— Photo from Judy Petrosillo
Kids learn coding at the Berne Library on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
The best thing about the year coming to an end is the ability to change in the new year. As author James R. Sherman said, “You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand new ending.” Making resolutions is easy but it does take determination to keep them.
Additional hours
One of the 2016 goals of the library board was to increase the hours that the library is open. Thank you to the towns of Berne and Knox for supplying the necessary funding for four additional hours each week. The doors open on Wednesdays at noon instead of 4 p.m. beginning Jan. 4.
Story time
Parents wish for well-behaved children. That could include not jumping on the bed. Ms. Kathy is reading about five monkeys who misbehave during Story time on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to attend this pre-literacy program that includes stories, activities, and a craft. The fun begins at 10:30 a.m.
Friends meet
Perhaps you would like to increase your community involvement in 2017. Working with the Friends of the Berne Library is a great way to support the library and interact with really nice people. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Join them on Jan. 4 to discuss the upcoming photography contest, book sale, and bowls for books.
Photo contest
This year might be your year to win a prize at a photography contest. Submit your 8-by-10-inch photos in 11-by-14-inch mats by Tuesday, Jan. 31. The categories are "The Joy of Reading", “Hilltowners,” “Down on the Farm” and "Reflections & Shadows.” Rules and entry forms are available at the library or from our website www.bernepubliclibrary.org.
Museum passes
If you resolve to investigate museums in the area this year, look for museum passes at the library. The Friends of the Berne Library recently purchased two MiSci passes for your use. There are many interactive displays at this museum of innovation and science in Schenectady. Each pass provides free entrance for an entire family into the museum and planetarium. All you need is a free library card to check out the pass.
Movie nights
Spend less money this year by using the library. There is no admission fee for movie nights and refreshments are provided. An adventure film recently released on DVD will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6. Check our website for the title of the movie which is rated PG-13.
Book discussion
Because of the New Year holiday, the first book club of the year will be on Sunday, Jan. 8. The conversation will center on the junior novel “Wonder” by R.A. Palacio. The discussion on being different and being accepted starts at 6:30 p.m. Any interested adult may attend.
Learn a language
Put learning a new language on your list of resolutions. Mango Languages is a learning resource available online with your library card. Access the program from the right-hand column of the library's website. It is available from your home computer, hand-held device, or a library computer.
As we approach the beginning of a new year, consider following the advice of Benjamin Franklin, "Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man" (or woman).
In about a month, the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner will be announced. This award is given to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children published in the United States during 2016. Chris Van Allsburg won this award in 1982 for Jumanji and again in 1986 for The Polar Express.
The Polar Express was published in 1985, released as a movie in 2004, and has become a Christmas classic. As the story goes, a young boy is lying in bed on Christmas Eve awaiting Santa's arrival when he hears the sound of a train outside his home. He is invited by the conductor to come aboard the Polar Express which is heading to the North Pole. The young boy is picked by Santa to receive the first gift of Christmas and he chooses a simple, silver bell from Santa's sleigh.
If you have silver bells to add to mittens or scarves, the Knit Wits group is meeting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. Bring your own projects to knit or crochet while enjoying conversations with other adults. This will be your last chance to finish 2016 holiday gifts.
The focus of Storytime on Tuesday, Dec. 20 is The Polar Express. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. In keeping with the story, refreshments will be served. Perhaps Santa will be there to give a gift!
Polar Express train rides have become wildly popular events in December. The ride usually features a telling of the magical story complete with hot chocolate and cookies, just like in the book. In our area, the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Saratoga and North Creek Railroad often have a sold out schedule for these events.
Are your plans for the holiday complete or do you need some last minute cards? Creative Hands will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22 to make cards and tags. Registration is requested so there are adequate supplies but it is not required. Contact the library staff by calling 872-1246 or emailing . We will be discussing potential art projects for next year so please come with ideas to share.
For your planning pleasure, note that the library will be open Saturday, Dec. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again on Monday, Dec. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Vacation Makerspace for ages 5 to 12 is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. All aboard for fun events at the library.
