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2021 Role-Play Gaming
Fall Institute for Adults

Presented by Jared Fishman & HMGS Next Gen, Inc.

Starting Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 6 - 8 pm

Imagine a world that takes place only at night, where horror, mystery, and fantasy meet at a crossroads only the imagination can create. We've all heard sayings like "things that go bump in the night" and proverbs like "when the night's darkest, dawn's nearest"- in the World of Darkness, the infamous setting of all White Wolf games, these statements are more true than you think!

Now let's take things a step further- imagine you are playing a character in this world, in which your decisions will either prove fruitful, or quite costly for your unlife!

If this sounds exciting to you, sign up for this fall's Role-play Gaming Institute, coordinated by the Middletown Thrall Library, storyteller Jared Fishman, and HMGS Next Gen Gaming, Inc. This is a 7 week, virtual program beginning Tuesday, September 28th and ending Tuesday, November 9th.

The game/course is designed for adults 21+, and will cater to all play abilities from beginner to advanced. Each session will read like a story, with players taking an active part in building the narrative through their decisions, ideas, and other thoughts.

Players will become immersed in the setting, conflict, and general plot, and will see the ramifications of their actions in an immediate way. Whether you've played White Wolf games before or not, this will be an exciting experience for all!

**While the initial Zoom seminar is available to an unlimited number of participants, the campaign itself has a 4-6 player max**

To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at 845-341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

"This campaign will be run by Jared Fishman, teacher and game based learning specialist with over 20+ years of experience in the field. He has run workshops, seminars, and conferences for NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools), NASAGA (North American Simulation and Games Association), and libraries including Ellenville, Valley Cottage, Gardiner, Middletown Thrall, and Greenburgh. Programming has ranged from game based learning and design for the classroom, workplace, and other capacities. Much of this work has been done through the lens of his non-profit organization, HMGS Next Gen, Inc, which is devoted to fostering and growing game clubs and game-based learning across the tri-state area and beyond. In the case of this WoD campaign, players will engage in a setting that's existed since 2001, and has had dozens of players rotating in and out over that time. He is very, very excited to share this world with interested players."

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

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Books on Tap Book Discussion

Sunday, September 19, 2021, 2 PM

at

Clemson Brewery

Books on Tap is BACK... IN PERSON!

We will be discussing Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

From the publisher: "Geobiologist Hope Jahren has spent her life studying trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. Lab Girl is her revelatory treatise on plant life—but it is also a celebration of the lifelong curiosity, humility, and passion that drive every scientist. In these pages, Hope takes us back to her Minnesota childhood, where she spent hours in unfettered play in her father’s college laboratory. She tells us how she found a sanctuary in science, learning to perform lab work “with both the heart and the hands.” She introduces us to Bill, her brilliant, eccentric lab manager. And she extends the mantle of scientist to each one of her readers, inviting us to join her in observing and protecting our environment. Warm, luminous, compulsively readable, Lab Girl vividly demonstrates the mountains that we can move when love and work come together."

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Clemson Brewery is at 22 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

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New York Blood Center Blood Drive

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, 12 - 6 pm
RESCHEDULED: Sept. 15, 2021, 12:00 - 6:00 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Masks are required in the Library regardless of vaccination status.

Appointments are preferred however walk-ins will be welcomed if space permits. Please remember to eat, drink and bring your donor ID card or ID with name and photo.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 845-341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

For full list of COVID-19 safety protocols, please visit nybc.org/coronavirus

view event flyer → The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Present

Repair Café

Clothes, furniture, electrical / mechanical, toys, sharpening, etc.

September 18, 2021

December 18, 2021

10 AM to 1 PM in the 2nd floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

What do you do with

• A lamp that no longer lights?
• A vacuum that can't suck it up?
• A scissors that can't cut it?

Toss it away? No way!

Repair Café is

• repairing broken items together
• professional advice
• encounters and inspiration

Costs? A voluntary contribution.

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*Thrall ONLINE Event*

Tenant Rights

*August 13, 2021, 7 PM

Do you currently rent your home? With the Covid-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 and Emergency Rental Assistance Program soon coming to an end, many people have concerns about their rights as tenants.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is here to help!

