Archive for June, 2012
Mayan Prophesies
Visit the Classic Mayan cities of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Tikal and Palenque to discover how the Maya aligned their temples to watch their sky gods and used interlocking calendars to record the past and predict the future. Explore pyramids towering above the rainforest, designed as observatories to follow the sun. Experience the apocalypse of the Maya and discover how our fate in 2012 may be foretold in Mayan Prophecies.
This program is for children ages 11 and up and is presented by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in their Mobile Noble Planetarium. The Planetarium will feature Mayan Prophesies on Saturday, June 30 at 4 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. Seating is limited to children and teens ages 11-17 only, and free tickets will be available starting an hour before show time on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at (940) 349-8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.
Take Me to the Stars
Connect with ancient civilizations as you hear the rich folklore of the stars still sparking our human imagination today! Discover how to find stars, constellations, visible planets and any special astronomy events at the time of your visit. This program is for children ages 7 and up and is presented by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in their Mobile Noble Planetarium. The Planetarium will feature Take Me to the Stars on Saturday, June 30 at 3 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. Seating is limited to children and teens ages 7-17 only, and free tickets will be available starting an hour before show time on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at (940) 349-8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Big Adventure
Join Big Bird, Elmo and their friend, Hu Hu Zhu for a look at the stars. Take an imaginary trip to our Moon, learn how to find the Big Dipper and North Star, and see how we all share the same sky. This program is for children ages 3-7 and is presented by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in their Mobile Noble Planetarium. The Planetarium will feature One World, One Sky on Saturday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. Seating is very limited and free tickets will be available starting an hour before show time. First priority seating will be given to children ages 3-7 with an accompanying adult.
For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at (940) 349-8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.
Preschool Play and Read at the North Branch
Join us for a come-and-go program that offers children age-appropriate games, activities and crafts that assist in developing pre-reading skills. Help your child’s early literacy skills while having fun as a family on Saturday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. This program is for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers.
For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at (940) 349-8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.
Saturday Mother Goose Time
Can’t make it to Mother Goose Time during the week? Join us for a special Saturday Mother Goose Time at 10 a.m. on June 23 at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. Mother Goose Time promotes early literacy through books, songs, rhymes and infant-caregiver bonding. There will be bouncing, bells and plenty of time afterwards for parents and babies to socialize and play. This program is for infants birth-18 months and their caregivers.
For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at (940) 349-8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.
A History of Public Libraries in American Life
Join us at the South Branch Library on Wednesday, June 27 at 7:00 PM for a talk examining the role of public libraries in America.
The public library, in one form or another, has been an important part of American community for over 150 years. From the first truly free libraries of the mid-19th Century to the libraries we’re all familiar with today, public libraries have been repositories of American culture; symbols of American freedom; and places that enrich and advance their communities with services, available to everyone, of educational, informational, cultural, and leisure value.
Dr. Keith Swigger, Professor of Information and Library Studies at Texas Woman’s University, will speak about the unique history of public libraries in America. This will not be a dry recitation of facts and dates, but a discussion of the dynamic relationship between people and public libraries, and the role public libraries have had in shaping our culture. Dr. Swigger holds degrees in Library and Information Science, American History, and American Culture.
When: Wednesday, June 27 @ 7:00 PM
Where: South Branch Library
3228 Teasley Lane in Denton
This program is part of the Denton Public Library’s 75th anniversary celebration.
For more, please call 940-349-8752 or email Fred.Kamman@cityofdenton.com.
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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases
Denton Writes 2012 First Place Winner Youth Poetry; Victoria Langham
I Am
by Victoria Langham
I am and will always be me.
The crazy, silly, weird thing,
That no one wants to be; except me.
Yes, that is how I will always be.
I can jump, I can play, and I can sing, too,
But, I can never be like you.
For, as you can see
I am and will always be me.
I am strong, I am confident, and I am free,
Like a bird or a honey bee.
Because it is shown very clearly
I am and will always be me.
I like to read, I like to draw, and I like to sew, too.
I can do everything that you can do.
But, I will never be like you
For, I am and will always be me.
You say I am weird after we first met,
But, you have not seen the real me yet,
I am nice when you get to know me,
For, I am and will always be me.
Denton Writes 2012 First Place Winner Youth Non-Fiction; Grace Elizabeth Baack
The Hiding Place
by Grace Elizabeth Baack
Picture this: being locked up in a jail cell; having little food or water; working long, hard hours; having health issues because you were given rotting food and dirty water to drink. Well, my story is about a woman who not only saw this happen but experienced it as well. She saw soldiers with evil hearts hurt men, woman and children. She had horrible things happen to her and her sister. She even had two of her family members die because of these tragic events. She also saw people being thrown into gas chambers, but no matter what happened it never took her faith away from God. I call my speech “The Hiding Place” based on the book with the same name by Corrie ten Boom and “Courageous Christians” by Joyce Vollmer Brown.
