Abbie Bowker, co-author and illustrator of “Woolly Bear Winter: How North Woods Creatures Weather the Cold,” will be at the Berne Public Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, for an author visit, reading, and workshop.
Even while we are enjoying the fall foliage in the Hilltowns, our chores focus on preparing for winter. The last produce in the garden is harvested, especially the squash and pumpkins, and the garlic is planted. Our houses are prepared for cold temperatures and wood is cut and split.
TAG
The structure of a house supports it through winter storms. The brain also has interconnecting structures, but these support learning. On Friday, Oct. 14 the teen action group will be making a video that demonstrates neural connections in the brain. Teens should meet Ms. Kathy at 6:30 p.m. for some fun with Legos and a camcorder. The winning prize is a pizza party.
Knit Wits
Now is the time to knit or crochet warm hats, scarves, and sweaters for the winter. Knit Wits is at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. Bring your own project and share ideas, problems, solutions, and conversation with other adults.
Story time
Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to story time at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. Join Ms. Kathy on Oct. 18 to investigate pumpkins. This pre-literacy program includes stories, activities, and pumpkin decorating.
Author visit
How do animals deal with the winter? Find out from Abbie Bowker, co-author and illustrator of “Woolly Bear Winter: How North Woods Creatures Weather the Cold.” Abbie is traveling from Vermont to Berne for an author visit at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Abbie will lead a workshop on creating a nature inspired poem after a reading of her book. All ages are welcome.
Quilt making
Snuggling up with a quilt is one way that humans deal with the cold. Jane McLean created a display of quilt making techniques using the pieces from Mary Browne's grandmother in-law. These hoops are currently on exhibit in the community room of the library. Jane also used some of the quilt pieces to make quality aprons. As of this writing, six of twelve unique aprons have been sold to benefit the Friends of the Berne Library. Visit www.pinchpennythreads.com to see what is still available.
Photography contest
The Friends of the Library will be holding a photography contest in the winter but you may want to take some pictures now. The four categories are Joy of Reading, Reflections & Shadows, Hill-towners, and Down on the Farm. The colors displayed this time of the year provide material for some great shots. If you have not seen the flowering burst of colors at the entrance to the library, fit in a visit before the frost. Thanks to Ann Hein, Becky Waldenmaier, Zenie Gladieux, and the Friends for the beautiful display.
Author Joan Didion has always enjoyed the world of make believe. She said, "I wrote stories from the time I was a little girl, but I didn't want to be a writer. I wanted to be an actress. I didn't realize then that it's the same impulse. It's make-believe. It's performance.”
In a make-believe world, libraries could exist without money. Unfortunately this is not reality. Our basic library functions run on funds from the towns we serve. The Friends of the Berne Library raise money to allow us to improve our space and our programs. Their major annual fundraiser is the lasagna dinner and cake walk. This event takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Hilltown Senior Center, 1360 Helderberg Trail in Berne. Enjoy this social event and support the library. Tickets are available at the library or at the door.
Book club
Judy Blume said, "Ideas seem to come from everywhere — my life, everything I see, hear, and read, and most of all, from my imagination. I have a lot of imagination. The Sunday Book Club is discussing Blume's novel “In the Unlikely Event” on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Any adult interested in conversations about books is welcome to attend.
Read to a dog
Children like to pretend that Ariel, our tail waggin' tutor, understands the stories they are reading to her. Whether the dog comprehends the story or not, children improve their reading skills by reading aloud. Ariel and her handler, Amber Pitcher, will be at the library on Monday, Oct. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. Stop by and read a story to them.
Story time
Folk imagination has created many different kinds of fairies. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to explore the world of fairies during story time. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4 for stories, activities, and a craft.
Friends meet
The Friends of the Library meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. If you would like to join this group that helps make library wishes come true, please attend the Oct. 5 meeting.
Movie
Some people have a difficult time facing reality. This is true in the next movie being shown at the library on Friday, Oct. 7. Come at 6:30 p.m. to watch this romance film which is rated PG-13. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Check the library's website for the title.
