Cool Stuff at the Jones Library!!!

On the Same Page – Amherst Program Series

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library is holding its third On the Same Page community reading program, this year featuring the novel The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by bestselling author Heidi Durrow.  The entire Amherst community is invited to read the book and participate in the upcoming programs and events.  The following series of programs will be held during February and March at the Jones Library, and are based on topics and themes from the novel.  On the Same Page – Amherst will culminate in an appearance by author Heidi Durrow to be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the Munson Memorial Library Hall in South Amherst.   For complete program descriptions, visit the program’s webpage at http://www.joneslibrary.org/onthesamepage/osp2015.html

February 6 - March 14, 2015 – Atrium Jones Library 

Of Many Colors Exhibit - Of Many Colors includes photographs and interviews with families who have bridged the racial divide through interracial relationships and/or adoption.  The exhibit and its companion book were created by Family Diversity Projects.

Tuesday, February 24 at 7 pm - Woodbury Room Jones Library: Book Discussion - An interactive book discussion will explore the impact of community on identity with fun & engaging activities, and then lead into sharing and discussing The Girl Who Fell from the Sky.   This event is co-sponsored by the Jones Library, Amherst Together, and the Equity Project Intergenerational Team at Amherst College.

Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 pm - Woodbury Room  Jones Library: Multiracial Families: The Amherst Experience - A panel of Amherst parents share their personal experiences of parenting biracial and adopted children in our community. The panel will be moderated by Peggy Gillespie, Co-Founder/Director of Family Diversity Projects. 

Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 pm – Munson Memorial Library, South Amherst

Friends’ Reception - Please join the Friends of the Jones Library System and author Heidi Durrow at this special reception.  Sponsored by the FOJLS, this event is free & open to the public.

Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 pm – Munson Memorial Library Hall, South Amherst 

On the Same Page...with Heidi Durrow - Join us for this author appearance!  Heidi Durrow will talk about her book and the issues it explores.  Books will be available for purchase & signing.

Copies of The Girl Who Fell from the Sky can be borrowed from the Jones Library and branches, requested and checked out from the C/W Mars library catalog, or purchased at Amherst Books in Amherst. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky was the winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction in 2008, which is awarded biennially to the author of a previously unpublished novel of high literary caliber that promotes fiction which addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky was a has been hailed as one of the Best Novels of 2010 by the Washington Post, a Top 10 Book of 2010 by The Oregonian, and named a Top 10 Debut of 2010 by Booklist, as well as being a New York Times Bestseller, a Los Angeles Times Bestseller, and an Indie Next Pick.

Heidi W. Durrow, the New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, is a graduate of Stanford, Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, and Yale Law School. She is the host of a new audio and video podcast called The Mixed Experience, and has been featured as a leading expert on multiracial and multicultural issues and identity by the NBC Nightly News, the New York Times, CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC, Ebony Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is an occasional contributor to National Public Radio and blogs for the Huffington Post.

On the Same Page – Amherst and its programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library System.  For further information about the On the Same Page - Amherst, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

Amherst Youth Lacrosse

 

www.amherstyouthlacrosse.org

Community Storytelling

Whole Children Fun Run

Free ®ZUMBA!

FREE ®ZUMBA class for ARPS affiliated parents and staff every Thursday from 3:30-4:30 in the music room at Crocker Farm elementary school.  ®Zumba is a "fitness-party" make up of Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, rhythmic and aerobic movements set to international music. It exhilarates the senses and works all major muscle groups in a high-energy cardio blast that leaves you feeling invigorated, refreshed and full of life. Just what the Fort River community deserves!

No pre-registration necessary! Just show up with sneakers, a water bottle and be ready to have fun!

Multi-Arts - Free Workshop

Let your imagination fly: create and illustrate your own story. Under the guidance of Multi-Arts talented and creative staff, children will collaborate and make their imagination come alive. It will be fun, engaging and inspirational.

