Civil Air Patrol Squadron GA160 to Lead Aerospace Program with Forsyth Students

Cadets and other representatives from Civil Air Patrol Squadron GA160 in Gainesville will lead a 3-hour workshop on aerospace and the science of flight on Saturday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Street. The Aerospace Workshop is intended for students in kindergarten through ninth grade and admission is free.

“We first began working with the squadron when McKevor Tatum, a teen patron and volunteer, shared his experiences with the Civil Air Patrol,” explains Julie Boyd, Youth Services Supervisor at the Cumming Library.

Boyd and Tatum worked together to plan the first Aerospace Workshop at the Cumming Library earlier this year.

McKevor Tatum, a Civil Air Patrol cadet, is pictured here (right) watching Aerospace Workshop participants prepare to launch air-powered rockets at the Cumming Library in January 2018.

“Our patrons are very interested in science and technology programming, so we knew McKevor’s idea to host a workshop with the Civil Air Patrol would be well received. More than 70 students and their parents and caregivers participated in January’s workshop and we all had a great time learning about flight and then building and testing our own air-powered rockets,” explains Boyd.

Next weekend’s workshop will focus on flying kites, balloons, and gliders. Participants will learn about the scientific principles and the mechanics of flight, including hands-on experiments to demonstrate Newton’s Laws of Motion and Bernoulli’s Principle. Then, participants can build their own flying machines and test them on the lawn behind the library at the end of the workshop.

Representatives from Squadron GA160 will also explain the purpose of their organization and answer questions from parents and students about ways to get involved. The squadron is part the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary and operates Cadet and Honor Guard programs, participates in FEMA and Search and Rescue training, and leads local aerospace education efforts.

“We are excited to learn more about aerospace and the opportunities that are open to students who have a passion for science and flight. It will be a pleasure to welcome the cadets and other squadron leaders back to the library and we know our patrons will learn so much from this workshop,” adds Boyd.

For more information about Civil Air Patrol Squadron GA160, please visit www.ga160.org. For more information about the Aerospace Workshop on August 4 or other library programs, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Find Your Family's Roots with Free Genealogy Workshops at Hampton Park Library

Summer brings families together for backyard barbecues and reunions and we share memories of the generations that came before us. But what about those, like our great-great-grandparents, who are no longer in living memory? Are their stories and the history of our family origins lost forever?

No, the history of our families is not lost, as long as we have a little time to devote to genealogical research. Forsyth County Public Library and professional genealogist Wayne Andrews can help you uncover your family’s roots and record them for future generations.

Andrews will lead a four-part Genealogy 101 workshop at the Hampton Park Library next month. Admission to each 2-hour workshop is free, but advance online registration is required for each session.

A former intelligence analyst, Andrews says he discovered that genealogical research is quite similar and requires finding some hidden truth. He’s been researching his own family history for more than 40 years.

“In 1975 my wife and I were visiting my parents. The subject of my mother’s parents came up. As she talked about them and her grandparents I realized I understood very little of my family history,” explains Andrews of his motivation to embark on genealogical research.

“My mother wrote down everything she could remember, including the town in Germany where her paternal ancestors lived until 1839. She gave me a book written in 1913 which contained my father’s paternal history back to 1821. I was fascinated by how much was known, but I wanted to know more,” says Andrews.

“Next to learning my family history, I love teaching others the techniques and methods to perform effective genealogical research,” adds Andrews, whose first Genealogy session, How to Get Started, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4.

During the session, Andrews will demonstrate research techniques by starting with yourself and working backwards to begin mapping your family tree. He’ll discuss the use of personal sources, family records and materials, interviewing relatives, and organizing information.

Creating a Family Tree & Using Censuses, the second session beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, will extend family tree research by incorporating primary and secondary sources and learning to identify errors. Andrews will also discuss how to use and understand American, British, Irish, and Canadian census records.

The third workshop, Advanced Record Types, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 18 and will demonstrate how to locate and use advanced record types such as religious records, obituaries and cemetery records, immigration and naturalization records, and military records to add more detail to the story of your family’s history.

