New Lebanon

Flying Deer Nature Center will offer the program “Tracks and Trails: Knowing our Wild Neighbors” at the New Lebanon Library on Thursday, January 9, at 6:30 pm. Naturalist Josh Wood will present a slideshow designed to help participants begin the process of familiarizing themselves with the tracks of local wildlife. Participants will also learn to recognize the signs of a variety of common animals in the woods. This program, which is appropriate for adults, teens and older school-aged children, is free and open to the public.

Josh Wood is the Assistant Director at Flying Deer Nature Center in New Lebanon. He teaches primitive outdoor skills and naturalist studies to kids of all ages and runs a local tracking club for adults that meets in areas around New Lebanon on a monthly basis.

The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.

A capella group Strike a Chord! will perform at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, January 3, at 7 pm. They will perform an eclectic mix of musical genres – show tunes, doo-wop, pop, funk and gospel, with some comedy tossed in between tunes. Their repertoire includes songs by Sting, Stevie Wonder, Journey, The Nylons, The Beatles, Boyz 2 Men, George Michael and Peter Gabriel. This program, which is suitable for the whole family, is free and open to the public although donations for the performers are appreciated

Strike A Chord has been performing together for more than ten years. They started as a Disney tour, performing all over the East Coast and traveled to Canada and Europe. Catherine Schane-Lydon, the artistic director of the group, creates many of the musical arrangements. She grew up in Canaan and has recently returned to Columbia County. She performs with Strike A Chord and a number of other groups as well.

For further information on this event, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.

The New Lebanon Library announces the following January events. All of these events are free and will take place at the Library which is located at 550 State Route 20.

• January 3 – Strike A Chord! A Capella Group – 7 pm. An evening of eclectic a capella including show tunes, doo-wop, pop, funk and gospel, with some comedy tossed in between tunes. Donations for the performers are  appreciated.

• January 5 – New Lebanon Book Group – 11 am. The book to be discussed is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Newcomers are welcome.

• January 8, 15, 22, 29 (event is on Wednesdays) – Tales for Tots Story Hour – 10:30 am. Story hour includes crafts, songs and movement activities.

• January 8, 15, 22, 29 (event is on Wednesdays) – Hug-A-Bye Babies – noon. Age appropriate stories, songs and movement activities for our youngest patrons and their caregivers.

• January 9 – Tracks and Trails: Knowing Our Wild Neighbors – 6:30 pm. Learn techniques for identifying animal tracks, following trails in the woods and discover how tracking can help humans and animals alike.

• January 10 – Coffeehouse Night with Linda Worster – 6 pm. An evening of acoustic music with this Berkshire favorite. Donations for the performer are appreciated.

• January 16 – Classic Sci-Fi Film Series – Big Bugs! – 7 pm. The 1954 classic Them! will be shown.

• January 17 – Paul De Jong in Concert – 7 pm. Acclaimed cellist of The Books performs a program of original and traditional music for cello. Donations for the performer are appreciated.

January 23 – Classic Sci-Fi Film Series – Big Bugs! – 7 pm. The 1957 classic The Deadly Mantis will be shown.

January 24 – The Ladies’ Auxiliary Ukulele Orchestra – 6:30 pm. The Ladies perform both originals and reinvented standard favorites with a set list featuring songs from every musical era ranging from Mozart to the Andrews Sisters, from Led Zeppelin to Radiohead. Donations for the performers are appreciated.

January 25 – Paws-to-Read – 9 am. Therapy dogs come to the Library and children read to their furry friends. And, of course, the dogs listen! Please call 518-794-8844 to register.

January 30 – Classic Sci-Fi Film Series – Big Bugs! – 7 pm. The 1958 classic The Fly will be shown.

January 31 – Family Movie Night – 6:30 pm. A current film suitable for the whole family will be shown. Call for title. Popcorn and juice will be provided.

For further information on any of these events, please contact Jeannie Bogino at 518-794-8844.

Berkshire musician Linda Worster will perform at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, January 10, from 6 to 8 pm. The public is invited and the event is free, although donations for the performer are welcome.

Singer/songwriter Worster has toured as a solo musician throughout New England, New York and New Jersey, performing in many coffeehouses, colleges, churches, healing centers, cafés and clubs. She has opened for many well known artists including Livingston Taylor, Harry Chapin, Paul Stookey, Leo Kotke, David Bromberg, Bill Staines, Dave Mallett, Jonathan Edwards, Joan Baez, Richie Havens and Taj Mahal. Her blend of folk covers and uplifting original music proclaim the joy of living and explore the struggle of inner discovery.

The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, New Lebanon, just north of the yellow blinking light. For further information, contact the Library at 518-794-8844.

The New Lebanon Library invites film buffs to enjoy a series of classic “Big Bug” films during the month of January. All screenings, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 pm and be held at the Library.

The big bug films of the 1950s were a subgenre of science fiction that took root during the aftermath of World War II. These films appealed to moviegoers living under the threat of nuclear attack, reassuring them that the United States government could thwart any monster that threatened the life and liberty of the American people.

The series will commence on Thursday, January 16, with the 1954 film Them! The first of the Big Bug films, Them! is the tale of giant ants created by atomic testing that spread to Los Angeles. The Deadly Mantis, from 1957, features a prehistoric praying mantis. It will screen on Thursday, January 23. The series concludes on Thursday, January 30, with The Fly, the 1958 classic starring Vincent Price.

The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.