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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260407T190000
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SUMMARY:{Afrofuturism} The Art of Storytelling: Rewriting the Pop Culture Script
DESCRIPTION: Tuesday\, April 7\, 2026 @ 7 PM via Zoom\nFreedom fighter. Activist. Singer. Builder. Time traveler. Disruptor. Iconic. Designer. Afrofuturism encompasses all of these descriptors that contribute to it being a multi-faceted identity.\n\n\nThis presentation takes listeners on a journey that shares varying ways to engage with how Afrofuturism continues to embody the above descriptors\, center Black stories\, while also culturally evolving within the pop culture landscape. In this talk\, Dr. Gipson explores the blossoming relationship between Afrofuturism and pop culture as seen through literature\, fashion\, architecture\, comics\, film & television\, and music.\n\n\nThis event is co-sponsored by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and the Pennington Public Library as part of the “Beyond the Page” community reading initiative.\n\n\nAbout the Presenter: Grace D. Gipson\, PhD\, is an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University specializing in Black media and pop culture. She is the author of the forthcoming book “Reclaiming Her Time: Exploring Black Futures in the Black Female Superhero” and is featured in the Audible series “From the Wiz to Wakanda.” Find her co-hosting the podcast Conversations with Beloved and Kindred or sharing insights at blackfuturefeminist.com.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/afrofuturism-the-art-of-storytelling-rewriting-the-pop-culture-script/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260324T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260324T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20260311T130241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T130241Z
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SUMMARY:The Great Silence of Lichens: Biology\, Ecology\, and Listening via Zoom
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday\, March 24\, 2026 @ 7 PM via zoom\nRegistration Required\n\n\nWhat do lichens—those quiet crusts on rocks and trees—have to do with intelligence\, communication\, and loss? Lichens are not single organisms but living partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic partners\, thriving in some of the harshest environments on Earth and recording ecological change over centuries. Their slow growth\, long lives\, and sensitivity to disturbance make them powerful indicators of what we notice—and what we overlook—in the natural world.\n\n\nIn this online talk\, biologist and author Dennis Waters explores the remarkable biology and ecology of lichens through the lens of Ted Chiang’s acclaimed short story The Great Silence. No background in biology or literary theory is required—just curiosity about the living world and the stories we tell about it.\n\n\nAbout Our Presenter: Dennis Waters is a retired Internet publisher. He recently stepped down after 12 years of service as Lawrence Township Historian. Currently he is a visiting scientist at the Chrysler Herbarium at Rutgers University. Dennis serves as president of the Lawrence Township Environmental Education Foundation\, and trustee of the Lawrence Township Community Foundation.\nA Beyond The Page program in partnership between The Pennington Public Library and The Sourland Conservancy.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/the-great-silence-of-lichens-biology-ecology-and-listening-via-zoom/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20260309T144341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T144341Z
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SUMMARY:In Conversation with Dr. Cal Newport (via Zoom)
DESCRIPTION:Registration via Zoom required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QekQY1DeROCiL80vn4Cv3g\n\n\nJoin us for a fascinating Q&A with Cal Newport\, a Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University and a leading voice on the intersection of technology and ethics. As the New York Times bestselling author of eight books—including Deep Work and Slow Productivity—Dr. Newport’s work explores how to live and work with intention in an increasingly distracted world.\n\n\nBeyond his books\, which have sold over three million copies\, he is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and host of the Deep Questions podcast. We invite you to be part of the conversation: you may submit questions for Dr. Newport via the registration form or contribute them live during the event.\n\n\nThis event is part of our 2026 Beyond the Page – an initiative designed to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world\, our neighbors\, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.  The featured book Exhalation contains nine stunningly original\, provocative\, and poignant stories\, where author Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions\, along with new quandaries only he could imagine. Please visit PenningtonLibrary.org/2026BeyondThePage for a full calendar of events and more information.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/in-conversation-with-dr-cal-newport-via-zoom/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20260226T183409Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T183409Z
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SUMMARY:Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