Jaime Samarel, a Senior Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit/Newburgh office of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (the largest provider of free civil legal services to qualifying individuals in the lower Hudson Valley) will address a variety of topics of concern to those who rent their homes, including but not limited to the Covid-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 ("CEEFPA") and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program ("ERAP").

Mr. Samarel will answer questions about residential tenancies (private and subsidized) from those in attendance.

This informational presentation is free of charge, and all are welcome to join us online.

* This program will be held via Zoom and registration is required.

Please contact Theresa Zacek at (845) 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org to register.

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*Thrall ONLINE Event*

Virtual Trivia Night

"Hot Summer" Edition
Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, August 26, 2021, 7 pm

Join us for this end of summer themed trivia night.

Grab a drink and your well of knowledge and battle for first from your couch!

As always, prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place winners!

This is a free event! Registration required.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 845-341-5483.

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Books on Tap Book Discussion

Sunday, August 15, 2021, 2 PM

at

Equilibrium Bonfire

Books on Tap is BACK... IN PERSON!

We will be discussing Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson.

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

From the publisher: "Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they've barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison's twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker…. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other-and stay cool-while also staying out of the way of Madison's buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her-urgently and fiercely. Couldn't this be the start of the amazing life she'd always hoped for?"

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Equilibrium Bonfire: is at 2-8 South Street, Middletown, NY.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

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*Thrall ONLINE Event*

Virtual Trivia Night

"American as Apple Pie" Edition
Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, July 1, 2021, 7 pm

Join us this month where trivia will be centered around all things USA!

Grab your red, white, and blue garb, your sparklers, and your wealth of knowledge!

As always, prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place winners!

This is a free event! Registration required.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 845-341-5483.

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Books on Tap Book Discussion

Sunday, June 27, 2021, 2 PM

at

Clemson Brother's Brewery

Books on Tap is BACK... IN PERSON!

We will be discussing The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi.

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

From the publisher: "One afternoon, in a town in southeastern Nigeria, a mother opens her front door to discover her son's body, wrapped in colorful fabric, at her feet. What follows is the tumultuous, heart-wrenching story of one family's struggle to understand a child whose spirit is both gentle and mysterious. Raised by a distant father and an understanding but overprotective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts, moments of disconnection between self and surroundings. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men. But Vivek's closest bond is with Osita, the worldly, high-spirited cousin whose teasing confidence masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepens-and Osita struggles to understand Vivek's escalating crisis-the mystery gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom."

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Clemson Brother's Brewery is located at 22 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Virtual Trivia Night

Spring Edition

Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, May 27, 2021, 7 pm

We've been enjoying spring weather so much, we thought we'd center an entire trivia night around it!

As always, prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place winners!

This is a free event! Registration required.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 845-341-5483.

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Books on Tap Book Discussion

Sunday, May 23, 2021, 2 PM

at

Orange County Distillery at Brown Barn Farms

Books on Tap is BACK... IN PERSON!

We're doing it! We're testing out our first in person meeting since February of 2020! We will be discussing The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris.

Books and eBooks are available for borrowing through our library.

From the publisher: "By reckoning with the big challenges we face together, drawing on the hard-won wisdom and insight from her own career and the work of those who have most inspired her, Kamala Harris offers in The Truths We Hold a master class in problem solving, in crisis management, and leadership in challenging times. Through the arc of her own life, on into the great work of our day, she communicates a vision of shared struggle, shared purpose, and shared values. In a book rich in many home truths, not least is that a relatively small number of people work very hard to convince a great many of us that we have less in common than we actually do, but it falls to us to look past them and get on with the good work of living our common truth. When we do, our shared effort will continue to sustain us and this great nation, now and in the years to come."

This event is FREE and open to adults (21 years or older).

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Brown Barn Farms is located at 286 Maple Avenue, New Hampton, NY

All Covid-19 guidelines for the establishment MUST be followed. Find more information at http://www.orangecountydistillery.com/#info

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Gentle / Chair Yoga

Starting May 10, 2021, 10 - 11 am

We know you missed Margaret, so we're bringing chair yoga back virtually!