— Photo from Judy Petrosillo
As unique as the women who made them: Marion Burghart, Donna Gwin, and Emilie Wright display the wreaths they made at the Berne Library under the tutelage of Sue Pezzolla from the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
It is December and that usually means snow and low temperatures. Despite the cold weather in Stockholm, Sweden, there will be a warm glow on Dec. 10 as 10 Nobel Prize Laureates receive recognition. The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on the same day in Oslo, Norway.
These prizes were established in the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel. In addition to the prestige of winning the prize, the recipients receive an 18-karat gold medal and a check for nearly $1 million.
The 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature will be awarded to Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Dylan is joining the impressive list of past American winners: Toni Morrison, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, T.S. Eliot, Pearl Buck, Eugene O'Neill, and Sinclair Lewis. This is the first time the award has gone to a musician.
TAG
Bob Dylan has compared his songs to mystery plays, the kind Shakespeare saw when he was growing up. Ms. Kathy has a murder mystery play in store for teens on Friday, Dec. 9. Join her at 6:30 p.m when the library is closed to everyone but the teen action group. All teens are welcome so bring a friend.
Story time
Seventy-five year old Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota, a snowy area of the country. Snow is the focus for storytime on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to the library at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, a craft, and some music.
Knit Wits
Knitted scarves help keep us warm in the winter. Knit or crochet your own project during Knit Wits at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. This is the perfect opportunity to finish a holiday gift while sharing delightful conversations with other adults.
Story walks
For the Story Walks, the Friends of the Berne Library did not pick novels by Nobel Prize authors. Instead, they choose books perfect for young families. At the Knox town park enjoy “Woolly Bear Winter: How North Wood Creatures Weather the Cold” by Cam Sato and Abbie Bowker. Take a brisk walk and try to figure out the riddles in the story. At the Berne town park is another book of riddles, “Whose Tracks Are These?: A Clue Book of Familiar Forest Animals” by James Nail. Visit both locations before the snow gets too deep.
If you have questions about the Nobel prizes, visit their official website www.NobelPrize.org. For books on Dylan, CDs of his music, and documentaries on DVDs, visit your public library. The answers, my friend, are blowin' in the wind.
American author Bryant McGill issued the following invitation: "Join me in my quest for a greater understanding of our existence. Join me in my desire for a greater self. Join me as I seek the humility to love and understand my fellow man." There are resources and programs at the Berne library that can help in your search.
Movie night
By observing others on a mission, you learn something about yourself. Family Movie Night at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 features a film with a character on an ominous quest. Enjoy this Japanese animated adventure film that is rated PG. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. More information about the movie is available on the website www.bernepubliclibrary.org.
Book discussion
A journey inspired by one reason often results in unexpected findings. That is the theme for the Sunday Book Club on Dec. 4. The group will discuss the novel, “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,” by Rachel Joyce. Adults are invited to participate in the conversation beginning at 7 p.m.
Read to a dog
Ariel, our tail waggin' tutor, has hiked all of the Adirondack High Peaks. Although she is unable to share her adventures, she is willing to listen to your tales and stories. Ariel, and her handler Amber, will be at the library from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5. Children improve their literacy skills by reading aloud to our non-judgmental furry friend.
Story time
If you travel in pursuit of seeing a penguin and a polar bear in the same area, go to a zoo. Polar bears live in the northern arctic regions while penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins will be the focus of story time on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Children ages 1 to 5 are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft about this bird that cannot fly.
Photography
On their quest to document New York City in the late 1970's and early 1980's, Paul Tick and Agnes Zellin used their cameras. Tick’s approach was to get to know his subjects and capture them in beautiful portraits paired with their own matter-of-fact utterances. Zellin’s pictures are of everyday activities that speak of a time and place when people knew their neighbors like family. During the Street Photography program at 7 p.m.on Tuesday, Dec. 6, the couple will share their photographs and techniques. It is not quite journalism, not quite art; rather, a form of personal documentary work.
Photo contest
Perhaps your mission is to capture the essence of the hill towns in your photographs. Although the Friends of the Berne Library are not meeting in December, plans are being made for the 2nd Annual Photography Contest. Rules and entry forms are available at the library or from our website. Pictures are to be submitted after the first of the year and before Jan, 31. The four categories are "Joy of Reading", "Reflections & Shadows", "Down on the Farm", and "Hilltowners". You may enter a photo in each category.
