We were surprised recently with an exciting and very generous donation from local residents Martha and Tom McGraw. They have given us ten beautifully framed Sid Couchey drawings, which we will sell to benefit the library. Stop by to browse the artwork and learn more details!
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Haunted Hamlet Activities at the Library
Don’t forget the Haunted Hamlet is coming up on October 25! There will be spooky (and sweet!) activities happening at the library throughout the afternoon. Stay tuned for more details!
Reminder: New Hours
Our winter hours start October 1. We will be closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday-Saturday hours are 11-4.
Meet Your Neighbors Series Continues with Johnny Gray and Christine Burke – September 4 at 7:00 PM
Johnny Gray and Christine Burke first met in 2018 in Austin, TX, and quickly knew they’d found something special. Eager to share their lives, they spent their first year together meeting each other’s families—one of the earliest and most memorable trips was to Essex, NY, to visit Johnny’s parents, Nick and Carol Muehller, who many of you know as beloved members of the Essex community.
It was over that Fourth of July weekend that Christine first crossed the ferry and fell in love with Essex. The flowers were in full bloom, the lake sparkled, and the small-town charm left a lasting impression. Johnny, a seasoned residential architect, has spent his career designing homes with a deep understanding of how people truly live and interact in their spaces. He’s led architectural teams and contributed to many home designs seen across the country.
Christine, meanwhile, has built a dynamic career in technology sales and consulting, holding leadership roles at IBM, CA Technologies, and Salesforce. She currently leads the Healthcare Delivery Organization for North America at Armis, a cybersecurity company.
Together, Johnny and Christine share a passion for thoughtful design and community. They recently completed the renovation and launch of Lady on the Lake, a collection of six beautifully restored short-term rental cottages right here in Essex. Summers in Essex have become a cherished tradition, full of meaningful friendships and local adventures.
During the winter months, they live in Neptune Beach, Florida, where they enjoy the warm weather and coastal lifestyle while staying connected to their work and passions. Animal lovers through and through, they share their lives with their dogs Travis and Pancho, and Christine—who grew up with horses and was a collegiate barrel racer at Southeastern Oklahoma State University continues to enjoy equestrian life. When winter rolls around, you’ll likely find them on the slopes enjoying their other shared passion: snow skiing.
Johnny and Christine are thrilled to be part of the Essex community and look forward to many more summers filled with beauty, connection, and a touch of adventure.
Light refreshments will be served following the program. There is a suggested doantion of $5.00 to help support the library.
New! Empire Pass available to borrow
| Fall is a great time to get outdoors and explore with our new Empire Parks Pass! The pass permits vehicle access to most facilities operated by the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. |
| The pass may be borrowed for up to three days and must be presented upon entry to the facility. Without the pass, you will be required to pay the vehicle entry fee. The pass is good for free admission to the parks listed on the NYS Parks website and day use areas listed on the NYS DEC website. For more information and a list of our local borrowing rules, stop in or visit our web site. |
We’ve Moved Home
We are so thankful to the Essex Community Church members for allowing us to temporarily locate the library in the basement of the church. We have now moved back to our ‘original’ library.
Until chimney work is completed, we will only be able to access the first floor of the building, but will do our best to accommodate the needs of all our patrons in this limited space. Thank you all for your patience during this unexpected upset in services.
Free Eclipse Glasses
Safe viewing: Beginning on Saturday, March 23, while supplies last, we will distribute
approved “eclipse glasses” and safe viewing information. Each patron may pick up two
glasses. Remember that ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark, are NOT safe for looking
at the Sun.
Holiday Items Ready To Borrow
Just in time for the holidays…
In December 2022, everyone made a beeline to our festive holiday collection. This year, here at the Branch Library, we have amassed 50 holiday books and DVDs for adults and children even though we didn’t get the fancy decorations out.
New Books Just In
Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs
Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini
Collector by Daniel Silva
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown
None of this is True by Lisa Jewell
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
1 st Ladies by Marie Benedict
Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
We are also trying a few books by new authors, so please let us know what you think of
them. We work hard to build a library collection that best suits the entertainment and
educational interests of our patrons. We welcome your suggestions.
Great Give Back
Let’s Give Back!
We’ve all seen the “Strong Libraries, Strong Communities” sign in front of the library for a few years now. On Saturday, October 21, we are joining over 280 libraries around the state to “walk the walk.”
The Great Give Back is a community service initiative created by the Suffolk County Public Library Directors Association and the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, in conjunction with the Nassau Library System. The mission of The Great Give Back is to provide a day of opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.
Please plan to join us from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21 to make a simple craft for a “give back” endeavor. We are working with community leaders to determine a low-key activity by our patrons that will have the most impact. Stay tuned for details coming soon about this service-oriented activity.