Last night we released our new video produced as part of Main Street Bath’s submission to win a 2012 Great American Maine Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Bath is one of 10 semifinalists, and in our bid to make the final cut we have spent the past few months collecting over 30 letters of support… and creating a video that is essentially a love letter to our downtown and the City of Bath.
It’s been gratifying to review all the accomplishments of our cool little city over the past decade. The winners will be officially announced on April 2nd at the National Maine Street conference. Click here to watch the video, and share in our excitement and pride in downtown Bath.
And as Valentines Day approaches, don’t forget to Love Your Downtown and shop locally!
Happenings around town in the next few weeks include:
- Bath Farmers Market - Feb 4
- Zumba Gold Winter Special
- Wine Tasting at Now You’re Cooking – Feb 9
- “Whole Hog Sunday” at Beale Street BBQ – Feb 12
- “Maine Art To Touch Your Heart” at Markings Gallery
- Valentines Day Specials at JR Maxwell – Feb 14
- Valentine Specials at Admiral Steakhouse
- Love Thyself at Kismet Inn - Feb 14
ART/MUSIC/THEATER
- Friday Night Jazz at Solo Bistro – Feb 3
- Music in the Gallery, Midwinters Night Dream exhibit - Feb 3
- Les Miserables Revue at Winter Street Center – Feb 3 & 10
- Mardi Gras Party – Feb 11
- “Love Letters” at the Chocolate Church – Feb 14
- Sake tasting at Now You’re Cooking – Feb 2
- “Shall We Dance?” film at Winter Street Center – Feb 2
- Japanese Cooking Class – Feb 3
- “Seven Samurai” at Hampton Inn- Feb 3
- Noro Yarn Sale - Feb 3-5
- Benefit Breakfast – Feb 4
- Family Carnival – Feb 4
- Japanese Dinner – Feb 4
- Celebrity Sumo Wrestling – Feb 4
- Lectures and Green Tea Ceremony – Feb 5
- Haiku Workshop – Feb 5
- Community Read announced: “Shoutin’ Into the Fog”
- Town History Series at Patten Free Library - Feb 4
- Free Low-Income Tax Preparation - Jan 28 – April 11
- Cooking Classes at Now You’re Cooking - Feb 14, 20, &21
- February in the Children’s Room, Patten Free Library
Scroll down for more details.
I’ll see you downtown!
Jennifer Geiger, Director, Main Street Bath
Bath Farmers Market, UCC, Congress Avenue
Browsing the Bath Farmers market on a cold Saturday at the start of February, it’s easy to relax and feel the warmth, the gentle music and the sense of community. It’s a nice place to be. Moving from table to table, take note of what is at its best, what is new, what intrigues you.
Hootin Gluten is always innovating-right now they are bringing blueberry muffins, carrot cakes and seeded anadama bread.-all tasty and gluten free. Chase Farms Bakery now offers bagels-plain and whole grain. Want to try your hand at baking your own crusty loaf? Stop at Borealis for organic Maine grown whole wheat flour. For a great breakfast -work up some pancakes and top them with local honey or jam. Add some homegrown ham or bacon. This is good for supper on a cold night too.
Grab some wooden buttons or a felted alpaca laptop case from Shepherds and such, or a warm blanket from Meadowcroft Farm to make a happy valentine’s day for some lucky person..
Squire Tarbox has black Spanish radishes-slice thin and sauté in olive oil bacon fat, or just eat them raw with coarse salt. They also have a variety of tasty sausages from this year’s pigs-both kinds of Italian, garlic, sweet. This is surely pig season-over at Cornerstone farms the list of sausages and cuts is also impressive-And they are providing the pig to the Beale Street Barbeque (on Water St. in Bath) pig roasts on February and March-check it out for music, ribs and fun.
