Summer is finally winding down, with moderately warm weather and patchy rainfall the unwavering norm (cue the boiling hailstorm). As the Altamont Fair tromps out of town for another year, leaving us slightly pudgier than we were the previous week, we’ll be holding a few community events of our own at the Altamont Free Library.
Lawn League
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m., join us for games of croquet, bocce ball, ladder golf, and a number of other classic lawn games in Orsini Park. Or rather, we’ll play “on” Orsini Park, because the tunneling equipment that we used to play “in” the park last time seems to have been misplaced.
Potluck dinner
This time around, we’re going for a potluck dinner that’s a little closer to home. Altamont, N.Y. is the target of this dinner, and we’ll be eating from your local garden, CSA, or the farmer’s market. Dr. Gary Kleppel, Director of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy Program at UAlbany, will be joining us for dinner. Dinner will be on Monday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. Please stop in ahead of time to sign up.
Trivia night
Just what it sounds like, just like last time. Teams of four contestants will compete to pursue the less-than-trivial half of the door prize. Feel free to sign up as a team, or on your own. The cost is $5 per person, you must be 21 years old and over, and BYOB. Please leave your bioluminescent yodeling overweight bats at home this time, please.
Book talk
The next book club meeting will be held on Sept. 8, at noon, and will be for The Good Lord Bird by James McBride. Copies of the book are currently available in the library. Get ‘em while you can, we don’t know how long they’ll stay.
Story time
As always, story time will be this Wednesday, at 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome; join us for stories, songs, rhymes, and movement. Story time will be followed by a craft and free playtime
— Photo from Judith Wines
Young alienologists perfect their dissection skills and log their findings. The aliens may be quaking because they are terrified, or perhaps it is because they are made of Jell-O.
Less than a week to turn in your summer reading bingo at the Altamont Free Library. Turn your cards in by Tuesday, Aug. 19 to get your last drawing tickets. Congratulations to all the kids who got reading bingo this summer.
End of summer party
We’re celebrating all this reading with an end of summer party. Join us Wednesday, at 3 p.m., at the village community room for a performance by Rick Kuperberg of KO-MOTION movement theater. Kuperberg incorporates mime, music and theater for a performance that is for all ages. Ice cream sundaes for all afterwards!
Trivial evening
Adult Trivia is back! Join us Thursday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m., for a trivial evening. There is a $5 a person charge to play and the winning team takes half the door. Come as a team of four or on your own and we’ll match you with a team. BYOB snacks will be served.
Book club
Monday Aug. 18, the penultimate Monday book club will be discussing Liane Moriarity's The Husband’s Secret at 7 p.m. If you appreciate more lead/read time, check our website for upcoming book club selections.
Building fun
Maker Mondays are still going on. Bring a friend and build stuff with our K’Nex, Snap Circuits and more. This program is every Monday at 2 p.m.
Summer’s been surprisingly cool as of late, though I hesitate to have this printed in any sort of widespread publication, lest I place a jinx on the weather. If I do indeed force you to turn on the A.C., then I offer my apologies.
Grossology
This Friday, the Aug. 8, at 2 p.m., the Altamont Free Library’s last “Grossology” class for school-aged kids will be dissecting an alien and recording the results for science. We take no responsibility for missing cattle or shorted-out electrical equipment caused by an unseen EMP. Thank you.
Lawn league
As always, the lawn league will be in full swing this Wednesday for our younger patrons, join us on the Aug. 13 or the 27th at 6:30 p.m., for croquet, bocce ball, ladder golf, and other classic lawn games in Orsini Park. Please leave your own lawn at home, we will provide the playing field. Thank you.
Meet the author
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m., you can come meet Altamont author Phil Horendor, author of the Maximilian P. Mouse: Time Traveler series. A Canajoharie high school history teacher, Horendor will talk about writing an elementary school historical fiction series starring one brave mouse!
Summer reading
celebration
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m., we’ll kick off the end of summer reading with a performance by Rick Kupersberg of KO-MOTION Movement Theater. Kupersberg incorporates mime, music, and theater into his performance for all ages. Afterwards, there will be ice cream sundaes for all.
Story time
Summer Reading may be drawing to a close, but story time marches on every Wednesday morning at 10:30 p.m. Drop-in for books, song, rhymes, bubbles, and some serious silliness. All ages.
