Welcome to a new week in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. With winter in full swing, there are plenty of cozy indoor programs and invigorating outdoor activities to keep your calendar lively. Here is what is happening now, plus a few dates to circle later this month.
This week at a glance
- Sun Jan 11 - Winter Kickoff Storytime and Crafts, 2:00 pm, Library Community Room. Families can drop in for wintry tales, paper snowflake art, and a cocoa station.
- Mon Jan 12 - Guided Harbor Park Walk, 10:00 am, trailhead near Main Street. A gentle 45-minute loop focusing on cold-weather tree ID and shoreline views. Dress warm and bring traction if paths are slick.
- Tue Jan 13 - Whaling Museum Curator Talk: Life at Sea in Winter, 6:30 pm. A behind-the-scenes look at artifacts and journal entries from 19th-century voyages, followed by Q and A.
- Wed Jan 14 - Community Blood Drive, 2:00-7:00 pm, Firehouse Meeting Hall. Appointments encouraged, walk-ins welcome if capacity allows. Bring ID and hydrate.
- Thu Jan 15 - Public Science Talk: Genes, Brains, and Memory, 7:00 pm, CSH Laboratory conference center. A researcher-friendly overview for general audiences; doors open 6:30 pm.
- Fri Jan 16 - Winter Birding at the Overlook, 8:00 am, State Park north lot. Look for bufflehead, loons, and resident raptors along the harbor. Binoculars recommended.
- Sat Jan 17 - Family Frost Fest at the Fish Hatchery, 11:00 am-3:00 pm. Trout feeding demos, ice safety basics, and a make-your-own nature journal table.
Seasonal highlights around town
Cold Spring Harbor trails are open year-round. If you are heading into the State Park ridge or the Greenbelt segments this week, consider microspikes after freeze-thaw cycles. The Library has warm-up spaces, study rooms, and board games available for checkout. The Whaling Museum gift counter is open limited hours for nautical-themed activity kits, and the Fish Hatchery has indoor tanks that are perfect for a quick visit with kids on chilly afternoons.
Community notes and reminders
Snow and ice safety: Clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm and keep hydrants near your property visible. Harborfront parking spots may close briefly for plow operations during overnight hours; watch posted signs. A limited number of sand and salt mix barrels are set out near municipal lots for resident use. For the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch, leave extra time for potential weather-related delays and check platform advisories before traveling.
Volunteer and get involved
Harbor Cleanup Pop-Up, Sat Jan 17, 9:00-10:30 am, waterfront promenade. Volunteers will fan out with buckets and grabbers to collect winter debris before spring tides disperse it. Youth under 14 should be with an adult. The Library is also collecting gently used puzzles this week for a community swap later in the month; drop-offs accepted during desk hours.
Looking ahead: key dates later in January
- Sun Jan 18 - Teen Exam Cram Cafe, 1:00-4:00 pm, Library. Quiet study zones, planners, and snack break timers.
- Thu Jan 22 - Harbor History Short Film Night, 7:00 pm, Museum gallery. Three short films with a brief discussion.
- Sat Jan 24 - Winter Wellness Walk and Cocoa, 9:00 am, State Park ridge. A brisk 2-mile loop with stretching and hot cocoa at the finish.
- Wed Jan 28 - Parent Workshop: Supporting Readers at Home, 6:30 pm, Library.
- Sat Jan 31 - End-of-Month Soup Swap, 12:00 pm, Community Room. Bring labeled quarts and a recipe card to trade.
Have a listing for next week or a photo from an event to share with neighbors? Drop a note at the library desk or with the museum front desk staff, and we will include highlights in the next bulletin. Stay warm and see you around Cold Spring Harbor.
