‘My Favorite Tree in Charlotte’ surpasses expectations

‘My Favorite Tree’
By Nikki Helzer

The tree with roots that run deep
The tree I look up to when days get hard
The tree that I say goodbye to on the way to school, when we pass the end of our road
The tree that creates a comfortable reading spot when times are silent
This tree is not mine, not yours, but ours
This tree is home.

What a success the “My Favorite Tree in Charlotte” art contest was! It was sponsored by the Charlotte Grange and the Charlotte Library, and we’re still smiling.

Charlotte students were invited to draw or paint their favorite tree and write something about it. Thirty-nine imaginative young artists entered the contest and were all rewarded with certificates, blue ribbons and coupons for ice cream sandwiches. The dedicated, very qualified judges, Julia Parker-Dickerson, Annemie Curlin, and Charlie Proutt, were full of praise for all of the entries. Here are just a few of their many comments:

“I love the rainbow! The foliage looks like hair! I love the idea of the tree looking at you as a favorite dog or friend would.”

“This is a real love letter to a particular tree.”

“Great observation and wonderful poem, all leading to a journey of discovery.”

“This is a lovely picture to hang beside your bed. Bold and cheerful!”

“I love the detailed bird and yellow foliage. And I love that you and your willow have been together a long time.”

We’re proud to announce the grade winners and grand prize winners: Wells Campbell (pre-k), Jack Hourigan (first grade), Simone Fleming (second grade), Mira Braidwood (third grade), Nikki Helzer (fourth grade and grand prize).

Congratulations to all entries for their incredible artwork and for sharing about your favorite tree.

As the grand prize winner Nikki Helzer won a healthy American linden tree generously donated by Branch Out Burlington and planted in the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge by volunteers Alexa Lewis and Jessie Bradley. Nikki’s painting depicted a beloved Charlotte tree near her home, which she and her father Johnny have always admired.

Big thanks to everyone who made the contest possible: Alexa Lewis, who procured the grand prize tree and also donated bluebird houses to each grade winner; the Charlotte General Store, which donated ice cream sandwich coupons to every entry; myself for designing the entry blanks and ice cream coupons; Charlotte Central School second grade teachers Danielle Hall-Potvin and Shannon Spellman, who encouraged their classrooms to enter; and Grange volunteers Don Goodwin, Linda Hamilton, Myra Handy and Abby Killey who helped with the event at the Grange.

Don’t forget that again this summer there will be evenings of music and merriment on the Charlotte Town Green this summer. Bring a picnic and enjoy local music in good company. Thanks to our series sponsors: Point Bay Marina and Shearer Audi-VW-Acura.

DIY
Rainbow Stamp Collage
Our rainy spring inspired our all-hands rainbow collage project. Help create this colorful collage with old postage stamps in recognition of Pride Month.

Art Stop
Try your hand at a fun new craft each week. We’ll have the supplies and space available to try a new project, from macrame rainbows to garden sachets.

Friends of the Library book sale
Sunday, July 13: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Friends of the Library book sale is July 13. In the meantime, the library is collecting books for the sale.

Please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Bring gently used, recent or classic books to the backdoor of the Library adjacent to the program room at the specified times.
• We don’t accept mass paperback books, (the small ones), textbooks, reference books, older cookbooks or older travel books.
• Current Cookbooks and travel books are accepted along with complete jigsaw puzzles.
• Donations are limited to two boxes or bags per person.
  Mark your calendar for the remaining drop-off dates:
• Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 9, 4-7 p.m.

If you have questions, email Marie Norwood.

Town cooling centers
The Charlotte Library and the Charlotte Senior Center are designated cooling centers with air-conditioned facilities where you can cool down during hot weather. Community cooling centers help provide temporary relief and are especially helpful when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or excessive heat warning.

During a heat advisory or excessive heat warning, notices will be placed in Front Porch Forum, other social media and the library and senior center websites.

You can find additional information about managing during heat emergencies on our website.

Programs for kids

Very Merry Theatre
‘The Great Circus Train Robbery’
Wednesday, July 2, noon

Project Micro: Investigate the Lake
Monday, July 7, 4:30 p.m.

Music on the Porch with Zachary
Wednesdays, July 9-23, 3:30 p.m.
Find all the kids’ summer programs on the Color Our World Summer Schedule at https://tinyurl.com/yvd8nvrf.

Weekly summer programs

Preschool story time
Tuesdays, 10 a.m.
Come to the Charlotte Library for preschool stories, crafts and activities. No registration required. Age 2 and over.

Preschool free play
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.
Play in the preschool years enables children to explore and make sense of the world around them, as well as to use and develop their imagination. Explore the sensory table, sorting, playing with blocks, playdoh — these are a few of the open-ended projects planned for Wednesday morning play-based learning at the Charlotte Library.

Baby Time
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.
An unstructured hour for parents, caregivers and babies to play, explore books and chat in the young children’s area. Ages birth to 18 months.

Let’s Lego
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Drop-in for Lego free play. We’ll have loads of Lego bricks out, along with some books and prompts for inspiration. For all ages. Please note: Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Programs for adults

Garden Circle
Mondays, 8:30-10 a.m., & Wednesdays, 4:30-6 p.m.
Garden stewards Karen Tuininga and Linda Hamilton invite past and interested new members of to the library’s Garden Circle to join in tending the library gardens. These include the Rain Garden along the east side of the building, the Welcome Garden that wraps around the south end and the raised bed Food and Herb Gardens behind the Quinlan Schoolhouse. Come regularly or as you can. All help welcome. Questions? Email.

Stillwater meditation
Saturdays, 9 a.m.
Poetry and meditation are offered freely and in person to the Charlotte community. Come for quiet reflection, contemplation and gentle meditation instruction. Respect for all beings and faiths is a foundational quality of our time together. Beginning and experienced meditators are welcome.

Grange on the Green
Thursday, July 10, 5:30-7 p.m.
On Thursday, July 10, music from Patti Casey & Tom MacKenzie featuring folk, blues and bluegrass. The concert sponsor is Lake Champlain Chocolates. The rain location is the Charlotte Senior Center.

July’s special Poetry at the Grange program will be held at Grange on the Green with featured poet Bianca Stone, Vermont’s Poet Laureate, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Quinlan School House. Following the poetry reading in the schoolhouse, Bianca will perform a poem to open the Grange on the Green concert at 5:30 p.m.

Book chat
Wednesdays, 3 p.m.
Meet each week to discuss new books, old books and books we might have missed. Each week, library director Margaret Woodruff selects a theme and highlights related titles from the library collection. No registration necessary.

Crochet & knit night
Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m.
Join in a casual weekly session of crocheting and chatting, knitting and catching up. Bring your project or start a new one with yarn and needles available at the library, along with plenty of books to instruct and inspire. For teens and adults.

Library contact information:
Margaret Woodruff, director
Cheryl Sloan, youth services librarian
Susanna Kahn, tech librarian
Phone: 802-425-3864
Email