Using the Internet for Research, the final workshop in the Genealogy 101 series, will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 19 and will focus on the successful use of internet resources, including how to structure searches, how to use message boards, and finding a balance between traditional and electronic research.

It’s common to “hit a wall” in genealogical research, says Andrews. His last presentation is intended to help participants learn techniques to overcome those obstacles so they can avoid frustration and continue making progress on their research.

Genealogy 101 is expected to be well-received, so registering early is recommended.

“We get many requests for genealogy programs and any program related to local history always seems to be popular in the Forsyth community,” explains Brooke Rose, Information Services Supervisor at the Hampton Park Library and the workshop’s organizer.

“The library provides several print and online resources to help patrons research their ancestry. Workshops such as Mr. Andrews’s Genealogy 101 series educate people on how to use these resources to dig even deeper into their family’s history,” adds Rose.

For more information or to register for a Genealogy 101 workshop, please visit www.forsythpl.org or call 770-781-9840.

Chatterbooks: A Book Club for Grades K-2

 Chatterbooks is a book club designed for children in grades K-2 that incorporates a story, book discussion and a craft.

Venus Flytraps Eat Bugs! by Barbara Linde is our selection this month. Join us as we learn about one of the world’s weirdest plants and how it attracts insects and then disposes of them. We will explore the plant's structure, habitat and other unique elements of this plant's life cycle. Participants will also have the opportunity to view a live Venus flytrap. Children do not need to read the book prior to the program. Chatterbooks meets on August 30, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.at the Cumming Library. No registration required. 

Lorraine Lane
Information Specialist – Youth Services Cumming Library

Celebrate the End of Summer Reading with Seven Magical Finale Performances

Entertainer Ken Scott will amaze and astound audiences of all ages with a series of seven magic shows celebrating the end of a record-breaking summer at the Forsyth County Public Library.

Scott was voted Greater Atlanta Entertainer of the Year and has performed all over the country – even the White House. He will perform Summer Reading Finale shows at the Post Road Library, Monday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and later that evening at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m.

Then he’ll visit the Cumming Library on Tuesday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. and the Sharon Forks Library at 2:00 p.m. before wrapping up his performances on Thursday, July 26 at Hampton Park Library at 11:00 a.m. and Cumming Library at 7:00 p.m.

All Summer Reading Finale performances are free and all ages are welcome.

“This summer, they came, they saw, they READ!” exclaims Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

“It was such a successful summer with thousands of patrons registering for our Summer Reading Fun program and tracking all their books and activities online.”

Walker cautions that July 28 is the last day to register for Summer Reading Fun. Patrons must finish tracking their books and activities, as well as claim any prizes earned by August 5. Grand prize winners will be drawn on August 6.

“This year’s grand prizes include wonderful things like mountain and cruising bikes donated by Zaxby’s, a half-day fly fishing lesson on the water donated by Bowman Fly Fishing, and e-readers donated by the FCPL Friends & Advocates,” explains Walker.

“The library is grateful to all our generous community sponsors for supporting literacy and helping to make this year’s Summer Reading Fun possible for readers of all ages.”

To register for Summer Reading Fun or learn more about free library programs, visit any library branch or visit www.forsythpl.org.

Dog Bite Prevention Workshop to Help Local Pet Owners

Was your dog a happy and welcome participant in your Independence Day festivities? Or were you constantly worried about how your dog would greet visitors and behave in the crowd?

Lauren Van Duzer of Happy Hounds and Beyond will reveal the secrets of canine communication and help pet owners better understand dog behavior at a free, humans-only workshop at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17.

“We love our furry companions and it’s natural to want our friends and neighbors to love them, too, but sometimes bad manners get in the way,” says Tracy Walker, Programming Manager.

“Happy Hounds and Beyond guides pet owners in understanding signals and body language from their dogs so they can anticipate and redirect undesired behaviors. This workshop is intended for adults and will focus on ways to ensure the safety of both dogs and humans by preventing dog bites,” explains Walker.