DESCRIPTION:Registration: PenningtonLibrary.org/DemystifyingAI\n\n\nDemystifying Artificial Intelligence is an engaging and informative presentation that introduces attendees to the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI)\, how it is applied in the real world\, and why folks are excited/concerned about it as well as the implications on society. A showcase of some of the most powerful and useful AI tools will be featured—ChatGPT\, Midjourney\, Sora\, Perplexity ElevenLabs\, Adobe Firefly\, etc. \n\nOur Presenter: Eddi Khaytman\, MBA\, is a Web Developer and AI consultant. He is the owner of PromoAmbitions LLC and has been involved in the field of AI for many years.Sponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library\n\n\nThis event is part of our 2026 Beyond the Page – an initiative designed to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world\, our neighbors\, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.  The featured book Exhalation contains nine stunningly original\, provocative\, and poignant stories\, where author Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions\, along with new quandaries only he could imagine. Please visit PenningtonLibrary.org/2026BeyondThePage for a full calendar of events and more information.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/demystifying-artificial-intelligence/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251229T161327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T161327Z
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SUMMARY:Virtual Author Talk: Secrets and Second Chances with Liz Moore
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to welcome Liz Moore to discuss her latest work\, The God of the Woods\, an instant New York Times bestseller and one of NPR’s 2024 “Books We Love” highlights. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow\, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances.\n\n\nAbout the Author: Liz Moore is the author of five novels: The Words of Every Song\, Heft\, The Unseen World\, the New York Times bestselling Long Bright River\, and The God of the Woods. A winner of the 2014 Rome Prize in Literature\, she lives in Philadelphia and teaches in the MFA program in Creative Writing at Temple University.\n\n\nInformation and Registration: https://libraryc.org/penningtonlibrary/105978
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/virtual-author-talk-secrets-and-second-chances-with-liz-moore/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-23-183901.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T201500
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20260106T191724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T191724Z
UID:10037269-1768935600-1768940100@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Art Talk: Yayoi Kusama - The Moment is Imminent
DESCRIPTION:At age 92\, contemporary Japanese painter and sculptor Yayoi Kusama is having a moment—today she is one of the world’s most popular and recognizable artists. Her Infinity Mirror Rooms immersive experience installations took the world by storm in the 21st Century\, but she has been making vibrant and innovative art all along. Her artistic practice is rooted in her lifelong fascination with the natural world\, inspired by her intimate engagement with the colors\, patterns\, and life cycles of plants and flowers.\n\n\nSponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library and the Hopewell Valley Arts Council
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/art-talk-yayoi-kusama-the-moment-is-imminent/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-131513.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251229T161415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T161415Z
UID:10037252-1768917600-1768921200@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Virtual Author Talk: Nature\, Art\, and Service as Medicine with Journalist Julia Hotz
DESCRIPTION:Information and Registration: https://libraryc.org/penningtonlibrary/105403\n\n\nBe sure to jump start your new year with us as we chat virtually with journalist and author Julia Hotz about her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement\, Nature\, Art\, Service\, and Belonging.\n\n\nThe Connection Cure combines diligent science reporting\, moving patient success stories\, and surprising self-discovery to help us discover the lasting and life-changing power of social prescribing. Traditionally\, when we get sick\, health care professionals ask\, “What’s the matter with you?” But around the world\, teams of doctors\, nurses\, therapists\, and social workers have started to flip the script\, asking “What matters to you?”\n\n\nScience shows that social prescribing is effective for treating symptoms of the modern world’s most common ailments—depression\, ADHD\, addiction\, trauma\, anxiety\, chronic pain\, dementia\, diabetes\, and loneliness. By integrating age-old medicines like art\, nature\, movement\, and volunteer service into patient’s daily lives\, social prescriptions are radically changing health and healthcare in more than thirty countries. Julia Hotz travels around the world to survey them —sea-swimming lessons for depression\, “culture vitamins” for anxiety\,  a fishing club for ADHD\, a farm-based day-care for dementia\, a phone-buddy program for social isolation\, and many more.\n\n \n\n\nAs the first book on social prescribing\, The Connection Cure empowers you to find\, experience\, and implement this revolutionary medicine in your own community. The success stories Julia finds bring a long-known theory to life: if we can change our environment\, we can change our health. By reconnecting to what matters to us\, we can all start to feel better.\n\n\nRegister today to find out how you can use the wisdom of social prescribing to live your best life!\n\n\nAbout the Author: Julia Hotz is a solutions focused journalist based in New York. Her stories have appeared in The New York Times\, WIRED\, Scientific American\, The Boston Globe\, Time\, and more. She helps other journalists report on the big new ideas changing the world at the Solutions Journalism Network. The Connection Cure is her first book.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/virtual-author-talk-nature-art-and-service-as-medicine-with-journalist-julia-hotz/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-23-183322-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T193000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251217T213059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T213059Z
UID:10037248-1768413600-1768419000@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:FREE Native Gardening Educational Video Call
