You know all those songs you can sing or hum along to because they are such an ingrained part of American culture, even though you’ve never really stopped to think about why they were popular or how they came about to be written?
At the Friday, Nov. 8, Coffee and Conversation program, storyteller Sandy Schuman will share the stories behind the music in his “Familiar Songs; Unfamiliar Stories” presentation. Listen to music from the Great American Songbook and the stories about the people who wrote them. The program begins at 1 p.m., and refreshments will follow.
Schuman is a storyteller, musician, and educator. He’s been featured at The Northeast Storytelling Conference, Riverway Storytelling Festival, Caffè Lena, Proctors, Tellabration, as well as numerous radio and television programs. He was a winner of the Susquehanna Folk Festival Liars Contest in 2019 and the St. Louis Jewish Storytelling Contest in 2015.
His stories have appeared in multiple literary publications, and he is a member of the Story Circle of the Capital District, Northeast Storytelling, National Storytelling Network, Jewish Storytelling Coalition, and Lifetime Arts Creative Aging Roster.
Coffee and Conversation is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc.
Fit to print
3D printing may have gone mainstream, but the concept is still very new to many of us. How does a 3D printer know what to print, and how does it build something from a spool of material? On Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2:30 p.m. members of the Bethlehem FIRST Robotics team will try to demystify the process by talking about the mechanics behind 3D printing and Computer Aided Design. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or call 518-439-9314.
Felting fun
Join us for a DIY morning Monday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. to learn about life on the Helder~Herdwyck Farm and how to use fiber felting to create a washcloth-like covering for a bar of soap to take home. This program is for ages 9 and up. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or call 518-439-9314.
Essential oils
The benefits of essential oils have been touted by many as a way to improve one’s environment. On Tuesday Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. you can learn more at an introductory program that will share information about essential oils and how to safely enjoy them for your home, health and creativity. You will also make a scented craft to bring home. Sign up online or call. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or call 518-439-9314.
Kanopy
Use your Bethlehem library card to access Kanopy streaming video. Kanopy offers a catalog of more than 30,000 indie films, documentaries and hard-to-find foreign films. In addition, Kanopy provides access to an excellent selection of The Great Courses, college-level video courses on a number of topics including economics, fine arts, music, history, literature, philosophy, science, mathematics, social sciences, professional development and better living. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. To get started, click on the eContent graphic on the library’s home page at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.
— Kristen Roberts