Corrie ten Boom was born in Holland in 1892. She was the youngest child of 2 siblings. Their names were Betsie and William. Betsie, the oldest, had really big responsibilities like working in the house, and helping in the watch shop that her father owned. Corrie’s family loved the Lord. They spent most of their time praying, and reading the Bible. When Corrie’s mom became sick and died, it was one of the things that made her family draw closer to the Lord. (Brown 11)
When World War 2 started the Germans invaded Holland. All of the Jews were in trouble. Jesus was a Jew so these were his people. His children were being treated like they didn’t matter. The Germans would round up the Jews and put them in concentration camps. The Jews hid in secret places and this is when Corrie’s father told his family, “God’s people are always welcome.” (ten Boom 78). He changed parts of their house and made it into a place of refuge in order to hide the Jews from the Nazis. They did that knowing full well that if they were caught hiding people they would suffer the same fate as the Jews. They made a secret room by using a fake wall in Corrie’s room. They had an alarm set up so that when someone pushed the button it would ring in the other room in order to warn others of soldiers that have come into the shop. They had hiding drills where they would practice over and over again clearing a room in seconds. At their best, they were able to clear a whole room in about 70 seconds. But, that was not easy. They had to double check to make sure that nothing was out of place and that sheets were flipped over because if the soldiers felt body heat that would mean someone was in the room or that there was something fishy about the room. (Brown 11, ten Boom 106)
Everything changed on February 28th 1944. That day the German soldiers stormed into the watch shop. One of the soldiers asked Corrie where the Jews were hiding. He slapped her in the face. He thought she was making fun of him. What he did not know was that there was a secret room behind a wall in Corrie’s room. Corrie, her father, and sister all went to prison. They were there for about 3 months. (Brown 11)
Remember when I said that she lost 2 family members in the introduction? Well, that is when it happened. Corrie’s father died 10 days later. Even though she was really sad, she knew he was in the arms of Christ. The camp they were sent to was called Ravensbrook. People called it the death camp for girls. There she was reunited with Betsie. Ravensbrook was their worst nightmare. They would get one meal a day, have to stand at attention for long hours in freezing weather, and had fleas in their cabin. A guard whipped Corrie in the neck because she was too weak to push a cart of bricks. But what made her angry was seeing her sister being abused. Betsie would encourage
her sister Corrie by saying that they would travel all over when they were released telling people that there was no place on earth that is too dark for God’s love to shine in. Betsie’s dream was to start a home in Holland and Germany where people broken by the war would heal. Betsie was not as physically strong as Corrie and yet she was expected to work just as long and hard as her sister especially in very hot or cold weather. Because of this, about 96,000 women were killed. (Brown 11-12)
Corrie was released from prison only to find out later that her release was a typing error. Corrie found out later that a week after her release all the woman her age were put to death in the gas chamber. Betsie died in prison. She did not live long enough to see God make her dreams come true. (Brown 12)
After the war, Corrie traveled all around Germany sharing about God’s love and forgiveness. During one of her talks she had a man visit her wanting her forgiveness. She realized that he was one of the main guards at her camp. She did not want to forgive him. She asked God to help her forgive this man. She knew God would want her to forgive him so she stuck out her hand and shook his hand and when she did, the over whelming flow of God’s forgiveness came through and she was able to forgive the guard with her whole heart. (Brown 12)
In the future when you are struggling to forgive someone think of Corrie. Matthew states, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven time” (NIV, Matthew 18:21-22). With the Lord’s help you may be able to forgive like her.
Works Cited
Brown, Joyce Vollmer. Courageous Christians. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000:
11-12. Print.
ten Boom, Corrie, and John and Elizabeth Sherrill. The Hiding Place. New York: Bantam Books, 1974. Print.
Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). International Bible Society. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print.
Denton Writes 2012 Winner Youth Fiction; Victoria Langham
The Map to the Magical Forest
by Victoria Langham
I walk out from a trail that is etched in moss and vegetation. The moss is thick and mysterious. As I survey my surroundings, I take in the crisp air of untouched nature.
The thin, moss-covered trees rustle in the wind eager to gossip about the visitor.
A small stream calmly runs past me. The sun comes out of hiding to show off her garden for the explorer. The flowers have bloomed, and the animals are peaceful. I hear the soft whooping call of a spotted owl.
As I cautiously make my way among the brush and foliage, I see two shiny black eyes staring at me. “Whoop, Whoo?” The little owl blinks and ruffles its feathers.
I gazed at it in astonishment. The little owl lifts off and begins to ascend through the forest calling gently as if to say, “Follow me!”
A few minutes later, I found myself racing through the thick forest following the queer owl. “Whoop Whoop WH-Hoo,” the little owl screeched as he soared through the air. Suddenly, he lands and begins to waddle along the trail that leisurely wends through the thick forest. The mossy undergrowth is becoming more prominent and thicker as we travel deep into the forest. A little waterfall trickles sluggishly; down, down, plink, plink, swish. I scan the area for the little owl. I found him looking at me. He whooped softly and turned his head as if to say, “Magnificent isn’t it!”
My trip continues through the maze of flora and vegetation. All the while, I cannot believe this journey is taking place. The little owl, acting as my guide, swoops through the thick growth. The trees tower above me like sleeping giants. Plants and vines entangle them. The orchestra of plants below is composed mostly of small pines, ferns, and various fruits and flowered verdure. If you concentrate, you can hear the bees and humming birds whispering excitedly, “Look at the courageous explorer!” as I pass by. The forest seems to be ecstatic about a visitor, which I must be their first in a while.
The deer and birds crane their necks for a glimpse of me. They act like I am their new king. I shrugged and continued to follow the owl through the forest. How did I get here?
I wondered in my mind. How exactly you wonder? I can tell you how. Books are the map to one’s imagination. To follow that map, all one has to do is read, and one’s magical journey begins.
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