Newsletter  
March 2015
In This Issue
Intro to Computers
Catskill Native Plants
Master Gardener Lecture
Community Sewing Project
Thursday Night Movie Series
Piano Plus! Concert Series
Spring Book Fair
Color for Residential Interiors
Family Movie Night
Singing Circle
Beehive Project
Save the Date
Weekly Groups at OFL
Quick Links

Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List

Olive Free Library

4033 Route 28A

West Shokan, NY 12494

 

 

Director's Message

Saturday, March 21 is the first annual Olive Free Library  Book Fair! We have lots of books, and are welcoming more donations during the first two weeks of March. The fair will feature a delicious lunch, raffle baskets, children's book author/illustrator Iza Trapani, and lots of free and fun activities for all ages. Please come and celebrate the beginning of spring with us!

The Piano Plus! concert series will launch its second season with a concert on Saturday, March 14 at 4 p.m. Come out and hear world-class playing right here in the Catskills!

Our spring gardening lecture series culminates with three lectures in March. Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. Francis Groeters of Catskill Native Nursery will tell us about using native flowers in our landscaping. Many of these beautiful spring flowers are becoming endangered and can use our help.

The new singing circle began last month and has been wonderful to listen to from the library circulation desk! Singing with others has many benefits for your health and well-being, so don't be shy, come out and sing!

We got new library cards in that include a key fob to keep your barcode handy on your key chain. We will offer free replacement cards at our spring fair on March 21st so come get an upgrade!
 
We are seeking volunteers to help with our spring book fair. Please contact the library if you are available. 

See you at the library!

--Katie
director@olivefreelibrary.org

 

Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18 & 25
6-7 p.m.
Intro to Computer Programming with Python

Python is a free open source programming language that is very easy to learn and yet powerful enough to be used by many companies, including Google, to create cutting-edge apps.   Students must have a laptop with Python 3.3 or later installed (3.4.2 is the latest version).  Python is available for pretty much any operating system and can be downloaded here: https://www.python.org/downloads/  

 

Prior programming experience is not necessary, but students must be familiar with their computer and be able to do tasks such as typing, navigating between different windows, and saving files.  Students should also be familiar with simple arithmetic and have basic reading skills.  Each class will build upon the skills from the previous class.

 

Instructor: Morgan Pileggi

Pre-registration is required for this free class.  Call the Library at 845-657-2482 or email: programs@olivefreelibrary.org

 

 
Thursday, March 5, 6:30 p.m.
Spring Wildflowers!

 
Despite what it might look like outside your windows, spring ephemerals are getting ready to emerge. Join us for an exploration of our most beautiful early bloomers. Many of these plants are disappearing in the wild due to deer and habitat loss. However, you can help increase populations of these plants by growing them in your gardens. This talk will focus on some of the best natives to grow for early color and wildlife value.
Francis Groeters, PhD is the founder and owner of Catskill Native Nursery specializing in native plants for this region. 
 
Thursday, March 5, 6:00 p.m.
Rainbow Loom Group

We have a Rainbow Loom group on the first Thursday of each month. The group learns to make one new thing each month.  If you need to borrow a loom please contact the library.  
Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m.
Healthy Soil-Healthy Plants
Master Gardener Lecture

 
In this lecture, master gardener Barbara Bravo will share the secrets of creating healthy soil for your garden. The talk will include invaluable handouts to get you ready for a productive gardening season.  

Tuesday, March 10, 10:00-3:00
Community Sewing Project

 
Bring your sewing machine and an offering for the potluck lunch and work with others to create quilts for children in need. Please contact the library to find out additional tools to bring such as rotary cutter and mat.
Thursday Night Movie Series!
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - March 12
The Theory of Everything- March 19
(movies begin at 6:30 p.m.)

Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Rated R) Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture! 
A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.  

  

     
Saturday, March 14, 4:00 p.m.
Piano Plus! Concert Series
Bard Conservatory Piano Fellows

The fabulous Bard Conservatory Piano Fellows will perform the first concert of this year's series along with a surprise "Plus!" guest.
Eri Nakamura
Balint Zlsoldos
Julia Hsu 


ORIGINAL ART © DURGA YAEL BERNHARD/dyaelbernhard.com
Used with permission by the artist. 
Monday, March 16, 6:30 p.m.
Beekeeping Group

 
Gather with other beekeepers to discuss problems and solutions! Each month a topic is presented and explored in detail. 
Lego Club
Wednesday, March 18
6:00-8 p.m. (grades 1-7)
Each month kids take up a new creative challenge with Lego. The library supplies the Lego, no experience necessary. 
   
Saturday, March 21, 10-4
Spring Book Fair!!

 
The spring book fair is fun for everyone!
All day mega book sale!

10 a.m. American Girl Doll Tea Party! Dress your doll and yourself for a lovely tea gathering and craft activity. (Please preregister for this activity so we can prepare for you.)

11 a.m. Author/Illustrator Iza Trapani will read and sing from her latest book Little Miss Muffet and show us some work in progress.

12 p.m. Catskill Ukulele Group Sing-along!

