Olive Free Library

4033 Route 28A

West Shokan, NY 12494

Director's Message

Normally we have a comfortable, modest crowd for our Thursday night movie series. On January 7th well over 100 people packed in to watch The Walk and then ask Philippe Petit questions about what it was REALLY like walking on that tightrope between the World Trade Towers. We are so grateful to him for his generous appearance. Everyone was riveted.

We have just cataloged a local history collection of diaries written by Elwyn Davis who lived in West Shokan and kept a daily diary from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Mr. Davis wrote for the Daily Freeman and other local newspapers covering the Town of Olive. In the near future we will have one of the people responsible for transcribing and digitizing the diaries, Gina Giuliano, come and talk about the collection and the world Mr. Davis documented. We are in the process of putting the diaries on our website. You can see the first installment here.

On the library's website, down in the right hand corner there is now a virtual newsstand called Zinio. This is a digital collection of popular magazines that you can check out and download directly to your computer, phone, or other handheld device using your library card. There is a great selection of today's magazines.

We are considering using the library as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pick up site. In a CSA people purchase a share of the harvest for the season and weekly receive a box of produce directly from the farmer. The produce is local and the farm we would use would be all organic. This can be inconvenient for people if they don't have time to drive out to the farm each week. Thus we are proposing to be a pick up site for your produce share. Tagliaferro Farms is an example of a local organic CSA. If you are interested, please send us an email.

At the end of February we will offer two opportunities for gathering for dinner and getting to know your neighbors. An Olive Boy Scout troop will offer the first of what will be a monthly free community dinner on February 25, and on February 27 we will have a potluck dinner, poetry reading and open mic night at the library. Please see more details below.

Finally, the Piano Plus Concert Series will begin March 12. Those who have attended these concerts know that we bring world-famous musicians right here to the Catskills for an intimate and affordable concert experience. See details below.

See you at the library!

--Katie
director@olivefreelibrary.org

Thursday, February 4, 6:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts Night for Kids
In this program on the first Thursday of the month, we do an evening of arts and crafts for kids. Please pre-register for this program by calling the library.

Everest
Thursday, February 4, 6:00 p.m.

All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records
Thursday, February 11, 6:00 p.m.

Suffragette
Thursday, February 18, 6:00 p.m.

February 4

Everest

(Rated PG-13)

On the morning of May 10, 1996, climbers from two commercial expeditions start their final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds.

February 11

All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records

"Established in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with two hundred stores, in thirty countries, on five continents. From humble beginnings in a small-town drugstore, Tower Records eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. In 1999, Tower Records made $1 billion. In 2006, the company filed for bankruptcy. What went wrong? Everyone thinks they know what killed Tower Records: The Internet. But that's not the story. "All Things Must Pass" is a feature documentary film examining this iconic company's explosive trajectory, tragic demise, and legacy forged by its rebellious founder Russ Solomon." IMDB (Rated 97% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes).

February 18

Suffragette
(Rated PG-13)

Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep lead the cast of a powerful drama about the women who were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality in early-20th-century Britain. The stirring story centers on Maud (played by Carey Mulligan), a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she is secretly recruited to join the U.K.'s growing suffragette movement. Galvanized by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep), Maud becomes an activist for the cause alongside women from all walks of life. When increasingly aggressive police action forces Maud and her dedicated fellow suffragettes underground, they engage in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with the authorities, who are shocked as the women's civil disobedience escalates and sparks debate across the nation.

Saturday, February 6, 2:00 p.m. Local History Lecture: Historic Architecture of Olive & Vicinity by William Rhoads
William Rhoads is the author of Ulster County, NY: The Architectural History & Guide, among other architectural history books. This talk will focus on the historic homes and buildings in and around the Town of Olive, many of which are still standing, and many that are not. Come check out his books at the library before the lecture!

Mondays, beginning February 8 through April 4 AARP Free Tax Help
The tax helpers are back! Please call 845-255-0791, Monday-Friday, 9:30-3:30 to schedule an appointment. Appointments at our library will be on Monday afternoons. Taxes will be filed electronically by the tax helpers.

Tuesday, February 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Community Quilting
Bring your sewing machine and a bag 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, February 11, 6 - 8 p.m. Adult Coloring Club
Guess what? Coloring is not just for kids anymore! Coloring clubs are forming all over the United States. It's relaxing, it's creative, and it's extra-fun to do with others. The library will have supplies if you don't have any, or bring your own projects. We'll offer this once a month, or more often if there is a demand!

Saturday, February 13, 10:30 a.m.
Etsy Sellers Workshop

Etsy is a place where creative entrepreneurs can sell their goods to people around the world. In this class participants will learn how to choose a shop name, get products found in a search, photograph wares, and price and ship items. Participants will walk away with a new shop and the tools necessary to make their business successful. This workshop is ideal for craftspeople, artists, and sellers of vintage items. Taught by Leah LaFera, a certified Etsy trainer. There is a $20 fee for the course, and pre-registration is required.

Saturday, February 13, 10:30 a.m. Lego Fun Projects!
Come do Lego projects at the library. We supply the Legos and a theme, you supply the creativity!

