 The idea for a Weekend of Wallkill arose from a series of placemaking workshops held in our community beginning in January. These were community forums, initiated by the Wallkill Public Library acting as the creative catalyst, to get the conversation started about how to create a more vibrant Wallkill. The workshops were about people - our hamlet and all it encompasses: businesses, town, schools, library, parks, organizations, etc. We looked at how people use our spaces now, where people gather, what people are doing... and explored how to revamp our public spaces into attractive gathering places for fun, communication, connection, cultural enrichment, learning and enjoyment. Our community group calls itself V.O.W. - Vision of Wallkill. Core members of our group include: Robin Burk, Justin Connolly, Caroline Cowles-Snyder, Julia Craner, Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, John Graham, Brenda Henry, Paul Mader, Donna Myer, Jim Perine, Jane Rascoe, Debbie Reese, Betsy Reiss, Alan Snyder and Patti Turner.
 | Friends hang out at the hay bales put out for the Harvest Faire on the library lawn.
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The concept of "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. This was where the concept of the Weekend of Wallkill (W.O.W.) was born.
Our fledgling association became one of only 22 nationwide recipients of a new community grant, Outside the Box, which provided our hamlet with $5,000 worth of outdoor seating, planters, pop-up tents, and an inflatable movie screen. During a gorgeous fall weekend with sun and warmth and vibrant colors in the trees, we introduced the Hamlet of Wallkill to our vision with the series of W.O.W. events. We hosted a Beauty of Wallkill Art and Photography Show in the Town Hall Community Room; the Friends of the WPL ran a Harvest Faire on the front lawn of the library; and our group hosted an outdoor movie in Garrison Park. We kayaked on the river, held a plein air paint-off with the Wallkill River School, offered live music venues,
 | | Kayakers enjoy the scenic Wallkill. |
a barbecue and pig roast at River Rock Park, a dog costume contest, and capped off the weekend with a ribbon-cutting to welcome the new Wallkill Riverwalk to the cheers of volunteers, business people, and town officials and local legislators. The new walkway features a solar-lighted pathway and outdoor seating to encourage the community to take advantage of our beautiful natural resources.
The Weekend of Wallkill was the culmination of nine months of work, and the birth of a community dream come true. This experience was best summed up by Rick Parenti of Wallkill, who was also one of the plein air painters, when he remarked: "This (W.O.W.) is the best thing to happen to Wallkill since condensed milk!"
If you would like to join this group as we begin our next dreaming and visioning sessions, please email me: mlcarolan@rcls.org.
Mary Lou Carolan
Director, Wallkill Public Library
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Sun finally shines on Harvest Faire!
 After four years of rainy, drizzly, and/or overcast Harvest Faires, last Saturday provided the perfect fall day for the event! Attendees enjoyed great food, stopped and shopped at the vendors' tables, and got to see performances like those put on by cast members of this past season's Books Alive! children's theatre project (above). Thanks to the Friends of the Library for all their hard work in organizing the event, as well as to everyone who took part and visited!
Harvest Faire mums are still available for purchase - medium-sized plants are now $7 each (or $15 for two), and large ones are $15 each (or $35 for a pair). If you'd like to buy some, you can pay at the circulation desk inside the library.
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Coming up at the Wallkill Public Library
 | Day of the Dead Afternoon attendees work on their crafts Thursday.
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Ostrander Elementary's PTO has placed a Box Top receptacle in the entryway of the library. If you'd like to support the school by contributing your own, feel free to deposit them in that location!
Monday: The Library Board of Trustees meet at 7 p.m. at the library.
Tuesday: Textile Tuesdays take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the community room of Town Hall. The Kids' Knit and Crochet Club meets at 4 p.m. (ages 9 and up). Children in kindergarten through third grade are invited to Read to Sadie the Therapy Dog at 4 p.m.
Wednesday: Toddler Story Time takes place at 11 a.m., followed by Book Buddies at 1 p.m. Family Fun Night starts at 6 p.m., with a $5 dinner for every family of four (and a $1 charge for each additional person). A Wooden Welcome Sign Project follows at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: Kids' Knit and Crochet for ages 9 and up takes place at 4 p.m. The adult Knit and Crochet Club meets at 6:30 p.m.
Friday: A Mexican Folk Art Project will be offered at 4 p.m. Ages 5 and up are invited to try their hands at papel amate painting.
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Thank you to our supporters!
Thanks to those who came out to support the library during the budget and trustee vote Sept. 30! The final vote of 31 to 15 approved the library's 2015 budget with a tax levy of $335,273. The increase of 3 percent (or $9,765) will help the library continue to offer great programming, technology, and, of course, books, DVDs, and more. Seven trustees were on the ballot this year, and all of them were elected to the library board. We're sure that Melissa Flickenschild, Susan Burhans-Haldeman, Ken Simon, Deborah Reese, Todd Craner, Lynne Diener, and Kathy Goulden will provide the fresh perspectives and knowledge that's so vital to the library's success! |
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From children's room to teen scene...
 Every teen needs a stress-free place to hang out and feel comfortable, and we hope you'll find yours at the library! Drop down to the children's room Thursday, Oct. 9 or Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 3-4 p.m. and enjoy a teen-only open house that will include refreshments and laptops! There, you can learn more about upcoming teen programming, including the teen book club, steampunk jewelry making, the anime club, and more! There's no need to register - just show up! All are welcome, ages 13 and up. |
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Rail trail users get to enjoy new Story Walk
 Brenda Griffin and her Girl Scout Troop 60226 have put up a new Story Walk along the Wallkill rail trail for bikers, joggers, and nature lovers to enjoy.
The Little Red Hen will be up until mid-November, its pages laminated and posted on stakes along the trail. Brenda asks that if you see any damaged pages or stakes to give her a call at 234-3737 - the Scouts want to keep their display in pristine condition!
Once The Little Red Hen is taken down, the girls will leave the stakes in the ground for their next display. They ask that in the interim trail users avoid the stakes, as it's a lot of work to re-insert them in the hard ground once the weather breaks.
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Basketball clinic benefits programs
 The Wallkill Girls and Boys Basketball programs are sponsoring a Little Panthers Basketball Clinic in October and November.
The varsity players will be on hand to instruct girls in grades 4-8 and boys in grades 4-6 on Oct. 18 and 25 as well as Nov. 1. Instruction for girls will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and boys from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
The cost of the clinic is $35, which includes a t-shirt and basketball and benefits the girls' and boys' programs.
If you'd like to sign your child up but haven't received a form, yet, you can pick one up at the Wallkill Public Library.
If you have questions, contact AJ Higby (ahigby@wallkillcsd.k12.ny.us) or Brian Masopust (bmasopust@wallkillcsd.k12.ny.us).
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Fire department to hold auction this month
 The Wallkill Hook, Ladder, & Hose Co. will be having their annual auction at 1 p.m. Oct. 18.
Anyone who wishes to donate items for the event should call 895-9708. Donations can be dropped off from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 13-17. Pick-ups are also available.
No mattresses, rugs, soiled furniture, or child seats will be accepted for auction. |
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