Racial struggles in the Northeast
From Brooklyn to Boston, from World War II to the present, Jason Sokol traces the modern history of race and politics in the Northeast during All Eyes Are Upon Us: Racial Struggles in the Northeast, from Jackie Robinson to Deval Patrick on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
Why did white fans come out to support Jackie Robinson as he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 even as Brooklyn’s Blacks were shunted into segregated neighborhoods? How was African-American politician Ed Brooke of Massachusetts, who won a Senate seat in 1966, undone by the resistance to desegregation busing in Boston? Is the Northeast’s history a microcosm of America as a whole: outwardly democratic, but inwardly conflicted over race?
Register online to attend this virtual program at concordpubliclibrary.net/library calendar
Living history: Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Sheryl Faye presents a Historical Women program, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “I Dissent” on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Heights Community Center Auditorium.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was a champion of fairness and equality. Sheryl Faye brings Ruth Bader Ginsburg to life with her amazing performance. Registration is required at concordpubliclibrary.net/library calendar
New England’s colonial meetinghouses
New England’s colonial meetinghouses embody an important yet little-known chapter in American history. Built mostly with tax money, they served as both places of worship and places for town meetings, and were the centers of life in colonial New England communities.
Using photographs of the few surviving “mint condition” meetinghouses as illustrations, Paul Wainwright tells the story of the society that built and used them, and the lasting impact they have had on American culture on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. at Bow Old Town Hall. This program is hosted by Bow Young at Heart. Visit nhhumanities.org for more information.
Author visit at Gibson’s
New Hampshire author Rebecca Kaiser Gibson (Girl as Birch) visits Gibson’s Bookstore virtually to present her new novel, The Promise of a Normal Life on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
For readers of Marilynne Robinson, Elizabeth Strout, and Katie Kitamura, the indelible journey of a quiet young woman — the “silent person” in the Seder — finding her way. Hailed as “radiant and transporting” (Margot Livesey), The Promise of a Normal Life is a poet’s debut novel, so evocative of life as lived that it transports you to a time and place you can practically see, touch, and feel.
For more information, visit gibsonsbookstore.com/event/promise-of-a-normal-life
Learn about PFML in NH
Register for this complimentary webinar to hear about the NH Paid Family and Medical Leave Plan (NH PFML), a new voluntary employee benefit available to NH employers and employees on Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.
Information will be presented by Catherine Keane, Deputy Commissioner of the NH Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Richard Lavers, Deputy Commissioner of the NH Employment Security (NHES). Visit concordnhchamber.com to register.
Ice Castles open
Each year, Ice Castles brings fairy tales to life for hundreds of thousands of families across North America. Among the states with locations is New Hampshire. The icy slides, caverns, tunnels and light walk can be found at 24 Clark Farm Rd., North Woodstock. It is strongly encouraged to book your tickets in advance. Children 4 to 11 are $22 and ages 12 and up are $29.
