May's Artist of the Month
During the month of May, we are partnering with MHA of Dutchess County Veterans Programs to present "Building Brick by Brick: A Veteran Art Exhibit".
Veteran artists will showcase sculptural 'bricks'—a fusion of paint and mixed media— that delve into the layered complexities of rebuilding their lives after military service. These powerful works explore the emotional toll of reintegration, the coping mechanisms they've developed, and the vital resources required to overcome the challenges they face. Through their art, these Veterans will unpack their personal journeys, building a visual foundation that honors the strength and resilience behind the freedoms we hold dear.
The exhibit will be on display at the Library for the entire month of May. Those visiting the PV library can add the names of family or friends who have served in the military to one of the commemorative ‘bricks’ that will become part of this large scale art project. Come express your pride for loved ones through adding their stories of service & sacrifice. These bricks will represent both living and deceased service members in our community and beyond!
Please join us for an open house and reception on Friday, May 16th anytime between 2pm and 5pm (presentations at 3pm) for refreshments and to meet some of the veteran artists.
We are always looking for new artists who want to display their work in the Library! Please email programs@pvlibrary.org for more information.
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Summer Birds of Dutchess County
w/ Alan Peterson
Thursday, May 1st - 2:30pm to 4:30pm
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Please join us and Marist College Center for Lifetime Study for a lecture on the Summer Birds of Dutchess County, with Alan Peterson, education chair for the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club of Dutchess County. He'll present a slide show of the more common types of birds found in our area, and will discuss their songs, behaviors and habitats, to help improve the ability to find and identify these species.
Dr. Peterson is a retired veterinarian with a Master’s degree in zoology, a lifelong birder and 19-year veteran of the New Jersey World Series of Birding.
The Marist College Center for Lifetime Study (CLS) operates under the auspices of the Marist School of Professional Programs. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for educational, intellectual and cultural growth for people 55 and older.
Registration is required.
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Vegetable Gardening for Beginners III
Monday, May 5th @ 6pm
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Join us for the third part of our 3-part series on vegetable gardening!
Part 3: Vegetables That Need Heat will cover a refresher and any questions from April's class on First Planting and Cool Weather Veggies. Then, Master Gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension will discuss best practices for planting beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and peppers, as well as common pests and diseases, and crop rotation.
Attendees will take home seeds for cucumbers, beans, zucchini, squash, peppers, and tomatoes.
Attendance at our March and April programs is not necessary to enjoy this informative program.
Registration is required.
| | We Love Mom! Drop-In Mother's Day Crafts | | |
Celebrate Mom with a special craft! Kids can come make a beautiful Mother's Day craft to gift!
No registration required - just stop by.
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for ages 5 to 11 years
Wednesday, May 7th
3pm to 5pm
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for ages 3 to 8 years
Thursday, May 8th
1pm to 2pm
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Celtic Harp Concert
w/ Candace Coates, the Highland Harper
Friday, May 9th @ 6pm
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Enjoy original harp music performed on the double strung harp by Candace Coates, the Highland Harper. She'll also share stories of her unique encounters with wild and domestic animals, who have been drawn to the sweet sound of her harp music.
Born and raised in Dutchess County, Candace has been playing the Celtic harp since 1993, and is mostly self-taught. She has performed solo and with her own Celtic band and a traditional Irish group, in venues ranging from outdoor public spaces to formal events. In 2015, she founded a school harp program for Saint Therese Classical Learning Academy in Middletown, NY, and also became a harp teacher for Dutchess Community College. She has recorded two independent albums, and played on two tracks of "Life," a 2024 new jazz style album by alternative Jazz vocalist and composer Laird Jackson.
Registration is required.
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Crafterday!: "Shabby Chic" 3D Papercraft
Wall Hangings
Saturday, May 10th @ 12pm
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Join popular local papercraft artist Michelle Mead as she guides you to make "Shabby Chic" 3D Papercraft Wall Hangings. Shabby Chic is a design style combining vintage, rustic, and romantic elements to create a nostalgic, aged appearance with soft colors, gentle textures, and a lived-in aesthetic. Everyone will be able to make two - one for yourself and one for someone special. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided.
This program is for ages 15 and up.
Registration is required - space is limited.
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Plants & Puzzles Sale!
Saturday, May 10th - 9am to 2pm
| Our Friends have brought it back again this spring - the ever popular Plants & Puzzles Sale! Held on the front lawn, porch, and reading room within the Library, they will have tons of great plants (and of course puzzles!) for purchase. Shop ground cover, flowers, herbs, and more! | | |
Senior Movie Morning:
Documentary Double-Feature!
