Schoharie Free Library Dig Into Reading About Local History & Caves   Here at the Library we've had so much fun Learning about cars and the Bard Now won't you join us for archeology, worms, hist'ry and Asian harps?   Dear Friends of Schoharie Free Library, For those of you who have been able to join us this summer for our Dig Into Reading Activities it has been a 'gas' racing die cast cars and airplanes, making goblets, and enjoying previews of the SCHA Summer Youth Program Performances with you! It is hard to believe Summer Reading Program has hit the halfway mark!  We still have a plenty events slated with exciting activities for the entire family.   This week the theme isDig Into Reading About Local History!   Our weekly reading goal prize is a family pack of admission tickets courtesy The Iroquois Indian Museum.  Join us Tuesday, July 30th at 11:00am for  What Mystery Is Hidden Below? Come learn about excavation as we DIG into cookies, geodes and dirt to discover what mysteries lie hidden below earth! Come dressed to get dirty!   Thursday's  Dig Into Reading Movie Night at 7:00pm  follows the theme with theAugust 1st  showing of Drums Along the Mohawk starring Henry Fonda.  Wrap up our Dig Into Reading About Local History week on Saturday, August 3rd 10:00am-2:00pm Dig Into Local History with a Colonial Encampment as a group of local Colonial re-enactors join us on the library lawn to demonstrate local Schoharie valley life in the 1770's.  A drawing for readers who have read three hours during the week to win a family pack of tickets courtesy of The Iroquois Indian Museum will be held Saturday.   Week FIVE brings us to Dig Into Reading About Caves: Monday, August 5th 1:30-3:30pm Storytime & a Crafts Dig into Reading About Caves with special friends  from the Albany Diocesan SALT (Service Action Learning Team) program as they join us for Storytime about Bugs, Bugs, Bugs including craft stations where you can make different bug-themed crafts.  Tuesday, August 6th 11:30am Worm Races!  Who Says the Early Bird Always Catches the Worm? We will be bringing out our fastest night crawlers for the feature races!  Come pick your favorite worm to race! Bragging rights go to the winner! Thursday's  Dig Into Reading Movie Night at 7:00pm  Be ready for some 60's camp on August 8th with Batman the Movie (1966) Friday, August 9th 1:30pm Howes Caverns, Caves! 1:30pm To conclude our Dig Into Reading About Caves week join Howes Caverns educator Kristy Hoos as she shares about the history of caves, through story, craft and interactive activity. Read three hoursduring cave week and have be entered into the weekly drawing for a chance to win a giant geode courtesy of Howes Caverns! With week SIX we will be closing in s-t-y-l-e.  And that deserves an email of its own! Remember....there is STILL time to join in the fun and sign up for summer reading!  Our GRAND PRIZE drawing for those who make it to TWENTY hours is a Family Pack of tickets to Howes Caverns for a Caverns Tour! Make sure to come in and check out our new reads!  Summer reading lists and books are also available on the white wire rack! A complete activity schedule is available at the library or on our webpage at www.schoharielibrary.org.  Just click Activities & Events. Happy reading! Erika Schmid Program Director

Come to the Zoo!

Schoharie Free Library

Dig Into Reading Summer Kick-off Come to the Zoo!   This is the moment that we at the library Have all been waiting for; Our first Summer Reading Program since Hurricane Irene, And we are starting things off with a ROAR! Dear Friends of Schoharie Free Library, On Monday, July 8th from 1:30-3:30pm come and celebrate Dig Into Reading with a kick-off program entitled Come to the Zoo. Joining us will be Michele Von Linden, Meghan Sigtermans, and their animal friends. Michele's miniature horses, Ziggy and Razz-ma-tazz, will be performing tricks, while Meghan's mini, Fella, will be returning with his pony cart.  Many other animal friends will be tagging along to visit encouraging us all to sign-up for the Dig Into Reading Summer Reading Program. Enjoy an afternoon of shows, cart rides, reading, face painting, and prizes. The day's grand prize will be a season pass to Howe High Adventure Park! Prizes will be drawn at random throughout the afternoon with the grand prize drawing at 3:30. See you at the Library! Erika Schmid Program DirectorZ

     It has been an exciting month thus far here at the Library!   We are counting down the days until we begin our summer reading program, the first since Irene! Our big kick-off is July 8th!  Look for a full calendar coming soon in your MY Shopper!  

Our new friend, Hannah,
visited the library
to autograph her new book
Rescued

Happy Reading!

