Author to Discuss Book, Myths of Mental Illness During Library Event

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Tompkins County Public Library will host author and advocate Karen Winters Schwartz for an introduction of her latest book, “Reis’s Pieces:  Love, Loss and Schizophrenia,” and a discussion on the misconceptions of mental illness May 22 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

The author of two novels about mental illness, Schwartz, of Marietta (Onondaga County) , uses her books and presentations to facilitate discussion about the need for empathy and the devastating effects of the negative stigma associated with mental illness.  During her Library presentation, Schwartz will share her thoughts on decreasing that stigma, increasing education and eliciting sympathy to aid in recovery and lessen the potential for future tragedies like the Sandy Hook Elementary and Aurora, Colorado theatre shootings.

While Schwartz's stories are fictional, they are based on real life people and their experiences. Her book “Where Are the Cocoa Puffs?: A Family’s Journey Through Bipolar Disorder“ is about her own family’s mental health journey; both of her daughters experienced mental illness—bipolar disorder and schizophrenia—as teens.  In “Reis’s Pieces: Love, Loss, and Schizophrenia” Schwartz humanizes the experiences of both the afflicted person and those around him.

Schwartz is an active board member of NAMI Syracuse (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and a sought-after speaker for mental health association events and conferences across the country.  Her Library presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

 

Library to Host Program on Summer Employment for Teens

Tompkins County Public Library and the Ithaca Youth Bureau will host “Get a Job!” an information program for teens interested in summer employment, May 20 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Participants will learn about finding and applying for employment, practice their interview skills and learn about available resources for job-seekers.

This program is free and open to teens 15 and older. For more information, contact Regina DeMauro-Axel at (607) 272-4557 extension 274 or rdemauroaxel@tcpl.org.

Library to Host “One Day” Writing Workshop

In celebration of the 25^th anniversary of The Great Ithaca Write-In, Tompkins County Public Library will host a free, “One Day in Ithaca” writing workshop May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room—West.

Facilitated by Irene “Zee” Zahava, this program will encourage participants to share a snapshot of what their lives look like on this particular day.  From what they are thinking about, eating, reading, dreaming, anticipating or celebrating, nothing is off-limits during this special workshop.  Work created during this program will be collected for inclusion in the “One Day in Ithaca” project, which aims to collect personal stories from people who live or have lived, worked, visited or studied in Ithaca and Tompkins County.

Zahava is a short story writer, haiku poet, small press publisher,  published anthologist, the former owner of Smedley’s Book Shop and the founder of Zee’s Writing Studio in downtown Ithaca.

This workshop is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact Zahava at (607) 273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com.

Individuals interested in participating in “One Day in Ithaca” but unable to attend the workshop are encouraged to drop their stories into the “One Day” box in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends during regular business hours May 17.

Library to Host Imperial Dreams Author

Tompkins County Public Library will host Tim Gallagher for a reading and signing of his acclaimed book “Imperial Dreams:  Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre,” May 15 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

An award-winning author and editor of Living Bird magazine at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Gallagher—following up on his role in the  rediscovery of the long-lost Ivory-billed Woodpecker of the American South—set out for the Sierra Madre armed only with a dream of locating the world’s rarest bird, the Imperial Woodpecker, and a map of area sightings given to him by a dying friend.  Gallagher’s journey through the mysterious and dangerous Sierra Madre Occidental results in encounters with AK-47-armed drug dealers, the discovery of fields of opium poppies and marijuana, burning houses and fleeing villagers.

“Imperial Dreams” beautifully captures Gallagher’s journey, the people of the Sierra Madre and the decline of their homeland.

Gallagher has also penned the acclaimed “The Grail Bird,” about his rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and “Falcon Fever’ about his lifelong interest in birds of prey.

This program is free and open to the public.  Copies of “Imperial Dreams” will be available for purchase at the event, courtesy of Buffalo Street Books.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Library to Host World War II Reading/Performance Featuring New Roots Students

Tompkins County Public Library will host New Roots Charter School sophomores for a performance of an original reading about World War II May 10 at 3 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Based on interviews the students conducted with local seniors and their families about WWII, the reading relates personal stories and war-time experiences.  Directed by Theatre Artist Sue Perlgut, recent Ithaca College graduate Deanalis Resto and New Roots English teacher Sue Schwartz, the performance is free and open to the public.

