Welcome April!
 
There's a debate going on right now, among library staff--and perhaps some of you. It's contentious, complicated, and brings out passion on both sides: when do we put away the snow shovels? 
 
For me (Sophie), it is imperative to not tempt fate until mid-April. As my family lore goes, my sister, born April 14, was nearly delivered at home because my parents couldn't get someone to come watch me, let alone get out of the driveway to get to the hospital. 
 
For Michelle, it isn’t so much the actual date as the holiday. She has vivid memories of her little girl self, dressed in her Sunday best which always included a brand new pair of white patent leather Mary Janes each Easter. The Blizzard of ’78 had just walloped her neck of the woods – followed by more snow in the ensuing weeks. By the time Easter rolled around that year, a significant amount of sooty, slushy snow remained on the ground. Moms across the northeast dashed their daughters’ hopes of wearing the Fancy Shoes in favor of …the Snow Boots. Paired with a new dress, there was nothing finer. Sadly, no photographic evidence of that year’s Easter outfit exists.
 
For Barb, it was a birthday that will live in infamy--on her Sweet Sixteen, she went to the DMV to get her license, and then proudly drove off all by herself. Until she took her car and newly minted license around a snowy bend and straight into a cement culvert. The date? April 24th. 
 
Perhaps, with our changing climate, I no longer need to wait quite that long each April to keep my shovel cluttering my garage. But in my heart of hearts, it's still fair game for snow until mid-April. Sure, I'll wear shorts and enjoy an adult beverage at a baseball game if the weather permits, but I'll still have my trusty shovel in my car.
 
Read more below for programs in celebration of Earth Month and the continuation of our Climate Series, National Library Week, and upcoming entertainment. And let me know when YOU put away your snow shovels!
 
Next Week at the Library!                  Week of April 4, 2022
Pinwheel Garden Special Event
Tuesday, April 5 at 10:30
 
Join us outside (weather permitting) for a special event to celebrate childhood. Patrice Leary-Forrey from Kids Free to Grow will be our community helper guest as we read stories, sing, make pinwheels and plant out a pinwheel garden. 
Please register. 
 
Can't make it? We will have some pinwheel crafts available to pick up and take home!
Indigenous Climate Justice: From Wabanaki Territory to the World
Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 
 
Dr. Darren Ranco will examine the role of Indigenous Nations in Climate Justice movements and climate change impacts to the Wabanaki Tribal Nations and their cultural and policy responses. Emphasis will be on how climate change is threatening indigenous livelihoods such as agriculture, hunting and gathering, fishing, forestry, energy, recreation, and tourism, and in turn how these threats are already impacting the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of Wabanaki and other Indigenous people. This program is presented through a Maine Speaks grant through Maine Humanities Council.
 
Register here for this virtual event.
Mid-Day Meditation (Virtual)
Thursdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28
 
Join Kalyana on Thursdays at lunchtime for a 30-minute guided mindfulness meditation.
 
Register here for this virtual event.
La Madeleine Concert
Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 PM
 
Join us in the Community Room for a unique blend of French folk songs and ballads, and Celtic fiddle tunes. La Madeleine performs the songs of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Georges Moustaki, Gilles Vigneault and a variety of other French and French Canadian artists, along with a mix of accordion and fiddle-driven celtic instrumentals.
Earth Month
Earth Day and More!
 
Over the month of April, we'll be celebrating our beautiful planet in a variety of ways. Click the links to find out more!
  • Environmental Take and Makes for Kids (through April 15)
  • Climate Reporting with Maine Public Radio (April 13)
  • Special Earth Day Storytime (April 22) 
  • Sustainability is for Everyone  (April 27)
  • Repair Cafe (April 30)
  • Climate Hero Challenge Course for Kids (all month)
Library News
Newsletters for Youth Services
 
We now have specific newsletters to which you can subscribe for monthly news specifically for children or young adults. Click here to choose which newsletters you'd like to add. 
 
Don't worry if you forget--we'll keep highlighting youth events in our regular emails too! 
Student Art Show
 
The York Public Schools Student Art Show will be on display throughout the Library until April 30. The show features a variety of art from paintings to drawings, sculpture and multi-media masterpieces created by students from Village Elementary, Coastal Ridge Elementary and York Middle School. We invite students, their families and the community to come together to appreciate the incredible talent of youth in York. 
Movie Time
 
We're dipping our toes back into the water of showing movies at YPL, starting with the movie that goes along with our April Book to Movie Book Club. Join us on Saturday April 23 at 2:00 PM to watch News of the World (2020 | PG-13 |1 hour 58 minutes.)
Library Closures in April 
 
York Public Library will be closed on 
  • Monday, April 18, in honor of Patriot's Day
  • Friday, April 29, for a staff in-service day. 
Success!
 
Thanks to the support of the wonderful York community, Nicole Pestana, Town of York Emergency Management Director, was able to send many items overseas to support the people of Ukraine. In her words, "in total, we had about 50 full boxes of items to deliver to Ukraine, all other items that we could not send overseas but were still in good condition were donated locally to continue onto a good home." 
   
15 Long Sands Road | York, Maine 03909
 207-363-2818 | info@yorkpubliclibrary.org
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