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Remarkable Reads: Sept. 2019
Our Popular & Entertaining Monthly Book Discussion
Sept. 24, 2019, 3 PM
in our 2nd floor Community Room at Thrall
At our next talk, we will discuss
Beartown by Fredrik Bachman:
About the book (from the publisher's description): "From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here, comes a poignant, charming novel about a forgotten town fractured by scandal, and the amateur hockey team that might just change everything. Winning a junior ice hockey championship might not mean a lot to the average person, but it means everything to the residents of Beartown, a community slowly being eaten alive by unemployment and the surrounding wilderness. A victory like this would draw national attention to the ailing town: it could attract government funding and an influx of talented athletes who would choose Beartown over the big nearby cities. A victory like this would certainly mean everything to Amat, a short, scrawny teenager who is treated like an outcast everywhere but on the ice; to Kevin, a star player just on the cusp of securing his golden future in the NHL; and to Peter, their dedicated general manager whose own professional hockey career ended in tragedy. At first, it seems like the team might have a shot at fulfilling the dreams of their entire town. But one night at a drunken celebration following a key win, something happens between Kevin and the general manager's daughter - and the next day everything seems to have changed."
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.
Chakras
Presented by Margaret Johnson
Sept. 16, 2019, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
Curious about chakras? Want to know how to awaken
the subtle energies of your body to bring awareness
and balance into your life?
In this free workshop, we'll learn about the chakra system
and explore it through movement and meditation.
Discover the magic of chakra energy and how
to use it for better health and well-being!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek
at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
About the Presenter: "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 am a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher in the vinyasa style and a YA sanctioned Restorative Yoga Teacher. I am also a Level 1 Reiki Practitioner. I am on staff at Orange Regional Medical Center in the Healthy Heart Cardiac Risk Assessment Program."
Fall-Scaping
Plants with Autumn Interest
presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension - Orange County Master Gardener
Sept. 17, 2019, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Thrall
Planning a garden in autumn is easy!
Please join us as we explore the many trees,
perennials, shrubs, and annuals
that bloom in the Fall.
Also gain some inspiration for maximizing
the beauty of your Fall garden!
This event is FREE! Registration required.
To register, please contact Theresa Zacek
at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
Tabata Class
with Teri Egan, AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor
*Starting Sept. 12, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 AM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
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.
The instructor encourages participants to bring
their own dumbbells and exercise mat.
*Other class dates (10:15-11:15 AM):
- Sept 19, 2019
- Sept. 26, 2019
- Oct. 10, 2019
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."
The Beatles: 50 Years Later
Presented by Barry Wiesenfeld
Sept. 9, 2019, 6 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
A respected musicologist once referred to The Beatles as
one of the most transforming entities of 20th century music
and claimed they changed the course of popular music forever.
Please join us as we explore the phenomenon that was The Beatles:
their growth, originality, musical innovations, and lyric depth.
This event is free and open to the public!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Barry Wiesenfeld is a freelance musician, a published author, and is on the music faculty of SUNY and Ramapo College. He has accompanied Grammy-winning artists, performed on three continents, and has played on numerous recordings, radio, and TV.
Books on Tap
Book Discussion
August 25, 2019, 1 - 3 PM
We're meeting @
Tapped
22 Henry Street, Middletown, NY
This August, we're delving into the mystery genre with Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10.
About the book: "In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie's works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo's stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for-and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo's desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong.... With surprising twists, spine-tingling turns, and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another taut and intense read in The Woman in Cabin 10 - one that will leave even the most sure-footed reader restlessly uneasy long after the last page is turned."
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.
Choose Your MediGap
Insurance Wisely
Presented by Tracy Furgason of Weiss Ratings
August 20, 2019, 2 - 3 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Choosing Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance policies can be confusing. This free workshop will explain…
- Major expenses that Medicare does not cover
- Why your trusted insurance agent might sell you the wrong insurance policy
- What you must know to lower insurance premiums and save hundreds - even thousands of dollars - every year
- How to pick the BEST supplemental insurance policy, tailored to you, fast and easily
Participants will also get to create a personalized report based on age, gender, and zip code using the Medigap Tool at this workshop.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
About the Presenter: Weiss Ratings is an "independent provider of ratings and research for the bank and insurance industries. Weiss accepts no payment or other compensation for its ratings from rated institutions. Weiss Ratings' mission is to assist both consumers and professionals in making informed financial decisions."
