The Wiliam B. Ogden Free Library is located at 42 Gardiner Place in Walton and can be reached at 607-865-5929. The following is a list of activities for July:
• Unearth a Story: Digging Into Your Family Tree - Thursday, July 2, 6-7:15 p.m. Join us as we kickoff “Unearth a Story” adult series at the library. Brian Lee, Digital Services Librarian with the Four County Library System, will lead a hands-on introduction to uncovering your past. Learn to explore powerful genealogy tools like Ancestry, FamilySearch, NYS Historic Newspapers, and HathiTrust. Whether just beginning or looking to go deeper, this is your chance to start unearthing the stories waiting in your history.
• Crafterwork: Book Bling-Bejeweled Covers, Wednesday, July 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Add some sparkle to your favorite reads for this month’s Crafterwork. Adults and teens ages 16+ bring your own books or use ones we provide. This session is a way to personalize your books, make a unique gift, or simply enjoy a creative evening. Materials provided. Registration required - call the library.
• Unearth a Story: Discovering the Past Through Archaeology-Thursday, July 9, 6-7:15 p.m. Step beneath the surface of history with archaeologist David Moyer for a fascinating look at recent investigations at the Revolutionary War site of Fort Plain. Modern techniques like ground-penetrating radar and excavation are helping uncover the story of a long-lost bakehouse used by Continental forces. Conducted in partnership with the New York State Archaeological Association and SUNY Schenectady’s Community Archaeology Program, this research sheds new light on a critical moment in our nation’s past.
• Registered Professional Archaeologist David Moyer, vice president of the New York State Archaeological Association and director of the Roland B. Hill Memorial Museum of Archaeology in Otego. He is also the owner and principal investigator of Birchwood Archaeological Services, Inc., a cultural resources consulting firm. He’s on the board of directors of the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center in Waverly and has authored archaeological reports, journal articles, and conference papers. Moyer brings expertise and insight to this presentation. Whether interested in local history, archaeology, or the stories hidden beneath our feet, this program offers a glimpse into how the past is uncovered.
• REPCO Wildlife Encounters - Saturday, July 11, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Bring the family for this interactive, educational, and exciting reptile experience. Meet ten animals that share a connection to the ancient world. Discover their prehistoric counterparts and explore how they help understand the past. You’ll also have the chance to investigate real fossils in this hands-on program.
• NYS Defensive Driving Course - Tuesday, July 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A six-hour course presented by Linda Karpovich. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate that may be submitted to their insurance company for up to a 10% reduction on basic liability and collision insurance premiums for three years. The cost to participate is $35. Space is limited, so reserve your spot at library with payment by cash or check. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch.
• Bingo Night - Wednesday, July 15, 6-7:45 p.m., a free event for adults and teens 16+. Traditional game layouts - 10 games will be played. A prize for each winner and door prizes between rounds. Light refreshments provided. Space is limited so call the library to sign up.
• Unearth a Story: “Buried Treasures of Upstate New York,” Thursday, July 16, 6-7:15 p.m. Dr. Samantha Misa of the Delaware County Historical Association will share captivating tales drawn from her research and book. Stories range from gold hidden by British Loyalists during the Revolutionary War to caches of money and jewels buried by a 1930s gangster - an evening of local lore and intrigue.
• Dino Paint Party, Saturday, July 18, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Time to excavate your kids from the house to attend a prehistoric paint party. Young artists will create and take home their very own dinosaur canvas—no experience needed. Supplies are provided, so just bring creativity and get ready for a dino-mite time. Registration required - call the library.
• Book Club Discussion - Wednesday, July 22, 7-8 p.m. on the lower level. This month’s book is “Exit West” by Mohsin Hamid ©2017. Copies can be reserved through interlibrary loan by calling the library at 607.865.5929 or visiting www.4cls.org
Exit West follows characters as they emerge into an alien and uncertain future, struggling to hold on to each other, to their past, to the very sense of who they are. Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, it tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty, and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time.
• Unearth a Story: The Stories We Keep - Thursday, July 23, 6-7:15 p.m. What hidden stories are waiting to be discovered in the objects around us? Join us for a relaxed adult show-and-tell where keepsakes, photographs, heirlooms, and treasured objects become windows into the past. Share the story behind something meaningful to you, or simply come listen as others reveal the memories hidden within their cherished items. No presentation experience is needed—just curiosity and a love of stories. Call to sign up and tell us what you’ll bring, or attend as a listener.
• Digging Dinosaurs - Saturday, July 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Award-winning storyteller Diane Edgecomb will be on the premises for a family-friendly adventure that brings paleontology to life through a captivating blend of science and storytelling. In this fun-loving original family fable, little Patty turns into Pattysaurus after she hoards a whole houseful of dinosaur toys and refuses to share! Participate in the tale Egg Mountain, based on a true scientific discovery. The whole audience will join an imaginary fossil hunt to discover Maiasaura, the first dinosaur to care for its young and we will also learn dinosaur sign language and play dinosaur jeopardy.
• Regular board of trustees business meeting, Tuesday, July 28, 7-8 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
• Making Merit Drawing Workshop - Wednesday, July 29, 5-7 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 5, 5-8 p.m. A two-part lecture and drawing series with artist Roshan Houshmand, an internationally exhibited artist and educator. Houshmand will introduce Tibetan Buddhist art and guide participants through painting and drawing using Tibetan Buddhist motifs and symbolism that emphasize intention, mindfulness, and creative awareness. Free and open to adults and teens 16+, with a commitment required for both sessions. Space is limited—early registration is encouraged. Call the library.
• Unearth a Story: Hidden Clues and Trivia Night, Thursday, July 30, 6-7:15 p.m. Gather your team and join us for a fun, pub-style evening of trivia with a variety of topics including local history. Come ready to compete, learn, and uncover the stories hidden in our community. Patrons can sign up as a team (up to four people total per team) or as an individual. Individuals may be grouped together the night of the event to form a team. Call the library to register.
