Orange Public Libraries News

Summer Reading in North Orange

2009-07-13T16:29:00.006-04:00

Photo: Children from Tricia Belloli's Country Cubs Family Day Care shown here are helping to reach the library's goal of 800 books goal by logging books read to them. Manuel King designed the bulletin board which will be used to track the readers' progress.

Patrons of all ages at the Moore-Leland Library in North Orange are reading to raise funds to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. For every book read by Summer Reading Club members, the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will contribute 25 cents to Pennies for Peace, the charity started by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. Branch Librarian, Dianne Salcedo has challenged patrons to read 800 books by the end of August. Patrons are encouraged to read "Three Cups of Tea" in the regular or young people's edition or the picture book "Listen to the Wind." Programs about the book are planned for late summer or fall.

Orange Library Summer Program Blasts Off

2009-07-06T14:39:00.006-04:00

PHOTO: George Pechmann from the Boston Museum of Science coaches Megan Ward in the science of rocketry as her mom, Kate looks on. Waiting their turn to launch their balloon rockets are Colleen Ward, Maggie Bramhall, and Phoenix Thompson. Kneeling in front, assistant Michelle Bezio helps Samuel Bennett ready his rocket for blast off.

The Wheeler Memorial Library's Summer Reading Program has blasted off with 214 participants registered, 407 hours of reading logged in at the library, and at least 50 children having completed their first chapter book. All of this was accomplished in the first 2 weeks of the program! The first special activity pictured above met with an excellent response from children excited by science. Over 100 people participated with each of four sessions filled to maximum capacity.

An extraordinary program for older teens is coming to the library next week when professional artists/ graphic novelists, Andy Fish and Veronica Hebard, will teach the techniques behind the very popular Japanese Magna style of illustration. This will be another hands on activity with the participants completing their own drawings. Andy and Veronica just opened a very well received exhibit of their art at a Boston Gallery. You can go to their web site to share in the excitement that surrounds their art. http://veronicahebs.blogspot.com/

Japanese Magna

2009-07-01T11:36:00.004-04:00

Artists Andy Fish and Veronica Hebard will be at the Wheeler Memorial Library at 6:30 on Wednesday July 8 teaching a class for teens on Japenese Magna. This workshop will be a hands on , participatory drawing opportunity. Andy is a cartoonist, painter, illustrator and graphic novelist. His work has appeared in galleries all over the United States, and he has been published in five countries. He has done storyboards in TV and Film and continues to produce two graphic novels a year. His published graphic novels include Fly: A True Story Completely Made Up, The Tragic Tale of Turkey Boy, Jerry Claus, and The Return of Dark Santa. His upcoming titles include The Sorrowful Tale of Boris the Talking Cat, The Girl with the Really Big Thumbs, and an updated version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, entitled Harker Wanted Man. Currently, Fish is hard at work on his graphic novel Batman: 1939 for DC comics with Veronica Hebard and Boston Globe editor Michael Warshaw. Veronica is influenced by Japanese mystique, “the line work, graphic design, and aesthetics, and their reinvention of Western pop culture." Her work has been published by Columbia Magazine, HalfPrice Books, Blank Canvas Magazine, Worcester Magazine, The Weekly Dig, Inkstains, Detour, and ArtScope Magazine. To see examples of their art visit http://www.hebsandfish.com/. The woman pictured will take you to Veronica's art while the man will take you to Andy's art.

This workshop is the first in Children's Librarian Candy Cross' exploration of visual literacy which is being funded by her Massachusetts Literacy Champion Award. This grant will also fund a second artist visit with Sarah Adam on July 28 at 2:00. More visual literacy workshops will occur in October.

Energy Kits

2009-06-24T15:49:00.001-04:00

Selectman Steve Adam and Librarian Dianne Salcedo check out the energy kits which can be borrowed from the Wheeler Memorial and Moore Leland Libraries. The kits contain a Kill A Watt meter for checking the electricity usage of appliances and books with practical instructions for making your home more energy efficient. The kits were purchased with the help of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries.

Visit these places for FREE with a pass from the Wheeler Memorial Library!

2009-06-22T11:01:00.010-04:00

Photo: Candace Curran, library staff member, and Debbie Kent, member of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries, check out the new free Mass MoCA pass offered to the public at the Wheeler Memorial Library.