Erika Schmid

Program Director

Library Events for June

Mondays Knitting & Needles 6:00-9:00pm Open time We are expanding! Bring your latest project to share. Whether it be knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting. Come for a good old-fashioned work frolic! There is nothing more relaxing than to sit and work a needle and chat about the latest news! Call 295-7127 for details.

Tuesdays Munchies & a Movie 2:00pm in the Eaton Room. Join your hostess, Linda Lown, as she shows some of the greatest movies of yesterday and today. Bring your own munchies or enjoy some of ours! Screenings include: June 18^th: Grand Torino; June 25^th: The Iron Lady; July 2^nd : Julie & Julia; July 9^th: Singin in the Rain; July 16^th: The Man Who Would Be King; July 23^rd : Hot Fuzz

Monday, June 17^th Chess Club (All Ages) 7;00-9:00 pm Whether expert or just beginning, join an enthusiastic group of chess players every 1^st and 3^rd Monday in the Eaton Room learn new strategies and play! Open to all ages! Call 295-7127 for details.

Friday, June 21^st Storytime! with Mrs. Jill Sholtes (Pre-K+ & Homeschoolers welcome!)

This weeks theme: First Day of Summer! Join Mrs. Sholtes as she reads stories and creates a craft to ring in the summer season. Call 295-7127 for details.

Friday, June 28^th Storytime! With Mrs. Sholtes (Pre-K+ & Homeschoolers welcome!) Join Mrs. Sholtes for our last Storytime of the school year. As a special treat bring YOUR favorite book for Mrs. S to read to your Storytime friends. But shhhhhhhh....keep your story a secret until then!

July 8^th Dig Into Reading Summer Reading Program Kick-off Party COME TO THE ZOO! 1:30pm Come sign up for the library's summer reading program and stay for our exciting afternoon of fun! Join Ziggy, Razz-ma-taz, Fella, our mini horse friends, and their pals as they put on a show. Check out how far we have come in the rebuilding process! Enter for a chance to win exciting prizes! Get a jump start on your summer reading goals!

Hello Friends of SFL!

We have two VERY exciting events coming up that you don't want to miss!  Please pass the news to your family and friends!

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Happy reading!
Erika

Erika Schmid
Program Director

Book Signing!

Schoharie Free Library is excited to host a presentation and book signing event for Central New York native, author Coleen Balch, and Middleburgh illustrator and graphic artist, Cathleen Berry, on Saturday, June 8th from 10:30am until 12:00pm in celebration of their new book Rescued, the first in a series of Hannah's Happy Dog Tales(published by Grindstone Press and Graphics).

It is the story of Hannah and her three friends, a group of stray pit bulls simply trying to get by on their own. Sergeant Jeremy, just home from the service, is trying to do the same thing. Learn how they rescue each other (and a few others along the way), and finally find their forever home. Intended for 8- to 12-year-olds, this inspiring book addresses several timely topics: bullying, stereotypes, animal cruelty, bravery, trust, adjustment of returning war veterans, and cooperation.

Join the library for a morning of celebration including a presentation, book signing, refreshments, and a free activity booklet with each book purchased. As an extra special treat Hannah, the real dog who inspired the story, will be there to meet new friends and take pictures! Grindstone Press is pleased to donate 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this series to pit bull rescue organizations across the country.

Dream Big Seminiar!

Schoharie Free Library is pleased to host a Dream Big Seminar with Life Coach Cyd Collischonn on Thursday, June 13th at 6:30pm with a repeat seminar on Saturday, June 15th at 10:30 am. In light of the Great Recession and Hurricaine Irene many have lost their financial security, their homes....their dreams. Join Coach Cyd and rediscover your dream as she helps you discover, chart, and align what you want to achieve in your own personal rebuilding process.

It is a journey of self-discovery, with Coach Cyd guiding you in identifying your own solutions and strategies while teaching you how to become accountable in positive goal setting. During the Dream Big Seminar you will learn how to set realistic goals, what can hinder those goals, as well as learning the steps in the decision making process, bringing you to that moment when you can celebrate the achievement of your goal. The sky is your limit!

Cyd Collischonn is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God, a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), and board-certified by the Board of Christian Life Coaches (BCLC). She, her husband Robert and son, Samuel live in Cobleskill, N.Y., where Cyd serve s as counselor and life coach at Calvary Assembly of God and also volunteers as Director of Creative Arts.

Seating is limited. Pre-Registration is requested. To request a seat for either session please call Schoharie Free Library at 295-7127 or drop by at 103 Knower Ave in Schoharie.