These are gentle yoga classes suitable for most students. Each class offers simple movement and breathing practices designed to build strength and flexibility and to promote relaxation. We will use a chair to support and safely align the body in standing poses as a well as provide an alternative to seated and reclining floor poses.

For class, please have a sturdy chair, a yoga mat or non-skid surface, two blankets or towels, and a long belt or strap.

*If you have a pre-existing medical condition, please check with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you*

Classes will be held online via Zoom on the following dates from 10 - 11 am:

• 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, and 7/5

Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org to register for one, several, or all of these class dates.

From the instructor: "As a registered nurse for more than 30 years, I understand the importance of good health and the impact that both proper relaxation and activity can have on our well-being. I have been teaching yoga since 2012 and am a certified in Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga and Silver Age Yoga. I hold a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Registration in the Vinyasa style and Restorative Yoga. I am on staff at Orange Regional Medical Center in the Healthy Heart Cardiac Risk Assessment Program."

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Secrets That Wall Street Doesn't Want You to Know About!

Presented by Rick Nathan, Consumer Advocate

Thursday, May 6, 2021, 7 - 9 pm

Have you just come into some money or have some money and are thinking of investing?

This fact-packed seminar is a must for those who want to learn!

Topics to be covered include...

• getting a better deal on a car
• investigating and buying insurance
• investing with or without a financial planner
• and more!

Build the confidence to invest on your own, or learn to interview financial planners so you can find someone who is truly working for you. Take charge of your money!

This program will be held online! Registration is required for you to receive the Zoom event link.

To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at (845) 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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The Three Bs of Music

"The Broader Version"

presented by Barry Wiesenfeld

There's an expression in the classical music world, The Three Bs, and it refers to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. But this is a broader, modernized version of that esteemed list, and there's been a small substitution. A variation on a theme, if you will. These Three Bs are Bach, Beethoven, and The Beatles.

Why do The Beatles deserve to be in this lofty club of musical pioneers? Simple. They, like the others, changed the course of the music to follow. Join us. Find out why they deserve to be in the company of greats.

• Session one (Tuesday May 4th 7 - 8:30pm): Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach wrote the book on how music works. He outlined the concepts of music theory that we still use today, centuries later, and his works are magnificent. We'll dissect some of those works, learn what makes them tick, and explore his contributions.
• Session two (Tuesday May 11th, 7 - 8:30pm): Beethoven. Ludwig took the musical world into which he was born, mastered it, and then yelled, "Hey, everybody, follow me!" He transformed the Classical era into the Romantic era. He lived a tragic life, but gave us gifts that we treasure still, and the emotion in his music is unrivaled. We'll delve into his life and his legacy.
• Session three (Tuesday May 18th 7 - 8:30pm): The Beatles. Those five guys (yes, five!) took the popular music that came before them, and, like Bach and Beethoven, changed that world. The floors of the studios they frequented were littered with pieces of what were once glass ceilings. And their music changed lives. We'll isolate some of the spices in their recipes, and you'll likely listen to their music differently, more deeply, and with greater insight in the future.

This program is virtual! Registration is required for you to receive the Zoom event link.

To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at (845) 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenter: "Barry Wiesenfeld is an internationally recognized award-winning musician, a published author, and is on the music faculty of SUNY and Ramapo College. He has accompanied Grammy- and RMI-winning artists, performed on three continents and has played on numerous recordings, radio and TV. Barry's lecture series has been enjoyed both around the U.S. and abroad. For more information or to contact Barry, please visit www.barrybassist.com."

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Books on Tap Book Discussion

April 18, 2021, 4 - 5:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss Radium Girls by Kate Moore.

eBooks and eAudioBooks are available in OverDrive!

From the publisher: "The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War. Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these 'shining girls' are the luckiest alive - until they begin to fall mysteriously ill. But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY!

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the discussion link: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Virtual Trivia Night

the 1990s

Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, April 22, 2021, 7 pm

We're rolling through the decades of trivia and tackling the 1990s this month!

Grab some snacks and your team, and let's see what you're made of!

Prizes will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place winners!

Bonus points will be awarded to any team that dresses up 80s style!

This is a free event! Registration required.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Becoming a Foster Parent

Presented by Shawn White,
Home-Finding Supervisor for NAFI

April 6, 2021, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Have you ever considered becoming a foster parent?