"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul," said religious leader Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The library is one of the community spaces that encourages creativity in persons of all ages.
Children ages 1 to 5 will be exploring pizza and its toppings on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for Storytime. This early literacy program include stories, activities, and a craft. Your child does not need to be picture perfect to attend!
When a photograph evokes emotion in the observer, it crosses over from a simple picture to a work of art. The "Taking a Dynamic Photo" program, rescheduled from last week, will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Art teacher Tom Gagnan and participants will examine photographs to determine what makes a creative piece.
The second photography program takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 with Agnes Zellin and Paul Tick. This program will focus on using photography as a documentary tool. Both programs are open to ages 13 and up and are designed to inspire you to enter the 2nd Annual Photography Contest in January. Rules and entry forms are available at the library or from our website www.bernepubliclibrary.org.
Design and assemble your own evergreen wreath at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30. Sue Pezzolla from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service will guide you through the process. Registration is required for the Wreath Making program and there is a $7 material fee. Sign up with the library staff by Monday, November 28 by calling 872-1246 or emailing .
Critic Roger Ebert said, "Every great film should seem new every time you see it." The animated film for Movie Night is newly released on DVD and rated PG. The movie is projected on a large screen in the community room at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. This combination makes a great night out for families. Check the library's website for the title and synopsis.
Every picture tells a story but sometimes reading the story is more enjoyable. The Sunday Book Club is currently reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye by Rachel Joyce. The discussion takes place at 7:00 p.m. on December 4. Request a book to read before the program. All adults who enjoy conversations about books are welcome.
A creative person should be able to think of a use for our old book return. It is a locked steel drop box without an inside cart. Recycling is great but reusing is even better so contact the library if you are interested.
Just a reminder that the Friends of the Town of Berne Library, Inc. are registered with the Amazon Smile Foundation. As you make your on-line purchases, every order through Amazon Smile results in a donation to the Friends at no additional cost to you. There is an icon on the right side of the library website that links to the foundation.
In case you don't get the picture, let me spell it out. The library is a superb place to get your creative juices flowing.
When the Native Americans and Pilgrims sat down for their Thanksgiving feast, journals indicate that venison was on the table. Fowl is also listed by Edward Winslow although turkey is not specifically mentioned. No hunting licenses were needed by the Pilgrims for harvesting deer or turkey in 1621. Regulations did not occur until the 1900s.
The first Federal law protecting game was the Lacey Act in 1900. Present day hunting regulations are designed to keep the wildlife population under control. Regular deer season for this area opens on Saturday, Nov. 19 and ends Dec. 11. Since rifles are now allowed for hunting in the southern zone, please be careful in the woods.
TAG
Teens will need to control themselves on Friday, Nov. 18 in order to accomplish the task of flipping water bottles. TAG meets at 6:30 p.m. with a short physics lesson before performing some experiments. Bring your instruments for jamming after the program. All teens are welcome.
Storytelling
Hunters are known for their stories of the one that got away. Telling a good story is definitely a skill possessed by the members of the Story Circle. Celebrate storytelling at Tellebration on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. "It Ain't Necessarily So" includes stories celebrating the human spirit and takes place at the GE Theater of Proctors.
Knit Wits
Warm hats are a requirement when spending time outdoors in late November. Hunters need to dress warmly and so do children waiting for the bus. The Knit Wits are currently collecting hats for the Toys for Tots train. Anyone may drop off hats at the library for this project. The deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 30. The Knit Wits meet on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. for knitting or crocheting personal projects in addition to hats. Share problems, solutions, and conversations with other adults.
If you missed the deadline for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Coats for Kids drive, you may still donate coats, hats, and mittens at the library. Kiwanis is collecting winter gear until Nov. 30. Items will be donated to the Hilltown Community Resource Center.
Story time
Children ages 1 to 5 will be talking turkey at storytime on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. Tom the Turkey, a puppet, will make a special appearance.
Holiday closing
The library will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24 in observance of Thanksgiving Day. Please plan accordingly.
Make A wreath
An evergreen wreath brings a part of the great outdoors to our home. This year you can make your own wreath at the library. Susan Pezzolla from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service will guide you through the process at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30. For a $7 material fee, you will have a wreath to take home. Registration is required for this event. Please notify the library staff by Monday, Nov. 28 by calling 872-1246 or emailing .
