Berne Library Notes for Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Grab your events calendar. It’s time to save some dates.

Up first is an author visit from Candace Christiansen on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. Christiansen’s book, “The Mitten Tree,” will be part of the afternoon visit.

What was the spark bringing the Mitten Tree to the page? Did she think it would be so widely loved? With illustrations by Elaine Greenstein, the story sends out a message of kindness, generosity, and appreciation that remains timeless.

At the library, the Friends are sponsoring their own mitten tree. Handmade mitten, scarf, and hat donations are piling up. They’ll be filling their six-foot tree from top to bottom. The more, the warmier. All collected items will go the Hilltown CommunityResource Center.

Sky Program

In other happenings, think big, outside and rare. Turn your attention upward for a Sky Program scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Members of the Helderberg Earth & Sky Observatory are facilitating “The Transit of Mercury”. An event last seen in 2016, you will have to wait until 2049 if you miss  this Nov. 11 offering. Isn’t that a blast? 2049!

The Earth & Sky crew will lug their telescopes with special solar filters attached, so children and adults have the opportunity to safely view Mercury traipsing across the face of the sun over a 5 plus hour time frame. Each attendee receives their own observation certificate. It’s big, it’s outside in the library parking lot, it’s rare. No school that day so stop over and be a part of this celestial event.

Story time

Story time, story time, tell us your theme. Could be a color or funny bone meme. Perhaps a jungle bird or maybe a beam? Wait, what’s that basking in the sun atop the wood pile? Is that a fox? And there, alongside the pile are two kits rough housing and having fun.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. you and your 5 and under rough housers can be part of Foxy Storytime with foxes stealing the show. Hear a fox story, stride along like a fox on a date, create a fox craft out of a plate.

Trustees gather

Gathering together to bask in the glow of their newest incentive, recycling loud and clear with large labeled receptacles you can’t miss, the Berne Library Trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. The three bins on site include separations for paper, cans/bottles, and trash. Thank you to the trustees - keep those good ideas sprouting. All trustee meetings are open to the public. 

Art Show

Also open to the public is the new art show. Chuck Ver Straeten, musician, geologist and photographer is November’s featured artist for the Friends Art Gallery.

Chuck grew up in Des Moines, Iowa with the trombone being his instrument of choice at age 9.  After a summer trip to the Colorado Rockies, Chuck said his focus fanned out into the mountains and forests. He wanted to adventure here, commune with the redwoods, study the rocks. Taking pictures seemed a natural step in his life journey. 

Waterfalls, ripples in a stream, looking beyond the obvious. Honing in on shapes, peaceful stillness and aweness all around him kept Chuck interested and passionate in ever expanding artistic endeavors.

At 21, Chuck found himself at a music school in the Catskill mountains. While there, the region’s geology lured him in. Attending grad school in Rochester, the geologist in him became solidly grounded. All the while, improv jazz music and photography were ever present.

Chuck is a musician, but he is much more than that. Bring yourself to the library to experience his photo array first-hand. You’ll notice peaceful tranquility reaching out and inviting you to sit for a spell in his wonderful world of nature.