Cheese make you happy? Try Appleton Farms Camdenbert-a soft cheese that satisfies a crusty loaf of bread. Or a slice of Hahns end’s nutty Noble Hill. While accumulating your dairy products, try the new yogurt from Goransons Farm, or the flavored ones from Balfour. Both are fresh, creamy, unpasteurized, the way yogurt should be. A truly tasty way to start your day. Add granola from Pleasant Pond and some fruit preserves and feel good!
And don’t forget to enter the raffle every week-just stick your tickets from the vendors in the box by the door and you may win the $100 market gift certificate; the drawing is the last Saturday of the month. See you at the UCC on Congress Avenue from 9-12 each Saturday.
FMI www.bathfarmersmarket.com or 549-7611.
Zumba Gold Winter/Spring Special, Tony Zumba Studio, 144 State Road
Tony Garreton, aka Tony Zumba has a mission in our community and this is to keep us healthy, especially as we age. We can avoid and control our blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, depression and anxiety by exercising. He also understands that the economy is not great right now, therefore Tony is offering Zumba Gold Class for only $3.00.
Classes are Fridays 9am and Saturdays at 10:30am.
Zumba Gold has easy to follow dance steps and is ideal for those who need modification due to injury, for baby boomers, for people with a weigh problem, or just for those that think they have two left feet when it comes to dance.
FMI Call your Zumba Gold Instructor Barbara Johnson 449-0113 or Studio 386-3221
join us on Thursday, February 9th from 5-7 p.m. for our monthly wine tasting. This month’s tasting is a repeat performance due to last month’s winter storm. Adam from South Portland Wine Company is bringing some pairs of wine in time for Valentine’s Day. From Markus Huber a sparkling rose and a Gruner Veltliner, from Eola Hills Winery a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Noir, and from The Other Guys, Inc. (siblings August and Mia Sebastiani) a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Zinfandel.
Our wine tastings include wine notes and light hors d’oeuvres. Our tastings are free and there is no need to sign-up—just come to 49 Front Street in Bath. For more information about our wine tastings, call the store at 443-1402 or visit us online.
FMI 443-1402
Markings Gallery has had some wintertime freshening up! Lots of new work from Maine’s talented artists with more arriving daily!
Thinking of Valentine’s Day? Be unique and think… “Maine Art To Touch Your Heart” at Markings Gallery
Work in multi media from Maine Artists showing for the month of February, featuring pieces in wood, clay, fiber, metals, glass, and more!
Winter hours: Open Daily 10-5 ( Sunday 10-4)
Closed Tuesday/Wednesday
FMI 443-1499 or Markingsgallery.com or Facebook.com/markingsgallery
Valentines Day Specials at JR Maxwell Restaurant, 122 Front Street
For the 25th year JR Maxwell’s is celebrating Valentines Day with its famous dinner for two. Serving from 4:30-9:30pm get two complete dinners from our special Valentines Day menu with coffee and a dessert to share for only $34.95 for two, and receive a long stemmed red rose for your sweetheart. Celebrate Valentine’s Day in the heart of downtown Bath.
Call 443-2014 for details and reservations.
Valentines Day is coming soon! Treat your Valentine to a Special Dinner at Admiral. We will be serving Valentine’s Specials all weekend leading up to Valentines day on Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings for those who want to beat the crowds on Feb 14th.
We will also be having a Valentine’s Brunch on Sunday February 12th from 10-2 featuring a Sppecial Menu for the day and our very popular “Make your Own Bloody Mary Bar.”
Wipe the winter Blues away with dinner at Admiral!
Don’t forget our 3 course Specials on Tuesday (except Feb 14th) through Thursday for just $17.95. Tuesday we feature a $5 Martini list, Wednesday is 30% off Bottles of Wine, and Thursday $3.50 maine Draft Beers for $3.50.
Call (443-2555) or reserve on line at www.admiralsteak.com.