1 p.m. The Singing Circle! (Gather around the piano, all ages welcome!)

2 p.m. Master Gardener Lecture: Succession Planting

3:00 p.m. Craft Hour/Gaming Hour  (Please preregister.)

Raffle baskets! Silent auction! Hot lunch! Bake sale! Tons and tons of books at great prices!

All activities and admission are FREE!
(early-bird shopping from 9-11 a.m. is $5)

 
    
Book Club
Saturday, March 21, 4:00 p.m.

The Signature of All Things   
By Elizabeth Gilbert
 
           
"The Signature of All Things," about a botanist whose hunger for explanations carries her through the better part of Darwin's century. Alma Whittaker is a big-boned girl with an unruly cockade of red hair, energy to burn and the good luck to have been born in 1800 to the wealthiest man in Philadelphia." (NY Times Review)
 
Come discuss this with other book lovers!
Friday, March 27, 4 p.m.
Nature Club

 
In The Nature Club kids go outdoors and observe nature, sometimes with journals, sometimes art and other projects and games.
Saturday, March 28, 2:00 p.m.
Color for Residential Interiors

 

For most people, choosing paint colors can be overwhelming. Not only is it necessary to take the room's furnishings into consideration, but paint finish, adjacent room color, sight lines, architecture and light sources, all play an important role in making an informed choice. 

 

This 60 minute talk (plus Q & A) is comprised of a Powerpoint lecture including over 50 examples of how and how not to use color.  The talk combines both the science and art of proper color application and an exploration of the profound emotional, psychological and physiological effects that color has on all of us. 

 
Saturday, March 28, 7 p.m.
Family Movie Night


 
Song of the Sea (PG). Based on an Irish legend. It as nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Picture.

"Saoirse is a child who is the last of the selkies, women in Irish and Scottish legends who transform from seals into people. She escapes from her grandmother's home to journey to the sea ..."

Appropriate for kids ages 7 and up and great entertainment for the whole family (98% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes).    
Free Tax Preparation Help 
Mondays 1-4 p.m. Until April 6


 
AARP is once again organizing a cadre of dedicated volunteers to come in and help you file your taxes online. Appointments are necessary. Please call 845-255-0791, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., to schedule an appointment.  
Singing Circle!
New Weekly Group!
Wednesdays
1:30-2:30 p.m.

In the Singing Circle, everyone can sing! Open to all ages and free. Participants can request a song or bring a song, and be willing to join in with others. Reading music is not necessary. 

Musician Julia Haines has led Singing Circles at Cancer Support Community and in educational settings in Philadelphia. She recently relocated back to Olive.
Please call the library to sign up or email programs@olivefreelibrary.org 
Ukulele Circle
Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Pull up a ukulele and learn a song! This is a friendly group who welcomes all comers. If you do not have a ukulele but would like to participate, you can check one out from the library.  This group stays connected to other players through Meetup.com under the name Catskill Ukulele Group

 

 
Tuesdays 10 a.m.
Preschool Story Hour


 

Come join the fun! Each week we do a craft activity, read some books, do yoga, sing, make music together, and everyone plays an instrument in a parade through the library. All are welcome! 

  

Mountain Dulcimer Jamming


 
Are you a mountain dulcimer player? We have a patron who is interested in gathering with others to play songs of the mountains at the library. If you are interested, please email director@olivefreelibrary.org  
Library Beehive Project

 
Local Boy Scout, Blake Overton, is building an observation beehive for the library where people will be able to learn about bees by observing them up close. The hive is entirely safe and may inspire others to keep bees. To learn more about the project click here.
Snowshoes Wanted!

 
The library is seeking donations of snowshoes in good condition that we can lend out (just like we loan out books and ukuleles!) We are particularly interested in kids sizes right now so we can take kids in the nature club out in the woods during the winter. If you have any snow shoes you would like to donate, please bring them to the library. Thank you! 
Save the Date
Up-Coming Events and Programs
Thursday Night Movie Series at 6:30 p.m.:
April 2, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (PG-13)
April 16, Wild (R)
April 30, The Imitation Game (PG-13)

April 4, 7:00 p.m., Family Movie: Big Hero 6 (PG)
April 11, 9:30-4:30, AARP Defensive Driving Course
April 18, 4:00 p.m., Piano Plus! Concert: Todd Crow
April 25, 7:00 p.m., Family Movie: Penguins of Madagascar (PG)
May 9, 4:00 p.m., Piano Plus! Concert: Maria Asteriadou

Library Hours  

Monday          10-8
Tuesday        10-5
Wednesday    12-8
Thursday       2-8
Friday            1-5
Saturday       10-4

Weekly Groups at OFL

Preschool Story Hour Tuesdays at 10 a.m.    

Yoga - $6 drop-in
Mondays at 7 p.m. (Gentle)
Wednesdays at  9 a.m. (Gentle) 
Saturdays at 9 a.m. (Intermediate level)

Ukelele Circle Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.

Singing Circle Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Knitting Circle Wednesdays at 11 a.m.  
 
A.A. Meeting
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Olive Free Library 845-657-2482
 Like us on Facebook