Tom Boxwell. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

Tom Boxwells days as a student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) gave him more than a great education and springboard for a successful career. It provided a place where community mattered and fostered a desire to give back to an institution he feels has rewarded him handsomely over the years.

With his donation to CSUN a generous $50,000 to the College of Health and Human Developments Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH), where he earned his Master of Science in 1979 Boxwell hopes his action will have a ripple effect, encouraging other alumni to donate, too.

In short, hed like to bolster the culture of giving.

Tom Boxwell. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

Get It Going

Id like this to be a kind of kick-off, Boxwellsaid. The work is doing it the first time; but once youve done it, then its like cutting and pasting! Wed like to send out a newsletter about whats going on in the EOH program, and on the back of that newsletter include an opportunity to donate, whether its $1 or $100, he emphasized.

The donation will allow for equipment purchases and student training in the EOH department. Boxwell and his wife, attorney Nancy Alders, wanted to give a gift that was beneficial for the studentsandthe faculty.

In addition to earning his masters at CSUN, Boxwell also has a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from the university and had, for 30 years, been a part-time lecturer in the Department of EOH. One of his favorite feel-good moments at CSUN was being selected from a physiology class of 150 graduate students to run a microbiology lab. Teaching that class is a really good memory. I also took over the lecture sometimes when the instructor wanted to leave early. We were meant to feel, in grad school, special. They didnt just take anyone; you were there because you were good. They imbued in us a sense of complete confidence.

The Roots Took Hold

Tom Boxwell and his wife, Nancy Alders. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

Boxwell said his parents, who relocated to California from Ohio in 1957 to pursue better job prospects, emphasized achievement and the importance of being well-educated. Going to college was an imperative, not a choice. His mother, a registered nurse, found work at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys; his dad obtained a masters in education from CSUN and taught in the county probation system for more than 40 years. Boxwell also believes his formative years were impacted positively by his participation in The Order of DeMolay, a Masonic youth organization that instilled a core value of leadership in both character and action.

Thrive and Give

Boxwells career took off after graduating with a masters degree, and he credits CSUN for helping him become an adult. He had gleaned technical training how to evaluate worker exposure to chemical and biological elements, for example that enabled him to develop programs where they were needed. During his tenure at Hughes Aircraft Company, where he worked for 17 years, he developed and managed an environmental health and safety audit program that completed more than 150 audits at Hughes facilities around the world. Later in his career Boxwell worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was a laser safety officer for about 8,000 people.

Tom Boxwell and Farrell Webb, dean of the College of Health and Human Development. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

His spirit of generosity has extended to non-monetary giving, as well. At Hughes, he coordinated beach clean-up days, herding 1,300 shorts-and-flip-flops-wearing employees who gathered debris in Playa del Rey. And, while teaching at CSUN, he often took time out during class to talk to students about the impact of giving.

I would tell them, Its likely youll make more money as you move forward in your career. You need to find a charity you like and support it, either financially or with sweat equity, maybe both.

Farrell J. Webb, dean of the College of Health and Human Development, agreed. You have to give back. I went to a Jesuit school, and I learned their philosophy of being obligated to give back to the institution that educated you. And the alumni always ask for money, which is okay they never insist, they just ask. We have to introduce people to the idea that theycangive and for students, they dont have to do it now, they can wait until later.

Aside from reaping the educational and professional benefits of attending CSUN, Boxwell found lasting personal relationships from his time as a student. He worked with many friends he had met in school; and in the 1980s, he and fellow Matador Owen Seiver formed a band, Curves, that played all of the local venues, many of them high profile The Roxy, The Whiskey, The Troubadour. The rockers gained a loyal following, signed a record contract with EMI and even appeared in an MTV video.

Boxwell reflects on his meaningful CSUN connections and reiterates his gratitude for the program that enabled him to have a great career. I hope this donation will alleviate some stress in certain areas and make people happier, if even for just a day!

College of Health and Human Development, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, donor

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Environmental and Occupational Health Alumnus Wants His Donation to Inspire a Culture of Giving - CSUN Today

Essential Advice For Beginners to Open-Water Swimming

I've been swimming for exercise for over 15 years. I feel my best physically, mentally, and emotionally when I'm swimming in a pool, happily lost in the repetition of logging lap after lap in my lane.

But put me in a lake or an ocean, and I feel like a fish out of water. I'm a strong swimmer, but my confidence instantly evaporates when it comes to open-water swimming.

That's likely because open-water swimming is "dramatically different" than swimming competitively in a pool, according to Coach Morgon Latimore, Ironman-certified coach and level three coach, and lead adult learn-to-swim instructor at US Masters Swimming.

"The pool is a controlled environment: you have lane lines, walls, and a little back stripe on the bottom of the pool to keep you in the center of the lane," Latimore says. "When you venture out into the open water, it is the total opposite there are no lane lines, there are no walls to stop and hold on to or flip turn on. There's only the open water and everything in it, including the wildlife, which can have a dramatic effect on an untrained mind. I have seen competitive swimmers freeze with anxiety and fear in open water, and this would not have occurred in a pool."

While a pool has predictable circumstances, down to the chemical balance and temperature, the open water is controlled by the very unpredictable Mother Nature, Latimore explains.

