Noon Year's Eve Balloon Drop and more at Sullivan library branches

The Sullivan County Public Library has five locations to serve the community. LIBRARY NEWS All branches of the Sullivan County Public Library will be closed for New Year's Day on Thursday. All branches will reopen on Friday with regular hours. On Wednesday, Jan. 7, all library branches will be closing early for quarterly staff training. The Blountville branch will close at 4 p.m. Colonial Heights, Thomas Memorial, and Bloomingdale will close at 3:30 p.m., and Sullivan Gardens is regularly closed on Wednesdays. FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS Pre-K Storytime and Activity with Ms. Nancy. For kids ages 2-5 years old. This week's theme will be: Snowy Days! You can attend Pre-K Storytime at Thomas Memorial on Tuesday at 10:45 a.m., Bloomingdale on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., and Blountville on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Colonial Heights will not have Pre-K Storytime this week due to the New Year holiday. Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. - Baby Bookworms at the Bloomingdale Library. For infants through age 2 and their grown-ups. Tuesday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. - Read to Therapy Dog JB or Jackson at the Colonial Height branch. To schedule your child's 15-minute appointment to read to JB, please call the library at 423-239-1100 or sign up online through our website. Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. - Noon Year's Eve Balloon Drop at the Blountville branch. Party with us like it's midnight! Join us for a dance party and juice toast as we count down to a noon balloon drop. Sparkly attire is encouraged, but not required. Refreshments while supplies last. Event open to all ages. No RSVP required. Friday at 1 p.m. - Magic Tree House Book Club at the Blountville library. During the month of January, Ms. Nancy will help kids new to chapter books read "Lions at Lunchtime" and "Polar Bears Past Bedtime," books 11 and 12 of the series. This book club is also available on Zoom. Call the branch to get an invitation. Friday at 2 p.m. - Kids' Classics Book Club begins their January book: "The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo. This book club is geared toward ages 6-12. Can't make it to Blountville? This book club can be joined live online through Zoom. Please call a couple of days prior to the meeting to request a link to our Zoom meeting. Friday at 2 p.m. - Art History with Daniel: Going for Baroque. Daniel will lead kids ages 8-12 through a new art history lesson each week. We'll also make some art of our own inspired by the lesson. This month we'll be going for Baroque as we learn about the art period, its artists and their work! Saturday, Jan 3, at 3 p.m. - Old Christmas in Appalachia at the Colonial Heights branch. All ages welcome. Why did the people of Appalachia celebrate "Old Christmas" on Jan. 6? We will take a look at the holiday traditions of our mountain ancestors. Then there will be an opportunity to learn how to make a traditional handkerchief doll. No RSVP required. Saturday, Jan. 10, from 3-4:30 p.m. - Teen/Tween Smash Bros Tournament at the Blountville branch. Snacks will be provided. For tweens and teens, so ages 10-17. Registration is required by Jan. 8 in person, by phone, by scanning the QR code or through our website calendar. FOR ALL AGES Monday at 10 a.m. - All Ages Cozy Craft Day at the Sullivan Gardens branch. Drop in at the Sullivan Gardens branch to enjoy cozy crafts all day long! We will have multiple stations set up with a community puzzle, coloring sheets and crafts. Enjoy cozy vibes and treats as we wind down from Christmas and get ready for the New Year! Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. - Noon Year's Eve Balloon Drop at the Blountville branch. Party with us like it's midnight! Join us for a dance party and juice toast as we count down to a noon balloon drop. Sparkly attire is encouraged, but not required. Refreshments while supplies last. Event open to all ages. No RSVP required. Saturday, Jan 3, at 3 p.m. - Old Christmas in Appalachia at the Colonial Heights branch. All ages welcome. Why did the people of Appalachia celebrate "Old Christmas" on Jan. 6? We will take a look at the holiday traditions of our mountain ancestors. Then there will be an opportunity to learn how to make a traditional handkerchief doll. No RSVP required. Saturday, Jan. 10, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Colonial Heights branch - Soup Luncheon. You asked, and we delivered! Come by the library for another soup event, and warm yourself up with a free bowl of homemade soup. EVENTS FOR ADULTS Geri Fit is a fitness program designed exclusively for older adults and those with physical disabilities. Geri-Fit is offered at our Thomas Memorial branch on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. It is also offered at our Blountville branch on Mondays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Gentle Chair Yoga is an adapted yoga practice that allows you to stay seated while practicing yoga focused poses. Chair Yoga is offered at the Thomas Memorial branch on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. but will be canceled Thursday for the New Year's holiday. The Blountville branch will offer Chair Yoga on Mondays at 3:30 p.m.. Colonial Heights branch's Chair Yoga will be canceled for Monday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 31, but will pick back up on Monday, Jan. 5. Monday at 5:30 p.m. - Book Club at the Colonial Heights branch. This month's book is "Fly in the Buttermilk" by Cecil A. Reed. Tuesday at 6 p.m. - Zumba with Christina at the Blountville branch. Come join the party! We're pleased to offer this free, fast-paced dance class to our patrons. Learn some moves and shake it out weekly with certified ZIN instructor Christina! You can also Zumba on Zoom! Just call by the Monday before class to receive a Zoom Link Saturday, Jan. 3, from 1-3 p.m. - Saturday Knit and Crochet Group at the Blountville branch. This crochet group is not an instructional class, rather a gathering of crochet and knit enthusiasts who come together to make projects that benefit the community. Our Saturday group accepts participants ages 8 and up. Monday, Jan. 5, at 5:30 p.m. - Millennial Book Club at the Colonial Heights branch. This month's book will be "The Imperfects" by Amy Meyerson. Thursday, Jan. 8, at 10:30 a.m. - Adult Craft - Library-style Bookends at the Bloomingdale branch - Adults are invited to join us in making bookends for all those books you got for Christmas! Please RSVP in person, by phone or online by visiting our website calendar. Thursday, Jan. 8, at 2 p.m. - Introduction to Loom Weaving and Our Community Weaving Project at the Sullivan Gardens branch. Learn about different kinds of looms as staff sets up a rigid heddle style loom for patrons of all ages to use and add their own personal touch to a woven wall hanging. This weaving project will be available to work on through the end of February, so drop in anytime we are open to contribute! No registration is required. Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6 p.m. - Summit Seekers Hiking Club Planning Meeting at the Blountville branch. Come learn more about our group and help plan our January hikes. Monday, Jan. 12, at 5:30 p.m. - Adult Craft - Library-style Bookends at the Bloomingdale branch. Adults are invited to join us in making bookends for all those books you got for Christmas! Please RSVP in person, by phone or online by visiting our website calendar. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 11:30 a.m. - Tea Tasting for Adults at the Blountville branch. Come join us for a special morning or afternoon tea tasting! Learn about the benefits of tea while enjoying several flavors. Call, come in, or sign up on our website to register. Friday, Jan. 16, at 5:30 p.m. - Cosmopolitan Cafe at the Blountville branch. Snacks from around the world? Yes please! This program for adults explores different countries around the world through the one thing we all love: food! Registration is required for this event. Please stop in, register online or call us at 423-279-2714. BRANCH LOCATIONS To register or find other upcoming events, call or come by one of the branches: — Sullivan main branch, 1655 Blountville Blvd., Blountville, 423-279-2714. — Bloomingdale branch, 3230 Van Horn St., Kingsport, 423-288-1310. — Colonial Heights branch, 149 Pactolus Road, Kingsport, 423-239-1100. — Sullivan Gardens branch, 104 Bluegrass Drive, Kingsport, 423-349-5990. — Thomas Memorial branch, 481 Cedar St., Bluff City, 423-538-1980.