By Pamela West-Finkle
Summer is here! Yay! We made it through another Catskill Mountain winter. I’ve heard that phrase and said it to myself every year. I am happy to announce we have an action-packed Summer!
In celebration of our Summer Reading Program “Oceans of Possibilities” and the 100th Anniversary of our library, I plan to do some decorating. After Diane Lockspeiser did such an amazing job sprucing up our library sign and adding information about our hours, I decided to hang some hummingbird feeders on the porch. Our trusty volunteer in residence, Bob Murphy, told me that he was informed by someone at the library, I believe it was Gloria Carlson, that the hummingbirds come back May 7th, and he watches for it each year.
Within minutes of hanging the feeders, the busy little birds came humming around and visited frequently, which makes us ask, “Where in the heck did they come from?” and “How many of those little sweeties are flying around without us even being aware of them?”
I once held a hummingbird in our family’s camp on Slide Mountain. It had flown inside and was frantically hitting itself against the windowpanes trying to get out. I managed to cup my hands around it and I could feel its little heart fluttering in its chest, as if the entire being was vibrating at a high rate of speed. It was one of the special moments of my life.
Summer Line Up: For a complete detailed description and pictures of each workshop or event, please visit our website www.andeslibrary.org, follow our Facebook page, and pick up a flyer at the library to put on your fridge. Weekend performances and events are all ages. Wednesday July events are part of our outreach to Andes Central School, but children in the community are welcome to attend. Some workshops have K-3 coming at 11:15 am and 4-8 coming at 11:50. Please check the website or call the library at 845-676-3333 to check for the appropriate time.
Oceans of Possibilities – Sign ups begin June 1st!
Children, teens, and adults can sign up to earn points for every page read, every workshop or performance attended: a book treasure hunt that can be completed any time. Even creative projects like artwork, poems, book reports, plays, or songs can be submitted, illustrating the theme Oceans of Possibilities. There will be prizes and awards, and of course the best reward is the discovery of new words, new thoughts, new adventures, and new knowledge.
First Thursday Lit Wits Book Group – 4:30 pm in June, July, and August, usually in the Gazebo.
Miss Pam’s Jamboree – Early Childhood Music and Movement class (primarily outdoors weather permitting), Mondays 10 am on June 20th – August 8th (no class on 4th of July).
Space may be limited, especially on rainy days when the class would have to come inside the library or gazebo, so it is best to register for this program. Drop ins will be accepted if there is space. Bring a blanket, water bottles, and wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing. Natural insect repellent is also a good idea. Recommended age: babies to age 7. Caregivers are expected to participate and model for their children. Families are welcome to stay and socialize or explore books with their children afterwards.
Beach Party with Bobby Curious – Wednesday, July 6th, 11:15 – 12:30 pm. Wear your summer beach best, bring a towel to sit on, and have fun while Bobby Curious serenades you with some songs of sand and sun!
Meet the Mini-Monsters of the Deep with Betty Boomer – Wednesday, July 13th, 11:15 to 12:30 pm. A hands-on experience to get a close-up look at what lives in our ponds and streams. Betty will have a variety of invertebrates that can be found in wetland and marshy areas.
The Catskill Sea with Robert and Johanna Titus – Wednesday, July 20th, 11:15 to 12:30 pm. Enjoy a talk with local Geologists Robert and Johanna Titus as they describe the Catskill Sea that covered the Andes region 350 million years ago, its sedimentary rocks, and the fossils that local people can hope to find.
Story Laurie’s Seven Seas Adventures – Wednesday, July 27th, 11:15 to 12:30 pm. Meet a wild cast of worldly characters: a talking sea turtle who tries to fly, a young girl who sails the seas on a giant cabbage, and we even take a deep dive into the midnight zone where vampire squids, flapjack octopuses, and a host of seemingly other-worldly creatures reside. A lively, magical journey shared through stories, songs, shanties, and shenanigans.
Centennial Birthday Party for the Andes Library feautring sweet and savory treats and music – Sunday, July 31st, 1– 3:00 pm. Join us for our annual library party. Punch, water, coffee, and tea will also be provided. Enjoy the grounds as you meet up with friends, old and new.
Annual Views and Vistas Garden Tour — Saturday, August 6th 11 am to 4 pm
Enjoy some of our community’s most spectacular views and beautiful gardens. Come to the library first to pick up your Views and Vistas Garden Tour map, starting at 10 am, with a suggested donation of $15 per person (children 17 and under are free). Please leave dogs at home or in the car with proper ventilation when visiting the properties of those who have so graciously agreed to participate on our tour.
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater performance on Community Day at Andes Central School auditorium – Saturday, August 13th, 2 pm. Don’t miss this extraordinary theater group give a performance of DIRT: The Secret Life of Soil. DIRT takes audiences on an extravagant journey of discovery into the Great Underneath. Featuring live music and a myriad of puppet figures ranging from 12 inches to 12 feet tall, the show reminds earthly residents of all ages how profoundly essential is the ground beneath their feet. www.armofthesea.org.
All of our summer events are free and open to the public. The Garden Tour brings in donations. The Wednesday youth series is funded by a Youth Grant from the A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Foundation, and the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater performance on Community Day is funded by a Library Fund Grant from the Community Foundation of South-Central New York. The early childhood Miss Pam’s Jamboree is sponsored by The Community Music Network, a non-profit dedicated to providing community music services to all ages living in economically challenged or geographically isolated areas.
Depending upon COVID-19 numbers, masks may be strongly recommended or required, especially for indoor events. We will post updates on our Facebook page regarding any changes in pandemic regulations.
“What It’s Worth” participants at the Library.
Hope to see you this summer! Remember we have 24×7 Wifi, technical and reference support, faxing/scanning/copying/printing and public computers, and access to over 4 million resources through the Four County Library System (www.4cls.org to search the catalog). ~