Planning & Developing Your Product
A Free Four-Part Workshop presented by Steven Lindner
Starting September 25, 2019, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Ever have a great idea for a new product?
This is your opportunity to find out if it could work!
Please join us as we explore the following topics over four amazing weeks of free classes:
- Patents, copyrights, trademarks - protecting your idea
- Prototypes - creating working samples and financing your project
- Commercial viability - who will buy your product, price-market-desirability
You will have one entire month to create your prototype!
But wait - there's more: Anyone completing the first three weeks will have the opportunity to present their products to a special group, which will include representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), local banks, as well as potential "angel investors."
This is your chance to acquire funding for you to pursue your invention!
Sessions:
- Sept. 25 (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
- Oct. 2 (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
- Oct. 9 (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
Presentation:
Registration required. To register, or for more information, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
About the Presenter: Steven Lindner was an associate professor in the business program of the new school- parsons A number of his former students of his new product development and implementation class have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs. His textbook "retail accountability," is widely used in universities.
Low-Impact & Chair Yoga
with Nancy Pavlich, a Certified Therapeutic Yoga Instructor
* Starting Monday, July 8, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 AM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
* Please see other dates below:
What happens when we age? We lose our straight posture, some flexibility, muscle, joint and bone strength.
We all want to maintain or improve our health, so let's work everything, from our nose to our toes, to improve our Alignment, Balance, Coordination, Flexibility, and Strength.
And we can all have some FUN too!
You would move at your own level and pace. We can do this using a chair, sometimes called Chair Yoga, or a wall, or even just standing alone or with the support of your friends, but the emphasis would be to just get moving.
The skills and tools you will learn in this FREE one-hour class you can practice in your own home at your leisure.
Additional Dates
Mondays:
- July 15, 10:15-11:15
- July 22, 10:15-11:15
- July 29, 10:15-11:15
Fridays:
- Aug. 23, 1:30-2:30
- Aug. 30, 1:30-2:30
- Sept. 6, 1:30-2:30
- Sept. 13, 1:30-2:30
FREE! Registration required.
To register, or if you have any questions, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Present
Repair Café
Clothes, furniture, electrical / mechanical, toys, sharpening, etc.
June 15, 2019, 10 AM - 1 PM
Sept. 21, 2019, 10 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 14, 2019, 10 AM - 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.
Earlier Events at Thrall...
Food Preservation
presented by The Chicken Librarian
August 14, 2019, 2 - 4 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
This class (the third and final event in theHomesteading Basics program) will take us through the different venues for food preservation - from canning to dehydrating to freezing our food - so nothing goes to waste!
Other forms of preservation to be discussed include smoking and salting meats.
All participants will have the opportunity to can and take home something delicious that is in season.
This event is free, and anyone may join us! Registration is required. This event is limited to 10 participants.
To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Kristin White is the Chicken Librarian. You can find more information at her blog:
www.chickenlibrarian.com or on her Instagram: @chickenlibrarian
Selling on eBay
August 13, 2019, 6 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Millions of people earn part-time or full-time income on EBAY, and you could, too!
Learn from an EBAY PowerSeller how to sell successfully - from start to finish!
Topics include...
- How ebay works
- Safe trading
- Registering on ebay
- Selecting items to sell
- Learning the value of your items
- Pricing merchandise
- Writing descriptions
- Photos
- Using PayPal
- Processing payments
- Shipping goods
- EBAY and PayPal fees
- Delivery confirmation
- Handling feedback
- and more
This event is free and open to the public.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Rick Feingold is an Education Specialist trained by EBAY. He operates an online EBAY store and is an EBAY PowerSeller. Education: MBA, Penn State University. BA, Rutgers University.
