Meetup @ the Library

Learn more and register through the library's website: https://berlinpeck.org/events/saturday-morning-book-club-2026-05-16/

Join us for a discussion of The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Contact the library for a copy of the book.

About the Book
A gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen–one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Want to attend online?
If you would like to attend virtually via Zoom, please let us know at least two days in advance. Call us at 860-828-7126 or email us at library@berlinpeck.org for the Zoom link.

RSVP to Patty O’Brian: 203-859-1992

Build a support system with people who understand. Alzheimer’s Association® caregiver support groups, conducted by trained facilitators, are a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to:

• Develop a support system.
• Exchange practical information on caregiving challenges and possible solutions.
• Talk through issues and ways of coping.
• Share feelings, needs and concerns.
• Learn about community resources.

Meets on the third Mondays of every month.

Facilitated by Patty O’Brian, CDP, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.

Sponsored by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Association.

You MUST call the library (860-828-7126) to reserve your spot. RSVP through social media will NOT reserve an appointment for you.

Berlin-Peck has partnered with the Connecticut Bar Association to offer one-on-one volunteer legal services.

The program allows members of the public to register for free legal advice in the areas of landlord/tenant, immigration, family, employment, consumer rights, and personal injury.
Sessions are currently provided in English only.

Learn more and register through the library's website: https://berlinpeck.org/events/cookbook-club-2026-05-18/

Do you enjoy flipping through cookbooks to decide what to make?
Do you search through recipes for inspiration?
Come join our monthly book club, featuring cookbooks! Just register, pick a recipe from the specified cookbook, make the dish on your own, and then gather for a feast. While you eat, you can discuss the cookbook, its recipes and the process of choosing what to make and how to make it. We will aim to evenly distribute the recipes among starters and sides, main courses, and desserts.
You do not need to be an experienced cook, just an enthusiastic one!

How Do I Participate?
Register for the program.
Visit the Adult Reference Desk to view the cookbook and pick a recipe. Some copies are available to borrow.
Let us know which recipe you picked. You can call, email, or visit in person.
Then bring in your dish for a fun potluck!

About the Book
This month’s theme is snacks and sweets! Choose from two different cookbooks.

Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy, Savory Recipes For 24/7 Deliciousness by Jessie Sheehan
Jessie Sheehan’s lickety-split recipes, dynamic personality, and kitchen savvy advice have made her a beloved food personality on social media. In Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy, she relies on the same assemble-in-minutes-with-everyday-ingredients mandate that has become her calling card, but now ventures into new flavor territory. Eschewing marshmallow creme in favor of pimiento cheese, Sheehan bakes up scrumptious, savory treats that are perfect for a snack board, offer sustenance for game night, and can easily stand in for lunch or grace the table at brunch.

100 Afternoon Sweets: With Snacking Cakes, Brownies, Blondies, And More by Sarah Kieffer
From Sarah Kieffer, the beloved baker behind 100 Cookies, 100 Morning Treats, and the popular Vanilla Bean Blog, come 100 recipes for the most crave-able pick-me-ups, from easy one-bowl snacking cakes and even easier no-bake bites to more involved weekend projects like Giant Pop Tarts or Sunken Chocolate Whiskey Cake.