The Three Sisters of the Iroquois Legend are corn, beans, and squash. The Sister Spirits were believed to protect the well-being of these special crops. The plants are grown in the same mound in gardens because corn provides a ladder for the bean vine. Those two plants give shade to the squash plant which traps moisture for all three crops. Gardeners know there are many benefits to this type of companion planting.
TAG
Providing a place for interacting and supporting others is a function of libraries. Teens are given a monthly evening at the library when it is closed to the general public. Due to Veterans Day, the original TAG meeting scheduled for Nov. 11 has been switched to Friday, Nov. 18. Join Ms. Kathy at 6:30 p.m. for a teen program followed by some musical jamming.
Corn is an annual plant of the grass family and is the largest of the cereals. This Native American plant is also known as maize. For human consumption, the husk is shucked and discarded while the kernels are eaten. Have you thought of cleaning and drying the husks for future use? They are used for making tamales or wrapping foods for steaming. There is some current research on making them into fabric. The husks are also used in fall crafts.
Story time
Storytime is the pre-literacy program held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. On Nov. 15, children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers will be making corn husk dolls with Ms. Kathy. Stories and activities on corn are also a part of this program.
Photo discussions
"A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine," wrote Anne Bronte, a British novelist. Would your photograph of a corn field express this laughter or just be a corny picture? Tom Gagnon will discuss creative ways to photograph objects and people. The "Taking Dynamic Photos" program occurs at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 and is open to ages 13 to 100.
There is a program about journalistic photography at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Both these programs are meant to educate and inspire you to enter the 2nd annual photography contest sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Entries are not due until Jan. 31, 2017 but it is never too early to start clicking. The four categories are "Joy of Reading", "Reflections & Shadows". "Hilltowners", and "Down on the Farm".
Wreath making
Now that Halloween is over, it is time to think about the next few holidays. The library will be closed on Thursday, November 24 for Thanksgiving. A wreath making class will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30. Sue Pezzolla from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service is leading the class. For a $7 material fee, you will go home with a beautiful evergreen wreath for your door. Registration is required so please sign up with the library staff by emailing , calling 872-1246, or stopping by the library during hours.
“Voting is how we participate in a civic society — be it for president, be it for a municipal election. It's the way we teach our children — in school elections — how to be citizens, and the importance of their voice,” said Loretta Lynch, Attorney General of the United States. Voting is one of the five basic tenets of citizenship, responsibilities of every member of a society.
Movie night
Obeying laws is another civic duty. However, the film for movie night at the library features creatures that are breaking laws. Enjoy a free night out watching a fantasy, comedy rated PG-13. The movie starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. Enjoy the projection on the large screen in the community room. Refreshments are provided. Look for the title on our website, www.bernepubliclibrary.org.
Book club
Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday, Nov. 5 so you aren't late for the book club on Sunday. The group will meet at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 to talk about “Same Sweet Girls” by Cassandra King. Every voice is heard so any interested adult may participate.
Read to a dog
Dogs aren't allowed to vote but special ones are allowed in the library. Ariel, our tail waggin' tutor, will be at the library on Monday, Nov. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. Children are encouraged to stop by and read aloud to Ariel. This is a fun way to improve reading skills.
Storytime
Caregivers of children ages 1 to 5 are encouraged to vote before or after Storytime on Nov. 8. Voting is the theme on Tuesday although the children will be voting for a color instead of a person. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for this pre-literacy program that includes stories, activities, and a craft.
Board meets
Doing volunteer work is also considered a civic duty. The library’s board of trustees consists of eight, hard-working, volunteers. They discuss library business at their monthly meetings. The next open meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. Community members are welcome to attend and add their opinion.
TAG
Teens need a time when their voices can be heard and not shushed. On Friday, Nov. 11 the library is closed to the general public but open to all teens. TAG meets at 6:30 p.m. Bring your musical instruments if you are interested in jamming after the program.
Honor those who serve
In case you are wondering, the other basic civic duties are serving on juries and paying taxes to the government. Some of our citizens go beyond these basic responsibilities and sign up for the armed services. Friday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Take time to honor all those who serve and say thank you. It is because of them that we have the right to vote.
— Photo from Judy Petrosillo
A safe repository: Patrons of the Berne Library may now return borrowed items to the new through-wall book-return bin. Standing next to the new bin are, from left, Berne Councilman Joe Golden, Knox Supervisor Vas Lefkiditis, Senator George Amedore, library director Judy Petrosillo, Berne Supervisor Kevin Crosier, and library board trustee Ellen Doolin.
"I've never turned into a bee — I've never been chased by a mummy or met a ghost. But many of the ideas in my books are suggested by real life." said American writer, R. L. Stine. If you are looking for a spooky story for Halloween, any Stine book will do. He is best known for his “Goosebumps” series for middle readers and “Fear Street” series for teens.
There are ghost stories associated with real life experiences at the town of Berne Museum located in the town hall. Take a spooky museum tour on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Be sure to visit the room of skeletal bones assembled by the library staff.
The library will be open on Monday, Oct. 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. Since this is Halloween, stop in for a treat. No tricks please.
Story time
It is easy to imagine creepy creatures when listening to the rustling of leaves. Have no fear; Storytime will be about leaves and not creatures. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1. This pre-literacy program includes stories, activities, and a craft with autumn leaves.
Friends meet
American novelist Chuck Palahniuk said, "To merely observe your culture without contributing to it seems very close to existing as a ghost." If you would like to participate in activities that support the library, attend the monthly meetings of the Friends of the Library. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Movie night
Ghosts will be a part of movie night at the library on Friday, Nov. 4. The film, recently released on DVD, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. in the community room. The movie is rated PG-13 and runs for 116 minutes. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Show us that you ain't afraid of no ghosts.
Book discussion
The book club will meet at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. The group will be discussing the novel “Same Sweet Girls” by Cassandra King. Skeletons come out of the closet when college friends have a reunion. Now that they are in their 50s, can they still be the same sweet girls? All interested adults should attend.
Ghost stories often begin with a dark night in the country. As English author Susan Hill said, "It would be difficult to write a convincing ghost story set on a sunny day in a big city." You can borrow scary boo-oks from the library during our daytime or nighttime hours with a free library card.
Databases accessible from the library's website include reliable encyclopedias and are available with a free library card. Articles from Grolier Online were used this week to check facts about the woolly bear. That is the common name of the caterpillar stage of the Isabella tiger moth. The adult stage is a yellow moth spotted with black. However, the larval stage is a caterpillar with black in front and behind, with a brownish red middle.
This caterpillar is often seen crawling around in the fall. It is searching for a cubbyhole where it can sleep through the winter. The woolly bear is famous in American folklore as a predictor of winter weather. It is said that the wider the red band, the warmer the coming winter will be.
Author visit
Abbie Bowker and her sister Cam Sato created a book about the woolly bear and other animals that are preparing for winter. Ms. Bowker is traveling from Vermont to visit the Berne Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 22. Join her at 1 p.m. for a reading from her book, “Woolly Bear Winter,” along with a workshop on creating a nature inspired poem. All ages are welcome.
Storytelling
What types of things may be lurking in those cubbyholes? Perhaps it is just our imagination that makes us afraid of the dark. Storytellers Siri Allison and Nancy Payne will be sharing "Scary Stories to tell in the Dark" at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. In addition, there will be a mini-workshop on how to tell a great scary story. The library and the Berne Historical Society are co-sponsoring this event geared toward adults and families with older children. The program is underwritten by the Story Circle of the Capital District through funds raised by their annual storytelling concert for adults, Tellabration.
Story time
Funny monsters may be lurking in those shadows. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to story time on Tuesday, Oct. 25 to look for some non-scary monsters. Perhaps there is one in the new book return. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories and other monstrous activities.
Inky Fingers
Participants of the Inky Fingers program will be learning a shadow stamping technique on Thursday, Oct. 27. Any interested adult is invited to join this artistic group at 7 p.m. to design creative cards.
So do the bands of a woolly bear predict the harshness of winter? In truth, this band grows wider as the caterpillar matures. So the woolly bear's brownish red band tells you its age. If the band is especially wide in autumn, it may suggest that the previous winter ended early. Hindsight is always easy.