Remarkable Reads: August 2019
Our Popular & Entertaining Monthly Book Discussion
August 15, 2019, 3 PM
in our 2nd floor Community Room at Thrall
At our next talk, we will discuss *four short stories from
Tenth of December by George Saunders:
These short stories...
- "Victory Lap"
- "Puppy"
- "Escape from Spiderhead"
- "The Semplica Girl Diaries"
About the book: This critically-acclaimed literary short story collection
was named one of the "best books of the year" in The New York Times,
National Public Radio, People, TIME, Kirkus Reviews, and elsewhere.
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.
Total Body Burn
* Starting July 18, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 am
in our 2nd Floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
* Please see additional dates below.
We will focus on toning and sculpting all major muscle groups in the body, strengthening the core as well as stretching and elongating muscles.
This is a non-aerobic class that makes use of resistance bands, weights, and stability balls (when available).
Please note: the instructor will only provide transportable equipment (e.g. resistance bands). Participants are encouraged to bring their own dumbbells and exercise mat.
If you don't have your own equipment, sculpting exercises can also be performed using one's own body weight!
Additional Dates...
- July 25, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 am
- Aug. 1, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 am (@YMCA)
- August 8, 2019, 10:15 - 11:15 am
FREE! Registration is encouraged!
To register, or if you have questions, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Teri Egan is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor. "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."
Healthy Eating on a Budget
Presented by Annette Cuevas, Retail Registered Dietitian
July 31, 2019, 4 - 5:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Please come join us for this nutrition presentation to learn how to eat healthy on a budget with Annette Cuevas, Retail Registered Dietitian, from ShopRite on Dolson Avenue.
There will be...
- samples
- recipes
- coupons
- and free nutrition information!
This event is free and open to the public!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
Homesteading Basics (Part 2)
Seasonal Eating
presented by The Chicken Librarian
July 10, 2019, 2 - 3:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Part of homesteading is knowing what is in season and how to find those seasonal products - whether we are growing it ourselves, finding it at the local farm market or produce stand, or we are foraging for it.
All participants will be able to make a small green house, plant some seeds, and bring it home with them!
This event is free and open to the public.
* Please note: this is part two of a three-part series.
Participants are welcome to attend any and all parts!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Kristin White is the Chicken Librarian. You can find more information at her blog:
www.chickenlibrarian.com or on her Instagram: @chickenlibrarian
Hamilton
The Man & The Musical
Presented by Rick Feingold
July 16, 2019, 6 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Today, Hamilton, a ground-breaking musical featuring Black and Latino actors playing the founding fathers ranks among the hottest tickets on Broadway.
Hamilton, who as an immigrant, became the first Secretary of the Treasury and founded the U.S. financial system.
He died at the hands of Vice President Aaron Burr upon the dueling grounds in Weehawken, NJ.
Rick Feingold will present a video of the Hamilton mix-tape performance at the White House, an introduction to the characters of the musical, and music selections from the Broadway production!
This event is FREE! If you have any questions, please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Rick Feingold teaches American Business History at Bergen Community College and holds a degree in History from Rutgers University.
Afternoon Movies
April - June 2019
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
April 17, 2019, 2 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, 2nd Floor Community Room
Not Rated. 101 minutes.
"Academy Award winner Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir as tough San Francisco private detective Sam Spade in the classic, convoluted story of Spade's involvement with a deadly band of international thieves who will lie, double cross and murder to obtain a small, jewel-encrusted statue known as The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade's (Bogart) partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), accepts a job protecting a young woman (Mary Astor). Neither Spade nor Archer believe the woman or the story she tells them, but they do believe her money. Then, when Archer is murdered, Spade's search for the killer drags him in the web of lies and death spun by the desperate people seeking The Maltese Falcon." Directed by John Huston. Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Gladys George.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
May 15, 2019, 2 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, 2nd Floor Community Room
Rated R. 93 minutes.
"Police interrogate the sole survivor of a failed heist hatched by an enigmatic criminal mastermind. Meanwhile, the motivations of the elusive genius who planned the job remain a mystery." Directed by Bryan Singer. Starring: Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak.