Thanks to all who came to our Earth Day~Tab Night Program on April 22nd!  It was a phenomenal success!  Below is an article written for the TJ.  Enjoy!  

erika

Library's Tab Night Refuels Shriners

Erika Schmid

Schoharie Free Library celebrated Earth Day Monday night with a unique blend of environmentalism and community service. Since 2009 the library has been collecting pull tabs for Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, MA in honor of patient, and lower limb amputee, Jubilee Schmid. As part of the library's Earth Day programming a tab collection night was planned as well as a program presented by Shriners John Minozzi, Associate Member of the Board of Governors, Jerry Divendorf, Donald Bond, Jack Norray, and Richard Huntermark all members of the Cyprus Shrine which was chartered in 1877 in Albany.

“The only thing I can say is that Shriners is a place where miracles happen,” John Minozzi began as he shared about the program.

Newly elected to the Board of Governors, Mr. Minozzi has been making several visits to the hospital to meet with the doctors, patients and staff. “One day I got lost, and Dr. D. (Dr. David Drvaric), the chief-of-staff, found me and walked me right to where I needed to go. What other hospital can you to to where a chief-of-staff does such things?”

Mr. Minozzi went on to explain how Shriners has 22 hospitals in the United States that are funded through private donations and fundraising. The very tabs that the library was collecting were going to be used to help fuel the vans that transport patients to their Springfield hospital. “Every single hospital we have built is exactly the same, and we treat patients regardless of their ability to pay,” he shared. “I cannot walk into the hospital without shedding a tear.”

At the close of his presentation the floor was opened for a Q&A session. One participant inquired about how the tab program worked. Jack Norray, a Shriner from Glenmont, shared pictures with the audience of 55 gallon drums filled with pull tabs. “Each one of these containers is filled with enough tabs to fuel a van round trip to Shriners. One drum holds 80 pounds of tabs,” he explained.

The next set of pictures showed pick-up trucks filled with tabs from a school in the Capitol District area whose goal it was to fill one pick-up truck with tabs for Shriners. “They filled two!” Mr. Norray replied proudly.

Another audience member was amazed at how she had never heard of such a wonderful institution. “For many years we confess we have hidden our light under a bushel,” Jerry Divendorf admitted. “We are currently remedying that. We have begun advertising, and of course you can see us in parades. In fact I am one of the Shriners who drives the cars you see in the parades.”

All Shriners are volunteers and donate their time and energy to help support the hospital from marching in parades, to driving the vans, to helping man the visitor desk at the hospital. In fact, Richard Huntermark spends a great deal of time woodworking and making projects for the hospitals which can be seen by the patients upon their visits.

Donald Bond, a Cobleskill resident and president of the Schoharie County Shrine Club, is a van driver who recently made his 80^th trip to the hospital. However, it is not just to Springfield where he is asked to drive. Other trips have included shuttling patients to Shriners hospitals in Boston where they have a burn center, and Philadelphia as well. “In all of my time as a driver,” he began, “I have never heard a child cry.”

The goal of the Shriners is to make their hospitals a home away from home for children who go through, for many, a life time of procedures. “Some of these children come into the programs when they are babies,” Mr Minozzi explained, “and are with us until they are twenty-one. I was there the other day when a young woman was graduating out of the program and had come to receive her records. It was very emotional. She was saying good-bye to people who had been her family.”

Mr. Minozzi continues to explain that children are referred into the Shriners program by a local Shriner. They then have an assessment to see if their medical condition is treatable by the hospital. Once this is completed the child is entered into the program where they receive treatment regardless of their ability to pay until the age of 21.

At the conclusion of the Q&A a video montage of testimonials of patients was shared followed by the ceremonial filling of the thirty gallon trash can. Jubilee Schmid received the donated tabs and began to pour them into the can. When it was seen that there was more than she could fill on her own other children from the audience were called in to assist.

The library received word from Shriners on Friday that fifty pounds of tabs were collected on Earth Day, enough to put enough fuel into the van for a one way trip. “It took two people to load the tabs into the pick-up truck,” Director Cathy Caiazzo said. “Fifty pounds of tabs made their way out of the library! That is just phenomenal!”

Schoharie Free Library continues to be a collection center for pull tabs and welcomes residents of Schoharie to drop off their tabs any time during library hours. The library also has literature on Shriners Hospitals and information on how to refer a child. Shriners Hospital in Springfield specializes in Orthopaedic, Cleft Lip/Palate and Rheumatological care. You can also learn more at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

Hello Friends of Schoharie Free Library!

