March 28, 2024

Investing program, blues, winters birds all at Newton library

Book review by Teen

Volunteer Courtney Claussen

“Such a Rush” by Jennifer Echols illustrates the life of a girl who is attempting to find her place in society. Realizing that she doesn’t fit in, Leah devotes herself to becoming a pilot.

The rush that Leah feels from flying is greater than anything else she has ever felt. As Leah matures, her relationships with her family deteriorates, leaving her to take care of herself and she attempts to get a job at the nearby airstrip. When life finally is simple again, Leah becomes caught between two brothers, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. As she is drawn between the two brothers she realizes that the consequences may be deadly.

Find out what happens next by checking out this book from the teen fiction section at the Newton Public Library.

Smart Investing @ Your Library

The Newton Public Library will launch the “Smart Investing @ Your Library” program to promote investor education on Thursday, Jan. 31, in two session beginning 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Anyone in the Jasper County area is invited to participate and should stop by the library, call (641) 792-4108 or email spadilla@newton.lib.ia.us to register. Participants will continue their education via four weeks of online classes at their convenience either at home or at the library. An investment manual will be provided to the first 25 registrants, and online investment resources will also be shared. A face to face wrap-up session will be at 5:30 p.m. March 5. The only cost to attend the program is a commitment to learn more about investing.

The Smart Investing @ Your Library program is made possible through a grant to Iowa Library Services of Iowa funded by the American Library Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is a cooperating partner in the program. Newton  Public Library is one of 18 rural libraries in Iowa selected by Library Services of Iowa for participation in 2013.

Blues Under the

Blue Roof is Back

The South Skunk Blues Society has a great line-up of musicians scheduled for this annual event. On Monday,  Feb, 4,  Rob Lumbard, a singer/guitar player from Des Moines will be in concert in the library’s meeting room. Rob has opened for Lyle Lovett and Leon Redbone. His finger-picking guitar style can be traced back to Hot Tuna, Doc Watson and Piedmont blues.

Monday, Feb. 11,  will feature local talent as Newton’s Nick Knudsen, a blues guitarist and singer will be featured.

On Feb. 18, Fruteland Jackson, blues guitarist and singer from Chicago, will be in concert at the library Monday evening and will also visit Colfax, Baxter schools, DMACC and each elementary in Newton during the week. Fruteland calls himself a blues activist and oral historian promoting awareness through education by conducting Blues in the Schools programs. He has shared his blues knowledge with more than a billion school children over the years.

On Feb. 25, Le Roy Jackson and Dan D.J. Johnson, an acoustic duo from Cedar Rapids will conclude the Blues Under the Blue Roof concert series. Join us for one or all of these wonderful music programs under our blue roof at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in February.

Inauguration Collection

Larry Hurto has shared his Inauguration collection in the library’s C.S. Smith Memorial Display case just inside the library’s gates. Stop by to see this interesting collection of presidential history!

Wonderful Winter Birds

Wonderful Winter Birds program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade will be in the library meeting room at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. Jasper County Conservation Board naturalist Katie Cantu will teach us how birds survive during harsh Iowa winters. No registration is necessary.

Book Club

ABC Book Club will next meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13. The book for this month’s meeting is “Sugar Cookie Murder” by Joann Fluke. To get a copy of the book, call or stop by the library’s information desk.  New members are always welcome, and the book club meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. in the library’s conference room.

Reading with Porsche

Read with Porsche the therapy dog  on Wednesdays,  from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Children’s area of the library. Porsche is certified with Therapy Dogs International along with her handler, Lisa Gibbons. Porsche has also been visiting Thomas Jefferson Elementary this fall to read with children. This program is for children who are beginning to read independently and would benefit from practice reading aloud. No preregistration is necessary, simply stop by during the program and take a turn reading to Porsche.

Story Times

Preschool Story Time on Thursday, Jan. 24. Enjoy stories  with Youth Services Librarian Phyllis Peter in the Carousel Horse Room for story time at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.  Join us for stories, flannel stories, songs, fingerplays and a simple craft. This program is designed for ages 3 to 5, siblings welcome.

Toddlers and Twos story time is Tuesday, Jan. 29. Choose to attend either at 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. (not both). We offer the back to back sessions so that each group will not be too large. Toddlers and Twos story time is for children 18 months to 36 months old with a caregiver.

Call Youth Services Librarian Phyllis Peter at (641) 792-4108 with questions about any of the library’s events.