Dial M for Murder (1954)
June 19, 2019, 2 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, 2nd Floor Community Room
Rated PG. 105 minutes.
"Academy Award winners Grace Kelly and Ray Milland star with Robert Cummings in one of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest thrillers--Dial M for Murder. When playboy tennis pro Tony Wendice (Milland--The Lost Weekend) discovers his rich wife, Margot (Kelly--Rear Window, To Catch a Thief), is having an affair with handsome American Mark Hallidy (Cummings--The Carpetbaggers), he devises an ingenious plot to murder her. But when his scheme takes an unexpected, deadly twist, Tony improvises--implicating Margot for first degree murder in this classic spellbinder." Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams, Anthony Dawson.
The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc.
Proudly Presents a Musical Performance by
All She Wrote
Performing with
Larry Packer on fiddle & mandolin
Sunday, May 5, 2019, 2 - 4 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
"Classic folk you'll remember and original folk you won't forget."
This event is FREE and open to the public.
About the Performers: "Gloria Jean, David LaPlante and Stephen Pounds are All-She-Wrote, an acoustic, harmony folk/Americana group formed in Albany, NY, in 2002 from the duo, LaPlante & Pounds, and singer-songwriter, Gloria Jean. Collectively they have performed all over New York & New England, plus Texas, playing instruments made by David LaPlante, renowned luthier and Martin Guitar expert. Their contribution to the folk circuit are authentically played songs from the 60's-70's plus Gloria's originals, making an enjoyable show of old and new with beautiful three-part harmonies and multiple acoustic guitars." You can learn more about the performers by visiting
www.All-She-Wrote.com.
Silk Scarf Painting
May 17, 2019, 2 - 4 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
You will learn how to design and paint your very own silk scarf.
Please bring a hanger and an old towel.
All other materials provided!
FREE! Registration required.
To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
Attracting Butterflies
to Your Garden
A Master Gardener Program,
Cornell Cooperative Extension
May 14, 2019, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
A butterfly bush is not the only way to lure
beautiful butterflies to your garden.
In this presentation you will learn...
- Which species to look for and their habits.
- Butterflies that are active in our area.
- Plants that supply the best food for caterpillars and adult butterflies.
- The flower colors that entice butterflies.
This event is free. Registration required.
To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at (845) 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
All Access Yoga
May - June 2019
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Mondays, 10:30 - 11:30 am on the following dates:
- May 13, 2019
- May 20, 2019
- June 3, 2019
- June 10, 2019
You can attend
one or more or all of these classes!
This is truly a class for everybody! Here, you will gently stretch, strengthen, and relax your way to a greater sense of well-being. No kneeling poses are involved.
With attention to proper body alignment and breathing, you learn to perform classic yoga poses at a slow, easy pace designed to offer a challenging yet relaxed experience. The effects are enhanced mindfulness with increased awareness and appreciation for your amazing body.
Here you learn to be kind to your body by tuning into what it needs. This yoga style offers space between each pose to realign the body properly. Detailed instruction, modifications, and the use of chairs and props allow you to safely enter, hold, and exit each pose correctly supported.
Beginning yoga students, mature yoga students, and those with flexibility or weight challenges find this practice to be a safe space to explore yoga in a comfortable, welcoming and non-competitive environment.
This event is free. Registration required. Limited to 20 participants.
To register, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
About the Performer: "Margaret Johnson of Sitting Priti Yoga in Warwick, NY is 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 am a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher in the vinyasa style and a YA sanctioned Restorative Yoga Teacher. I am also a Level 1 Reiki Practitioner. I am on staff at Orange Regional Medical Center in the Healthy Heart Cardiac Risk Assessment Program. My classes are for anyone with a desire for a safe and soothing practice that emphasizes deepening the connection of body, mind, breath and spirit. Each class offers gentle, nourishing movement designed to build strength and flexibility and to promote relaxation. Integrated into my classes you may also find a bit of yoga philosophy, chakra energy work, chanting, drumming... all designed to deepen and enrich your yoga journey and your life!"
