The Heart of the Three Village Community
Author Archive
Dinosaur-Themed Children’s Programs
In celebration of the Summer Reading theme “Unearth Your Story”, your kids will have a roaring good time at these dinosaur-themed programs:
Take & Make: SRC Dinosaur Art Community Service (Grades 3 – 5)
Monday, May 11
Get ready to roar with creativity! Kids will design colorful dinosaurs on canvas, creating awesome
dino masterpieces that will help decorate our library for the Summer Reading Challenge. Pick up your
art kit starting on Mon., May 11 and return your creative work of art by Tue., May 26. Participants will
earn two hours of community service credit. Only one kit per child. Reserve your kit here starting 5/11.
Decorating with Chef Rob: Digging for Dinosaurs Dessert Cups (Grades K – 5)
Saturday, June 6, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. OR 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Create a dessert cup to take home!
Reserve your child’s spot for the 12:00 class here starting 5/23.
Reserve your child’s spot for the 12:30 class here starting 5/23.
Petra Puppets: Fossil Funhouse (Grades K – 5)
Tuesday, June 30, 11:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Why do Pterodactyls love raviolis? How can you stop a Sneezasaurus from sneezing? Kids will uncover the answers with a cast of goofy dinosaurs, funny fossils and mysterious hidden raviolis, featuring: Grandma Pterry – the Pterodactyl, Tiny Tony- the Baby T Rex, Julius Sneezasauarus and Dennis the Prehistoric Clam. Come and have a Dino Time! Reserve your child’s spot here starting 6/16.
Check back here for more Dinosaur-themed programs in July and August!
Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month here at Emma Clark!
Cooking with Chef Rashimi: Mango Lassi and Vegetable Pakora (In-Person)
Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
In this cooking demonstration, Chef Rashmi will make a creamy, sweet and refreshing mango lassi, the iconic Indian summer drink. She will also prepare vegetable pakoras (crispy vegan fritters) served with a tangy tamarind chutney. Food samples and recipes will be provided. This program is made possible by the Philip Groia Global Studies bequest. Click here to register starting 4/20.
Evening Book Discussion: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (In-Person)
Wednesday, May 13, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m.
Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk in the Library Lobby starting 4/8.
Summary: From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean-American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up the only Asian-American kid at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the east coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, performing gigs with her fledgling band – and meeting the man who would become her husband – her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.
No registration required.
The Tenement Museum Virtual Tour: The Wong Family (Online)
Wednesday, May 27, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
A live Tenement Museum Educator will take you inside the museum’s recreated historic spaces. Explore the story of the Wongs, a Chinese American family who lived in 103 Orchard Street in the 1970s. Look at how they made a home and how their experiences reflect the growth of Chinese communities and the garment industry in New York in the wake of changing immigration laws. Click here to register starting 4/14.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Emma Clark Library Announces Winners of the 12th Annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest
Setauket, NY – March 19, 2026 –
Emma Clark Library is pleased to announce the winners for the 12th annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest:
First Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Bunny and the Bluejay by Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver (7th grader at P.J. Gelinas Middle School)
First Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): The Penguins Go to the City by Elizabeth Wright (11th grader at Ward Melville High School)
Second Prize (Grades 6 – 8 category): Ricky and the Beach by Maddex Buonaspina (7th grader at R. C. Murphy Middle School)
Second Prize (Grades 9 – 12 category): Seven Meals Around the World by Genevieve Rochlin (11th grader at The Stony Brook School)
Each of the winning entries has their own unique artwork and storylines geared towards young children. In Bunny and the Bluejay by Vivienne Rochlin-Hizver, Bunny learns how each creature is unique with their own special strengths. With delicate pen and watercolor illustrations, The Penguins Go to the City by Elizabeth Wright invites the reader to follow a group of penguins on an adventure! In Ricky and the Beach by Maddex Buonaspina, the main character is hesitant to go to the beach. Will he enjoy himself or will his fears get the best of him? Children travel around the world with Cooper the Goose in Seven Meals Around the World by Genevieve Rochlin, as they discover different culinary explorations.
The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens and tweens in grades 6 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Each entry could be the work of a single author/illustrator or a collaborative effort of an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 6 through 8 and grades 9 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.
This award is given in memory of Helen Stein Shack by her family. As a teacher, Mrs. Shack was committed to the education of children, and she especially loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to Emma Clark Library where, even in retirement, she kept current with the latest children’s books. The Library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack who have established a substantial endowment with the Library to cover the cost of the prizes.
Contest winners will be celebrated at a private awards ceremony on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Each First Prize award recipient will receive a $400 scholarship, and each Second Prize award recipient will receive a $100 scholarship. The newly bound books – made into hardcover by the Library – will have the honor of being added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection, and winners will also receive copies of their books to cherish in their own home libraries. Desserts will be served at the reception, generously donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop. Past ceremonies have had Library Board members, teachers and top school district administrators from Three Village and The Stony Brook School, as well as elected officials from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Brookhaven, all in attendance to honor the winners.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
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New Voting Machines Demo
Patrons are free to come in, learn about the machines, and test them out to prepare for the upcoming elections.
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
Join us in celebrating America’s semiquincentennial throughout the year with programs and displays for all ages!