This program has been made possible through an Arts in Education grant from the Community Arts Partnership.  A May 9 reading is planned for 6 p.m. in the lobby of the New Roots Charter School.

For more information about the readings, contact Schwartz at (607) 882-9220 or info@newrootsschool.org.

Harris to Discuss Birth of Hip-Hop During Library's May Gallery Night Opening

Tompkins County Public Library will host local business owner Eldred Harris for a Gallery Night presentation on the roots of Hip-Hop, May 3 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler Howell Programming Room.

A South Bronx native and member of the Ithaca City School District's Board of Education, Harris will present "Days of F.I.R.E. and Birth of a Hip-Hop Nation" a spirited talk about the early days of Hip-Hop.

Harris will be joined during Gallery Night by GIAC Youth Program Coordinator Jay Stooks and Cornell Plantations’ Graphic Designer Jay Potter, who will lead a walk-through of the Library's current art exhibit, "Top 2 Bottom." 

Stooks and Potter will discuss the items featured in the exhibit and offer insight into the significance of graffiti art.  The walk-through will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. under the Ezra Cornell portrait east of the book stacks.

Gallery Night will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.; after-hours access to TCPL will be through the BorgWarner Community Room entrance, behind TCAT's Green Street bus shelter.

For more information, visit http://tcpl-exhibits.blogspot.com/ or contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232.

Library to Host Clifford Storytime

In partnership with Cornell University’s 2016 Class Council, Tompkins County Public Library will host “Go Big Red Clifford,” a special storytime for toddlers and preschoolers featuring stories about Clifford the Big Red Dog, April 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This storytime, which is free and open to the public, marks the launch of the 2013 Cornell Cares campaign, designed to help Cornell students connect with and contribute to the Ithaca community.  Students will read Clifford stories, lead participants in arts and crafts and distribute free Clifford books.

For more information, contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

 

Library, AFCU Partner for Mad City Money

In recognition of the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual Money Smart Week®, Tompkins County Public Library and Alternatives Federal Credit Union will partner to present Mad City Money, a financial literacy game for teens, April 24 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This fun, fast paced game provides high school-aged participants with an opportunity to test their financial independence.  Players are given jobs, income, a family and debt and challenged to select housing, transportation, food, household necessities, clothing, day care and other items while building and maintaining a budget.

Money Smart Week®, a three-year-old partnership between ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is a nationwide public awareness campaign designed to provide consumers of all demographic and income groups with programming and resources to help them better manage their personal finances.  This year’s campaign will launch April 20 and run through April 27.

The Mad City Money program is free and open to high school students from Ithaca and the surrounding areas; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at  (607) 272-4557 extension 275 or email Regina DeMauro-Axel at rdemauroaxel@tcpl.org.

Library to Offer Reading Sessions with Furry Friends

New, reluctant and struggling readers are encouraged to practice their reading skills by sharing a story with a truly non-judgmental listener--a dog!

Tompkins County Public Library’s “Tail Waggin’ Tutor” program will be held Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room, beginning April 22 through June 3.

Caregivers interested in reserving time for their readers to share a story with Sam, a hound mix, or DJ, a terrier, should contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275 to reserve a 15-minute read-aloud time slot.

The “Tail Waggin’ Tutor” program is co-sponsored by Cornell Companions.

Library to Host Pearlman for Poetry Reading

Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading by the County’s 2013 Poet Laureate, Tish Pearlman, April 18 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Pearlman has served as the host and producer of “Out of Bounds,” an award-winning weekly public affairs/arts interview program. A recognized broadcast journalist, community and political activist, Pearlman boasts an impressive resume of production, freelance, voiceover and hosting work.  Her poetry has appeared in The Healing Muse, The Ithaca Times and The Syracuse Post-Dispatch Healthy CNY Magazine.

“The Fix Is In,” Pearlman’s first poetry collection, was published by Finishing Line Press and chronicles her near-death, heart surgery.  Two of her poems have been accepted for an upcoming anthology, ”The Art of Medicine in Metaphors”, due out this year.

Pearlman will read her original poems and sign copies of “The Fix Is In,” during the Library program.  The program is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

 

 

Library to Host Poetry Writing Workshop

Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with “Poetry for thePeople: Connecting with Your Inner Poet” a writing workshop for all ages and abilities, April 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Facilitated by Irene “Zee” Zahava, this workshop will provide a safe and stimulating atmosphere for participants to create and share poetry. Participants will focus on writing list poems and haiku and may even create a group poem on the spot!