DESCRIPTION:Learn how to grow a beautiful native garden while supporting local wildlife. Join our Native Seed Sowing event series—great for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.\n • Native Plant Gardening 101\n • How to choose the right plants\n • Preventing common seed-starting problems\n\n\nRSVP for your link to join.  It’s free!  tinyurl.com/NativeSeeds2026
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/free-native-gardening-educational-video-call/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Extravaganza-Video-Call-BUILD-YOUR-BEST-GARDEN-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251215T145330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T145330Z
UID:10037246-1767812400-1767816000@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Beginning Genealogy: Starting Your Family Tree
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, January 7\, 2026 @ 7 pm via Zoom\nRegistration Required: Please see the Pennington Public Library’s website\, https://www.penningtonlibrary.org/ to register.\n\n\nIf you’re just getting started with family history\, this presentation is for you! Together\, we’ll walk through the basic steps\, so you can feel confident as you begin your research. You’ll get help choosing family tree software\, and we’ll explore the many kinds of records that can reveal your ancestors’ stories—like census pages\, military files\, courthouse papers\, and old newspapers. Direct links to the most helpful free and subscription genealogy sites in the US will also be shared\, so you’ll know exactly where to look. With practical suggestions from an experienced genealogy librarian\, you’ll have everything you need to get started on the right track.\n\n\nAbout the Presenter: Archivist\, librarian\, and genealogist Nancy Loe has been helping researchers with their family trees since 1977. She specializes in US and European family history research\, presenting at webinars and conferences in the US\, Canada\, and Australia. Nancy’s genealogy e-books and free monthly newsletter are available at sassyjanegenealogy.com. Nancy works on her own tree in the US\, Prussia\, Scotland\, Austria\, Romania\, Norway\, and Sweden. As of summer 2025\, she visited all eight villages of her great-grandparents in Europe.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/beginning-genealogy-starting-your-family-tree/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-13-120219.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T110000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251118T215537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T215537Z
UID:10037221-1765967400-1765969200@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Sensory Play Group: Tiny Tots Big Senses
DESCRIPTION:This special playgroup will be led by Liz Kidney\, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Tiny Tots Big Senses. Each playgroup is designed to engage all the senses through hands-on play\, movement\, music and connection. Join us!\n\n\nRegistration Required: PenningtonLibrary.org/SensoryPlayGroup\n\n\nRecommended for ages 6 months – 5 years.\nSiblings welcome.\n\n\nAbout Our Presenter: Liz Kidney is a pediatric occupational therapist & founder of Tiny Tots Big Senses. This neuro-affirming\, strengths-based OT practice offers occupational therapy services & sensory playgroups. Visit TinyTotsBigSenses.com to learn more!
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/sensory-play-group-tiny-tots-big-senses/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-18-162208.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T190000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251120T212053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T212053Z
UID:10037227-1764874800-1764874800@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Through the Eyes of the Artist: Norman Rockwell
DESCRIPTION:Art Historian Felicia Z. Stadelman showcases the life and works of Norman Rockwell — not the image he presents in his pictures\, but his much more complex life filled with twists and turns. Few people really know very much about the man who tells stories in his paintings. Sponsored by Friends of the West Windsor Library. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/through-the-eyes-of-the-artist-norman-rockwell/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
CATEGORIES:library,Mercer County,virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/law3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251120T203047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T203047Z
UID:10037226-1764684000-1764687600@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Virtual Author Talk: Scheming Wives and High-Stakes Hilarity with Author Sue Hincenbergs
DESCRIPTION:Buckle up for a wild ride and join us as we sit down for an online chat with debut author Sue Hincenbergs to discuss her novel The Retirement Plan\, in which murder is the name of the game. When the only thing standing between three best friends and a sunny beachfront retirement condo are their husbands\, what ensues is a diabolical plan to collect on their spouses’ life insurance policies.\n\n\nBrought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.\nSponsored by a generous donation from the Pennington First Aid Squad.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/virtual-author-talk-scheming-wives-and-high-stakes-hilarity-with-author-sue-hincenbergs/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-20-145810.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251022T005254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T192657Z
UID:10037185-1763060400-1763064000@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Author Talk: The Search for Truth & the Persistence of Love Across Time with Novelist Amanda Peters
