NEWBURY — The following events are taking place at the Newbury Town Library, located at 0 Lunt St., Byfield.
Feeling stressed? On Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. Laura Klain will lead a mindfulness workshop. Mindfulness is a way to alleviate stress, develop more creativity, and cultivate more peace. The practice can be added to any lifestyle and can be done anywhere. No special equipment or skills needed. This hour-long mindfulness workshop with guided meditation will provide a great introduction and experiential learning opportunity. Wear comfy clothes. Klain is a licensed therapist and certified life coach specializing in mindfulness. She has been practicing meditation for over 20 years and teaching for the last decade. Please register for this program.
On Tuesday, March 11, at 3 p.m., join local business leader Amanda Wright in collaboration with local real estate agent Sara Couris for “Passing the Keys, an Introduction to Estate Planning.” During this seminar, Wright will cover the fundamentals of estate planning, while Couris will contribute briefly on how real estate can play a role in the process—especially when it comes to helping families transition after a loved one’s passing. The goal is to provide attendees with practical knowledge and to answer any questions they may have. Wright is an expert in wills, trusts, and estate planning and has been hosting educational seminars for years. She is the owner of Legacy Gurus. Couris is a real estate agent at Lamacchia Realty. Please register for this program.
Movie historian Frank Mandosa visits the Newbury Town Library on Wednesday March 12, at 6 p.m., for the program “American Women in Film Throughout the 20th Century.”
Throughout the 20th century, Hollywood had a dubious history with both onscreen depictions and the real-life interactions with women in the film industry both behind and in front of the camera. This program explores not only the ongoing evolution of this dynamic before, during, and after the cameras roll, but also portrayals of American women in films of all genres.
A public high school English and film teacher, Mandosa has spoken on a wide variety of film-related topics throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut for 10 years. In addition to co-hosting the award-winning movie show Reel Life for local cable TV for eight years and making guest appearances on other local programs, he hosts the podcast “Silver Screeners” and co-hosts “Movies Across the Pod.” Please register for this program.
On Sunday March 16, at 1 p.m. the library is hosting a Zoom interview with Amanda Jones, author of “That Librarian.”
Jones is a middle-school librarian from the town she grew up in Louisiana, who in 2022 attended a meeting at her local public library to speak out against censorship. She then found herself the target of a hate campaign on social media, with accusations of grooming children and death threats. This pushed her into high gear as an advocate for the Freedom to Read movement, and in her 2024 book “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America,” she tells her story.
Jones will be discussing her book, the importance of the library profession, and book joy, all in a national climate of assaults on the freedom to read. This event is in collaboration with the Yarmouth Town Libraries Board’s Freedom to Read series, and is funded by the South Yarmouth Library Association in partnership with libraries across Massachusetts. To receive the Zoom link for this program, visit the library’s event calendar.
Gretel Anspach from the Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association will be speaking about flora and other plants native to New England on Wednesday March 19, at 6 p.m. at the Newbury Town Library.
Anspach will discuss how plants native to the region are easier to maintain, better able to withstand New England weather, and may offer better resistance to deer and rabbits. Anspach is a trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, a lifetime master gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, and a recently retired systems engineer for Raytheon. She established and maintains a 20,000-square-foot food production garden that has provided fresh produce to the Marlboro and Maynard Food Pantries for the last 10 years. Please register for this program.
In-person programs will take place at the Newbury Town Library, in the Lois M. Anderson Community Room, unless noted otherwise. All programs are funded by the Friends of the Newbury Town Library. Please register for the preceding programs at www.newburylibrary.org/events .
For any questions, please reach out to Assistant Director Katherine Szuplat at 978-465-0539. For a current/updated calendar of all events, please visit www.newburylibrary.org . Attendees do not need to be a Byfield or Newbury resident.