This week, after a couple of typical columns on oddball vocab, “Weird Words” once again takes up the related field of etymology; that is, where words come from, what they used to mean and how they acquired their current definitions. Here are eight terms related to food or eating, all with an origin that’s unusual
READ MOREThe last Lycoming County Commissioners Meeting of 2023, held on December 28th, was sort of like watching the third film in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Every time it seemed to be over, one more scene popped up. The “Return of the King” lasted three hours and twenty-one minutes, and when the commissioners’ meeting
READ MOREHappy New Year to my family and friends. I would also like to give a shout to those who frequent this page. I look forward to many more tales. This part-time gig is grand, and we will cover many different topics in 2024. Let’s kick things off with one of my favorites. Dave Weigle of
READ MOREPreserving family videos and home movies is a great way to make sure you don’t lose precious memories of your loved ones. To help with this task, the James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., recently expanded its service to convert VHS home movie tapes to DVDs to include VHS-C and Hi8 tapes. The
READ MOREThe holidays are rapidly approaching, and you may be trying to search for that perfect gift for the person on your list who seems to have everything. Did you know there is a way to cross that person off your holiday list and give a gift that benefits your community? With the James V. Brown
READ MOREDuring the late 19th century, Williamsport was the Lumber capital of the continent and attracted many wealthy families that built elaborate homes and architecture in our great city. Victorian Christmas, sponsored and presented by Preservation Williamsport, celebrates Williamsport’s beautiful, charming architectural heritage of vintage homes, mansions, museums, churches, and other public structures. In addition to
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will participate in the 23rd Annual Victorian Christmas Tour of Historic Buildings on Saturday, Nov. 18. This year’s theme is “Historic Williamsport Preservation and Restoration.” To celebrate this event, the Library’s Moltz Rotunda Reading Room will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a
READ MOREThe United States of America has been at war 229 out of the possible 247 years since we became a sovereign nation. A God bless and heartfelt thank you to all our Veterans. Every freedom we enjoy has been provided by the grace of God and the servicemen and women of the United States Armed
READ MORETo the Citizens of Williamsport, Twenty years ago on November 11, 1918, the loud-mouthed guns grew still on the foreign battlefield. Armies and armaments ceased their work of slaughter, the war to end war had drawn to a close, and it was the hope of mankind that thenceforth the sword would never again rule the
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., through the state’s POWER Library portal is now offering the MyHeritage Library Edition. This multilingual family history research database includes billions of historical documents from 48 countries, millions of historical photos, public records, indexes, and additional resources that span the past five centuries. Content Includes: –
READ MOREIn turbulent times, books are tools that help people navigate the world around them. Intellectual freedom and access to information uplift people in crisis and during more peaceful times, so the James V. Brown Library invites you to champion the right to read during Banned Books Week, October 1-7. Banned Books Week is an annual
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library is not just a place for books; it is also a rich repository of things dealing with public services, local history, and reference. Several months ago, the Library hired someone to help oversee this rich collection and to help manage it for more efficient use by the public. That someone
READ MORESeptember is Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time when the James V. Brown Library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning. Disney and Pixar’s Elemental characters Ember
READ MOREIn order to better serve the community, the James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., is expanding its Saturday hours. Starting September 9, the Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. “To some, a few hours might seem insignificant, but to others, it can make all the difference,” said
READ MOREEder’s Ice Cream, Montoursville, recently presented the James V. Brown Library with the portion of funds from the sale of “Liberry” ice cream fundraiser that took place during the month of July. The fundraiser featured a blueberry-flavored “Liberry” ice cream. Eder’s sold a total of 135 gallons of blueberry ice cream or 3,200 scoops and
READ MORECaring for a loved one is truly a selfless act. When this person becomes a priority, their needs usually exceed your needs. On top of a full-time job and a family of your own, handling it all may become overwhelming. This is expected, typical, and human nature. Respite care services provide temporary comfort, supervision, and
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will be the recipient of a portion of funds from the sale of “Liberry” ice cream at Eder’s Ice Cream, 2242 PA-87, Montoursville. The fundraising sale will take place during the month of July and feature a blueberry-flavored “Liberry” ice cream. Since 1927, Eder’s Ice Cream
READ MOREThe Lycoming County Library System recently added a new online platform for readers of comics, graphic novels and manga called Comics Plus. Comics Plus, powered by LibraryPass, is a digital platform offering thousands of digital comics, graphic novels and manga to readers using a smartphone, tablet, or web browser, and can be downloaded to multiple
READ MOREThe Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., a $3,000 grant to support the Summer Learning Program. This local grant is a part of the Foundation’s largest, one-day literacy donation of more than $13 million throughout the 47 states in which Dollar General operates to support adult, family
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will host the program, “Kindergarten Prep!” for children starting kindergarten in the fall. Drop off your child to practice some kindergarten skills. During this program your child will explore math, science, early literacy tasks, cut with scissors, learn to line up, and practice building independence skills.
READ MOREAccording to the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), “World Otter Day brings all otter species to the attention of many people. It focuses on raising awareness about how important otters are and also highlights the threats that they face. There are certain issues faced by otters that some people are largely unaware of, such as
READ MOREJames V. Brown Library cardholders of all ages can experience Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club, with a National Book Award Finalist novel. From May 3-17, booklovers with a valid Brown Library card join thousands of others around the globe in borrowing Grace M. Cho’s evocative memoir, Tastes Like War, from their
READ MOREIf I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times. If you claim there is nothing to do around here, you aren’t even trying. I haven’t done one of these in a while, so let’s run through some upcoming local activities, because there is little in the world I enjoy more than being right.
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., recently earned the 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by Candid. Candid (formerly GuideStar) is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. This rating puts the Brown Library in the top 0.1% of charities nationally in terms of transparency.
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will celebrate April as National Poetry Month. Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest
READ MOREIn an effort to promote local genealogical research, the James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., has added a new free online resource through Ancestry Library Edition. Patrons at the Brown Library or any library within the Lycoming County Library System can explore their family history from their local library’s website. Please note that
READ MOREIn mid-January, Amazon announced that it was ending its AmazonSmile charitable program on Feb. 20, 2023. The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., was one of the thousands of organizations using this to encourage local residents to support the library when they shopped online. Although it wasn’t a huge fundraiser for the Library,
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will host the next Williamsport chapter meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. The program, “The Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball,” will be presented by Jack Houston, Lou Hunsinger. Marc Pompeo and Ted Knorr, and will focus on
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., has announced that Hoopla digital is now offering expanded access for Brown Library patrons. Those who use the online service can take advantage of two great new collections: MasterClass and Great Courses. The MasterClass collection includes Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling, and Neil deGrasse
READ MOREThe James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., has planned two family book bingo events to help children build their home library this holiday season. The two events are scheduled for 2:30-3:30 p.m. November 28 and 12:30-1:30 p.m. December 10 in the Lowry Room. Children ages birth to 18 are invited to come and
READ MOREBy Lou Hunsinger, Jr. One of the most highly anticipated annual events to kick off the Holiday Season in fine fashion will occur again this weekend, November 18 to 20, when the 23rdst Annual Victorian Christmas and related activities are held. The Victorian Christmas Committee presents the event under the auspices of Preservation Williamsport. The
READ MORE“To the Citizens of Williamsport “Twenty years ago on November 11, 1918, the loud mouthed guns grew still on the foreign battlefield, armies and armaments ceased their work of slaughter, the war to end war had drawn to a close, and it was the hope of mankind that thenceforth the sword would never again rule
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