< 20 hours and, Sudbury bound are we!

"Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our
lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time."

Well, I do believe Scouts leave nothing behind, if I understand correctly from Mr. Downey, Mr. White and Mr. Cristiano - and I will see that "up close and personal" when we leave campgrounds behind Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts Sunday afternoon the 16th.
(But, why jumpahead before the weekend even starts!)

Over a year, really close to 18 months, of planning is coming to an end with this week-ends camping event in Sudbury. Bruce White, Bill Downey and the good leaders and scouts of Troops 9, 6, 3, and 1 have collaborated and planned, and we will meet up with Sudbury Scouts for a weekend of camping and GREAT FUN!

More will be shared when we return -- but must share one secret: Saturday night's schedule includes the Wayside Iron Chef Competition! I know the "secret ingredients" as well, but I won't talk.

Think GREEN, as in Greenwood Gardens, while still appreciating our Teens' Art

Morgan Peck (photo at top left) and Jackie Niscivoccia (photo directly above, center) created art inspired by Longfellow's Poetry, via their Phenomenal Photographs, and clearly their work is set in winter and snow. However, you CAN today think spring and green, as well as be part of The Big Read - and join us at Greenwood Gardens at 10 a.m. for a Tour of the Gardens and then a Poetry Reading by Caldwell Poet, Rick Mullin. Free and open to the public. Hope to see you there. (And, remember -- Morgan and Jackie's work, along with many others created by Mount Saint Dominic Academy students, are still on display at the Caldwell Public Library and will be there until the end of next week. C'mon over!)

"Music as Muse" by Danielle Nichols

Only two weeks left to enjoy, appreciate and marvel at the talents of our youth - at least only two more weeks to visit The Gene & Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room at The Caldwell Public Library and see the Exhibit of Photographs by Linda Stewart's students at Mount Saint Dominic Academy.

Please stop in - and see how The Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and The Big Read, can be relevant and transformative, in your life and your world. Hooray for the Arts!

(And keep a watch on the Progress and "Patch" to hear more about youth and art and Longfellow -- all who attended Sunday's concert at the Grover Cleveland Middle School were in awe - not only of the famed Longfellow Chorus hailing from Portland, Maine -- but of the 55 teens in the James Caldwell Chorus who sang as well - under the direction of Music Teacher Elsie Timpson.)

More Teen Art Work on Display at Caldwell Public Library

And, as we continue to enjoy and appreciate the talents of these amazing young women, let us also appreciate the influence of an inspired, passionate and talented TEACHER - such as Mount Saint Dominic Art Teacher, Linda Stewart. That is clearly evident in all these photographs, including (but not limited to) these works of art -- the photograph on the left created by Katie Rossi, and the photograph at the top of this page on the right, by Mai Nyugen.

The display of ALL the photographs created in the course of Mrs. Stewart's photography classes -- all inspired by the Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- can be found in The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room of the Caldwell Public Library. Of course, you can also head over to

The Big Read Blog -- and check out April 9, 2010 posting -- and also keep an eye on the Caldwell Public Library website, especially the photographs.

AND, speaking of TEEN ARTISTS connecting with Longfellow -- hope you can join us Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m. at the Grover Cleveland Middle School when The Longfellow Chorus joins us, having travelled from Portland, Maine, to share Longfellow's poetry, set to music! In addition to a premiere performance, they will be performing "Snow-Flakes" along with teen singers directed by James Caldwell High School Music Teacher, Elsie Timpson. Free and open to the public -- tell all your friends, and BE THERE!

Teen Art Work on Display at Caldwell Public Library!

It was exciting, indeed, to see the BLOG POSTING on The Big Read blog last Friday -- but -- only three of the many phenomenal photographs created by Linda Stewart's photography students were included. We know space must have been an issue, but, while we want you to come into the Library to see the entire exhibit, we also want to share more of the photographs, so, here goes! Here is Sarah Sengatta's photograph, inspired by Longfellow....

Wondering what NEXT week holds with The Big Read?

Local Poets Take on Longfellow!

Tuesday, March 30th @ 6:30 p.m. We invited area poets to incorporate Longfellow's work into a reading in any way they wanted. Join us this evening as we see what Elaine Barden came up with as part of The Big Read of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Free and open to the public.

Art Reception for MSDA art students

Tuesday, March 31st @ 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Teen Photographers Take on Longfellow! Please join us for a reception to honor the young women, their teacher Linda Stewart, and their families this evening. The student artists from Mount Saint Dominic Academy created art inspired by The Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and it is on display in The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room for the month of March. Please make certain to spend some time appreciating their work, their efforts, and we hope you can join us for this reception. (Thank you again, students and all, for being part of The Big Read of the Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Click here for a full roster of events.)

K1 P2 (Knit 1 Purl 2)

Thursday, April 1st @ 6:15 p.m. K1 P2 (Knit 1 Purl 2) is an ever growing group of knitters (and crocheters!) of all ages which meets on Thursday evenings for chatting and needling fun. Scouts and service groups (young and young-in-spirit) are encouraged to join us. You will be "hooked" as soon as you cast on your first row of stitches. Already two big boxes of blankets, hats and mittens created during The Big Read of "The Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" have been shared with our friends at Okiciyapi Tipi Habitat for Humanity in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Teens Take on Longfellow!