Mass MoCA (NEW!)
One pass is available and admits two adults and two children (under 16) at no charge.
Provided by: Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
One pass is available and admits two adults and four children at no charge.
Provided by: Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

Historic Deerfield
Two passes are available and each admits four people. Pass must be presented at Hall Tavern to pick up admission tickets for the museum houses.
Provided by: Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

Massachusetts State Parks
Two passes are available and each entitles the bearer to free parking for one vehicle at over 50 day-use facilities in the state park system.
Provided by: MA Department of Conservation and Recreation

Mystic Aquarium (discounted admission)
Two passes are available. Each entitles 2 adults and 2 children to a discount off of the regular admission price.

Sign out passes for a 1 week loan upstairs at the circulation desk

…and have FUN!

Starship Adventure (Updated!)

2009-06-15T10:15:00.003-04:00

All programs are FREE thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

June 22, Mon.-Thurs., 10am –July 30 7:30pm. Don’t miss out on any of the fun. Sign-up as early as possible for Starship Adventure at Your Library and receive your free book bag, schedule of special events, coupons for discounts on nearby recreational sites, and reading log. This is the fourth year our reading will raise money for the Orange Food Pantry. Pre-registering for hands-on activities guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 1, Wed., program starts at 2:00, 3:15, 5:00, and 6:15, pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate; children under ten must come with an adult. Boston Museum of Science experts will help us blast off into our Starship Adventure with their interactive program on Rockets: There and Back. Rockets made with latex balloons will be built, and then tested for travel on a wire track and for reentry using a vertical wind tube.

July 7, Tues., 2:00. The Aliens are coming! Ed the Wizard will help us create our own balloon-body aliens and show us some magic tricks along the way. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 8, Wed., 6:30. Graphic novel authors Andy Fish and Veronica Hebard will inspire teens to create their own stories using graphic novel techniques.

July 21, Tues., 10:30. An out-of-this-world, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party intended for preschoolers on up. The library will be transformed into Alice’s Wonderland as a real-live rabbit joins the Mad Hatter and Alice for tea. In addition to witnessing the chaos, all those attending will have a “spot-of-tea” in their own personally decorated tea cup. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 23, Thurs., 2:00. Let your imagination carry the library into space. Help Nina Wellen paint a large outer-space mural to hang on the walls of the Children’s room. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 28, Tues., 2:00. Working with pen and ink, artist Sarah Adam will encourage teens to find their own visual voice as they create their own drawings.

July 30, Thurs., 10:45-11:00. Try out imitating Saturn using Shenandoah’s marvelous hoops as your own personal ring. There is guaranteed to be “allotta hoopla” as we experiment with more than just wiggling our hips to keep our rings in orbit.
Register to come at 10:00 if you would like to create your own hula hoop with Shenandoah. (It will cost from $10-$15 to make a child’s hoop and $20-$25 to make an adult hoop.) Or feel free to come at 10:45 and borrow Shenandoah’s hoops for the active part of the program.

August 4, Tues., 2:00. Are you feeling like a space alien or a human astronaut? Come disguise yourself accordingly with the help of face-painter Zita Bridges. Make moon boots and helmets too!

August 6, Thurs., 6:30. Star legends, songs, hoop dancing, and an animal or two will highlight a performance by Medicine Mammals. This three person group is dedicated to wildlife rescue following the Native American philosophy that all life is sacred.

August 12, Wed., 6:30. Can you make an ice cream sundae look like a space ship? All who have recorded their time spent reading will be invited to an Ice Cream Sundae Celebration complete with certificates, a guest appearance by folk singer Paul Kaplan, a drawing for a free pair of tickets to the Big E, and an announcement of how much money we raised for the Orange Food Pantry. Readers’ donations of canned goods will also be made into the best spaceship ever!
More programs may be added! Check the newspapers and www.orangelib.org for updates.

Summer Reading is Coming!

2009-05-18T14:52:00.002-04:00

All programs are FREE

Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

June 22, 10am –July 30 7:30pm. Don’t miss out on any of the fun. Sign-up as early as possible for Starship Adventure at Your Library and receive your free book bag, schedule of special events, coupons for discounts on nearby recreational sites, and reading log. This is the fourth year our reading has raised money for the Orange Food Pantry. Pre-registering for hands-on activities guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 1, program starts at 2:00, 3:15, 5:00, and 6:15, pre registration guarantees you will be able to participate; children under ten must come with an adult. Boston Museum of Science experts will help us blast off into our Starship Adventure with their interactive program on Rockets. Rockets made with latex balloons will be built, and then tested for travel on a wire track and for reentry using a vertical wind tube.