Valentine’s Day is meant for lovers…usually. Sweethearts can be spotted walking hand-in-hand through a carnival of hearts, chocolates, bouquets and balloons. It’s a romantic display like no other. But, if you’ve just ended a relationship or never had one to begin with, Valentine’s Day might have you running for cover! BnBFinder inns are turning Valentine’s Day on its head. While romantic rendezvous are typical, there are other ways to celebrate the day. From girlfriend’s getaways to something for the singles, these inns are giving everyone a chance to feel the love:
Love Thy Self. So you don’t have a special someone to lavish sweet nothings on. That doesn’t mean the pampering should go to waste. Replenish and renew your spirit at the Kismet Inn (www.BnBFinder.com/Kismet) located in Bath, ME. Start your day practicing your best downward dog followed by a centering meditation session. Enjoy a healthy midday meal before heading to the coast for a scenic and relaxing walk along the water. When you leave you’ll feel replenished and happy you spent your Valentines Day getting back in touch with you.
FMI http://www.BnBFinder.com/ValentineSpecials or (212) 480-0414 x16
This week up-and-coming Bowdoin jazz pianist Molly Ridley returns along with Solo newcomer Jason St. Pierre on alto sax. Molly plays with Jason’s jazz trio which has recently released a cd, and the third member of which is bassist Tom Bucci who has played the New Space a number of times. Molly is now in her sophomore year at Bowdoin and building quite a following here in the Midcoast, not least among the habitués of Solo’s Friday Night Jazz, and Jason is a well-known sax man who plays and teaches throughout the region and whom we are delighted to bring to Solo at last. Jason and Molly will be playing from 6:30 to 9:30 PM this Friday.
Midwinters Night Dream Art Exhibit- Music in the Gallery, Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington Street
Exhibit open through March 3;
Group show with work by John Orcutt, Sally Loughridge, Scott Redfern, Susan Mills, Kevin Mizner, Diana Johnson, Sara Cox, Allison Shutts, and Ann Thompson.
An exceptional evening of music and art is planned for Friday the 3rd of February at the Chocolate Church Art Gallery. Come out of the cold and step into a warm but brilliant winter wonderland. The Midwinter’s Night Dream exhibit has transformed the entire gallery into a dreamy white winter theme with stunning paintings, photographs and fine art crafts. Peter Alexander, President of Maine Songwriters’ Association, brings his wholehearted talent to the night adding his personal warmth and wonderful songwriting and guitar playing to create a perfect cross-disciplinary event. The Chocolate Church Art Gallery presents an evening combining music and art. Consider this the best Cabin Fever Reliever Party around in the month of February! We look forward to seeing you.
Cost: $10 at the door
FMI 442-8455, www.chocolatechurchgallery.blogspot.com
New England Regional Theater Company presents a musical revue of Les Miserables, a Parisian cabaret style evening of captivating performances and culinary delights on Friday February 3 and Friday February 10. This performance is a fundraiser to help build a new community theater. Tickets: Individual $15, Couples $25.
7-8pm Cocktails and Silent Auction
8-10pm Performance and Desserts
FMI 798-6966 or to reserve tickets nertctickets@gmail.com
Mardi Gras Party, Bath UCC, 150 Congress Street
Join us for an all-ages Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, February 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The festivities will be held in Fellowship Hall at the United Church of Christ, 150 Congress Avenue in Bath. There will be music, dancing, refreshments, plus costumes and mask making! Suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for kids, kids under 6 are free. All proceeds benefit the Connecting Neighbors Capital Challenge.
FMI 443-2187
COMING RIGHT UP: LOVE LETTERS!
Looking for something to do to spoil your Valentine? Join us for a one night showing of LOVE LETTERS performed by Thom Watson and Suzanne Rankin, back by popular demand on Valentine’s Day at 7:30PM in the Curtis Room of the Chocolate Church. This will be a pay what you can night, with a suggested donation of $10. This staged reading is a classic, sweet story which has become a Studio Theatre of Bath tradition!
