Stephentown Library Events

• Free Daily Lunch & Snack for Kids – We are pleased to have been chosen as a feeding site through this federally funded lunch program. We will be serving a healthy bag lunch each weekday from 12 to 1 pm in the community room. From 3 to 3:30 pm we will serve a snack. There is no charge and no income or residency requirement. All children under age 18 are encouraged to take advantage of this program. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The program will run until August 19, Monday through Friday.
• Zumba Classes – weekly on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Zumba is an exhilarating Latin inspired dance fitness class designed to benefit anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Zumba Instructor Kim Conley is also a certified Kripalu yoga teacher, pilates instructor and personal trainer who works with people of every age and ability all over the Berkshires. Each one hour class costs $5 per participant. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Drop In Crafts for Kids – Join us for some crafty fun at the Library! On Tuesday, August 16, at 1:30 pm we will make woven jewelry items with Theresa Mateer. On Thursday, August 18, at 1:30 pm we will explore the wonders of Origami and make a variety of creatures with Maddie Teachout. On Tuesday, August 23, at 1:30 pm we will make planters with duct tape in a variety of fun and funky colors and patterns. On Thursday, August 25, at 1:30 pm we will make wallets using Capri® sun packets. Both crafts will be led by Heather Ryder.
• Editor/Food Historian Linda Murray Berzok will give an illustrated talk on Tuesday, August 16, at 7 pm at the Stephentown Memorial Library. What does a woman do when a favorite cake recipe is lost to the flood waters of Katrina? How does a mother with limited economic means manage to make meals for her 16 children? Why is a spunky, adventurous grandma baking bread for hobos who come to her door? Come to hear these stories and more from Editor/Food Historian and Stephentown resident Linda Murray Berzok from her book Storied Dishes: What Our Family Recipes Tell Us About Who We Are and Where We’ve Been. This will be an interesting illustrated talk and all are welcome. What family does not have a cherished recipe that is passed along from generation to generation? But it’s not the recipe alone that makes the memories so indelible. It is the stories behind the recipes. Come to listen, share your own stories and enjoy a taste of one recipe from the book.
• Author Event – Rebecca McBride – On Thursday, August 18, at 7 pm freelance writer Rebecca McBride, from Old Chatham, will read from, discuss and sign her book, Traveling Between the Lines: Europe in 1938. From May to September 1938, one year before the start of World War II, McBride’s parents, John and Margaret Randolph, traveled from the U.S. to Europe. At ages 34 and 27, they were on an adventure, traveling by train, renting bicycles, and sleeping in youth hostels – a typical tour in an atypical time. They traveled to Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England and Wales before finding passage home on a freighter. John Randolph, a mathematician who had just spent two years at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, kept a daily journal of the trip. After his death, McBride came across the journal. Knowing what took place in Germany in 1938 and what would follow throughout Europe, she began to research the historical context for the trip and ask, how much did they know and what did they see? The book combines his journal and photographs with her historical and personal commentary. Light refreshments will be served.
• Back to School Backpack Raffle – SML is holding a Back to School Backpack Raffle. Take a chance on this great collection of useful and fun items and help your Library while you do your Back to School Shopping! The backpack, on display at the Library, contains an abundance of great things – binder, folders, notebooks, crayons, markers, snacks, pens, paper, a calculator, stretchable book covers, pencils – the list goes on and on! Tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5. The drawing will be held on Thursday, September 2, at noon.
• Summer’s End Celebration! – Our Summer Reading Program wraps up on Saturday, August 20, with our Annual Ice Cream Social and a Puppet Show extravaganza. Tweens and Teens are invited to join us at 10 am for an introduction to puppetry. Craft puppets and plan a puppet show that will be presented at 2 pm to our younger audience of summer readers. Games, prizes and certificates for all Summer Reading Program participants. All are welcome to join the fun! Ice Cream and toppings has been generously donated by Stewart’s.