Blog Entries

Presidents’ Day, a Federal holiday which is celebrated this year on February 21, was originally established in 1885 to honor the February 22 birthday of first president, George Washington.  Over time it also became associated with the February 12 birthday of 16th President, Abraham Lincoln.  Thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which created additional three day weekends for the country’s workers, the holiday will always fall on the third Monday of February but, ironically, never on the ac

February is Black History Month, an annual tribute to generations of African Americans whose invaluable contributions to this country were achieved in the face of tremendous adversity.  Originally a week-long observance created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the event was celebrated in February to acknowledge the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.  In 1976, the celebration was expanded to a month by President Gerald R.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and visionary civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died on April 4, 1968, but it took 32 years for a holiday honoring him to be recognized by all fifty states.  Dr. King’s birthday was signed into law as a federal holiday in 1983 and took effect three years later on January 20, 1986. However, it was not until 2000 that  all fifty states officially observed the holiday.

Our community is composed of avid readers. In 2021, however, reading became more of a passion than a pursuit, an escape from an unexpectedly tumultuous year.  Reading is a subjective experience but inspiration can be derived from the choices of others. Have you ever been curious about the books your neighbors have selected this past year? Listed below are some of the titles of the books that have flown off our shelves most frequently.  Click on the book jacket to be taken to the link.

“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” Fran Lebowitz

Inherent in every ending is  a beginning; in December, we reflect back on the past year while in January we anticipate the future with cautious optimism. In the spirit of a new year, who  has not committed to resolutions for a better life, a better self, a better world?

December can be daunting - holidays, family gatherings, cooking and decorating are meaningful but they can also result in exhaustion and sensory overload.  Add on the psychological impact of early sunsets and you have a perfect storm for stress.  How to decompress? Escape into a good book,  the ideal way to reboot your psyche and re-center your soul.  What to read?

December may be the coldest, darkest month of the year but it does have its perks: holidays and festivals, family gatherings, comfort foods - and books!

November is known  for many things - National American  Indian Heritage Month, Election Day,  Veteran’s Day, the onset of Daylight Savings Time and, of course, Thanksgiving.  Having survived what was, for many, a challenging year, the prevailing sentiment at having reached this final fall month is simple gratitude.

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, also known as Native American Heritage Month.  While the annual month-long celebration has only been in existence for 31 years, efforts to honor America’s indigenous peoples go back more than a hundred years to “American Indian Day,” which was declared a holiday by the Governor of New York State in 1916 and celebrated on the second Saturday in May.  Fast forward to 1986, when Congress declared the week of November 23-30 as “American Indian Week.” This weeklong commemor

Now that we are looking in the rear view mirror at the summer of ‘21, we can finally set our sights on the pleasures of early fall. In addition to the renewed energy brought on by sweater weather and the thrill of fall foliage and cool weather comfort foods, October culminates with Halloween, an occasion for costumes, candy and scary stories.

Have you ever wondered why October isn’t the eighth month of the year given it’s “octo” prefix? Back in 750 BCE, September and October, named after the numbers seven and eight, were the seventh and eighth months in the ancient Roman calendar, created by Romulus.

Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15, is an annual tribute to the history, cultural contributions and continuing vibrant presence of Hispanic-Americans, those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.  Formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration was initiated under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 and expanded to a 30-day event by President Reagan in 1988.

The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the English speaking world, has brought recognition and vastly expanded readership to novelists for over fifty years.  The Prize is open to works by writers of any nationality, written in English and published either in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Baseball is back! Unlike last summer, fans of the national pastime once again fill the stands while scarfing down hot dogs and cheering themselves hoarse. Have you wondered why baseball is referred to as the national pastime? It comes in a distant third to football and basketball in television ratings, yet, ratings aside, the game remains the national pastime because it resonates more deeply in America’s heart than any other sport, inciting fierce passions and loyalties that span generations.