Real-life heroes: Altamont Fire Chief Robert White, right, and Assistant Chief Kyle Haines visited Superhero School at the Altamont Free Library on Tuesday, July 28, to teach young folks about fire safety.
It’s Fair Time! Over the next week, we will welcome thousands of visitors to our village from all over the Capital District. If you’re in from out of town, please visit us here at the Altamont Free Library. If you happen to live in Albany or Rensselaer counties, you’re welcome to borrow from our great collections of books, movies and music. If you’re from further afield, we’d love for you to check out our unique library building housed in the historic Altamont Train Station right in the center of the village.
As if we needed any more excitement, here are some great events going on here this week:
Summer Reading Program
There’s a ton of neat stuff going on this week for kids as part of our Summer Reading Program. On Thursday at 4 p.m., join Etaseme Elonge for another in his series of comic book drawing classes for kids ages 7 and up.
Join us for Maker Mondays on Aug. 10, at 2 p.m., to play with our collections of Legos, K’Nex and Snap Circuits.
On Tuesday Aug. 11, attend Superhero School and make cool superhero gear, like jetpacks and super writstbands for kids ages 4 to 8. There’s also still time to sign up for the Summer Reading Program here at the library and pick up your BINGO card to win prizes.
Find Mr. Bee!
We need the help of every superhero in town to find the villain Mr. Bee. He’s been spotted at Stewarts and Agway recently, but we hear that he’s changing his hideout every week, so please be on the lookout for him. You can find a clue as to his whereabouts in the library or on our Facebook page. If you do find him, let us know and you’ll be entered to win a special prize at the end of the Summer Reading Program.
Pinewood Heromobile Derby
You can still pick up a free pinewood car kit at the library and make your own hero mobile with an adults’ help before our big pinewood car race at 4 p.m., on August 6. If you’ve ever built a pinewood car for the scout or seen your brother or sister build one, you know how fun it can be. Please join us for this exciting event.
Friday matinée
Get out of the heat and join us for a summer-long series of free family-friendly hero movies every Friday at 2 p.m. On Aug. 7, we’ll be showing “Spy Kids,” the widely loved movie about a family of super spies and the lengths that children will go to, to save their parents. We’ll even pop the popcorn for you! Next, week it’s “The Lego Movie.”
Book discussion
The Penultimate Monday Book Club will be meeting on Monday Aug. 17, at noon to discuss “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter. Yes, I know that Aug. 17 is not the second to last Monday of the month, but more folks are able to make it on the 17th instead of the 24th. Anyhow, this acclaimed and bestselling novel follows a wide cast of fascinating characters over 50 years from the sunny Italian Riviera to glamorous Hollywood to gloomy Edinburgh.
Please join us for what will no doubt be a fascinating discussion about a fun and memorable novel.
Ice cream with veterans at the Home Front
We’ve spent a lot of time learning about heroes this summer. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 2:30 p.m., you can spend some time getting to know some real superheroes, our military veterans. Take this opportunity to sit with local heroes, veterans of conflicts from the Second World War to Afghanistan and Iraq. Learn about the history they’ve witnessed while enjoying free ice cream at the Home Front Café.
Summer reading closing celebration
It’s hard to believe that the Summer Reading Program is nearly at an end, but it is. Please join us on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 3 p.m., to celebrate all the reading you’ve done (so far) this summer by joining us at the Summer Reading Program Celebration with Magic Man Chris LeBarge and prize drawings, magic, snacks, and fun.
— Photo by Mike Seinberg
A superhero takes flight at the Altamont Free Library Summer Reading Program kickoff party on July 8.
All summer long, the Altamont Free Library’s Summer Reading Program will be celebrating heroes of every kind here at the library: Superheroes, animal heroes, historical heroes and many more.
On Tuesday, we used the occasion of our third free summer concert to shine a spotlight on the local heroes we interact with everyday. Our police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, and veterans truly embody all of the best qualities we look for in superheroes.
They keep us safe and secure, protect us from harm and make sacrifices so that we can enjoy the quality of life that we cherish. So, again, we say: Thank you, heroes!
