 | | Books Alive! director Adrienne Gelfand-Perine poses with WPL director Mary Lou Carolan during a break from rehearsal. |
Both Jim and I are very excited about this year's Books Alive! production, entitled Imagine That!. One of the authors spotlighted this year, Mo Willems, was introduced to us by Mary Lou Carolan, our library director. She knew how wildly responsive young children were to his books, since she recently read a couple to classes at Ostrander. The second author, Maurice Sendak, who died in 2012, was one that we highly respected and wanted to spotlight.
The theme of the 2013 show is using one's imagination. It really was based on Sendak's character, Rosie. Being bored sometimes, she retreated into fantasy play and enticed her friends to join her. That's what we've done; we've asked our drama troupe of 20 children ranging in ages from six to 14 to not only recreate characters from the books by the authors, but, in some cases, write their own scripts. The show is infused with familiar characters as well as new ones.
Our musical director, Barbara Ganin, loves to have the children's input. Once she read the books and new scripts, she worked with us creating songs that would exemplify the main idea of the show and then enhance the plots. She has written two songs for the entire cast, one song for a character in a scene, and a fourth song that evolved from original material from four of our older actors.
The show is in two acts. With a 20-minute intermission, it will run about an hour and a half. It is suitable for preschoolers. Tickets will be sold at the door of John G. Borden Middle School on Saturday, March 16. There will be two performances: 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The cast is ready to perform and happy to know that they will get, at least, another chance to perform a shorter version at Ostrander on Thursday, March 21.
Adrienne Gelfand-Perine
Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, along with her husband, Jim Perine, is once again directing this year's Books Alive! children's theater project.
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Coming up at the Wallkill Public Library  In honor of the March 16 Books Alive! performance featuring the works of Mo Willems and Maurice Sendak, this week's library events and story times will cast the spotlight on the two beloved authors' books and characters. Monday: The Mini Art Club meets at 10:30 a.m. They'll be creating Mo Willems Pigeon Puppets on paint sticks. Tuesday: Textile Tuesdays take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the community room of Town Hall for all those interested in stopping by between those hours and sewing, quilting, or doing some other handcraft. Book Buddies meets at 10:30 a.m. Books Alive! rehearsal takes place at 3:30 p.m. There will be a Pigeon Story Time at 4 p.m. Wednesday: Mommy and Me meets at 10 a.m., followed by Toddler Story Time at 11 a.m. The Art Club meets at 4 p.m. - today's project will be a Mo Willems Pin of the author's famous Pigeon, Piggy, or Elephant characters! The Adult Computer Class takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday: Pre-K Story Time meets at 1:30 p.m. The Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Friday: Musikgarten offers classes geared toward developing a love of music for infants and toddlers at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and for preschoolers at 12:30 p.m. Call 905-2556 to register. Saturday: Books Alive! children's theater company presents their original musical, Imagine That! There will be a 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. show at John G. Borden Middle School. |
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Author rings in Women's History Month Local author Sally Wortmann will be discussing her children's book,  Stitches in Time, Saturday at 2 p.m.
Ms. Wortmann was inspired by her great-grandmother's 19th-century wedding dress to come up with a tale set in 1832 Burlingham, N.Y. Though the book is written for ages 9 and up, its historic theme gives it a much wider audience.
And since it's Women's History Month and Wortmann will be bringing her great-grandmother's dress to the event, we wanted to invite all our attendees to bring something that reminds them of a special woman in their own lives - be it a ring or a book or a photo - and share some of their own stories.
The day will be commemorated with a special tablecloth everyone will be invited to sign. After the event, children's coordinator Carolyn Thorenz will stitch over the signatures and keep the tablecloth for posterity.
Refreshments will be served at the event - call 895-3707 to reserve your seat! |
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Kids - give your stuffed animals a vacation!  We all need a break - an escape from the stress and strain of the daily routine. You can give your teddy bears and other stuffed loved ones a special mini-vacation Monday, March, 18, with our Teddy Bear Sleepover!