"As you venture into the open water you must be very mindful of the currents, the waves, pollution, and many other environmental concerns. Also, when you are swimming in open water you must be able to see where you are going, and depending on the distance, you may even need nutrition if it's a long open-water swim."

Latimore says that not considering these factors can put even very good pool swimmers at a "very big disadvantage in the open water." Therefore, it's crucial for anyone new to open-water swimming to understand their new environment and educate themselves on open-water swimming best practices for safety reasons and to boost their confidence and performance.

I'd love to enter into an open-water swim race one day, so I'm starting my education with Latimore's essential tips below.

"There is safety in numbers, and you should never swim in open water alone. There are no exceptions to this rule," Latimore stresses. On top of sticking to beaches or lakes with lifeguards, Latimore says that having someone near you on a boat, kayak, or standup paddle board for safety is a great idea as well as someone sitting on the shore or a dock watching you swim. That way, they can also call for help if needed.

Latimore also says there are devices that you can strap to your waist or leg that act as safety flotation devices. But remember: open-water swimming alone is not an option.

First, you should only swim in safe waters approved for swimming. Then, you'll want to familiarize yourself with that body of water, Latimore says.

"Not doing your homework beforehand on the open water you're going to be swimming in could put you in a bad situation. I would always tell swimmers that they should show up maybe a day or two prior to their open-water swim (if it is their first time or they have never swam at the location) and just read the water," Latimore says.

That means looking at the waves, noting what time of day it is and how many people are in the water, identifying where the lifeguards are, and chatting with locals about the water conditions. If you're in the ocean, Latimore suggests speaking to surfers, too.

If you're new to open-water swimming, Latimore suggests trying the lake before an ocean if you have a choice. "Lakes take out the concern of waves and swells (in most cases), but there are still some large lakes that possess the same water conditions as an ocean swim."

As mentioned before, Latimore notes that a flotation device is a great piece of equipment to have for open-water swimming.

You'll also want to have a brightly-colored swim cap so you can be spotted from a distance, and goggles, "so you are not disoriented and you can see where you are going when you're sighting looking above water to make sure you are swimming in the right direction," Latimore says.

A wetsuit is a good item to add to your shopping list, too. Latimore says wearing wetsuits can give you a sense of security to depend on and will help you retain body heat if the water temperature is below what's comfortable for you. "It may be necessary for beginners depending on their confidence and skill level," Latimore adds.

Stores specializing in triathlon gear can help point you in the right direction when it comes time to make a purchase.

"Not even a car can run without fuel, so making sure that you have all the nutrients and hydration you need is very important for having the energy you will need to enjoy, or even complete, your swim," Latimore says. So, be sure to properly hydrate and fuel your body for the work ahead.

Ease into this sport. If you regularly swim in a pool and this is your first time open-water swimming, Latimore says to swim for a shorter distance than you normally would. "For example, instead of swimming 1600 meters like you would in a pool, maybe only swim 500 meters. That means swim 250 meters out and 250 meters back, totaling 500 meters."

But remember how Latimore mentioned that open-water swimming comes with unpredictable factors? Currents and waves can potentially change the intensity of your swim, which should play into how far you choose to swim as well. "It may become more challenging for you to breathe and have the ability to swim the given distance."

The length of time you usually spend swimming should also be taken into account. "If you have only swam for 15 or 20 minutes, you shouldn't be taking on a swim significantly longer than that without proper preparation, even if it's only an extra five to 10 minutes," Latimore says.

Make time for a proper warmup and a cooldown, just like you would if you were jumping into a pool-based workout, Latimore says. "Most people skip this especially beginners because they feel that it is conserving energy. Perform warmups and cooldowns to make your swims easier and your recovery faster."

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If Youre Interested in Open-Water Swimming, These Beginner Tips Are Essential - POPSUGAR

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Northland Public Library is reopening Aug. 17 with restrictions and at a reduced capacity after in-person visits have been prohibited for the past several months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Were elated to welcome back our patrons and the community to the library building, said Amy Steele, the librarys executive director. The building, services and procedures will be slightly different, but the spirit and thirst for literacy and knowledge remains.

All visitors 3 and older will be required to wear a proper-fitting face covering at all times while in the library building and remain 6 feet apart from staff and other patrons. Customers also are asked to self-diagnose and not visit the library if they recently experienced a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

A digital collection is available online for people who cannot visit the library.

Library staff will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department for cleaning and disinfecting the building. All returned materials are being quarantined for several days, and hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed throughout the building for use before and after handling materials.

To help prevent the spread of coronavirus, the library has removed or created distance between some chairs, computers and work stations. Plexiglass dividers have been installed at the reference and checkout desks.

Visits to the library are limited to two hours, and a one-hour limit has been placed on visits to the Childrens and Teen Services department to allow more people to obtain materials. The library has temporarily suspended loaning items from the interactive collection such as American Girl Dolls, Legos, science kits, instruments, book bag kits and toys.

Customers are being encouraged to use the self-checkout scanners and online resources as much as possible to reduce the time people spend in the building. Reference questions and other inquiries should be handled by telephone or email to reduce personal contact with staff.

Snacks and drinks may be consumed only in the outdoor picnic area.