Japanese Celebration weekend Feb.2-5
Thursday, February 2
SAKE TASTING ?5:00 – 7:00?, NOW YOU’RE COOKING, 49 FRONT STREET, BATH • FREE
Experience the famous Japanese drink brewed from rice! You will be amazed at the wide range of flavors, similar to fine wine or beer. Accompanied by light hors d’oeuvres. No need to sign up, just come by and join Mike and Staff for a Japanese taste tour!
FMI call Now You’re Cooking at 443-1402.
MOVIE SHOWING SHALL WE DANCE? ?7:00- 9:00?, WINTER ST. CENTER, 800 WASHINGTON ST., BATH
“Dansu Wo Shimasho ka”, written and directed by Masayuki Suo and winner of 13 Japanese Academy Awards. A joyful movie, appropriate for the whole family, about pursuing hidden dreams. Terrific dance scenes! ?Donations accepted • Home-made desserts available
Friday, February 3
JAPANESE COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF CHRIS TOY?5:00 – 7:00?, NOW YOU’RE COOKING, 49 FRONT ST., BATH
$40 per person or $35 per person per pair Call Now You’re Cooking at 443-1402 or visit acooksemporium.com to reserve your space!
MOVIE SHOWING SEVEN SAMURAI ?7:00 – 10:30?, HAMPTON INN, 140 COMMERCIAL ST., BATH
Akira Kurosawa’s classic tale, the basis of the later American film “The Magnificent Seven.” With Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. One of the best Japanese movies ever–don’t miss this one! ?Donations accepted • Home-made desserts available
Saturday, February 4
BENEFIT BREAKFAST ?8:00 – 11:00, ?STARLIGHT CAFE, LAMBARD STREET, BATH
Yummy Starlight food starts your day with a smile! A portion of the proceeds benefits the Bath-Tsugaru fund for scholarships and hosting.
FAMILY CARNIVAL ?1:00 – 3:00, ?BATH MIDDLE SCHOOL, 6 OLD BRUNSWICK RD., BATH
• Carnival games • Japanese crafts and activities?• Martial arts demonstration and dragon parade by Five Elements School of Martial Arts?. Donations accepted • Refreshments available
JAPANESE DINNER ?5:30 – 7:00?, BATH MIDDLE SCHOOL, 6 OLD BRUNSWICK RD., BATH
Enjoy delicious Japanese food, plus chances to win fabulous gift baskets! ?Advance Tickets $5 each, $20 max per family;? Available at Now You’re Cooking till Wed., Feb.1.? At the door: $7 each, $25 max per family.
CELEBRITY SUMO WRESTLING AND BOWDOIN COLLEGE TAIKO DRUMMING GROUP ?7:00 – 8:00, ?BATH MIDDLE SCHOOL, 6 OLD BRUNSWICK RD., BATH
Two amazing Japanese traditions come to Bath for a fun family evening of entertainment! Sumo is an ancient wrestling style, and Japan’s national sport. In Bath, our wrestlers will don inflatable Sumo suits for the occasion. Join the fun and cheer on our local celebrities who are sharing their talents in this fund raising event! Click here for more information. Between matches, Bowdoin Taiko will entertain! Bowdoin Taiko is an ensemble group which uses huge Japanese drums, and combines music, rhythm, and dance into a stunning audio-visual spectacle. Donations accepted
Sunday, February 5
All activities are at the Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., Bath, and are free to the public.
“CREATING JAPANESE-INSPIRED GARDENS IN MAINE” ?12 NOON
Talk and slide presentation by Lee Schneller Sligh, owner of Lee Schneller Fine Gardens, Inc. Lee is a Master Gardener volunteer and has designed and built over 200 gardens in Maine.
