“Time moves slowly, but passes quickly.” Alice Walker, “The Color Purple”
With the arrival of March, many are ready to shake off winter and look toward spring. Winter tends to last a little longer than we would like in upstate New York, so we hope our lineup of March programs will add a little spring to your step.
We’re starting the month with a Chef Series: Pillowy Perfection: Potato Gnocchi. During this Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. cooking class those attending will learn to make potato gnocchi from scratch. If that date doesn’t work for you, the same workshop will be offered Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. Choose the date that works best for you and register for one by calling the library. Space is limited so registration is required.
Join Eagle Hollow Farm’s Christina Mitchell Wednesday, March 11, from 6-7:30 p.m. for Crafterwork: Needle Felted Spring Landscapes. This hands-on needle felting workshop celebrates spring. Using 5 × 5 wet-felted wool sheets, participants will build their own textured landscape while learning felting techniques in a relaxed, supportive setting. No experience is needed; materials are provided at no cost. Registration is required so call the library early.
Looking to get out of the house and have some fun with friends and family? Sign up for Cabin Fever Bingo Wednesday, March 18 from 6–7:30 p.m. We’ll play five games of bingo with a prize for each winner, plus door prizes between rounds. For adults and teens 15+, registration is required for this event. Call the library to register.
Curious about Bigfoot sightings in the area or just love a good mystery? Don’t miss Legendary Creatures of New York Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. Join Ken Gerhard, a widely recognized cryptozoologist, author, and lecturer, as he explores accounts of Bigfoot, the Lake Champlain Monster, the Cardiff Giant, the Angola Pigman, and more.
Looking for something for the little ones this month? As part of our Cereal Cinema series we’re showing Stuart Little Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m. Stop by for a Saturday morning cartoon, all-you-can-eat cereal and a craft while the movie plays.
Library Events
Sensory Playgroup - Join us every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for engaging, hands-on play sessions designed for little ones. Each week features themed free play, creative activities, and sensory-rich materials that spark curiosity and support early learning. It’s a wonderful opportunity for preschoolers to play, explore, and grow in a fun, welcoming environment.
Knit & Crochet Group - Tuesdays, 3-4:45 p.m. Community members gather every week on the main floor of the library for yarn crafts and conversation. Bring the project you are working on and enjoy friendly conversation as you knit or crochet.
Mahjong - Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone who loves Mahjong or wants to learn is welcome. Bring a friend or come alone. All skill levels are welcome.
Storytime - Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Join us on the lower level for songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts sure to entertain your littles.
Defensive Driving Course - Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 10, 1-4 p.m.
Linda Karpovich, certified instructor, will present a 6-hour defensive driving course on the lower level of the library. This will take place over two separate days, with three hours in each session. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate that they can submit to their insurance company for a 10% savings off their basic liability and collision insurance for three years. The total cost to participate is $35. Registration and prepayment required.
Chef Series: Pillowy Perfection: Handmade Potato Gnocchi - Wednesday, March 4 and Wednesday, April 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. During this hands-on workshop participants will learn how potatoes, flour, and eggs work together to create tender gnocchi, and practice shaping gnocchi using a fork. The class will also cover how to correctly cook and sauce gnocchi, leaving participants with the confidence to recreate pillowy, homemade gnocchi in their own kitchens. Participants will leave with their own batch of fresh gnocchi, ready to cook at home that evening, or freeze for later. Two classes offered, each with 10 participants, one March 4 and another April 1. Registration for both will be at the same time. For adults and teens 16+; registration is required - call the library at 607.865.5929.
Cereal Cinema: Family Friendly Movie & Cereal Buffet - Saturday, March 7, 10-11:30 a.m., showing: Stuart Little (1999). Start your weekend with a spoonful of fun at Cereal Cinema, a cozy morning featuring a family-friendly movie and an all-you-can-eat cereal buffet. A simple craft will be featured as your child enjoys watching the movie on our big screen.
Crafterwork: Needle Felting Spring Landscapes - Wednesday, March 11, 6 p.m. Local fiber artist Christina Mitchell of Eagle Hollow Farm will guide participants through the art of needle felting as they create beautiful spring landscapes on 5”×5” wet-felted sheets. This engaging workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced crafters and supplies are provided free of charge. Space is limited and advance registration is required, so sign up early and treat yourself to a cozy, creative night at the library. For adults and teens 15+; call the library at 607.865.5929 to reserve your spot.
Mobile Office Hours: Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) - Thursday, March 12 and 26, 1-3 p.m. Members of Congressman Josh Riley’s team will be at the library for mobile office hours. This is your chance to get one-on-one help from congressional staff with Medicare, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, passport delays, or any other issue involving a federal agency. No question is too small—and no appointment is needed.
Cabin Fever Bingo - Wednesday, March 18, 6-7:45 p.m. This free event is for adults and teens 16+. We’ll play a variety of traditional game layouts for a total of five games. Each round will have a prize for the winner, and there will be door prizes between the rounds. Enjoy a free night out full of entertainment, friends, and prizes. Space is limited so sign up today. Calling the library at 607.865.5929.
Legendary Creatures of New York - Thursday, March 19, 6-7 p.m.
Ken Gerhard is a widely recognized cryptozoologist, author, and lecturer who frequently appears on television. Ken has traveled the world searching for evidence of mysterious creatures including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, Mothman, and the Beast of Gevaudan. In this all new presentation titled, “Legendary Creatures of New York,” Ken will cover accounts of Bigfoot, the Lake Champlain Monster, the Cardiff Giant, the Angola Pigman, and others.
Lego Club - Friday, March 20, 3-4:30 p.m. (third Fridays) Elementary-age children and older can enjoy free building, choosing from our large selection of LEGOs. Let your creativity soar as you construct and explore. Stop by right after school to join us for this fun, free program. Light snacks provided.
Board of Trustees meeting - Tuesday, March. 24, 7-8 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend the Ogden Free Library Board of Trustees regular business meeting on the lower level of the library.
Book Club Discussion - Wednesday, March 25, 7-8 p.m. Our book club meets monthly on the lower level of the library. This month’s book is Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston ©1976. Copies can be reserved through interlibrary loan by calling the library at 607.865.5929 or visiting www.4cls.org An exhilarating blend of autobiography and mythology, of world and self, of hot rage and cool analysis. First published in 1976, it has become a classic in its innovative portrayal of multiple and intersecting identities—immigrant, female, Chinese, American. As a girl, Kingston lives in two confounding worlds: the California to which her parents have immigrated and the China of her mother’s “talk stories.” The fierce and wily women warriors of her mother’s tales clash jarringly with the harsh reality of female oppression out of which they come. Kingston’s sense of self emerges in the mystifying gaps in these stories, which she learns to fill with stories of her own.
Library News
Adventurers wanted - Have you traveled somewhere memorable? The library is looking for people to share their travel experiences at our Armchair Travel Adventure series. If interested email Heather at wa.heather@4cls.org or call the library.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten - This ongoing program encourages caregivers to read 1,000 books with their child before kindergarten to build strong early literacy skills and reading confidence. It’s self-paced, fun, and flexible. Sign up at the library’s front desk to get your reading record and earn prizes along the way.
Introducing new board members: The William B. Ogden Free Library would like to welcome Jenny Kilpatrick and Dana Plaud to the library’s board of trustees.