The computer center can be used for a maximum of two hours a day and requires an appointment. Time must be booked at least 24 hours in advance by calling 412-366-8100, ext. 131.

While the library building may have been closed, weve proven that Northland is much more than just a building, Steele said.

In early June, the library began phasing in services such as a reserved pickups service and the drive-thru book drop. While the building was closed during June and July, staff answered 8,500 phone calls and provided online services to more than 4,000 patrons.

Were looking forward to welcoming patrons back to our building and at the same time continuing with virtual programming, Steele said. This is an opportunity to grow our connection to the communities we serve both in person and online.

The library is at 300 Cumberland Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony at 724-772-6368, tlarussa@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories: Hampton Journal | Local | North Journal

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Northland Public Library reopening with restrictions, virus safety protocols - TribLIVE

WESTLAKE, Ohio -- If boredom is a problem in your household during this unusual time, visit the website of Westlake Porter Public Library (WPPL). There is an almost astonishing array of creative, online activities for the whole family.

Library Director Andrew Mangels said, Social media live-streaming and video posting, as well as online group hosting services, have allowed the library to continue to safely provide programs to our community for all ages in this era of social distancing.

From story times to book discussions to craft and STEAM programs to informational programs, were offering most of the same types of programs in patrons own homes that we usually present in the building, he said.

But we hope our patrons remember that while programs have gone virtual, the building is still open for browsing the collection and using the public computers.

Here are some of the librarys offerings now through the end of August:

Thursday, Aug. 13 (all day) Calling crafters online: Library Card Mini Notebook. Learn how to make a library card mini-notebook at home. In addition to internet access and a computer, tablet or phone, also needed is a pencil, a quarter-inch hole punch and a glue stick. Other materials will be provided. On or after Aug. 13 you will receive an email with a link to a presentation you can watch anytime at your own pace. Wait for email before coming to pick up materials.

Thursdays, Aug. 13, 20 and 27, and Tuesdays, Aug. 18 and 25 (11 to 11:30 a.m.) Story time online.

Thursdays, Aug. 13, 20 and 27 (3:30 to 4:30 p.m.) WPPL Roblox Club (an online game platform). The library has servers set up for grades 4-6 to hang out with friends to enjoy popular games. Register separately for each session.

Friday, Aug. 14 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) DIY crafts for tweens and teens. Whether at home or in a school building, the crafts will make your learning space all your own! The library provides most of the supplies, with instructions to complete four crafts. Register needed for pickup beginning Aug. 14.

Fridays, Aug. 14, 21 and 28, and Monday, Aug. 31 (11 to 11:30 a.m.) Library at 11 online, with family-friendly videos.

Monday, Aug. 17 (6 to 8 p.m.) Virtual medicinal/nutritional herbs from your garden. Learn how to grow your own herbal remedies from healing plants. Turn your home-grown herbs into creams, tinctures, teas and more. Learn on Zoom the plant parts to use and their nutritional/medicinal value. Registration needed.

Wednesday, Aug. 19 (11 to 11:30 a.m.) Sing and Dance on Zoom with Miss Nancy. Participants should provide an email address to receive Zoom instructions, which will be sent the day of the program.

Wednesday, Aug. 19 (7 to 8 p.m.) Moralists in Disguise: Mark Twain Meets the Twilight Zone. Join author and actor Mark Dawidziak on Zoom. Registration is required to attend.

Friday, Aug. 21 (3 to 3:45 p.m.) Got Science? On Zoom. Join Got Science? and make a solar oven. Got Science? kits will be available for pickup beginning Aug. 14 in the Youth Services Department. You need a kit to participate in the program. Participants must provide an email address to receive ZOOM instructions. Grades K-4.

Monday, Aug. 24 (7 to 8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: Design 3D-Printable Objects with Tinkercad online to pick up at the library. Registration and an email address are needed.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 (all day). Calling Crafters Online: Paper LED Lanterns. In addition to internet access and a computer, tablet or phone, tacky glue is also needed. Other materials will be provided. On or after Aug. 26, you will receive an email with a link to a presentation to watch anytime. Wait for email before coming to pick up materials.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 (7 to 8 p.m.) Virtual Trivia Night @Porter: Music and Fun Stuff. Play as a single player or as a family. Presented live via Zoom. Registration needed.

Also, The One Community READS events are taking place from August through December. The effort involves all nine of Cuyahoga County's library systems and will center on the issues of racism and inequality. The effort will include book selections, author events and community conversations. All programs will be virtual.

For more information or to register for any of WPPLS programs, visit http://www.westlakelibrary.org/events.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.

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Westlake library proves no one has to be bored during the pandemic - cleveland.com

All Boston Public Library branches are officially up and running with to-go options during the coronavirus pandemic.

The library started offering BPL To Go and Printing To Go in some branches in June but now is available at all locations. These services allow those interested to pick up and return books, CDs, DVDs and more, as well as submit documents to be printed at the Central Library and 21 branch locations.

Like many businesses, Boston Public Library had to close its doors in March due to the pandemic. It then began to offer virtual services.

Since March the library has had 23,300 new e-card sign ups with about 9,000 people using library services each day.

This includes accessing ebook/audiobooks, as well as a wide range of digital events from Concerts in the Courtyard to Animal Crossing Twitch Streaming, and online resources from BLM & Anti-Racism Guides to ESL Discussion Groups, the library said in an email.