Here’s a bunch of neat things going on this week:
Adult trivia
With so much going on for the kids, should the adults get to have some fun too? Well, Trivia Night is back! Mary Beth Mulligan will host this always fun and challenging event. Bring a team (ages 21 and over, please), and BYOB. Entry is $5 per person and the winning team splits the pot.
Summer Reading Program
There’s a ton of neat stuff going on this week for kids as part of our Summer Reading Program. On Thursday, at 4 p.m., join Etaseme Elonge for another in his series of comic book drawing classes (ages seven and up).
Join us for Maker Mondays on Monday at 3 p.m., to play with our collections of Legos, K’Nex, and Snap Circuits.
On Tuesday, July 21, meet a real live animal hero, LULA the service dog. This program is for children age four through eight. There’s still time to sign up for the Summer Reading Program here at the library and pick up your BINGO card to win prizes.
Friday matinee
Get out of the heat and join us for a summer-long series of free family-friendly hero movies every Friday at 2 p.m. First up we have “Brave,” about a Scottish princess who would rather practice archery than get married. We’ll even pop the popcorn for you.
Book discussion
Join the Penultimate Monday Book Club on Monday, July 20, for a discussion of “Travelling With Pomegranates: A Mother Daughter Story” by Sue Monk Kidd and Anne Taylor Kidd.
This travel memoir of a mother and daughter writing team chronicles the pairs’ travels through Greece and France and connections they make with each other. It’s a short and summery one, so pick up your copy today and join us for what will definitely be a good conversation.
All Paul Band concert
The always-popular free Summer Concert Series continues at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, July 21. Join us in Orsini Park for a performance by The All Paul Band, paying tribute to the music of Paul McCartney, the Beatles and Wings. In the event of rain, this and all of our other concerts will be relocated to the pavilion at Bozenkill Park. Next up, on July 28, we’ve got The Tommy Verrigni Trio, playing jazz standards.
Last week, I had the fantastic opportunity to visit with all of the students at the Altamont Elementary School to talk about the Altamont Free Library’s Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is Every Hero Has A Story and we spent a long time talking about all the different kinds of heroes we can encounter and all of the different superpowers we can have.
Laser vision, super strength, and the power of flight are super powers for sure, but so are creativity, responsibility, helpfulness, and empathy. This year’s summer reading program will shine a spotlight on heroes of every kind: Superheroes, book heroes, historical heroes, animal heroes, and especially on the heroes that we interact with every day — the police officers, firefighters, veterans, EMT’s, and community volunteers.
When we broaden our definition of what it means to be a hero, we can start to recognize heroism everywhere and potential heroism in everyone.
I hope that if you’ve got little heroes in your life you will join us on Wednesday, July 8, at 4 p.m., in Orsini Park for the official kickoff party for the summer reading program.
If your young folks come and sign up for the summer reading program, and they bring an old T-shirt they don’t mind getting some paint on, they can make their very own super hero costume, have a snack and join the Altamont Super Literacy League. It’s going to be a great time.
In the nearer term, here are a few cool things going on this week.
The Dojo
On Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m., our old friend Ryan Black will be back to lead our teen gaming program, The Dojo. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into.
Egypt
This month’s ever-popular Eat Around the World Potluck will focus on the food and drinks of Egypt. Last month’s Australia potluck was the largest group anyone can remember us having at a potluck, and if you’ve never attended before, this would be a great month to start.
Please join us at 6 p.m., on Monday, June 29, for this always fun event and please bring a dish to share. If you don’t have any Egyptian recipes in your recipe box, we’ve got a bunch of cookbooks that you can check out.
Running the River Concert
The always-popular free Summer Concert Series starts up at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, June 30. Join us in Orsini Park for Running the River a dynamic band whose unique blend of classic country, rock, folk, Irish, blues and fiddle tunes provides entertainment for all.
We’ve had Running the River in the past and they’ve always been well received. In the very (hopefully) unlikely event of rain, this and all of our other concerts will be relocated to the pavilion at Bozenkill Park. Next up, on July 7, we’ve got The Back 40 Band, performing both classic and contemporary country music. Come on down and bring your dancing shoes.
