Free Organic Gardening Course

Free Organic Gardening Course

at the Dover Public Library
March 23, 30 & April 6

The Dover Public Library is pleased to offer a free, comprehensive 3-part organic gardening course on consecutive Monday nights, March 23, 30 and April 6, from 6:30-8:30pm in the Library’s Lecture Hall.  The course, totaling six hours over the three nights, will include practical tips on how to create a new garden, soil preparation, seed starting, planting techniques, cultural techniques during the growing season (such as watering, fertilizing, and pest and weed control), how plants and soil interact, succession planting, planting multiple crops in the same space at the same time, how to compost, crop rotation, cover cropping, and mycorrhizobials. 

The sessions will also include discussions about our existing industrial food production system, including globalization and famine, organic alternatives of urban gardens, small scale farming, and backyard gardening. 

The instructor is Vincent Cirasole, an experienced teacher and commercial vegetable grower from Rochester. He taught physical education and organic gardening in New York before relocating to NH in 2013.  He is a Master Gardener and organic growing enthusiast who owned a landscape gardening business for 18 years and a 12,000 square foot commercial organic garden for 11 years. For seven years, he was on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York.

Over a period of years, Cirasole devised this popular tri-part course which has garnered great enthusiasm from participants who’ve praised its usefulness.  Reference material and sources of additional information will be distributed to all at no charge, but pre-registration is required.  Interested gardeners may call the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050 before March 20 to sign up for Mr. Cirasole’s course, or you may register online at http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=DOVER.

New England Harp Orchestra

New England Irish Harp Orchestra at Dover Library

Join the fun on St. Patrick‘s Day, March 17, at 7pm at the Dover Public Library as we host a holiday performance by members of the New England Irish Harp Orchestra.  NEIHO are a lively band of harpers who love creating Celtic music together and having fun. The ensemble, led by Director Regina Delaney, will perform traditional Irish dance tunes, slow airs, and songs.

Members, who range in age from the mid-twenties to mid-eighties, come from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The Orchestra has been performing for six years throughout New England. They have recently released a new CD, “Another County Heard From”, a collection of tunes orchestrated and arranged by various NEIHO members and friends, and it will be available for sale. 

The concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Library who feel extremely lucky to be able to have them here on St. Patrick's Day! Come and celebrate by wearing green and enjoying some great Irish music. For more information, call the Dover Public Library at 516-6050.

Lots to Do at the Library During School Vacation Week

On Monday, February 23, there will be a free matinee screening of “Disneynature: Earth” at 2pm. This epic adventure follows three animal families: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales, on a planet-wide journey. That evening at 6:30pm, girls in grades 3-6 are invited to join our STEM program. Miss Rachel, an engineer, will lead participants in building simple structural designs that are amazingly sturdy. Females are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math fields and Miss Rachel hopes to help change that. Of course, boys are welcome to attend too!

       On Tuesday, February 24, join us for a fascinating program about Marine Mammals by docents from UNH's Sea Grant Sea Trek Program. A 2pm session is tailored for pre-K to 2nd graders and a 3pm session will welcome 3rd graders and up.  If families want to be in the same time session, that’s fine too---our goal is to keep the activities to small groups.  The docents will illustrate the characteristics and physical and behavioral adaptations of a variety of marine mammals. Through hands-on activities, children will then explore the similarities and differences between marine and land mammals, and the special adaptations that allow for finding food, breathing, and staying warm in the Atlantic sea water.

         On Wednesday, February 25 at 10am, Miss Tina will conduct a winter wildlife-themed drop-in story time in the Lecture Hall. All ages are welcome to attend.

         On Thursday, February 26, the Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue Team will be here at 2pm to talk about their efforts to help stranded, injured or diseased seals, whales, porpoises and dolphins along the NH seacoast. Their “Save a Seal” program will help children learn about native Gulf of Maine species and what to do if they spot an animal washed up on a beach. After performing a mock rescue, children will earn a special “Seal of Approval” for participating.

          On Friday, February 27, educators from York’s Center for Wildlife will be at the library at 10am    presenting their new program, “Winter Wildlife Adaptations”. Their animal assistants will include an assortment of live raptors, reptiles and mammals, so be prepared to be amazed and see some local wildlife up close!

