Raining Dogs & Cats, Plants & Plans
The Library didn’t let a little rain, ok, a lot of rain dampen our Royal Party on Saturday, September 27th. We simply moved into the community room to welcome knights and princesses for cupcakes, games, and sword fights! We had such a good time and plan on offering another Royal Party next spring for those who may have missed out on the fun or wish to attend as a returning guest.
The rain continued on Monday, September 29th, but it didn’t slow the Library down. Library Director Mrs. Cindy Scheu and a staff member set up a vending station at “The Good Neighbor Information and Help Center” program hosted by Grace Hills Baptist Church. The purpose of this program was to offer local seniors much-needed information about the importance of wills, Medicare and health insurance, financial preparedness, bank scams, and more. The Library along with several other vendors offered information directed toward senior citizens to potentially enhance their well-being mentally, financially, and physically. The Library passed out newsletters, other library-related information, swag bags and bookmarks to each person who stopped by our booth.
The dogs were back! Twice yearly Old Dominion K-9 SAR (Search And Rescue) from Tennessee comes to central Virginia to train personal and professional working dogs all over the east coast in the art of man trailing and other skills need to locate persons in need. They practice in the town’s parking lot behind the Library, and staff welcomes them inside to help tune the skills of handlers and dogs alike. The Library staff put out a table with fresh hot coffee, cream, assorted sweeteners and donuts to show their appreciation for all the hard work that this group does to keep everyone safe and give hope that rescue resources are available when the time arises.
On Wednesday, October 1st’s Story and Craft Time Library Fairy traded in her wings for a witch’s hat as she presented the book “The Leaf Thief” by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater. Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree – red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends. The kids enjoyed snacks while making a squirrel hide-and-seek leaf scene. Our next Story and Craft Time will be on Wednesday, October 8th, at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm, featuring author Kerri Rundstrom as she reads her book “Max and the Moo Mystery”! A playful and empowering book that helps kids understand what alpha-gal allergies are and helps to build food confidence by becoming label-reading superheroes. The Library will serve alpha-gal friendly snacks.
We had a last-minute booking on Wednesday, for a private craft and movie time. We managed to rock it by providing a beaded pumpkin craft and showing a movie from the famous teenage detective team with a green flowered van and a clever dog.
Also, on Wednesday the Library welcomed Curtis from Farmers Bank of Appomattox. Curtis provided participants with the opportunity to educate themselves on established and new banking scams and how to protect yourself from the classic and ever-changing trends designed to fraudulently gain access to your funds. The public was allowed to ask questions, express concerns, or share personal stories. Curtis had several informational sheets and bookmarks to remind those that attended the signs to watch out for. The next Farmers Bank presentation will be on Tuesday, October 21st, starting at 5:00 pm in the Library’s community room.
The much-anticipated Fall Plant Swap was held in the Library’s community room on Thursday, October 2nd. Patrons brought in plants and exchanged them for others in this fun interactive program designed to spark an interest in gardening, indoor plants, and horticulture education. The Library carries a nice selection indoor and outdoor gardens, plants, succulents, landscaping books and a growing seed library.
On Friday, October 3rd we hosted a small group of adults for a private movie time, providing them with snacks and a safe, quiet place to gather and enjoy an activity. If your group wants the Library to host an event for you please feel free to reach out to us.
A HUGE thank you to owner Alexis from Griffin’s Garden, an up-and-coming micro flower farm new to Appomattox. Griffin’s Garden was the first business to host herb/vegetable/flower beds at the Library! Alexis personally came to the Library on Friday to plant lettuce, spinach, and wildflowers in the three beds that Griffin’s Garden is sponsoring! She has plans on changing the beds out seasonally to host a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers to attract local bees, birds, and butterflies. The Library welcomes families, businesses and other organizations to sponsor their own bed(s) of zone-friendly plants.
On Saturday October 4th the Library Director hosted her monthly Creative Class for Adults. Using recycled tin cans, paint, mod-podge, and napkins attendees created pretty planters. The Library provided all supplies including dirt and pre-rooted plants so everyone took home a completed planter.
The Library has a short but full week of programs next week, including several family resource organizations, Story & Craft Time, Teen & Adult Book Clubs, Girls Who Code, a poster contest creation time hosted by Robert E Lee Soil and Water Conservation District, a spooky telling of an Edgar Allen Poe short story, and hosting a private movie time.
This Library has taken an active role in our community for nearly 3 decades and currently we are working in conjunction with Friends of Holliday Lake by displaying their “Stained Glass Vision” quilt they are raffling off to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and Friends of Holliday Lake. This beautiful quilt was donated by Celeste of Country Lane Quilter in honor of her dear friend Lorraine. Lorraine, who has since passed away from cancer, started this quilt and it was finished by Celeste and friends in her memory. If you would like to see the quilt in person we encourage you to stop by the Library. For chances on this quilt, you may contact Celeste at 603-547-5903 or visit the Friends of Holliday Lake’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080228708707
Penny and her posse are still ridding strong around Appomattox. If you find Penny, or a member of her posse (a cat-shaped rubber duck) you are encouraged to bring them back to the Library and exchange them for a Penny Pincher Posse Prize. We will continue to hide Penny and members of her posse around town until all the kitty-ducks have vanished. To keep this fun and interactive game going we encourage you to return the kitty-ducks. Once they are gone, the game is over.
In observation of the Railroad Festival and Columbus Day, the Library will be closed to the public from Friday, October 10th, through Monday, October 13th. The book depository at the back of the building will also be closed during this time. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause our patrons. We will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, October 14th, starting at 9:30 am.