Zahava is a writer, poet, publisher and anthologist, and the founder of Zee’s Writing Studio. 

This program is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact Zahava at (607) 273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com.

Library to Host Fall Creek Folk Performance

Tompkins County Public Library will present the spirited sounds of Fall Creek Folk Sunday, April 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Ezra Cornell Reading Room.

Fall Creek Folk offers an eclectic mix of original tunes, traditional and contemporary folk music and pop songs from various periods.  The band features Ceili Murphy on keyboards and Celtic whistle and library employees Amy Davis and Richie Holtz on vocals and guitar and Rich Recchia on vocals, guitar and light percussion. 

This performance is free and open to an all-ages audience.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

Mayor to Unveil Mosaic During Graffiti Dedication

City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick will unveil a commemorative mosaic during the April 7 dedication ceremony for “Get-Up State,” three days of live mural painting, being held in conjunction with “Hip-Hop: Unbound From the Underground—an Ithaca Community Celebration.”

The unveiling and dedication will take place at 1 p.m. at the Cornell University Press Services Building, 770 Cascadilla Street, and will celebrate the work of more than 40 of the world’s most respected and recognized graffiti artists.  The artists will work to transform the stark gray building into a colorful work of graffiti art from April 4 through 7.

 

Graffiti artists from around the world signed-on to participate in “Get-Up State,” at their own expense largely because of the importance and reputation of Cornell University Library’s Hip-Hop Collection and the magnitude of the event, which is being coordinated by Cap Matches Color. 

 

“Get-Up State” was made possible by Cornell University, Cap Matches Color, Ironlak AVT Paints and the Tompkins County Tourism Project.

 

The commemorative mosaic is being created by Le Rouge Designs, a gallery specializing in one-of-a-kind, custom stone and tile mosaic art and installations.  Christian Auble, who runs the mosaic gallery at 207 Elmira Road, Ithaca, said Le Rouge artists were excited to work on a piece recognizing the culture of Hip-Hop.

 

“As Hip-Hop enthusiasts and artists, we are very excited to design and create a Hip-Hop inspired custom mosaic,” Auble said.  “We are honored to have the opportunity to create a piece of art for our community, inspired by a culture that we have grown up with and can identify with.”

 

For more information about “Get-Up State” visit http://tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop/index.html#getupstate.  For more information about Unbound From the Underground, visit http://unboundfromtheunderground.com/.

Library to Host Graffiti Artists for Mural Painting

Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Ironlak AVT Paints, will present “Get-Up State,” three days of live, mural painting, featuring some of the world’s most acclaimed and recognizable graffiti artists, April 5 through 7.

Featured artists: Bates AIO; Nicer TATS; Bio TATS; BG 183 TATS; Doc TC5; Sye TC5; Dero TC5 FC TFP FX; Mare 139 CIA ROC STARS; Wane COD; Luze FC; Python XMEN BAD; Art Child BTX; Vins EOS FC; Zone WST; Stae 2 WST; Seter GFR; Mast TGE; Skam KAOS INC; Slon AK YNN; Range FUA; Zoner FUA; Snoe FUA; Cruk FUA; Bones FUA; Tomb DBM; Rapes DF ATT; Enue COD; Crazy Apes; Pure TFP; and more, will transform the stark, gray Cornell University Press Services building at 770 Cascadilla Street into an incredible work of colorful street art.

Spectators are encouraged to watch the transformation and witness the amazing talent of some of the best artists on today’s graffiti scene.

All wall space is reserved and spectators are expected to respect the artists and their work areas.  Limited on-site parking is available; however, the use of TCAT services is strongly encouraged.

"Get-Up State” is being held in conjunction with “Unbound from the Underground:  An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture.”  For more information about “Get-Up State,” visit the event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/512546188788553/.  To learn more about Unbound from the Underground, visit http://unboundfromtheunderground.com/schedule-of-events/. 

This event is coordinated by Cap Matches Color and made possible with the generous support of Ironlak AVT Paint, the guest artists, Writers Bench, Cornell University Press and grant support from the Tompkins County Tourism Program.

For more information about other TCPL events being held during Unbound from the Underground, visit tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop.