MORRISTOWN — The Morristown Public Library has announced a new program called “Terrific Thursdays” that seeks to offer a diverse selection of cultural and social opportunities for the area’s seniors.

“The library’s motto has always been 'a lifetime of learning,'” said Bridget Whalen-Nevin, the library's director. “This program seeks to build on that theme in a fun, social way.”

The program, which runs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, kicks off with a free yoga class with Denise Kerr on the first Thursday of every month. (Since space is limited, those who want to attend must call ahead at 315-375-8833.) Participants can bring their own mat if they want or use the library’s. The class is tailored to the audience.

“We are not trying out for the Yoga Olympics here,” said Whalen-Nevin. “But who doesn’t feel so much better after a gentle stretch with friends?”

On May 18, Terrific Thursdays hosted a lecture on Irish fairy tales by professional story-teller Lorraine Hartan-Gelardi. This ties in with the fairy tale trail for families to hike at the nearby Red Barn heron reserve being designed by Morristown high school students for the reserve’s art fair on Saturday, May 27.

On May 25, the Terrific Thursdays program hosted a coffee klatch to talk about what types of programs participants want to see in the future, including possible talks by authors, world travelers and tips from experts on beauty, taxes, art, cooking, construction and other topics. The program is scheduled to go on for at least six months, so there is room for a wide variety of interests.

On June 8, Dr. William Reszelbach, a child of Holocaust survivors, will speak at the Morristown Library about the history of the Nuremberg Trials that convicted war criminals after World War II.

Whalen-Nevin said the new program cements the library’s key role in the community and counters the isolation that surrounded rural retirees during the pandemic.

“This is the summer we all want to get out and socialize, learn from each other, enjoy each other,” said Whalen-Nevin. “And what better place to do it than where we pick up our new books to read for free, our audio books for long summer car rides, our DVDs for family movie night. The Morristown Library is the place to be!”

She encourages residents to come in and register for a free library card. In addition to Terrific Thursdays, the Morristown Public Library is also hosting a summer reading program for local students, a Early Literacy Program for preschoolers and the much beloved Bell Gale Chevigny Plein Air Arts Festival from Aug. 3-6 in which 26 artists will paint landscapes on the river and Black Lake around Morristown.