Poetry Contest Winners 2013

The following poetry writers have placed for their entry in Hamilton-Wenham Library’s 3^rd Annual Teen Poetry Contest.  49 poems were entered in this year’s contest: 31 were from middle school age writers (17 of the 31 are Miles River students); 18 poems were from high school age writers (8 of the 18 are Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School students). The scores were very close. 

• Best Entry Grades 6-8, Sebastian Carpenter, (Brookwood), for “The Squirrel.” 
• Second Place Grades 6-8, Shayne Bower, (Homeschooled), for “Doe.” 
• Honorable Mention Grades 6-8, Annabelle Platt, (Ipswich M.S.), for “We are the Seasons.” 
• Best Entry Grades 9-12, Victoria Arakelian, (HWRHS), for “Fauna.” 
• Second Place Grades 9-12, Chip Cring, (HWRHS), for “The First Step.” 
• Honorable Mention, Grades 9-12, Fiona Worsfold, (HWRHS), for “ Frost.” 
• Director’s Choice Award, Zachary Vaneck, (Waring), for “Lost.”

The Director’s Choice is awarded by Hamilton-Wenham Library’s Director, Jan Dempsey. After Best Entry, Second Place, and Honorable Mention poems have been scored by the Library’s 3 contest judges, the Director chooses her favorite from the remaining poems.

Following are the questions from the rubric used by the judges to score the poems:

• Did the poem have an animal or nature theme? 
• Does the poem describe thoughts, feelings, or actions in a new or original way? Does it use fresh words or phrases to create a vivid image? 
• Consider the poem's complexity: Is it thought provoking? Does it have layered meaning? Are there allusions, irony, nuances? 
• Was the poem enjoyable to read aloud? Does it have a rhythmic cadence?

You are invited to attend the Poetry Contest Reception this Thursday, May 16, at 7pm, at the Hamilton-Wenham Library.  There will be refreshments, a free raffle, and this year’s speaker: Dan Sklar.

Poetry Contest Reception

Thursday, May 16, 2013, 7:00pm to 8:30pm

The featured speaker at the 2013 Poetry Contest Reception will be Dan Sklar.  At Endicott College, Mr. Sklar teaches his students to love language and to write in an original, natural, and spontaneous way. Recent publications include Harvard Review, New York Quarterly, Ibbetson Street Press, and The Art of the One Act. His play, "Lycanthropy" was performed at the Boston Theater Marathon in May 2012, and was reviewed in the Boston Globe, May 22, 2012.  

Mr. Sklar was one of the three judges for the poetry contest and has taken one line, from each of the 49 poems that were submitted, to create a new poem, which he will read at the Reception.  Following Mr. Sklar’s presentation, poetry contest winners will read or recite their poem aloud.

Summer Programs for Teens

2013 Summer Programs 

for Teens on THURSDAYS at the 

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 10 AM to 5 PM

RED CROSS BABYSITTING COURSE

For students 11 years of age and older. Taught by Red Cross instructors. Cost is $85, payable to the American Red Cross. Check is due at time of registration.  Register at the Library's 2nd floor Reference desk. 

A course designed by the American Red Cross to prepare youth with the training every parent wants in a babysitter: safety, basic child care, safe play, first aid and critical emergency skills, and professional leadership and care-giving skills.
In class, you learn how to:

• Respond to emergencies with first aid.
• Make good decisions under pressure.
• Communicate effectively with parents.
• Recognize safety and hygiene issues.
• Manage young children.
• Feed, diaper and care for infants.
• Start your babysitting business.

Each participant receives a complete Babysitter’s Training Participant’s Set, as well as the certificate which does not expire. ARC will mail certificates to the Library after the course. Participants must then come to the Library's Reference desk to pick up their certificate.

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THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM and

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM 

MACRO/CLOSE UP PHOTOGRAPHY 

WORKSHOP & EXHIBIT

Join Toni Carolina for a two part photography workshop for teens. 

1st part meets on Thurs., July 11, 2pm to 3:30pm

This session will focus on how to shoot macro and close up images using your camera. Bring a camera with a macro lens or macro function setting.  You must also bring a tripod or a couple of bags of rice or beans to steady the camera shots.

2nd part meets on Thursday, July 25, 2pm to 3pm

This session will be so that you can bring your printed macro or close up images to the Library, to mount and hang in a show in the Young Adult area of the Library.

