What's Happening at the Library in October?

The Sachem Public Library will celebrate Italian Heritage Month in grand fashion, offering programs throughout all of October with undertones from the old country.

From music to movies, documentaries and author sessions, you will not be at a loss. If you're Italian great, but if you're not, there is something for everyone.

Here's what's going on in October:

Celebrate Italian Heritage with Moreno Fruzzetti: Sunday, Oct. 3 2:00 p.m.

• Enjoy a taste of Italy through Italian music! Moreno Fruzzetti, the "Ambassador of Italian Music to America," has received rave reviews at Italian festivals and shows throughout the world. In addition to a golden singing voice, Mr. Fruzzetti brings flare and personality to his performances with an onstage presence that cannot be rivaled.

Author event: Amore: The Story of Italian American Song: Monday, Oct. 4 7:00 p.m.

• Amore is a celebration of the "Italian decade"—the years after the war and before the Beatles, when Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett, among others, won the hearts of the American public with a smooth, stylish, classy brand of pop. Author and proud son of Italy, Mark Rotella will discuss his paean to Italian-American culture and share some of his favorites from this unforgettable era. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Mark Rotella is also the author of "Stolen Figs and Other Adventures in Calabria."

Film Discussion: Reel Rebels, The Secret in Their Eyes: Tuesday, Oct. 5   6:00 p.m.

• Intriguing, informative, sometimes controversial but always thought provoking, this monthly series combines the best in film and discussion. This month's selection was the 2009 Oscar winner for best foreign film, a stylish Argentinean love story and murder mystery, with an engrossing plot and mesmerizing performances. Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Juan José Campanella. Starring Soledad Villamil, Ricardo Darín, and Carla Quevedo. (2009, R-2:09, program duration 3 hours)

The Wolfman: Oct. 7, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

• Nobleman Lawrence Talbot's brother is missing, villagers are being killed by a nightmarish beast, and Lawrence is about to discover a side of himself he never imagined existed. Directed by Joe Johnston. Starring Benicio Del Toro, Gemma Whelan, and Simon Merrells. (2010, R-1:43)

Foreign Film: Prisoner of the Mountains: Saturday, Oct. 9 2:00 p.m.

• This film brings the toll of battle down to a personal level and makes us think about the absurdity of war. When two Russian soldiers are taken hostage by Chechen guerillas, the ordeal reveals the human soul of two vastly different cultures. Based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy. Directed by Sergey Bodrov. Starring Oleg Menshikov, Sergei Bodrov Jr., and Jemal Sikharulidze. Russian with English subtitles. (1996, R-1:39)

Zella Chamber Music Ensemble: Sunday, Oct. 10 2:00 p.m.

• Highly acclaimed performers Karisa Werdon, Amelia Hollander-Ames, and Denise Fillion have entranced audiences in New York City and around the globe. Haunting oboe melodies, luscious viola lines, and lyrical piano phrases will be joined together in a wide variety of styles from Czech folk music to Big Band swing, as well as Classical and Romantic standards. 
• Pianist Denise Fillion is a frequent soloist and collaborator in the New York area. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Western Washington University where she was a Presser Scholar. Denise recently received her Doctorate of Music Degree from Stony Brook University and now resides in New York City, focusing on contemporary and chamber music collaborations.  
• Oboist Karisa Werdon has received awards at the Fischoff Competition, the Coleman Competition, Chamber Music Yellow Springs, and the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition. A featured soloist at the New York City Electronic Music Festival and the 
• International Computer Music Conference, Karisa maintains a busy life of performance, teaching and volunteer work in the New York City area. She received her Doctorate of Musical Arts at Stony Brook University, holds a Masters degree from Yale University and a Bachelors degree from Grand Valley State University.
• Amelia Hollander-Ames plays viola with New York City area ensembles such as Con Vivo Jersey City, of which she is founder & artistic director, Arcos and Suedama ensembles, and the Strangetet. From 2004 to 2007, Amelia lived in Tel Aviv, where she played with the Israel Contemporary String Quartet and Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble. She is on the viola and violin faculty at the Third Street Music School Settlement in New York, NY. 

