It takes a village (or a hamlet!) to improve one  
 Most of my working life has been spent developing community-based projects or coordinating services for various non-profit organizations. All these efforts have been grassroots, people-centered, and action-oriented. It can be so energizing and creative to respond to the needs of a community in innovative ways and to involve others in the process. Community buy-in is key to the success of any effort, and can also be the most exciting aspect of the design and development process. This is the major reason I began following the Project for Public Spaces organization years ago. They understand the benefits of a "people-centered" approach. They also offer great information and techniques about how to turn a place around.

Since January of 2014, a group of Wallkillians committed to creating positive change has been meeting monthly in V.O.W. (Vision of Wallkill) workshops to discuss PPS' "placemaking" concept and figure out how to apply it here in the hamlet. Placemaking encourages communities to take a "lighter, quicker, cheaper" approach to jump-start efforts. It uses concepts that can make a place more attractive, pedestrian-friendly, and improve its overall quality of life with simple but strategic design concepts.

Placemaking focuses on creating public spaces as vital community places - with programs, uses, and people-friendly settings that highlight local assets, spur social and economic rejuvenation, and serve common needs.

The challenges we face in Wallkill are the same challenges many small communities face today. They are also some of our greatest opportunities for enhancement. This committee is working to help strengthen the economic success of our downtown/main street area by creating more attractive sidewalk appeal, developing safe and easily accessible pedestrian-friendly walkways, offering fun and exciting art and cultural venues to attract visitors, and enhancing one of our greatest natural assets - the beautiful riverfront.

In May of this year, our group applied for and won (one of only 20 recipients in the country!)  the "Outside the Box" grant, a collaborative funding effort by the Red Box DVD rental kiosk company, OCLC - the online computer library center, and the Project for Public Spaces. The Wallkill Public Library will serve as the lead agency, with V.O.W. as the main collaborator, as we accept $5,000 in reusable materials for our hamlet: an inflatable outdoor movie screen, tables and chairs, pop-up tents, banners, and planters. All of these materials will be shared with the Wallkill community this September when we launch WOW! - the "Weekend of Wallkill" - a series of outdoor events scheduled for September 26, 27, and 28. Built around the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library's popular Harvest Faire, this weekend begins with an outdoor family movie in Garrison Park on Friday evening, continues with the Harvest Faire on Saturday and a juried photo contest on Saturday night, and culminates in a River Walk ribbon-cutting, with live music, a family rail-trail bike ride, and a barbecue at Popp's Pavilion. We will snuggle up for a final outdoor movie on the riverfront with a bonfire to wrap up this awesome weekend. All events are free and open to the public.

If you would like to explore placemaking some more, visit the PPS website, like V.O.W. and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vision-of-Wallkill/590464294363315,) and take a look at these resources to see how placemaking all comes together:

 

If you have questions, please call or email me!

 

                                                            - Mary Lou Carolan, director, Wallkill Public Library

                                                            845-895-3707 or email: mlcarolan@rcls.org 
Coming up for the week of July 14-19
  • LEGO Camp takes place Monday through Friday next week. See below for details!
  • The I Love Fabric Bus Trip that was to visit fabric shops in Selkirk and Windham Saturday, July 19, has been cancelled.

Monday: Photography for Ages 10 and up takes place from 1-2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Textile Tuesday Junior is offered for ages 8 and up at 10:30 a.m. Come learn how to sew by hand and machine! School Crew for kids entering first grade takes place at 1 p.m. Knit and Crochet Lessons with Carolyn and Peg will be offered for ages 10 and up at 3 p.m. Swing Dance Lessons for adults will take place in the community room of Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. A children's program for ages 10 and under will be offered next door at the library simultaneously.
Wednesday: Mommy and Me is offered at 10 a.m., followed by Toddler Story Time at 11 a.m. Kindergarten Story Time is offered at 1 p.m. Book Buddies takes place at 2:15 p.m. Arts and Crafts Time is offered at 3:30 p.m. The Chess Club for ages 10 and up is offered at 6 p.m. An Adult/Family Craft is offered at 6 p.m.
Thursday: Science Camp takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Acting with Ana is offered from 1-3 p.m. The Grade 2-6 Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. The Teen Book Club will discuss Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus at 6:30 p.m. The Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m.
Friday: Life of an Artist takes place at 12:30 p.m. Art Box Contest Work Time is offered at 1:30 p.m. Games on the Lawn are offered at 3 p.m.
LEGO Engineering coming up next week
The popular five-day event that allows LEGO lovers to build with their favorite toy while learning principles of engineering and physics will be back next week!
Play-Well Teknologies' LEGO Engineering Camp will be offered July 14-18, in two separate daily sessions. Grades kindergarten through 2 will meet in the community room of Town Hall from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Grades 3-5 will come from 1-4 p.m.
No need to bring LEGOs of your own - everything you need will be in the community room of Town Hall. Kids are welcome to bring a water bottle and light snack, as well.  
For the duration of the week, Summer Reading Program activities that normally take place in the community room of Town Hall will be held in the library.
I Love Fabric bus trip cancelled
The July 19 bus trip to fabric stores in Selkirk and Windham has been cancelled. Unfortunately there were not enough registrants to cover the cost of the bus for the day. Our apologies to all who had signed up and were looking forward to the trip!
 
