Newsletter    April 2017

Great News!  We are delighted to announce that Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation has awarded the Library $7,500 toward the Children's Room Expansion Project. On Tuesday, March 22, USCF President and CEO William Calderara with Officers Jeffrey Wood, Sue Benz and Pat Hickey visited the Library to present the check to Library Director Jody Ford.

"We are so pleased with this generous donation-it really brings us to a new level in realizing this project," said Ford. "And we loved giving the donors the Library tour to show them what goes on here on a typical day... bustling with about 19 children participating in a craft program with Julianna Arms."

Ulster Savings had a bonus treat for us, thanks to long-time patron and library supporter Dan Shuster, who designated the Library as the recipient of $250 that he had won in an Ulster County Chamber Breakfast drawing.

More good news came from Stewart's Shops, who awarded the Library $1,000 from their 2016 Holiday Match. The children posed to say thank you to our donors, with hand-made signs and big smiles.

The Children's Room Expansion project will renovate and enlarge the Children's Room at the back of the Library, utilizing existing cold storage space, creating a larger room and adding a small kitchenette and ADA compliant restroom within the existing footprint. It will also repair and restore the porch leading to the yard.

Earlier donations include a $50,000 grant from Senator George Amedore as well as funds allocated by the Stone Ridge Library Foundation which were given by individual library patrons and supporters. "We are hopeful that we will begin work by the end of summer or early fall," said Ford. "We are grateful to everyone who is helping to make the project a reality."

We are pleased to host two groups of Conversational Spanish every month. On the first Tuesday, from 1:30 - 2:30 Conversational Spanish meets-a continuation of the original group. On fourth Tuesdays, also from 1:30 - 2:30, there is a gathering for those who want to go at a slower pace. Both sessions take place in the Library's Reference Room. Gracias, Heidi!

Want to brush up or improve your French with a conversation hour? Claudine is a native French speaker, born in Paris and raised in Europe; following a 30 year Government career abroad, she chose Stone Ridge to retire in. Culture, medicine, travels, and anything/everything culinary are favorite subjects-which she would love to share and exchange in French. The program is offered on the third Tuesday of each month.

 

Join us for an afternoon of poetry with Rosemary Deen.  Our meetings are held twice a month, on the second and fourth Thursdays.

 

A writers' group meets every other Monday at the Library, with a maximum of 10 participants. This program is designed for people who are already in the process of writing and publishing work and want to participate in a structured feedback process. Cathy Arra, a poet, writer and former teacher of English and Writing in the Rondout Valley School District facilitates the group. If you are interested in participating, please contact Diane DeChillo at the Stone Ridge Library (687-7023 ext. 108) to place your name on the wait list.