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From puppet and art workshops, to science classes and shows, to super special storytimes with local children's authors, we have something for everyone! |
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RCLS Road Trip 2025
Looking for a local adventure this summer? Take the RCLS Road Trip 2025 from June 30 to September 30. Your journey starts by picking up a Travel Log at any RCLS library, featuring all RCLS libraries across Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Visit any library and get your log stamped at each stop to earn entries for prize drawings. Each library reflects the character of its community—no two stops are the same.
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In Her Words Writer's Group
Meets second Wednesdays
6:30 - 8 PM
No registration required.
A creative writing group exclusively for women, In Her Words is a supportive space to explore the power of storytelling. Whether you’re crafting fiction, poetry, memoirs, or essays, this group encourages women to connect, inspire, and grow as writers. With regular prompts, workshops, and opportunities to share your work, we’ll celebrate the unique voices and perspectives of every member. Beginners and seasoned writers alike are welcome—come as you are, and let your words take flight!
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Mah Jongg for Beginners with Misha FredricksSundays, July 20 - August 10
2:30 - 4:30 PM Join Misha Fredericks, a local Math tutor and Mah Jongg enthusiast, for a four-part series to learn how to play American Mah Jongg - a fun and addictive game. Class One 7/20: Names of the tiles as well as important terms that are part of the game. Class Two 7/27: Tile combinations on the 2025 card and begin practicing making hands. Prerequisite: Class 1 or prior knowledge of tiles. Class Three 8/3: Forming hands and playing Mah Jongg. Prerequisite: Class 1 or prior knowledge of tiles Class Four 8/10: Play Mah Jongg and discuss strategies to play more effectively, win hands, and block opponents from getting Mah Jongg. Prerequisite: Class 1 or prior knowledge of tiles
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Wet-Felted Birdhouse Workshop with Carlise Azmitia
Saturday, July 26
11 - 2 PM Learn how to change natural wool fiber into felt by making an eco-friendly birdhouse. Wool is the perfect resource for your feathered friends abode. It is naturally water, fire, mold and mildew resistant and is a wonderful insulator. Carlise Azmitia is a fiber artist, classical art instructor and native of the Hudson Valley. She regularly travels the region to share her love for all things creative, as well as, teach in her Florida, NY studio. Carlise is the owner of Hudson Valley Atelier. |
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AARP Driver's Safety Course
Friday, July 18
8:30 - 3:30 PM The AARP Driver Safety course is intended to update drivers on the latest safety technology and the latest traffic laws. The course will reiterate the dangers of driving under certain circumstances, especially under the influence and when drowsy. Lastly, it may save up to $180 a year in your automotive insurance, as well as not getting points on your license and paying court fees. |
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Super Special Summer Story Time Tuesdays10 - 10:30 AM Ages 2-5
No registration required. Super special guests during our regularly scheduled Story Times! July 8 - Author Visit with Jessie Sima THIS WEEK! July 15 - Meet Lincoln, the Tortoise July 22 - Author Visit with Stephanie Lock August 5 - Drumming with Elizabeth Pupo-Walker
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Story Times with Miss AmyNo registration required.
Toddler/Preschool: Ages 2-5 Tuesdays 10:00 - 10:30 AM Enjoy picture books and songs. Take a craft to make at home. Bouncing Babies: 0-24 months Thursdays 9:30 - 9:50 AM Board books, songs, bounces, rhymes and more!
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Nutty Scientists: Mission to Space Show
Tuesday, July 8 THIS WEEK!
5 - 6 PM
All ages. No registration required. Please note: Doors will close when seats are filled. After being entrusted with a maximum security space mission, the Nutty Scientist will plan a mission to space using sophisticated techniques and crazy experiments. Kids will learn about the mysteries of space and planets in a fun way through their amazing adventures. |
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Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum: Engineering for Earthquakes
Tuesday, July 15
4 - 4:45 PM As earthquake engineers, students use materials to construct an earthquake-safe structure and test to determine if it is a seismically sound structure that will withstand an earthquake. Museum educators from the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum provide a fun, educational and interactive program that offers engaging, hands-on activities. |
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Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum: Mission to SpaceTuesday, July 15
5:30 - 6:15 PM Participants will join an imaginary scientific mission to space. Drawing inspiration from existing spacecraft, participants will design and build their own simple model spacecraft to accomplish the goals of their mission. After assembling the spacecraft, participants’ creations will have to withstand a series of tests to ensure that they’re ready for launch. Can the spacecraft hold up to the vibration of launch, or the spin of hurtling through space? If not, it’s back to the drawing board and the design/build/test cycle begins all over. Museum educators from the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum provide a fun, educational and interactive program that offers engaging, hands-on activities.
