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Holiday gifts for bibliophiles |
 One would think buying a gift for a reader would be a cinch. But depending on how voracious the reader in your life is, that's not always the case. Sometimes they go through books so fast you can't keep up with what they've read. Now with eReaders in the picture, they may not want a hardcover or paperback at all. And exchanging gift cards at the holidays somehow takes some of the magic out of the occasion. But if you still want to give the gift that appeals to your bibliophile's bookwormish nature, shopping online makes the task easier. The Chicago Tribune offers up a list ranging from book purses (they're purses shaped like books, not ones big enough to hold a hardcover) to paperback-scented cologne (don't you love a man that smells like pulp fiction?). Visit the Gift Guide for Library and Book Lovers and you'll find shoulder bags, clocks, planters, lamps, and more, all book-themed and perfect for whatever room serves as your book lover's library. If you're crafty, you might want to make your own gift. In which case, you can visit Martha Stewart's site for a dozen or so ideas. If you're NOT crafty, there are still a plethora of sites out there where you can buy already-constructed gifts. Happy shopping! |
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Coming up at the Wallkill Public Library
Monday: There will be no Mini Masterpiece Art Club today. The Library Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Book Buddies meets at 10:30 a.m. The doors are open at the Town Hall's community room from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Textile Tuesdays. Bring a handicraft project and whatever equipment you need and come and go as you please.
Wednesday: Mommy and Me meets at 10 a.m., followed by Toddler Story Time at 11 a.m. and Book Buddies at 1 p.m. Art Club will not meet today.
Thursday: The Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcome.
Friday: The Nintendo DS Club meets at 4 p.m.
Coming up: Lion Brand Yarn will be at the library Tuesday, Dec. 11, at  11 a.m. A representative from the famous company will discuss his experience as a member of the family that's owned the business since 1878. Bring a project and a friend! Art and Read with Millie will be offered at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. Complete a canine masterpiece and then take a moment to read a short story to Millie, our favorite reading therapy dog! For ages 5 and up. The Exchange will be hosting a Holiday Cookie Trade Friday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. Bring a dozen of your favorite holiday cookies and trade for an assorted mix of everyone's offerings. Bring a recipe to share! |
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Hit the library for success with curriculum  Ostrander Elementary held a Parent Academy Wednesday night at which teachers and administrators reviewed the new Common Core curriculum for the attending parents.
The teachers who spoke at the meeting once again recommended a weekly (or, if that's impossible, bimonthly) visit to the library, in keeping with the Common Core's emphasis on reading (especially nonfiction). Those who have a particular fondness for fiction should remember that nonfiction doesn't have to be pedantic and boring! Wallkill Public Library's children's room and nonfiction sections, as well as those of other RCLS libraries, are a testament to that. For teens and older children, Isaac's Storm and The Johnstown Flood bring the terror and excitement of historic events to life - both read like novels. For younger children, the library's new Who Was series features such fascinating biographies as those of Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, and Dr. Seuss. Books like 1,000 Facts on Space are photo-rich and filled with enough trivia to turn the most science-phobic student into a fledgling astronomer. Regular visits to the library instill a love of reading that's invaluable, even when your kids aren't students anymore! |
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Town Christmas tree lighting Sunday  Santa will be the guest of honor at this Sunday's annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival at the Town Hall.
Festivities start with carols, crafts, and candy at 4 p.m. You and your family can kick the day off with a pancake breakfast at the Wallkill Firehouse, which will be offered between 7 a.m. and noon. Be sure to bring a donation for the local food pantry to the tree lighting! For more information, contact Lisa at 531-9785. |
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Holiday dinner benefits local families  The third annual Christmas Cheer for the Children dinner will take place from 4-9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Wallkill Reformed Church.
The meal is offered each year for those families throughout the area who are going through tough times. Donations are being sought for the event. If you'd like to donate a new, unwrapped, non-battery operated present for a child, you can drop it off at the library - there's a box set up in the nonfiction room, by the fireplace. Fore more information, call Lottie at 391-1701 or Kayla at 857-7693. |
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Friends' Used Book Shop's hours change Starting Dec. 21, the Friends' Used Book Shop will no longer be open on Fridays.
The shop will still be open from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The store is located at Bridge Street and Park Avenue. Volunteers are always needed! Call the library at 895-3707 if you're interested in donating some of your time. |
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Website helps seniors with health issues  NIHSeniorHealth is a senior-friendly website that helps older adults and their families get a better understanding of such complicated or emotionally charged issues as Medicare and long-term care.
The alphabetized health topics include primers on such subjects as macular degeneration and osteoporosis, as well as preventive measures like exercise and nutrition tips everyone can use to stay as healthy as possible. The site is also easier than most to read, with options for changing the text size and screen contrast available to users who may suffer from low vision. Though not comprehensive, the National Institute of Health-run NIHSeniorHealth is a great place to start researching a topic that might be on your or your loved one's mind. |
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Novel features day in the life of soldier  Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, by Ben Fountain
A ferocious firefight with Iraqi insurgents at "the battle of Al-Ansakar Canal" - three minutes and 43 seconds of intense warfare caught on tape by an embedded Fox News crew - has transformed the eight surviving men of Bravo Squad into America's most sought-after heroes. For the past two weeks, the Bush administration has sent them on a media-intensive nationwide victory tour to reinvigorate public support for the war. Now, on this chilly and rainy Thanksgiving, the Bravos are guests of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, slated to be part of the halftime show alongside the superstar pop group Destiny's Child. Among the Bravos is the Silver Star-winning hero of Al-Ansakar Canal, Specialist William Lynn, a 19-year-old Texas native. Amid clamoring patriots sporting flag pins on their lapels and Support Our Troops bumper stickers on their cars, the Bravos are thrust into the company of the Cowboys' hard-nosed businessman/owner and his coterie of wealthy colleagues; a luscious born-again Cowboy cheerleader; a veteran Hollywood producer; and supersized pro players eager for a vicarious taste of war. Among these faces Billy sees those of his family - his worried sisters and broken father - and Shroom, the philosophical sergeant who opened Billy's mind and died in his arms at Al-Ansakar. Over the course of this day, Billy will begin to understand difficult truths about himself, his country, his struggling family, and his brothers-in-arms - soldiers both dead and alive. In the final few hours before returning to Iraq, Billy will drink and brawl, yearn for home and mourn those missing, face a heart-wrenching decision, and discover pure love and a bitter wisdom far beyond his years. A finalist for the National Book Award, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is available in large print at Wallkill Public Library. |
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