Thrall is partnering with the North American Family Institute (NAFI) to host an open forum with more information.

NAFI specializes in community-based care for children, youth with mental health and behavioral issues.

Their mission is to continue to create diverse and Innovative services for people.

Topics to be covered include...

• How to become a foster parent
• The process of certifying your home
• Responsibilities of a foster parent
• Stipends received for fostering
• Training requirements
• Support given by the NAFI team

This program is virtual! Registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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How to Drastically Cut Costs in Difficult Times

April 1, 2021, 7 - 9 pm

If you are trying to drastically cut costs because your retirement plan or your savings plan has lost a lot of money or you could lose your job or you want to learn how to save many thousands of dollars, this course will greatly help you.

Discussed topics include ways to save money by investing on your own, the benefits of credit unions, how to buy used and new cars wisely, home and life insurance, and methods to reduce your school and county taxes.

About the Presenter: "Rick Nathan is strictly a consumer advocate. He has successfully taught this seminar in Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York since 1986."

This program is virtual! Registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Living with Black Bears
in New York State

An Online Presentation by Dr. Paul D. Curtis

Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 6 - 7 pm

During the past decade, bear populations in the southern part of the state have grown, and bears have expanded their range northward.

Bears can now be seen in almost any NYS county, and they are becoming more abundant near suburban communities. Consequently, conflicts between bears and people sometimes occur.

In this free online presentation, you will learn about bear biology, bear behavior, and ways to reduce potential human-bear conflicts.

About the Presenter: "Dr. Paul D. Curtis is a Professor of Wildlife Science in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University. He received a Ph.D. in Zoology from North Carolina State University in 1990, and a M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University in 1981. His research interests include human-wildlife conflicts in suburban, forested, and agricultural landscapes, wildlife fertility control, and resolving community-based wildlife issues. He has supervised research projects dealing with white-tailed deer, black bears, colonial water-birds, urban goose management, and bird damage to fruit crops. His extension programming has included a variety of wildlife-related booklets, videos, and fact sheets. Dr. Curtis is a co-author of the National Wildlife Control Training Program, and a Certified Wildlife Biologist® with The Wildlife Society."

This is a free event! Registration required.

To register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Virtual Trivia Night

1980s Edition

Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 7 pm

That's right, March's trivia theme is all about the 80s!

Come test your smarts and have some fun right from the comfort of your own home!

Prizes will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place winners!

Bonus points will be awarded to any team that dresses up 80s style!

This is a free event! Registration required.

Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org to register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

March 21, 2021, 4 - 5:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough.

eBooks and eAudioBooks are available in OverDrive!

From the publisher: "Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she's thrilled she finally connected with someone. When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar... who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can't keep his eyes off Louise. And then Louise bumps into Adele, who's new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you've read before."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY!

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the discussion link: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Virtual Trivia Night

"Valentine's Edition"

Hosted by Mike Maggin

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, 5:30 pm

Valentine's Day... PALentine's Day... GALentines Day... however you celebrate (or don't), grab a loved one or two, some snacks and drinks, and please join us for a fun-filled evening of trivia!

Prizes will be awarded to first and second place winners!

This is a free event! Registration required.

Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org to register and to receive the Zoom meeting link for online access.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

February 21, 2021, 4 - 5:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

eBooks and eAudioBooks are available in OverDrive!

From the publisher: "Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn't commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship - and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY!

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the discussion link: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

January 17, 2021, 4 - 5:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.

eBooks and eAudioBooks are available in OverDrive!

From the publisher: "In this Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times bestselling follow-up to The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead brilliantly dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys unjustly sentenced to a hellish reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors.... Based on the real story of a reform school that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers and 'should further cement Whitehead as one of his generation's best' (Entertainment Weekly)."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY!

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the discussion link: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

December 20, 2020, 4 - 5:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter.

eBooks and eAudioBooks are available in OverDrive!

From the publisher: "It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland.... Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere. An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how, in the face of the twentieth century's darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY!

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the discussion link: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Baking at Home

Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, 10 - 11 am

Looking for something new to bake? The Chicken Librarian is here to help!

She'll be demonstrating how to make fruit-filled hand pies, step-by-step!

