Greetings from River City. As regular readers of this column know, I am a fool for my birthday. I am ready to celebrate it on any day of the week, any week of the month, any month of the year; my 84th is on May 8 and 9 (a story for another time).

As a child, one of those big folding maps, spread open on the living room floor was mesmerizing to me, all those places, all those fascinating names, captivated and excited my vivid imagination. Lost in my travels. When asked what I wanted for my birthday, there was only one choice for me—a ride through a small town with one of those fascinating names.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who do give the gift of mothering to a child. My own mother has been in Heaven for an unbelievable 36 years, yet her smile and laughter, her wit and kindness, her goodness—all are still fresh in my mind and heart. May you, each one, have happy childhood memories of your mother and that your child will have happy memories of you.

Some upcoming programs at the Newburgh Free Library
Join us on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. for a lively discussion of “The Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler. Dr. Crystal S. Donkor, Assistant Professor of English at SUNY New Paltz will lead this Scholars Pick book discussion.

Participate in the Introduction to Finding Grants workshop on Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. to learn about identifying and approaching funding sources. Discussion of what funders want from non-profits seeking grants and demonstration of the Foundation Center database will be included.

Learn how to coil rope to make an attractive bowl or pot at the DIY Coiled Rope Vessel program on Saturday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m. or Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. Create a vessel to hold jewelry, paperclips etc. or to show off a small potted plant. All materials are provided for these DIY events.

Scott Silverstone, professor of international relations at West Point, will discuss his new book “From Hitler’s Germany to Saddam’s Iraq: The Enduring False Promise of Preventive War” on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m.

The Books & Brews book discussion on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at 2 Alices Coffee Lounge in Newburgh will be led by Librarian Heather Gorman. This month’s selection is “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer. Call 845-563-3632 for details.

Drop-in to “Game On” on Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m. to compete, challenge and just have fun with friends playing with the library’s Nintendo Switch and PS4.

Enjoy a lovely, free afternoon concert on Sunday, May 19 at 3 p.m. with husband and wife duo Sonny and Perley as they perform Great American Songbook Standards and French songs celebrating springtime and romance.

Salsa into Spring with Latin Jazz entertainment and dancing to the music of the Tito Puente Jr. Latin Jazz Ensemble with special guests Mariachi Aguila Y Plata and Dojo Dance Company on Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m. in Safe Harbors Lobby at the Ritz and The Historic Green Room, 107 Broadway.

To order tickets please call, 1 (800) 838-3006 or go to brownpapertickets.com/event/3913865. Tickets are also available at DMU Music in Newburgh. Proceeds benefit Safe Harbors of the Hudson.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor was featured on CBS News. You should be able to see it at the CBS website.

Safe Harbors Off Broadway 5K on Sunday, May 19. All proceeds from this event will benefit Safe Harbors of the Hudson and its programs. NEW THIS YEAR, Kids Run FREE! Now your friends can help you support Safe Harbors! It’s easy! Create your own online fundraising team.

About the Course: Starting and finishing at 111 Broadway in Newburgh’s historic downtown, the 5K will take you on a great tour of the city, featuring stunning views of the Hudson River and the famous architecture of Newburgh’s historic district.

School Challenge: The school with the most race registrants will be awarded a trophy. Cash prizes for runners and walkers! Chip-timed by Catskill Timing - results will be posted on their website. FREE T-shirts to the first 200 registered participants. Free parking!

Race Day Events: 7 - 8:30 a.m./Registration, 9 a.m./5K Start. Pre- and Post-Race Refreshments, Awards and prizes, Health & Wellness vendors: Stretch clinics, Zumba, Massage and much more!

Pricing: Pre-registration on/before Friday, May 17 is $30. Registration after May 17 is $40. All students K-12 up to age 18 are FREE! Register to run/walk ONLINE. Printable Registration Form. Create an online fundraising team - ask your friends to help you support Safe Harbors! Become a Sponsor!

The Board of Directors of the Newburgh Community Land Bank has been awarded an Arts Mid-Hudson Grant to support the successful Artist-in-Vacancy program. AIV is a creative initiative addressing vacancy and abandonment in Newburgh by re-imagining vacant sites as places for community engagement, artistic production, aesthetic and cultural research, and renewed inhabitation.

“NCLB is thrilled to be awarded a grant through the 2019 Decentralization Grant Program to bring Artist-In-Vacancy through its third year,” says Artist-in-Vacancy Program Manager Diana Mangaser. “We value the funding from Arts Mid-Hudson which helps expand the number of artists and projects we can support through AIV and the impact it has on art and community in Newburgh.”

By opening Land Bank properties as temporary platforms for creative interventions, NCLB looks to transform liabilities into sites for engagement: safe, accessible spaces, which draw the public experience inside the vacancy and brings vibrancy and engagement to marginalized spaces of underserved neighborhoods in the City.

Allison Cappella, Executive Director, says, “We are delighted to see Arts Mid-Hudson recognize the success of AIV and Diana’s hard work of creatively addressing vacant and abandoned buildings in the beautiful City of Newburgh.”

From Sacred Heart Saint Francis Church: Join the Franciscan Friars as they pray for our own mothers and for all mothers, including expectant mothers and those who are hurting after abortion or have lost children through miscarriage, accident, or suicide.

May the gift of motherhood be celebrated and valued in our culture as we pray in this month of Mary our Mother on Sunday, May 12 at 10 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church (Mother’s Day Mass followed by procession and reception).

The Blessed Sacrament will remain exposed for Adoration during the procession for those who wish to stay in the Church and intercede. For more information, contact Br. Benjamin at (914) 963-0150 or brbenjamincfr@gmail.com.

As always, I close with my prayers for God’s blessings on your heads, my dears and on the heads of all our brothers and sisters in this world, from the youngest in the womb to the oldest on earth.