Tellabration!

FLORIDA — Can you believe it? It’s true story: the members of Florida’s Black Dirt Storytelling Guild are still together and still swapping stories after almost two decades.
The Florida Public Library will hold its 18th annual Tellabration!, a celebration of storytelling, on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. in the library. As always, the afternoon performance will be produced by the members of the Guild.
Theme: 'Stories We Remember'The Black Dirt Storytelling Guild has met monthly at the Florida Public Library since its organization following the first successful Tellabration! in 2000 which attracted a group of Orange County residents interested in pursuing storytelling for fun, inspiration and profit.
This year’s Tellabration! is entitled "Stories We Remember" and will include a variety of personal and family stories, folktales, legends, memoirs and local history.
Tellabration! is a worldwide celebration of the traditional art of storytelling and takes place in numerous venues. The event is sponsored by the National Storytelling Network based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Guild founders Madelyn Folino, Eileen Stelljes, Anne Hanson and Maria Martinez will share stories once again in this year’s café style event.
The Guild also produces storytelling events throughout the year, including their popular campfire storytimes for families at Glenmere Lake which will mark its 22nd season in July.
Guest storytellersIn addition to veteran Guild members, Tellabration! will feature special guest storytellers from the community:
Barbara Horvath, a Guild member from Warwick, will return to share a Thanksgiving story about family;
Audience favorite Leslie Collins, who writes stories for the Warwick Valley Dispatch about his English childhood and his world travels, returns as well;
Ron Kamrowkski, a lifelong resident of Florida, will be a first-time teller, sharing his memories of Florida through the years; and
Ken Karnas, a veteran storyteller from Sussex, N.J., and a retired teacher of 42 years, will deliver unforgettable tales in his signature animated style.
Tellabration! is an opportunity for any experienced or budding storytellers in the community to share their stories, old, new, borrowed or true.
Anyone interested in performing is invited to sign up by calling Folino at 845 651-7659 as soon as possible.
Stories should be no longer than seven minutes.
Essential informationTellabration! is a family program for story lovers of all ages. Children who are school age and up and attentive listeners are invited to attend, accompanied by an adult.
Admission is the donation of one canned or non-perishable item per person for the Florida Community Food Pantry.
Following the performance, listeners, storytellers and their families are invited to enjoy a potluck supper at the library.
For more information on Tellabration’s history around the world, visit www.tellabration.org.
To sign up for this program, register online at www.floridapubliclibrary.org by clicking on Event Calendar.
To sign up for the potluck supper, email Maria Martinez at FPL: mmartinez@rcls.org to confirm what you are bringing or call her at 845 651-7659.
The library is located at 4 Cohen Circle. Florida, next to the Seward Senior Center.