“Curtis is Here”: Enjoy musical performances from Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music

~ ccllauras ~ Leave a comment

“Join the Curtis Institute of Music weekdays at noon EDT for a new YouTube video series. Curated around themes that change weekly, the ‘Curtis Is Here‘ initiative features videos of favorite or rarely seen Curtis performances accompanied by welcoming commentary from members of the Curtis community. There’s a new release each weekday, Monday through Friday, and all releases remain online for viewers to explore anytime.”

Visit Curtis’ Watch Online page to sign up to receive “Curtis is Here” weekly schedules via email, and to learn about additional online viewing opportunities.

Curtis also welcomes you to explore “recordings from our extensive archive, from highlights to full concerts,” shared via their YouTube channel.

Kids’ Update: Fun with STEM

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

If you’re looking for something to do today, why not explore STEM right in your own kitchen? There are lots of experiments and projects you can do with materials in your home. Here are some links to exciting and fun experiments for you to do:

Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

STEM Activities for Kids

Daily STEM Resources

After you’ve solved some science mysteries, read about another kind of mystery with Private I. Guana!

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Kids’ Update: Happy Easter!

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment
  • Easter is a Christian holiday. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Christian history, Jesus was crucified on a Friday and rose three days later on Sunday.
  • Since 325 AD, Easter has been held on the first Sunday after the full moon, after the 21st of March, which is the Equinox. This means that Easter can land anywhere between the 22nd of March to the 25th of April.
  • The holiday’s name comes from a “goddess” named Eastre. Her symbols were the rabbit and the egg. This symbolism is especially fitting for a holiday that signifies rebirth.
  • The first Easter baskets given were meant to imitate a bird’s nest when eggs were placed inside.
  • We’ve all dyed Easter Eggs, but Ukrainian Easter Eggs, or Pysanka, are by far the most beautiful.
  • Each year nearly 90 million chocolate bunnies are made for Easter. In the ranking of kids’ favorite Easter candy, red jellybeans come in first place.
  • Peeps are made in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Here are some great craft ideas for Easter — Easter Crafts for Kids.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Kids’ Update: Dav Pilkey at Home

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

Dav Pilkey at Home , a collaboration between the “Dog Man” and “Captain Underpants” author and the Library of Congress (LOC), offers with free activities, including how-to-draw demonstrations, read-alouds, and resources from the LOC’s collections. On Fridays at 8 a.m. EDT, new video content created by Pilkey will be released. More videos and content, including downloadable activities, discussions about books, and tips to create characters or act out scenes from the “Dog Man” series will be added periodically throughout the week.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.

Collaborative music for you to enjoy, virtually!

~ Book Club Mom ~ 3 Comments

Local musicians and musicians around the world are coming together virtually to create some beautiful music. Here are three collaborative performances for you to enjoy.

True Colors – Camden Voices (self-isolation/virtual choir cover)

The Weight | Featuring Robbie Robertson and Ringo Starr| Playing For Change | Song Around The World

Virtual Choir “Va pensiero” (“Nabucco” by G. Verdi) – International Opera Choir

Teen Update: TED Talk – Perfect for Pixar Movie Fans

~ svirginiaroyf ~ Leave a comment

Have you grown up watching and loving Pixar movies? Danielle Feinberg, Pixar’s director of photography, offers a fascinating Ted Talk about the “magic ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life.” Feinberg grew up wanting to be an artist and studied computer programming in college. Computer animation enabled her to combine her artistry with her knowledge of math, science and coding. The interesting and inspiring 12-minute video is available here.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Paycheck Protection Program: Help for Small Businesses

~ Sam Bardarik ~ Leave a comment
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.
PPPs are available through banks and credit unions. If yours isn’t offering PPP loans, please check area banks or contact the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. Small businesses, eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, Tribal businesses, self-employed, and independent contractors are able to apply if they meet the size standard.
Please visit the CCCBI website for information on the Paycheck Protection Plan and all other COVID-19 updates.

Kids’ Update: Good Night with Dolly

~ clancygirl1 ~ Leave a comment

You might be surprised to learn that award-winning singer/songwriter, Dolly Parton, is also a committed advocate for children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library is a book-giving program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in the Tennessee county where she grew up, but it has now expanded across the United States. The Imagination Library has also spread to Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Now you can listen as Miss Dolly reads bedtime stories on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. Good Night with Dolly.

The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.