Holidays Archives - Patchogue-Medford Library

Frames Of Reference: The Time Machine (1960)

December 26, 2017 By Gary Lutz

New Year's Eve, 1899. The dawn of a new century. Four Victorian gentlemen assemble on a cold, snowy night to accept the invitation of their mutual friend, George, to dinner and a demonstration of his "time machine", as he explains to them the novel concept of the "fourth dimension".

What happens next challenges their "modern" perceptions and understanding of science, and George is plunged on a fantastic trip backwards and forwards over humanity's past and future, all the while observing it all through his learned, scientific and Victorian eyes.

Otherwise a relatively faithful adaption of H.G. Wells's original novel, the film eschews Wells's cynical observations about the British class system and about mankind's ultimately insignificant place in an indifferent cosmos, and features the young Australian actor, Rod Taylor in the lead role (giving the character youthful, optimistic and idealistic qualities) and an increased emphasis on heroic action and adventure. The other ingredients in the mix are the Academy Award-winning special effects of the day (blue-backed traveling mattes, double-printed background sets, time-lapse photography, and models and miniatures), and a story of love across time, not to mention a glimpse of the Victorian era as seen through the eyes of a 1960's design sensibility. And the idea of fantastic technology archaically wrapped and realized in brass, rivets, art nouveau arabesques, and crystal mechanisms can arguably be seen as an influence on today's steampunk genre.

And, as the final drop of celebratory champagne, one of the film's final lines presents the ultimate question for the avid bibliophile; consider…which three books would you have taken?

Check out, from the Library, the film

Check out, at the Library, the original book

and…

More New Year’s-themed films

Holiday Crafts

December 15, 2017 By Jessica Brown

Winter is here and so are the holidays. Crafts are a great way to get creative, de-stress, and get into the holiday spirit. Are you looking for some DIY inspiration? We can help! Crafts can include anything you’re inspired to create to get you into the holiday spirit – homemade gifts, holiday decorations, and DIY wrapping paper, to name just a few. In our Holiday Collection we have many options to help you get started. Craft books such as Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Inspirations and Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids could jump start your thinking.

Like to work with yarn? Check out Holiday Knits or KnitSimple magazine. We have other holiday themed magazines as well, such as Martha Stewart Living, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Cook’s Illustrated.

There are more DIY craft ideas with tutorials that are available online. In this YouTube video, Elaine shows you step by step how to make several holiday crafts such as styrofoam trees, candy stick vases, and yarn hat ornaments, using things from the dollar store. Looking to repurpose things from around your house? Try this Wrapped Flannel Holiday Wreath to use up any old shirts or fabric scraps. If you have too many Mason jars lying around (as if there could ever be enough Mason jars), try upcycling them into Snowflake Mason Jars or giving them as gifts with hot chocolate mixes inside like this. Another great idea for Mason jars is making candles. Here’s a great tutorial for a pine-scented candle.

Homemade gift wrap and holiday cards are fun to make too. Here’s a simple video tutorial on how to turn wrapping paper into a gift bag. You could also use kraft paper and stamp it to create a unique design like this polka-dot wrapping paper. Lastly, feel free to bring your own materials into the library to make a holiday card or snowflake banner using our Cricut machine. Sign up for DIY time here. For more ideas and inspiration, check out Pinterest.

Happy Holidays!

PatchChords: Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht…

December 1, 2017 By Gary Lutz

One of the most enjoyable experiences of the Holiday season is listening to or performing the enormous body of celebratory music lovingly written for the Holidays over the centuries. And, each Holiday season, scores of worshipful singers re-create Silent Night, a song born in humble, desperate, eleventh hour circumstances almost two centuries ago this year.

And therein lies a tale.

On Christmas Eve, 1818, celebrations of the Christmas holiday were very much on the minds of the people of Oberndorf, Austria as they prepared to gather together for midnight Mass to celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer and song. Foremost on the mind of Curate Joseph Mohr of the Church of St. Nicholas, however, were more worrying concerns; he had discovered that the church organ was badly damaged and, no matter how hard the pedals were pumped, only a scratchy wheeze could be cajoled from it. And repair of the aging instrument in time for the Christmas celebrations was, alas, out of the question.

The young cleric dispairingly retired to the quiet solitude of his study. Although blessed with musical talent and an aptitude for the guitar, he felt that the guitar would perhaps not be the best choice of instrument upon which to play the traditional carols employed at that time in Christmas celebrations. Mohr decided that the solution was to prepare a completely new song for his congregation. And so, he lifted his quill pen, and, soon thereafter, six simple stanzas telling the story of the Nativity flowed from it.

