Just in time for the dog days of summer, the Grafton Community Library will raffle a “Dig Into Summer” basket to benefit the Library. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Library on Saturday, August 3. Ticket prices are one dollar each or six tickets for five dollars.
The basket features two grandstand tickets to the New York Yankees evening game on August 20, a $50 gift certificate to the Grafton Town Store and a $15 gift certificate to Market Block Books. It is brimming with a variety of summer items for both the ladies and men, including a pocket garden hose, a citronella candle, sunscreen, a Budweiser ice bucket filled with barbecue sauces and marinade, Dirty Dan’s pumice soap, gardening books, truffles, Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado skin care, a hand painted set of three pots with tray, Burt’s Bees, Margaret Weinland notecards and much more. Give the basket as a gift, keep it as a treat for yourself or use the goodies as individual gifts.
Stop in at the Library located at 2455 NY Route 2 during regular hours to peek in the basket and purchase your raffle tickets. The Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 to 7 pm and Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Phone 518-279-0580 or visit www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org for news of Library programs and events.
The Grist And Saw Mills In New Lebanon
On Monday, July 22, at 7 pm the Lebanon Valley Historical Society will offer an on-location program about the Elm Tree Mills presented by Francesca Lally. The grist and saw mills are located on Mill Street in Lebanon Center, date from the third quarter of the 18th century and were in use until the mid-20th century. They were built by Elisha Gilbert, whose residence on Route 20 was the subject of Peter Watson’s talk this past April.
Francesca Lally, who has just completed her sophomore year at Miss Hall’s School and has grown up at the mills, will share her family collection of photographs and artifacts related to the operation.
Reminiscences and a discussion about the working mills will follow the presentation, along with the usual assortment of delicious refreshments.
Let’s Drum!
Come take your place in the drum circle! Join Capital District musician and educator Jonathan Duda for Let’s Drum at the Grafton Community Library on Saturday, July 27, at 11 am. Enjoy a hands-on introduction to percussive instruments like the clay udu jug from Nigeria or the berimbau from Brazil. Participants with all levels of musical ability will have the opportunity to try out instruments played throughout the world in a welcoming setting, no experience necessary.
More information about the program can be found at www.letsdrumprogram.com. This program is made possible in part through a Community Art$ Grant, a program funded by The Arts Center of the Capital Region through the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Visit www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org or contact 279-0580 for more Library news.
Poetry And Jazz At The New Lebanon Library
Poet and storyteller Michael Czarnecki returns to the New Lebanon Library to present two programs on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26. On Thursday at 6:30 pm Czarnecki will facilitate a workshop on haibun writing, a literary form that is gaining in popularity around the world. Originating in Japan, haibun combines condensed prose with haiku.
On Friday, also at 6:30, jazz musicians Pete Toigo, double bassist, and electric guitarist Tim Thibideau, will join Czarnecki for an evening of music and poetry. The evening will include a jazz haiku journey across America on US 20, with the spontaneity of jazz interwoven through and around poetic words.
For further information on this free 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. This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc. with public funds from New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
Fused Glass Workshop In Grafton
The Grafton Community Library presents two introductory Fused Glass Workshops as part of the Grafton Community Arts Program that has been awarded grant funding from The Arts Center of the Capital Region through the NYS Council on the Arts.
Participants will learn properties of glass relating to fusing dichroic glass to make jewelry or glass pieces. Dichroic glass displays an array of colors and shows different colors depending on the angle of view. Participants will make an item of their choosing, such as earrings or pendants.
The class will be held on Saturday, August 3, in the basement of the Grafton Community Library from 10 am to 1 pm. Class size is limited to ten students (including children age 10 and above accompanied by an adult); preregistration is required, along with a $5 materials fee. Sign up at the Library at 2455 NY Route 2.
Instructor and artist Ellie Parker has been creating fused glass art for many years as part “Magpies with Hands.” Her work is offered at the Saratoga County Arts Center Gallery.
Music At The Armory
Grafton VFD And Ladies Auxiliary Breakfast
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department along with the Grafton Ladies Auxiliary will be holding an All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast on Saturday, July 27, from 8 to 11 am at the Grafton VFW – Fire Hall on South Road (County Route 85).
Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs (made to order), sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk are on the menu. The cost is $9 per adult, $4 for kids 12 and under and free for kids five and under.
We look forward to serving you.
Community Fun Day In Berlin
The Taconic Valley American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring community fun day on Sunday, July 21, from 2 to 5 pm at the Watipi building on Community Avenue in Berlin. There will be fun for all ages including pies and watermelon eating contests, sack races, corn hole and ice cream sundaes courtesy of Stewart’s. And best of all, it is all free. No gimmicks!
Building Creativity One LEGO® Brick At A Time
The kids at the HAYC3 Youth Center love LEGO®. LEGO® allows children to be creative and innovative in a fun, hands-on, interactive way. LEGO® pushes kids to use their minds to build complex and interesting constructions and solve visual and structural problems. They help kids learn to work and play together.
The more LEGO® bricks we have at the Youth Center, the better it is for our kids. Please look around your house for LEGO® bricks that your children (or child-at-heart adults) no longer use. Or take a moment to purchase new sets from your local store. Either way, your donation, new or used, large or small, will be a huge benefit to our kids and help us to help them build teamwork, creativity and motor skills.
Be a part of HAYC3’s Build a LEGO® Collection Movement. Bring your LEGO® bricks to the Youth Center at 115 Church Street, Hoosick Falls. Call 518-686-9050 or email HAYC3@gmail.com for more information.
Cemetery Of The Evergreens Benefit
The second annual benefit to support the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon will be held at The Theater Barn, 654 Route 20, New Lebanon, on Wednesday, July 24.
“Songs From the 50s,” a musical cabaret, will be presented at 7:30 pm and will be followed with a reception of soft drinks and homemade baked goods. Besides benefiting a worthy cause, it will be a fun night and one that you won’t want to miss.
Tickets can be purchased from the members of the cemetery Board or at The Theater Barn.