This free program will be conducted on the Internet via Zoho Meeting.

Registration required. Please e-mail Theresa at tzacek@rcls.org for a link to the meeting.

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

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Crafting at Home

Friday, November 6, 2020, 6 - 7 pm

This month's @Home craft is Pumpkin Garland - perfect to add to your fall decorations or Thanksgiving tables!

This program will be conducted over the Internet via Zoho Meeting. Registration is required.

Once registered, please come to the library to pick up your free crafting supplies and join us online as we complete the craft from the comfort of our own homes!

Please e-mail Theresa at tzacek@rcls.org for a link to the meeting and to set up a time to pick up your supplies!

*Thrall ONLINE Event*

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

November 8, 2020, 5 - 6:30 PM

We will be meeting ONLINE!


Books on Tap is BACK... VIRTUALLY!

Grab a drink and a snack, and get cozy on your own couch while we discuss Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane.

From the publisher: "Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, rookie NYPD cops, are neighbors in the suburbs. What happens behind closed doors in both houses-the loneliness of Francis's wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian's wife, Anne, sets the stage for the explosive events to come. In Mary Beth Keane's extraordinary novel, a lifelong friendship and love blossoms between Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope, born six months apart. One shocking night their loyalties are divided, and their bond will be tested again and again over the next thirty years. Heartbreaking and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes is a gorgeous and generous portrait of the daily intimacies of marriage and the power of forgiveness."

Please note: this program is VIRTUAL ONLY! It will be hosted via GoToMeeting.

Registration is required, so please e-mail Theresa Zacek for the link to our online discussion: tzacek@rcls.org.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's always FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

view event flyer →

Learn the Basics of

Cheesemaking

with The Chicken Librarian

April 4, 2020, 2 - 4:30 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Ever wanted to learn to make cheese but don't know where to start?

This class will walk you through the basics of cheesemaking, what supplies you need, and promises to offer a fun way to get started!

Not only will you learn about cheese, but you will get to make three different kinds: buttermilk, ricotta, and mozzarella.

All participants will leave with their own homemade cheese to take home!

This is a FREE EVENT!

Space is limited, so registration is required.

To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenter: "Kristin White has over 10 years' experience with homesteading. She is currently living a handmade life while free ranging on the banks of the Delaware River, with the Mister, a good girl pup, and two very bad kitties. She enjoys her homesteading life, including everything from making from scratch, knitting, raising chickens, beer making, bread making, and gardening. She also enjoys photography. You can follow her homesteading adventures at chickenlibrarian.com."

view event flyer →

Chair Fitness

* EVENT CANCELLED *

*Starting March 27, 2020, 9:30 - 10:30 am

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Did you know that you could burn calories, strengthen, and sculpt your muscles just by sitting in a chair performing aerobics? Believe it; because the answer is YES!

Increase your heart rate and build endurance all while performing seated cardio and strength exercises.

All you need to bring are weights, a towel, and a bottle of water, as you will sweat!

This workout is suitable for all fitness levels.

*Additional Dates (9:30 - 10:30 am)

* SESSIONS CANCELLED *

• Friday, April 17
• Friday, May 1st

Registration is encouraged but not required!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenter: "Teri Egan is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor. I teach various Fitness modalities including Cardio & Strength, Tabatta, Body Sculpting, Pilates, Kickboxing, Indoor Cycling, Aquatics Fitness, and Senior Fitness. I am a Fitness Instructor at the YMCA in Middletown and also teach privately within the community."

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Remarkable Reads: March 2020

Our Popular & Entertaining Monthly Book Discussion

March 31, 2020, 3 PM

in our 2nd floor Community Room at Thrall

At our next talk, we will discuss 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari:

About the book (from the publisher's description): "How do computers and robots change the meaning of being human? How do we deal with the epidemic of fake news? Are nations and religions still relevant? What should we teach our children? Yuval Noah Harari's 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a probing and visionary investigation into today's most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. As technology advances faster than our understanding of it, hacking becomes a tactic of war, and the world feels more polarized than ever, Harari addresses the challenge of navigating life in the face of constant and disorienting change and raises the important questions we need to ask ourselves in order to survive."

