December 1, 2011 6:30 p.m.
Two films will be shown on December 1. “A Working Forest: It’s Future with Fire, People and Wildlife” is hosted by conservationist and keyboardist for the Rolling Stones, Chuck Leavell. Next, the short film “Ora E. Anderson: The Soul of the Woods” follows 93 year-old Anderson as he gives viewers a tour of his Appalachian tree farm and nature preserve.
On December 8 at 6:30 p.m. we will show the 80-minute film “Play Again,” investigating the consequences of a childhood removed from nature. At a time when children spend more time in the virtual world than the natural world, Play Again unplugs a group of media savvy teens and takes them on their first wilderness adventure, documenting the wonder that comes from time spent in nature. The series will continue with screenings on Thursdays, December 15, and 29 at 6:30pm in the Crawford Room.
On December 15 at 6:30 p.m. several short films will be shown. “Seeing Red: TreeFight’s First Year” was partially funded by prize money from the State of Wyoming’s inaugural Short Film Contest in 2008. The film follows the new organization TreeFight in its quest to preserve the white bark pine of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Other films to be shown include “Disturbance” about fire management and ecology in the Northern Rockies, “Death of a Forest” about the threat of pine beetles to forests nationwide, and “The New Frontier” about ranchers helping to improve land and forest health. The series will conclude with a final screening Thursday, December 29 at 6:30pm in the Crawford Room.
Wyoming Forests and the Mountain Pine Beetle – December 19, 2011 6:30 p.m. Mountain Pine Beetles have recently decimated a number of forests throughout the United States. How are the forests of Wyoming faring? Learn more at the Natrona County Public Library, Monday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Crawford room. Bryan Anderson of the Wyoming State Forestry Division will talk about causes of the recent epidemic of Mountain Pine Beetle activity, implications of the infestations on forest, wildfire, wildlife and recreational management, and possible courses for managing the future of our forests.
The final screening will be held December 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Crawford room. We will watch “Into the Inferno: The Science of Fire,” a short film that considers past forest management in California and how it could be feeding today’s flames. A second film, “Climbing Redwood Giants,” reveals the little-explored environment of the California redwoods using high-tech aerial laser surveys and breathtaking imagery.
Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more details.
Nicholle Gerharter, Reference Librarian, Natrona County Public Library, 307 E. 2nd St., Casper, WY 82601, 307-237-4935, www.natronacountylibrary.org