          All week long, children of all ages are invited to make a “Polar Bear” at the Creation Station in the Children’s Room. All materials will be provided.

          Wrapping up Wildlife Week will be a showing of “Big Hero 6” (PG; 1 hr., 22 min) on Saturday, February 28 at 2pm in the Lecture Hall. None of the library’s School Vacation Week programs require pre-registration and each program is offered for free. For more information on any of these programs, please call the Dover Public Library’s Children’s Room at 603-516-6052.

Rescheduled: "Peak Bagging the New England 4,000-footers" with Allison Nadler Feb. 25, 7pm

    

      If you’ve ever thought about hiking the 67 highest peaks in New England– or are just curious about this undertaking – come to the Dover Public Library on Wednesday, February 25 at 7pm to hear Allison Nadler. Allison is an avid, ultralight peak bagger who has hiked all of the 4000-footers in New England three times!

      An Amesbury, MA resident, she is the founding organizer of Northeast Peak Baggers, a MeetUp group designed to help other hikers reach their goals. When not leading hikes, Allison can often be found hiking solo day or night on the trail. She is currently attempting a personal goal of hiking each of New Hampshire’s 48 4000-footers in each of the four seasons. She has also completed the Presidential Traverse (7 NH peaks spanning 20 miles) and a 15-day, solo 220 mile hike along California’s John Muir trail.

       She documents all of her adventures on her website www.trailtosummit.com.  Learn about the beauty and challenges of peak bagging through Allison Nadler's eyes and get inspired to plan your own adventure, big or small.

       This program is free and open to all. .For more information, call the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050.

School Vacation Week Fun, Feb. 21-28

     February School Vacation Week activities at the Dover Public Library kick off with a Legos Day in the Children’s Room on Saturday, February 21. Legos will be available all day for creative fun, plus Gordon Lubbers, owner of Bricks 4 Kidz, will be here from 10am to 2pm with specially engineered Lego motorized model kits and instructions. At 2pm, there will be a free showing of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” (PG; 1 hr., 21 minutes) in the Lecture Hall.

      On Monday, February 23, there will be a free matinee screening of “Disneynature: Earth” at 2pm. This epic adventure follows three animal families: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales, on a planet-wide journey. That evening at 6:30pm, girls in grades 3-6 are invited to join our STEM program. Miss Rachel, an engineer, will lead participants in building simple structural designs that are amazingly sturdy. Females are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math fields and Miss Rachel hopes to help change that. Of course, boys are welcome to attend too!

       On Tuesday, February 24, join us for a fascinating program about Marine Mammals by docents from UNH's Sea Grant Sea Trek Program. A 2pm session is tailored for pre-K to 2nd graders and a 3pm session will welcome 3rd graders and up.  If families want to be in the same time session, that’s fine too---our goal is to keep the activities to small groups.  The docents will illustrate the characteristics and physical and behavioral adaptations of a variety of marine mammals. Through hands-on activities, children will then explore the similarities and differences between marine and land mammals, and the special adaptations that allow for finding food, breathing, and staying warm in the Atlantic sea water.

         On Wednesday, February 25 at 10am, Miss Tina will conduct a winter wildlife-themed drop-in story time in the Lecture Hall. All ages are welcome to attend.

         On Thursday, February 26, the Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue Team will be here at 2pm to talk about their efforts to help stranded, injured or diseased seals, whales, porpoises and dolphins along the NH seacoast. Their “Save a Seal” program will help children learn about native Gulf of Maine species and what to do if they spot an animal washed up on a beach. After performing a mock rescue, children will earn a special “Seal of Approval” for participating.

          On Friday, February 27, educators from York’s Center for Wildlife will be at the library at 10am    presenting their new program, “Winter Wildlife Adaptations”. Their animal assistants will include an assortment of live raptors, reptiles and mammals, so be prepared to be amazed and see some local wildlife up close!

          All week long, children of all ages are invited to make a “Polar Bear” at the Creation Station in the Children’s Room. All materials will be provided.

          Wrapping up Wildlife Week will be a showing of “Big Hero 6” (PG; 1 hr., 22 min) on Saturday, February 28 at 2pm in the Lecture Hall. None of the library’s School Vacation Week programs require pre-registration and each program is offered for free. For more information on any of these programs, please call the Dover Public Library’s Children’s Room at 603-516-6052.