Copies of this book are available for borrowing or reservation at the library.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Questions? Please call (845) 341-5485.

view event flyer → The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Present

Repair Café

Clothes, furniture, electrical / mechanical, toys, sharpening, etc.

March 21, 2020

June 20, 2020

September 19, 2020

December 19, 2020

10 AM to 1 PM in the 2nd floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

What do you do with

• a CD player that doesn't play?
• a toaster that no longer works?
• a sweater with moth holes?

Toss it away? No way!

Repair Café is

• repairing broken items together
• professional advice
• encounters and inspiration

Costs? A voluntary contribution.

view event flyer →

Kickbox

Balance & Sculpt

with Teri Egan, AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor

*Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, 6 - 7 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Get fit @ Thrall with our new fitness class!

This free class incorporates kickboxing moves, balance, and body sculpting.

Be prepared to work each and every muscle in your body while improving balance and flexibility. The instructor suggests bringing light weights, a yoga mat, and water to class.

Registration is encouraged but not required.

* Additional dates (6 - 7 PM):

* SESSIONS CANCELLED *

• Monday, March 30, 2020
• Monday, April 27, 2020

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Instructor: "I teach various Fitness modalities including Cardio & Strength, Tabatta, Body Sculpting, Pilates, Kickboxing, Indoor Cycling, and Senior Fitness. I am a Fitness Instructor at the YMCA in Middletown and also teach privately within the community."

view event flyer →

Paint in the Brushstrokes
of Three Great Masters

*Starting March 28, 2020, 2 - 3:30 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Enjoy the fluid experience of watercolor painting as we follow three great painters…

MATISSE, DEMUTH, CEZANNE

Be inspired by their colors and shapes, and learn some new techniques!

*Classes are on the following dates:

• Saturday, March 28th, 2 - 3:30 pm: Cezanne
• Friday, April 10th, 4 - 5:30 pm: DeMuth
• Friday, April 17th, 4 - 5:30 pm: Matisse

All skill levels welcome! No drawing skills required.

This is a FREE EVENT.

All materials provided! Registration required: please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenter (Pat Foxx): "I enjoy teaching the techniques of watercolor in a relaxed and accepting atmosphere. Beginners are pleased to discover that watercolors are not as challenging as they think. Every student leaves with a sense of accomplishment."

view event flyer → The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Proudly Present

Brooklyn Baroque

Sunday, March 29, 2020, 2 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

with performances by
Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord
Davi Bakamjian, cello
Taya König-Tarasevich, flute
Theresa Salomon, violin

Please join us for an exquisite and memorable afternoon of sonatas and suites by Telemann and others.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more on Brooklyn Baroque, please visit www.rpechefsky.com.

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

Our Traveling Book Discussion for Adults

March 22, 2020, 1 - 3 PM

We're meeting @ Clemson Bros Brewery!
22 Cottage St., Middletown, NY 10940

This month, we're reading Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.

About the book: "Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty's latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out. Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can't even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be. Combining all of the hallmarks that have made her writing a go-to for anyone looking for wickedly smart, page-turning fiction that will make you laugh and gasp, Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers once again shows why she is a master of her craft."

Registration not required, but encouraged! Books (regular, Large Print, audio) available for check out at Circulation.

All adults (21+) are welcome to join us! It's FREE!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

view event flyer →

Poetry Workshops

with TestiMonet

*Starting Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 6 - 7 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Calling all adult poets! Thrall invites you to dive into the world of poetry!

Please join us for a free series of poetry workshops starting in March. Every class will focus on a different form of poetry (free verse, rhyming, acrostic, sonnet, and more) .

Participants will get to read a popular poem, interpret it together, and then have an opportunity to write their own piece of work with the presenter's guidance.

At a later date, participants will get to present their own work at a showcase!

* Other workshop dates (6 - 7 pm):

• Tuesday March 24th (* session cancelled *)
• Tuesday April 7th
• Tuesday April 21st

Participants can come to any or all workshops they would like!

Registration is encouraged but not required.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenter: "Monet, AKA TestiMonet, is a full time educator, wife, and mother. She's also the owner of a media company called TestiMonet Productions. She has written multiple short films, feature films, plays, and poems. Her first short film Lift Every Voice has gotten accepted into 19 festivals and offered 2 distribution deals. Her first play Child of God has had 3 successful runs in NY (Middletown, Harriman, and NYC - Off Broadway). She loves writing and performing poetry and hopes to continue in this craft. She's currently co-facilitating a Poetry group in her school to 3-5th graders as well as writing a poetry book titled Lyrical Biblical Tales."

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Self-Care with Essential Oils

Friday, February 28, 2020, 3 - 5 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Whether you're new to using essential oils, or you've been using them for a while, this event will review the basics on how you can start taking care of yourself without chemicals and toxins!

You'll also get a chance to create your own "Stress Away Body Butter" as well as a "Sweet Dreams Roller" to take home!

This event is FREE!

It's a hands-on, interactive class, and more!

Registration required (space is limited).
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

view event flyer →

Local Author Kathy Morley

Thursday, April 9, 2020, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Meet Kathy Morley, who recently published her book, The Gift: Finding the Extraordinary in Everyday Living. Kathy Morley is a certified hypnotist, Reiki Master, EFT practitioner, Silva Graduate, channel, and teaches metaphysics and meditation.

"A masterful storyteller, Kathy whisks readers into another dimension through her own experiences with psychic phenomena, hypnosis, UFOs, and channeling.

As the plot unfolds, the reader may draw parallels in their lives previously missed or attributed to coincidences, when, in truth, the cosmos was the guiding light.

The Gift chronicles a fascinating journey that highlights the capability of the higher self, transcending time and space, keeping the reader spellbound and eager to read more.

Kathy will read from her book, answer questions, and pick a few volunteers interested in experiencing the gift of unseen energy."

Copies of Kathy's book will be available for purchase + signing.

This event is free and open to the public.

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.

view event flyer →

* EVENT CANCELLED *

Birds & Wildlife

of Tanzania & Kenya

A Presentation by Lee Hunter

March 17, 2020, 6 - 7 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Lee Hunter, an avid birder, photographer, and traveler will share beautiful photos and stories from his visit to Tanzania and Kenya, which he found to be "one of the best wildlife spots on Earth" with "fabulous bird and animals out in plain view."

Weaver birds, hornbills, ostriches, elephants, giraffes, lions, and more amazing creatures will be featured!

This event is free and open to the public!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

This event was made possible by Orange County Audubon Society (OCAS). OCAS is a bird and wildlife conservation organization, stewarding five bird and wildlife sanctuaries in Orange County, NY. They also curate monthly programs/presentations throughout the county and several birding field trips each season.

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Remarkable Reads: Feb. 2020

Our Popular & Entertaining Monthly Book Discussion

February 26, 2020, 3 PM

in our 2nd floor Community Room at Thrall

At our next talk, we will discuss The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang:

About the book (from the publisher's description): "Stella Lane comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice - with a professional - which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. With the looks of a K-drama star and the martial arts moves to match, the Vietnamese-Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer."

Copies of this book are available for borrowing or reservation at the library.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Questions? Please call (845) 341-5485.

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

Our Traveling Book Discussion for Adults

Feb. 16, 2020, 1 - 3 PM

We're meeting @ SCOTCHTOWN CRAFT
741 Route 211 East, Middletown, NY 10941

This month, we're reading The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin.

About the book: "If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? It's 1969 in New York City's Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children - four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness-sneak out to hear their fortunes. The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in '80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality."

Registration not required, but encouraged! Copies of this book (regular, Large Print, audio) are available for check out at Circulation.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
For more about J's Place: www.jsplaceny.com.

view event flyer →

Chinese Culture

Presented by the Middletown Branch of the Minghui School

February 21, 2020, 2:30 - 5:30 pm

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Participants will learn...

• how to make and eat Chinese Dumplings
• the art of Chinese paper cutting
• how to make Chinese lanterns

This event is FREE!

Registration required.

To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Presenters: "The Minghui School is a non-profit bilingual Chinese School, providing a healthy and lovely learning environment for children to learn the Chinese language, traditional culture, etiquette and traditional arts. It aims to enhance character and to enlighten wisdom and talents."

view event flyer →

Kickbox

Balance & Sculpt

with Teri Egan, AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor

*Starting Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, 6 - 7 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Get fit @ Thrall with our new fitness class!

This free class incorporates kickboxing moves, balance, and body sculpting.

Be prepared to work each and every muscle in your body while improving balance and flexibility. The instructor suggests bringing light weights, a yoga mat, and water to class.

Registration is encouraged but not required.

* Additional dates (6 - 7 PM):

• Tuesday, February 11, 2020
• Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

About the Instructor: "I teach various Fitness modalities including Cardio & Strength, Tabatta, Body Sculpting, Pilates, Kickboxing, Indoor Cycling, and Senior Fitness. I am a Fitness Instructor at the YMCA in Middletown and also teach privately within the community."

view event flyer →

Tabata 2020

with Teri Egan, AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor

*Starting January 7, 2020, 6 - 7 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

Did you make a New Years resolution to get fit? Kickstart those goals here at Thrall with Tabata!

Tabata is "high-intensity interval training" consisting of 20 seconds of exercise and 10 seconds of rest per cycle.

There are 8 cycles within each round of Tabata.

Each round alternates between cardio, strength and sculpting exercises utilizing one's own body weight and/or incorporating exercise equipment.

All exercises can be modified to YOUR fitness level!

The instructor encourages participants to bring their own dumbbells and exercise mat.

*Other class dates (6 - 7 PM):

• Tuesday, January 14, 2020
• Tuesday, January 28, 2020

This class is free and open to the public!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.

About the Presenter: "I teach various Fitness modalities including Cardio & Strength, Tabata, Body Sculpting, Pilates, Kickboxing, Indoor Cycling, and Senior Fitness. I am a Fitness Instructor at the YMCA in Middletown and also teach privately within the community."

view event flyer → Middletown Thrall Library joins with

New York Blood Center

to conduct an

Emergency Blood Drive

on January 21, 2020, 12 - 6 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall

Donors will be entered in a raffle to win a trip for two to Cancun!

Donor Requirements...

• Please bring your Donor Card or ID with photo or signature.
• For ages 16 - 75.
• 16 years old: NYBC parental consent required.
• 76+ years old: Doctor's note required.
• Minimum weight 110 lbs.
• Eat well and drink fluids before donating!
• No new tattoos for the past 12 months.

For questions regarding medical eligibility, please call 1-800-688-0900 or 1-800-933-2566.

view event flyer →

Remarkable Reads: Jan. 2020

Our Popular & Entertaining Monthly Book Discussion

January 28, 2020, 3 PM

in our 2nd floor Community Room at Thrall

At our next talk, we will discuss The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg:

About the book (from the publisher's description): "In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distill vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation. Along the way we learn why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. We visit laboratories where neuroscientists explore how habits work and where, exactly, they reside in our brains. We discover how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. We go inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, NFL locker rooms, and the nation's largest hospitals and see how implementing so-called keystone habits can earn billions and mean the difference between failure and success, life and death."

Copies of this book are available for borrowing or reservation at the library.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Questions? Please call (845) 341-5485.

view event flyer →

Books on Tap Book Discussion

Our Traveling Book Discussion for Adults

January 26, 2020, 1 - 3 PM

We're meeting @ J's Place 39 West Main St., Middletown, NY

We took a break for the holidays but we're ready to get underway in 2020! This month's book is Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

About the book: "Ghana, eighteenth century: two half-sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery. Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi's extraordinary novel illuminates slavery's troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed - and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation."

Registration not required, but encouraged! Copies of this book (regular, Large Print, audio) are available for check out at Circulation.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
For more about J's Place: www.jsplaceny.com.

view event flyer →

The Homegrown String Band

Sunday, January 12, 2020, 2- 3:30 PM

in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library

The Homegrown String Band will take you on a musical journey, from ancient ballads of the British Isles to blues and bluegrass of the twentieth century with a unique repertoire of original and traditional music inspired by the classic sounds of rural America.

This dynamic trio - husband, wife, and daughter - draws from an eclectic palette of instruments including guitar, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo ukulele, baritone ukulele, harmonica, jaw harp, and doumbek to add their own musical DNA to an American tradition!

This concert is free and open to the public!

Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.

Learn more about The Homegrown String Band at homegrownstringband.com.