Saturday, February 13, 2:00 p.m.
Ancient Foods, Ancient Wisdom, Dina Falconi Lecture on the findings of Dr. Weston Price

This presentation will take us on a tour of the native peoples Dr. Price studied worldwide in the 1930s in his search for human health. By discovering the traditional diets of these ancestral people, we can better understand the relationship food has to our health and well being.

Herbalist Dina Falconi is author of the popular book Foraging and Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook (2013), and an engaging educator who delights in introducing people to the bounty of edibles growing in their own backyards.
Dr. Price's work was the inspiration for the popular cookbook Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

Monday, February 15, 10:30 a.m. Presidents Day Robinson Wildlife Live Animals!
Bill Robinson has been working with birds of prey and reptiles for decades and knows how to inspire people, young and old, with up-close contact with these animals and by sharing details about their behavior and special talents. This free presentation is made possible by an anonymous grant.

Monday, February 15, 6:30 p.m.
Beekeeping Support Group

This month we will be discussing 5-frame beekeeping, or beekeeping with nucleus colonies in comparison to the many variations of hive sizes/styles available. We will talk about the possible benefits of encouraging the bees natural tendency to build their hives vertically and cut back on the horizontal space available to them.
Go to hvhives.com for more information about his monthly group. Each month a topic related to supporting beekeeping is covered. Beginners and seasoned beekeepers are all very welcome!

Wednesday, February 17, 7:00 p.m. Library Board of Trustees Meeting
The library's board meetings are open to the public!

Saturday, February 20, 10:30 a.m.
Canning Workshop: Making Apple Chutney

Preserving the ancient art of safe home food preservation - a modern passion! Learn to preserve and stock your pantry. Learn the methods this winter and then you can put a little summer in a jar this year!
In this workshop you will learn the methods of pressure canning in order to safely preserve fresh foods. Each participant will come away from the workshop with a bottle of apple chutney. This course is taught by Cornell Cooperative of Ulster County. Janie Greenwald is a Nutrition Educator and Master Food Preserver.

There is a workshop fee of $15 per person (normally $30, the workshop cost is being subsidized by the library).
This workshop is limited to ten participants so please sign up early.

Saturday, February 20
3 p.m. Frontline Documentary Screening: Being Mortal
4 p.m. Book group discussion of book Being Mortal

In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending.

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit.

Come for the film, the book discussion, or both!

Thursday, February 25, 6-7:30 p.m. Free Community Dinner
Addressing the lack of opportunities people have to gather in the community, the Olive Boy Scouts invite you to the first of a series of monthly community dinners. The Boy Scouts will serve soup and fresh bread to anyone in the community who wants to come to the library to have supper. It will be served downstairs in the room next to the kitchen.

Saturday, February 27, 2:00 p.m. Art Opening: 4th Graders of Bennett Elementary
The children in 4th grade at Bennett Elementary School have been working all year and are proud to show their artwork at the library. This will be downstairs in the room next to the kitchen.

Saturday, February 27, 6:00 p.m. Poetry Reading & Open Mic + Potluck
Bring a dish and a poem or a story to share, or just come to share food and listen. Poet Lissa Kiernan has recently moved to the area and will share some poems from her book Two Faint Lines in the Violet, a 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist. We will then turn it over to the audience.

Monday, February 1, and 22, (parts 2 & 3) Watercolor Class with Melanie Hall
Melanie is such a popular teacher that we had to turn people away on the wait list for this class, but we are talking to her about having her back to teach again soon so stay tuned.

Piano Plus Concert Series begins March 12!
Melanie is such a popular teacher that we had to turn people away on the wait list for this class, but we are talking to her about having her back to teach again soon so stay tuned.

Save the Date Up-Coming Events and Programs
Saturday, March 19, 11 a.m. Andy Angstrom: Local archaeology lecture including slide show, maps and artifacts. Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m. SIREN Baroque Concert! Monday, April 4, 6 p.m. Vegan Potluck, Cooking Demonstration and Cookbook Signing Wednesday, April 13, 6 p.m. Needle Felting Workshop with Sharon LaFera Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. Local History Lecture with Bob Steuding

Jukebox Jewels Singing Circle Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 p.m.
We sing the most fun songs from a wide timespan! 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 is a music therapist and educator. She plays piano, accordion, and harp, among other things. (This is Julia leading the merriment at our Summer Reading kickoff carnival in July).

Catskill Ukulele Group 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!

Library Beehive Project
Update-Safety glass has arrived

Local Boy Scout, Blake Overton, is building an observation beehive for the library thanks to many donations raised in the past year. He is now in the construction phase of the project. The safety glass arrived recently which will allow us to observe the bees. As you can tell from the picture, the hive is quite large! The hive fits into a kiosk which Blake designed, drew in a CAD program and which he is also building.

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. (Gentle) Ukulele Circle Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Singing Circle Wednesday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Knitting Circle Wednesdays at 11 a.m.(call library the day before to confirm) A.A. Meeting Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Olive Free Library 845-657-2482