If you are looking for a place to escape reality and jump into the world of make-believe, the library is the perfect spot. Hope to see you soon.
Red is the color of fire and blood. It is the color connected with the Devil and Cupid. According to color-wheel-pro.com, "Red is a very emotionally intense color." It is associated with energy, danger, power, as well as passion and desire.
Challenged books
Some books are written to such extremes that they are outside our comfort zone. Fortunately, the library values open access to all information. Celebrate Banned Book Week, Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, by reading a book that has been challenged or banned. “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, and “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James were the two most challenged books in 2015.
Our internet connection also allows access to all information. If your child is using a library computer, please sign the form that indicates you understand that this information is unfiltered.
Story walk
To escape the intensity of life, enjoy a story walk at the Berne or Knox town park. Each location has pages of a picture book along a walking path. Read a comfortable story and exercise at the same time.
The story walk at the Berne town park is the silver project of girl scout Jordan Latter. The dedication of the story walk takes place on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The brief ceremony will highlight Jordan's achievement and our gratitude toward donors. Donors include the Kiwanis, Rudy Stempel Family Sawmill, Lowes, and the Friends of the Berne Library. Scott Green and the youth summer crew installed the posts.
Story time
Red apples are the focus of storytime on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Children ages 1 to 5 are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. Fortunately, the red apples at the program will not signify danger as they should have for “Snow White.”
Fund raiser
Red enhances human metabolism which might account for the amount of lasagna a person can eat. The lasagna dinner and cake walk is Saturday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hilltown senior center. The meal includes lasagna (meat, vegetarian, or gluten-free), salad, bread, beverage, and an ice cream sundae. Tickets are on sale at the library for a discounted price or at the door for full price. This is an annual fundraiser by the Friends in support of the library.
Book club
The color red has very high visibility which is why stop signs and fire equipment are painted red. Planes did not stop and fire equipment was needed in the book “In the Unlikely Event” by Judy Blume. The Sunday book club will be discussing it at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2.
Enjoy a novel
Red is so intense that people suffering from temporary blindness due to a brain injury will begin to perceive red long before they see any other colors. Perhaps that is why Lois Lowry choose to use red in her book “The Giver.” Read the novel to see what this means.
For a challenge this week, download a free e-book from the library's website that has the word red in the title.
Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse are animated characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1940. “The Tom and Jerry Show,” a spin off of the original cartoons, is still on television today. The plots usually center on Tom's attempts to capture Jerry and the mayhem and destruction that follows. Jerry's cleverness saves him from demise. At times, the two work together to pursue a common goal. DVDs of the cartoons are available at the library.
TAG
Teens are invited to show their cleverness during TAG at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16. The community room will become a Real Escape Room. Try to find the clues, solve the problems, and escape the room before the time limit is up.
Community book
It doesn't seem possible that Tom and Jerry existed before World War II. Our servicemen may have been entertained with these cartoon shorts while waiting for deployment. A scrapbook of community members that served in World War II was compiled by Linda Carman and tweaked by JoAnne Brady. The book will be available for viewing at the library with other local history resources on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is just one of the many stops of the Farms and Artisans Tour being held this weekend by the Helderberg Hilltown Association.
Knit Wits
The Knit Wits program returns on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. Adults who are interested in knitting or crocheting are invited to bring their projects to the library. Instructions will be available for knitting a toy mouse for a cat.
Story time
Children ages 1 to 5 are welcome at story time on Tuesdays. Nice mice are the focus for Sept. 20. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft.
Inky Fingers
The Inky Fingers program begins a new season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22. Adults and teens interested in creating pieces of art on paper cards should attend. A small material fee of $3 or less may be applied but you will be taking home some great cards. It could even be a card for your favorite cat lover.
Cat month
According to the CATalyst Council, September is Happy Cat Month. The annual event was created to assist in spreading the word about the health, welfare, and value of companion cats. This group would definitely not approve of any real life antics that copy the Tom and Jerry show.