DESCRIPTION:Join us in an online conversation with acclaimed writer Amanda Peters as we discuss her instant bestselling novel\, The Berry Pickers\, as well as her tender short fiction collection\, Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories.\n\n\nInfluenced by Peters’ own Mi’kmaq heritage\, The Berry Pickers is a riveting exploration of family\, grief\, and the bonds we share.\n\n\nJuly 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later\, four-year-old Ruthie\, the family’s youngest child\, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother\, Joe\, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.\n\n\nIn Maine\, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant\, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older\, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition\, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.\n\n \n\n\nAbout the Author: Amanda Peters is a mixed-race woman of Mi’kmaq and European ancestry\, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley\, Nova Scotia. Her short fiction and non-fiction have been published in The Antigonish Review\, Grain Magazine\, The Alaska Quarterly Review\, The Dalhousie Review\, and Filling Station Magazine.\n\n\nAmanda’s first novel\, The Berry Pickers\, was a finalist for the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize in Canada\, and won the Barnes and Noble Discover Prize and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction in the US. The Berry Pickers won the Dartmouth Book Award and the Crime Writers of Canada First Crime Novel Award\, and has been translated into sixteen languages around the world. Her most recent book of short fiction\, Waiting for the Long Night Moon\, was published August\, 2024 to critical acclaim.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/author-talk-the-search-for-truth-the-persistence-of-love-across-time-with-novelist-amanda-peters/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
CATEGORIES:library,virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-21-180057.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251023T192803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T192803Z
UID:10037184-1761746400-1761750000@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Author Talk: Courtly Intrigue & Whispers as Weapons with Historical Fiction Queen Philippa Gregory
DESCRIPTION:Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction\,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor.\n\n\nJane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor Court\, where secrets are currency\, every choice is dangerous\, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane\, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts\, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power\, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword\, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her\, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.\n\n\nWith a rich tapestry of new historical insights and lyrical language honed over decades of writing\, Gregory’s return to the Tudors is a new definition of this most fascinating era. As the world becomes more extreme and unpredictable\, Jane’s story of survival and ingenuity offers a compelling parallel\, serving as both a powerful historical narrative and an echo of the challenges we face. This is a riveting tale of loyalty and betrayal\, ambition and love—one that should not be missed by readers this fall.\n\n\nAbout the Author: Dr. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel\, Wideacre\, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide\, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels\, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.\n\n \n\n\nDr. Gregory studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University\, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016\, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018\, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021\, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia\, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/author-talk-courtly-intrigue-whispers-as-weapons-with-historical-fiction-queen-philippa-gregory/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
CATEGORIES:free,library,Mercer County,virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-21-171759.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20251006T151027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T151027Z
UID:10037157-1761247800-1761251400@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats
DESCRIPTION:On October 23rd at 7:30 PM via Zoom\, join bat scientist Dr. Alyson Brokaw on a journey into the world of bats—just in time for Bat Week (October 24-31)! From vampires that drink blood to speed racers that can fly almost 100 miles per hour\, bats are fascinating and unique creatures. They’re also vital to our environment\, helping pollinate plants\, disperse seeds\, and control pesky insect populations. Learn about the bats in our community\, threats like white-nose syndrome\, and the important role these remarkable flying mammals play in our local ecosystem.\n\n\nAbout the Presenter\n\n\nDr. Aylson Brokaw is an Assistant Professor in Biology at Cedar Crest College\, where she is studying bat ecology and animal foraging behavior. She completed her PhD in the Smotherman lab at Texas A&M University.Dr. Brokaw’s dissertation research focused on understanding how bats use smell while foraging\, with an emphasis on the behavioral strategies they use to locate odor sources. She is also broadly interested in animal decision-making\, social interactions\, and the evolutionary morphology of bats and other mammals.\n\n\nFree registration: https://tinyurl.com/dv65dakb \n\n \n\n\nAbout DRGP\n\n\nThe Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) periodically sponsors lectures about different aspects of the Delaware River’s cultural\, recreational\, and natural heritage. An environmental nonprofit\, DRGP supports the Delaware River Scenic Byway\, the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River\, the Delaware River Water Trail\, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail.\n\n\nTo view previous Heritage Lectures\, visit https://www.youtube.com/@delawarerivergp.\n\n\nIf you enjoy our Heritage Lectures\, please donate https://delawarerivergreenwaypartnership.org/index.php/donate.\n\n\nThank you to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources for financial support of the 2025 Heritage Lectures.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-bats/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20250928T235449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250928T235449Z