July 7, 2:00. The Aliens are coming! Ed the Wizard will help us create our own balloon-body aliens and show us some tricks along the way. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 21, 10:30. An out-of-this-world, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party intended for preschoolers on up. The library will be transformed into Alice’s Wonderland as a real-live rabbit joins the Mad Hatter and Alice for tea. In addition to witnessing the chaos, all those attending will have a “spot-of-tea” in their own personally decorated tea cup. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

July 23, 2:00. Let your imagination carry the library into outer space. Help Nina Wellen paint a large outer space mural to hang on the walls of the children’s room. Pre-registration guarantees you will be able to participate.

August 6, 6:30. Star legends, songs, hoop dancing, and an animal or two will highlight a performance by Medicine Mammals. This three person group is dedicated to wildlife rescue following the Native American philosophy that all life is sacred.

August 13, 6:30. Can you make an ice cream sundae look like a space ship? All who have recorded their time spent reading will be invited to an Ice Cream Sundae Celebration complete with certificates, a drawing for a free pair of tickets to the Big E, and announcement of how much money we raised for the Orange Food Pantry. Readers’ donations of canned goods will also be made into the best spaceship ever!

More programs will be added! Check the newspapers and www.orangelib.org for updates.

Come One, Come All!

2009-04-23T16:37:00.004-04:00

Photo caption: Professor James Hayes-Bohanan and his wife Pam live with their daughter Paloma in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where they begin each morning by hand-grinding a batch of fair-trade, organic coffee.

Walt Owens, Director of the Wheeler Memorial Library, encourages everyone to attend the Coffee Tasting/Book Discussion Monday, April 27th from 7:00-9:00pm at the Moore-Leland Library in North Orange. The event will include a variety of Dean's Beans coffee along with refreshments. Dean Cycon's award winning book, " Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee", will be the topic of the discussion part of the program. Dean Cycon, owns Dean's Beans, an all-organic, all-fair-trade, all-kosher coffee roaster right here in Orange, Massachusetts.

The book discussion will be facilitated by Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan, who has taught environmental geography and the geography of Latin America at Bridgewater State College since 1997. He teaches a seminar on coffee (for which Dean Cycon's Javatrekker is required reading) and has led three study tours in the coffeelands of Nicaragua. His main interest in coffee has to do with sustainable farming practices and the fair treatment of the coffee farmers. He speaks frequently on Latin American music, the coffee trade, and international education. He is a consumer member of the Specialty Coffee Association and an affiliated scholar at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies.

The program is free and open to the general public. It is not necessary to have read the book to attend. Refreshments will be served by the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries.

Vacation Week Orange Library Events

2009-04-17T12:16:00.005-04:00

Photo: A contented crowd gathered around bookbinder Amy Borezo as she taught her art to a multi-generational group at the Wheeler Memorial Library. Each participant left with their uniquely created bound treasure book which would be used to record their thoughts with words or pictures.

For the last five weeks the Wheeler Memorial Library has hosted a once weekly After School Arts program which brought in five different artists from the North Quabbin Region, one each week. These artist generously shared their expertise, materials, and creative spirit with the elementary-aged children and adults who attended. It has been a wonderfully successful activity which was organized by children's librarian, Candy Cross, and funded through a grant from the Orange Cultural Council. Especially pleasing was the number of boys who showed a strong interest in art. So far those involved have learned bookbinding, straw weaving, photography, potatoes printing, and hula hoop dancing. This special program will conclude the week of school vacation, April 21- 25, with 3 sessions of Trash Can Art at the Wheeler Memorial Library lead by artist Nina Wellen, and a free show of Cinderella by the fabulous Tanglewood Marionettes at the Orange Town Hall at 6:30. A marionette show is self explanatory, except to say that this version of Cinderella is unlike any other read or seen. Trash Can Art will follow the theme, "We live in Orange, Let's keep it Green, Keep it Clean." At the conclusion of 3 sessions, Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:30 plus Saturday 12:00-2:00, it is hoped that ten 30-gallon trash cans will have been painted to brighten public places around Orange and helping to keep it clean as the town gets ready for it bicentennial.

