Calling members in the Shrewsbury area... Do you know all that your local library has to offer? Do you have a friend who might want to learn about WISE? 

Come learn about WISE, the Worcester Institute for Senior Education. The Director of WISE will share an overview about the program, the variety of courses, and the great benefits of joining WISE.

The library will follow with a presentation about all the materials and services you can take advantage of as well. We will tour the library so you can see where you can find all of our great offerings.

Registration is optional but encouraged

This Spotlight is being held in person at the Shrewsbury Public Library at 609 Main St, Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Art Colonies in New England

with Martha Chiarchiaro

We will explore eight late-19^th and early-20^th century summer art colonies across New England; Provincetown and Cape Ann in Massachusetts, North Conway and Cornish in New Hampshire, Old Lyme and Cos Cob in Connecticut, and Ogunquit and Monhegan Island in Maine. During the summer and fall months, you’ll be able to visit these sites and their museums.

We will examine the incredible, creative energy that existed in these art colonies in New England.

This Spotlight will be held via Zoom using the link below:

Zoom link: https://assumptionwise.zoom.us/j/81810469485?pwd=yREJtwOX5Zt2KPFMeZDMfgvWsKQMbK.1

Meeting ID: 818 1046 9485

Passcode: 263764

Martha Chiarchiaro has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, for WISE (the Worcester Institute for Senior Education), libraries, garden clubs, and other organizations. As noted on her Seeing History website, Martha's specialty presentations related to specific periods, artists, and activities provide an in-depth look at the life and times of people through their art.

Join Worcester Public Library's Executive Director Jason Homer for this engaging topic!

Public libraries have long been vital community spaces, offering free access to information, resources, and support. In recent years, their role has expanded in response to shifting public needs. This spotlight will highlight how libraries are evolving to meet those changes.

We’ll cover the growth of digital collections along with efforts to ensure equitable access to technology. Attendees will also learn about creative services such as “Library of Things” collections, where patrons can borrow items like musical instruments, tools, and yard games.

The session will spotlight the increasing presence of social workers in public libraries, addressing housing insecurity, mental health, and community outreach within these trusted spaces.

This Spotlight is being held in person at the Worcester Public Library at 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608.

Guests are encouraged, so bring a friend!

From Factory to Store to Neighborhood: Worcester's Whittall Mill Complex, 1870-2025

This Spotlight is being held in person at Assumption University, K112.

For more than 150 years, the Whittall Mill complex has been a landmark for Worcester and Central New England – and its future is brighter than ever.

After nearly 100 years as a site for large-scale carpet manufacturing, much of this South Worcester complex became a retail destination for generations of New Englanders: Rotman’s Furniture. Like the Whittall carpet company, Rotman’s is no more, but today the property thrives as a multi-use neighborhood hub – long after many newer Worcester factory, retail, and office buildings have come and gone.

In this slide presentation, Alan Petrillo explores the fascinating history of this Worcester and New England institution — including details about both the Whittall and Rotman companies and their role in the community. Along the way, he highlights the qualities of design and construction that have helped the property thrive for 150+ years – and now that the complex has been sold to Holy Cross, he considers the ways in which it can continue to serve the city for decades to come. Alan also welcomes lively discussion from WISE members who have memories of these buildings and companies!

Alan Petrillo is a docent with Preservation Worcester, an organization dedicated to protecting and sharing knowledge about the city’s buildings, neighborhoods, and history. This project includes research and rare photos from the archives of the Worcester Public Library, the Museum of Worcester, vintage newspapers and maps, and other sources. He is a professional writer/editor who has worked for research-driven organizations in the software, market research, and financial services sectors…but the history of architecture and urban development is his passion. He loves to learn about how cities became what they are, and to share what he has found.

John James Audubon and The Birds of America

with Martha Chiarchiaro

Discover Audubon’s extensive studies documenting American birds and his detailed illustrations that depict the birds in their natural habitats. The Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size prints, is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon also conducted the first known bird-banding experiment in North America, where he learned that the birds returned to the very same nesting sites each year. Like his peers, he was an avid hunter, and he also had a deep appreciation and concern for conservation; in his later writings he warned against the destruction of birds and habitats. For half a century, Audubon was early America’s dominant wildlife artist.

This Spotlight will be held via Zoom using the link below:

Zoom link: https://assumptionwise.zoom.us/j/82003629115?pwd=z8EdF99JObAMPtgDCz6lLOohdYFDEv.1

Meeting ID: 820 0362 9115

Passcode: 995728

Martha Chiarchiaro has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, for WISE (the Worcester Institute for Senior Education), libraries, garden clubs, and other organizations. As noted on her Seeing History website, Martha's specialty presentations related to specific periods, artists, and activities provide an in-depth look at the life and times of people through their art.