COPAKE — High winds blew into Copake, bringing blue skies to the Roeliff Jansen Community Library celebration of Arbor Day on Saturday, May 1, as in-person events returned for the first time since the COVID-19 restrictions were put into place last March.
Event organizer, Children’s and Youth Services Associate Tia Maggio, was surprised by the large turnout of 42 patrons, evenly divided among children and adults, some of whom spent time in the library warming up when not outside playing under the bright blue, albeit chilly skies.
Despite the chill in the morning air, “everyone seemed to be really happy to be in person again,” said Maggio. “They seemed to have a really, really good time. I think they were just so glad to be back.”
The celebration began at 10:30 a.m. with an outdoor reading of two “quick books,” because people were freezing. Maggio noted that after so many months of story time online the turnout was large.
“It was quite a lot of people,” she said. “It was wild. It was so funny to have everyone in person you know — all these faces looking at you in the flesh. It’s not like the Zoom routine.”
Children were then given small bags for found items.
“We had a scavenger hunt around the grounds. I had ribbons around various trees and they had to find them,” said Maggio. “A clue might say, ‘I have a yellow ribbon. Find me. What kind of tree am I?’ With each tree there was a description like ‘crab apple’ or whatnot.”
Following a snack on the terrace, Maggio supervised outdoor artwork with children divided at multiple tables. Rather than using traditional supplies, Maggio reinforced the Arbor Day theme creating natural brushes.
“I attached pieces of bushes to the ends of sticks,” she said. “I cut a little bundle of boxwood and I rubber-banded them to a twig, and then they had the look of a brush.”
Noting that Mother Nature did finally manage to cooperate, she said, “after the art project, the sun came out. We then identified and planted a few baby trees.”
The trees were obtained by Library Board President Pat Placona.
“We planted them in pots and will keep them there in a sunny spot,” Maggio said. “They will eventually be planted around the property when they mature.”
With the multiple events, she noted the scavenger hunt proved to be particularly popular, noting “a lot of older kids came, too,” including a few boys as old as 11 who really seemed to enjoy themselves.
“[They] raced around trying to find things,” she said. “It was really cute. Everyone seemed very joyous.”
Although she wasn’t able to identify most of the children as they were all masked, Maggio happily heard their positive comments, and particularly enjoyed one from a girl who said, “I love, love, love, love art. I could do it all day long.”
Maggio credited the success of the program with help provided by parents and volunteers, including Erica Lazeano and high school student Aubrey Del Valle.
With restrictions easing, the library is slowly returning to pre-pandemic functions. Check the website at www.roejanlibrary.org for more information on hours and events.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
