I just noticed that the Bethlehem Library is largely back to normal after the pandemic. I will have to go down there and get some books and/or work down at the library. No more working out in the parking lot and I can take my muzzle off when inside the library and working.
There have been a lot of big changes in recent days as we bring back even more of the library experience you’d come to know and love in pre-pandemic times. It’s been a challenging couple of months, and we have been so grateful for your patience and flexibility as we worked hard to balance the services we provided with the health and safety of our community.
The library is now open for in-person use during the following hours:
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Just a reminder: The library will be closed Saturday, June 19, in honor of the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth.
Following state guidelines lifting COVID-19 restrictions, the library is not requiring masks inside the building. Unvaccinated individuals will be responsible for their own mask usage. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask for any reason may do so.
When Aaron Hinton walked through the housing project in Brownsville on a recent summer afternoon, he voiced love and pride for this tightknit, but troubled working-class neighborhood in New York City where he grew up.
He pointed to a community garden, the lush plots of vegetables and flowers tended by volunteers, and to the library where he has led after-school programs for kids.
But he also expressed deep rage and sorrow over the scars left by the nation's 50-year-long War on Drugs. "What good is it doing for us?" Hinton asked.
As the United States' harsh approach to drug use and addiction hits the half-century milestone, this question is being asked by a growing number of lawmakers, public health experts and community leaders.
In many parts of the U.S., some of the most severe policies implemented during the drug war are being scaled back or scrapped altogether.
Good morning! Happy Thursday. Next Thursday is the latest sunset 🌇 of the year and the Strawberry Moon 🍓 🌕 . Lots of things to keep the lights up late that day. Sunny and 57 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 There is a west-southwest breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 44 degrees. Kind of a chilly start for a late June morning although the heat right now is lurking out on the west coast.
My bags are packed 💼 and I’m ready to head to the Adirondacks after work. I decided not to drive work because it’s just easier to leave from home and leaving a bit after 6 pm means I shouldn’t hit much traffic. The coolers will last longer with everything in the fridge or freezer today. 🥚 I forgot to get eggs yesterday so I’ll have to stop at Stewart’s on the way up north. Not sure if the forecast is as nice as previously announced but I am glad to be gone this long weekend where I can enjoy the quiet. 🤫 No cell service where I’m going, should be nice and quiet.
Bus reroute this morning 🚌 due to a house fire 🔥 on Delaware Avenue. Been a while since a building burnt there but house fires 🔥 in the city seem to follow a trend – neighborhoods destabilize and then one building after another burns. It just seems like Albany is sliding down hill. The whole city after decades of improvement after pollution controls were implemented is just sliding backwards. It may be the pandemic but also foreign investment driving up the rents and driving out the tenants and businesses. All that money 💵 from China purchases is being reinvested in our community by China slumlords looking for a place to park their cash.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 75 degrees at 3pm. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 31st. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning with a few breaks of sun the afternoon. The high last year was 87 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1994.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:57 pm with sun having an altitude of 70.8° from the due south horizon (-0.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:53 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (297°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (304°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:36 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 28 seconds with dusk around 9:10 pm, which is 21 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the southwest (225°) at an altitude of 44° from the horizon, 231,723 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:57 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 68 degrees. The dew point will be 46 degrees. There will be a west breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 15 hours and 18 minutes of daytime, an increase of 16 seconds over yesterday.
I can wait until the work day is over to head up north. I am thinking I also need maple syrup besides eggs for my pancakes. 🥞 I might end up going to Price Chopper in Gloversville. I wish I had just skip the run to the store yesterday. That was dumb on my part. Well, I guess it is what is. I just got flustered over the stupid can return and then I couldn’t find what I needed in the store. I feel stupid but it ain’t the end of world. The days are long now, I don’t care if I get up to camp really late although I’d kind of like to get that House Pond Campsite if possible.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 49 degrees at 5am. Nine degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 19th. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2020, we had partly cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It became somewhat humid as the night progressed. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 39 occurred back in 1958.
On this day in 1972, Five White House operatives are arrested for burgling the offices of the Democratic National Committee, 👮🏼♂️ 👤 in an attempt by some members of the Republican party to illegally wiretap the opposition. This would become the basis for the Watergate scandal.
The JuneteenthWeekend looks nice. 🏖 Friday, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Saturday, scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 65 at 10am. Sunday, sunny, with a high near 81. Maximum dew point of 61 at 8pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 80 degrees.
As previously noted, next Thursday is Latest Sunset of the year 🌆 when the sun will be setting at 8:37 pm with dusk at 9:12 pm. On that day in 2020, we had humid weather and partly sunny skies, rain showers in the afternoon and temperatures between 85 and 65 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 82 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1943.