As quickly produced as they were, the stanzas still needed to be set to music, and midnight Mass was fast approaching. Realizing that he needed help, Mohr paid a timely visit to the living quarters of his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, the Church of St. Nicholas's organist and choirmaster, and asked for his help with realizing the song for two voices, chorus and guitar. Gruber set to work immediately, and, employing three of the most basic harmonies in music theory, weaved the famous melody with which we are all familiar today to complement Mohr's words.

Both men arrived back at the church before midnight, barely having time for one precious rehearsal, and agreeing that Mohr would sing the tenor part and play his guitar, Gruber would sing the bass part, and the church choir would join in four-part harmony at each refrain.

And, at midnight, the congregation of the Church of St. Nicholas, as they had for many years, filed into the pews. Guitar in hand, and with Gruber and the church choir at his side, Mohr told the congregation that although the majestic, full-throated sounds of the church's organ would not be heard that night, a special different kind of music would be heard.

And thus, it was ensured that music still played a part in the Church of St. Nicholas's Christmas Eve midnight Mass.

Stop by the Library and see our Holiday Collection, which offers Holiday music for all ages and musical abilities, from the beginning caroler to the seasoned Holiday musicmaker!

Printed music, at the Library, for the Holidays

Recorded music, at the Library, for the Holidays

Frames Of Reference: “The Uninvited” (1944)

October 2, 2017 By Gary Lutz

On the cliff tops of atmospheric Cornwall, while the sea rages and bursts over the rocks below, a happy-go-lucky brother & sister pair of urbanites stumble upon an isolated house, and they decide to pool their resources and purchase it. And the owner, much to their surprise, lets them have it for a relatively low price. But the ghosts of the past, quite literally, lurk within the house, and all is not as it seems…

Based on Dorothy Macardle's best-selling novel, The Uninvited was one of the first Hollywood films to treat the subject of ghosts and haunting in a serious way, a treatment which, today, seems commonplace. Prior to it, the subject had been treated and exploited by the storylines of Hollywood films as a scam or as an object of derision. And always, in the end, a rational and natural explanation was provided.

For fans of Daphne Du Maurier's book and Alfred Hitchcock's film, Rebecca, the Cornwall setting, the lingering and stifling worship and love of the departed, and the unraveling of a notorious and historied murder mystery will no doubt invite inevitable comparisons. Dedicated fans of the mistress of Manderley will, nevertheless, be in for an enjoyable coda returning to that same story territory.

The film's score, by Victor Young, also gave birth and rise to the American standard song, Stella By Starlight, revered for its haunting and rich harmonies, and recorded numerous times in both instrumental and vocal versions. And the visual experience of the moody, masterful, Academy Award-nominated black and white photography and lighting, the hallmark of a cinematographer at the height of his craft, alone is worth the price of admission.

Packed with judiciously paced and orchestrated jolts, shudders, chills, and tangles of romances, The Uninvited will lend some unique spice to the season’s Halloween festivities. All because of one simple, perhaps overused word: atmosphere.

Check out, at the Library, the film

Did you know that injury is the leading cause of death for children in New York State? While preventable injury is not the most cheerful holiday subject, toy safety is an important consideration when thinking about children’s gifts.

Here are some important tips on toy safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, do not give young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
Young children can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death – after swallowing button batteries or magnets. In addition to toys, button batteries are often found in musical greeting cards, remote controls, hearing aids, and other small electronics. Small, powerful magnets are present in many homes as part of building toy sets. Keep button batteries and magnets away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; do not allow children under age 8 to play with them.
Remove tags, strings, and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy box, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children. Use a toy box with no lid or a lightweight, non-locking lid and ventilation holes.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a Recall Listing where you can search by keyword, specific hazard, or specific manufacturer. This is tool can help you ensure a product you have received or are considering purchasing is safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also has a great article about Holiday Safety Tips and Mental Health Tips which covers everything from food safety to holiday visiting to trees, lights, and decorations. These tips can help keep everyone in the whole family happy and healthy this holiday season.

Of course, as a librarian, I recommend purchasing great age appropriate books for everyone on your shopping list. Need a suggestion on what to buy? Librarians are knowledgeable about current trends in books, are trained to match readers with books, and love talking about books. Ask a librarian!