From our colleagues at the Schenectady County Public Library comes this announcement of a bus trip that should interest book lovers!

• by Friends of Schenectady County Public Library

SCHENECTADY, NY (08/13/2010)(readMedia)– On Saturday, October 2, 2010, the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library will sponsor a trip to Brattleboro, Vermont to attend the 9th annual Brattleboro Literary Festival. Among the authors presenting are Sue Miller, Jeffrey Zaslow, Ellen Fitzpatrick and British author Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. All events are free. Those attending the Festival will be on their own all day to attend the author sessions of their own choosing. The Festival will take place throughout the town and will involve quite a lot of walking.

The Wade Tour bus will depart promptly at 7:00 a.m. from the Barnes and Noble book store on the State Street side of the parking lot at Mohawk Commons, Niskayuna. The estimated return time is 8 p.m. The trip costs $30 for Friends of SCPL members and $40 for nonmembers. Lunch is on your own. There will be no dinner stop but participants can order an optional brown bag lunch for the return trip which will cost an additional $10. Registration forms, which are due no later than September 10, 2010, can be found at the library, on the library web site and at the Whitney Book Corner. Checks must accompany all registration forms. Contact Lisa Holt at lahnisky@yahoo.com or 370-1811 if you have any questions.

The 2010 Summer Reading Program came to a raucous conclusion yesterday with a party featuring Grandma Tippy Toes! It was a great summer filled with interesting and entertaining programs and activities; all enjoyed by over 100 local boys and girls. Most importantly LOTS of reading was accomplished…over 1,500 books were logged by kids and parents. Our participants included rookies all the way up to a 9th year veteran.  Thanks to all who took part, congrats to all our great readers and we look forward to seeing you in the library throughout the upcoming school year.

Through Aug. 13th the library will be hosting a traveling exhibit featuring artwork from acclaimed marine life artist Wyland.  Information on the artist and his foundation is available here.

From our friends and partners at the Waterford Historical Museum comes this reminder that this weekend marks the return of the Annual Waterford Heritage Day festivities.

The Annual Waterford Heritage Day celebrations will take place on Saturday, July 24, at Garrett Field, located in Waterford, New York.

Waterford Heritage Day is an event celebrating our regions rich firefighting heritage as well as the historic Button Fire Engine Company which manufactured hand and steam powered engines from the 1830’s to 1890’s in Waterford, New York.  Waterford is located at the cross-roads of the once bustling Erie and Champlain Canals, where canal boats were used to ship Button fire engines to their locations throughout the United States.

To kick-off the 9^th annual Waterford Heritage Day, on Friday, July 23 at the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center, the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, The Village of Waterford and the Waterford Village Library will co-produce the annual Concert Under the Stars, a FREE Concert performed by The Johnny Rabb Trio. The evening will also include a barbeque at 6:00 PM and end with a fireworks display, at 9:00 PM. (Rain location will be the Waterford Civic Center on Third Street)

On Saturday, July 24, Waterford Heritage Day events start at 10:00 AM with a parade of marching bands and, antique and modern fire engines from around the Northeast as they proceed through the Village of Waterford to Garrett Field on Burton Ave.  After opening ceremonies a Button hand fire engine will perform a traditional “Wet Down” to celebrate Waterford’s Ford Hose Fire Company’s new engine!

Teams from throughout New England and New York will compete in an old fashioned firemen’s competition or “muster”, a competition where teams hand-pump their antique, restored fire engines to see who can throw water the furthest.  Come watch – or even join in – as fire teams muster.  Community participation is welcomed and all Capital Region fire companies are encouraged to join in the competition by sending representatives to help pump the engines. After the muster watch as Ford Hose’s new engine takes on an antique engine to see who can through water the furthest.

Throughout the day visitors can view, and even vote for their favorite antique and modern fire engines, on display throughout Garret Field.  Enjoy the craft fair and food vendors, while the kids bounce in the bouncy-house and much more!

“We are all proud of Waterford’s rich history,” says Steve Delarge, President and CEO, Silicones Americas, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., a primary community sponsor for Heritage Day.  “It’s important to look back at the community’s many accomplishments and share our heritage with each generation.  Waterford is a vibrant community; from being the birthplace of the World Famous Button Fire Engine Company to the many diverse businesses that contribute to our local economy today.  Momentive Performance Materials is delighted to serve as a sponsor of this wonderful Waterford tradition.”  DeLarge, along with his wife Roxanne, will be the Honorary Grand Marshall of the Heritage Day Parade.

The library is honored to display two paintings by noted local artist Robert Moylan.  So we are excited to learn that he will be part of a new exhibition of landscapes which opens tomorrow June 25th. Complete information can be found here. Thanks to our friends at Nippertown for the heads up!