Did you “Pick up a book and read!” this week? My readers responded with their thoughts about recent books they had read.
My Gentle Reader Diane wrote: “Funny you should ask... I just finished “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See. Through the book, I traveled to China in the 1820’s where I met Lily and followed her life into her old age as Lady Lu. I learned sadly about foot-binding, the joys and sorrows of female friendships and of nu-shu, which is the secret-code writing, developed thousands of years ago and used by women in a remote area of southern Hunan Province. I highly recommend this book!”
My Gentle Reader Mark shared: “I read a book recently called “Miracle of the Bells” by Russell Janney published in 1946. The Story involves a press agent who falls in love with a young actress who was formerly a worker in a coal mine in Pennsylvania. Their love is unrequited but a beautiful love story of spiritualism flows through this book. Olga is convinced by the agent to play a lead role in her first movie and completes the movie. There are flashbacks to reveal Olga's past with local color stories of the PA coal mining town, including her father, 2 local Catholic priests of different ilk and the dangers of living in a coal mining environment. An uplifting and inspiration story! Your readers will enjoy this book.”
Thank you Diane and Mark for sharing your reviews!
Do you, my gentle readers, have a favorite book that you would care to recommend? It’s going to be a long, hot summer and great reading material is a must on the beach, the porch, at poolside, the park or just about anywhere! Kindly drop me an e-mail with your review.
Below are photos from the Spring Fair & Flea Market on Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church in New Brighton. I arrived before the planned starting time and was delighted to see many tables set up and ready. Inside, the aromas from the kitchen were to die for with plenty of people seated at tables enjoying their morning coffee and a scrumptious breakfast. The bake sale was aplenty with cakes, cupcakes, pies, mini-pies, jams and cookies. A perfect spring day!
The following photos are from the Staten Island Creative Community's 12th Annual Art by the Ferry Festival 2019 at MakerPark on Front St. on Sunday.
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Visit skilled artisans as they practice their trade, tour the restored interiors of period homes, take part in civic life and browse working shops and functioning open hearth kitchens in Summer Open Village on Wednesday, 6/12 10–5 at Historic Richmond Town’s Main Village, at Richmond Rd. and St. Patrick's Pl. site comes alive with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of New York City’s rural past! Be a part of your community past, present and future! The village will be open all summer long! Visit with costumed living historians inside the site’s historic structures on Mondays through Friday from noon to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-5.
Come and enjoy the wide open areas of Brookfield Park with Greenbelt on the Go on Wednesday from 1:30–3:30. Trails are paved with slight inclines. Meet in the parking lot of Brookfield Park at Arthur Kill Rd. and Brookfield Ave.
Bring your children ages 7-12 to A Sip of Art on Wednesday at 3:30 at the Dongan Hills Library, 1617 Richmond Rd. Get your young artist started! Together they will explore painting techniques that will inspire and encourage the discovery of your child’s inner artist. Space is limited; registration is required by calling 718-351-1444. Good for ages 7-12.
For ages 13-18, attend Not Your Parents Game Night! on Wednesday from 5-6:30 at the St. George Library, 5 Central Ave. Tired of the same old board games? Try some of our new ones! Every other week we're going to try out something new. One week might be a strategy game, but the next might be a card game. You won't find Monopoly here (unless you break the rules)
Thursday, 6/13 is St. Anthony’s Feast Day! The day celebrates anyone with a derivation of the name Anthony—Antoinette, Toni, Toniann, Antonio, Onyo, Tonton, etc. St. Anthony was a master of scripture, a remarkable orator and a miracle worker in his 35 years of life. Although he was born in Portugal, he joined the Franciscans and ended up in Padua in Northern Italy. Read about St. Anthony’s life https://www.stanthony.org/who-st-anthony/ Learn how he became venerated as the Patron Saint of lost articles and is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things and even lost spiritual goods. I, myself, have been known to invoke St. Anthony’s name when something has disappeared, “St. Anthony, please come around for something is lost and must be found. Help me find (whatever item I am searching for).” He never lets me down!
Come and get active at CityParks with Seniors Fitness Yoga on Thursday from 11–12 at Faber Park, Richmond Terr. and Faber St. New Yorkers 60+ can participate in free tennis lessons, yoga and fitness walking in 16 neighborhood parks across the city. Activities in this six-week Seniors Fitness program take place twice a week and all equipment is provided.
On Thursday from 2:30-6, attend a Community School Carnival and Forum at Dreyfus I.S. 49 Auditorium, 110 Warren St. Sponsored by the NYC Dept. of Youth & Community Development and JCC of Staten Island, this is free and open to all. There will be an Illuminart Productions performance of a show written by students (in English and Spanish) and raffle prizes. RSVP by phone or text to Ging at 718-354-9501.
Attend the YA Book Club on Thursday at 7 at Barnes & Noble, 2655 Richmond Ave. as you celebrate debut authors this summer and every second Thursday of the month, and explore these compelling stories and characters. First book will be on sale 5/7, “Again, but Better” by Christine Riccio.
Staten Island OutLOUD presents a new songwriting workshop with Island writer/musician/member of Allergic to B’s Gary Moore at the Tottenville Library, 7430 Amboy Rd. on Thursday at 3:30. All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Instruments or equipment needed to demonstrate any of the ideas in this workshop will be provided by the instructor. For more info, visit statenislandoutloud.org
JUNE 14 IS FLAG DAY! LET US ALL HONOR OUR AMERICAN FLAG BY PROUDLY FLYING IT TODAY! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
The Annual Conference on Aging takes place on Friday 6/14 from 9-2 at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Rd. Sessions on physical, emotional, creative, cognitive and long-term wellness as well as multiple sessions aimed to combat memory loss will be held. There will also be free hearing, vision and BMI screenings performed by medical professionals. The event is free and open to the public. The first 300 attendees will receive a free swag bag with giveaways. Fore more info, contact Amelia Winter at 718-475-5238 or AWinter@sijcc.com
Attend Fun Friday at 3:30 at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, 2550 Victory Blvd. Come and make a fun craft! Pre-registration is required in person or call 718-494-1642 starting the Monday of the week of the program. Good for ages 4 and up.