UID:10037146-1760097600-1760101200@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Lunch & Learn: Nature Programs at Washington Crossing - 2025 & Beyond
DESCRIPTION:Join us on October 10th via Zoom as Joe Moore unveils the exciting vision for Washington Crossing State Park\, NJ\, outlining new programs and projects for the rest of this year and into 2026.\n\n\nThis year\, immerse yourself in the natural world with outings focused on local ecology\, the magnificent journey of migratory birds\, the vital work of pollinators\, the fantastic world of fungi\, and the impressive spectacle of birds of prey!\n\n\nLooking ahead to 2026\, we’ll delve into the park’s rich history with special programming tied to Washington’s crossing of the Delaware.\n\n\nJoe will also discuss how you can get involved through new volunteer opportunities\, conservation management\, and other impactful projects that will shape the park’s future.\n\n \n\n\nAbout Our Presenter: Growing up in South Jersey near a steady stream\, Naturalist Joe Moore developed a strong curiosity about the natural and cultural world. With a lifelong love for history and supportive parents\, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Rowan University in 2014. A year later\, Joe enrolled in American Public University’s Environmental Management program\, completing his Master of Science degree in 2017. Blending his interests in history and nature\, Joe went on to work at several non-profits focused on conservation and preserving coastal heritage along the Jersey Shore through eco-tourism. In the summer of 2025\, he accepted the position of Naturalist at Washington Crossing State Park\, where he plans to offer a wide range of outdoor programs and hikes while the Nature Center undergoes upgrades.\n\n\nRegistration is required.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/lunch-learn-nature-programs-at-washington-crossing-2025-beyond/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T175937
CREATED:20250925T173616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T173616Z
UID:10037143-1759413600-1759417200@mercerme.com
SUMMARY:Nuestra América: Stories of 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States with Smithsonian Educators
DESCRIPTION:Join us in conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss Nuestra América and highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history\, as well as their incredible contributions to the cultural\, social\, and political character of the United States.\n\n\nThe stories in Nuestra América cover each figure’s cultural background and childhood\, and their accomplishments or contributions to American history. A glossary of terms and discussion question-filled reading guide\, created by the National Museum of the American Latino\, encourages further research and exploration. The museum has featured twenty-three of these stories in its exhibition ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States\, the first exhibition to feature U.S. Latino history at the national level.\n\n\nFeaturing beautifully illustrated portraits by Gloria Félix\, this is a book that children (and adults) will page through and learn from again and again. A must have for every school and home library to help students understand the American story!\n\n\nRegister today to learn more about the rich history of Nuestra América!\n\n \n\n\nAbout the Presenters:\n\n\n \n\n\nAdrián Aldaba\, a Chicago native\, is the national programs manager for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino. In this capacity\, he serves audiences of all ages by bringing the Latino Museum’s programs and content to communities where they live and thrive outside of the Washington\, D.C. area. He does this through the museum’s national leadership\, family\, and public programs for adults and intergenerational audiences. He also supports national K-12 efforts facilitating teacher workshops connecting the museum’s literacy initiatives and resources to educators across the nation. Aldaba co-authored Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums\, a free resource released by the American Alliance of Museums Latino Network. Aldaba joined the Smithsonian more than a decade ago after working as a research assistant for the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. He earned his A.B. cum laude in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard College.\n\n\n \n\n\nEmily Key is the assistant director of Learning and Public Engagement at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino where she developed the museum’s learning continuum and education vision centered on creating opportunities for visitors to experience\, learn\, reflect\, and transform by sparking curiosity and encouraging life-long learning. Key oversees national bilingual programming\, community engagement\, K-12 aligned educator resources\, publications\, and the Young Ambassadors Program\, a nationally recognized youth leadership program. Key is also responsible for the creation of the General Motors Learning Lounge and its correlative educational programming for the museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery that opened in June 2022. Prior to the museum\, she led education efforts for the Smithsonian Latino Center and worked in the education department of the National Air and Space Museum. Key holds a graduate certificate in arts and culture strategy from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the George Washington University.
URL:https://mercerme.com/event/nuestra-america-stories-of-30-inspiring-latinas-latinos-who-have-shaped-the-united-states-with-smithsonian-educators/
LOCATION:Zoom Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mercerme.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-131335-1.png
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