Summer Reading Program

June 21 – Labor Day 

Are you looking for a good book to read, but you don’t know what it could be?  Try one of the following suggestions.  Then tell us on our Facebook page about your “reading adventure.” Participation in the ALMP summer reading program will be recognized.

Summer Reading Suggestions:

July is graphic novel month. Check out the titles.  Enjoy a graphic novel.  If you don’t know the term, graphic novel. Ask a librarian or a friend to help you.

Check out the best sellers.  There will be something fascinating there to read.

When was the last time you read a children’s book for your own pleasure.  How about Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day? 

Take your favorite book to a convalescent center.  Read to a patient.

Read a large print book.

Check out the “books on tape.”  Find one to “read.”

Read a book that has been made into a film.  Watch the film and compare the two.

What, you don’t read the local (Gazette-Journal) newspaper?  The library has a copy.  Sit down in the “reading area” and enjoy finding out the news from the county.

Read a mystery book.

Children and pets are good listeners.  Read a book to a child and, if a pet is around, include it.

Jennifer Chiaverini has written the Elm Creek quilt series as well as enjoyable historical novels.  Read

Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker or one of her other novels. You will enjoy the adventures.

Check out National Geographic’s books. Imagine the trip you can take.  Where would you go? 

Reader’s choice!  What will you choose?  Maybe an e-book.                        

Make an appointment and let us help you improve your present  educational level. Don’t want to call? Stop in the library and ask where ALMP is working; come by and talk.      

Congratulations to Rosines!  She has passed her citizenship test and is the latest student who has prepared with ALMP to become a US citizen.  Rosines was also fortunate to have study assistance from her two oldest children who have a commanding understanding of American history and supported their mom’s study by questioning her using the 100 questions a new citizen is required to know the answers to as well as demonstrate an ability to read and write in English.  Next for Rosines is the date for taking her Oath of Allegiance.

With Labor Day weekend upon us, Mathews Market Days is close behind (or ahead, depending upon your perspective). That means Mathews Market Days is September 9 / 10 in Mathews Court House.  The Spelling Bee is scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 on the Main Stage; however, presently there is low registration. If registration doesn’t pick up by the 8^th, the contest will be postponed. Listen to WXGM for updates and read the Gazette for information.

Guinea Jubilee

Next on the agenda for ALMP will be participation in the Guinea Jubilee, September 23 and 24.  Come by to visit.  We’ll have a few raffle items and information to share. 

Literacy Month

September is Literacy Month and the 8^th is World Literacy Day.  Have you read a book or read to a child lately?

Planning continues for the Bobby Spitler Memorial 5K at Kingston Plantation (Route 658) on October 29^th.  A “virtual run” has been added. (That’s the run that isn’t.)

Registration continues with paper forms in all area libraries or online via Chronotrack.  Some of ALMP’s young volunteers will be roaming the grounds ready to make “balloon animals” to entertainment awaiting audiences.

Please share with your family and friends that ALMP works with adults on various levels beginning with those adults who want to learn how to read, people who want to prepare for their GED Tests, English as a Second Language (ESL) and civics education for those qualifying for US citizenship.  Just call to make an appointment. 

This Month's Meetings

Here's our list of ALMPVA meetings for September 2016. We hope to see you there! Meetings for the month: 09/07: GCRC and MMD, 09/09 – 09/10: MMD, 09/15: MCRC and BAH; 09/20: BoD, 09/22: Mathews DSS, 09/23 – 24:  Guinea Jubilee.

April not only brings springs showers, but also busy days and great events.

For weeks ALMP has been asking for a donation (in workable condition) of a laptop so students preparing

for the GED Tests could take the GED READY Tests here at the library and those students who need to learn keyboarding skills could practice those skills. Then one day, in walks a “godfather” with a NEW laptop notebook and keyboard for the students who need to practice and prepare for the GED Tests. ALMP is grateful!

On April 3rd ALMP sponsored the 5K / 3K Run as the Sunday event during the Daffodil Festival. There were many runners for both races with 186 total runners. The Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism helped with many “fine” details as did Hodges & Bryant Plumbing, Water Pro and the many volunteers. The first place in the 5K received “gold” medals, while all other place finishers in the 5K and all 3K 1st through 3rd place finishers received blue, red and white ribbons, accordingly. The sky turned blue and the wind became a gentle breeze and the race was a success. The results are available at www.vttrunners.com/daffodil. 