 

Free workshop at Amherst Farmers Market, 

Saturday February 14

11-12 am for children 6-13 years old &

12:00-12:30 for children 3-5 accompany by their parents

Amherst College Women’s Basketball Fundraiser for Amherst A Better Chance

Amherst College Women’s Basketball Team Hosts Fundraiser for Amherst A Better Chance (ABC)

The Amherst College Women’s Basketball Team invites the ARPS community to attend their game against Wesleyan University, Saturday, February 7, at 3 PM, at LaFrak Gym on the Amherst College campus. 

The team has dedicated this game as a fund-raiser for Amherst A Better Chance (ABC). The money raised during halftime will be used for improvements to the ABC House Study Center. Fans can meet the ABC Scholars and participate in a raffle to win prizes. Admission to the game is FREE and the ARPS community is encouraged to attend.

Each year, members of the Women’s Basketball Team provide tutoring support to the ABC Scholars.  Please plan to attend the game and support  Amherst A Better Chance (ABC) in its core mission: to provide academically talented and highly motivated young men of color with the tools and support systems needed to maximize their opportunities for success.

For more information, please contact ABC House Co-President Wendy Kohler wendykohler@comcast.net

Amherst Farmers' Market- Multi-Arts' workshop

Join Multi-Arts in a wonderful workshop creating 3D structures: dog, cows, mask, airplane etc

Saturday January 31, 10-12 at Amherst Winter Farmers' Market
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Free of charge. Space is limited sign up at www.multi-arts.org

Jones Library - Documentary Screening & Discussion

Documentary Screening & Discussion

“Vincent Who?”

 

Join us on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7 pm in the Woodbury Room for a screening of Vincent Who?, the fifth in a film & discussion series being held over several months which look at issues of race.  A facilitated discussion will be held after the screening.

Vincent Who? is a powerful film about the 1982 murder in Detroit of Vincent Chin by two white autoworkers. The film explores this event through interviews with the key players at the time, as well as a whole new generation of activists whose lives were impacted by Vincent Chin. It also looks at the case in relation to the larger narrative of Asian American history, in such events as Chinese Exclusion, Japanese American Internment in WWII, the 1992 L.A. Riots, anti-Asian hate crimes, and post-9/11 racial profiling.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223. 

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and The Coming Together Project.  More information about The Coming Together Project can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

Jones Library Focus Groups - Participants Needed!

Please join us at an upcoming Jones Library Focus Group to talk about the Library’s FY17-FY21 Long Range Plan.

This is your opportunity to make a difference in the future of The Jones Library’s services, programs, materials, buildings, finances, technology, etc. Our Group facilitators will be from The Birch Group, out of Farmington, Connecticut. Your comments/concerns/ideas/criticisms/compliments matter!

The Focus Group schedule is as follows:

·     Friday, February 13, 2015  9am-12pm; Woodbury Room (Jones Library).

·        Monday, February 9, 2015  6pm-9pm; Woodbury Room (Jones Library).

More info can be obtained at www.JonesLibrary.org or 413.259.3106

Youth Conditioning Clinic

For more info email: 1to1wellness@comcast.net

SEPAC

Special Education Parent Advisory Council Meeting (SEPAC)Representing: Pelham Elementary, Amherst Elementary, and Amherst Regional Schools (PAARS) as well as students out of district.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Amherst Regional High School Library
7:10pm (approximate time of presentation based upon agenda)

Just want to inform community that SEPAC is making a brief presentation to the school committee. Meeting is open to all in the community!

Jones Library - On the Same Page community reading program

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library is holding its third On the Same Page community reading program, this year featuring the novel The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by award-winning author Heidi W. Durrow.  The entire Amherst community is invited to read the book and participate in the related programs which will be held in February and March 2015. On the Same Page – Amherst will culminate in an author appearance to be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the Munson Memorial Library Hall in South Amherst. 