Open to teens 12-18 years old or to students entering grades 6-12 in 2012

Limited to 12 participants.  There is no charge to attend.

To attend: register at the Reference desk, or call 978-468-5577.

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 7 PM to 9 PM

GRAVESTONE GIRLS present:

WELCOME TO THE GRAVEYARD

Learn about cemetery art, history and symbolism with a local twist.  Looking from colonial times to 21st century locations, we'll examine why we have cemeteries & gravestones and why they look like they do.  Be inspired to explore graveyards on your own with a greater appreciation and understanding.

This program is for teens and adults. 

There is no charge to attend.

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THURSDAY, JULY 25, 6 PM to 8 PM

MINECRAFT at the LIBRARY

Play Minecraft at the Library.  This program will be run by members of the Teen Think Tank (the Library's teen advisory board). You must sign up to attend: 
at the Reference desk on the 2nd floor 
-or- call 978-468-5577 and ask to sign up for Minecraft.
To participate: bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership.
Beginners and advance players welcome.  
Pizza and drinks will be provided.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 7 PM to 9 PM 
PASTEL WORKSHOP for Teens and Adults 

Participants will receive a hands-on experience of basic pastel painting, as well as advanced techniques, using professional grade materials with award-winning artist, Gregory Maichack.

This workshop is designed for beginners to advanced participants who want to paint expressively. Maichack, a faculty member of the Springfield Museum Studio School, will explain Post Impressionist concepts and then start you off by sharing a fearless approach to drawing. Then work in tandem with Greg to draw van Gogh's Starry Night with white charcoal pencils on black paper.

Also, van Gogh’s painting Terrace of a Café at Night (Place du Forum) will be explored and displayed in a large format to paint from, enabling further mastery of van Gogh’s unique vision. A demo of pastel handling techniques that allow a command of edges, scumbling, blending, slurring, and layering, and a demonstration of various strokes will fully illustrate van Gogh’s successful expressive methods. 

This workshop includes all materials:
Indigo paper, white charcoal pencils, black paper, Rembrandt soft pastels, Nupastels, French and English pastel pencils, assorted colored mid-toned Canson pastel paper and other materials.

Class size is limited to 30.   To attend register at the Reference desk on the 2nd floor of the Library, or call 978-468-5577.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hamilton-Wenham Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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5 THURSDAYS, AUGUST 1 to 29, 2 PM to 3 PM

INTRODUCTION TO MARTIAL ARTS: 
SOO BAHK DO MOO DUK KWAN  

This 5-week program will introduce the beginner student to the classical Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. Boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 17 are invited to participate in a short series of classes held on Thursdays, 2pm to 3pm, through the month of August, which will expose them to the many benefits of this ancient form of self defense.

Soo Bahk Do is a relatively modern martial art although its tradition and history date back many centuries. Developed by the late Grandmaster Hwang Kee. 

Soo Bahk Do is both a hard and soft style. Its kicking techniques for which it is renowned is only a small part of its effective combat application.
Moo Duk Kwan is the school of philosophy through which Soo Bahk Do is practiced. Translated as “school of martial virtue,” Moo Duk Kwan gives the direction and focus to our mental training.
Together, their purpose is to develop every aspect of the self in order to create a mature person who totally integrates his/her intellect, body, emotions and spirit.

The course will be taught by Master James Harwood, a 6th Degree Certified Master Instructor with more than 30 years of training and teaching experience in Soo Bahk Do. He is married and the father of two sons who also train and teach the art form. Formerly owner/chief instructor of The Karate Center (Bay State Soo Bahk Do) of Middleton, Massachusetts, he has now focused his energy in offering the same quality instruction here in Hamilton.

To attend please register at the Reference Desk located on the 2nd floor of the Library, or call the Reference Desk at 978-468-5577.  Class size is limited to 15 participants. There is no charge to attend.  This class requires participants to wear athletic clothing such as sweatpants, yoga pants, or shorts.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 6 PM to 8 PM

MINECRAFT at the LIBRARY

Play Minecraft at the Library.  This program will be run by members of the Teen Think Tank (the Library's teen advisory board). You must sign up to attend: 
at the Reference desk on the 2nd floor 
-or- call 978-468-5577 and ask to sign up for Minecraft.

To participate: bring your own laptop and have an active Minecraft membership.
Beginners and advance players welcome.  
Pizza and drinks will be provided.