Activity

Former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief, Jill Dougherty, will be at Essex Library to discuss her recently released book, My Russia. My Russia reveals Dougherty’s transformative journey from a Cold War–era obsession with Russia to witnessing firsthand the rise of Vladimir Putin and the unraveling of a nation she grew to love. My Russia charts Russia’s evolution through the eyes of an American with rare insight into Russia, its people, and its leaders. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing at the event. Light refreshments will be provided. This program is FREE and open to ALL at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. About Jill Dougherty Jill Dougherty was a CNN correspondent for over thirty years. She is now a CNN on-air contributor, reporting and analyzing events in Russia and the region. She was CNN’s Moscow bureau chief for almost a decade and served as CNN’s White House correspondent, US affairs editor, managing editor for the Asia/Pacific region, and foreign affairs correspondent covering the US State Department. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a global fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East […]

Felicia Millet, a plant diagnostician with the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, will be onsite at Essex Library to present “Growing Mountain Laurels in Connecticut.” Mountain Laurel was named the state flower of Connecticut in 1907 and has continued to captivate residents ever since. This presentation will include a discussion of the history of these native plants, cultivar descriptions, tips on planting, as well as which pests and diseases to look out for. This program is made possible through a collaboration of Essex Library and the Essex Land Trust. This program is FREE and open to ALL at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. Register online at www.youressexlibrary.org or by calling the library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Gather 'round the (pretend) campfire for a cozy camping-themed story time filled with stories, songs, and outdoor adventure fun! Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opposites, the ABCs and much more, to prepare our pre-school age children for kindergarten. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register!

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! No registration necessary, drop in! For the movie title, call the library at 860-767-1560 or check the library's events calendar at www.youressexlibrary.org

Program for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers, siblings welcome. Wiggle Worms is a play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. www.youressexlibrary.org

Grab a friend and “rejoicify” with us during a special sing-along showing of a ‘popular’ 2024 PG movie musical. Come in costume (if you’d like), sing along (or just watch!), make friendship bracelets, and enjoy an afternoon to remember! Movie snacks will be provided. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register!

Essex Historical Society and Essex Library Association invite children and young adults ages 8-18, with their guardians, to join the Digging for Good team from Haddam, CT to metal detect and ‘dig’ on Hills Academy’s historic grounds. Digging for Good will bring a number of metal detecting tools and lead the search to find metal objects buried in the front lawn of 1832 Hill's Academy: a former school that operated for at least 80 years.  Anything found will be donated to Essex Historical Society, and may later be placed on exhibit.  Digging for Good may take photos and videos of interesting finds for their You Tube channel. This program is a partnership between EHS, Digging for Good, and Essex Library Association. You must REGISTER for this event through Essex Library so that we may contact participants in the case of inclement weather. Please dress for the outdoors and wear sturdy shoes and sunscreen, as needed. Hills Academy History Center is located at 22 Prospect Street in Essex, CT. Parking is in the back of the building. Questions? Contact Outreach Coordinator, Kate Savage

Essex Historical Society and Essex Library Association invite children and young adults ages 8-18, with their guardians, to join the Digging for Good team from Haddam, CT to metal detect and ‘dig’ on Pratt House’s historic grounds. Digging for Good will bring a number of metal detecting tools and lead the search to find objects buried in Pratt’s two-acre property, which was once part of a 12 acre farm dating from 1701. Anything found will be donated to Essex Historical Society, and may later be placed on exhibit.  Digging for Good may take photos and videos of interesting finds for their You Tube channel. This program is a partnership between EHS, Digging for Good, and Essex Library Association. You must REGISTER for this event through Essex Library so that we may contact participants in the case of inclement weather. Please dress for the outdoors and wear sturdy shoes and sunscreen, as needed. Pratt House is located at 19 West Avenue in Essex, CT. All necessary equipment will be provided. Questions? Contact Outreach Coordinator, Kate Savage