We have two big thank you’s to folks who have allowed us to display their work here in the library over the last few weeks. First, Dr. Stuart Fass of Altamont General Dentistry allowed us to display a selection of his replications of historic American flags on our outdoor overhang in honor of Flag Day. They looked fantastic. Thanks, Dr. Fass!
Secondly, for the past month we had a very special piece of art hanging in our community room. It is a quilt of sorts made by a group of residents at the Mallard Cove Senior Living Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and representing each member of the groups’ favorite things. We received it as part of the Intercontinental Art Exchange in return for a beautiful quilt with panels made by Altamontians Ellen Howie, Ruth Dickinson, Joan Johnson, Nancy Murphy and Diane Kingsland. It is now on its’ way back to Cincinnati, but I hope that many of you had a chance to check it out. We are currently displaying a collection of plein-air paintings by Joan Johnson. They’re absolutely beautiful, so please come have a look.
Trivia night
On Thursday, June 15 from 7 to 9 p.m., our monthly Trivia Night is back. Make a team, study up and BYOB to this mind-twisting trivia contest! Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door. Contestants must be 21 and up, please.
Chicken BBQ
It’s June, which means that it’s almost time for our famous annual chicken barbecue fundraiser on Friday June 16 with servings at 5 and 6 p.m. This highly anticipated event offers library trustees and volunteers the opportunity to play Top Chef for you all. (We’ll also be breaking out the library’s chicken costume for the occasion.) We’ve already had a ton of people in at the library asking for tickets, which will be available starting this week. Every ticket gets you a dinner which includes a half chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, roll, drink and brownie. There’s also a vegetarian option is available for pre-order, if you prefer. Once you’ve got your dinner, you can either take it home with you or spread out on the lawn in Orsini Park with your friends and neighbors and listen to the always enjoyable Traditional Strings. If you’d like to help us prep the food or serve the meals, we can always use an extra set of hands, so give a call to 429-8354 or send an email to .
Juice and Jammies Storytime
On Thursday, June 22 at 7 p.m. put on your pj’s and join Ms. Erika for a pre-bedtime story, snack, and craft. This low-key storytime will be just the thing to prepare your young folks to count some sheep.
Patio ribbon cutting
We've recently finished construction of the Spohr Family Centennial Patio on the track side of the building. This new outdoor space will be a place where folks will be able to sit and read or plug into their laptops and work, or talk with friends without worrying about getting shushed. The patio is named in honor of the many contributions that Tom and Pat Spohr have made to our community over the years. We're still waiting on some outdoor furniture and signs, but everything should be in place for the official ribbon cutting on Friday, June 23 at 11 a.m. All are invited to join us for the grand opening. We are tremendously grateful to Senator George Amedore and the loved ones of Tom Spohr for their contributions to this exciting new library space.
Summer Reading opening ceremony
It’s just about time for the Summer Reading Program! The Summer Reading Program is a super fun series of free events and programs at the Altamont Free Library that celebrates reading, creativity and summer fun! Please join us on Friday, June 30 at 4 p.m. in Orsini Park (or in the library if the weather stinks) to get signed up.
Father’s Day is coming up! Please drop in on Tuesday, June 13 an time from 3 to 6 p.m. to make a Father’s Day card that your dad or grandpa is sure to love. We’ll have all the materials you need to make a unique handcrafted gift for your favorite guy.
Trivia Night
On Thursday, June 15th from 7pm to 9pm, our monthly Trivia Night is back! Make a team, study up and BYOB to this mind-twisting trivia contest! Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door. Contestants must be 21 and up, please.
Barbecue
It’s June, which means that it’s almost time for our famous annual chicken barbecue fundraiser on Friday, June 16 with servings at 5 and 6 p.m. This highly anticipated event offers library trustees and volunteers the opportunity to play Top Chef for you all. (We’ll also be breaking out the library’s chicken costume for the occasion.) We’ve already had a ton of people in at the library asking for tickets, which will be available starting this week. Every ticket gets you a dinner which includes a half chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, roll, drink and brownie. There’s also a vegetarian option available for pre-order, if you prefer. Once you’ve got your dinner, you can either take it home with you or spread out on the lawn in Orsini Park with your friends and neighbors and listen to the always enjoyable Traditional Strings. If you’d like to help us prep the food or serve the meals, we can always use an extra set of hands, so give a call to 429-8354 or send an email to .
