If reading a scary book is part of your pre-Halloween prepping, you can take your pick of a number of haunting tales set right here in our own backyard:

• Communion, by Whitley Strieber, is the classic account of alien abduction set in a secluded upstate New York cabin.
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, retains its fear factor even after so many years of being made into various horrible films.
• The Widow’s House, by Carol Goodman, features a married couple who leave Brooklyn for the country life of upstate New York, only to move into what they believe to be a haunted house.
• Possessions: The History and Uses of Haunting in the Hudson Valley, by Judith Richman, explains how the Hudson Valley gained a reputation as an exceptionally haunted area.
• Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill: Stephen King’s son does for the Hudson Valley what his famous father has done for Maine with this frightening tale set near Vassar.
•  Hex, by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, takes place in a Hudson Valley town haunted by a witch who has her eyes and mouth sewn shut.

Borrow (or order) your favorite tale of terror at the library, or from the comfort of your home via OverDrive!

Creative creepy crawlies

What better way to celebrate Friday the 13^th than with a stop at the library to assemble a wickedly spooky spider wreath!?!

The Vision of Wallkill is getting into the holiday spirit with their Haunted Hamlet and Pumpkin Smash.

If you love to scare up some spooky decorations around your house and yard, be sure to take a picture and add it to VOW’s Haunted Hamlet Facebook post, in the comments section.  



The Pumpkin Smash will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Shawangunk Transfer Station (located at 267 River Road). Bring your Halloween pumpkins or Jack-o’-lanterns and get rid of them before they bottom out on your porch. Following the event, tour the transfer station and learn more about recycling, composting, and how you can help keep Wallkill clean. This is offered in collaboration with the Town Environmental Management Committee. 

Whether you’re of the Jewish faith, from a blended family, or would just like your children to learn more about the traditions of Judaism, Shabbat Storytime is for you!

Beginning 4 p.m. Friday, October 6, children can experience the joy and meaning of the weekly Jewish day of rest called Shabbat. This weekly program will feature PJ Library stories that teach about Shabbat and other holidays coming up. Attendees will also make a craft, sing songs, and dance while celebrating and reflecting on the week that’s passed and making wishes for the week to come.

This program is brought to you by the PJ Library program of Ulster County and co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Ulster County.  

The library’s Fiction Club selected two spooky classics to discuss at their October meeting - Dracula, by Bram Stoker, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving.

The group is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 17. Newcomers are always welcome!

Continues through November 20

Fall into our Autumn 2023 Adult Book Challenge! Game sheets are available at the library circulation desk September 20 through November 20. For each challenge leaf you complete, you will receive one raffle ticket to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to BookShop.org. All completed game sheets must be turned in no later than 6 p.m. on November 20, 2023. The drawing will be held and the winner will be notified on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Good luck to all!

Registration is not required nor available for this event.

Every U.S. household can now order four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their homes, via COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests.

The tests available for order:

• Are rapid antigen at-home tests
• Can be taken at home or other locations and provide results within 30 minutes
• Can be used for testing whether you’re symptomatic or not
• Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter tests.

At-home COVID-19 tests are fast and convenient, can give you the information you need to protect yourself, your family, and others. Visit COVIDTests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 to place your order. 

Day of the Dead Pumpkin Painting

Wednesday, November 1 at 6 p.m.

Paint a Day of the Dead pumpkin! Registration required. Age 10+.

Saturday, November 4 at 11 a.m.

Join us at the Shawangunk Town Hall Community Room for an exciting and brain-teasing adventure with the Wallkill Public Library! Our Jigsaw Puzzle Race is a one-of-a-kind library program that combines friendly competition, teamwork, and the joy of completing puzzles. Whether you're a puzzle pro or a newbie, this event is sure to challenge your skills.

Gather your friends, family, or fellow puzzle enthusiasts to form teams of 2-4 participants. Each team will receive a jigsaw puzzle to complete within a designated time limit. The first team to complete their puzzle will be crowned champions and receive a prize! Even if you don't win, you keep your puzzle!

