January film series

The theme for the 2012 January Film Series is Economic Insecurity - a topic so relevant for today. All films will be shown at the York Public Library, Saturday evenings starting at 7:00pm. A short discussion will follow each film, if people are interested to stay. Dates and details of the movies in the series are listed below. As always the films are open to everyone and there is no charge; donations are gratefully accepted.

Join us for a warm community activity on cold January nights.


January 7
Grapes of Wrath (1940 NR 129 minutes)
In this towering classic of American cinema, common man Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) leads his family on a harrowing journey from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the promise of a better life in California. Based on John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and masterfully directed by John Ford, the stirring drama also stars Oscar winner Jane Darwell as Ma Joad and John Carradine as the fallen preacher Casy.

January 14
No Place Like Home (1989 NR 93 minutes)
After their apartment burns down, Mike and Zan Cooper (Jeff Daniels and Christine Lahti) move with their two children into the home of Mike's brother, but tension between the families forces them to move on again, and a downward spiral of bad luck soon finds them homeless. While Mike desperately seeks work as an electrician, Zan takes a low-paying job as a waitress, and their son's entanglement with a drug dealer adds to their heavy burdens.

January 21
Precious (2009 R 109 Minutes)
Viciously abused by her mother (a riveting, Oscar-winning Mo'Nique) and pregnant by her father, Harlem teen Precious Jones (Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe) has an unexpected chance at a different life when she enrolls in an alternative school. Teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) encourages her, but Precious must battle unimaginable barriers everywhere in her life. Lee Daniels directs this drama that features appearances by Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz.

January 28
Winter’s Bone (2010 R 100 Minutes)
In director Debra Granik's unflinching noir drama set deep in the Ozarks, resilient teen Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing, drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the family's safety. Her deadbeat dad has a key court date pending, and Ree is determined that he show up -- despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. The film earned Oscar and Independent Spirit Award nods for Best Picture and for Lawrence.

The Worlds of Maurice Sendak

The York Public Library and the York Diversity Forum are presenting the traveling exhibit In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak. The exhibit will be at the York Public Library through August 18 and may be viewed whenever the Library is open.

The opening reception for the exhibit is Friday, July 8th, 7:00 pm. Guest Speaker will be Rabbi Lev Ba’esh.

Additional programs are also planned:
Tuesday, July12th, 7:00 pm Film - Radio Days
Tuesday, July 19th, 7:00pm Artist Panel Discussion - Art and Life: What is the Connection?
Tuesday, July 26th, 7:00 pm Film - Avalon
Tuesday, August 2nd, 7:00pm Book Discussion - Zlateh the Goat byIsaac Bashevis Singer, with discussant Sandell Morse (limited to 25). Sign up at the library after July 8th: 363-2818
Tuesday, August 9th, 7:00pm Film - The Chosen

All programs are free and held at the York Public Library, except the Panel Discussion on Tuesday, July 19th, which will be held at the York Art Assocition.


In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak was organized by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia and developed by Nextbook, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life.

Seasonal Workers Program

Once again, we've welcomed students from all over the world who have come to work in York for the summer. We have enjoyed meeting students from Lithuania, Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Bulgaria, China, Serbia, Turkey, Jamaica, and Uzbekistan.

Our first event was a party at Inn on the Blues. It was a great opportunity for the international workers to meet each other and to try some American food. Later in the summer we will also host an ice cream social and a picnic.

Swimming in Auschwitz

Saturday, April 30th Holocaust Remembrance Day 7:00 pm York Public Library 15 Long Sands Road in York Village

A film through the eyes of six Jewish women, from different countries and different backgrounds, who found themselves deported to the notorious concentration camp, Auschwitz- Birkenau. The women do not dwell on their physical hardships. Instead, they speak of camp families and faith, uplifting one another while trying to remain human. All are welcome!

Autism

Saturday, April 2 at the York Public Library, Long Sands Road, from 10am to 12 noon. Coffee will be served at 9:30am.

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, the York Diversity Forum is presenting a program on this complex group of developmental disorders. In addition to the short film “Autism Everday”, a panel of family members, moderated by Susan Macri, Director of Special Education in the York Schools, will talk about their experiences with an autistic child.

Today, one in every 100 children is diagnosed with autism. 1.5 million children in the United States and tens of millions worldwide are afflicted, with boys having a 1 in 70 rate of occurrence. Early detection by family and physicians is critical to the success of a comprehensive therapy program, which may include the entire family. Children with autism demonstrate a wide spectrum of behaviors and abilities. They live in our communities and attend our schools. While the cause of autism is not known, it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors play a part.

Several members of the Diversity Forum first met with the parents of autistic children last September. The parents shared their stories and their concerns that the general public does not understand autism. YDF is happy to be bringing their concerns and stories to a larger audience.

Please join us. Tell you friends and neighbors. Share the attached poster.

International Potluck

We had a wonderful potluck in early March - with lots of backgrounds represented: Peru, Bulgaria, Colombia, Italy, Brazil, Dominican Republic. In addition to students here in York for only a short, time, there were present and former students in ESL. Great food! Great conversation!