On Friday at 6:30 the Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held at Pouch Camp, 1465 Manor Rd. at Camporee Field. All are welcome--Cubs, Scouts BSA, Explorer, Venture, Sea Scouts, family and friends. Scouts, please wear your field uniform. Old flags can be dropped off outside the Pouch Camp Office. For info, call Paul at 347-277-3009.
The “Movies Under the Stars” series featuring “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” continues on Friday at 8 at Clove Lakes Park, Clove Rd. and Cheshire Pl. Bring a chair, a blanket. Meet your friends for a fun night!
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis is hosting two free CPR training programs on Saturday, 6/15 at the New Dorp Moravian Church, 2205 Richmond Rd., Staten Island, NY from 9-10:30 and 11-12:30. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 9 in 10 people who have cardiac arrest outside the hospital die, but CPR can help improve those odds. If CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it doubles a person’s chance of survival. This class is free and open to the public, and anyone interested in attending should call Malliotakis’ office at 718-987-0197 or email clarityd@nyassembly.gov
Join Curtis PTA Title I Committee for free CPR Training on Saturday 9-1—Get certified, save a life, you’ll be glad you did! To RSVP, email Curtisptapa@gmail.com or call 718-390-1800. Space is limited so respond by Friday, 6/14.
Northfield Bank is hosting SHRED DAY on Saturday from 9-1 at their branch at 1731 Victory Blvd. Bring all your old paper documents such as tax returns and anything with your social security number affixed. There is a 3 box/bag limit. All documents will be shredded on site.
Pariticipate in a Family Nature Walk on Saturday from 10-12 at Freshkills Park, 350 Wild Ave. NYC Parks staff will take you behind the scenes to visit areas that are currently closed to the public. On this one-mile walk, you will learn about the different plants and animals found in the woods, wetlands and grasslands. This walk is open to families with children of all ages, but it’s recommended for children 6+. This program is free but registration is required. Call 212-602-5374 or visit: https://freshkillspark.org/programs
Michaels Craft Store will host a Father’s Day Puzzle Card workshop on Saturday from 10-12. Kids 3 and up can enjoy making a puzzle card for Dad. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event. $3 admission. Sign up in store, online http://www.michaels.com/classes , drop in or call:
718-720-0377 to register for 30 Barrett Ave. (Forest Ave. Shoppers Plaza)
718-697-0252 for 2795 Richmond Ave. (Pergament Mall)
347-694-7203 for 245 Bricktown Center (Charleston)
The NY Center for Interpersonal Development hosts the 2nd Annual Block Party on Saturday from 11-3 at PS 48, 1050 Targee St. Free fun activities and games, live performances, food and treats, music, prizes, rides and vendors with registration ticket. To register for your free tickets, visit https://app.mobilecause.com/form/3-cGpw?vid=ul5y
The Big Picnic takes place on Saturday from 12-4 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terr. Celebrate the season with open-air activities, art, games, entertainment, food, and more. Bring your picnic basket and a blanket. Admission includes entry to all your favorite museums, galleries, and gardens at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, including Art Lab, Noble Maritime Collection, Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum and the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden. Tickets are $5 in advance, $8 at the door, FREE for children under 1. Visit http://www.statenislandmuseum.org/calendar-programs/sitewide-event-big-picnic to purchase tickets.
Attend the Solstice Sun Catcher workshop on Saturday at 1:30 at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. Meet your friends at the Greenbelt Nature Center as you prepare for the longest day of the year. Learn about summer solstice and create your own sun catcher to soak up the rays. Program is free but you must pre-register. Call 718-351-3450 or email naturecenter@sigreenbelt.org
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all you Dads, granddads, uncles, brothers, sons who have loved, protected, guided and entertained us and our children over all these years. May you be blessed forever!
Make the scene at the Patio Party with Maker Park Radio: Get Down, Funk It Up! with DJ’s Tom Ferrie and Jim Murphy on Sunday 6/16 from 12-3 at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terr. Bring a picnic lunch, purchase beer from Flagship Brewery, wine from Honor Wines and food from Harbor Eats onsite. Enjoy lawn games, classic tunes played live and great conservation with friends and family at this free event.
The Sea Shanty Session is Sunday from 2-5 at the Noble Maritime Collection, 1000 Richmond Terr. Led by the Folk Music Society of New York, this program offers a great opportunity to experience authentic, time-honored maritime songs in an appropriately historic setting. The sessions are free and family friendly, and you are encouraged to sing along if the mood strikes you! If you can’t make it this weekend, sessions are on the third Sunday of every month.
Attend the St. George Theatre for a free, fun family outing on Sunday at 4 featuring the New York Philharmonic Brass and Percussion and former Principal Trumpet Philip Smith in Bizet’s Carmen, Gershwin’s Blues Lullaby, Bernstein’s America from West Side Story and more. Be among the first to witness new works by New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers Danielle Gardner and Tristan Hu. Free tickets are available on Ticketmaster, the St. George Theatre box office in-person or by phone (718) 442-2900. For accessibility information, please contact Vincent Innocente (vinnocente@sgtr.org)-929-378-4505 or Eric Petillo (epetillo@sgtr.org)-718- 442-2900.
I welcome comments and photos at events you have attended. If you want to share events for me to post, email or call me.
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