Tai Chi Lessons
After a bout of illness last week, Tai Chi classes are back on track. Tai Chi chuan (often simply called Tai Chi) is a form of Chinese Martial Arts used not for fighting but to encourage mental and physical relaxation. Please join us on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m., for the next four weeks for a series of free Tai Chi classes with Kyoshi Joe Mansfield.
Prior experience is not necessary and all ability levels are welcome. Please stop by or call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance. In the event of rain, the class will be held at village hall.
Unfortunately, the Altamont Free Library had to postpone the Indian Music Caravan concert that had previously been scheduled for Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m., due to an injury to one of the musicians. We wish him a speedy recovery and we’ll let you know when we reschedule.
Tai Chi lessons
We’ve had a ton of interest in our Tai Chi classes, so sign up for them now. Tai Chi chuan (often simply called Tai Chi) is a form of Chinese martial arts used not for fighting but to encourage mental and physical relaxation. Please join us on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. from June 17 to July 22, for a series of free Tai Chi classes with Kyoshi Joe Mansfield. Prior experience is not necessary. All ability levels are welcome. Please stop by or call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance.
Father’s Day card craft
Father’s Day is coming up. Please join us on Thursday, June 18, at 4 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.
Chicken barbecue
Get your tickets now for our ever-popular chicken barbecue, with servings at 5 and 6 p.m., on Friday June 19. 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.
Book discussion
Join the Penultimate Monday Book Group for a discussion of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby.” Set in the Roaring Twenties amidst all of the glitz and glamour of what Fitzgerald termed the Jazz Age, Gatsby is the classic story of Jay Gatsby a mysterious and wealthy man and the lengths he goes to, to win back his old flame. Whether you’ve read it before or not, join us on Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m., for what will no doubt be a great discussion.
Running the River Concert
Join us for the first of six free concerts in Orsini Park on consecutive Tuesdays through August 11. First up on Tuesday June 30, at 7 p.m., Running the River, a band whose unique blend of classic country, rock, folk, Irish, blues, and fiddle tunes provides entertainment for all.
— Photo from Betsy Buchardt
Do it yourself: Cornell Cooperative Extension volunteers Ronnie Siegel and Virginia Dorwaldt show young Altamont Free Library patrons how to plant their own vegetables so that they can grow their own homemade salsa.
June is nearly upon us, and, by the time you read this, the Altamont Free Library’s June newsletter will be out. We’ve got a few really cool programs coming up in June that you should have on your calendar.
Concert
First up, we’ve got a concert by Indian Music Caravan on Monday, June 15. Indian Music Caravan is a nationally renowned mother-son duo who perform classical and folk music of India on sitar and tablas. We’re very excited to be able to host them and we hope that you’ll join us for this free event.
Tai Chi classes
Second, we’ll be holding free Tai Chi classes in Orsini Park starting Wednesday, June 17. Led by Kyoshi Joe Mansfield, these classes will demonstrate the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi which is known for its meditative and therapeutic nature. No experience is necessary and beginners and experienced practitioners are encouraged to attend!
Chicken barbecue
The third thing to know about in June is our famous annual chicken barbecue fund-raiser on Friday, June 19. 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 or early next week.
In the nearer term, here are a few neat things happening this week.
The Dojo
On Friday, May 29, our old friend Ryan Black will be back to lead out teen gaming program, The Dojo at 6 p.m. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler or near high schooler to get into.
Book discussion
Did you know that New York wasn’t always New York? It’s true: Before the British came along and took control of the colony, much of New York State, including the entire Capital District was New Netherland.
The First Monday book discussion group will meet at noon on June 1st to discuss “The Island at the Center of the World” by Russell Shorto. This history of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan puts into new perspective the early history of the most important city on Earth. Based on research done by local scholar Charles Gehring, this book should provoke a fascinating conversation. Please join us.
Australian potluck
We usually hold our Eat Around the World Potluck on the last Monday of the month, but since that was Memorial Day, the May potluck is being held on June 1 at 6 p.m. This month we’ll be sampling the cuisine of Australia.
There don’t seem to be many Australian cookbooks in the library system, so you might have to reach out to your favorite Aussie to learn their recipes. Join us, won’t you? Bring a dish to share.