Friends fundraiser
Working together to achieve a common goal is what the Friends of the Berne Library do. Their major fundraising event is the annual lasagna dinner and cake walk. This year's event takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. Tickets are now on sale at the library. A silent auction for homemade cakes occurs after the dinner. Please offer to help by making a tray of lasagna, baking a homemade cake, or attending the event. Contact the library for more details.
As children head back to school, backpacks are being filled with essentials. A library card should be included. September is Library Card Sign-up Month and that free library card can lead to many surprises. Coming into the library for one reason may result in the discovery of other pleasures. Poet Carl Sandburg said, "Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me."
Potluck
Participating in a potluck dinner means taking a chance. Everyone could bring a tossed salad. The summer reading program for adults concludes with a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11. Bring a healthy dish of your choice. Place settings and beverages will be provided. Favorite summer reads will be discussed after dinner. Prizes will be given to those who have completed the challenge sheet.
Book club
“In the Unlikely Event” by Judy Bloome will be distributed to the book club members after the program. If you are interested in joining the club, request a book to read before the next meeting on Oct. 2. This novel is based on three plane crashes that took place in Elizabeth, N.J. over the course of 58 days. Quite unlikely but it actually did happen.
Story time
Story time starts for the season with fresh, new, and unanticipated ideas. Children ages 1 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 for Up, Up, and Away. This pre-literacy program includes stories, activities, and a craft.
TAG
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Teen Action Group will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 instead of Sept. 9. The planned activity is a real escape room. Expect to be locked in the library with only your wits and brainpower to figure a way out before the time limit is up.
Knit Wits
Plan ahead for the Knit Wits program at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18. You will need your own pattern and materials for knitting or crocheting. The fun is in sharing conversations, ideas, problems, and solutions.
Friends fundraiser
It should come as no surprise that the Friends of the Library group works hard to raise money to support the library. The lasagna dinner and cake walk is the next fundraiser. The dinner is at the Hilltown Senior Center on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. The $10 meal includes lasagna, salad, bread, beverage, and an ice cream sundae. Volunteers are needed to make trays of lasagna or homemade cakes. Contact Donna at .
Expect the unexpected at your local library.
Over the last few years, a new genre of play called "Real Escape Room" has taken hold in the United States. This is a real world version of a type of video game.
They must work at solving puzzles in order to escape the room before time runs out. The fun lies in the joint problem-solving and is often used for team-building in corporations.
The movie for this month is based on a video game. Enjoy a free night of entertainment on Friday, Sept. 2. Family movie night at the library begins at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments are provided. The title of the movie is available on our website www.bernepubliclibrary.org. The animated film is rated PG.
Holiday
The workers of corporations, small businesses, and governments are essential for the well-being of our country. The library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours will be in place on Saturday, Sept. 3. Also remember that we return to our normal Thursday hours of 2 to 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 8. Story time resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Friends meet
The Friends of the Berne Library work together to tackle the fiscal realities of the library. The group meets on Wednesday, Sept. 7 to discuss their next major fundraiser. The lasagna dinner and cake walk is on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Hilltown senior center. If you are able to make lasagna or a cake for this event, please contact the library staff or Donna Gwin at .
Trustees meeting
One job of the library’s board of trustees is to oversee library services that help solve community problems. Decisions are made during monthly meetings which are open to the public. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8.
TAG
The teen action group will work to escape the main library room on Friday, Sept. 9. Test your problem solving skills as you work with other teens to beat the clock. The action takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Reading program
The end of the summer reading program for adults is at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11. Bring a healthy dish to share at our potluck dinner. Place settings and drinks will be provided. Discussion of the best summer reads will follow the dinner. Bring your completed challenge sheet in order to receive a prize. Any adult may attend but please notify the library staff so we have sufficient supplies.
Library lesson
If you find your digital device to be puzzling, consider a one-on-one lesson at the library. It is easier to have someone show you some tricks then to figure them out yourself. Call 872-1246 to make an appointment with Judy.