Elder Law 2019
April 16, 2019, 5 - 6 pm
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
As part of the 25th annual statewide Mitchell Rabbino National Healthcare Decision Day, volunteer lawyer, Mary Fern Breheney, will help explain health care decision making, financial decision making, guardianship issues, wills, and probate.
Topics for this year's program include a "Legal Checklist," covering documents every New Yorker should be aware of.
Sponsored by the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
Birding Beyond the Backyard
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM EDT
in our 2nd floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Do sparrows confuse you? Trouble telling Downy from Hairy? A program for those who enjoy watching birds and want to know more about them.
Presenter Jim Van Gelder will cover basics of bird identification along with suggestions for equipment and good local birding spots.
Hosted by Orange County Audubon Society, Inc. and Middletown Thrall Library.
Please click here for their Facebook event post.
Books on Tap
@ Clemson Brewery Co.
Sunday, July 14, 2019, 1 - 3 PM
Come join us for our second "Books on Tap" Book Discussion at Clemson Brewing Company! We're taking the discussion out of the library and into the community. So come sit, grab a beer, have some snacks, and discuss this month's book:
About the book (from the publisher's description): "Grunt tackles the science behind some of a soldier's most challenging adversaries - panic, exhaustion, heat, flies, noise - and introduces us to the scientists who seek to conquer them. Roach visits a repurposed movie studio where amputee actors help prepare Marine Corps medics for the shock and gore of combat wounds. At Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, in east Africa, she discovers that diarrhea can be a threat to national security. Back in the US, fashion designers at U.S. Army Natick Labs explain why a zipper is a problem for a sniper. Roach samples caffeinated meat, sniffs an archival sample of a World War II stink bomb, and stays up all night with the crew tending the missiles on the nuclear submarine USS Tennessee. She answers questions not found in any other book on the military: Why is DARPA interested in ducks? How is a wedding gown like a bomb suit? Why are shrimp more dangerous to sailors than sharks? Take a tour of duty with Roach, and you'll never see our nation's defenders in the same way again."
This event is FREE and open to adults (21 years or older).
Registration is encouraged but not required.
Copies of books will be available for check out at our library.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About Clemson Brewing Co.: Clemson Brewing Co. is located at 22 Cottage Street Middletown, NY. Learn more about Clemson at their website:
clemsonbrewing.com, Facebook: clemsonbrewing, or Instagram: @clemsonbrewing.
Middletown Thrall Library will host
New York Blood Center
and conduct a much-needed
Blood Drive
July 2, 2019, 12 - 6 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Every donor will receive a free Summer 2019 "Suck it up and Donate" t-shirt at the drive!
Donor Requirements...
- Please bring your Donor Card or ID with photo or signature.
- For ages 16 - 75.
- 16 years old: 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.
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: June 2019
Still Me
by Jojo Moyes
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
June 26, 2019, 3 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She is thrown into the world of the superrich Gopniks: Leonard and his much younger second wife, Agnes, and a never-ending array of household staff and hangers-on. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her job and New York life within this privileged world. Before she knows what's happening, Lou is mixing in New York high society, where she meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. In Still Me, as Lou tries to keep the two sides of her world together, she finds herself carrying secrets - not all her own - that cause a catastrophic change in her circumstances. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?"
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
Practical Tips for Living a
Low Waste Life & Recycling Right
June 10, 2019, 6 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Please join us as author Heather Gorman
and Orange County Recycling Coordinator
Ermin Siljkovic present a timely and
informative lecture on practical ways
to go low waste.
Get tips, tricks, and inspiration on how
to reduce your waste and how to recycle
when you can't reduce waste completely.
You will also discover how you can begin to minimize your impact on the environment!