To judge by last week’s temperatures, we’ve skipped from a long winter right into an early summer. The calendar assures me, however, that it’s still the springtime, and what better to do in the springtime than a little bit of gardening? The Altamont Free Library has a great event coming up soon that will allow children ages four to eight to do just that.
Grow your own salsa
Have you ever made food from your own freshly grown vegetables? Every wanted to try it? Next week, here at the library, you can. We’ll have two great volunteers from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Virginia Dorwaldt and Ronnie Siegel, leading a program based on the book “Chicks and Salsa” by Aaron Reynolds where participants will learn all about growing the vegetables that go into making our food!
Then, you’ll pick vegetables that Virgina and Ronnie have grown and turn them into a delicious homemade (or, actually, library-made) salsa. We’ll be running the program two times: First on Monday, May 18, from 10 to 11 a.m., and then again on Thursday, May 21, from 4 to 5 p.m. Each session will be limited to seven children, so please call the library at 861-7239 to sign up for either session. Better yet, sign up in person and check out a copy of “Chicks and Salsa” while you’re here.
Encore orientation
We’ve heard a lot of frustration with the library’s new online system, which, believe me, the library staff very much shares. On Thursday May 14, at 6 p.m., we’ll be holding an orientation to our new online catalog called Encore. Whether you’d like to reserve items or check your account from home, use our brand new databases or just browse for your next movie, CD or book, we’ll cover everything that the system can allow you to do.
Please bring your library card, or at least have your card number memorized, and join us for this enlightening event.
Book discussion
On Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m., the Penultimate Monday Book Group will be meeting to discuss “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque. This classic, which has been called “the greatest war novel of all time,” is another in our series of books that many of us read in high school or were supposed to read in high school but didn’t that we’re revisiting as mature readers.
With the 100th anniversary of the events described in the book upon us, it seems to be as good a time as any to tackle it. Please join us for what will no doubt be a great conversation.
Australian Potluck
We usually hold our Eat Around the World Potluck on the last Monday of the month, but since that would be Memorial Day, the May potluck will be held on June 1, at 6 p.m. This month we’ll be sampling the cuisine of Australia.
We’ve already heard a lot of jokes and stories about eating kangaroo. I don’t know if anyone will be making kangaroo, but I do know that we’re probably the only library in America whose director has to wonder whether or not that will happen in his library.
Join us, won’t you? Bring a dish to share.
— Photo by Joe Burke
Tiny world: For Earth Day, a recycled jar became a terrarium at the Altamont Free Library.
— Photo by Joe Burke
Fun at the library: Altamont library trustee Christine Capuano enjoys helping kids make terrariums; the craft project was led by Christine Carpenter.
In some ways, a library is like a garden and, just as every good garden requires care and maintenance, so does a library. One of the most important aspects of maintaining a library, also like a garden, is weeding, which is what we call it when we remove items that no longer are in heavy demand from our collection.
The difference between weeding a garden and a library is that you wouldn’t want to keep weeds in your garden under any circumstances. On the other hand, if we had an infinite amount of shelf space, we’d have no reason to remove books from our collection whether there was interest in those titles or not.
But we don’t have infinite space or anything remotely close to it. Once a year, therefore, the Altamont Free Library identifies items that haven’t been checked out in the past three years and we remove many of them from the collection.
So, our shelves may look a bit more bare for a little while, but rest assured that we’ll be bringing in new titles to fill those shelves up again.
The good news is that you’ll have an opportunity to peruse the titles that we’re letting go of at our annual book sale this Saturday. We’re also gladly accepting donations of good condition books, audio books, CDs, and DVDs for the sale.
If we can add them to our collection, we surely will. If not, we’ll sell them to raise money for the library.
We will also be holding a garage sale in conjunction with the book sale and will be glad to accept donations of any household items in good condition that you might be willing to part with for a good cause. We could also use a few volunteers to help us run the book and garage sales on Saturday. We hope to see you all on Saturday.
