Come to the How to Festival this Saturday
This Saturday at the Centennial branch, we have a day filled with fun that is free for the whole family. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all ages can learn new skills, sports and crafts: make ice cream, braid a rope, operate robots, play an instrument, use a 3D printer, join a roller derby, learn about lacrosse and golf, have cartoonists help you sketch, draw, and make that superhero look just right and much, much more. The Friends of the Library will be offering water, pop and hot dogs by donation and the popcorn maker will be operating. Please plan to park off-site: space is available at the Fort Erie Railroad Museum, the Fort Erie Tennis Club and the former Knights of Columbus Hall. The How-To Festival is a great way to kick off Public Library Month in Canada, but it’s only the beginning.
Storymakers is a program for creative young writers ages 7 to 15 taking place on Mondays during October and November at 7:00 p.m. at the Centennial branch. Each week we will develop new writing skills, such as plot arcs, character development, and descriptive language, create new pieces of work, and try creative writing challenges. We’ll work towards publishing our own mini zine to share with family and friends. Registration for Storymakers is $5 for the 8 week series, a fee which includes a notebook and supplies. Writers’ Group for ages 16 and up begins on Wednesday evening, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Ian Hamilton, author of the Ava Lee mystery series, will be at the Centennial branch of the library on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. for a reading, book sales and signing. His visit is sponsored in part by the Canada Council for the Arts. We encourage all mystery fans to attend, whether they have already discovered Hamilton’s work or not. Hamilton is not a stranger to the literary world. He began his career as a journalist and has written for several magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including Maclean’s, Boston Magazine, Saturday Night, and the Calgary Herald.
The library is proud to partner with the Bert Miller Nature Club, the Niagara Falls Nature Club, Niagara Beeway and Peninsula Field Naturalists for two public screenings of The Messenger, an artful investigation into the causes of songbird depletion and the people working to stop the destruction. This visually thrilling film reveals how the issues facing birds also pose daunting implications for our planet. The first showing will be at the Centennial branch on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. The next presentation will be at the Crystal Ridge branch on Tuesday, Oct. 11, starting at 2 p.m. Both showings are free, and suitable for ages 8 and up.
Looking ahead to Ontario Public Library Week, Oct. 17 – 22, there will be even more to learn and do in store. Do you enjoy a delicious cup of tea? Are you interested in learning more about your favourite warm beverage? A Tea Seminar will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Centennial branch. Tea is a drink with a fascinating history and rich culture, and Amanda Galenkamp of the Polar Tea Company with certified TAC Tea Sommelier James Cadeau will be here to offer a professional tea tasting with 3 rounds of tasting and a total of 24 different teas. Please register ahead, with payment of the $12 fee. Space is limited to 15 people.
Our fifth annual Trivia Time will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Centennial branch. Have fun with friends, test your knowledge, support your library and enjoy great prizes, all at the same time. Tickets are $15 per person, and there is room for four to six at a table. Be sure someone at your table registers the group. Your ticket includes a piece of pizza and a beverage; you can buy penny auction tickets, 50-50 draw chances and more. Doors will open at 6 p.m.; the contest begins at 6:30 p.m.
Information on these and all our programs is available on our website, www.fepl.ca. Amy Roebuck is the community services coordinator at the Fort Erie Public Library. And ongoing programs such as knitting for all ages, writers’ group, Stories for 2s and 3s, Tech Help.