Patio ribbon cutting
We've recently finished construction of the Spohr Family Centennial Patio on the track side of the building. This new outdoor space will be a place where folks will be able to sit and read or plug into their laptops and work, or talk with friends without worrying about getting shushed. The patio is named in honor of the many contributions that Tom and Pat Spohr have made to our community over the years. We're still waiting on some outdoor furniture and signs, but everything should be in place for the official ribbon cutting on Friday, June 23 at 11 a.m. All are invited to join us for the grand opening. We are tremendously grateful to Senator George Amedore and the loved ones of Tom Spohr for their contributions to this exciting new library space.
Caroline Doctorow will perform on May 5 at 7 p.m. as part of the SongTellers Sessions series at the Altamont Free Library.
The Altamont Free Library’s annual book sale is coming up quickly and we need your help to pull it off! On Saturday, May 6, we’ll hold our annual book sale in conjunction with the PTA’s village-wide garage sale.
Every year, we are the happy recipients of thousands and thousands of donated books, CDs and DVDs, which we sell to raise money for the library. (Sorry, but we will not be running a garage sale this year, so household goods will not be accepted.)
We’ll need a few folks to help out with moving and sorting all of the donations, so if you have a few hours to spare any day between May 3 and May 6, please email me at or call 861-7239. Also, if you have a folding table or a tarp you can spare for a few days, those would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks!
CM Fox Charity Gala
On Saturday, April 29, our good friends at CM Fox Real Estate will be holding their first spring gala at Orchard Creek Golf Club. All proceeds from the event will go to support food pantries in Altamont and Guilderland, as well as the Guilderland Public Library and the Altamont Free Library.
We are tremendously grateful to Troy Miller, Kathy Burbank, Steve Wacksman, and Cindy Wadach among many others for organizing this exciting event. There may still be a spot or two left so call CM Fox at 861-7030 for more information. See you there!
Book club
The first Monday book group will meet at noon on Monday, May 1 to discuss “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire. This updating and reimagining of the classic “Wizard of Oz” stories by L. Frank Baum looks at the well known stories from the perspective of the supposedly bad guys.
A modern classic in its own right and the basis for the tremendously popular musical of the same name, this novel should give us lots to talk about, so please join us!
Doctorow performs
The SongTeller Sessions concert series keeps on rolling. Please join us for our next concert on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. Our performer this time around will be Caroline Doctorow. “No Depression Magazine” says, “Caroline Doctorow has been responsible for some of the sweetest songs of the modern folk idiom.”
Caroline is a chart-topping folksinger and songwriter, with a stirring voice that recalls Judy Collins and Sandy Denny. In addition to 11 solo albums, she released the first retrospective of the work of folk icons Richard and Mimi Fariña titled Another Country, which received critical acclaim.
She is the daughter of the late, world-renowned author E.L. Doctorow, so she’ll definitely have some good stories to tell. Coffee and snacks will be available and all ages are welcome.
The Altamont free Library’s annual book sale is coming up quickly — it’s on Saturday, May 6, held in conjunction wit the village-wide garage sale held by the Altamont elementary School PTA — and we need your help to pull it off. Every year, we are the happy recipients of thousands and thousands of donated books, CDs and DVDs which we sell to raise money for the library. (Sorry, but we will not be running a garage sale this year, so household goods will not be accepted.)
From noon on Wednesday, May 3 until Friday, May 5, we will be very grateful to accept book, CD, and DVD donations, which will either be added to the library’s collection or sold to raise money for library programs and we will be happy to make up a receipt for you for tax purposes if you like.
We’ll need a few folks to help out with moving and sorting all of the donations, so if you have a few hours to spare any day between May 3 and May 6, the day of the sale, please email me at or call 861-7239. Also, if you have a folding table or a tarp you can spare for a few days, those would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks!
Trivia Night
This Thursday, April 20 from 7 to 9 p.m., our monthly Trivia Night is back. Make a team, study up and BYOB to this mind-twisting trivia contest. Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door. Contestants must be 21 and up, please.