Book discussion
The first Monday book group will meet at noon on Monday, May 4, to discuss “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan. This new novel touches on several issues that have been widely debated recently, including the intersection of religious faith and modern medicine and the ability of young adults to make their own health care decisions. Please join us for what will undoubtedly be a fascinating conversation.
Spring bird walk take 2
On Thursday, May 7, our own Dan Capuano will once again lead a bird watching expedition along Brandle Road. Our April excursion was a hoot, but a bit on the chilly side.
We hope that the weather will be nicer for our next outing, when Dan tells us that the orioles will be back from their winter down south. Please join us as we meet up at the library at 9 a.m. for this fun and educational hour-long walk.
Art and collections
Over the next few weeks, the library will be unveiling a new art display system in our community room. The new system will allow us to professionally and securely display art and we’d love to display yours.
If you are an artist and would like to display your work at the library, please get in touch with Joe Burke at 861-7239 to discuss scheduling a showing. Likewise, if you’ve got a cool collection you’d like to show off, please consider letting us show it in our display case. Thanks!
Last week was National Libraries Week, as I was reminded by a group of young folks that brought us a beautiful sign saying “Altamont Cooperative Preschool Loves Their Library!”
We are lucky, here at the Altamont Free Library, to be in a community that so values its library and to have such a wonderful staff and crew of dedicated volunteers that keep the library running. Many thanks to you all, for continuing to support us in big ways and small year after year.
The Dojo
On Friday, April 28, our old friend Ryan Black will be back to lead our teen gaming program, The Dojo at 6 p.m. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into.
Earth Day craft
Celebrate Earth Day and the spring season at the library. Join us on Saturday, April 25, at 11 a.m., to make a small greenhouse garden called a terrarium.
Please bring a small glass jar with a lid (mustard, pickle or small mason jar-sized) — preferably something that was headed for the recycling bin — a tiny glass or plastic figurine or two that can adorn the garden you create — gnomes and kittens love terrarium living, and your creativity.
Please pre-register to ensure that we have ample garden-making materials for all by calling the library at 861-7239, e-mailing at [email protected] or stop by the library and sign up in person.
This workshop will be led by Christine Carpenter, who loves exploring the natural world, and has been making terrariums and other tiny habitats since she was a very young girl.
Jamaican potluck
This is exciting! This month’s ever-popular Eat Around the World Potluck will focus on the food and drinks of sunny Jamaica. Please join us at 6 p.m., on Monday, April 27, for this always fun event and please bring a dish to share. If you don’t have any Jamaican recipes in your recipe box, we’ve got a few Caribbean cookbooks you can check out.
Book and garage sale
On Saturday, May 2, the library will hold our annual book sale in conjunction with the PTA’s village-wide garage sale. In additon, this year, we will hold a garage sale to raise funds for the library. From noon on Wednesday, April 29 until the day of the sale, we will be very grateful to accept your books which will either be added to the library’s collection or sold to raise money for library programs and services.
We will begin accepting donations of garage sale items in good condition (no clothes, please!) on Thursday, April 30. We will be happy to make up a receipt for you for tax purposes if you like. Please don’t forget to visit us during the sale to find your next favorite book.
The Children Act
The first Monday book group will meet at noon on Monday, May 4, to discuss “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan. This new novel touches on several issues that have been widely debated recently, including the intersection of religious faith and modern medicine and the ability of young adults to make their own health care decisions. Please join us for what will undoubtedly be a fascinating conversation.
— Photo by Ron Ginsburg
The Train Station Quilters and their volunteers came together on April 7 for the Million Pillowcase Challenge, making cases for children in foster care. Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, County Sheriff Craig Apple, Altamont Mayor Jim Gaughan, and other officials were on hand for the event.
All year long, people ask us to take their books off of their hands. It always seems that more than almost any category of household item--more than clothes, more than records, more than furniture--people always want to know that their books have found a good second or third home.
All year long, we have to regretfully decline most offers, since we simply don’t have the space for them. Soon, though, will be your opportunity!
On Saturday, May 2nd, Altamont Free Library will hold our annual book sale in conjunction with the PTA’s village-wide garage sale. From noon on Wednesday, April 29th until the day of the sale, we will very grateful to accept your books which will either be added to the library’s collection or sold to raise money for library programs and services.
We will be happy to make up a receipt for you for tax purposes if you like. Please visit us during the sale to find your next favorite book.
In the meantime, we’ve got a bunch of great things coming up this week.
Encore Orientation
This Thursday, we’ll be holding that an orientation session to our new online catalog called Encore. Whether you’d like to reserve items or check your account from home, use our brand new databases or just browse for your next movie, cd or book, we’ll cover everything that the system can allow you to do.
Please bring your library card (or at least have your card number memorized) and join us at 6pm for this enlightening event.
Animation Workshop Full
Registration for our Saturday, April 18th Video Animation Workshop is full. If you haven’t signed up, fear not! We will be running another session of the workshop this summer, and if you’re left on the waitlist for the April session, you’ll have first crack at registering for the summer session.
“To Kill A Mockingbird”
Over the next few months, our Penultimate Monday book club will be discussing old classics that we first encountered (or wish we had encountered) in high school English classes.
First up, “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee at 7pm on Monday, April 20th. This widely beloved novel tells a story of crime, prejudice and understanding in the South in the 1930’s. Whether this is your first encounter with the book or your tenth, please join us for what is certain to be a great discussion.
The Dojo
On Friday, April 28th, our old friend Ryan Black will be back to lead out teen gaming program, The Dojo at 6pm. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into.
Earth Day Craft
Celebrate Earth Day and the spring season at the library! Join us on Saturday April 25th at 11am to make a small greenhouse garden called a terrarium.
Please bring a small glass jar with a lid (mustard, pickle or small mason jar-sized) — preferably something that was headed for the recycling bin! — a tiny glass or plastic figurine or two that can adorn the garden you create — gnomes and kittens love terrarium living! — and your creativity.
Please pre-register to ensure that we have ample garden-making materials for all by calling the library at (518) 861-7239, emailing at [email protected] or stop by the library and sign up in person.
This workshop will be led by Christine Carpenter, who loves exploring the natural world and has been making terrariums and other tiny habitats since she was a very young girl.
Happy April! I hope that, with the coming of the new month, we can begin to put this long cold winter behind us and enjoy the springtime. This week, we’ve got a ton of neat stuff coming up at the Altamont Free Library.
Please note that the library will be closed for Easter on Sunday April 5.
Easter baskets
Speaking of Easter, we’ll be holding a kids crafting event at 3 p.m. this Friday, April 3. Please join us to make your very own Easter basket out of recycled materials. Call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance so that we can be sure we have enough materials.
Book discussion
The first Monday book discussion group will be meeting on Monday, April 6, at noon to discuss “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain. This fantastic novel revolves around a young veteran of the Iraq war coming to terms with his sudden fame and the meaning and consequences of modern war. There will be much to talk about, so please pick up a copy of this acclaimed novel at the library and join us.
Million Pillowcase Project
Here’s a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday during school break: Come down to village hall on April 7, and help the Train Station Quilters achieve their goal of making pillowcases for children in foster care as part of a nationwide effort called the Million Pillowcase Project. If you need fabric, there’ll be plenty of extra fabric available at the event. No prior experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. Please call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance.
Bird walk
We tried to do this in February, but you know what? It’s cold in February. Way too cold to get up early and walk around outside for an hour. But now it’s spring and time to go bird watching. Break out your binoculars (we’ll have extras if you need them), and join us at the library at 9 a.m., on Thursday, April 9, for a one-hour walk around Altamont to see what birds there are to see.
Our expedition will be led by Dan Capuano. Since school’s out that week, please feel free to bring any junior ornithologists you might know. First timers are very much welcome.
Editing workshop
Lights! Camera! Action! Local filmmakers Frank and Zach Appio will be conducting a video editing class at the library on Saturday, April 18, from 1 to 4 p.m., for aspiring photographers and filmmakers ages seven to 14. This free event will demonstrate the technique of stop motion animation using Legos, smartphone cameras and the Lego Movie Maker app. All necessary materials will be provided. Seats in the workshop are limited, so to register, please e-mail the Appios at youthanimationworkshop@gmail.com to register.