GREEN TEA CEREMONY?TWO SESSIONS: EITHER 1:00 – 1:45 OR 2:15 – 3:00
The Japanese tea ceremony or “chanoyu” is an aesthetic pastime unique to Japan. The basis of the ceremony still practiced today was established in the 16th century. The spirit of the tea ceremony embodies “the beauty of studied simplicity and harmony with nature.”?Call Patten Free Library, 443-5141 to reserve a space
GEISHA: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS ?3:00 – 4:00
Read one of four titles and come for a lively discussion on this ancient Japanese tradition. Led by Pat Parker, professor emerita from Salem State College in Massachusetts, who lived and taught at universities in Kobe and Hiroshima, Japan.?Come by or call Patten Free Library for details?443-5141
HAIKU WORKSHOP ?4:00 – 5:00
Haiku reading, discussion, and an opportunity to write your own!
SPECIAL WEEKEND SALES – Feb 3-5
Halcyon Yarn – 12 School Street, ALL WEEKEND – On Japanese Weekend, Halcyon Yarn will be offering 15% off all Noro Yarns… Japan’s most beautiful yarns. Just mention the Celebration to receive the discount. Discount good all weekend.
The weekend is organized by the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Exchange Program, to celebrate more than 20 years of student cultural exchanges between the two cities.
KELT and PFL OFFER 2ND ANNUAL WINTER READ
Shoutin’ Into the Fog: Growing up on Maine’s Ragged Edge by Thomas Hanna
The Great Depression hit hard all across our country, but isolated communities such as Georgetown, Maine really felt the pinch. The resourceful and resilient population had significant support through this hardship, however, from its natural resources and spectacular landscape.
Those natural gifts provided solace, income, sustenance and entertainment to Thomas Hanna as he relays in his 2006 memoir, Shoutin’ Into the Fog: Growing up on Maine’s Ragged Edge. Hanna tells the story of his childhood amidst the depression; his meager possessions and his rich life thanks to the benefit of his location.
The ways we measure scarcity and abundance, richness and poverty, needs and wants will be discussed in a series of community conversations as part of the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust’s second annual Winter Read, a community book group offered in conjunction with the Patten Free Library and the Georgetown Historical Society.
On March 8, Laura Sewall will guide a discussion at Hyde School from 6:00-8:00pm with delicious refreshments provided by Mae’s Café. Ms. Sewall is the Director of Bates-Morse Mountain in Phippsburg and the author of Sight and Sensibility: The Ecopsychology of Perception as well as the former Executive Director of the Kennebec Estuary Collaboration.
On March 14 at 6:30pm the Patten Free Library will host a public discussion on the book as part of their monthly book group. Gene Reynolds of Georgetown will be the guest speaker . Mr. Reynolds and his wife had close connections to “Tommy” Hanna and shared many of the experiences described in the book. Refreshments are provided in the Community Room.
The Patten Free Library Children’s Room has selected complimentary books for young readers, including Between the Tides by Fran Hodgkins.
Please contact the Patten Free Library, the Georgetown Historical Society or your local book store for a copy of Shoutin’ Into the Fog. These events are free and open to the public thanks to generous sponsorship from First Federal Savings Bank. To register for the March 8th event please contact KELT at 442-8400 or email Alicia Heyburn at aheyburn@kennebecestuary.org.
The Sagadahoc History and Genealogy Room announces its eighth annual Town History Series, jointly sponsored by the Patten Free Library and the Bath Historical Society. On six consecutive Saturday mornings, from 10:30-11:30 A.M., people from the towns served by the Library will present aspects of their towns’ histories in the Community Room of the Patten Free Library. This year’s Series will be dedicated to Barbara Esmond, long-time volunteer in the History Room. Again this year, Raymond James and Associates, Inc. will be the financial sponsor of the Series.
January 21 – Bath: Peter Goodwin & Robin Haynes: “History of the Patten Free Library”
January 28 – Arrowsic: Fred Kahrl: “Saving Squirrel Point Light Station”
February 4 – Georgetown: Rich Start: “The Terrible Fire of ‘34”
February 11 – Woolwich: A Panel: “Stories of Woolwich Schools”
February 18 – Phippsburg: John G. Morse IV: “Phippsburg Then and Now”
February 25 – West Bath: Frank Roberts & Charlie Burden: “The Littlefield School: West Bath’s Historic One-Room Schoolhouse”
Your CLIENTS, your CUSTOMERS, your EMPLOYEES, your FRIENDS, even YOU may be eligible!