CONTACT: Candy Cross, Children's Librarian, Wheeler Memorial Library, 49 East Main St, 978-544-2495, ext 103 for more information

Coffee Tasting & Book Discussion

2009-04-09T14:00:00.007-04:00

Facilitator

Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan

Environmental Geographer

Bridgewater State College

Join us for an evening of coffee tasting and good conversation. Dean Cycon’s award-winning Javatrekker will be the topic of discussion.

In beautiful North Orange! Refreshments Served!

Part of the Wheeler Memorial Library On the Same Page Program. Supported by the Friends of the Orange Libraries and Dean’s Beans.

Create Your Own Journal

2009-04-07T15:27:00.004-04:00

Join artist and bookmaker Amy Borezo at the Wheeler Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 14, from 3:30-4:30 as she leads a workshop on crafting a blank journal from exciting materials like felt, leather and paper. Kids will assemble one book during the workshop and explore different cover decorations to make their books unique. Each person will take one blank journal home to fill with their most creative thoughts, drawingsor photos. Amy has been working in the art of the book for ten years and studied visual art at the Rhode Island School of Design.

What do you see through the camera's eye?

2009-04-01T15:56:00.004-04:00

Through the Camera’s Eye, photography taught by artist Genevieve Gaignard. Come lend your vision to the creation of a self published book. The multigenerational (for students 3rd grade or older) program is on Monday April 6th from 3:30-4:30 at the Wheeler Memorial Library. For more info, please call the library at 978-544-2495, extension 103. Cameras will be provided. This program is supported in part by the Orange Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Art of Straw Weaving

2009-03-26T12:04:00.007-04:00

Photo: Woven straw heart by Kathy Morris

Kathy Morris, artist librarian from Royalston Mass, will be teaching a multi-generational group the art of straw weaving at the Wheeler Memorial Library on Wednesday, April 1, from 3:30-4:30. Anxious to see this traditional craft preserved, Kathy will be donating her time generously to lead this free workshop for those in third grade or older. The Orange Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, will be supporting the project by covering the expense of the materials needed.

The Return of "On the Same Page"

2009-03-16T16:43:00.007-04:00

Walt Owens, director of the Wheeler Memorial Library, has announced the kickoff of the library's annual “On the Same Page” program. This year's award winning book is " Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee" by Dean Cycon, who owns Dean's Beans, an all-organic, all-fair-trade, all-kosher coffee roaster right here in Orange, Massachusetts. If you can't go with Dean on all his adventures in social justice and good coffee - read the book! Nine chapters cover ten countries of coffee farmers' struggles with globalization, women's rights, environmental concerns, war and more, while you learn about coffee cultures and customs, politics, languages and dress in these exciting inter-weavings of travel, social change and responsible business practices.

The goal of the program is to have everyone in town read the same book, discuss relevant issues, and attend special events relating to the book selected. Information about On the Same Page is available at http://www.orangelib.org/otsp/ . After the reading of the book has been completed, a variety of programs will take place relating to Javatrekker. Library staff will provide information on how to obtain a copy of the book to read, and on upcoming events. Please get involved so that Orange can celebrate reading, libraries, and being together “On the Same Page.”

“On the Same Page” is supported by a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This program is also being supported by the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries.

NOT YOUR ORDINARY POTATO PRINT!

2009-03-16T16:39:00.002-04:00

Artist Helen Haddad will be coming to the Wheeler Memorial Library to present the 2^nd class in the Wheeler Library’s After School Arts Series. Her art involves an unusual printing block – the lowly potato. She has explored the medium of potato printing far beyond the kindergarten stage, perhaps now approaching the Ph.D. level. She most often works within the confines of a single potato, selecting a potato with a shape that will enhance the design. The production of each print involves carving the flat surface of a cut potato with nails, linoleum cutters, or other tools. Then she paints the block and applies the block to paper, resulting in a unique print. It is essential to complete the entire process quickly before the surface of the perishable potato starts to deteriorate. To create larger prints she use multiple carved blocks. Her largest print is the seven foot long dragon installed in the Wendell, MA library. While her potato printing techniques are self taught, she studied art at Smith College and at the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Call the Wheeler Memorial Library (978-544-2495 x103) to save your place in this workshop. At the same time you can sign up for any of the following classes. This series is made possible by a grant from the Orange Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

1st of 6 After School Arts Programs

2009-03-05T14:14:00.006-05:00

March 16, Monday 3:30-4:30 Orange Town Hall

Alotta Hoopla with Shenandoah for students in 3rd grade or higher, offered by the Wheeler Memorial Library Children’s Room. See if 30 hula hoopers will fill the Orange Town Hall auditorium and learn some new hula hoop tricks with the best hula hooper in the Pioneer Valley. What better way is there to get ready for spring? This program is the first event in a 6 part series of After School Arts activities arranged by children’s librarian, Candy Cross. The series is supported in part by a grant from the Orange Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Call the library at 978-544-2495 x103 to register by identifying the event(s) and leaving the child’s name, grade, and phone number.