Earth Day craft
Celebrate Earth Day and the spring season at the library! On Sunday April 23 at 2 p.m. we’ll be making wildflower seed balls that you can strew about your yard and watch the beautiful, bright flowers bloom! Please pre-register to ensure that we have craft materials for all by calling the library at 861-7239, emailing at or stop by the library and sign up in person.
Spanish potluck
It’s almost time again for another of our ever popular Eat Around the World Potluck dinners! Come broaden your culinary horizons and share a meal a bunch of friendly people. This month we’re taking a trip to Spain!
Please join us at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 24 to join in the festivities and bring a dish to share. If you don’t already have a favorite Spanish recipe, come on in and grab a cookbook.
Gadget help
For everyone who takes to new technologies like a fish to water, there are five of us who are utterly befuddled by our devices. But fear not, that’s what the library is here for. Whether it’s a phone, laptop, tablet or eReader that won’t do what it’s supposed to do, we can (probably) help!
Call the library at 861-7239 to book an appointment to sit down with a librarian for up to a half-hour and sort out your gizmo issues. And hey, if we can’t help you, it just means that you’re not alone in your confusion.
It’s April! Baseball and the birds are returning and the days are getting longer and warmer. That must mean that it’s time to start gearing up for the annual village-wide garage sale.
On Saturday, May 7, the Altamont Free Library will hold our annual book sale in conjunction with the village-wide garage sale sponsored by the Altamont Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association.
From noon on Wednesday, May 3, until Friday, May 5, we will be very grateful to accept book, CD, and DVD donations, which will either be added to the library’s collection or sold to raise money for library programs and we will be happy to make up a receipt for you for tax purposes if you like. (Sorry, but we will not be running a garage sale this year, so household goods will not be accepted.)
Please don’t forget to visit us during the sale to find your next favorite book!
SongTeller sessions
Please join us for our next concert in our ongoing series of SongTeller Sessions this coming Friday, April 7, at 7 p.m. Our performer this time around will be Michael Eck.
Michael has been a mainstay of the Capital District music scene for over two decades and wears many hats: performer, producer, critic, organizer and radio host, just to name a few. His musical interests and compositions run the gamut from folk and punk to blues and old time jug band music. Notable among his recent efforts have been as a member of the Lost Radio Rounders and the Ramblin Jug Stompers and as host of WAMC's American Roots series.
Coffee and snacks will be available and all ages are welcome.
Juice and Jammies
On Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m. put on your pj’s and join Ms. Erika for a pre-bedtime story, snack and craft. This low-key storytime will be just the thing to prepare your young folks to count some sheep.
Michael Eck will perform at the Altamont free Library, as part of the library’s Songteller Sessions, on Friday, April 7, at 7 p.m.
Exciting news! On April 29, our good friends at CM Fox Real Estate will be holding their first Spring Gala at Orchard Creek Golf Club. All proceeds from the event will go to support food pantries in Altamont and Guilderland, as well as the Guilderland Public Library and the Altamont Free Library.
We are tremendously grateful to Troy Miller, Kathy Burbank, Steve Wacksman, and Cindy Wadach among many others for organizing this exciting event. To learn more and to reserve your spot, call CM Fox at 861-7030. See you all there!
Juice and Jammies
Tonight, Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m., put on your pajama’s and join Ms. Erika for a pre-bedtime story, snack and craft! This low-key storytime will be just the thing to prepare your young folks to count some sheep.
Orwell revisited
The first Monday book group will meet at noon on Monday, April 3, to discuss the classic dystopian novel “1984” by George Orwell. This novel touches on several issues that have been widely debated recently, including the use of propaganda and government surveillance, so much so that this book, originally published in 1949 has recently climbed back up the bestseller list.
Please join us for what will undoubtedly be a fascinating conversation.
SongTeller sessions
As you may have heard, we have a new monthly concert series that we are very excited about. We’re calling it the SongTeller Sessions and they happen on the first Friday evening of each month.
The idea is that each performer receives the same list of ten questions that they answer through stories and songs. Among the questions are: What was a song that your parents loved? What was the first bad song that you wrote? What song makes you think of home?