SPREAD THE WORD!
FREE Tax Preparation, offered by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers? for those who made less than $50,000 in 2011.
Appointments offered Jan. 28 ~ April 11, 2012 in Brunswick, Topsham, Bath, Richmond & Wiscasset
Call 319-1390 to make an appointment or learn more at www.CashMaine.org/locations/midcoast
Cooking Classes at Now You’re Cooking , 49 Front Street
MAGNIFICENT MAINE SHRIMP
with Monique Coombs
Tuesday, February 14th | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Monique Coombs of Lobsters on the Fly will teach you about shrimp: how and when it is caught and the best ways to cook it and store it. Learn how to cook shrimp on its own and how to toss it up with some delicious recipes!
DOWNEAST MEETS FAR EAST
with Chris Toy
Monday, February 20th | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Join Chris Toy as he puts a Far East flare to your Maine shrimp. Chris will show you how to roll shrimp egg rolls, create shrimp wontons, and prepare shrimp fried rice. Also on the menu is a delicious seafood soup and for dessert, amaretto poached pears.
MARVELOUS MEDITERRANEAN
with Archie Banfield
Tuesday, February 21st | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
If February’s colder weather has you thinking about the warmer temperatures of the Mediterranean, then this class is for you! Join Archie Banfield, one of Bowdoin College’s wonderful chefs as he shows you how to prepare three of his favorite dishes from this region of the world: Ravigote, a piquant vinaigrette sauce that typically contains onions, capers, and herbs and is served with mild proteins, such as shrimp or mussels; Linguini with Mushrooms and Mussels; and Mussels with Israeli Couscous.
All classes are $40 per person or $70 for two
FMI call the store at 443-1402 or visit us online.
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
He’ll sit in a barn and keep himself warm
And hide his head under his wing, poor thing… (anon)
IPADS & EARLY LITERACY: Facilitated Classes for Parent and Child
We will continue to offer early literacy classes for parents and children (ages 2-6), using six new iPads purchased with a generous grant from the Senter Fund in Brunswick. In these small, supervised gatherings, we’ll show you and your child some of the best “apps” for teaching letters, phonics, and numbers, as well as those that build vocabulary and reading fluency. We also have some great book apps that we’ll all read together. And you’ll have plenty of time to explore the iPad features on your own.
Beginning Thursday, February 16, you can come and use the iPads with your child on Tuesdays from 11:30-12:30 and Thursdays from 1:00-2:00, on a first-come first-served basis. We’ll be there to help you learn the basics and find the right apps. Or, you can pre-arrange a time for your own iPad “playgroup” by contacting Roberta Jordan by phone at 443-5141 (extension 25) or by e-mail (rjordan@patten.lib.me.us).
Wee be Yoga - Join us, Thursday, Feb 2, 10:30am – in our Storytime Room, for a Family Yoga Program with Amy DelaTerre of Wee Bee Yoga. This will be a fun and engaging children’s yoga play session for older babies to preschool-age children, along with their caregivers. We will move and stretch our bodies, share songs, hear stories, and explore playful movement activities and yoga poses inspired by nature, animals, and the world around us. No previous yoga experience is needed, and children and adults should wear comfortable clothing that they can easily move around in. Older and younger siblings are most welcome to attend this program. No registration required.
Amy DelaTerre has been sharing yoga with people of all ages for over a decade. She is a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor, and has completed teacher-training programs in Children’s Yoga with Shakta Kaur Khalsa, creator of The Radiant Child Yoga Program, and Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga with De West of The Yoga Workshop. Amy received her MA degree in Environmental Leadership and Contemplative Education from Naropa University. Her thesis project was the completion of a book entitled Yoga for Wholeness: An Exploration of Yoga as Holistic Education. Before having her own children, Amy was a preschool teacher for many years. She lives in Bath with her husband and two young boys, and teaches two weekly Family Yoga Classes at Bath Dance Works, on Mondays at 3:45-4:45pm, and on Tuesdays at 10:15-11:15am. Visit www.weebeeyoga.com for more info about Amy’s local class.