As ALMP finishes one event, the Silent Apron Auction begins on April 15th with community people making aprons, taking them to the Courthouse Restaurant, customers placing silent bids. On May 9th, the day after Mother’s Day which is National Apron Day the blue ribbons will be awarded to the person making the highest bid and the person who made the winning apron.

April 10 – 16 is Volunteer Week, the time when ALMP thanks its volunteers for the valuable gifts of time and talents.

April 16th will find ALMP at the Home and Garden Show.

The meetings for April: GCRC: 04/06, BoD: 04/19, MMD: 04/20, MCRC: 04/21, BAH: 04/21.

Thanks for telling your friends and family what we do!

Congratulations, Ronnie!  Your months of work paid off in a successful race, the Bobby Sptiler Memorial 5k Run/Walk at Warner Hall.  There were some “scary” people who ran the good race, but then, it was Halloween.  Thanks to the sponsors, the runners, the volunteers and zombies who made it a great day!  ***  Congratulations to Robyn, former student and GED graduate who stopped by to share the news that her hard work and continuing studies have paid off in the form of a raise in salary.  Robyn certainly exemplifies the statistics that a GED graduate does make more money than a person without a GED.  Thanks for sharing the news.  ***  Next on the ALMP agenda is the Christmas Stocking Boutique which is held at the Courthouse Restaurant beginning November 27th.  Do you sew?  Or know someone who does?  Make a stocking from any material (buy your material at Field’s Quilting & Crafts and receive a 10% discount on the materials used to make the stocking), take the stocking to the Courthouse Restaurant for display.  The silent bids will be placed.  Who knows you might win a Blue Ribbon for best in show, most creature or highest bid.  The stockings will be on display until December 19th.  ***   The BoD and some volunteers will be wrapping gifts at Barnes & Noble in New Town (Williamsburg) in December.  ***  Please remember: Black Friday follows Thanksgiving, then it’s Cyber Monday and new for ALMP this year is #Giving Tuesday.  That is the day throughout the country when supporters of nonprofits are encouraged to make a donation to their favorite charity and #GiveGab will not have a service charge.  More news in a few days.  ***  Meetings for the month:  11/04: GCRC, ll/17: BoD 11/19: MCRC, BAH (@ Chesapeake Bank, MMD.  For your information:  The library will close @ 2PM on 11/25 and remain closed 11/26 and 11/27.  ***  Enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends.  *** Remembers to tell others about Adult Literacy.  Thanks …

The spelling bee season has buzzed off for another year.  The student bee at Mathews Market Days was won by a new, to the area home schooled student, Wilhelm Anderson who received the Gold Spelling Bee Medal,  Ailin Harpole,  4^th grade at Bethel Elementary and repeating participant, received the Silver Spelling Bee Medal, with Aden Harpole, 1^st grade also at Bethel Elementary, and Aiden Sower, 4^th grade student at Lee-Jackson, tied for the bronze medal.  Congratulations to each speller!  ***  Did you know that there are two ways to make online donations to ALMP?  As you have been able to do for awhile now, go to almpva.org, on the home page you will find the donate button; or, you may go to the newest nation-wide online site supportadultliteracy.org and search for Adult Literacy on the Middle Peninsula, Inc.  Share that information with friends and ALMP will say thank you to the donor.  ***  Watch the Gazette for current news about the financial literacy course ALMP will be offering.  All materials are free to participants courtesy of a Mathews Market Days Grant.  ***  For almost a year, Ronnie has been working hard on organizing the Bobby Spitler Memorial 5K Run/Walk which is going to be on Saturday, October 31 at Warner Hall.  Bobby was a GED graduate (top 1% in Virginia and top 2% in US) who worked at PHA (Peninsula Heating and Air), a race sponsor.  He was a very kind person and skilled worker. Ronnie and his co-workers wanted to honor Bobby’s memory, thus, the 5k Run/Walk was born.  We are going to need your help, so please call to let us know you want to volunteer.  In addition to the run, ALMP is taking advantage of the day (Halloween) and awards will be given for the 3 best costumes.  Watch out …  there will be zombies amongst us!  ***  Meetings for the month: 10/07: GCRC, 10/14: Bay Aging, 10/15: MCRC and BAH, 10/20: BoD and MMD.