Girl Scout gives book
shop major makeover 
Those who have visited the Friends' Used Book Shop recently may have had to look twice to make sure they were at the right place.
Gone are the weeds that surrounded the building, the filthy rug that lined the entryway to the shop, the general rundown appearance of the store as a whole.
Emily Landsman stands at the foot of the new walkway she constructed.
Thanks to Emily Landsman, 17, who made the sprucing up of the shop her Gold Award project for Girl Scouts, the grounds surrounding the building are now carpeted in a thick layer of mulch; flowers are overflowing out of planter boxes and hanging baskets; and a walkway now leads up to the building's entrance. There's also a much-needed gutter attached to the building's roof, which was installed with the help of Joe Germana, the library's handyman. More improvements are yet to come, in the form of statuary decorations and other landscaping work.
The shop's former entrance.
Emily, who's been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, started her project in June of 2014 with the approval process.
Since Emily's Silver Award project also involved landscaping (for Valley Central Middle School's courtyard), she knew going into the planning for her Gold Award that this was something she could now tackle with experience.
The new mulch has done wonders for the shop's appearance.
Once she got approval for the project, she did fundraisers to raise money for it, including selling Girl Scout cookies and chocolate-covered pretzels she made herself.
Her next step is to have the project approved, and then an award ceremony will announce the winners at a later date.
Emily wanted to thank her parents for all their support, as well as
all who donated material to the project: Taylor Recycling, the Landscape Home and Garden Center, the Wallkill Greenhouse, Thruway True Value, and Adams Fairacre Farms.
Good luck to Emily!
Rolling Video Games come to library
Want to play your favorite PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii games right here at the library? Sept. 18 will be your chance!
 Rolling Video Games is a trailer with four 55-inch TVs covering its walls, stadium seating, and vibration motors synched to the action on the screen. Grades 7 and up can play from 3-4 p.m.; grades 3-6 get their chance from 4-5 p.m. Register soon at the library - seating is limited! You can also sign up by phone - 895-3707.
Reserve your seat now for tea party!
Make your reservations now: As part of the Weekend of Wallkill, the Friends of the Library are hosting a Mad Hatter's Unbirthday Tea Party Saturday, Oct. 3!
For a $3 fee, attendees will enjoy a 25-minute, interactive show, a cupcake and drink, and receive a prize, as well!
Reservations are available at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Sign up now for one of these times and submit your reservation at the library!
Though no vendors are involved in this particular event, there will be a vendor blender on the library lawn as part of the Weekend of Wallkill. Those interested in participating should contact Jaime at wallkillvendorblender@gmail.com or 741-2947.
For questions about the Tea Party, call Adrienne at 895-8712, or email her at dramapearl@aol.com.
Weekend of Wallkill fast approaching!
The Vision of Wallkill has teamed up with several community organizations this year to make the second annual Weekend of Wallkill the best so far!
Set for Oct. 2-3, the weekend will include a town-wide yard sale, a vendor blender, a 5K walk/run for breast cancer, an art show and auction, and much more!
For a full list of events, visit the Vision of Wallkill website.
New StoryWalk up on Rail Trail
Senior Girl Scout Troop 60226 has added a new story to the laminated display lining the local Rail Trail!
The pages of Happy Birthday, Moon, by Frank Asch, are now posted along the Wallkill side of the popular trail, for all to peruse as they run, walk, bike, or blade.
StoryWalk is an initiative that combines literacy with exercise by allowing children to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from children's books are attached to wooden stakes posted along an outdoor path so that passers-by can enjoy a story as they travel.
And it's not just local folks who appreciate the Scouts' initiative - Troop leader Brenda Griffin said that recently the StoryWalk was praised by visitors from India!
Thanks to the Girl Scouts for their work on this project!
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