Van Duzer is an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and specializes in helping fearful and reactive dogs and their owners.

During the free Dog Bite Prevention workshop, Van Duzer is expected to explain what motivates certain canine behaviors, what it means when dogs yawn or shake their bodies, and why not all tail wags are a good sign. Van Duzer will also teach participants how to greet unfamiliar dogs appropriately, as well as how to train their own dogs to greet new people politely.

For more information, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Staff Picks: Force of Nature by Jane Harper (Adult Fiction)

Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk investigates the disappearance of a would-be whistle-blower during a corporate retreat in the Australian wilderness. I really enjoyed this second novel in the series by Jane Harper which shows how quickly civility can vanish when things go awry.  Cut off from the outside world, a group of five women discover that a trust-building exercise is anything but when food and water are in short supply and ulterior motives come into play.  It's a survival story with plenty of psychological suspense. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Library Limelight: LeAnne Craig, Youth Specialist, Sharon Forks Library

Library Limelight is intended to be a quick read to help FCPL patrons get to know our librarians and staff. We hope you enjoy learning about the people who make our libraries great!

LeAnne Craig
Youth Services Specialist
Sharon Forks Library

Where is your hometown?

I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, but have lived in Texas, Indiana, Arizona, and now Georgia.

How long have you been at FCPL?

I have been at FCPL for 8 years.

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

I started out as a Collection Support Aide (CSA) at Sharon Forks, and then became an Information Specialist before moving into my current role as Youth Specialist.

Why did you choose to work in a library?

I’ve always loved libraries and I applied to work as a CSA thinking it would be a fun part-time job. Little did I know that the fun part-time job would turn into a second career for me, and I am truly grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had here at FCPL.  

Describe your job in five words or less.

Planning, Creating, Reading, Singing, Dancing

What is unique about your job?

There is never a dull moment! I am always learning new things from co-workers and young patrons alike! 

What is your favorite part of your job?

The kids that I get to interact with in my position are my favorite part of my job! There’s nothing better than seeing how a program that you worked so hard on, or a book that you might have recommended, can make a positive impact on a child. It’s really the best part of the job!

What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?

My most interesting place I’ve lived was Tucson, Arizona. There’s something so beautiful and magical about a flowering desert that resides at the base of a mountain that at certain times during the year is covered in snow. And the sunsets there are absolutely breathtaking!

What are your hobbies?

Of course, reading is a hobby! I don’t know if I would be qualified to do my job if it wasn’t! I also love to plan trips and travel. I enjoy the planning and researching just as much as I enjoy taking the trip.

What are you reading right now?

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother by Danielle Teller

Paper books, eBooks, or audiobooks?

I love all three….sometimes at the same time! I have been known to check out a physical copy, an electronic copy, and an audio version of the same book to finish a book sooner so I can get on to the next one on my list!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I love the library and have fond memories as a child attending storytime with my mom. I loved taking my kids to storytime when they were young. Things have definitely come full circle as I now get to present storytime for young children as part of my job.  

I am privileged to work with an amazing group of people who encourage and inspire me to develop and present quality programs and engage in positive interactions with our patrons.

Between our four branches, we have an amazing group of talented, creative, devoted, and passionate people (past and present) and I am grateful and honored to be a part of FCPL’s Youth Services Team!  

Book Chat: The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

Grace Winters survives a sinking ocean liner and a 21 day ordeal on a lifeboat in the Atlantic Ocean only to find herself on trial for murder when the survivors are finally rescued. The group dynamics of thirty-nine castaways on a small lifeboat are as fascinating at the physical ordeals they endure to survive and when supplies diminish and tempers flare, it’s every man--or every woman--for him or herself.

The Lifeboat raises fascinating questions about compassion and culpability and is the topic of our July Book Chat at Sharon Forks Library. Newcomers are always welcome so please join us Wednesday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. for a discussion of this fascinating story.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist