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Books come to life at show |
 Books Alive! performers strutted their stuff during the children's theater project's eighth season show last weekend. The famous books of Maurice Sendak and Mo Willems were brought to life during ImagineThat!, an original musical that featured singing, dancing, and scripts that were in some cases written by the young performers themselves.
Once again, Adrienne Gelfand-Perine and Jim Perine directed the show. Adrienne's cousin, Barbara Ganin, penned the original music.
The local children who participated this year brought the audience to their feet with their outstanding performances. Alex Diemoz was a perfect example - she's such a talented ballerina that one scene that required her to trip during a dance seemed to take more effort on her behalf than the rest of her flawless dancing did!
Each and every child who stepped onto the stage, in fact, made it obvious that a ton of work, time, and preparation was poured into this season's program, and it all paid off with a fantastic show.  Later in the week, students at Ostrander Elementary got a special treat when the Books Alive! cast showed up to reprise their performances.
Much thanks to all who participated, volunteered, and came out to see and support our local children! We appreciate it! |
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Coming up at the Wallkill Public Library  Don't let the arctic temperatures and snow on the ground fool you - spring break is here!
If you're at a loss as to what to do with the kids (or yourself) this coming week, you can always stop by the library for books, films, and holiday-themed crafts! Please note there are no Story Times this week, but they'll resume the week of April 1. Monday: The Mini Art Club will be making Funny Bunnies to decorate for Easter at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday: Bring your sewing, quilting, or other handcrafts to the community room of Town Hall for Textile Tuesdays, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday: All ages are invited to come at 1 p.m. for Egg Decorating. The Art Club will continue the Easter theme with Egg Art at 4 p.m. The Quilters' Circle will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday: An April Fool's Day Workshop will prep pranksters ages 4 and up for the first of the month at 1 p.m. The Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Friday: LEGO Building will be offered at 4 p.m. |
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Chilly St. Pat's Day doesn't hinder crowds
 | | Cast members from Books Alive! huddle for warmth (and a picture!) Sunday. |
The weather outside was a little frightful, but Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade through Wallkill was delightful, all the same.
Crowds were not deterred from turning out to cheer parade participants (such as the Wallkill Public Library and Books Alive! crew) on as they wound their way through the chilly streets of the hamlet. Much candy was thrown, much green was worn, and a great time was had by all. Thanks to both those who marched and everyone else who braved the windy weather to see us! |
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Valley of the dolls (and stuffed animals)  No calls were made to the police regarding noise or loud music during Monday night's Teddy Bear Sleepover. But those who came had a good time, anyway! Guardians of the stuffed animals who turned out for the slumber party dropped their charges off Monday morning and signed release forms informing Miss Carolyn of allergies and other need-to-know information.  The snow storm didn't keep the kids from reuniting with their friends Tuesday, though their celebratory brunch was postponed until 1 p.m. There is some photographic evidence of the mischief the party goers got into (like when they tried to take over the circ desk, at right), but in the end the get-together was a success! |
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Learn to play acoustic guitar at the library  Guitarist Dominick Colandrea will be offering acoustic lessons starting April 25 at the library.
The six-week class for ages 11 and up will be offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There will be a preview demo at 6:30 p.m. April 11 for those considering taking the class. Dominick's extensive experience includes six years of lessons and stints with three different bands. Cost for the sessions is $60 per student. There's a six-student enrollment limit. Advance registration and pre-payment is required. |
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Sign up now for Lion Brand Yarn trip  There are only eight seats left (as of this writing) for the Lion Brand Yarn trip!
Sunday, April 21, a bus will leave the library at 9:30 a.m. to go first to the Lion Bran Yarn Studio in New York City and then on to the outlet store in New Jersey. The bus will be returning to the library at 6:30 p.m. Attendees should bring a bag lunch. Cost of the round trip is $25. For more information or to reserve a seat, call the library at 895-3707. |
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Graphic novel discussion coming up  Ages 10 and up are invited to meet and discuss two of Raina Telgemeier's popular graphic novels Tuesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m.