The library has also had 58,000 items put on hold and 62,800 items have been checked out since June.

During the pandemic, interest in e-books have risen.

OverDrive, which helps most libraries in North America offer e-books, said that e-book loans have jumped 53% since before the pandemic, Fortune reported. Of those, young adult nonfiction has grown the most with checkouts up 122%, and juvenile fiction up 93%.

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All Boston Public Library branches open for to-go during coronavirus pandemic; 62,800 items have been checked - MassLive.com

Redlands A.K. Smiley Public Library and the League of Women Voters, San Bernardino Area, will present Everybody Counts: Understanding the 2020 U.S. Census, an online workshop on Zoom, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

The workshop is free. Register at http://www.akspl.org/news-events/census/. The workshop will also be recorded and be available on the A.K. Smiley Public Librarys Facebook page, according to a news release.

The 2020 U.S. Census began April 1 and will close Sept. 30. The results are used to determine how much funding communities receive for public services and how many seats each state gets in Congress.

People are required by law to respond to the census, but the Census Bureau is prohibited by law from releasing any identifiable information about those who respond, according to the news release. Responses are used only to produce statistics.

The workshop will cover questions people are asked to reply to on the 2020 census form and tips for responding, plus information on how the Census Bureau will and will not use the answers, according to the news release.

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Want to learn more about the 2020 U.S. Census? Heres an online workshop - Redlands Daily Facts

Times Herald-Record

HOW TO SUBMIT AN EVENT

To submit events in the Whats Happening calendar for online and print, go to recordonline.com/entertainment and click on calendar. Then click on Promote Your Event. Please submit information two weeks before the event. Keep the listing length small as long listings will not be printed. Listings appear in print as space allows. For questions or help with submissions use the chat feature for online submissions and for all other questions and corrections emailcommunities@th-record.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Healthy Living for your Brain and Body:1-2 p.m. Aug. 12. A free virtual educational program with information on diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity, and social engagement. Registration is required at alz.org/hudsonvalleyor call 800-272-3900.Information about how toparticipate in the webinars will be provided following registration.

Thursday, Aug. 13

Virtual Magic Tree House Summer Book Club:4 p.m. Aug. 13,via Zoom. Discussion, games, puzzles and projects. Activities will accompany the Magic Tree House book Hours of the Olympics.Registration is requiredbefore each sessionby contacting Carolyn Thorez atcthorenz@rcls.orgfor select or all dates. There will be a limit of 12 per session. Activity kits will be made available for curbside pick-up prior to first meeting. Formoreinformation, visitgardinerlibrary.org/kidseventsandprograms.aspor the Gardiner Library Facebook page.

Working in the Borscht Belt: TalesFromthe Dining Room Virtual Program:6:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 13, E.B. Crawford Public Library, 479 Broadway, Monticello. Panelists will discuss their experiences working in the dining rooms of several Catskills hotels in theirhey day. We will hear their personal stories about working and playing in the mountains during 60s and 70s. Hear what it was like to work seven days a week serving all 21 meals to stations of from 24 to 40 guests, with no days or meals off. Many doctors, lawyers and teachers earned their yearly college expenses in eight hectic weeks of summer. Panelists include: MyronGittell, Alan Barrish, Lynn Skolnick and Marvin Rappaport. Registration is required. This virtual program is provided by the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello. Registration is limited to 75 registrants. Please register online at ebcpl.org, click on adult calendars and then click on August. 794-4660.

Virtual Board of Trustees Meeting:7 p.m. Aug. 13,these meetings are held virtually using the Zoom application. Dates, times and instructions to join the meeting are posted at cornwallpubliclibrary.org and on the door of the building. To Join the meetingemailcor@rcls.orgto request computer access; or call 534-8282,option 2, and leave a message by 5p.m.,Aug. 13to request call-in access.

Ten Mile River Museum Talk, A discussion about bats in the Upper Delaware River Valley":7-8 p.m. Aug. 13,Ten Mile River,1481 Crystal Lake Rd.,Narrowsburg, free. Erica Spiess, biological science technician and natural resource ranger, NPS, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, will lead the talk. Parts of the it can help scouts meet the requirements for the Mammal Study merit badge. Museum Chairman MichaelDrillingerwill moderate. A Q&A session will occur at the conclusion. 201-716-9261.mitchell.slepian@gmail.com.

Friday, Aug. 14

Story BreakLive!:11 a.m. Aug. 14, every Fri. Think youre too old for a childrens book? The Cornwall Public Librarys Youth Services Team begs to disagree. Celebrate TGIF with a familiar library face and a good story. You can catch these live events on the LibrarysFacebookpage ,through the summer. Cornwallpubliclibrary.org.

Drive-Thru Fish Fry:5-7 p.m. Aug. 14, Polish Legion of American Veterans, 16 Legion Rd., Pine Island, $15 per person, take out only, tickets available at theLegion bar,Wed.-Sun. 2-8 p.m. or call 258-4168.