Please join us for our next concert on Friday, April 7, at 7 p.m. Our performer this month is Michael Eck. Michael has been a mainstay of the Capital District music scene for over two decades and wears many hats: performer, producer, critic, organizer and radio host, just to name a few.
His musical interests and compositions run the gamut from folk and punk to blues and old time jug band music. Notable among his recent efforts have been as a member of the Lost Radio Rounders and the Ramblin Jug Stompers and as host of WAMC's American Roots series.
Coffee and snacks will be available and all ages are welcome.
To celebrate the imminent arrival of springtime, bring your favorite young folks down to the library on Saturday, March 18, at 11 a.m. We’ll be building birdfeeders to welcome our feathered friends back from their migrations. We’ll have a bunch of different types to make, so there will be something to make for every skill level.
“Major Pettigrew” discussion
On Monday, March 20, at 7 p.m., the Penultimate Monday book club will meet to discuss the phenomenal novel, “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson. This acclaimed novel tells the story of the budding of an unlikely romance between a retired military officer and a Pakistani shopkeeper in a small British town.
There’s much to discuss about this book, and it comes highly recommended, so please join us.
Springtime bird walk
On Thursday, March 30, local ornithologist Dan Capuano will once again lead a bird watching expedition along Brandle Road. Please join us at 9 a.m. here at the library for a one hour walk around the village to see what we can see and learn about our bird neighbors.
We’ll have a few extra sets of binoculars, if you’d like to use them. First-time birdwatchers are encouraged to attend.
Breakfast for dinner
It’s almost time again for another of our ever popular Eat Around the World Potluck dinners! Come broaden your culinary horizons and share a meal a bunch of friendly people.
This month, we’re taking a break from the world and focusing on folks’ favorite breakfast recipes, because there’s nothing better than having breakfast for dinner from time to time. Please join us at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, to join in the festivities and bring a dish to share.
Gadget help
For everyone who takes to new technologies like a fish to water, there are five of us who are utterly befuddled by our devices. But fear not; that’s what the library is here for.
Whether it’s a phone, laptop, tablet or eReader that won’t do what it’s supposed to do, we can (probably) help! Call the library at (518) 861-7239 to book an appointment to sit down with a librarian for up to a half-hour and sort out your gizmo issues.
And hey, if we can’t help you, it just means that you’re not alone in your confusion.
Last Wednesday, we held a very special event with local author James Keough who discussed and signed copies of his book, “The First K-9 Trooper in the NYS Police.” Since then, we’ve gotten several calls from folks who were interested in purchasing Mr. Keough’s book.
If you weren’t able to make it to the signing, Mr. Keough has been kind enough to autograph a number of copies for us and you can purchase them here at the library any time we’re open.
SongTeller Sessions
As you may have heard, we have a new monthly concert series that we are very excited about. We’re calling it the SongTeller Sessions and they happen on the first Friday evening of each month. The idea is that each performer receives the same list of 10 questions that they answer through stories and songs.
Among the questions are: What was a song that your parents loved? What was the first bad song that you wrote? What song makes you think of home?
Please join us for our next concert on Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Our performer this month is folk singer-songwriter Laura Boggs Gagnon. With influences such as Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant, and Suzanne Vega, she has been writing and performing for over 15 years.
Laura is a teacher-librarian, originally from Guilderland, now working and living in Schoharie County. Coffee and snacks will be available and all ages are welcome!
“Geography of Bliss”
On Monday, March 6, at noon the First Monday Book Club will meet to discuss “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner.
Based on the true story of the author’s travels around the globe to learn what makes people happy and contented in different cultures. Please join us.
Trivia night
The past two months, we’ve had to cancel trivia due to illness and snow, but I’m feeling pretty good about this next one: On Thursday, March 9, from 7 to 9 p.m., our monthly Trivia Night is back.
Make a team, study up, and BYOB to this mind-twisting trivia contest! Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door. Contestants must be 21 and up, please.
Build a birdfeeder
To celebrate the imminent arrival of springtime, bring your favorite young folks down to the library on Saturday, March 18, at 11 a.m. We’ll be building birdfeeders to welcome our feathered friends back from their migrations.
We’ll have a bunch of different types to make, so there will be something to make for every skill level.
