SOMERS LIBRARY NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2025

Director's Corner

You will love what the library has in store for February! Explore the outstanding programs we have planned throughout the month, take a peek at various new board games added to our library of things, and check out our brand-new museum passes! Whether you're attending a program or simply enjoying our collection of materials and items, there's something for everyone.

Visit us to discover new experiences, such as trying snacks from different countries, learning home decoration skills to help you sell your home, participating in STEM classes, grabbing a tree kit to plant, candle making, and much more. Please take advantage of all the resources and activities we offer. We look forward to seeing you!

I’m also thrilled to announce that, thanks to the generous support of the Somers Library Foundation, the Somers Library will launch a brand-new website in just a few weeks! Once the website goes live, we encourage our patrons to provide feedback to help us improve our online presence.

Kind regards,

Jessica Veissy, Library Director

Take a moment to look through our newsletter for details on upcoming programs and additional information.

Visit our website www.somerslibrary.org.

Our programs are supported by the

Friends of the Somers Library

through our patrons' generous contributions.

Adult Programs & Events

Cure Cabin Fever With Outdoor Museum & Park Passes 

Free with your Somers Library Card!

Empire Pass

Greenburgh Nature Center Pass

Mohonk Preserve Pass

Stamford Museum/Nature Center Pass

Chinese MahJongg: Learn & Play

Thursdays from 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Create & Sip Valentine Candles

Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Senior Monday! Therapy Dogs Visit

Monday, February 10 at 1 - 2:30 PM

Cookbook Club

Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 – 7:45 PM

We Never, Never Give Up: Indigenous Women Leaders

Tuesday, February 18 at 7 – 8 PM

Teens and Adults- International Dog Biscuit Day

Thursday, February 20 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Somers Library Book Group meets to discuss Erik Larson’s “The Demon of Unrest”

Hybrid, Friday, February 21 at 2:30 – 4 PM

Otaku Club

Sunday, February 23 at 3 - 5 PM

Senior Monday! Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Monday, February 24 at 1 – 2:30 PM

Decorating Your Home to Sell (or Dwell)

Thursday, February 27 at 7 – 8:30 PM

Photo Contest- Dogs! Dogs! Dogs!

February 1st to March 1st

Drop-In MahJong Club

Mondays & Fridays at 10:30 AM

Threads and Yarns

Fridays at 10:30 AM

Tech Coach: One-on-one Assistance for Adults

Schedule your 30-minute appointment

Teen & YA Programs & Events

February may be the shortest month but the library has a whole bunch of teen programs to keep you busy. We will be starting off our Snacks Around the World for 2025 with South Korea (2/24). If you haven't been before, we will be sampling chips, cookies, candy and other snacks from a different country each month. For Valentine's Day we have a craft program making glass Mosaic Suncatchers and as always you can create what you want and you don't have to stick with a heart shape. (2/11) On February 12th we will begin our Demigod Readers book club which will be reading the Percy Jackson series over the next several months. If you are a big fan of Rick Riordan, join anytime, for any book. During winter break we will be making Hot Chocolate on a Stick. Last of all you can also sign up for a free tree anytime until March 15th with pick up around Earth Day. All teen programs are Gr. 6-12.

Teen Asian Culture Club

Thursdays from 3:45 - 5 PM

Craft & Chill for Teens

Every Friday from 2:30 - 4:45 PM

STEM - Build a Piggy Bank

Wednesday, February 5 at 3:45 - 4:45 PM

Teens Mosaic Valentine’s Suncatcher

Tuesday, February 11 at 3:45 – 5 PM

The Demi God Readers – Percy Jackson Book Club

Wednesday, February 12 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Teens Make Hot Chocolate on a Stick for Grades 6 – 12

Tuesday, February 18 at 1 – 2 PM

We Never, Never Give Up: Indigenous Women Leaders

Tuesday, February 18 at 7 – 8 PM

Teens and Adults- International Dog Biscuit Day

Thursday, February 20 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Teen Snacks Around the World

Monday, February 24 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Children's Programs & Events

Happy February! Will spring come early or will we have 6 more weeks of winter? We have a lot going on in February for the children and their families. First, I want to thank the Somers Library Foundation for their generous gift on “ Giving Tuesday” so we could buy a toy chest to hold some of our children’s toys. It’s much appreciated and useful! Come on in and see it !  

Special events for February include Love Is In The Air (2/10) where we will read stories about Valentine's Day and make a fun valentine’s craft project. We have Science Around The House (2/19) starring Steve Tomecek known as the Dirtmeister who will perform wild and wacky science experiments from stuff around your house. We end the month with Hot Chocolate On a Stick (2/28) where the lucky ones get to make hot chocolate from chocolate on a stick and make yummy hot chocolate. We will also have Kids Bingo (2/25) bringing the classic game, popular with our older patrons, to our little ones. We are happy to continue with our Shake Your Sillies Out every Tuesday morning with Ms. Renee and our Playdate At The Library every Wednesday morning. This month the Tween Stem Club has an exciting afternoon building a piggy bank. Come sign up and join every month our Book Clubs for 3rd grade and one for 4th and 5th grade. We have our bi-monthly Drop -in-Lego Club held on Thursdays! Don’t forget we have our “ Color Our Cares Away “ which consists of different coloring sheets to show off your creativity.Additionally, we also have “A Piece Of The Puzzle”where you can pick up different word scrambles and can be challenged.Lastly, we have new children’s board games that have been added to the Library of Things in the library. Check it out! Let me end with a quote from Walt Disney saying “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”

Shake Your Sillies Out!