Wednesday, May 14th @ 11:30pm
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Our monthly seniors-only matinee program is hosting a special double-feature this month! Light refreshments will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own snacks or lunch to enjoy!
Registration is required.
For May, we will screen these two fascinating documentaries:
| | "Birders: The Central Park Effect" (2012, 1 hour) reveals the extraordinary array of beautiful wild birds who grace Manhattan's celebrated park, and the equally colorful, full-of-attitude New York birdwatchers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. Featuring spectacular wildlife footage, this lyrical documentary transports the viewer to a dazzling world that goes all but unnoticed by the 38 million people who visit Central Park each year. | | "The Automat" (2021, 1 hour 19 minutes) focuses on Horn & Hardart's famed vending-machine food-service restaurants that were popular in cities like NYC and Philadelphia in the 20th century. Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Carl Reiner and other famous and everyday people share their memories of these unique and nostalgic cafeterias that have become a symbol of a vanished era. | | |
Family STEAM Game Day!
Friday, May 16th - 1pm to 3pm
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EVERYBODY can explore the world of STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math - through fun games that don't feel like learning! Children ages 4 to 12 years and their families can stop by between 1pm and 3pm to play some of our STEAM Lab games.
No registration is required!
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LEGO Create & Display
Friday, May 23rd @ 1pm
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Come to the library on Friday, May 23rd at 1pm to make a themed LEGO creation! This program is open to children ages 6 to 12. After the Lego creations are complete, they will be put on display in the Children's Room!
Registration is required.
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"We Want the Funk!"
A Special PBS Movie Screening
Saturday, May 31st @ 2pm
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Pleasant Valley Library and WMHT Channel 17 Albany Present a Free Preview Screening of PBS Indie Lens Pop-Up: "We Want The Funk!" by filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Nicole London. This film is a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music, from early African, soul and early jazz roots, to its rise into the public consciousness in the 1970s and beyond. Featuring James Brown's dynamism, the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton's Parliament Funkadelic, transformed girl group Labelle, and Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, the story traces funk's influences on both new wave and hip-hop.
Registration is required.
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registration is open now!
Toddler Time
Children ages 18 to 36 months (3yrs) and their caregivers are welcome to enjoy read-aloud stories, educational music, and a creative activity to work on together.
Register here for Mondays @ 11am
Register here for Tuesdays @ 11am
Pre-K Stories Independent children ages 3 to 5 years are welcome to enjoy a story, music, and a creative activity!
Register here for Tuesdays @ 1pm
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Reading
Fur-iend Brianna!
Monday, May 12th - 3:30pm to 5pm
Brianna the Therapy Dog will be at the library to help children that are not comfortable reading out-loud in front of others (or being around dogs) feel more relaxed. She loves when kids who love animals come to read to her, even if they are already comfortable readers.
No registration required!
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Thursday, May 15th @ 11am
Monday, May 19th @ 12:30pm
7 to 17 month olds and their caregivers can come interact with themselves, with each other, and with the Library through hands-on exploration of the senses, spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, socialization, and more! Caregivers can enjoy the relaxed environment to converse together while they help their Littles explore educational toys and board books.
Children MUST be able to sit on their own, unassisted and without support.
No registration required - just stop by!
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Make & Take Adult Craft
available beginning May 1st, while supplies last
This month we are making a Spring Flower & Fairy Light Jar! Each bag contains all the supplies you will need and step by step instructions.
**available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last, for adults 18+ only, limit one per household
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Book Discussion Group
Wednesday, May 21st @ 7pm
Come join our book discussion group! The group usually meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm. No sign up is required - just order a copy of the book, read it, and join us!
Our book for May is 'Olga Dies Dreaming' by Xochitl Gonzalez. If you'd like to reserve a copy click here, then join us at our meeting!
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SAVE THE DATE
Friends of the PV Library
Yard Sale!
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Saturday, June 7th
9am to 3pm
on the Library's front lawn
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Whether you're doing some spring cleaning, downsizing, or just have stuff to sell, our Friends Yard Sale is the perfect way clear out your house!
Stop by the Library to register for a spot to sell your new and gently used goods- spaces are $20 each (cash or check made out to the Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library). All proceeds benefit the Library.
Sign up early, as space is limited!
Not looking to sell? Then come shop! Support the Library and your neighbors - you never know what treasures you'll find at a yard sale!
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*This program requires registration.
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