Upcoming April Events At The Stephentown Library

• Be Red Cross Ready Program – Tuesday, April 10, at 6:30 pm. An instructor from the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York will lead this valuable class. Disaster Preparedness teaches simple and effective steps people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones during emergencies. When disasters strike, there isn’t always much time to respond, so it is important to be ready. Participants will learn to build an emergency preparedness kit, make a plan and stay informed. Citizen CPR is a brief, non-certificate program teaching hands only CPR. It teaches easy and effective compressions which could improve the chances of saving a life. The mission of the Citizen CPR Foundation is to save lives from sudden death by stimulating citizen and community action. Registration is requested. Refreshments will be served.
• Build Your Own Bluebird Nestbox – Wednesday, April 11, at 1:30 pm, presented by the Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living. Kids and adults love to make their own bluebird box. Other birds that use this box include tree swallows, chickadees, titmice and wrens. It is a hands-on learning experience. Using pre-cut lumber with all materials and tools provided, everyone makes and takes home a bluebird nest box. Workshop presenter Thom Pecoraro, of the Wyomanock Center, has been an amateur birder, community advocate and environmental educator, committed to sharing his appreciation of nature and earth stewardship. Please call the Library to register.
• Free Program – Hudson River Fish Advisory on Thursday, April 12, at 1:30 pm includes a presentation by educator Fran Martino (aided by her friendly Husky-mix dog) that describes the NYS Department of Health Fish Advisory and a fish print craft project. Join us for a fun way to learn how to identify fish species and create a craft project to make fish prints. Fish prints are made using rubber fish that will be painted and then pressed onto paper. The art of gyotaku not only teaches fish anatomy, but participants also learn about fish adaptations and habitats. Fishermen from other cultures have used this method to preserve a record of their catch since the 1800’s. Registration is appreciated.
• SML Annual Meeting – the Board of Trustees of the Stephentown Memorial Library will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 12, at 7 pm, following the regularly scheduled Board meeting at 5 pm. Both meetings are open to the public. The Director and Board of Trustees will provide reports on the state of the Library and the future of the Library. Refreshments will be provided.
• Grow Your Own Herb Garden – Friday, April 13, at 1:30 pm. Casey Southard will help you get a jump start on herb gardening by beginning on your windowsill. We’ll use oversized soup mugs as container gardens for a few herb seedlings. They will be happy to grow in any sunny window or can be transplanted to an outdoor spot in the spring. As they outgrow the soup mug, you can cut them back and use the trimmings in your soup pot! For a taste of things to come, each participant can try this or her hand at making a specialty herb butter sample. Growing your own produce is the earth friendly way to go. Learn why. You might just develop a taste for it. This is a free program with all materials provided. Registration is limited. Call to reserve your spot for this fun project!
• Family Movie Night – Friday, April 13, at 7 pm. Enjoy a showing of the recently released family film, Hop. It is the tale of Fred, an out of work slacker, who accidentally injures the Easter Bunny and must take him in as he recovers. As Fred struggles with the world’s worst house guest both will learn what it takes to finally grow up. This movie is rated PG. Popcorn and drinks will be served. This event is free, and all are welcome. Bring the whole family.
• Diners of the Capital District – Tuesday, April 17, at 7 pm. Explore the history of the diner with a virtual tour of many of the diners, past and present, located in the Capital District. Diner Historian Mike Engel will present a well researched slide show presentation and book signing at the Library. Mike Engle’s new book, Diners of the Capital District, provides a fascinating, in-depth look at every diner in and around Albany, Schenectady and Troy. The book is packed with fascinating history and little known stories. You’ll definitely want it on the seat next to you when you hit the road to visit these wonderful, classic eateries. Light refreshments will be served.
• Longfellow is dead! Long live Longfellow! – Thursday, April 19, at 7 pm. Masterfully presented by Bruce Southard, this third and final program in the Longfellow Lecture Series explores how Longfellow, once the most read author in Western civilization, all but disappeared from the discussion of poetry by the late 1900s, and how and why his work enjoys a rebirth today. Aptly named Poems You Didn’t Know You Knew, this presentation uses recited poetry and stories to bring to life authors from the Federalist Age up through the Naturalistic and Symbolistic Period of Literature in America – those who influenced Longfellow, those who shared his stage and those who followed him. This program offers a unique twist on how the poems and stories are revealed in the overall context of this timeline progression. Older generations will recognize much of this work – even if only a line or two of each poem – as their parents and grandparents recited it for fun or moral direction. Younger generations will learn why the works offered such broad appeal. Because this poetry was so well known by our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, anyone attending who would like to dedicate a poem in the presentation to the loving memory of a relative or friend who has passed away is encouraged to do so.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during our Library Hours. Also check our website, www.stephentownlibrary.org, for regular updates.