This event is free and open to the public.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
Books on Tap
@ Equilibrium Brewery
Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1 - 2:30 PM
Come join us for our very first "Books on Tap" Book Discussion at Equilibrium Brewery! We're taking the discussion out of the library and into the community. So come sit, grab a beer, have some snacks, and discuss this month's book:
About the book (from the publisher's description): "One of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation, George Saunders is an undisputed master of the short story, and Tenth of December is his most honest, accessible, and moving collection yet. Writing brilliantly and profoundly about class, sex, love, loss, work, despair, and war, Saunders cuts to the core of the contemporary experience. These stories take on the big questions and explore the fault lines of our own morality, delving into the questions of what makes us good and what makes us human. Unsettling, insightful, and hilarious, the stories in Tenth of December - through their manic energy, their focus on what is redeemable in human beings, and their generosity of spirit - not only entertain and delight; they fulfill Chekhov's dictum that art should 'prepare us for tenderness.'"
This event is FREE and open to adults (21 years or older).
Registration is encouraged but not required.
Copies of books will be available for check out at our library.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About Equilibrium Brewery: Equilibrium is located just across the way from the library at 22 Henry Street, Middletown, NY. You can find out more about them on their website
www.eqbrew.com or check out their Facebook or Instagram: @eqbrewery.
Homesteading Basics
presented by
The Chicken Librarian
June 12, 2019, 2 - 3:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Have you ever thought about homesteading, but don't know where to get started? Or have you even heard of homesteading? This class will take you through the paces of...
- what a homestead is
- how to find local resources
- how to reuse, reduce, and recycle items
...in order to lead a more self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle.
All participants will receive seed packets to take home!
This event is free and open to the public.
Please note: this is part one of a three-part series. Participants are welcome to attend any and all parts!
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Presenter: Kristin White is the Chicken Librarian. You can find more information at her blog:
www.chickenlibrarian.com or on her Instagram: @chickenlibrarian
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: May 2019
Glass Houses
by Louise Penny
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
May 29, 2019, 3 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious. Then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead. From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Surete du Quebec, suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. Yet he does nothing. What can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized. But when the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied. Months later, on a steamy July day as the trial for the accused begins in Montreal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache's own conscience is standing in judgment."
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
The Story of AlzAuthors
or, How Three Daughters of Dementia Started
a Global Community of Authors Sharing
Their Alzheimer's and Dementia Stories
Presented by Local Author Marianne Sciucco
Friday, June 21, 2019, 2 - 4 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
You are invited to join Middletown, NY author Marianne Sciucco as she tells the story of AlzAuthors, a grassroots organization sharing stories of Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving written through the lens of personal experience. AlzAuthors represents more than 200 authors, most of whom have "walked the walk." We will discuss the power of story to create change and how to write your own story.
Signed copies of the recent anthology Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiving Stories will be available for sale. A portion of those proceeds will be benefit the Alzheimer's Association.
Representatives from the Alzheimer's Association will attend to provide information on these diseases and their services.
This event is free and open to the public.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
Spring Watercolors
with artist / instructor Pat Foxx
June 2019 (see schedule below)
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Three famous watercolor artists will be featured in this series!
Each class will consist of painting a likeness of one of their works.
A short talk about the life and art of that artist will be given while students are painting.
All skill levels welcome!
These classes are FREE and open to the public!
Please note: there is a
limit of 15 participants per class.
Registration required. Sign up for one, two, or all three:
- Tuesday, June 4, 2019 (4 - 5:30 PM): Georgia O'Keefe
- Thursday, June 6, 2019 (4 - 5:30 PM): John Singer Sargent
- Thursday, June 13, 2019 (2 - 3:30 PM): James McNeil Whistler
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
From the artist: "Painting with watercolors is a pleasure I love to share. The flow of color and the luminosity of the paint make it an exciting medium. It's fun and easier than people think. I have enjoyed the continuous learning process that making art offers me. Landscapes, still-lives, and portraits have been my subjects. Sharing my vision of the world, especially nature, with people gives me great joy. As a child I was introduced to art by my father, a professional artist. I have been involved with art all through my life, creating fabric art, teaching water color techniques, and drawing and painting on my own. I professionally designed and created fabric wall hangings and clothing for 17 years and now I paint using water colors, oils and acrylics."
Charlie Lang
Singer, Songwriter (2,000+ songs), Pianist, Improvisationalist
Saturday, June 1, 2019, 2 - 3:30 PM
in the 2nd floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Please join us for a memorable afternoon of jazz + pop music performed by Charlie Lang.
