Events

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 1 PM the Rockport Public Library will kick off their winter/spring series entitled “Let’s Feel Better in 2026.” The first presentation will be given by Cristina Lindsay, OTR/L, who, alongside her therapy dog Mango, will discuss “The Joy Prescription for Aging Well Through Connection and Meaning." The program will take a fresh look at how enrichment-based therapies can help people stay independent, connected, and full of purpose. Instead of focusing only on physical recovery, Lindsay will explain how OT therapists can use meaningful activities — from hobbies and community engagement to creative and social experiences — to support emotional well-being and everyday independence. Lindsay will also share how using the comfort and joy of animal-assisted therapy can foster connection in ways traditional approaches often can’t. Cristina Lindsay worked for years as an occupational therapist in both hospital and home health settings. During this time, she witnessed the challenges the aging population faced, particularly those with dementia or mobility limitations. Driven by a passion for improving quality of life, she launched her business, Thrive OT, to provide social and emotional support, helping individuals maintain their highest level of independence while connecting and engaging in meaningful ways....

The Middle East is a generally arid region with few rivers. But as a result, the rivers that do flow there have an outsized importance, both physically and historically. In fact, some of these resources are listed among the great rivers of the world. This talk will focus on a few of these rivers and emphasize their geographical, historical, and current importance, including the struggle for water rights today. ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Mark Van Baalen is trained as a geologist but also has a deep interest in history. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard and is currently an Associate in Earth & Planetary Sciences at that university. Together with his wife, Louisa, he has traveled widely and led excursions to all continents of the Earth, lecturing on the natural and human history of remote regions. ABOUT THE CAMDEN CONFERENCE: Established in 1987, the nonprofit Camden Conference provides a non-partisan community forum that fosters in-depth discussion of foreign affairs through year-round programming and our signature multi-day annual conference each February. This year's conference topic is Today’s Middle East: Power, Politics & Players, and it will be held in person and via livestream February 20-22, 2026. For more information, visit camdenconference.org. This...

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m., herbalist Mo Katz-Christy will teach a class entitled, “Demystifying Tea Blending.” Part science, part sensory exploration, Katz-Christy promises that the class will be as playful as it is educational. This free program is part of the library’s ongoing “foodie series,” and is sponsored by the Friends of the Rockport Public Library. Katz-Christy will discuss a handful of common herbs for tea: their uses, flavors, energies, and what they add to a blend. Participants will smell each of the herbs and taste some as well, learning how the flavors combine and how they complement each other. The class will also explore different considerations for the process of making tea, including infusing versus boiling, water temperature, and infusion time. Participants will leave the 90-minute workshop with personally crafted tea blend to take home. Limited to 20 participants. Please call the Rockport Public Library at 207-236-3642 to reserve a spot. Mo Katz-Christy (they/them) graduated from a three-year clinical herbalism program at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in 2022. They work one-on-one with clients to address root imbalances that cause dysregulation and to promote long-term healing. You can find out more about their work at mokatzchristy.com.