We’re not out of the woods yet, so count on the Friends of the Pennsauken Free Library for more wellness events to keep your spirits and body in tip-top shape along with a contest to get your creative juices flowing!
In March, we’ll be starting a month of Tai Chi Chih, a mindfulness moving meditation. The set of 19 movements and one pose is soft, flowing and easy to learn. Benefits are said to include peace of mind, improved health and a sense of well being, qualities these trying times have been draining from us. Our Tai Chi Chih classes take place from 10 – 11 a.m. Fridays, March 5th and 12th. Two more sessions in March, on the 19th and 26th, focus on Eating meditation, and, finally, we’re back to Chair Yoga on April Fridays: the 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. All Chair Yoga sessions take from 10 – 11 a.m., so plan for gentle stretching and a good workout!
You can register for all these classes by clicking on the following link, completing the form and submitting it: https://bit.ly/3cs4hqO. You’ll receive a confirmation email along with a direct link to the classes.
In the meantime, it’s not too early to start working on a poem for our upcoming annual Friends of the Library Poetry Contest. All submissions must be sent by Friday, April 30th at 6:00 p.m. via any one of three ways: an electronic PDF to folpennsauken@gmail.com or hand delivered or mail delivered to Friends of the Pennsauken Free Public Library Poetry Contest, 5605 Crescent Blvd., Pennsauken, NJ 08110.
The contest is open to all Pennsauken and Merchantville residents, and applicants cannot have won in the previous two year. All entries must be original and not previously submitted for print or electronic publication. One entry per person. If you’re submitting a paper copy by hand or through snail mail, please complete the “Submission Form” (which can be picked up at the circulation desk at the library or on our website or at https://www.pennsaukenlibraryfriends.org and attach it to the back of your poem. Entries must include the following information: Applicant’s full name and address, Phone # (if under 18, parent/guardian phone #). If a student, please include the name of the school and grade level and teacher’s name and contact information.
Here are the contest levels & categories:
Kindergarten and 1st grade, 2 categories – Serious & Creative;
2nd and 3rd grades, 2 categories – Serious & Amusing;
4th & 5th grades, 2 categories – Serious & Amusing;
6th through 8th grades, 2 categories – Serious & Amusing;
High School, single category;
Adult, single category.
Prizes include a $25.00 Visa gift card from Republic Bank for each first place winner in each category and $10.00 in cash for each second place winner in each category. In addition, every winner also receives an honorary family membership to the Friends of the Pennsauken Library. Winners will be asked to read and video their winning poem to be included in the Contest Award Presentation video to be posted to YouTube by Pennsauken TV on or about May 12th, 2021.
So, whether you’re exercising your body or your mind (or better still, both) this month, please stay safe and think positive. Things are bound to get better!
Friends of the Pennsauken Free Public Library 