Berne Library Notes for Wednesday, April 28, 2021

by Sandra L. Kisselback

“The Soldier of Marathon,” an 1869 painting by Luc-Olivier Merson, shows Pheidippides giving word of victory after the Battle of Marathon. He is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news — and then died. The Berne Library’s Word of the Month for May is rooted in this story.

Laconic. Short and sweet. A real May treat. This from the Word of the Month Club. 

In their research on ancient Greece, Roxanne, Cindy Leigh, and Devon discovered the legendary story of Pheidippides, the long-distance runner from Greece’s Lakonia region, and his connection to the famous Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. 

According to legend, after his ultra running feat of over 150 miles, to deliver a one word message of “Niki!” or “Victory,” Pheidippides dropped dead from exhaustion. Sprinkling from this legend comes laconic. Meaning brief, concise, mysterious, to the point. Enough of the small talk already. 

Try on a laconic style in May. Free up some moments to pursue projects with extra nuggets of found time in your corner. And the opposite of laconic? Long-winded, verbose, tedious. Cheers from the Word of the Month Club. Time to tend the garden.

Garden advice

Speaking from the Seed Library, Broccoli Spear shares a pinch of advice: “Sprinkle eggshells around your hosta plants before they span out. It helps deter those leaf-eating slugs that love your hostas so.”

Many seeds are available to help your garden grow. Order online or browse in. 

Fine free

Now let’s hear a big Hooray for a new benefit at the Berne Public Library. Fine free for most items in the collection is now in service. Lost and damaged charges remain, but late charges are bye-bye, arrivederci, so long, sayonara.

A donation canister has been added to the circulation desk if you are so moved to add a few coins. 

Aurora

“Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights” by Mindy Dwyer, appearing now at the Berne Town Park’s story walk path. Grab this chance to get outside and enjoy a walk around the park. Learn about those magical northern lights, Aurora Borealis.

Colors bright and alive greet you on each page.

Browsing

More library news from headquarters reveals pre-COVID hours are back. Remember those new blue library magnets giving you pertinent info for hours, phone, and website? Haul them back to the front of the class.

Starting May 1, you can come into the library for your brief 30-minute browsing visits Monday and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Questions? Call the library at 518-872-1246.

 

Post date: 
April 28, 2021

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