Traditional Storytelling for Adults with Nancy Binzen

Rescheduled from January! 

At 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 26th, the Vineyard Haven Library welcomes storyteller Nancy Binzen for a wildcrafted evening of traditional folktale and myth from around the world–especially for adults. 

Storytelling isn’t just for children. Traditional storyteller Nancy Binzen will entertain us with two to three tales, including the myth of the Red Bead Woman from Siberia and the tale of the Selkie Bride from the Orkney Isles. Both stories are centuries old and revolve around a woman discovering and reclaiming her true identity, although their journeys are quite different.

Nancy Binzen has a BA in Theatre Arts, a Certificate in Storytelling from Dominican University, and has studied with noted mythologist, Martin Shaw. She’s been telling traditional tales for 25 years and is a seasonal Vineyard Haven resident. 

This event will be held on the upper level of the library, with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. 

Virtual Author Talk: Extreme Survival with Michael Tougias

Interested patrons may register here. 

The Vineyard Haven Public Library and the Edgartown Free Public Library are pleased to co-host a virtual book talk and slideshow with New York Times bestselling author Michael Tougias on his recent book, Extreme Survival: Lessons from Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds. The program will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 25th via Zoom. This program is generously funded by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library and the Friends of the Edgartown Public Library.

Tougias describes Extreme Survival as the culmination of his life’s work of interviewing and researching the toughest survivors over the past three decades. Some of these survivors from history include: John McCain, Mary Rowlandson (captive during King Philip’s Indian War), Howard Blackburn, Captain Bligh, Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, mountain man Hugh Glass, Admiral Byrd, Shackleton, WWII pilot James Whittaker, Teddy Roosevelt, JFK (PT109), USS Indianapolis survivors, and many more, from mountain climbers to early explorers of the new world.

Drawing from over 100 of these interviews and historical accounts, Tougias will share what he has learned about decision-making, survival, and resilience, and discuss how these lessons can inspire all of us when facing life challenges. Tougias will also touch on his newest book, The Power of Positive Fishing, a chronicle of 25 years of striped bass fishing off Cape Cod.

Michael Tougias is the author of 30 bestselling and critically acclaimed nonfiction narratives, including seven survival and rescue books. Some of his books include The Finest Hours (now a Disney movie), A Storm Too Soon, Overboard, and The Waters Between Us.  He is also the author of the True Rescue book series and the True Survival book series, both for middle grade readers.  

For more information, please contact the Edgartown Library at (508) 627-4221 or programs@edgartownlibrary or the Vineyard Haven Library at (508) 696-4211 or vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.