Editor's pick: It’s Deathly Hallows’ eve in Narrowsburg

Celebrate the newest Potter at Tusten library

WHEN: Friday, July 20, 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Tusten-Cochecton branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library, Bridge Street, Narrowsburg, NY.

COST: Free.

CONTACT: 845/252-3360.

The Tusten-Cochecton branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library has been going all out to celebrate the upcoming release of the most recent—and final—book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the first three movies in the Harry Potter franchise were shown. This Friday will come the grand finale, with a showing of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and other festivities, culminating in the release of “Deathly Hallows” at the witching hour of 12:01 a.m. on July 21.

The library itself has been transformed into a mini-version of Hogwart’s Great Hall, complete with crested shields for each of the houses of the school—Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Hufflepuff—and a finely woodworked Hogwart’s Express Platform #9¾ sign, hand-crafted by Charlie Scheibling.

The four-day celebration started with a welcoming speech by Dumbledore, Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, brought to life by Phillip Jostrom, in which he majestically concluded, “And in closing, I should like to say a few words, and here they are: Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak. Thank you.”

Assisted by Mary Paige Lang-Clouse’s witty portrayal of “Dobby” the (gigantic) House Elf, and Penelope Morgan-Lohr’s spot-on recreation of Professor Mc-

Gonagall, Dumbledore sorted participants into Hogwarts houses, just as the Sorting Hat does in the books. Over the week students have made edible wands, received a visit from Hagrid, Hogwart’s Professor of the Care and Treatment of Magical Creatures, comically rendered by Wendall Putz of Beach Lake, PA, and played Hogwarts-themed games.

At Friday’s grand finale, there will be more fun and games, the movie showing, and a return of Dumbledore for a reading of the first chapter of the newly released book just past midnight.

All three branches of the Western Sullivan Public Library (Callicoon, Jeffersonville and Narrowsburg) have the first six books in the series in regular and large print, as well as offered on CD and audio cassette, and the first four Harry Potter movies on DVD.