We have a lot of exciting events coming up for the month of May, including an exciting event for all you moms out there!  Girls' Night out is this Thursday, May 9th from 7-9pm.  Come in your loungies for a chick flick, chocolate and prizes!

Another exciting event is the launching of our new program: Munchies & a Movie on Tuesday's at 2:00pm.  Come and enjoy your favorite movies of yesteryear and your new favorite movies of today and have some munchies while you are at it.  Snack on our munchies or bring some of yours to share.  Library friend, Linda Lown, is your host!

I've also added a few teasers for the month of June just to whet your appetite!

Also, please note that we are a stop on the Schoharie Promotional Association's  Huckle Buckle Beanstalk Contest beginning May 12th and running through May 25th.  We will be hiding an article in plain sight right here at the library.  Come in and find it and say, "Huckle Buckle Beanstalk", and we will initial your entry form to help you win a prize!

And finally....to all who have dropped by to see our rebuilding progress, supported our new programs, and just stopped in to say, "Hi" and "Welcome", I just want to say THANK YOU!

See you at the Library!

Erika

 

May Library Events
Mondays Knitting & Needles 6:00-9:00pm Open time We are expanding! Bring your latest project to share. Whether it be knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting. Come for a good old-fashioned work frolic! There is nothing more relaxing than to sit and work a needle and chat about the latest news! Call 295-7127 for details.


Monday, May 6^th & May 20^th Chess Club (All Ages) 7;00-9:00 pm Whether expert or just beginning, join an enthusiastic group of chess players every 1^st and 3^rd Monday in theEaton Room learn new strategies and play! Open to all ages! Contactjpschmid@nycap.rr.com or eschmid@mvls.info or call 295-7127 for details.
 

Tuesdays, Munchies & a Movie 2:00pm Come for a midday matinee and enjoy some of the greatest movies of yesterday and today! Showing in the Eaton Room: May 14^th Last Chance Harvey, May 21^st The Help, May 28^th The King's Speech


Thursday, May 9^th Girls Night Out! 7:00-9:00pm Give Mom and early Mother's Day treat and send her in her lounge clothes to the library for a chick flick and chocolate! We will be screening the film Persuasion starring Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins. A drawing for a special Mother's Day basket valued at over $100 will be held.
 

Fridays, Storytime! with Mrs. Jill Sholtes (PreK+)10:00-11:00am Join Mrs. Sholtes and CELEBRATE MOM! Enjoy stories crafts with Mrs. Sholtes. Themes for the Month of May include: Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day & Memorial Day

Monday, May 13^th Movie Night Encore Presentation “Lincoln” (PG-13) 6:15pm Response for our Tuesday matinee was so great we are offering an encore! Join us Monday night. “As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.”

Friday, May 17^th Understanding Social Security 2:00pm Mohawk Valley Library System and NBT Bank have joined together to offer this free seminar. This seminar is aimed at answering your questions and helping you understand the maze of social security. Presentation and Q&A session. Call 295-7127 for details.
 

Saturday, June 8^th Meet the Author and Illustrator of Rescued! 10:30am-12:00pm Join the Library as we celebrate local illustrator, Cathleen Berry, and her sister, author Coleen Balch, as they share the story of Hannah and her friends, a group of stray pit bulls. Learn about pit bull rescue and meet Hannah! Come and enjoy a fun-filled morning including a presentation, book signing and refreshments, along with a photos with Hannah and a free activity booklet with every book purchased. Call 295-7127 for details.
 

Thursday, June 13^th (6:30-8:00pm) & Saturday, June 15^th (10:30am-12:00pm) Dream Big Seminar with Life Coach Cyd Collischonn. In the aftermath of Hurricaine Irene and the Great Recession many of us in the Schoharie Valley have lost our dream, whether through loss of our home or employment. Join Cyd as she equips us with the tools to dream big once again. We are a resilient people, but sometimes we just need a little encouragement to get us back on track! PLEASE NOTE that the Thursday and Saturday sessions are duplicate sessions to meet the needs of the community. Call 295-7127 for details.

Hello Friends of Schoharie Free Library!

We have two exciting Earth Day events on tap, and we are calling on you for your support!

Help the library help Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, MA.  Since 2009 Schoharie Free Library has been collecting pull tabs to help the Cyprus Shrine Shepherd's Club.  The aluminum in the pull tabs is redeemed, and the resulting monies are used to maintain and run vans which transport patients to and from their appointments and procedures at Shriners Hospital in Springfield, MA free of charge.

