Bethlehem Library Notes for Thursday, February 28, 2019
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
Young people became part of the show at the storytelling extravaganza “Bawshou and the Water Dragon” on Monday, Feb. 18, at the Bethlehem Public Library. The performance was part of a full week of activities for kids and families during the winter break.
Let’s talk about the state of civil discourse in this country. Many of us would agree that the “civil” part is frequently lacking. Enter the Better Angels organization. This bipartisan citizens’ movement was launched in 2016 with the goal of unifying a divided nation by bringing blue and red Americans together in a working alliance.
The Better Angels Capital Region New York State Alliance will be holding a series of programs with the library to encourage more people to find new ways to talk to one another. The first information session will be held Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m., with a second information session scheduled for Friday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m.
On Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. the group will hold a skills workshop to give participants a communication toolkit to help them better navigate the polarized political discussions that are all too common today.
Visit www.better-angels.org for more information about the Better Angels Alliance.
A battle to remember
In the summer of 1777, British troops threatened to capture Albany and cut off New England from the other colonies. A detachment sent to capture stores in Bennington were expecting little in the way of resistance, but instead met with a decisive check by militias from Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The Battle of Bennington marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War, and local historian David Pitlyk will be at the library Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. to discuss this pivotal engagement and how it has been commemorated over time.
Women in history
Celebrate Women’s History Month with us as we present a pair of programs that highlight the achievements and struggles of notable women and those who would help them in their quest for equality.
On Wednesday, March 6, Lorraine Weiss from the Shaker Heritage Society will discuss some of the key women in the Watervliet Shaker Community, a group that was ahead of its time in treating men and women as equal. “In Her Rightful Place: Women in Shaker Society” will take place from 1-2 p.m.
On Sunday, March 24, at 3 p.m., author Brooke Kroeger will discuss her book “The Suffragents: How Women Used Men to Get the Vote,” which details how powerful New York men were influential suffrage allies. This event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Albany County.
Board candidate information
Nominating petition forms and informational packets are available at the library for candidates interested in serving on the Bethlehem Public Library Board of Trustees.
Petitions must contain at least 49 signatures of voters residing in Central School District No. 6 of the towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland. Petitions must be filed with the District Clerk, Bethlehem Central High School, 700 Delaware Ave., Delmar by 5 p.m. on April 22.