VIDEO: A Challenge Made ... And Accepted

Lexington has accepted Arlington's 'Library Card Challenge.' Belmont and Somerville have, too.

Ryan Livergood, the director of Robbins Library -- Arlingotn's Public Library -- recently issued a challenge to his colleagues in the surrounding communities. Livergood wanted to see which community could increase its new library card registration the most in February (percentage increase this February, compared to February 2012). “When I started as library director in April of 2012,” Livergood said, “one of the things I wanted to do was get out in our community and remind people of the value of a library card.” Belmont’s library director, Maureen Conners, Lexington’s Koren Stembridge and Somerville’s Maria Carpenter all accepted Livergood’s challenge. And, at a Thursday press conference at Robbins Library, the stakes were laid out: The …

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Five Things: Eating for Autism, a Budget Summit and More

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Jan. 16 in and around Lexington.

1. Your Hunger Could Help Support Children with Autism: Eat at Margaritas between 4 and 10 p.m. tonight and 15 percent of your pre-taxed food and beverage sales will go to Friends of Lurie, Inc., an organization that supports  the clinical program at the Lurie Center for Autism at Mass General Hospital for Children. Here's the catch: You have to make sure to let the host or server know that you are there to support the FOL fundraiser. Need a reminder? Print out the PDF posted to your right. 2. Budget Collaboration: At 7 p.m. at the DPW Building, the Board of Selectmen and School, Appropriation and Capital Expenditures committees will hold their fourth budget summit and the agenda includes a review of the proposed fiscal 2014 budget, …

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Five Things: 300th Community Meetings and Peter Spiers' 'Master Class'

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Jan. 9 in Concord.

1. Lexington's 300th Community Meetings: For folks who’d like to get involved, or who are simply curious about the 300th Committee’s plans for the spring, two Community Meetings will be held at the Lexington Depot at 9 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. today. 2. Lexington Field & Garden Club Meeting & Program: "Plant Hunters: Historical and Modern Searchers for New Plants" will be presented by Nancy Hubert during the program part of this morning's of the Lexington Field and Garden Club, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the National Heritage Museum.  3. Peter Spiers' Master Class: At 7 p.m. tonight, Cary Memorial Library welcomes Lexington author Peter Spiers, the senior vice Ppresident of Road Scholar, who will discuss his new book, Master Class: Living…

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Five Things: Library Book Sale and a Concert to Benefit Alzheimer's

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know today in Lexington.

1. Book Sale at Cary Library: The Friends of Cary Memorial Library will hold a Gently Used Book Sale in the meeting room on the lower level of the library beginning today, Nov. 16, and running through the weekend. Hours for members only (you can join at the door) are Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Open to the public on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. 2. Concert to Benefit Alzheimer's Association: At 6:30 p.m. tonight at the National Heritage Museum, the Liberty Alzheimer Partnership of Greater Concord presents jazz pianist and Acton physician, Elliot Steger, and his Jazz Trio in the 10th annual concert to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Called “The Color of the Night is Purple,” the …

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Five Things: Cary Memorial Library Launches Science Cafe Series

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know today in Lexington.

1. Cary Memorial Library Launches Science Cafe Series: At 7 p.m. this evening, Cary Library will host Dr. Angela Belcher as the special guest scientist for the 'kickoff' of the Science Cafe series, which brings local scientists face-to-face with the general public, for a lively and interactive scientific discussion, in a casual setting. 2. The Cuban Missile Crisis: 50 Year Anniversary: Also at 7 p.m. tonight, Lexington Community Education will present "The Cuban Missile Crisis: 50 Year Anniversary," a program in which former Kennedy Administration official and Lexington resident Dan Fenn, along with Tom Putnam, the current Kennedy Library Director, will recount how the crisis unfolded using unique archival video and audio (including …

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Five Things: Collecting Socks and Athletic Equipment for Charity

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know today in Lexington.

1. Coaches Across Continents Soccer Equipment Donation Drive at Tricon Sports: In case you missed it the other day, Tricon Sports is accepting new and gently used soccer equipment to benefit the nonprofit Coaches Across Continents, which seeks to use sport educate athletes and leaders in Africa. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Greenways Corridor Committee's Across Lexington subcommittee at 4 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Board of Cary Library Trustees at 5 p.m. at Cary Memorial Library, the AdHoc Cary Memorial Building Program Committee at 7 p.m. at Cary Hall, the Tourism Committee's Antony Working Group at 7 p.m. at Cary Hall and the Town Celebration …

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Banned Books Week: What You Need to Know

Censorship is alive and well, as highlighted by Banned Books Week—and you might be surprised by who the most vocal challengers of books are.

The importance of the First Amendment and the concept of "intellectual freedom" might not always be readily apparent to most kids, but Banned Books Week is a great opportunity to make those lessons come alive for children—and adults. Banned Books Week is held annually during the last week of Sept. (Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012). The week is an occasion for libraries and bookstores across the U.S. to help folks realize just how real and ongoing a problem censorship is. More than 11,000 books have been challenged (though not necessarily successfully censored) since 1982, the inaugural year of Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the vast majority of challenges to books are initiated locally by parents, likely in …

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Sue Bruce

9:11 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012

I am unclear which of these mostly amazing, creative and historical books are actually banned. Classics such as Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, The Catcher in the Rye and many others are incredible works. Admittedly, there are chapters and passages that might be difficult to comprehend for a younger/teen reader .... but that's what parents are for! To rationalize, explain, discuss and debate. …   more ›

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: Sept. 13

An author speaks about the America-China trade, an education in social media, meetings and more today in Lexington.

1. Cary Memorial Library Hosts Author Eric Jay Dolin: At 7 p.m. tonight at Cary Memorial Library, author Eric Jay Dolin will discuss his new book, When America First Met China, which recounts the opening of the America-China trade, a dramatic rendezvous between two nations, on diametrically opposed paths of destiny. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include LexHAB at 7 a.m. at the LexHAB offices; the Tree Committee at 7:30 a.m. at the DPW Building; the EDCO Collaborative at 1 p.m. at the EDCO offices in Waltham; the Police Policy Review Committee at 4 p.m. at LPD; the Water Sewer Abatment Board at 4:30 p.m. at the DPW Building; the Permanent Building Committee at 6 p.m. at the DPW …

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 23

Baseball history, charity, meetings and more today in Lexington.

1. The Story of Baseball's First Female Pitcher Told at Cary Library: At 7 p.m. tonight, Cary Memorial Library invites you to meet  Martha Ackmann, author of Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone. Stone was the first woman to play professional baseball, and ended up playing in the Negro League during the 1940s and 50s, when the women's leagues denied her because of the color of her skin. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include: LexHAB at 7 a.m. at its offices on Militia Drive; the 300th Celebration Committee at 12:30 p.m. at Cary Hall; the Town Celebrations Committee at 7 p.m. at the Town Office Building and the Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. at Cary Hall. 3. Lexington …

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Five Things You Need to Know Today: July 18

Teddy bear picnics, the hunt for Waldo, meetings and more today in Lexington.

1. Have You Joined the Hunt for Waldo? Search for Waldo and earn the chance to win a "Where's Waldo" gift package from the Elephant's Trunk Bookshop. For more information about Elephant's Trunk's month-long Waldo promotion, stop by the Lexington Center children's bookstore. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Recreation Committee's Lincoln Park Subcommittee at 4:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Park bike path entrance; the Recreation Committee at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Meadows Golf Course; the Ad Hoc Cary Memorial Building Program Committee at 6 p.m. at Cary Hall; the Energy Conservation Committee at 6 p.m. at the DPW Building and the Planning Board at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Office …

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