Tuesdays, at 10:30 – 11 AM

Playdates at the Library

Wednesdays, at 10:30 – 11:30 AM

STEM - Build a Piggy Bank

Wednesday, February 5 at 3:45 - 4:45 PM

“Love Is In The Air,” a Valentine’s Day Storytime & Craft

Monday, February 10 at 4 – 4:45 PM

3rd Grade Book Club

Wednesday, February 12 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Kids Snacks Around the World

Thursday, February 13 at 3:45 – 4 :45 PM

Science Around the House with Steve Tomecek a.k.a “The Dirtmeister®”

Wednesday February 19 at 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Come & Play BINGO

Tuesday, February 25 at 4 – 4:45 PM

4th & 5th Grade Book Club

Thursday, February 27 at 3:45 - 4:45 PM

Hot Chocolate on a Stick for Kids

Friday, February 28 at 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult in the building.

Artist of the Month: Jahyun Bae

On Display for February

Artists' Bio

Jahyun, originally from South Korea and now based in New York, is an artist captivated by the beauty of nature and the harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. With a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, her professional journey initially began as a math teacher, but her relocation to New York sparked a profound shift, leading her to embrace art wholeheartedly.

Primarily focusing on plein air painting, Jahyun captures the landscapes and natural beauty of New York’s Westchester and Connecticut regions, often adding imaginative elements to her work. A central theme in Jahyun's work is the exploration of dreams. Each piece is designed to evoke a sense of hope and possibility, encouraging others to embrace their own dreams with joy and optimism. Her art is characterized by rich textures, achieved through acrylics, oil pastels, and her signature use of modeling paste. Butterflies frequently appear in her paintings, symbolizing freedom and transformation.

Currently, Jahyun is immersed in creating landscape paintings and developing a children’s book inspired by nature and imagination. Her mission is to evoke happiness and vitality through her art, continuously experimenting with diverse mediums and styles.

Somers Library Foundation

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

As February begins, we often turn to thoughts of love, and what better way to show our love for our Somers Library but to donate to the Somers Library Foundation which funds Library projects such as the upcoming Teen Space expansion. Thanks to your generous support, the Somers Library Foundation has been able to accomplish many things. With the Friends of the Somers Library, we raised nearly $1000 through the Giving Day and have provided those funds to the Library to purchase laptops for beginner computer classes and updated devices for library patron use. The Foundation has also funded the Library’s t redesigned website and the new multi-function printer, the state of the art study pod outside of the Reading Room, as well as furniture for use in both the Children’s Room and current Teen Space.

The Foundation also hosts the Library’s Wish List on Amazon, items requested by the Library Staff, particularly the Children’s and Teen Directors, which can be purchased directly from Amazon and sent to the Library. Details and donation links are on the Somers Library Foundation’s website, somerslibraryfoundation.org.

The Somers Library Foundation meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm , usually in the Reading Room of the Library, and often on Zoom. Please consider joining us to learn more about the Foundation and how you can be a part of our future fundraising activities. We can be contacted by email, slf@somerslibrary.org.

Somers Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises funds to support projects that beautify, modernize and enrich the offerings and capabilities of the Somers Library, our community's intellectual and cultural center -- Working for YOU to improve our Library.

Friends of the Somers Library

We would like to thank everyone who purchased food during the Meal Deal promotion at Somers Super Deli. A donation for each meal purchased was made to the Friends of the Somers Library. Another fundraiser is being planned for the spring. The popular Northeast Etsy Artists Collective Makers Market will be returning to the Somers Library on Saturday and Sunday, May 3rd and 4th, just in time for Mothers' Day. They are sure to have many great gift ideas for Mom.

Some entertaining afternoons are being planned for the coming months. Library Week will kick off on Sunday, April 6th, at 2:00 pm, with the Briones Family Harmonies, featuring our Children's Librarian, Alan Briones, and his siblings. They wowed the audience with their music in the fall and we are happy to have them return. On Saturday, May 10th at 2:00 pm, GoJo Clan/Red Monkey will present Take Our Words For It, Women Having Their Say. This production consists of a half dozen theater pieces written by Westchester women exploring loss, infertility, and the objectification of women, pageants, and refugees.

Race Amity will meet in the Library on Sunday, February 9th, at 2:00 pm for fellowship and refreshments. The Zoom presentation and discussion will begin at 2:30. On Sunday, March 9th, there will be a Race Amity field trip to the Bethel Museum for a tour of their Black History exhibit. Watch for details.

The Friends are actively seeking new volunteers to support our Library. If you have any skills you would like to contribute, you are invited to join us. You can make a commitment that fits your schedule or your interest. Perhaps you wish to help at an occasional event or want to perform a particular task like technology assistance, public relations, fund raising, etc. You might want to play a larger roll and join the Board and attend monthly meetings. All help is needed and is welcomed. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00 pm in the Library. We invite you to sit in on a meeting, meet the Board members, and find out how you can help. Or you can email us for more information at somerslibaryfriends@gmail.com.

It's February and we're celebrating Valentine's Day. While you're sending Valentine wishes to your loved ones, why not send a little love to the Library, the heart of the Town. Perhaps a staff member helped you with a difficult search or taught you to understand some of the finer points of your technological devices. Maybe your little ones are enjoying some of the fun activities planned by our Children's Librarians. You might be enjoying one of the many diverse programs offered by our Library. Reach out and let the staff know that their efforts are appreciated.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

February Closures

Presidents' Day

The Somers Library will be closed all day on Monday, February 17

Regular hours to resume on Tuesday, February 18

We wish all our patrons a happy and safe holiday!

Our programs are supported by Friends of Somers Library

through our patrons' generous contributions.