Art Words: The Poetry of Michelangelo: Tuesday, Oct. 12 7:00 p.m.

• Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) also composed more than 300 sonnets, madrigals, and other poems that explore many universal themes. This unique performance by Bob Spiotto, enhanced by a compelling musical score, will take you on a moving and poignant journey through the art of the word.

Opera & Art Film Series: Aida: Wednesday, Oct. 13 1:30 and 6:00 p.m.

• Verdi's enduring masterpiece of musical theater, Aida is a marvelous blend of human emotion and grand spectacle, full of Egyptian pomp and pageantry. In this lavish production, Margaret Price is outstanding as the Ethiopian slave and Pavarotti makes a triumphant debut in the role of Radames. Directed by Brian Large.  (1981, NR-2:43) 

Extraordinary Measures: Oct. 14 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

• John and Aileen Crowley give up everything to finance a cure for a rare and deadly disease afflicting their children. They join forces with the brilliant and unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill to do battle against impossible odds and the entire medical establishment. Based on a true story. Directed by Tom Vaughan. With Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell. (2010, PG-1:46)

Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch): Tuesday, Oct. 19 7:00 p.m.

• Broke, and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni resides with his 93-year-old mother in their ancient apartment. To help balance his debt, Gianni agrees to look after his building manager's mother… and his aunt… and a doctor friend's mother during the Ferragosto holiday. Can Gianni keep four lively mamas well-fed and happy in these cramped quarters? Directed by and starring Gianni De Gregorio. Hosted in conjunction with the Suffolk Lingua Italiana Circolo. (2008, NR-1:15)

Meet the Filmmaker: Marino Amoruso: Being Italian: A Memoir: Wednesday, Oct. 20 7:00pm

• Award-winning Long Island filmmaker Marino Amoruso will present his new film, premiering this fall on PBS, which examines all aspects of Italian culture and traditions in America, offering a warm, nostalgic look at the Italian American way of life. Special guests include Yogi Berra, Mary Lou Retton, Mike Piazza, Geraldine Ferraro, Pat Cooper, Robert Loggia, Tom Lasorda, and Mary Carillo. (2010, NR-1:00)

Alice in Wonderland: Oct. 21, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

• 19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world of her childhood, reunites with old friends, and learns her true destiny. Directed by Tim Burton. Starring Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, and Helena Bonham Carter.  (2010, PG-1:48)

Cabaret in Concert: Sunday, Oct. 24 2:00 p.m.

• "Life is a cabaret, old chum…" Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub, a place of decadent celebration set against the backdrop of growing Nazi terror. Meet the eerie, omniscient Master of Ceremonies, a second-rate American cabaret dancer, a young American writer, a strapped German boardinghouse owner, and a persecuted Jewish fruit seller. Seedy cabaret numbers provide commentary on the lives of the characters while the raw edge of the material makes Cabaret both provocative and challenging. Presented by Plaza Theatrical, this live production boasts a Tony award-winning score featuring Wilkommen and Money Makes the World Go Around.

Shutter Island: Oct. 28, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

• U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. Directed by Martin Scorese. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley. (2010, R-2:18)        

Nina Et cetera: Friday, Oct. 29 7:00 p.m.

• With myriad influences and her very own sound, Nina's music offers a change from the everyday. Each of her songs provides a taste of folk, rock, punk, ambient, experimental, Hindustani classical, and country music. Aside from the undeniable rhythm and personal accompaniment Nina creates, there are underlying themes in her work that remain constant. Performing alongside Nina will be Tim Smith, Sue Porcaro, and Mark Rios. Selections will include original songs and original takes on songs by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jefferson Airplane, Aretha Franklin, and The Velvet Underground.