Library's ESOL Celebration is Sunday

The Port Washington Public Library's English Speakers of Other Languages program is 20 this year. And to mark the occasion, it's holding a celebration on Sunday from 1-5 p.m, thanks to funding from the Friends of the Library.

To honor the the 20 years of service the ESOL program has given to the community, and the hard work of the program's students and volunteer tutors, the library will be abuzz with cultural activities. 

From 1-3 p.m., in the Hagedorn Room, Middle Eastern belly dancing lessons will be taught by ESOL student Ghadary Rady and salsa lessons will be taught by former student Virginia Martinez.  Kung Fu instruction by Master Heng Cheng will take place from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Be sure to stop in the in the Lapham Meeting Room for more performances.  Between 2:30-4:30 p.m., there will be Chinese singing and dancing, a Kung Fu demonstration with Master Heng Cheng, Japanese piano, flute, and choir, Korean Opera singing by Moon-Sook Park with accompaniment by Sun im Cho, Latin American dancing with Virginia Martinez and Johnny Rodriguez, dancing from Bangladesh and India with Mousumi Baidya, and Middle Eastern belly dancing with Ghadary Rady. All performances showcase the talents and heritage of the ESOL program’s students (or former students) and will be both interactive and enriching.

Children's activities will take place throughout the afternoon in the Children’s Room including games, calligraphy, origami, and other crafts. Henna decorating will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the ESOL Classroom.

Upstairs in the Community Gallery, student writings and a photo display will showcase 20 years of memories from the ESOL program. A photo montage will be on view in the lobby.

At the conclusion of the celebration, enjoy desserts from around the world. A themed globe cake made by Schreiber student, Michelle Fried, will also be served, along with cookies donated by St. Honoré Bakery.

Then, on Monday, at 7:30 p.m., the library’s Media Department will show the award-winning documentary Somewhere Between. It follows the lives of four teenage girls living in different parts of the United States and united by a common bond.