NEW ROCHELLE, NY (January 15, 2026) — The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library has received a Community Grant from the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound to expand free children’s and family programming, including enhanced February Vacation Week events and a new Chess for Kids series.
The funding will support additional high-quality programs during the February school break, with several events celebrating Black History Month through music, dance and storytelling. Vacation week programs are a key resource for families who cannot travel during school breaks. In 2024, the library’s vacation week offerings drew more than 2,300 children and caregivers.
“Thanks to this generous funding from the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound, we can offer even more enriching and inclusive programs for families this winter,” said Bobby Simic, Head of Children’s Services at New Rochelle Public Library. “We are especially grateful for the opportunity to expand our February Vacation Week offerings and to present programs that honor Black History Month through music, dance, and storytelling.”
February Vacation Week and Black History Month programs supported by the grant include:
- Sound Whirls: An Afternoon of African Music, Rhythm & Dance — Tuesday, February 17, 2:00–3:00 p.m., presented by the Mfuambila Company. Tï Mbonguela introduces children ages 5–12 to rhythms, songs, dances and traditions from multiple regions of the Congo.
- Music Pepper Pot with Conroy Warren — Wednesday, February 18, 11:00–11:45 a.m. The interactive program for ages 3–8 features traditional and contemporary children’s and cultural songs, including reggae, calypso, merengue and rhythm and blues.
- Once Upon a Drumbeat: Stories of the African Diaspora — Thursday, February 19, 2:00–2:45 p.m. International storyteller and singer Thérèsé Folkes Plair shares folktales and songs from Africa, the Americas, Brazil and beyond for ages 4–12.
The grant also partially funds the Bokandeye African Dance Workshop and Performance, a six-week series running Saturdays, January 17–February 14, from 3:30–4:30 p.m., with a final public performance on Saturday, February 21, at 3:30–4:30 p.m. Participants of all ages will learn traditional West African dance movements, some dating back to the 13th-century Old Mali Empire. Registration is requested at bit.ly/Bokandeye_2026.
Additionally, the grant supports a new six-week Chess for Kids program for ages 6–12, covering board setup, piece movement, rules and gameplay. Registration is required at bit.ly/KidsChess_03_2026, and participants must attend all six classes.
Other February Vacation Week programs will include Baby Fingers, Tween Tuesday, Wag Your Tale: Read to a Dog, Sensory Storytime, Tiny Town, A Walk in the Woods Puppet Show, and Build, Make, Create: Winter Wonderland. The full schedule and details are available on the library’s online calendar at bit.ly/NewNRPLCalendar.
The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library, an all-volunteer nonprofit, collects, sorts, shelves and sells donated books, with 100% of proceeds supporting library programs for children, teens and adults.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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