Saturday, Aug. 15

GriefShare - Grief Support:1-3 a.m. Aug. 15,Goshen Christian Preschool building, 2440 Route 17A, Goshen, $5. GriefShare is athirteen-weekvideo seminar led bywell-knowncounselors, teachers and pastors who guide the participates in working through the grief process. Each participant will receive a workbook to take notes in and use at home, along with other key tools. The video seminar is combined with small group discussion and essential question and answer times which will enable the participants to travel to healing from their grief in the death of a loved one.Pre registrationrequired, call381-0533,sdfrench1999@yahoo.com.

Sunday, Aug. 16

Plein Air Art Event:Noon-5 p.m. Aug. 16, Friends-Harmony Hall- Jacob Sloat House, 15 Liberty Rock Rd., Sloatsburg, free. The legacy of important 1930's impressionist painters George Macrum and Edith Varian Cockcroft; who lived and worked in Sloatsburg, lives on. Presented by The Friends of Harmony Hall, The Sloatsburg Chamber of Commerce and Rockland County Tourism. Artists will have the opportunity to paint on the great lawn and work at various sites in historic Sloatsburg. RevitalizedMainStreet features several restaurants set up for safe outdoor dining experiences.Ample parking on site and community parking lot 27 Mill Street. Walking maps of the village will be available. Social distancing, mask wearing and all safety protocols will be enforced. 320-296-2719,jssitylre@gmail.com.

The Gardiner Library Virtual Young Adult Book Club Meeting:1:30 p.m. Aug. 16, via Zoom, will cover Children of Blood and Boneby Tomi Adeyemi. Discussion, games and design a decorative fan during the meeting.Registration is required before each session by contacting Carolyn Thorez atcthorenz@rcls.orgfor select or all dates. There will be a limit of 12 per session. For more information, visitgardinerlibrary.org/kidseventsandprograms.aspor the Gardiner Library Facebook page.

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Zoom Friendly Visitor Volunteer Training:10 a.m. Aug. 18.Jewish Family Service of Orange County invites you to become a Friendly VisitorVolunteer in Orange County. This 90-minute training prepares potential volunteers to provide support to older adults inyour own communities.For about 3 hours a week or less, volunteers provide local transportation to essential appointments, grocery shopping and friendly visits. Volunteering is rewarding and flexible. Reservations are required for this event.To register or to learn more about volunteering,call or email Paula Blumenau at 341-1173 ext.305 orpblumenau@jfsorange.org. Background checks and Insurance while volunteeringareprovided.

AccomplisedNewburgh NASA Ambassador Teacher toSpeakbassadorBrings NASA to theClaassader:7:30-9:15 p.m. Aug. 18, Aleen Toback will talk about her role in having students gather and interpret research for NASA and other scientific organizations. The presentation will be made via Zoom and will be sponsored by theMid HudsonAstonomicalAssociation.Toback has been a life science teacher at the Heritage Middle School in Newburgh for 22 years. Sheis an Educational Ambassador for GoddardSpacefightCenter, aliasonfor the GoddardSpacefightCenter Office of Stem Management at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City, and a trainee for the Global Observations to Benefit Earth (GLOBE) program. The presentation will follow the regularly scheduled meeting of the MHAA which begins at 7:30. All are invited to both. To access the 8 PM talk or the meeting and talk go tomidhudsonastro.organd register "ATTEND" at their Meetup site.631-553-1144, 245-5483.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Virtual Out & About Book Club:8:30 p.m. Aug. 19, book pick, Real Lifeby Brandon Taylor. Just because we cant be Out & About doesnt mean we cant still have a great book club meeting! Digitalebooksand audiobooks are available through Libby or call the library for a hard copy. Register via theCornwall Public Librarysonline calendarat cornwallpubliclibrary.org.Zoom links will be emailed to registrants the day of the book.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Mystery Book Discussion:2 p.m. Aug. 20, book pick, Worthy Brown's Daughterby Philip Margolin. Join a Zoom meeting to discuss a mystery novel with fellow readers. Digitalebooksand audiobooks are available through Libby and hoopla.Register via the Cornwall Public Librarysonline calendarat cornwallpubliclibrary.org.Zoom links will be emailed to registrants the day of the book club.

Diane Lang presents Staying Positive During Trying Times Virtual Program:6:30 p.m. Aug. 20.With gloom and doom around us, it can be hard to find the positive. Isolation has many of us feeling sad and anxious. But it is possible to stay positive, feel hopeful and reduce stress/anxiety during these turbulent times. Diane is an acclaimed author and therapist. She is a noted speaker and positive living coach who has presented a number of programs at the Ethelbert B. Crawford Library. This virtual program is another program provided by the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello. Registration is limited to 75 registrants. Please register online atebcpl.org, click on adult calendars and then click on August. You will find your program there. 794-4660.

Friday, Aug. 21

Story BreakLive!:11 a.m. Aug. 21, every Fri. Think youre too old for a childrens book? The Cornwall Public Librarys Youth Services Team begs to disagree. Celebrate TGIF with a familiar library face and a good story. You can catch these live events on the LibrarysFacebookpage ,through the summer. Cornwallpubliclibrary.org.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Putt Fore Paws: 11 a.m. Aug. 22, Apple Green Golf Course, 161 South St., Highland.This year's event will include live mobile scoring and leaderboard, a raffle, grab-&-go lunch provided by Apple Greens Catering, and trophies for top dog among men's single and women's single, and best two-some and best four-some. Social distancing measures will be used. Tickets available atbrownpapertickets.com/event/4681887.Call the shelter front desk if you'd like to purchase raffle tickets without purchasing tickets to attend.