All Aboard…The Maine 3 Railers Model Train Club will be here all day time, during February vacation week, Feb 21, 22, 23, and 24, for a special show and tell. Electric train displays will take over the Storytime Room and “engineers” will be on hand to talk about their exciting collections. All ages.
Our STORYTIMES program runs throughout the school year with a December and June break. It’s a wonderfully fun way to teach your child early socialization and literacy skills. Each age appropriate program is thoughtfully prepared and no registration is required. Parents and caregivers have a chance to make and meet friends, too! After Storytimes, you’re welcome to stay and read to your children or play with our castles, pirate ship, blocks, puzzles, Legos, and storybook character toys. Climb aboard our little red sailboat, Time of Wonder, built in collaboration with the Library and the Maine Maritime Museum, by area children and master boat builders. While you’re here, get a library card and check out some wonderful books to bring home.
Tuesdays with Miss Jessica ~ 10:30am-11:15am – Stories & Crafts for young ones, with volunteer, Jessica Mahnke.
Book Babies ~ Wednesdays, Feb 1, 8, 15 & 29, 10:30am - Gather with your little ones (babies & toddlers), for twenty minutes of fun rhyming stories, finger plays & songs. Children’s author, Rosemary Wells says, “Read to your bunny often. It’s twenty minutes of fun. It’s twenty minutes of moonlight, and twenty minutes of sun.”
Time for Twos ~ Thursdays, Feb 2, 9 & 16, 10:30am-11:00am – Join the circle of little two year old friends and enjoy short stories, songs & puppets
Preschool Storytimes ~ Fridays, Feb 3, 10 & 17, 10:30am-11:15am – Join the fun reading adventure for three to five year olds with stories, songs, puppets & crafts.
KIDS’ BOOK CLUB, Tuesdays, Feb 7, 14 & 28, 4:00pm-4:45pm, ages 9 & up – We’re reading The Day of the Wave , a gripping story of courage, by local author, Gina Hamilton who will join Book Club, Feb 14. Here’s what it’s about…“On the day after Christmas, in 2004, an earthquake and tsunami devastated the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, especially the northern Banda Aceh region. This book, written for the 9-12 age market, follows the story of Merpati, a 12-year-old girl, separated from her parents and sister, and responsible for the care of a tiny orphan and an ancient blind villager, as she tries to keep them all alive, while refusing to give up hope of seeing her cherished family again in the grim days that followed the day of the wave. Day of the Wave is a coming of age story in a very complex and difficult setting. It also offers young people and teachers a strong multicultural component about daily life for villagers, especially girls and women Sumatra”. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Building a better Bath… The Morse Mentors, a mentoring group from Morse High School, are available, afterschool, 2:30pm – 4:30pm, to help elementary and middle school students with homework. Kyle Hietala, a Morse High School sophomore honors student, summer camp counselor, and energetic tutor, is our enthusiastic leader who has brought this new program to fruition. His tutoring will emphasize mastery of material, and its practical applications to the real world, including reading, writing, math, even music writing! Other high school students have joined Morse Mentors and are ready to help your child. We will select the suitable mentor match for your child. All tutoring takes place in the Children’s Room’s new Home Work section. Mentors will meet the parent before the tutoring begins and apprise the parent with the tutoring progress. For further information and to register your child, please contact Carol in the Children’s Room.
Exploring Art Series with Carol McFadden ~ Wednesdays, 4:00pm-4:45pm – This a hands-on art history program in which children, ages 6-11, recreate their own versions of the masters’ works of art & explore craft techniques of world art. Limit 12, REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Feb 1 ~ The Color Power of Henri Matisse. This French Fauvist painter was known for his rich, bright colors, fanciful patterns, flattened abstract forms, and graceful lines. Scissors, paper & glue will be used.