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Fairie Crowns with Jessica WilliamsWednesday, July 16
4 - 5 PM Create your own magical crown from wild willows, ferns, and flowers to celebrate the summer! All materials are earth friendly and locally harvested.
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Ages: 7+ Learn how strings can bring puppets to life. Each student will learn the core principles of string puppet construction and performance, and use them to create an original character. Puppeteer, puppet builder and arts educator Brad Shur is the founder and lead artist of Paper Heart Puppets. As a freelance puppet builder he created puppets for American Idol, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood amusement park and many theaters and other performers. In 2009, he became the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, Massachusetts where he served as the lead teaching artist and touring puppeteer for eight years. |
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Beginner Embroidery for Tweens and Teens
with Carolyn Thursdays, July 10 & July 176 - 7 PM
Register here. Registration required (will include both dates). Ages 10+.
Cost: $10 (includes all materials). Payment required when registering.
Learn the art of embroidery using colorful floss and a needle with a stamped design and then by making your own transfer. Skills learned can be used later on with other textile work and mending.
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Babysitting Class with Kathleen Tucker Wednesday, July 23
4:30 - 7:30 PM
Register here. Registration and payment required to reserve a space.
Cost: $10
Ages: 12 - 18 year olds Kathleen Tucker is a 1st grade teacher. Participants will learn interviewing tips, communication skills, ages and stages of young babies and toddlers, safety and first aid tips, and feeding and caring for children, including diaper changing. A simple test will be administered at the completion of the course and certificates of completion will be distributed.
Babysitters have the responsibility of caring for children and making important decisions while they are in charge. Parents entrust their child with the babysitter, therefore, it is crucial he or she knows the basics of child care. |
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Needle-Felted Watercolor Art for Preteens and Teens Thursday, July 31
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Registration required here.Ages 12+.
Cost: $10 (includes all materials). Payment required when registering.
Create a colorful watercolor art landscape using wool roving, a needle and hoop.
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New Experiment Wildly: Jennifer Levine Art ShowJuly 1 - August 30
Recently discovering a new medium - Flashe Acrylics, Levine uses art historical references, mythology, imagination and observation to create vibrant and surprising paintings with the intent of stirring the soul. In her artwork Jennifer fuses modernist styles of painting with her background as a puppeteer, and as a graduate of the San Francisco School of Circus Arts.
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Late Spring Walks with Nick Martin
Fridays 8 - 9:30 AM Join Nick Martin, Minnewaska Park Educator, for an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park. We look at whatever natural curiosities intrigue the group, from birds to trees. |
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| Cookbook Book Club with Carolyn and Nicole
Meets second Wednesdays
3:30 - 4:30 PM
No registration required.
Bring a cooked dish and serving utensil. Everything else will be provided.
July's theme: Ina Garten (make any recipe from an Ina Garten cookbook)
Themes are determined by the group for the following month. Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org if you have questions. |
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Genealogy Live Help with Alexis GrahamFree 1 hour sessions available (up to 2 sessions per person)
Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org to schedule a virtual (phone or Zoom) appointment.
Whether you’re a beginner just getting started, have hit a brick wall, or interested in exploring additional free resources; check out the new service for our library patrons provided by Alexis Graham. Alexis has over twenty-five years of genealogy and family history experience and excels in the English language field, archival, and internet research. She is a Boston University Genealogy certificate recipient and has served on the board of the Capital District Genealogy Society.
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Meditation Circle with Anne Rogers
Mondays
8:30 - 9:30 AM
Email Anne Rogers at dancingmeadow@gmail.com with any questions.
Join in a circle of stillness and centering each Monday morning. This opportunity will allow for silence, breath work, guided meditation, moving meditation and more. The direction will come from all who participate.
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Live Virtual Author Talks with Bestselling and Award Winning Authors An ongoing series of virtual author talks, from New York Times bestselling authors and thought leaders representing a wide variety of genres and topics. Made possible by a generous donation from Stephanie and Greg Boyd. |
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Bluegrass Jam with Deb Murphy and Mark Carabetta
Meets second Thursdays
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Interested in playing bluegrass with other local musicians? All are welcome to share songs, learn new tunes and make new friends in an inviting and relaxed atmosphere. |
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every week.
This weekly class is designed for people who have some knowledge of the Italian language and would like to improve their conversational skills.
Dr. Ornella Lepri Mazzuca is a native speaker of Italian and has been facilitating the conversational class at the Gardiner Library since 2016. She graduated from the University of Urbino, Italy, with a Doctorate in English, French and Italian. She later earned an MA in Spanish and Linguistics and a PhD in Spanish Literature from the University at Albany. |
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Mah Jongg, Mexican Train and Scrabble Meet-Ups Wednesdays 1 - 3 PM Whether you are an experienced player or newbie, now is your chance to play Mah Jongg, Scrabble and Mexican Train at the library, meet new people and have fun! |
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Classes do not need to be taken consecutively.
