To the Editor:

If you read the opinion pages about the Berne-Knox area, you would think that the towns are full of angry and hateful people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is definitely political posturing and disagreement, and sometimes conversations are not civil. Fortunately, I am on neutral ground at the library and can step back and see the positive things happening in the towns.

For example, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo fifth-graders recently checked out books from the Berne Public Library for a school research project on the state of their choice. They were able to do this because the Hilltown libraries collaborated with the BKW school administration and staff to make sure each elementary student has a public library card.

These 50 newly published books were purchased for $1,200 by the Friends of the Berne Library. That money was available because of donations from community members and the 2016 Bowls for Books fundraiser. The bowls were made by Colleen Skiff, the elementary art teacher, and glazed by volunteers. The bowls were filled with soups and chili donated by even more volunteers.

So many people from both sides of the political fence pulled together to accomplish the goal of putting new books into the hands of the fifth-graders. Positive things happen when people work together.

This summer, the library is collaborating with members of the community to ensure the safe viewing of the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 21. The Berne Public Library received 200 pairs of solar glasses from a STAR_Net [Science-Technology Activities & Resources for Libraries] grant sponsored by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Glasses were given to the BKW Earth-science teacher, Matt Decker, to share with his classes. The library will have a solar program on July 10 with Mr. Decker and other members of the HESO [Helderberg Earth and Sky Observatory] group. They will bring their solar telescope for viewing the sun and solar glasses will be distributed to participants.

The eclipse viewing will take place at the Switzkill Farm from 1:15 to 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21, thanks to the cooperation of the board and town council. Solar glasses will again be available.

Volunteers working together to serve the community; it happens all the time in the Hilltowns.

Judy Petrosillo

Berne

Editor’s note: Judy Petrosillo is the director of the Berne Public Library.