April happenings at the library

Attendees may catch the solar eclipse, explore cooking fun, and more at the Chippewa River District Library (CRDL) Systems this month.

Here’s a look at April’s event calendar. All events are free but registration is required for some events.

For everyone

• Solar Eclipse Experience-april 6 at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. This event is a part of a partnership with CMU Center for Excellence in STEM Education and attendees may explore the concepts of light, shadow, and heat at stations throughout the library to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse. Participants will receive eclipse glasses, snacks, and a CRDL bag, while supplies last. They may also turn in their S.E.E Activity Passport for a chance to win NASA swag.

• Solar Eclipse Glasses Pick up-april 6 at 1 p.m. at all CRDL branches. Free solar eclipse glasses are available to pick up at all CRDL branch libraries during open business hours starting on Saturday, April 6, from 1 p.m. until closing on Monday, April 8, or while supplies last. Viewing a solar eclipse without proper eyewear may cause severe eye injury and one pair of glasses per person is encouraged

• NASA Solar Eclipse Live Stream Watch Party-april 8 from 1 — 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Watch the 2024 total solar eclipse through the eyes of NASA at the library’s live stream watch party. Mt. Pleasant will experience a deep partial eclipse with a 93.4% totality, expected to begin near 1:55 p.m. and peaking at 3:13 p.m.

• Kids in the Kitchen: Edible Play Dough-april 19, all day at all CRDL branches. Families are encouraged to get in the kitchen and create edible sculptures. Kits include instructions and ingredients for the featured recipe, wheat-free play dough. Registration required and one kit per family is encouraged.

Adults

• Tech Tuesday-every Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. April 2 — Basic Computing, April 9 — Basic Internet and email, April 16 — Basic Internet Safety, April 23 — Password Managers and Browser Extensions, and April 30 — Tech Drop In. No registration is needed for April 30 but registration is required for the other classes.

• True Crime Club: H.H. Holmes-april 7 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. The club will be reading and discussing ‘The Devil in the White City’ by Erik Larson.

• Spice It Up: Chili Flakes-april 10, all day at all branches. Laura from Greentree Co-op Market will share a tasty recipe using a selected spice of the month. This event will be a blog post to view at the leisure of those interested. Register each month to receive a sample of this month’s spice at the nearest branch. Registration is required.

• Brown Bag Book Discussion Group-april 17 at 12 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. For April, the group will be discussing ‘Coronation Year’ by Jennifer Robson. Feel free to bring lunches.

• Cookbook Club-april 22 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Watch a cooking demonstration led by students in the GI-TEC Culinary Arts class, discuss the featured cookbook, and enjoy a sample of Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, a popular dessert from the 1950s. GI-TEC students will also provide a surprise sample from a recipe chosen by them. One lucky attendee will win a copy of the cookbook. This is a partnership with the Gratiot-isabella Technical Education Center: Culinary Arts Class and City of Mt. Pleasant Department of Recreation — Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market. Registration is required.

• College Exam Cram Bags-april 22-29, all day at Veterans Memorial Library. Stop by the library and grab an exam-cram bag. In it, extra supplies and goodies to make studying for exam just a little bit easier can be found. It is available for pickup at the Help Desk while supplies last.

• Growing Food on a Budget-april 29 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Join Garden Project at Veterans Memorial Library for a free workshop covering gardening basics on any budget. Gain insights into soil fertility, garden site prep, and seed selection. Walk away with free seeds, educational guides, and the knowledge to start your thriving garden. Registration is required.

Fun for teens

• CRDL Teen Library Council: Volunteen Night Summer Sign-up-6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Teen in grades 9-12 are invited to come together and connect on different volunteer projects for the community. Registration is required.

• CRDL Teen Take & Make: DIY Shrinky Dink Charms-april 11 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. The library will provide the supplies and instructions to create unique shrinky dink charms. For grades 6-12. Please allow extra time if you request a branch delivery for your kit. Registration is required.

• Middle School Reading Masters-april 21 at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. The group meets on Zoom or in person for a lighthearted book discussion. This month, the group will be meeting in person for a pizza party followed by a lighthearted book discussion and serving pizza to participants who join in person. The group will read and discuss ‘Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie’ by Jordan Sonnenblick. Registration is required.

Fun for kids

Stories with Mermaid Molly-april 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Attendees can expect a special mermaid-themed storytime with Mermaid Molly, a real mermaid who performs in the Great Lakes region. Mermaid Molly will be available for a story, and participants will get to interact with her, ask questions, and take photos. Babies to preschoolers will enjoy stories, songs, and dancing while building vital early literacy skills. This storytime is for children ages 0 to 5.

• Rainbow Storytime-april 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Attendees may expect color themed stories, songs and crafts while celebrating diversity of every kind. This storytime is for all ages.

• Special Storytime: Dog Days-april 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Attendees have the opportunity to meet and pet real therapy dogs, learn about what they do and enjoy dog themed stories, songs and dance while building vital early literacy skills. This storytime is for children ages 0 to 5.

• Blue Jays Gaming Group-april 11 at 3:15 p.m. at Shepherd Community Library. For students in grades 4-8.

• Playgroup at the Library-april 12 and 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. The library will provide developmentally appropriate toys and activities to encourage Imaginative Play, Sensory Stimulation, Motor Skills, and Muscle Building. Young children and their caregivers will have time to interact with other families through play.

• Story and Craft Kit: The Day the Crayons Quitapril 15, all day at Veterans Memorial Library. This program for preschool and early elementary families. Those interested will receive a free copy of that month’s picture book and a simple craft kit to complete together. Registration is required.

• LEGO Club-april 15 at 4:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library.

• Elementary Readers Book Club: Dodger and Meapril 18 at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. A monthly book club for upper elementary students. This month, the club will be meeting on Zoom for a lighthearted book discussion on ‘Dodger and Me’ by Jordan Sonnenblick. Grades 3 — 5 recommended. Registration is required.

• Special Storytime: Safety and Stories-april 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Join representatives from the Isabella County Child Advocacy

Center for a special storytime about staying safe. Babies to preschoolers will enjoy stories, songs, and dancing while building vital early literacy skills! This storytime is for children ages 0 to 5.

• Minecraft and Craft Night-april 25 at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library. Join in for craft activities and/or an joining the library’s Minecraft server for creative gaming. Computers and user accounts are limited and will be available on a first-come-firstserved basis. Parents must be in attendance for the entirety of this program.

• Create, Make & Takeapril 30 at 4:30 p.m. at Shepherd Community Library. Stop by the Shepherd Community Library afterward to pick up a kit version of this month’s craft.

• Baby Time, ages 0 — 2 years-thursdays at 9:45 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library.

• Family Story Time for ages 0 — 5 years. Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Johnston Memorial Library and Shepherd Community Library, or Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library

• Music & Movement, ages 0 — 5 years-april 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Library.

Community Resources at Veterans Memorial Library-mondays, 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.

• Workers with Isabella Citizens for Health will provide information and resources related to health insurance enrollment, transportation assistance, housing resources, and more.