Winter Wonderland: Free Face Painting and Crafts

2008-12-09T11:18:00.002-05:00

PHOTO CAPTION: Gwen takes a break from foot printing.

Last month the Children’s Room of the Wheeler Memorial Library held a wonderfully successful event with a multi-generational group of 55 people feasting on pizza and then learning about the survival skills of the wildlife we are lucky to have in our rural backyards. Trina Moruzzi, a wildlife biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, to a feast of information that was fascinating for adults and understandable to children. Indeed, the children’s questions were just as in depth as the adults. After the sit-down portion of the program, everyone was able to create colorful life-sized animal footprints and handle the pelts Trina brought. Imaginative and creative play reinforced the evenings’ education. The program was made possible by the generosity of Friends of the Orange Public Libraries. For this month’s special event, the Children’s Room at the Wheeler Memorial Library welcomes Zita Bridges. She will use face paints to transform you into any winter creature you choose, imaginary or real. Craft projects will be available to work on before and after your transformation. All ages are welcome to enjoy this calorie free treat Wednesday, December 17, 3:30-4:30.

Reducing Energy Loss Workshop with Brian Nugent

2008-12-04T16:16:00.002-05:00

Brian Nugent of the North Quabbin Energy Group will demonstrate how people can build interior window inserts. One of the main areas for heat loss is through windows. If the air feels cool near your windows, this workshop can save you money. During the workshop, Mr. Nugent will provide instructions and an opportunity to practice making the clear window inserts. The inserts can reduce window heat loss by 50% or more. The simplicity of the design ensures that participants will be able to quickly learn the process and construct their own inserts.

Brian Nugent is providing the workshop free of charge at the Wheeler Memorial Library. The workshop will begin at 11:00am and will conclude no later than 1:00pm on Saturday, December 13, 2008. Don’t miss this opportunity to apply some very simple and cost effective measures to save on your heating bill this winter.

Wildlife and Pizza!

2008-11-06T09:44:00.003-05:00

Is that bear eating going to eat your birdseed? While you enjoy eating free pizza, find out what bears like to eat. Also, discover what kinds of tracks those are by the back door and where to look for your wild neighbors. On Wednesday, November 19 at 6:00 local expert, wildlife biologist Trina Moruzziwill be at the Wheeler Memorial Library in Orange to let you know how best to live with the wild animals in your backyard.

Trina lives in Orange and works at the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife providing public outreach on wildlife issues, and assisting on waterfowl, deer, bear and furbearer projects. On November 19 Trina will share her knowledge about different critters that inhabit your neighborhood, from skunks to coyotes and bears. Participants of all ages will discover some of the dos and don’ts on living with these species and how they prepare for winter. A wildlife track activity will follow.

A celebration of Family Literacy Month, this event is free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Orange Libraries. But please call by November 17th to pre-register so there will be enough pizza for all to share before the presentation. All ages are welcome. Questions? Call Children’s Librarian Candy Cross at 544-2495, extension 103.

Free Face Painting at Wheeler Memorial Library

2008-10-22T12:54:00.003-04:00

Alyssa Rousseau became a pig-hugging-fairy the last time Zita Bridges practiced her art of face painting at the Wheeler Memorial Library

Wednesday October 29, 2008 from 3:30-4:30 children of all ages are invited to the Wheeler Memorial Library for a chance to try on a new personality. Zita Bridges is returning to the library to display her artistic talents on the faces of whoever appears. Perhaps you would like to become your favorite character from a book? Just borrow the book from the library in order to show Zita who you want to become. Or maybe you would like to become a fairy creature like Alyssa Rousseau, whose face was painted by Zita on the day Daisy the Pig came to Wheeler Memorial Library. This is the time of year when imaginations are apt to be active. So come to the Wheeler Memorial Library and let your imagination have a little fun. There will also be a craft activity and books of costume ideas to further your character transformation.

