Community Day comes to Ulysses Philomathic Library

An opportunity for connection and inspiration is headed to the Ulysses Philomathic Library this month as the library gears up to host Community Day, designed to gather and celebrate the many organizations that serve the Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg.

The upcoming event is part of The Great Give Back, an initiative created in Suffolk County, New York, which has picked up steam spread across the state, with libraries coordinating service-oriented experiences within their communities.

Community Day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Representatives of [participating] organizations will be providing information about what they do and what opportunities they have for folks to get involved and give back to their communities,” explained Laura Mielenhausen, library director at Ulysses Philomathic Library.

Trumansburg Rotary, Trumansburg Food Pantry, Trumansburg Fire Department, Gemm Shop, Cayuga Nature Center and Ulysses Historical Society are among the groups slated to attend the event. 

“I love the idea of this sort of community gathering, and thank the folks at the library for giving us this opportunity not only to let folks know who we are and what we do, but also to find out what others are doing in our community,” said Rotary member Peggy Haine.

The Rotary group will share the work it does both locally and internationally and encourage interest in Rotary membership and in community service, added Haine.

“We will spread the word about our upcoming fundraising programs (Supermarket Sweepstakes and Rotary Rubber Duck Race among them), plans for further reforesting of the Fairgrounds, and to let folks know about our Service Above Self program for Trumansburg School District high school students and encourage nominations of deserving students,” she said.

Additional local groups and representatives from Takin’ Care of T’burg, Taughannock Garden Club, Town of Ulysses Bee Friendly Community Committee, Trumansburg Area Christmas Bureau, Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, Trumansburg Education Foundation, Trumansburg Elementary PTO, Trumansburg Harvest and Trumansburg Music Boosters will also be available to share how others can get involved. 

Mielenhausen added that the all-ages event will have coffee, snacks and activities for kids to enjoy, while noting the importance and impact she hopes Community Day will have on younger community members.

“We’re especially hoping that teens looking for community service/volunteer opportunities will come out and connect with these groups,” she said. “This event will benefit the community by connecting our next generation of civically engaged citizens with the people and groups that are currently doing great work, ensuring that our culture of service and community involvement lives on.”

The Great Give Back initiative started in 2017, said Derek Ivie, youth services coordinator of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, based on Long Island. 

“A few colleagues and I wanted to create an event in Suffolk County that brought positivity to our communities and showed that libraries are a central hub for giving back and creating good,” said Ivie. “That first year, all of the member libraries in the country participated. The following year, Nassau County came on board, and after that, it grew to a statewide initiative.”

Ivie shared that 299 libraries across New York participated in The Great Give Back last year.

The program also inspired 1,272 community service hours for younger library patrons who became involved in 2022.

In addition to Community Day, Ulysses Philomathic Library will host a program with Trumansburg author Rebecca Barry. The writing workshop series gives participants a creativity boost with writing prompts. Writing experience isn’t necessary to enjoy the program. The next session is Oct. 14 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the library. Registration is required. Please call 607-387-5623 to register.

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or courtney.rehfeldt@gmail.com.

In brief:

Jacksonville Church Attic Thrift Shop 

Come check out some fall-inspired deals at the Jacksonville Church Attic Thrift Shop at 1869 Trumansburg Rd. The shop is open Saturdays from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. 

Gemm Shop accepting graduation gown donations

Looking to donate a Tburg blue graduation gown? In support of the Class of 2024, Gemm Shop will accept like-new graduation gowns for free reuse by seniors through Oct. 31. No cap donations, please. 

Email tburgclassof2024@gmail.com with questions. 

Gemm Shop is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Vinyl Night at Atlas Bowl

Join Atlas Bowl at 61 W. Main St. every Thursday, when local DJs and vinyl collectors spin tunes from 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy good music, eats and drinks. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Costume Party

Wear your spookiest attire at the Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Costume Party on Oct. 28, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts at 5 McLallen St.

Tickets are $15 in advance online at eventbrite.com or $20 at the door.

Expect a night filled with music, laughter and plenty of surprises. The event will feature a costume contest, “Rocky Packs” filled with audience participation goodies, ice cream, popcorn and refreshments.

An Evening of Laughter

Comedian Kevin Farley is coming to Cedarwood Event Venue on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Local comedians Don Jerkins and Mike Brindisi will open the show.

Before the show, dinner will be available from 5 to 6:30 p.m., prepared by Billy Bobber’s Reef N’ Beef. Prime rib dinners will also be available as pick-up to-go orders from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Please note that dinner will be served only from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Cedarwood Event Venue will provide a full bar with various drink specials available for purchase.

Tickets are sold as tables, with limited individual tickets, giving groups an option to sit together. Audience members must be 16+ to attend.

For tickets, please visit kevinblackpresents.com.