Sparrowbush Engine Company annual Chicken BBQ Take Out:4-7 p.m. Aug. 22, donation$12, includes chicken, corn on the cob, baked potato and desert, ticket available from any SECO member or call 856-5047 to reserve your tickets.

Thursday, Aug. 27

Bonnie Lewis presents Tai Chi for Arthritis Part 2 Virtual Program:6:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Bonnie J. Lewis, RN and Certified Instructor, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County will present the second part of her benefits of Tai Chi for arthritis. The first part was very well received and Bonnie is back to explain in more depth how Tai Chican increase strength,posture, relaxation, prevent falls and reduce stress. This virtual program is provided by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello. Registration is limited to 75 registrants. Please register online atebcpl.org, click on adult calendars and then click on August. 794-4660.

Sunday, Sept. 6

CANCELED -Onion Festival:2-6 p.m. Sept. 6, PLAV Pavilion, 16 Legion Rd., Pine Island, tickets $20, JimmySturr& His Orchestra, onion eating contest sponsored by the Pine Island Chamber plus food and fun, special tribute to first responders, healthcare and medicalpersonnel .Classic cars are welcome to attend and display their vehicles and will be admitted to festival free of charge.

Saturday, Sept. 12

6thannual Fiesta Latina:10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 12, Museum Village, 1010 Route 17M, Monroe,free, donations appreciated,celebrating Family, Faith and Country, vendors focused on culture, family activities, food, live musicincluding Julian Vasquez. All proceeds support Museum Village.

Practice Sustainable Living:9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 12, Manza Family Farm, 4 Hathorn Road, Warwick. Orange Environment, Inc. is sponsoring two workshops. During the morning session from 9 a.m.-noon, the Essentials of Natural Building instructor, Jamie Manza, will guide you in how to use natural materials like clay paints, cob, straw, and stone in natural building for applications around your home (fee is $45). The afternoon session on Rainwater Catchment runs from 1:30-4 p.m. and will be led by Frank Dragone. A 55-gallon drum will be provided to each participant so you can build your own water collection system (fee is $65). CDC Guidelines will be followed and total participants will be limited to 15 to provide for safe social distancing of 6-feet apart and masks will be required. Please bring your own masks, snacks, drinks, and/or lunch (if you are staying for both sessions). Visitorangeenvironment.comto print out a registration form and contact Peter Lai at 313-4246 or emailpeterl@frontiernet.netfor more info. Then mail your check, made out to Orange Environment, Inc., to Orange Environment Inc., P.O. Box 25, Goshen, NY 10924. *If attending both sessions or are an Orange Environment, Inc. member, a $10 discount will apply. 313-4246.peterl@frontiernet.net.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimers Disease Virtual Program:6-7 p.m. Sept. 15,if you or someone you know is affected by Alzheimers disease or dementia, the time for legal and financial planning is now. Join in on a free virtual program to learn about important legal and financial issues you may face and how to put plans in place featuring Martin Hersh, Esq. To register visitsullivancce.org, emailsullivan@cornell.edu, or call 292-6180.

Saturday, Sept. 19

Chicken B.B. Q.:Sept. 19, Ulster Heights Rod and Gun Club, Sherman Rd., Ellenville. Take outs only. Pre-pay $12. For Reservations, call 647-5190.

Sunday, Oct. 4

Doggie Dash 2020:11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 4, HITS-on-the-Hudson, 454 Washington Ave., Saugerties.The 3rd annual Doggie Dash is the only 5k fun run/3k walk where you can bring your dog,in the process of designing this as a 2020 virtual event.Registration is $25 and is accepted viaraceentry.com.VisitUCSPCA.orgor contact the shelter for more information.All proceeds from the race will benefit the Ulster County SPCA.

Thursday, Oct. 15

CANCELED -Holocaust Remembrance Day Program:7-9 p.m. Oct. 15, Temple Sinai, 75 Highland Ave., Middletown. Featured speaker is Dr. RonaldIsraelskiwill tell the story of his parents who were survivors of the concentration camps. There will be candle lighting in memory of those who did not survive. 343-1861.

Saturday, Oct. 24

The Warwick Valley Quilters Guild Stars of the Valley Quilt Show:Oct. 24-25, TheSanfordvilleElementary School, 144SanfordvilleRd., Warwick. Local quilters from N.Y., N.J., Pa., and Conn., will show more than 150 quilts, and wall hangings. Speakers areTimnaTarr and Lisa Shepard Stewart. Vendors will offer machines, furniture, fabrics, and sewing accessories in addition to raffle prizes.pattiewhelan@yahoo.com. Warwickvalleyqg.org.

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What's happening - Times Herald-Record

University Librarian Valerie Hotchkiss (Vanderbilt University)

Many people are familiar with Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia created and edited by volunteers, but what about Wikidata, its sister project? Like Wikipedia, Wikidata is a free and collaboratively edited reference source, but it functions like a database rather than an encyclopedia. Users can ask highly complex questions and receive direct answers.