Feb 8 – Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Picture Writing. Ancient Egyptians left stories on their pyramid walls. What is a mummy, a scarab, a shawabtis, a sarcoffagus? Come and explore the meaning behind these ancient artifacts as we investigate them by drawing pictures on “papyrus” scrolls.
Feb 15 – Beyond the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Explore the art of distinguished children’s book illustrator Eric Carle by painting a wall mural.
Feb 29 ~ George-Pierre Seurat’s Dots. Learn about the Neo-Impressionism art style by using his Pointillism technique. Ink pad paint will be used.
Chess Club meets Fridays, 3:30pm-4:30pm, ages 7-11 – Join enthusiastic chess leader, Nathaniel Rines, along with beginners and seasoned chess players. We supply the chess sets. If you’d like, bring a snack. No registration required.
Lego League meets Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:15pm, for ages 6+ – A few things to know…our Lego Leader is Matt Boyle, a high school junior; bring your own Legos in a bin; either bring your finished work home at the end of each session or leave it in our display case for a short time. If you’d like, bring a snack. No registration required.
Learn Italian for children ages 6 & up, Thursdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm, with Morse High School exchange student, Ruyao Zhou who likes to be called Zhou, pronounced Zoo. She was born in China, raised in Italy and is currently a senior at Morse High School. Your child will learn Italian words, numbers, songs and basic communication. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Homeschool Time ~ Thursdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm
All homeschooling families are welcome to join other homeschoolers in the Children’s Room at the Patten Free Library. The goal is to offer a place of connection, to have fun, to learn new things using the resources of the Library, and to socialize with other area homeschooled families. Drop by and see what happens. Please pass the wordJ
“Do We” Really Know Dewey? Children’s Library Class, Feb 2, 1:00pm-2:00pm. - Need help locating books in the library? Have fun while learning about how books are arranged on the library shelves with the Dewey Decimal System. Your child will learn some important searching skills by looking up items in the MINERVA Library Computer Catalog. Group classes for other days and times may be arranged. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Pictorial Haiku, Thursday, Feb 2, 3:30pm-4:30pm, ages 7+ – Let’s learn about Haiku through words and pictures! Children will pick a word out of a hat; draw a picture of the word; and write words to describe the picture. Then, they’ll add the words into the picture to create a pictorial haiku. There are no rhyming words in haiku, and each 3-line verse has only 17 syllables or less! The three lines are often arranged so that the first line has five (5) syllables, the second line has seven (7) syllables, and the third line has five (5) syllables. This is called the 5-7-5 rule. Haiku does not always follow the 5-7-5 rule. But to be haiku, the verse must express a thought, feeling or mood. The verse cannot be composed of more than 17 syllables; it cannot have more than 3 lines; and it cannot rhyme. Here’s an example… Snowflakes by Kaitlyn Guenther
Snowflakes are our friends (5)
They descend when winter comes (7)
Making white blankets (5)
VACATION WEEK ~ FAMILY FILMS (upstairs in the Community Room on the big screen!)
WINNIE THE POOH (rated G; 63 minutes; 2011) Wednesday, Feb 22, 2:00pm “This all-new movie reunites audiences with the philosophical “bear of very little brain” and friends Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo-and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore, who has lost his tail. It’s business as usual in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh wakes up absolutely famished, but has no honey. That sets him out on his journey, which is derailed when he finds a note from Christopher Robin that reads: “Gone out. Busy. Back soon.” But when Owl misinterprets the note, the whole gang is on a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from the imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply hoped to find some honey.”
CARS 2 (rated G; 113 minutes; 2011) Friday, Feb 24, 2:00pm “Star racecar Lightning McQueen, and the incomparable tow truck, Mater, take their friendship to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world”.
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