Berne Library Notes for Wednesday, December 8, 2021

The Friends of the Berne Library’s sock tree is dripping with your generosity. Thanks a million to the contributors. Donations continue to be accepted through Dec. 15 if you wish to sock it to the tree in your own personal style.

For those of you who follow the Berne Sunday Book Club, their next perusal is “The Vanishing Half” by New York Times bestseller Brit Bennet. At 16 years old, the Vignes twin sisters escape their life in Mallard, Louisiana. Going on to engage in entirely different life paths, the story flips between the 1950s South and the 1990s of points north, west, and back again. It’s a story of family generations, expectations, race and identity.

Concerns addressed

State Senator Michelle Hinchey’s mobile office is scheduled for the library’s community room on Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 1 to 6 p.m. A representative will be on hand to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Art on display

A representational artist creates artwork that exists in reality: Landscapes, portraits, birds in flight. Meet Nettye Lamkay, a self-professed representational artist, is currently displaying 16 of her productions on the Friends art wall in the community room.

Although Nettye holds a penchant for pastels, she also dabbles with charcoal, oil, and watercolors. Drawing since childhood, Nettye admits to making pencil sketches of classmates and teachers rather than taking notes. 

After retiring from a career with the Albany City School District, she knew she wanted to paint. Signing up for some introductory classes set that passion ablaze. That was just a handful of years ago.

Now, while in the throes of her other life pursuits of hiking, skiing, traveling, and bird-watching, Nettye always has an eye out for possible canvas projects. 

In Nettye’s words: “I look to capture everyday beauty in the natural word that moves me, draws me in, speaks to me. Elegance of birds in flight, cityscapes, people. I have always been a people watcher. My three children, their spouses and their children are used to being subjects of study in my art world.” 

Give yourself a treat and visit Nettye’s world of captured beauty appearing at the library through the end of December.

Questions

December questions to ponder. Have you ever:

— Thought about joining the Friends of the Berne Library?

— Memorized a poem?

— Learned some “ready to go” jokes to share with a child?

— Wanted to learn the art of bonsai? 

— Hungered to take dance, painting, drawing, or creative dreaming lessons?

— How about participating in a Winter Bedtime Story Hour?

You can pursue all of these missions with a wee trip to the library. Oh, and the Winter Bedtime Story Hour? Reserve your spot now for Saturday, Dec. 18, at 5:30 p.m. Call 518-872-1246.