Coming up for the week of July 21-25
Because our newsletter writer is on vacation next week, no email blast will be sent out. Here's a calendar of what's coming up for the week following:

Monday, July 21: Yoga with Rona takes place at 10:30 a.m. Photography for Ages 10 and up takes place from 1-2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22: Textile Tuesday Junior is offered for ages 8 and up at 10:30 a.m. Come learn how to sew by hand and machine! School Crew for kids entering first grade takes place at 1 p.m. Ages 7 and up can learn about how their sweet-toothed forefathers made their desserts during Ice Cream - the 18th Century Way at 2 p.m. Architecture Camp takes place from 3-4:30 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Thursday. Knit and Crochet Lessons with Carolyn and Peg will be offered for ages 10 and up at 3 p.m. Swing Dance Lessons for adults will take place in the community room of Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. A children's program for ages 10 and under will be offered next door at the library simultaneously. The Adult Fiction Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Ann Leary's The Good House.
Wednesday, July 23: Mommy and Me is offered at 10 a.m., followed by Toddler Story Time at 11 a.m. Kindergarten Story Time is offered at 1 p.m. Book Buddies takes place at 2:15 p.m. Arts and Crafts Time is offered at 3:30 p.m. The Chess Club for ages 10 and up is offered at 6 p.m. An Adult/Family Craft is offered at 6 p.m. The Quilters' Circle will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of Town Hall. The SUNY Ulster Jazz and Wind Ensemble will perform on the library lawn at 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 24: Science Camp takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Acting with Ana is offered from 1-3 p.m. The Grade 2-6 Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. The Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m. A special Story Time and Musical Petting Zoo will be offered at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 25: Life of an Artist takes place at 12:30 p.m. Art Box Contest Work Time is offered at 1:30 p.m. Games on the Lawn are offered at 3 p.m.

 

Architecture Camp builds on great ideas
Grades 2-4 will draw up plans for a fabulous time when certified architect Patricia Turner leads them through Architecture Camp July 22-24.
Participants will find out what it takes to design and create a structure during the 3-4:30 p.m. sessions. They'll also build an igloo that's walk-in ready!
Stories, light-bulb moments, and brain-benders will be the framework for this fun and educational program.
Bring a picnic to library lawn concert
The SUNY Ulster Summer Wind Ensemble and Summer Jazz Ensemble will perform on the library lawn at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 23.
Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the evening while listening to these talented performers. It's sure to be a lovely night out (without going too far away from home)!
Special thanks to American Legion
The Wallkill Public Library would like to offer a special thank you to Bill West and the American Legion for replacing the POW and American flags out on the library lawn. We appreciate your help!
 
Art library opens in Sugar Loaf
The new Robert Fagan Art Library will be celebrating their grand opening Saturday, July 12, from 3-8 p.m.
Located at the Seligmann Center at 23 White Oaks Dr. in Sugar Loaf, the public fine art library will be the only one of its kind in Orange County, and will feature a vast collection of more than 1,500 books, including general art histories and specialized monographs.
The grand opening will feature poetry readings, a musical performance, and a potluck dinner, in addition to the dedication ceremony and tour of the library. To find out more, call the Seligmann Center at 469-9459.
 
Do you want to tell the world your story?
Have you read a few of the thousands of memoirs on the market and thought to yourself, I can do better than that?
The library may be able to help you on your way to writing your own story!
We're considering hiring an instructor such as Lou Alexander to give pointers on putting together a personal narrative.
But before we offer this program, we need to hear from you. Would you be interested in participating in such a workshop? If so, RSVP to this email or contact Lisa at lpalmer@rcls.org and let her know!
Rail Trail welcomes new StoryWalk®
For those who take advantage of Wallkill's most popular attraction, a new StoryWalk® has been posted to make the Rail Trail even more enjoyable!
Cadette Troop 60226 has once again put up laminated pictures of a children's book along the trail, for runners, bicyclists, and other outdoors-lovers to peruse as they make their way down the path.
This season's selection is Rail-Trail Alphabet Adventures by Carolyn Siccama - a beautifully illustrated book that teaches upper case, lower case, and sign language letters of the alphabet. Check it out next time you're out for a walk with the little ones.
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