Have you come by yet to see how our Teen Photographers Take on Longfellow? Students from Mount Saint Dominic Academy and James Caldwell High School have created some AMAZING work inspired by The Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and it is on display in The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room. The MSDA students, under the direction and guidance of Art Teacher Linda Stewart, displayed their work in March, and James Caldwell High School students, under the direction and guidance of Art Club Moderator Bridgit Martin, are displaying their creations in April. Please make certain to spend some time appreciating their work, their efforts. Hopefully you joined us last Wednesday for the reception for the Mount girls, and keep an eye out for the date in April where we will celebrate our JCHS artists at a reception. And, thank you again, students and all, for being part of The Big Read of the Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Click here for a full roster of events.


NOTE: If you want to know more about Christopher Bing's visit this past week click here for the article on Patch and click here for a video of part of Tuesday night's program at MSDA open to the community. And -- if your children attend school at Trinity, Grover Cleveland Middle School (6th & 7th graders), Harrison, Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Wilson, and/or The Children's Institute - have you asked them about Mr. Bing's visit to their school this week? That visit would not have been possible without this library receiving the grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for The Big Read, as well as matching monies received from Kiwanis and Rotary, as well as a very generous check from the Caldwell-West Caldwell Education Foundation. We are all working together for our children!

Illustrator Christopher Bing lands in Newark in approximately 50 hours!

Most likely, by now, you are the recipient of emails, flyers, "word of mouth reminders", posting on your school's website - or you know from checking out the Caldwell Public Library and/or the National Endowment for the Arts website for THE BIG READ - that...
Illustrator Christopher Bing will be IN the Caldwells the week of March 22nd.
He will be visiting all public and parochial grammar schools in Caldwell/West Caldwell, and he will be visiting The Children's Institute in Verona. In addition, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. he will be offering his comments and program and art to our community at the newly opened Doris M. Byrne Performing Arts Center at Mount Saint Dominic Academy. PLEASE join us! For more info check out our website, come to the library, or phone a friend.
And, while you are on the computer -- watch the Metrowest Video's fabulous You Tube of Christopher talking about his passion for his work, and lots of other things as he works on his latest book - Little Red Riding Hood.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Was yesterday's Birthday Bash FUN or what?!?! One of our guests commented something like "I daresay Henry never had a birthday celebration like this before." I don't know, I sort of HOPE he did, but I do also know: yesterday was magnificent. The poetry, the company, the art, the COOKIES, the sneak peek at the 1914 "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" film, and so much more. If you couldn't make it, or forgot, no worries: just come on over Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. as we kick off our March to May "Local Poets Take on Longfellow!" evenings. This Tuesday will feature poets John J. Trause and Gabriella Radujko. And, more to come this week, but will post again tomorrow or Tuesday on those events. (If you cannot wait, go to http://www.caldwellpl.org/ and check it out!)

Oh, and of course, there WILL be cookies at all these events - thanks to our chefs and bakers at Essex Vo-Tech Culinary School, West Caldwell campus! Yum Yum!

Happy 203d Henry!

Join us on Saturday, February 27, 2010 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. when we shall sing, celebrate, read 203 lines of his poetry, and KICK OFF The Big Read of the Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in a memorable and delicious way. Birthday treats will be baked by our "chefs of the future" from Essex Vo-Tech School, West Caldwell campus. Special happenings for the children downstairs, fun for all, THE place to be. (This Longfellow cake was created for our "Educator's Workshop" last October, thanks to Le Baker's Dozen Bake Shoppe in Upper Montclair, who also created our Abe Lincoln birthday cake last Friday. Massive thanks to Therese and Colleen!)

The Big Read has returned to the Caldwells! Get Ready!

With the hanging of The Big Read banners on our Carnegie Library exterior, and now the unveiling of the poster proclaiming four of our hallmark events this afternoon, we are READY! As to the poster, let us first express our never-ending gratitude to Mount Saint Dominic Academy art teacher, artist and friend extraordinaire, Linda Picini Stewart, for creating the art - and to our friends at Caldwell LIVE for assisting us in the production. (Linda does NOT usually use her maiden name, but, we like to give credit to her mom and dad - the PICINIS - in addition to her lovely husband, Michael, whenever we are able.)
Anyway, please add our list of events to your favorites right now - and join us next Friday, February 12, 2010 at 7 p.m. as we celebrate Abraham's Lincoln's birthday in a very special way - as a "preview" to The Big Read of Longfellow. Seton Hall Prep educator, and West Caldwell resident, John Pascal will be sharing with us stories about "the man who made Lincoln laugh" - Artemus Ward. His program will be enjoyable - and the birthday treats created by the culinary students at Essex Vo-Tech, West Caldwell campus, will be delicious as well! See you on the 12th, if not before.

GET READY FOR LONGFELLOW

“Music is the universal language of mankind”

“Lives of great men [and women!] all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time”

“Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year."

“There was a little girl,

Who had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good,

She was very good indeed,

But when she was bad she was horrid”

The above quotes are but four snippets from the vast amount of Longfellow's poetry.

Our community is delighted that a third experience with The Big Read has been presented to us. After “The Shawl” as well as “The Age of Innocence” we know what is in store: Great and miraculous moments, innumerable memories, fabulous collaborations and cooperation, imaginations soaring and excitement overflowing!