Charlie will perform a variety of original and known songs, singing while playing piano and engaging in musical improvisation.
This event is free and open to the public.
Come to listen or sing along!
Charlie was trained at Berklee College Music and began recording at A&R studios at 15.
For more on Charlie's music, please visit
www.soundcloud.com/chazlang.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
The Cat Men of Gotham
Tales of Feline Friendships in Old New York
A Book Presentation & Signing with Author Peggy Gavan
June 11, 2019, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
From the Author: "We've all heard of the 'crazy cat lady,' but what about the 'crazy cat man'? In the 1800s and early 1900s, when most New York City residents dealt with the feline overpopulation by gassing stray cats or tossing them into rivers and street gutters, many brawny men - including sailors, firemen, cops, politicians, and athletes - welcomed alley cats into their homes and hearts with open arms."
Warwick, New York author Peggy Gavan will wind the audience through the streets of Old New York and Brooklyn as she tells amazing stories of these heroic cat men of Gotham and the alley cats they rescued and came to love. Hear about a spectacled cat that saved Brooklyn Borough Hall, the feline mascot of America's first theatrical club, the New York City Post Office feline police force, and more amazing tales. Fun for cat lovers and history fans alike!
Copies of the author's book will be available for purchase ($20, cash only).
This event is free and open to the public.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Author: "Peggy Gavan is a journalist, senior editor, volunteer firefighter, and New Yorker with a passion for cats and New York City history. Ever since she started writing her blog, The Hatching Cat: True and Unusual Animal Tales of Old New York (www.hatchingcatnyc.com), she has been on a never-ending quest to explore the history of New York City through animal tales from the 1800s to World War II. Many of these tales are amazing, some are curiously odd, and others fall under the file called "You just can't make this stuff up." Her favorite stories, though, are the ones that make people say, 'Wow, who knew!?' Peggy lives in Warwick with her husband, Joe, and their two rescue cats, Misha and Boo."
Gray Basnight
Author of Flight of the Fox
June 8, 2019, 2 - 3:30 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Please join us as we meet the author in this discussion + book signing event.
About Flight of the Fox: "An innocent math professor tries to decode a mystery file that lands in his in-box while a team of hitmen chase him from the Catskills to NYC and down the East Coast. The action switches between the J. Edgar Hoover era and Professor Sam Teagarden's decoding of the mystery file in 2019, in the midst of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Woodstock Festival. As the professor runs for his life, armed only with his wits and intellect, he worries whether truth will win the day. Or worse, will he end up dead?"
This event is free and open to the public.
Questions? Please contact Theresa Zacek at tzacek@rcls.org or 341-5483.
About the Author: "Gray is deeply immersed in fiction writing, after almost three decades in broadcast news; preceded by a few years pursuing acting. Prior to Flight of the Fox, his other published novels are The Cop with the Pink Pistol (Ransom Note, 2012), a modern NYC-detective mystery; and Shadows in the Fire (Five Star, Cengage, 2015), a Civil War historical novel about two young slaves on the edge of freedom as Richmond falls in April 1865. When not writing, he's thinking about writing while walking his Golden Retriever, watching movies, and all other daily activities. He and his wife split their time between NYC and Sullivan County, NY. He has lived in New York long enough to consider himself a native, though he grew up in Richmond, Virginia." For more about Gray and his writing, you can visit these websites: www.GrayBasnight.com or www.facebook.com/gray.basnight
Middletown Thrall Library invites you to meet
Local Author Marianne Sciucco
April 28, 2019, 2 - 4 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Meet Middletown author Marianne Sciucco, who was recently published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Mom Knows Best.
Marianne will read her story aloud, discuss what inspired her to write it, and talk about her experience getting published in this wildly successful series.
Copies of the book ($14.99) will be available for purchase/signing and would make an excellent Mother's Day gift!
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact Theresa Zacek at 341-5483 or tzacek@rcls.org.
About the Presenter: Marianne is the author of several books and short stories, including Blue Hydrangeas: An Alzheimer's Love Story, and Swim Season.