On The Same Page - Amherst is designed to bring the local community together by encouraging residents to read the same book and by offering programming and opportunities for discussion about the book and the themes it contains.   Now a featured annual event, On the Same Page – Amherst explores a different book each year, to include a variety of themes, topics, genres, and writing styles.

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky was winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction in 2008.  The PEN/Bellwether Prize is awarded biennially to the author of a previously unpublished novel of high literary caliber that promotes fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships.  Set in the 1980s, this novel tells the story of Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I. who becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy.

Heidi W. Durrow is the New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Fell from the Sky (Algonquin Books), which received writer Barbara Kingsolver’s PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, and is a book club favorite. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky has been hailed as one of the Best Novels of 2010 by the Washington Post, a Top 10 Book of 2010 by The Oregonian, and named a Top 10 Debut of 2010 by Booklist.

For further information about the On the Same Page - Amherst, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

The Amherst League of Women Voters Event

The Amherst League of Women Voters welcomes Superintendent Maria Geryk and ARPS administrators to participate in the popular series "How a Small Town Makes Big Things Happen".  Topics to be discussed are curriculum, equity and support programs for families.  The community is encouraged to attend this free event on Thursday, January 15 at 7-8:30pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library.

Author Night with Don Ogden at the Jones Library

Amherst, MA – Local writer/poet Don Ogden reads from his new book Bad Atmosphere – A Collection of Poetry & Prose on the Climate Crisis on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library.  (The snow date for this program will be Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 7 pm.)

Published by Amherst-based Levellers Press, Bad Atmosphere - A Collection of Poetry & Prose on the Climate Crisis was published in November 2014.  The author, local writer/poet Don Ogden, is producer and co-host of The Enviro Show on WXOJ-LP/Valley Free Radio.  The book is the culmination of decades’ worth of writing by Ogden focusing on various aspects of climate change that moved him to put into words feelings and thoughts evoked by "the greatest crisis of our time".  Ogden, known by many as d.o., has been active in environmental issues for most of his life. His poetry and commentaries have appeared in a wide variety of publications and on national and local radio.

Joining the celebration are local singer/songwriters Tom Neilson and Lynn Waldron, as well as Susan Theberge of Climate Action Now! MA, who will speak about that local group's efforts in addressing the climate crisis.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

Enriching the Developing Brain

Food for Fines at the Jones Library and Branches

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and branches will be offering a “food for fines” amnesty period from January 2 – 31, 2015.    Library patrons who bring a non-perishable, non-expired food donation or make a monetary contribution to the Amherst Survival Center when they return overdue library materials during this time will have the fines on those overdue materials forgiven.  

“This is a great opportunity for patrons with long-overdue library materials to get those items back to the library without having to pay the fines that are accumulating,” says Amy Anaya, Head of Borrower Services at the Jones Library.  It’s important to note that the amnesty applies only to items that are being returned during this time, and not to existing overdue fines on items that have already been returned or for billed or lost items.

Holding a Food for Fines drive is a long-standing annual tradition at the Jones Library.  The food and funds collected will support the work of the Amherst Survival Center, the local service agency that assists many in our community in meeting their basic needs.

For further information about Food for Fines, please contact Amy Anaya at 413/259-3132.

Springfield Falcons - Amherst Public Schools Night

Amherst Lions Club Ski & Skate Sale

Vote for Fort River School to win a Florence Savings Bank Community Grant

This year, Florence Savings Bank gives $100,000 in grants for local, non-profit organizations. Customers of Florence Savings Bank can vote for their favorite non-profit/charitable organization to win a portion of the grant. Any charity that receives more than 1% of the total votes, will receive a percentage of the $100,000 grant. Help Fort River win a grant! Only Florence Savings Bank customers can vote, and each account holder can vote once. Remember, ALL account holders have a vote, even your kids who have Saving Make "Cents" accounts! You can vote online (http://www.florencesavings.com/about-us/customer-choice-community-grants.html) or pick up a ballot at any Florence Savings Bank branch.