Summer’s either getting warmer or wetter, but it can’t seem to make up its mind on which it wants to be. With any luck, we won’t have too many more hot baths unleashed upon our unwitting town, heralded by giant lightning bolts two feet from our windows at 8 a.m.
As always, our Maker Mondays will be held with Lego, K’nex, Snap Circuits, and more on Monday at 2 p.m. If your kids haven’t caught up on their summer reading BINGO sheets, or tried to find Curious George, it’s about time they did!
Science Story Time
This Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 10:30 a.m., our science story time for kids in pre-kindergarten to first grade will be devoted to counting and measuring.
We’ll share a pizza story, and make our own dough. Shaping it into a little man in a baker’s hat is optional.
Experimenters
A little later on Aug. 5, at 3 p.m., our hands-on science for kids in elementary school will be focusing on construction. Educators from Skidmore College will teach us about balance and the center of gravity.
Grossology
Geared towards kids in second through fifth grades, this class, held on Friday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m., will conclude the summer’s revolting lessons with an alien autopsy
Dissect an alien, and record the results for science! Large black helicopters and intimidating government agents are encouraged to keep a safe distance.
Volunteens
This program for kids in sixth grade and up will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 4 p.m. Teens will teach basic computer skills like email and Facebook to willing students who hope not to be feeling too old by the end of the lesson.
Music in the park
For our last summer concert, on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., we’ll be listening to Swing Shift, a swing band with male and female vocalists, and a vast range of styles from the 1930s to the early ’50s. Dancing shoes are more than welcome.
Our summer reading program and summer concerts series are over half-way over! But hark! It’s not too late to join in.
Maker Mondays
Join us Mondays at 2 p.m. for Maker Mondays, in which kids of all ages have the meeting room all to themselves to build with Legos, K’nex, Snap Circuits, and more.
Science and Bubbles
Come back Tuesday, July 29, at 10:30 a.m. for Science Story Time, where we are talking about the human body. That afternoon, we are doing bubble science. Join us to make big ones, bouncy ones, and any kind you want ones.
Concert and Award
Tuesday at 7 p.m., we’re welcoming Rusticator, an acoustic band with sound inspired by Wilco and the Avett brothers. The event will be preceded by a visit from Dan McCoy, who will unveil the plaque for the Preservation League of New York State award.
Volunteens
Wander back Wednesday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m. for family story time, followed by Volunteens at 4 p.m. Kids entering grades six and up and invited to help us make fleece cat mats to be donated to the animal shelter.
Grossology
Friday is for those not afraid. We’re venturing into the world of the gross and learning about snot and foul scents at 2 p.m.
Bingo card
Any day of the week you can come in to redeem your reading bingo card, or hunt down Curious George. This week, everything’s coming up roses for George, and we hope the same is true for you.
It’s summertime so there’s lot to cover in a weekly library note. So let’s go for the high spots:
— Kick off : The program begins with fun and festivity. A giant party in Orsini Park on Monday, July 7, at 4 p.m. The gala event includes science experiments, ice cream sundaes, lawn games, and more. More fun for the whole family.
— Science Story Time: This one is geared toward kids in pre-kindergarten to first grade, and parent help is welcome. The five-part extravaganza will focus on Color Science, Gardening, Strength, Body, and Counting /Measuring.
Day and time for this one is Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
— Experimenters: This is hands-on science for independent learners. It’s geared toward kids in elementary school. It meets at the library on Tuesdays, beginning July 8, at 3 p.m. The individual topics include volcanoes, flight, eggs away, bubbles, and construction.
— Grossology: Ever hear of it? Probably not. Think you can guess? Probably.
The fun is set for Fridays, starting at 2 p.m., and it’s designed for kids in grades 2-5.
Summer music
Our second summer concert features Sensemaya, a favorite from past years. The concert is on Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m., in the park!
Catch next week’s Enterprise library notes for more summer goings-on. They may not be as uplifting and intriguing as slime and vomit, but don’t count on it. It is the library and it is summer.
This summer, on Wednesday afternoons, starting at 4 p.m., the Altamont Free Library is beginning a new program — volunteens. It’s for all kids in grades 6 and up.
Community-service credits are important items these days. Caring and kindness have always been important.
The fun will include planting and harvesting summer vegetables, which will then be donated to the village food pantry; making fleece cat mats; and Teen Tech Help — teens teaching basic computer skills like email and Facebook.
Summer Concert Series
One of the library’s most successful, most welcome contributions to summer fun in the area is the Summer Concert Series.
The coming concert, on July 15, is Running the River. Their music is a blend of classic traditional Irish, country, rock, and folk, with covers of the Kingston Trio, Johnny Cash, and others.
County executive visits
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy will be holding “Office Hours” at the library between 4 and 5:30 on Tuesday, July 15. Come on by!
In the hot old summer time, it’s a common expression. Or almost. So is summer reading. Maybe you’d like to do some. Maybe you’d like your child to do some. Come to the Altamont Free Library. We’d love to help you out.
We’re also busy preparing for other summertime activities.
Sound of music
The Summer Concert Series will soon begin. The first performers are a fine local group called Thirteen Feet of Bluegrass. So you know what they sound like. The members all come from one or another of the hills in the area. They’re sure to be authentic. That’s July 1, starting at 7 p.m., at the gazebo in Orsini Park. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the village hall. Free-will donations will be accepted to defray concert expenses.
Open mic
The last Friday of the month is as close as the books on the new mystery bestseller shelf. That means Open Mic entertainment. All kinds. Music, comedy, and philosophical ranting. We hope to have it all. It’s free. It’s fun.
Volunteers
(Older) kids! We’re planning a summer lawn games league run by teen volunteers. Volunteer training will be Friday, June 27, at 1 p.m. E-mail us to sign up. Volunteer credit is available.
Parents of younger kids, keep this announcement in mind. It’s going to be a blast. Remember what a blast was?
Summer does not hold back; summer is not shy. Summer shouts, billows, and bellows. There is so much to do! So much fun to embrace and enjoy. Here are a few quick samples of what’s coming up at the Altamont Free Library in the next few weeks. And keep an eye out for future Enterprise Library Notes. A single issue can’t hold them all.
Summer concerts
The Summer Concert Series is made possible with support from the village of Altamont, the Arts Council of the Capital Region, and Mio Vino. The schedule includes:
— July 1: Thirteen Feet of Bluegrass;
— July 8: Sensemaya;
— July 15: Running the River;
— July 22: David Warner and Kevin Begazo;
— July 29: Rusticator; and
— August 5: Swing Shift.
World Cup
Watch live matches on our 70-inch screen. Drop in, watch, and snack.
— Ghana vs. United States on Monday, June16, at 2:30 p.m.; and
— Ecuador vs. France on Wednesday, June 25, at 3:30 p.m.
Steel drum potluck
We’re meeting Jimmy Buffet for this month’s feast. Join us at the library for a Jamaican potluck. It’ll be good, Mon! The potluck is on Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m.
Chicken barbecue
What says Altamont, summer, feasting, fun, library, friends all together, all ready to burst with pleasure and goodness better than chicken barbecue. This year’s event is down for Friday, June 20, at the village park from 5 to 7 p.m.
Advance sales at the library for $9. Will rise to $10 on June 20. All dinners include a half chicken cooked with the library’s secret sauce, baked potato, roll, coleslaw, drink, and brownie. Veggie option available for pre-order. Eat in the park with music from Traditional Strings, or take your dinner home.
Do a good deed, get a great deal, meet all your friends, eat a lip-smackin’ meal.
We’re so proud of our brand new video displaying facilities. So we’ve linked them up to one of the most exciting sports events in all the world The World Cup.
On Thursday, June 12, at 3:30 p.m., the Altamont Free Library will be screening the match between Brazil and Croatia. The whole world, with the possible exception of Joe Namath, will be watching. Get here in timely fashion. We’ll have snacks and sideline fun.
Yummy
Our entryway display area is currently the home of another collection of artistic material you don’t see every day. We’re featuring Laura Shore’s paintings of local produce. The works include red peppers, blueberries, peas, cabbage, onions, and more. Come have a long look at all this luxuriant health, right living, and good gustatory choice making. Plus you might know the backyard gardener who grew it.
Double yummy
You heard it first right here, right now. On Friday, June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., in Altamont’s Orsinsi Park, is the time and location for this year’s annual Library Chicken BBQ. Advance sale tickets will go for $9. Same day sales are $10. All dinners include a half chicken cooked with the library’s secret sauce, baked potato, roll, coleslaw, drink, and brownie. Veggie option available for preorder.
Story time
Every Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., all year round, story time happens. Kids and parents are welcome to drop in and join us for stories, music, rhymes, and crafts.