The Ulster County Food Fight is ON!

The food collection contest runs from Sept. 1 until Saturday, Oct. 15, with a goal of stocking food pantries across the county.

Fourteen Ulster County libraries are participating, including Wallkill, which means you can donate non-perishable items like canned goods to the library, and we'll deliver them to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in the hamlet. The library that collects the most items for donation wins the Food Fight and receives a certificate. Last year, libraries were able to collect 4,678 items. This year our goal is 6,000, but we need your help! Search your shelves, toss the expired stuff, and donate what you can to this excellent cause!

The library’s Fiction Club has completed its trifecta of Amor Towles selections by picking The Lincoln Highway as its September read.

Previously, the club has read A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility, Towles’ other two novels.

The Lincoln Highway follows 18-year-old Emmett Watson as he’s driven home in 1954 to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the City of New York.

The Fiction Club will meet to discuss the book at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Newcomers are always welcome!

Throughout the summer, Eileen Masterson has taught newcomers to the game of mahjong the ins and outs of the popular game. Now that the participants have “graduated,” they’ll be meeting Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. to play!

The library’s Wednesday mahjong group will continue to meet at 1 p.m. each week, but for those of you who would like to play and are only free during the evenings, Thursdays might be a better fit for you! You don’t have to be an expert – all skill levels are always welcome. The library has its own game sets and cards, so no need to come with your own supplies, either!

We hope to see you next Thursday!

You can find and listen to radio stations around the globe by visiting the Radio Garden website or downloading the app!

Curious what our friends in Spain, Ireland, or Japan are tuning in to? Radio Garden lets you travel the globe and zero in on specific cities’ stations with a point and a click. You can share the stations you like, add them to a favorites list, or visit their websites, as well!

Try it out today – it’s free!

Each year, The Great Give Back gives library users opportunities to participate in service-oriented and meaningful programs, workshops, and events. This year, Wallkill’s event will center around recycling.

The library is partnering with the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency to present a primer on all things involving recycling, with a goal of improving the recycling process to better help the environment. Putting unaccepted items in a recycling bin can damage equipment, harm workers, and create inefficiencies in the recycling process. The workshop will answer such questions as:

• Why can’t all plastics be recycled?
• What does the chasing arrows symbol mean?
• Are pizza boxes and coffee cups recyclable?
• How does recycling work in Ulster County?
• What is “wishcycling” and how does contamination affect recycling?

The library will also be putting out a collection box for old batteries, so you’ll know where to go when it’s time to recycle those!

Register soon for Recycle Right, which takes place at 6 p.m. Oct. 12. 

This year’s Weekend of Wallkill kicks off the evening of Friday, Sept. 23, and continues with a Harvest Fair the next day!

Annual events such as the Art Show and Touch-a-Truck attraction will take place, in addition to new programs and activities such as yoga, Team Trivia, Science Corner, a Pickleball Demonstration, and more!

Contests include Remote Control Car Races, Apple Pie Baking, and the new 30-Day Step Challenge!

The Lion’s Club will host a Prime Rib Dinner at Popp Memorial Park, as well!

For more information or to register for the 30-Day Step Challenge, visit the Vision of Wallkill’s Facebook page.

Be sure to visit the Quilt Display during the Weekend of Wallkill festivities on Saturday, September 24. The Wallkill Quilters Annual Quilt Display will be in the Wallkill Reformed Church sanctuary. There will be door prizes and a gift for any child participating in the Scavenger Hunt. The Quilters will be there to answer any of your questions. 

In addition to the beautiful display of the members’ quilts, there will be a small display of the quilts the group made for Project Linus. Project Linus provides handmade quilts and blankets to children in hospitals. Another display will be a quilt showing Operation Christmas Child, a program that provides Christmas gifts to needy children around the world. There will be information showing how the public can get involved in Operation Christmas Child.

The Wallkill Quilters group meets on Tuesdays at the Town Hall Community Room from 10 AM – 2 PM and is sponsored by the Wallkill Public Library.

The Shawangunk Valley Fire House will be hosting a Fall Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. The event will feature more than 40 vendors selling candles, jewelry, wines, wreaths, ornaments, and more.

Sponsored by the Shawangunk Valley Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary, the fair will take place at the fire house’s 2150 Bruynswick Road location. For more information or to be a vendor, contact svfcauxiliary@gmail.com.

The Shawangunk PBA and Wallkill Lions Club will be hosting a Halloween Pavilion Party from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Popp’s Park on Route 208.

Children of all ages are invited to enjoy snacks and refreshments and play ghoulish games!

For information, contact Sal Patella at 914-213-3063 or Officer Brooks at OFC.Brooks@shawangunk.org. 

Seaside Greetings!

It's a wrap on this summer’s ocean theme.

Each greeting card kit had a different set of stickers, allowing plenty of creativity and unique designs.

Floral kissing balls from last Workshop Wednesday! They make a great seasonal or year-round decoration.

TEENS! Let's paint your JEANS!

Wednesday, September 28, 6:00 p.m.

Make your statement with personalized, one-of-a-kind hand designed jeans! Stencil, free hand or graffiti a pair of your jeans with acrylic fabric paint and a little direction from Christine. TEENS ONLY, please! Ages 13+. (Although if no teens sign up, the program will be opened to anyone.) Registration required!

The Vision of Wallkill’s “Weekend of Wallkill” is coming up toward the end of September. Check out their website or Facebook page for more information. Miss Michelle will be helping with some of the Lego activities and will be hosting a special Storytime!

Yes! No!

A First Conversation about Consent