The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Present
Brooklyn Baroque
Performing with New York Classical Quartet,
Judson Griffin & Margaret Ziemnicka, violins;
Kate Goddard, viola; Davi Bakamjian, cello;
Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord
Sunday, April 7, 2019, 2 PM
in the 2nd Floor Community Room at Middletown Thrall Library
Please join us for an exquisite and memorable afternoon of beautiful baroque music by Telemann, Vivaldi, Bach, and Krebs.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more on Brooklyn Baroque, please visit
www.rpechefsky.com.
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: March 2019
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Works of Fred Rodgers
by Maxwell King
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
April 30, 2019, 3 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "Fred Rogers (1928-2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously. The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers's personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations."
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
Career Coaching 2019
Receive free help so that, one day soon, you could hear the words "You're Hired!"
Learn about resumes, and more!
Please call the number below to schedule a session on one of these dates:
- March 7th
- April 11th
- May 2nd
Sessions are held in the first floor Board Room at Middletown Thrall Library.
Free registration is required:
Please contact Gregg Knowles at (845) 325-9240 to register for a session.
About the Presenter: Gregg Knowles, career coach and resume writer with over 25 years of experience in human resources, will be your instructor.
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: March 2019
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Works of Fred Rodgers
by Maxwell King
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
April 30, 2019, 3 PM
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "Fred Rogers (1928-2003) was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously. The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers's personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations."
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
Career Coaching 2019
Receive free help so that, one day soon, you could hear the words "You're Hired!"
Learn about resumes, and more!
Please call the number below to schedule a session on one of these dates:
- March 7th
- April 11th
- May 2nd
Sessions are held in the first floor Board Room at Middletown Thrall Library.
Free registration is required:
Please contact Gregg Knowles at (845) 325-9240 to register for a session.
About the Presenter: Gregg Knowles, career coach and resume writer with over 25 years of experience in human resources, will be your instructor.
The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc. Present
Repair Café
Clothes, furniture, electrical / mechanical, toys, sharpening, etc.
March 16, 2019, 10 AM - 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 longere 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.
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: March 2019
Killers of the Flower Moon
by David Grann
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
March 26, 2019
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "From New Yorker staff writer David Grann, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lost City of Z, a twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, they rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. Her relatives were shot and poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more members of the tribe began to die under mysterious circumstances. In this last remnant of the Wild West - where oilmen like J. P. Getty made their fortunes and where desperadoes like Al Spencer, the 'Phantom Terror,'roamed - many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll climbed to more than twenty-four, the FBI took up the case. It was one of the organization's first major homicide investigations...."
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
Sankofa African Drum & Dance Ensemble
Sunday, February 24, 2019, 2 PM
in our 2nd floor Community Room
at Middletown Thrall Library
"Sankofa meaning going back to the roots in the Twi language from Ghana...
West Africa is very symbolic in promoting personal and community awareness of the positive role of the arts in the villages in West Africa demonstrated through our
rich cultural values passed on to us by our great ancestors Nananom.
This group was originally formed in the summer of 1997 from my community drum
circles in Allentown and Stroudsburg, PA. This group teaches togetherness in
diversity and empowerment of the individual self-image as well as the
community building / teamwork through African drumming and dance."
This event is free and open to the public!
Remarkable Reads Book Discussion: January 2019
* Postponed to Feb. 2019
Little Fires Everywhere
by Celeste NG
A Book Discussion with Matt Pfisterer
January 30, 2019, 3 PM
* New date: February 7, 2019
at Middletown Thrall Library, in our 2nd floor Community Room.
About the book (from the publisher's description): "In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned - from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren - an enigmatic artist and single mother - who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community."
Free copies of this book are available for borrowing or reserving at Middletown Thrall Library!
Please follow this link to search the library catalog for this book.
About the Presenter...
- Matt Pfisterer is the director of Thrall Library who earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the moderator of the "Remarkable Reads" book discussion group at Thrall Library and he has moderated numerous book discussions covering both fiction and non-fiction titles from popular authors.
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