Pre-registration is required to participate. Register your team by October 21, 2023 to secure your spot in the race.

The Ulster County Food Fight is an annual food collection contest held in cooperation with all the libraries throughout Ulster County from Sept. 1 through Oct. 21. The event is part of the Great Give Back, happening Oct. 21 throughout New York State.

The goal of the Food Fight is to fill the shelves of local food pantries and help end hunger in our communities. The library that collects the highest number of donations wins the Food Fight and gets a certificate. Last year, thanks to your generosity, Wallkill collected 824 items and won the contest!

Help us win once more by dropping off nonperishable food items at the library between Sept. 1 and Oct. 21. Thanks to adult programmer Kim O’Sullivan for spearheading this important project!

Mahjong meet-ups

Every Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. the library hosts our Mahjong Clubs. If you’re a player or just interested in learning, join us! We supply the games and (a limited number of) 2023 mahjong cards. Just drop in, no registration required.

Forgot your card? Check one out at the circulation desk to use during the game!

Adult coloring club

Coloring pages are no longer just for children! Join us for this creative and relaxing hobby. Just drop in, registration not required. Bring your own materials or use ours.

Coloring Club meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:00-8:00 PM. No registration is required.

Adult crafting

Grab a project and come enjoy the craft of your choice, whether it's knitting, crocheting, diamond painting, coloring, embroidery, or cross stitch!

Adult Crafting meets on Thursday afternoons between 2:00-5:00 PM. No registration is required.

Fall is finally here…

and so is our amazing children's fall programming!

POP-UP PROGRAM:

Planet & Costume Party

with K.L Going 

Saturday, October 21, 11 AM – 12 PM

Join local author K.L. Going for a Planet Party! She will read her newest book, This is the Planet Where I Live, and then host some eco-friendly activities afterwards. Come dressed in your Halloween best...DIY/up-cycled costumes earn extra planet-saving points! Ages 3 & up; this program will be in the Community Room at Town Hall.

Halloween Family Storytime

with Special Guest Zoe the Therapy Dog

Tuesday, October 31, 10:30 – 11 AM

We will celebrate Halloween by reading, singing, dancing, and socializing! Zoe loves to join in on the fun - she also enjoys being read to and will take some gentle pets along the way…she might even surprise us with some tricks! Costumes for dogs and people are encouraged! Ages 0-8. 

Fun fall projects

We've been enjoying our regular Storytime and STEM programs and have also been busy in Crafting Caboodles. Here are examples of some fun fall projects from the past couple of weeks - see below to register to join us in-person for any of these programs; you can also sign-up for a take-and-make craft! 

Greetings from Legoland!

We'd like to thank our Summer Reading Program LegoLand tickets winner, Parker Kurpick, for sharing these photos of the bricktastic time he had at the theme park with his cousin! 

As you enjoy apple cider - whether in juice or doughnut form - check out these new titles on our shelves:

• Our doors are open for library services including browsing for library materials, making copies, sending faxes, and using the public access computers.
• Our bookdrop is open for contact-free and after-hours returns of library materials. Be sure to secure DVD and BCD cases with rubber bands.
• Curbside delivery of pre-ordered items is available by request. Call the circulation desk at 845-895-3707 to make a pick-up appointment.
• Fine-free returns on everything, except museum/park passes.
• Inter-library loans are available between all RCLS libraries.
• Grab & GO projects with materials necessary for crafts available for pickup at the library.
• In-person programming, with appropriate social distancing.
• Museum passes are available to Wallkill Public Library patrons for Boscobel House and Gardens, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, Empire Pass, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Hudson River Maritime Museum, Mohonk Preserve, Museum Village, and Storm King Art Center. Plus, more print-at-home museum passes available through the Ulster County InfoPortal on the library’s website.
• We are not accepting any donations of books or DVDs at this time.