The New Berlin Library held a 4H/Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County After School Program. 4H Educator, Erica Clark, led a lesson entitled “Mad Scientists: Extracting Strawberry DNA.” (Submitted photos)

NEW BERLIN – On December 1st the New Berlin Library held a 4H/Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County After School Program. 4H Educator, Erica Clark, lead a lesson entitled “Mad Scientists: Extracting Strawberry DNA”.

Participating children learned about DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and the fact that every living thing has DNA. They learned that DNA is like a set of instructions or a map of how each living plant or animal should be built. The participating children made an extraction liquid out of a mixture of soap, water and salt. They then mashed up a strawberry and added the extraction liquid.

The final step in extracting the strawberry DNA required wearing safety glasses and using a pipette to add ice cold isopropyl alcohol to the strawberry mixture. The addition of the alcohol helped separate the strawberry’s DNA from the rest of the mixture. The kids were then able to pull out a clump of the DNA with tweezers. The DNA looks like a slime ball. It was a fun experiment and everyone brought home a little bottle of DNA from their strawberry.

The after school programs takes place from 3:30-4:30 in the New Berlin Library Community Room. The schedule for the upcoming programs is: December 15 “Craft time: Holiday Wreath & Owl Ornament”. Participants are required to wear nose and mouth coverings and practice social distancing. When weather permits the program will be held outside, behind the library. Masks will not be required for outdoor programs.

On Wednesday, December 1st Boy Scout Troop 61 held a ceremony at the Frank Arnold American Legion in New Berlin. At this meeting Boy Scout Troop and their leader, Kevin Phillips, formally thanked the New Berlin Library for the library’s help during the First Annual Read Rack and Reach. The boy scout collected and donated over 400 food items to the New Berlin Food Pantry. The library looks forward to more joint ventures with Boy Scout Troop 61.

The Annual New Berlin Library Holiday Bazaar will commence on November 8th and run through the holiday season. There are many bargains from which to choose, The majority of the items are priced at $5 or less. New items are added weekly throughout the months of November and December. All bazaar items were generously donated to the library by patrons and staff. All proceeds from the bazaar go to the library. Help support your local library and find some great bargains in the process.

The New Berlin Library is located at 15 South Main Street, New Berlin. The Library is open Monday and Wednesday 10AM-8PM; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10AM-5PM; and Saturdays 10AM-noon. The web address is http://libraries.4cls.org/newberlin/wp/ . Please contact us at 607.847.8564 or like and message our Facebook page New Berlin Library and Museum (https://www.facebook.com/newberlinlibrary.newberlinny) or Twitter page @Lib_NewBerlin (https://twitter.com/Lib_NewBerlin) with any questions.

- From Michelle Priola

New Berlin Library