Vanderbilts librarians are harnessing the power of Wikidata to enhance the online reputations of Vanderbilts faculty and our overall status as a tier-one research university,University Librarian Valerie Hotchkisssaid. These efforts also advance the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries broader mission of contributing to the public good by promoting faculty scholarship and making it discoverable and accessible to researchers.

A team of librarians is collaborating this summer to contribute data about the academic backgrounds of Vanderbilt faculty and their scholarly publications. Since starting the project, the team has created an entry for every faculty member on campus. They have made almost 14,000 edits, adding roughly 600 bibliographic items.

Our goal is to provide complete information about the scholarly outputs of Vanderbilt faculty, said Clifford Anderson, associate university librarian for research and digital strategy. While we are just at the beginning, we are excited about the potential impact of this project.

To speed up the creation of metadata about faculty and their publications, Steven Baskauf, data science and data curation specialist for libraries, developed VanderBot, a set of scripts that can read and write to Wikidata, greatly improving the efficiency by which Vanderbilts faculty are discoverable through Wikidata.

VanderBot helps us automate certain tasks, Baskauf said. The script can determine whether data already exists in a record or can create, for example, a new item, add or change labels and descriptions, or add references and qualifiers to existing statements. Baskauf has made his code freely available for other coders to adjust to meet their own needs.

Vanderbilt librarians also are involved in related initiatives to describe scientific and cultural heritage online. For example, librarians are adding information about clinical trials to Wikidata and Wikipedia. Philip Walker, director of the Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library and Learning Center, has been meeting weekly with counterparts from Duke University, the University of Virginia and other institutions to develop the data model for these trials.

Original data from and about clinical trials are an extremely important source of grey literature, meaning information that is not formally published in books or journal articles, Walker said. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 clinical trials on Wikidata that list Vanderbilt University or Vanderbilt University Medical Center among research sites.

Meanwhile, staff members at the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery and the Visual Resources Center are adding information about Vanderbilts art objects to Wikidata. The WikiProject Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery will integrate Vanderbilts collection into the linked data universe. Having the collection easily accessible through Wikidata will generate a greater interest in the gallerys collection, creating more opportunities for research, object loan requests and exhibition participation, said Kali Mason, registrar and collections manager of the gallery.

In the process of adding faculty members to Wikidata, librarians at Vanderbilt discovered that there was no straightforward way to describe an academic appointment, so a group of librarians, including Anderson and Baskauf, proposed and received approval for a new category of data, Academic Appointment. Bruce Morrill, Edward A. Malloy Chair of Roman Catholic Studies at the Divinity School, became the first faculty member to have his academic appointment described with this new category in Wikidata.

While carrying out these incredibly useful projects, Vanderbilt librarians have become leaders in developing the potential of Wikidata for scholarly communications and academic research, Hotchkiss said. If faculty members would like to learn how to incorporate linked data into their research or coursework, our librarians stand ready to assist.

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Librarians work to broaden Vanderbilts research reputation with Wikidata tools - Vanderbilt University News

But the librarians were confronted with the novel question of how to gather and preserve material related to a movement that was born and partly still exists in a virtual world. Their answer: Gather websites, tweets, online articles, and other electronic material related to the topic in a publicly accessible digital archive.

There was no clear individual to whom we could reach out to acquire the #MeToo collection, so we knew we would have to work differently to document the movement, and that we were really going to have to create the collection ourselves, said Kamensky.

The Schlesingers digital services team had some experience creating an archive focused solely on virtual material. In 2007, they launched the 10-year project Capturing Womens Voices to collect blogs and websites detailing American womens lives, philosophies, and engagement with politics. They also had access to tools developed by Documenting the Now, a community archiving project developed after the police killing of Michael Brown in August 2014 in Ferguson, Mo.

Above all, they had a guiding mission to include everything related to #MeToo they could find. Philadelphia activist Tarana Burke is credited with creating the original movement in 2006 as a way to support survivors of sexual violence. But a decade later, the social media hashtag became a rallying cry and the spark that ignited a wave of political, social, and legal battles, and backlash.

We had a social-media driven revolution whose pushback was almost simultaneous, as opposed to the way that we often think of revolution and counterrevolution, said Kamensky, and we realized we had a chance to collect the whole political spectrum around a hot-button issue of gender and sexuality.

The commitment to that collecting ethos is reflected in the librarys #metoo Digital Media Collection, which opened to researchers on July 1. The online archive contains more than 32 million tweets, 1,100 webpages, and thousands of articles reflecting a range of perspectives.

Amid the collection of websites is a link to a piece by the editors of the Boston Review, who defend their decision to maintain ties with the magazines fiction editor, prize-winning author Junot Diaz, after sexual misconduct allegations emerged against him. An article posted on Time.com described an open letter signed by more than 200 women who work on national security for the U.S. stating they had survived sexual harassment and assault or knew someone who had.

The wide-ranging tweets capture both the support for and opposition to the movement.

In November 2017, the Womens Funding Network posted a tweet encouraging people to remember how pervasive sexual harassment is in society.

In 2018, one year after she encouraged people to share their stories of abuse using the #MeToo hashtag, actress Alyssa Milano honored the day with a repost of her original tweet.