Bring your stuffed animals in at 10:30 that morning and they can kick their slumber party off early. Come back at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (the following day) and you and your animals can enjoy a PJ Story Time and Breakfast before you take them home. No need to get dressed up for this Story Time - you can go shabby chic in your own pajamas, since your animals will have just gotten out of bed themselves, too. Don't forget to sign up downstairs in the children's room! |
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Reserve your seat today for Lion Yarn trip  Tickets are going fast for the April 21 bus trip to the city and New Jersey to visit the Lion Brand Yarn Studio and outlet! The bus will leave the Wallkill Public Library at 9:30 that morning and go first to the New York City Lion Brand Yarn Studio before traveling on to the Carlstadt, N.J., outlet. We'll get back to the library by 6:30 p.m. Cost is $25 round trip. Those going should bring a lunch. Questions? Call Carolyn at 895-3707. |
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U.S. not the best place to be a woman  Think you have it made because you live in America, ladies?
Think again. What do other countries (like Egypt, Rwanda, and Japan) have for their women that we don't? Less of a gender wage gap, more female politicians, and a longer life expectancy, for starters. Of course, the U.S. isn't the worst place to be a female, either (not by a long shot, actually). But it's clear we have some work to do. |
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Dinner to help stock local food pantry  A "Help Thy Neighbor Dinner" will be held from 4-8 p.m. April 27 at the Wallkill Reformed Church to help stock the food pantry.
The menu will include lasagna, ziti, sausage and peppers, roasted pork, mashed potatoes, and more. Door prizes, a raffle, and a 50/50 will also be offered that evening. Cost is $12 per adult or $20 per couple. Children under 12 eat for free. Attendees are asked to bring canned items for the food pantry. For tickets, call Lottie at 391-1701. |
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Free workshop on audio recording offered  A free workshop is being offered by the Sound and Story Project for those interested in learning about audio recording, interview techniques, and volunteer opportunities at the Sound and Story Project's upcoming workshop, Recording Memories in Sound: the Basics of Audio Recording and Interviewing.
The Sound and Story Project is a non-profit organization that records and shares local stories and regional sounds as a means of building community memory and a sense of place. Oral histories of everyday people are recorded for radio programs, cell phone tours, web presentations, and podcasts. The Project's goal is to reflect the diversity and rich heritage of the Hudson River Valley.
If you're interested in doing some recording of your own for personal reasons, or in becoming a Sound and Story volunteer, the workshop that will get you off to a good start will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie. To reserve your spot, email Eileen McAdam at soundandstoryhv@gmail.com. |
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Paradise Lost redux makes for scary read
 The Demonologist, by Andrew Pyper
David Ullman is a professor whose specialty is demonic literature. He's not a religious man, but a believer, at least, in good writing.
That's until the mysterious assignment a stranger offers him, one he accepts on a whim, that will lead him to Venice, to a bizarre and frightening meeting with a man who by every appearance seems to be possessed. When Ullman's daughter plunges to what everyone assumes is her death that same day, the professor goes on a search for the demon he's convinced took her before she's lost to him forever.
At times extraordinarily creepy, Pyper's take on possession and the demonic is probably the scariest version since William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. A must-read for horror fans. |
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Website emphasizes girl power  A Mighty Girl is a resource site dedicated to encouraging and empowering young girls. All the many books, toys, music, and movies featured on the site offer positive messages about girls and honor their diverse capabilities.
Books and other forms of suggested entertainment on the site are divided by age and genre. The site also offers a clothing section, book club (with tips on how to form your own Mighty Girl reading group), and "Best Of" lists that feature such topics as graphic novels, holiday-themed books and films, history, and more. Since it's Women's History Month, A Mighty Girl might be the perfect site for you and your daughter to visit together. |
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Monthly stats for February show usage up
Total WPL users: 2933 (up 19)
Collection: 21,022
Checkouts: 2321
ILL loans to other libraries: 319 items
ILL borrows from our users: 587
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