From Sea to Shining Sea: Community Art Exhibition (All Ages)
All ages are invited to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by contributing to our Library’s collaborative art display. Each participant will create an American landscape scene on a 10×10” canvas. In June, we’ll hang all the canvases together to reveal a beautiful patchwork display in our Library Café Gallery! Here’s how to join the fun:
1. Beginning on March 16, pick up your canvas at the Library. All ages can participate! Kids pickups will take place at the Children’s Desk. Adults and Teens & Tweens pickups will take place at the Lower Level Service Desk. Please note: Registration is required for pickup. Registration will be broken down by age group: Kids, Teens & Tweens, and Adults. Register online, in person, or by phone:
Adults, click here to register now.
Teens/Tweens (Grades 6 – 12), click here to register now.
Kids, click here to register now.
2. Create your landscape at home using your favorite medium: markers, crayons, paints, pastels, mixed media, or whatever sparks your creativity! Inspired by our beautiful nation, your scene will represent an American landscape, whether the far-away beaches of Hawaii or the towering skyline of the Big Apple!
3. Return your completed canvas any time on or before May 1. Drop-offs will be accepted at any Library service desk. If you’d like to pick up your canvas after the exhibit, please be sure to write your first and last name legibly on the back.
4. Visit the Library this summer to view this collaborative project on display near the Adult Reference Desk and the Library Café. The From Sea to Shining Sea Community Art Exhibition will stay on the walls throughout the summer!
Please note: Not for Community Service Credit
PRIDE! Our Story
The History of the LGBTQ+ Movement in America
on display at Emma Clark Library from April 1 – 28
This traveling exhibit, on loan from the Huntington Public Library, honors the fearless pioneers, iconic moments, and everyday heroes who have defined more than a century of struggle and triumph.
Created by Huntington resident John N. Daniello, a graphic designer and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, the exhibit aims to educate, inspire, and preserve these vital stories for future generations.
The American Experience: American Artists Through Our History (In-Person; Adults)
Thursday, April 16, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
As we are celebrating 250 years of our nation, let us look at some of the artwork that has expressed the patchwork of voices, ideas, culture, history, and perspectives. Through the eyes of American artists, we’ll explore the American experience – social, intellectual, & cultural – with artist and professor Chris Vivas. Open to all adults. Click here to register now.
FDR’s Four Freedoms (Online; Adults)
Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
On January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt shared with the country his vision for a world founded on “four essential freedoms” – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War II, which brought about the new world order based on FDR’s Four Freedoms. This session explores the vision Roosevelt held for all the world. Led by Jeffrey Urbin, Education Specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Note: Rescheduled from October & February due to government shutdown. Open to all adults. Click here to register starting 4/14.
Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction
A Long Island Resources Council Traveling Exhibition
on display at Emma Clark Library from May 26 – June 24
This exhibit was created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History using items from their collection. It explores individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to the history of the United States.
Theodore Roosevelt on Film: The First Presidential Movie Star (In-Person; Adults)
Wednesday, June 3, 12:00 – 1:45 p.m.
The 26th President of the United States – Oyster Bay’s own Theodore Roosevelt – wowed early movie-goers with his energetic on-screen persona. The magnetic Mr. Roosevelt could have easily signed a movie contract. While Roosevelt was in office, nearly two hundred short films of Roosevelt or Roosevelt imitators were made, but only a fraction survive. Film historian Glenn Andreiev will share these rare film clips. Click here to register starting 5/12.
Unsung Heroes: LGBTQ Activists & Advocates (In-Person; Adults, Teens & Tweens)
Thursday, June 4, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Take pride in American history and discover LGBTQ activists and advocates who stood up to prejudice and ignorance. Celebrate the pioneers of the LGBTQ rights movement by learning about Barbara Gittings, Dr. John Fryer and more! Taught by Howard Rosenberg. Open to all Adults, Teens, and Tweens. Click here to register starting 5/12.
Miles Davis at 100: A Birthday Celebration with Wayne Tucker (In-Person; Adults)
Sunday, June 14, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
American jazz legend Miles Davis would have turned 100 on May 26th. Join us to celebrate his life and legacy with Grammy-nominated trumpet player and vocalist Wayne Tucker and his band. From the Bebop era of the late 40s to his funk hit “We Want Miles”, we are going to celebrate Miles in a way you have not yet heard! Click here to register starting 5/12.
Juneteenth: A History (In-Person; Adults, Teens & Tweens)
Monday, June 15, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Let’s delve into the history and celebration of Juneteenth with Professor Andrew “Sekou” Jackson, Executive Director Emeritus of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. Open to all. Click here to register starting 5/12.
Cooking with Chef Rob: Apple Pie (In-Person; Adults)
Tuesday, June 16, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. OR 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Chef Rob will guide you step-by-step as you prepare an All-American Crustless Apple Crumb Pie to take home and bake! He will also prepare Roasted Shrimp that you can sample while making your pie. Food samples and recipes will be provided. Please note: You must bring three large, crisp apples, two medium bowls, one 7-inch pan for baking, and a small cutting board.
Click here to register for the 3:00 p.m. program starting 5/12.
Click here to register for the 6:30 p.m. program starting 5/12.
Savvy Sightseer’s Destination Travelogue: Go West! National Parks & Canyons (In-Person; Adults)
Monday, June 29, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Join “Savvy Sightseer” Jeanne Schnupp as she presents a photographic tour of the dramatic and jaw-dropping vistas of Arizona, Utah and the Navajo Nation. She’ll share photos and stories of the majestic Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Zion National Park. Click here to register starting 5/12.
Check back here as more programs get added throughout the year!
Questions? Email askus@emmaclark.org
The Heart of the Three Village Community