In September of 2018, user Mark Alan Chestnut reposted a tweet from conservative commentator Candace Owens:

The same month, FOX News contributor Lisa Boothe tweeted:

Earlier this year, someone with the Twitter handle Josh the Leftist posted:

The projects 71 hashtags include everything from #BelieveChristine, #believewomen, #timesup, and #ustoo, to #himtoo, #confirmkavanaughnow, #MeTooLiars, and #metoohucksters.

The community of American women is our community, and this was a key moment in their history, said Jennifer Weintraub, the Schlesingers head of digital collections and services, who worked on the project. That doesnt mean that we are pro #MeToo or against #MeToo, it just means that we document it.

A steering committee made up of historians, lawyers, and data experts from across Harvard helped Kamensky and the Schlesinger staff think through the challenges associated with capturing the movements digital footprint. The librarys digital team, aided by an S.T. Lee grant from the Harvard Library and funds from Harvard Business School, identified a range of relevant hashtags and created a system to capture them that has become largely automated. Twitters terms of service dictate that the Schlesinger can only provide users with tweet IDs, a number that identifies each unique tweet, but researchers can load the numbers into an online app that will restore or rehydrate the tweets original content.

Moving forward, Kamensky said she is eager to investigate teaching and research opportunities related to the archive through a partnership with the Harvard Data Science Initiative, which will provide grant funding to explore how the digital data will engage in conversation with the librarys more traditional holdings, and to see what kinds of scholars it can attract. (The collection has already been put to use, supporting the argument in Susan Faludis New York Times opinion piece that the believe all women hashtag is an invention of the right and a corruption of #believewomen.)

We had a social-media driven revolution whose pushback was almost simultaneous, as opposed to the way that we often think of revolution and counterrevolution.

Jane Kamensky

Kamensky said she could envision researchers using the data to explore everything from social movement organizing through social media, to whether people posting in the U.S. are paying attention to news from other parts of the world, to the ways the #MeToo movement has been driven by original content versus retweets. People are going to ask questions of it and produce answers from it that will be far-reaching in scope and scale, said Kamensky. A sophisticated analyst of big data will be able to see the movement through this corpus in ways that I cant even fathom.

But amassing such a big trove of digital material raises its own questions around privacy and who has the right to access information posted online. Kamensky worked with the steering committee to create an ethics statement for the archive that includes their recommendations on the principled use of the data and the acknowledgement that the library is abiding by social media providers terms of service in distribution of any data that is collected.

For people worried about what researchers will do with their tweets, Kamensky has a simple suggestion: Read your user agreement.

To post something on Twitter may feel like a conversation with your intimates at a virtual table in a bar, she said, but in fact, its a form of publication.

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Challenge of archiving the #MeToo movement Harvard Gazette - Harvard Gazette

Tacoma, Wash. In June, the Archives and Special Collections in University of Puget Sounds Collins Memorial Library was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant to support the creation of primary resource digital toolkits for use in university classes and research. The grant is part of $40.3 million in new funding from the CARES Act supporting essential operations at cultural institutions across the country. The Archives and Special Collections proposal was one of just 317 selected from more than 2,300 applications, and one of two grants awarded in Washington state.

It fits so nicely with the work that weve been doing in Archives and Special Collections over the course of the last couple years, says Library Director Jane Carlin. Weve been uncovering the stories of Puget Soundsuch as the history of the Black Student Union, understanding the Japanese incarceration and how that affected our campus, and exploring campus protest movements. The grant gives us the impetus to continue this work and make a focused effort to create digital toolkits that will be online, open, and accessible not only to Puget Sound faculty and students but to scholars worldwide.

Carlin gives credit to the Collins librarians who work closely with faculty members to develop lessons that integrate primary source materials into their classes. Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Adriana Flores 13 has made many documents and images accessible via digital format prior to the coronavirus pandemic and move to remote learning. This grant will enable her and other librarians to expand access to Collins Librarys unique materials, which is particularly important in times of remote learning.

The CARES Act funds will allow staff members in the Archives and Special Collections to review and audit current teaching resources, scale up its digital collections, and create more robust and meaningful humanities teaching tools using digitized portions of its collections. The new kits will put primary source materials into the hands of professors to integrate into their courses however works best for them.

This flexibility extends to the community, as well. Part of the grant will provide funding to hire an individual to liaise with Tacoma Public Schools, creating lesson plans, discussion questions, and class prompts to supplement the toolkits and help make them useful and age appropriate for local classrooms.

Its a great opportunity to show our commitment to the Tacoma community, says Carlin. The grant offers us an opportunity to look inwardly and ask, What types of resources can we provide to support the K-12 education curriculum here in Tacoma, and talk about Tacoma history and Tacoma legacy?

Librarians are already at work reviewing existing teaching materials and building new toolkits. The work will continue through the end of the year, with hopes to begin making new kits available both on campus and to the community later this fall.

Archives and Special Collections, launched in 2011, supports the broader mission of the university while pursuing its own mission: to collect, preserve, and make available materials of lasting historical value that support research, teaching, and administrative activities, supporting the academic interests of more than 230 faculty members and 2,400 undergraduate students.

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at neh.gov.

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New Collins Library grant is part of $40 million in CARES Act funding from the NEH - The Suburban Times