Florida Public Library hosts World Storytelling Day on March 20

FLORIDA — Florida Public Library will celebrate World Storytelling Day with a Spring Storytelling Café on Wednesday, March 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The vernal equinox or first day of Spring arrives that evening. Black Dirt Storytelling Guild founders Eileen Stelljes and Madelyn Folino and Ken Karnas from the New Jersey Storytelling Network will tell stories, all on the theme of water, our most precious resource.
Adults, age 16 and up, are invited to listen to a selection of myths, folktales, humorous stories and historical tales about water.
What happens when there’s not enough water or too much of the stuff?
Fresh water has been called “the gold of the 21st century” and is expected to be a source of much contention around the world due to climate change.
Three expert spoke n word artistsCome listen to the wisdom of traditional stories that address the scarcity and abundance of the liquid we all need to survive, told by a trio of expert spoken word artists.
• Stelljes, of Walden, specializes in tales from the Hudson Valley and American history, particularly from the Revolutionary War era. She also is an experienced re-enactor, having sided with both the patriots and the Hessians over the years.
• Folino, of Pine Island, has been library director for more than 20 years. She is a familiar face in local schools and libraries where she has told all kinds of stories since 1986.
She currently co-chairs Sharing the Fire: The Northeast Storytelling Conference & Festival, coming soon in Plymouth, Mass., the last weekend in March.
• Karnas, of Wantage, N.J., is a retired teacher from Sussex County, New Jersey, who, shortly into his career of more than four decades, discovered the magic of storytelling to command the attention of children and teens and make them ask for more.
EssentialsCoffee, tea and homemade desserts will be served.
To register, visit www.floridapubliclibrary.org and click on calendar or call the library at 845 651-7659.
The library is located at 4 Cohen Circle behind Village Hall.