated by Ruby Lawrence, including Daylilies, Tall Shasta Daisies, Hydrangeas, and more. Prices range from $10 to $65 for these beautiful offerings.

Local Event: Ruby's Plant Sale

Ruby's Plant Sale

Discover a great selection of hearty perennials hand-propagated by Ruby Lawrence, including Daylilies, Tall Shasta Daisies,...

Come to the flower field to stroll, sit and enjoy. You will find sweetly scented Lavender ready for you to cut. Plus experience The Magic Trail. Lovers Lane Farm in Killingworth. 11:00 - 1:00. Rain date: July 12.&nbsp;

Local Event: For the Love of Lavender - Flower Farm Fun

Killingworth

For the Love of Lavender - Flower Farm Fun

Come to the flower field to stroll, sit and enjoy. You will find sweetly scented Lavender ready for you to cut. Plus experience...

&nbsp; A time to relax and awaken your creative side. You will make a colorful exterior art keepsake. Mosaic techniques will be explored using glass, tile, porcelain, and gems. $50. includes all supplies. Time: 11:00 - 1:00. At Lovers Lane Farm, Killingworth, CT 06419. To reserve your place, RSVP at www.loverslanefarmct.com

Local Event: Make Your Own Mosaic Garden Stone

Make Your Own Mosaic Garden Stone

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RiverFire Glass is a working kiln glass studio, gallery and teaching space where creativity, craftsmanship and community come together. Located in the heart of Deep River, Connecticut, RiverFire Glass specializes in kiln-formed glass art, handcrafted gifts and hands-on glass fusing experiences for beginners and experienced artists alike. Whether you're creating your first fused glass ornament or designing an intricate glass garden panel, you'll find a welcoming environment where exploration and creativity are encouraged. What makes RiverFire Glass unique is the combination of professional artistic expertise and genuine personal connection. Owner and artist Jeni GrayRoberts has taught more than 2,000 students and brings years of experience in glass, design and creative education to every class. Students are guided through the fascinating process of transforming colorful sheets of glass into beautiful finished pieces through cutting, layering and kiln firing. Unlike paint-and-sip style experiences that focus on reproducing a predetermined project, RiverFire Glass encourages individual expression. Many classes offer a wide range of project choices, design options and creative freedom, allowing each student to create something uniquely their own. Visitors can browse a gallery filled with original kiln glass artwork, functional home décor, jewelry and seasonal gifts, many inspired by nature, water and the beauty of the Connecticut River Valley. Sustainability and thoughtful craftsmanship are woven into the studio's philosophy, with an emphasis on minimizing waste and creating lasting pieces that bring joy for years to come. Whether you're looking for a memorable experience, a unique handmade gift or a chance to discover your creative side, RiverFire Glass offers an inspiring destination where art, learning and community meet.

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Essex-Chester-Deep River|Local Event

Plant a Seed, Read! Family Movie Series

Event Details

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