Every month, we hold a wonderful event called the Eat Around the World Potluck, where members of our community come together and prepare and share foods from a different culture or country each month. In February, we’ve decided to add another element to the mix.
On Monday Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., we will be sampling the cuisine of Syria. In the Capital District, we have seen many people who have escaped the recent violence in Syria and are now trying to make a new life for themselves among us. Often, these refugees come to the United States with only the proverbial clothes on their backs, and they need help.
To that end, on the night of our potluck and in the week before it, we will be accepting donations of household goods to be distributed to groups that work to resettle refugee populations. Making a donation is by no means necessary to attending the potluck, but if you are inclined, we have wish lists of household and personal goods here at the library that would be warmly and gratefully received.
SongTeller sessions
As you may have heard, we have a new monthly concert series that we are very excited about. We’re calling it the SongTeller Sessions and they happen on the first Friday evening of each month.
The idea is that each performer receives the same list of 10 questions that they answer through stories and songs. Among the questions are: What was a song that your parents loved? What was the first bad song that you wrote? What song makes you think of home?
Please join us for our next concert on Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Our performer this month is folk singer-songwriter Laura Boggs Gagnon. With influences such as Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant, and Suzanne Vega, she has been writing and performing for over 15 years. Laura is a teacher-librarian originally from Guilderland, now working and living in Schoharie County.
Coffee and snacks will be available and all ages are welcome.
Book discussion
On Monday March 6 at noon the First Monday Book Club will meet to discuss “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner. Based on the true story of the author’s travels around the globe to learn what makes people happy and contented in different cultures. Please join us.
— Photo from Joe Burke
I Love My Library! Gala celebrants on Saturday night included, from left, Congressman Paul Tonko, Altamont Free Library Director Joe Burke, AFL Board of Trustees President Christine Carpenter, Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, and Altamont Mayor James Gaughan. They are standing behind Guilderland High School students who volunteered to help for the evening.
— Photo from Joe Burke
Going, going... Linda Cure, an Altamont library trustee, displays a painting by local artist Joan Johnson as Tony Kossmann serves as auctioneer Saturday evening at the library’s annual fundraiser. This year, the Train Station Quilters were honored.
Another gala is in the books! I have to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who attended the 10th annual I Love My Library! Gala last Saturday night. I hope everyone had as fantastic a time as I did.
Many, many people contributed to the success of the Altamont Free Library event, but a by-no-means-exhaustive list would include Robin Love, Meghan Connelly, Yvette Terplak, Steve Terplak, Pat Spohr, Sally Dague, Sharon Forman, Michelle Stevens, Vicki Vattimo, Christine Carpenter, Ron Ginsburg, Mike Seinberg, and Linda Cure, among many, many others.
I’d also like to thank the many donors of auction items, appetizers and desserts; the great volunteers who kept everything running smoothly; and Bella Fleur and Elegant Touch Catering for their phenomenal work. Finally, many thanks are due to our honorees for the evening, the amazing Train Station Quilters for all their hard work and dedication. Thank you all for your time, energy, and creativity.
We’ve got some pretty great events coming up over the next few weeks.
Juice and Jammie
Tonight, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. put on your PJ’s and join Ms. Erika for a pre-bedtime story, snack and craft! This storytime will be just the thing to prepare your kiddos to count sheep.
Keough signs his book
Please join us for a very special event on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. Local author James Keough will be discussing and signing copies of his book “The First K-9 Trooper in the NYS Police.”
Mr. Kough served on the New York State Police from 1965 to 1998 and has collected stories over three decades worth of stories with partners both human and canine.
Syria potluck
Every month, we hold a wonderful event called the Eat Around the Word Potluck, where members of our community come together and prepare and share foods from a different culture or country each month. In February, we’ve decided to add another element to the mix. On Monday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., we will be sampling the cuisine of Syria.
In the Capital District, we have seen many people who have escaped the recent violence in Syria and are now trying to make a new life for themselves among us. Often, these refugees come to the United States with only the proverbial clothes on their backs, and they need help.
To that end, on the night of our potluck and in the week before it, we will be accepting donations of household goods to be distributed to groups that work to resettle refugee populations. Making a donation is by no means necessary to attending the potluck, but if you are inclined, we have wish lists of household and personal goods here at the library that would warmly and gratefully received.