Rocko gets off to a good start at the Amenia Library

AMENIA — A town-wide project to create a community snake to be made of brightly painted rocks got underway at the Amenia Free Library on Wednesday, June 12, as library patrons donned smocks, selected a suitable rock and set about the creative process.

A joint venture between the Amenia Parks and Recreation Department and the library, the project took place on the outdoor patio with plenty of acrylic paints and brushes at the ready.

“Mine is a rainbow snake,” exclaimed Murphy Hale, 4, as he applied finishing touches to his marbleized approach to rock painting.

Noting that all of the rocks were home-grown, found locally throughout the town with many coming from Beekman Park, Parks and Recreation Director Katie Sterk-Grassi spoke of the preparation that involved finding the many rocks of varying sizes and then the work of scrubbing each one clean. Most with smooth surfaces were granite, some with jagged edges were quartz.

“We’ll see how the snake grows,” said Sterk-Grassi. “We’ll keep adding to it.” Her own creation was the snake’s head, the size of a small pumpkin, painted bright green, with an accompanying red tongue.

To be named Rocko, the snake will be displayed in front of the Town Hall where residents are invited to add their own painted rocks. The hope is that the snake will grow to an impressive length.