Equinox Open Mic Event in North Orange-November 10th

2008-10-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

Budding (or eminent) poet? Come to the Moore-Leland Library on November 10, 2008 and share your work! Sign-up for readers begins at 6:30pm and the program commences at 7:00pm sharp.

Published annually, the Equinox offers an eclectic medley of genres, themes, and of voices, mostly local to western Massachusetts, but nicely accented by voices from farther afield as well. Previously published and unpublished writers and poets alike meet and mingle here. Short fiction and non-fiction rub shoulders with poetry in the interests of keeping a prosaic balance to the poetics; otherwise, the excess of paddling poets might have our literary vessel turning in circles. The wordsmiths benefit as well from the tuneful and artful contributions of those who craft meaning from sound and sight.

Assistance Dog Program at the Moore-Leland Library

2008-09-03T16:57:00.002-04:00

Reverend Cynthia Crosson will present a program about Canines for Combat Veterans at 7 pm on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at the Moore-Leland Library in North Orange. Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans (NEADS) of Princeton, MA provides assistance dogs for disabled veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Assistance dogs help amputees stay balanced on prosthetics, help those in wheelchairs with tasks, retrieve and carry objects, press buttons and open doors, turn lights on, and provide social interaction. The dogs receive extensive training in a foster home or prison before being placed with a vet for final training. The prisoners are able to train dogs about twice as fast as foster families. Cynthia will show a movie about the prison dog training program. Her ministry/ therapy dog, Dandi, will also be making an appearance.

NEADS depends on fundraising to support Canines for Combat Vets. Moore-Leland Library Summer Reading Club members have been reading to earn donations to NEADS. The Friends of the Orange Public Libraries have pledged to donate 25 cents for each book that members read. The donation will be presented at the program.

The program is free and open to the public. Moore-Leland Library is fully handicapped accessible. For directions to Moore-Leland, see www.orangelib.org or call 978-544-2495 or 978-575-0444. For more information about Canines for Combat Vets see www.neads.org

Wheeler Library's new session of Story Times begin

2008-08-25T11:00:00.002-04:00

Wheeler Memorial Library will begin a new session of preschool story times starting Tues. morning, Sept 2 at 10:30, and Wed. evening, Sept 3 at 6:30. No pre-registration is necessary. Children with their care givers are welcome to attend as it is convenient for their schedules. Led by Children’s Librarian Candy Cross, each story time will include stories, songs, hand plays and a craft activity that are unified by a shared theme. Story times are a wonderful opportunity to share literature activities with your children while enjoying time with other parents, care-givers, and children. The only times these story times will not occur in the fall schedule are Tuesdays September 16 and October 14, and Wednesday November 26.

WILD CATS AND ICE CREAM SUNDAES

2008-07-31T09:38:00.002-04:00

PHOTO CAPTION Jungle Encounters has an F5 Bengal Cat, Safari. He was born Sep 06. He looks like a mini-leopard and is loved by everyone!

On Tuesday August 12 at 6:00 pm, members of the Orange Libraries Summer Reading Program are invited to come to the Wheeler Memorial Library to celebrate all the time they have dedicated to reading for themselves and the Orange Food Pantry. Jungle Encounters will be bringing some very special cats plus 2 other jungle animals to join in the fun. The cats are a Savannah and/or a Bengal. The other animals will be chosen from those that would either co-exist or interact in the jungle with the small wild cats that Jungle Encounters helps protect. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the wild Jungle Encounters Show but only reading club members with initialed reading time sheets will be able to make their ice cream sundaes from a wild array of ice creams and toppings. Certificates will be delivered and the grand total of the money raised for the Orange Food Pantry will be announced. To top it all off there will be a drawing for a pair of free admission tickets to the Big E. The free Big E tickets along with this summer’s print materials and all the other coupons come from the Orange Libraries’ membership in the Massachusetts Regional Library System. “Wild Cats and Ice Cream” is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Orange Libraries.

THE FUNTASTIC FABLE MAKER

2008-07-28T09:59:00.004-04:00

THE FUNTASTIC FABLE MAKER is an interactive fun filled play based on Aesop’s Fables and presented by none other than Aesop himself and his crazy cast of characters. The Central Massachusetts Repertory Theatre has coached Aesop and his friends so they are sure to put on a top notch performance. So, come to the Wheeler Memorial Library on August 5^th at 6:00 to catch these characters who are both wild and will inspire further reading. The rain site for this production is the Orange Town Hall.