Main Street News

If there’s one thing worth a moment of our time, and indeed, to treasure, it’s the work of local artists. Not everything can, for instance, fit into the Louvre or the Museum of Modern Art, to drop but two names. Local artists are frequently highly representative of the locale in which they reside, and Priscilla Belcher surely is no outlier in that regard. 

To that end, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host a special commemorative exhibition of artworks by the late Priscilla Belcher (1930-2025). The exhibition celebrates her art and her deep ties to the Northwest Corner community.

Belcher’s art is distinguished by its focus on the natural world. Her disciplined self-taught technique paired with a gentle, contemplative spirit defined her artistic voice. Offering a rare opportunity to experience the breadth of her work, this exhibition brings together a curated selection of her watercolors and etchings including landscape and still life.

Christian Allyn, organizer of the exhibition and a close friend of Belcher’s, said, “Priscilla’s life and work define Canaan. Her work will accentuate our collective identity for decades to come. As her example becomes more known, I foresee many little Priscilla’s, both in name and in character, running around Canaan in the years to come.”

The exhibition will remain on view during regular library hours through May 15. The David M. Hunt Library is located at 63 Main Street, Falls Village, CT. For more information, visit huntlibrary.org or call 860‑824‑7424.

Kinderhook Memorial Library

Preparing for a family vacation, or any vacation configuration, was, once upon a time, a fairly simple operation, elegant in its own way. Plot a destination, gas up the ol’ wood-paneled family clunker, and toddle off for a week camping in the Adirondacks or maybe a visit to a theme park within a couple hundred miles.

Not so much anymore, it seems. To that end, the Kinderhook Memorial Library offers Travel Planning Made Easy on Saturday, May 9, from 2-3 p.m.

Traveling is a rewarding, exciting experience, notes the library, so why let the planning stage get you down? This program seeks to help demystify the travel planning process by giving you the tools to best plan your dream vacation. From budgeting and packing to reviewing travel options and developing an itinerary, this will leave attendees feeling confident in taking their first steps into adventure.

Roeliff Jansen Community Library

Do you have a story to tell?, asks the Roeliff Jansen Community Library. If so, you have come to the right place. On Wednesday, May 13, and again on Wednesday, May 27, each from 6-8 p.m., the library hosts the Memoir Writing Workshop.

Everyone has a story to tell, but most of us don’t feel confident in our ability to tell it. In this two-session workshop series, our instructor will help students develop their stories with the theme and facts clearly presented. Class will cover all elements of memoir writing, from process to publication. Sharing and getting feedback on will strengthen students’ ability to communicate the stories they want to tell, and prepare their stories to be shared with family and friends.

Participants are encouraged to share their work at the Open Mic Night at the Copake Grange on Friday, May 29.

These workshops are presented by Phyllis Carito, MFA. A local poet, writer, and teacher, Carito was introduced to the world of writing in public libraries, which opened the doors to her world of reading and writing. Her work experiences have included public and private libraries, media print production, and teaching creative writing. The opportunity to earn an MFA with a writing focus through Manhattanville College cemented her desire to become a poet and writer. Her book of poems barely a whisper was released through Finishing Line Press. Other published poems and prose appeared in Passager, Stone Highway Review, Inkwell Review, Vermont Literary Review, Voices in Italian Americana, and Returning Woman. Poems and short stories were her main focus until her novel, Worn Masks. Recently (2023 and 2025) she published two novellas, More Than Making Ends Meet and a sequel, More Than a Feeling. Currently, she is working on the precision of flash fiction and putting together a collection of short stories.

Participation is limited to 15 students and registration is required. Register by emailing director@roejanlibrary.org.