As children return to school, reflect on the words of dramatist John Ciardi, "The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it."
Be Kind To Humankind Week is Aug. 25 to 31. According to the website BK2HK.org, it is a week of reflection and kind thoughts of others to make this world a better place. Of course, organizers suggest practicing kindness daily, but this is the week to take it to the next level.
The BK2HK site suggests that people should come together in harmony and the town of Berne is supplying the venue. The Berne Summerfest is on Saturday, Aug. 27 from noon to dark.
Come celebrate Berne with a day of live bands, reptiles and raptors, caricature drawings, and wall climbing. Look for Ms. Kathy Stempel at the library booth and pick up a scavenger-hunt sheet to complete for a prize.
Admission is free and all are welcome. Food and arts and crafts vendors will also be there at the Berne town park. Support the library by purchasing food items at the Friends of the Berne Library booth. The event concludes with glorious fireworks at dusk. The rain date is Sunday, Aug. 28.
Family playtime
Although story time does not resume until Sept. 13, young children and their caregivers can join together during Family Playtime at the library. Enjoy playing with Legos, puzzles, games, dress-up clothes, puppets, and toys.
The community room is available for playtime on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m.
Forgiving your foe
For Friday of BK2HK week, work on forgiving your foe. Try to find enough forgiveness in your heart to alleviate the anger, confusion, or hatred you may be feeling towards other people or even towards yourself.
As poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change so they are easily angered. Learn the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia during a program at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Movie night
Is it possible to put anger to a good use? Find out during Family Movie Night at the library on Friday, Sept. 2. The animated film is rated PG and runs from 6:30 to 8:10 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Go to our website www.bernepubliclibrary.org for the title. Kick off Labor Day weekend with this entertaining family event.
Library hours
The library will be open on Saturday, Sept. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Perhaps your child still needs to do the required summer reading before school starts. Request the book today to assure that it will be available before school starts. We will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day.
Let the following Emerson quote lead your actions this week: "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."
Geocaching is a treasure-hunting game where you use a GPS to find containers that others have hidden. Once you find it, you sign and date the logbook, re-hide the geocache exactly how you found it, and share your experience online at www.geocaching.com.
Saturday, Aug. 20, is International Geocaching Day. If you long for the days of hide and seek but enjoy today's technology, this is the perfect activity for you.
Do you know how to download the geocaching app on your smartphone? Do you know what an app is? Call the library at 872-1246 to make a one-on-one appointment to learn some computer basics. It is one of the many educational pieces provided by the library.
Orienteering
If you would rather use a compass and a map to find treasure, orienteering is your sport. Adults and young adults are meeting at the Switzkill Farm lodge on Game Farm Road. Join us at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 to learn orienteering. Sue Hawkes-Teeter will teach you how to race using this technique. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the outdoors, including bug spray for mosquitoes. In case of inclement weather, we will be indoors. For more information, call 859-4063.
Coloring session
Time to relax is a rare commodity.Therapists are touting the calming benefits of coloring and adults are embracing this new rage. Come relax at the library during an adult coloring session at 7 p.m. on Thursday Aug. 25. The library will supply the needed materials or bring your own. Various types of herbal teas will be served during the program to enhance that meditative feeling.
Friends activities
Our volunteers in the Friends of the Berne Library organization are priceless. Thank you for your recent work providing refreshments at the Music in the Park concert series. If you would like to help this group, the Friends will be serving food at the town of Berne Summerfest on Saturday, Aug. 27. Baked goods are needed. Also, save the date for the lasagna dinner and cake walk on Saturday, Oct. 1. Proceeds from all these events are used to support the library.
Reading program
Although the summer reading program for ages 1 to 18 has finished, adults still have three more weeks to complete their challenges. Find a new author to cherish and share your thoughts at the finale on Sept. 11.
Alzheimer presentation
A sharp mind is prized.The destruction of the brain by Alzheimer's disease or dementia makes it difficult to cope with a loved one. Help is available from the Alzheimer’s Association. There will be a presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. in the community room of the library.