All ages and abilities welcome. For anyone looking to strengthen, relax, improve joint mobility, posture and balance. Whether you are interested in maintaining healthy movement without needing to get on the floor, or rehabbing an injury, chair work can help give you life long tools you can use for any anytime in your life. Anne Rogers has shared the beauty and benefits of yoga and movement for forty years. |
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Slow Stitch Club
Thursdays
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Any portable project qualifies: quilt, knit, crochet, felt, sew, embroider and more. Enjoy some "me time", a bit of socializing, and show and share while artfully stitching a favorite project. |
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Al-Anon Meetings
Sundays
6:30 - 7:30 PM Anyone who has been affected by someone else’s alcoholism is welcome to attend. Additional Al-Anon meetings are listed here. |
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Peg's Reading Circle First Wednesdays
3 - 4 PMJoin us as we discuss a new book on the first Wednesday of every month.
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July's book pick: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
August book pick: Sipsworth by Simon Van Body |
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The Silver Strings Ukulele Group
Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
2 - 4 PM
The Silver Strings Ukulele Group will be having fun strum-a-longs. Bring your ukulele and come strum along with us. All music will be provided. All skill levels welcome from beginners to skilled players. The goal is to have fun, to learn, and to make music together. Limited ukuleles will be available for you to try. |
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Exploring Intuition: Facilitated by Susan Reeves
First Tuesdays
10:30 AM - 12 PM Everyone has intuition. This inner knowing is present when we have met the right partner, found the perfect home or have landed that dream job. Come share your intuitive experiences. Let's explore intuition together. As a RN for almost 40 years, Susan has worked in hospitals, nursing homes, home care and most recently as a Nursing Instructor at BOCES. For 22 years she has been a student of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg the founder of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and led NVC practice groups and workshops for 8 years. As a facilitator, Susan's goal is to focus on what is alive for the group. Susan is also able to talk about aspects of intuition that include clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience and claircognizance as well as discuss the chakra systems and talk about energy work. |
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Chess Club
First and third Wednesdays
6:30 - 8 PM Come one, come all! Open to all ages and all levels. This group meets without an instructor but everyone is welcome to come to learn from others or to find someone to play with. |
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Writing Workshop with Laurence Carr - Writing the Short Form: Flash Fiction, Micro-Essays, Prose Poems and Memoirs
Meets first Saturdays
12:30 - 1:45 PM (no meeting June through August) Award winning author and publisher, Laurence Carr, will conduct writing workshops concentrating on short forms. Throughout these sessions, writers will gather ideas and subject matter to create pieces of less than 600 words in length. Free-writes from prompts will be given in each session. Pieces will be drafted into finished works over the course of the workshops. Part of each class will also be devoted to specific elements of creative writing: structure, character, world of story, exposition, and other components. Discussions will continue about publishing possibilities. Writers can attend one or more sessions depending upon their availability.
Laurence is an editor and publisher of Lightwood Magazine, an online journal of arts and culture at Lightwoodpress.com |
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Community ReikiSunday, June 1 (first Sundays)
noon - 2 PM
First come, first served.
Free 20 minute reiki sessions.
Recipients sit in a chair or lie on a comfortable table, clothed, while the practitioner lightly places hands on or above the recipient. The effect is of peace and deep rest for the recipient. HV Community Reiki has been providing Reiki sessions at the Gardiner Library since 2017.
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Recycling StationRecycling shed behind library. Open during normal library hours. Items accepted include:
Oral care products (empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes,
floss containers), eyeglasses, empty ink cartridges, empty pens/highlighters/markers, clean socks (singles or pairs), caps and pencils (mechanical and wooden), razors and outer packaging and crayons.
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Project Linus Initiative
Project Linus distributes handmade sewn, knitted or crocheted blankets to children in need. All blankets made for the Gardiner Library initiative will be donated within Ulster County. Go to the library to learn more or or contact Denise (deniseaumick@gmail.com) or Jackie (byjam@ix.netcom.com). |
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Museum & Attraction Passes "Pick up" passes and "print at home" passes are available.
Passes can be reserved in advance.
Learn more here. Passes are checked out for three days and provide free access to numerous museums and attractions in our area and NYC including Storm King Art Center, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, Mohonk Preserve and many more. |
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Library Board Meetings
Meets third Thursdays
Please note: The July board meeting will be on Monday,
July 14 (instead of July 17). 5 PM
Open to the public.
Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org for more information. |
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The Friends of the Gardiner Library raise funds for the library, advocate for the library, and invite persons to join as Friends of the Gardiner Library. |
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Need More Information? Click here to visit us on Facebook. Click here for contact information. |
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