As part of our Earth Day programming, we are having a pull tab drive during both our Storytime! on Friday,  April 19^th with Mrs. Jill Sholtes  from 10:00-11:00am and on Monday, April 22^nd when we celebrate Earth Day TAB NIGHT!  from 6:00pm-8:00pm.   Jubilee Schmid, a resident of Howes Cave, who is also a lower limb amputee and Shriners patient, will be on hand to personally thank you for your donation and share her story of how Shriners Hospital for Children has made a difference in her life.

It is also our hope to discover for current and former patients as well as drivers to join us to share your stories and give them a place to meet for support and encouragement. Bring your tabs,  put a face to your conservation efforts, and be inspired!

Encourage your friends and neighbors to come out for this wonderful cause.  Pull tabs can come from soda, soup, meat, or cat food cans, or any can you can think of.  As long as the tab does not stick to a magnet we can take it.   Also, keep your eyes open in the Times Journal for an article on the upcoming events!  Patsy Nicosia joined Jubilee at the library last Friday to learn about the tab program first hand!

Looking forward to seeing you!

Erika

Movie Night at the Library!

Come join us this week for two great movies!

Monday, April 8th is Holocaust Remembrance Day.  Join us at 6:30 for a screening of the film Paper Clips. “It began as a lesson about prejudice...What happened next was a MIRACLE.” Paper Clips is a wonderful way to introduce the horrors of the Holocaust to younger viewers. Recommended viewing age is eleven and older, but we suggest that you go online and review this movie as it may be appropriate for younger audiences. One review site is: www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/paper-clips

Thursday, April 11th come celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day "Eve" with a 6:30 showing of Ramona & Beezus! Follow the zany adventures of Ramona Quimby, age 8, and her sister Beatrice...um... Beezus. "A little sister goes a long way!"  This movie stars Joey King and Selena Gomez.  Rated G.


Look forward to seeing you there!
erika

Ponies, Ponies, Ponies!

Wow!  That is all I can say!  Ponies, Ponies, Ponies! was a MINIATURE success!  Our thanks goes out to Meghan Sigtermans from Good Hands Horsemanship and Fella for stopping by to play with their cart!  What a fantastic way to end Spring Break!

If you didn't get a chance to stop by and visit Fella you will have another chance during our Summer Reading Program as he asked me to come back and visit all of his friends again as we Dig into Reading!  And for a sneak peek check out the pix on our Flickr site!

For those of you who loved eating horse food today and asked here is the recipe for Horse Oats:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

1 Large container of Old Fashioned Oats
1 Cup Oil (I use canola)
1 Cup Honey (agave nectar, maple syrup or other liquid syrup)
1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar (or other crystalline sugar)
Pinch of Salt

Place Oats in a large bowl.  Place remaining ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil until all crystalline sugar is melted.  Pour over oats and mix until coated.  Place oats on a greased jellyroll pan(s) or cassarole dish.  Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.  Stir once during baking.  Cool on wire racks.  Break into pieces and store in an air tight container.  For more options you can add to your oats: coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, nuts, etc.  I recommend not to add raisins or dried berries until after cooking.  ENJOY!

Upcoming Events as of March 25th

Erika has hit the ground running; all these are scheduled already!

Every Monday, beginning March 25th @ 6pm - Knitting and Needles - it's not just for knitting & crocheting any more!

Friday March 29th @ 10am - Story Time with Mrs. Jill Sholtes - theme this week is Frogs!

Monday April 1st @ 7pm - Chess Club

Tuesday April 2nd @ 10:45 @ Middleburgh Library - Lego Day Rock the Blocks! - Story Time using the Duplos both libraries won during the Read! Learn! Play! voting last fall.  Refreshments will be served.

Friday April 5th @ 10am - Ponies, Ponies, Ponies! - a special Story Time day with real miniature ponies.

Friday April 12th @ 10am - Story Time with Mrs. Jill Sholtes - theme this week is Mice!, in honor of Ralph the Mouse as written by Beverly Cleary.

Monday April 15th @ 7pm - Chess Club

Friday April 19th @ 10am - Story time with Mrs. Jill Sholtes - theme this week is Earth Day.  As part of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, we will learn about our support of the Shepard's Club Tab Program for the Shriners' Hospitals.

Monday April 29th @ 6:30pm - Book Discussion with Mrs. Marcy McKinley.  The book is "Maisie Dobbs" by Jacqueline Winspear, and copies are available @ the Circulation Desk.