Connections

May 21 2026

Friends of Crestwood Library's Centennial Conversations celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Crestwood Library are heating up!

On May 16, National Book Award for Fiction winner Colum McCann shared with us so many insights including, "I have always believed that libraries are essentially places without walls. They welcome us and expand our imaginations in powerful ways." Photos from event

Next up on Jun 6 is a Centennial Conversation with best-selling nonfiction author Simon Winchester.

Also in this issue, May is National Mental Health and National Pet months, join the city-wide Summer Reading Challenge and March with us on Memorial Day!

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Message from Branch Administrator

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Pet Month. Meet PK, my rescue cat. Our pets are special and in many homes like mine are considered family. They give joy and love, and sooth us when life gets wonky.

Pets support our mental health. Now is the time to support pets in need. At our library this month we are holding a food/toy/supplies drive for pets to be donated to Paws Crossed Animal Rescue in Elmsford. Two of our patrons, Delia and Valerie, are volunteers there. Please stop by with a donation to help pets in-waiting for their fur-ever homes. In Dec, we'll hold our annual drive for Yonkers Animal Shelter.

Z Baird

Branch Administrator, Crestwood Library

"Everyone Belongs Here"

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Next Centennial Conversation -

Simon Winchester - Jun 6

Simon Winchester, OBE, is a British writer, journalist and broadcaster. On Jun 6, join Winchester for a discussion, Q&A and book signing. Many of his books were New York Times bestsellers and have appeared on numerous best and notable lists. His latest book The Breath of the Gods, is all about how wind influences our lives and history!

Details

Sat, Jun 6 2026, 7-8:30 pm

Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church

Weyand Hall

167 Scarsdale Road

Yonkers, NY 10707

FREE. Seating is Limited. Register at Eventbrite

Click HERE to pre-order books by Winchester to pick up for signing at the event.

Generously sponsored by Friends of Crestwood Library.

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Summer Reading Begins Jun 1

Dig Into Some Good Books!

"Unearth A Story" is the official national summer reading theme for 2026. Spearheaded by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), the theme centers around dinosaurs, paleontology, history, nature and archaeology.

Summer Reading encourages kids, teens and adults to dig into good books, uncover hidden histories and explore the thrill of discovery. We are also digging deep to include worms for our STEAM programing, sustainable gardening activities, Crestwood Centennial History and more!

Help YPL Surpass Summer 2025 Reading Results of more than 27,000 books read.

2025 Summer Reading Challenge was our biggest ever!

Let's keep Yonkers reading and make the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge even bigger!

Thank you to all who participated for making this a true citywide celebration of reading!

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March with Friends of Crestwood Library on Memorial Day - Mon May 25

Schedule

9 am Friends of Crestwood Library sets up table at American Legion Plaza

9:45 Friends marchers assemble at Annunciation School playground

10 Parade begins marching toward American Legion Plaza near Crestwood train station

10:40 Ceremony begins

About 11:30 Ceremony ends. Cupcakes & refreshments

Needed: Members, Families, Friends & Volunteers to March or volunteer at our table. To Help Contact: patdolanmanning@gmail.com

@gmail.comriendsofcrestwoodlibrary@gmail.co

In the event of heavy rain, Parade will be cancelled and the 10:30am Ceremony will be moved to Annunciation School Gym.

Email CrestwoodMemorialDay@gmail.com for parade updates.

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Many thanks to Ann Rakoff, Board Member, Friends of Crestwood Library, for her generous donation to sponsor Connections for 2026. (She is one of the volunteers writing and sending Connections.)