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| By Lori O'Brien Correspondent SPRINGFIELD-Donations of new gloves, scarves, mittens and hats for children are still needed to decorate the "Mitten Trees" on display at each branch of the Springfield City Library system. The "Library Mitten Tree Project" began Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 14, according to Jean Canosa Albano, M.L.I.S., Manager of Youth and Outreach Services, Springfield City Library. All donations will be distributed to area organizations including the Red Cross People's Center, the Gray House, and Springfield Partners for Community Action. Many of this year's donations have already come in from the Knit Lits, an avid group of knitters and crocheters who meet on Fridays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the East Springfield Branch on Osborne Terrace. In addition, one anonymous Springfield resident has been making large donations of mittens each year for at least a decade, according to Albano. In addition to the Central Library at 220 State St., donations can be dropped off at Brightwood, 359 Plainfield St.; East Forest Park, 122/124 Island Pond Road; East Springfield, 21 Osborne Terr.; Forest Park, 380 Belmont Ave.; Indian Orchard, 44 Oak St.; Liberty, 773 Liberty St.; Mason Square, 765 State St.; Pine Point, 204 Boston Road, and Sixteen Acres, 1187 Parker St. For more information on the Mitten Tree Project, contact Albano at (413) 263-6828, ext. 291. In other library news, a Poetry Contest is underway and entries will be accepted through Jan. 31. For the first time, poems may be submitted in English or Spanish, and will be judged in separate divisions. Entrants may submit up to two poems each and must reside in Western Massachusetts or the Connecticut River Valley. Poems will be judged in two divisions ages 12 to 18 and adult. Entries of all forms, themes and styles are acceptable but must be original material, and either unpublished or self-published. An awards ceremony in the spring will acknowledge first, second and third place winners from each category, as well as three honorable mention poems. Entries must be postmarked, e-mailed or delivered at any Springfield City Library branch by Jan. 31. In addition to the contest, several writing workshops are planned in January. Poets of all levels can preregister for the workshops by calling Anna Brandenburg at (413) 263-6828, ext. 395. The schedule of free workshops include: Jan. 8, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Central Library Community Room, 220 State St.; Jan. 11, 5 to 7 p.m., Brightwood Branch Library, session conducted in Spanish; Jan. 14, 4 to 6 p.m., Sixteen Acres Branch Library, and Jan. 18, 6 to 8 p.m., Forest Park Branch Library. A session reserved for teens is slated Jan. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sixteen Acres Branch Library. Experienced writers trained in the Amherst Writers and Artists method will lead the workshops in English. Magdalena Gmez, a renowned poet based in Springfield, will lead the Spanish language workshop. For more information on the poetry contest, contact Brandenburg or visit www.springfieldlibrary.org. |