Walt Disney said, "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." That makes your library a very valuable place. Stop in this week and enjoy the offerings.
Libraries should be customer oriented. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed. The first item in this code is as follows: "We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests."
Are we following the stated values? Do you have requests for us? Your feedback is essential to good service. Drop your comments into our suggestion box, or email or the library board president .
Instruction for using digital devices such as tablets, e-readers, computers, and smart phones is one of the services we provide. Make arrangements for one-on-one instruction with Judy by calling the library at 872-1246.
Summer reading program
The summer reading program for ages 1 to 18 concludes on Monday, Aug. 15 with a trip to FunPlex. Thanks to all who participated in our six week program. Keep on reading. The adult program continues until Sept. 11.
Family playtime
Although there is no scheduled story time until Sept. 13, there is Family Playtime at the library. Stop in the community room on Tuesdays or Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Toys, games, puzzles, puppets, Legos, and dress-up clothes are available for your use.
Orienteering
Can you orient yourself using a compass and a map? Learn how during the orienteering program on Friday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. This program is for adults and young adults, including TAG. Find your way up the hill from County Route 1 to the Game Farm Road Lodge for this program presented by Sue Hawkes-Teeter. This is a good excuse to check out the town's property.
Save-the-dates
Two additional adult programs are scheduled for August. Save the date for our coloring and herbal tea tasting session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25. No registration is required.
The second program is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The Alzheimer Association is oriented toward informing the public about Alzheimer's Disease. This presentation is on the basics of Alzheimer's.
Thank you
The last Music in the Park was held on Aug. 10. Thank you to the members of the five bands who volunteered their time to entertain the community. The bands included Wood Chuck Wood, Just a Bunch of Guys, Two's Company, Slim Pick'ins, and the Bluestones. Lots of fun was had by many.
WiFi
If you see cars in the library parking lot and people on the porch during off hours, don't be concerned. They are accessing the internet through the library's WiFi. This is just one of the many ways that we provide equitable access to information.
With the goldenrod beginning to bloom, the last days of summer will arrive too soon. Rather than be glum about summer coming to an end, view the time like Italian polymath, Leonardo da Vinci. "In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time."
Movie night
If good guys finish last, what happens when they fight against each other? Find out during Movie Night at the Library on Friday, Aug. 5. This month's film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action. The recently released movie on DVD runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.
Story time
The last Wee Read Storytime for the summer is on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Children ages 1 to 5 are invited to play sports with Ms. Kathy. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes stories, activities, and a craft. After a four week hiatus, Ms. Kathy will return with the first story time for the school year on Sept. 13.
Music in the Park
The last hurrah for the 2016 Music in the Park concert series is Wednesday, Aug. 10. The Bluestones are playing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Berne town park pavilion. Admission is free and there is a doorprize. Dinner and snacks are available for purchase from the Friends of the Library.
Read programs
The last chance for children ages 5 to 12 to attend an “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” program is Thursday, Aug. 11. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. before the library opens at noon.
Reading minutes for youth ages 1 to 18 must be submitted online or to the library staff by Thursday, Aug. 11. Those that meet the goal will receive prizes and a 50 percent discount on admission to FunPlex on Aug. 15.
Library trip
Enjoy the library's trip to Funplex in East Greenbush on Monday, Aug. 15. Details are at the library or on the website www.bernepubliclibrary.org. This trip is open to the community with preference to summer reading program participants. The bus leaves the library at 9 a.m. and returns at 1:15 p.m. Sign up at the library or by email to by Thursday, Aug. 11. There is an admission fee for this trip.
Board meets
The library board, from the first to the last trustee, has the best interest of the community at heart. The group meets on Thursday, Aug. 11 for an open meeting to discuss library business.
TAG
Although summer programs for children end this week, there is still one last program for teens. TAG meets on Friday, Aug. 19 so teens should save the date. There are also more summer adult programs to look forward to including an orienteering program at the Game Farm Road property on Aug. 19. Stay tuned for last minute details.