The books being discussed that night will be Smile, a coming-of-age true story about the dental drama that ensues after a trip-and-fall mishap and Drama, about the histrionics involved in the making of a middle school theater production. Those interested in attending the program can reserve the books through the website catalog or call the circ desk at 895-3707 for help. Registration for the program is suggested. Refreshments will be served. |
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Local author, son of Stephen, pens debut  Double Feature, by Owen King
Sam Dolan is a young man coming to terms with his life in the process and aftermath of making his first film. He has a difficult relationship with his father, B-movie actor Booth Dolan - a boisterous, opinionated, lying lothario whose screen legacy falls somewhere between cult hero and pathetic. Allie, Sam's dearly departed mother, was a woman whose only fault, in Sam's eyes, was her eternal affection for his father. Also included in the cast of indelible characters: a precocious, frequently violent half-sister; a conspiracy-theorist second wife; an Internet-famous roommate; a contractor who can't stop expanding his house; a happy-go-lucky college girlfriend and her husband, a retired Yankees catcher; the morose producer of a true-crime show; and a slouching indie-film legend. Not to mention a tragic sex monster.
Unraveling the tumultuous, decades-spanning story of the Dolan family's friends, lovers, and adversaries, Double Feature is about letting go of everything - regret, resentment, dignity, moving pictures, the dead - and taking it again from the top. Against the backdrop of indie filmmaking, college campus life, contemporary Brooklyn, and upstate New York, Owen King's epic debut novel combines propulsive storytelling with mordant wit and brims with a deep understanding of the trials of ambition and art, of relationships and life, and of our attempts to survive it all.
For more on the local author (and son of Stephen King), check out this USA Today article. |
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Knitters, take note! This site's for you  Judging by the popularity of last year's Lion Brand Yarn presentation and this season's upcoming bus trip to the famous company's New York City studio and New Jersey outlet, knitting is still an in-vogue pastime for many.
If you yourself have a passion for the hobby, or are interested in picking it up, Knitty is the site for you. It publishes four times a year and offers a printable pattern library, product reviews, columns and blogs, and the Knittyshop, where you can purchase clothes, posters, drinkware, and more. |
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Play shows what's magical about the arts  If you have ever stood on a stage and looked out onto hundreds of faces in an audience, all eyes on you, it can be rather unnerving. It seems most adults fear public speaking more than they fear death. This makes Saturday's Books Alive! performance of Imagine That! by twenty 6-13 years old local children, all the more amazing. The number of lines these children had to memorize, the dance moves, the song lyrics, the scene and costume changes - all in just ten weeks - speaks to the commitment and maturity of these young souls.
This year I truly watched magic happen. I have the privilege of knowing many of these kids from our library programs over the years, but some of the newer actors I did not know so well. Yet I watched as they grew together as a team in a very short period of time. They respected each other. The play's directors, Adrienne and Jim Perine, respected the  children, and all of them respected the process and craft of performing. For some, this kind of creative outlet is a "godsend," according to one of the parents; an opportunity for her child to step outside of himself, to channel his energies and his concentration into something he is totally interested in.
Having watched a number of practices and read through the scripts, I had a general knowledge of the lines and the kids' characters. It wasn't until the afternoon of the play that I had a true understanding of the quality of the children performing them. Adrienne and Jim always remind the kids that the audience doesn't know the script, to try to take the stress off of them thinking they must be perfect. The kids want to entertain. They practice hard to get it right, so when one of the actors walked on stage Saturday, I saw a slight twinkle of panic in his eyes and I knew he was trying to find his lines. To his  credit, and my wonder, I watched as he looked within himself for the words, he calmly tilted his head down, went inside, found the words when he calmed down, and went on to speak them loud and clear. It took just seconds, but it was amazing to watch. He didn't freeze, he didn't cry, he didn't run off the stage - he breathed, centered himself and got back on the mark. My smile stretched from ear to ear when I watched what he had done.
It's the awesome thing about the arts - they encourage you to go inside, to find out who you are and what you're made of, and they help you express the gifts you have to offer this world. I hope we always remember the important life skills the arts bring to our children, our community and our world and that we never forget the value, joy and beauty they bring to our lives. Thank you, Adrienne and Jim, for shining a light on the arts in Wallkill and for kindling the flame of creativity in our children's hearts. We are forever grateful.
Mary Lou Carolan Director |
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