Community Calendar

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

Lowden Gallery Artist: Ellen "Ellie" R. Bartels
March 1 - April 30

​Ellie has a BA degree in Education and a BFA in Studio Art , both from the University of Washington. She taught art, K – 12, in Orangeville, Il for 12 years. She currently lives in Freeport, Il.

Ellie states, “ The process of transforming paint and canvas into an appealing and effective image scares, frustrates, excites and inspires me.

My work starts out with a subject or theme in mind, usually based on my personal response to nature or a past experience, and a general plan on how to accomplish my goal. As it progresses spontaneity and intuition take over and my unconscious becomes the director.
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I have found that both oils and acrylics work well as vehicles for translating my inner vision to outer reality. Both comply with my enjoyment of layering paint and working the canvas by scraping, rubbing, scratching through, dry brushing, etc., to create depth and texture and to bring the surface to life.

It is my wish that the viewer will want to spend time with my work, to contemplate its meaning, discover its complexities, or to just enjoy the colors and shapes.

Live music very Wednesday thru Saturday. Artists are listed on the Anderson Gardens website. This is event FREE and open to the public!

Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran (1864-1922), this pioneer of investigative journalism is better known by her nom de plume, "Nellie Bly." She became famous for her exposé of the New York City Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island.

On November 14, 1889, Cochrane began a solo trip around the world in emulation of the fictional character Phileas Fogg from the 1873 Jules Verne novel "Around the World in Eighty Days" - completing her trip on January 25, 1890, in the record-breaking time of 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes, & 14 seconds.

During this presentation, you’ll meet Nellie Bly in the US Embassy in Paris in February of 1919. The Great War has ended, and Nellie recounts her adventures as a reporter, in the US, Mexico and as a war correspondent, as she awaits permission to return to the US.

The presentation is followed by a Q&A and photo opportunities.

This event is sponsored by The Friends of the Library and is part of the America 250 initiative: celebrating our nation throughout the year. Registration is not required. All ages are welcome.

For more information, please contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

Many golfers spend hours practicing swing mechanics without realizing their body may not physically allow the movement they’re trying to achieve.

At this STEAM Café, NIU alumnus and athletic trainer Kody Anderson, along with certified PGA instructor Seth Terpstra, will discuss the biomechanics of the golf swing and how the body’s physical capabilities influence swing mechanics, power and consistency.

They’ll explore:

How the body generates power.

Which joints are most critical during different phases of the swing.

Why mobility and strength limitations create common swing compensations.

How strength training can improve performance and reduce injury risk, at any age.

The speakers will also lead the audience through interactive movement tests to better understand how their own bodies may be influencing their swing.

For golfers and sports enthusiasts alike, this talk will present a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the golf swing – and how non-golf-specific physical training can create lasting swing improvement.

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

Lowden Gallery Artist: Ellen "Ellie" R. Bartels
March 1 - April 30

​Ellie has a BA degree in Education and a BFA in Studio Art , both from the University of Washington. She taught art, K – 12, in Orangeville, Il for 12 years. She currently lives in Freeport, Il.

Ellie states, “ The process of transforming paint and canvas into an appealing and effective image scares, frustrates, excites and inspires me.

My work starts out with a subject or theme in mind, usually based on my personal response to nature or a past experience, and a general plan on how to accomplish my goal. As it progresses spontaneity and intuition take over and my unconscious becomes the director.
​
I have found that both oils and acrylics work well as vehicles for translating my inner vision to outer reality. Both comply with my enjoyment of layering paint and working the canvas by scraping, rubbing, scratching through, dry brushing, etc., to create depth and texture and to bring the surface to life.

It is my wish that the viewer will want to spend time with my work, to contemplate its meaning, discover its complexities, or to just enjoy the colors and shapes.

Join us for this new gathering at Woodstock Public Library as we enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee and discuss a new program topic with a guest speaker every month. Free to attend, but advance registration is required.

February 26 - New Advances in Alzheimer’s Treatment with the Alzheimer’s Association
March 26 - Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention with the Illinois Comptroller’s Office
April 30 - Fall Prevention with Smith Physical Therapy+ of Crystal Lake
May 28 - Mental Health in Older Adults with NAMI of McHenry County
June 25 - Discount and Ride Free Programs with RTA

Youth ages 8–14 are invited to a hybrid community book club that brings readers together to explore the American Revolution through shared reading, conversation, and film. Each month, participants watch a preview from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, along with short videos connected to the featured books, followed by an informal discussion.

The featured titles for this session are “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” by Christopher Bing and “The Many Rides of Paul Revere,” by James Cross Giblin. The Many Rides of Paul Revere goes beyond the familiar legend to present a lively, accessible biography that traces Revere’s life from the son of a French immigrant to a skilled silversmith and key figure in the growing resistance to British rule, highlighting his many daring rides and wide-ranging accomplishments through clear prose and striking black-and-white archival images. The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere offers a visually stunning interpretation of Longfellow’s poem, blending history and imagination through meticulous research, period maps, reproduced documents, and dramatic engravings that immerse readers in the tense night of April 1775, creating not just a history lesson, but a powerful artistic experience that brings the American Revolution vividly to life.

The program runs approximately 45–60 minutes and is free and open to the public. To register virtually, please visit: https://shorturl.at/VRKtu. Copies of the book are available at the Condit Branch.

Join RAMP Disability Resources and Services at Cahoots for an evening of wine, beer, spirits, and food samplings from various local vendors and live music. Come prepared to bid on our annual silent auction via smartphone to benefit RAMP's programs and services.

This year we are excited to have Disco Drinks, Disco Chicken, Linos, Baker Street, The Raven, Ambience Cuisine and Catering, Mary's Market, Barnstormer Distillery, 5 Bar, Pig Minds, Lena Brewing, Urban Forest, The District, Sassy Mac Boys, and 27 Aluna providing samples to event attendees!

Register here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx...
For reasonable accommodations or questions contact Amanda Fair at afair@rampcil.org