Happy Thanksgiving

So, what are you thankful for? I love that question. It doesn't need to be complicated but should provoke some thought. I'll leave you to ponder but only after you read this posting!

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I am allowed to post holiday pictures and start playing my holiday music! Here are two photos from last year. First, I want to remind you that the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony is December 2 from 7 - 9 pm and the excitement can be seen on t.v. This year the tree hails from Hamilton, NJ. It is 72' tall, weighs 8 tons and is 77 years old. Pretty amazing! If you go, which I highly recommend (there's nothing like it!), remember the tree only stays lit until 11:30 at night. I won't go into the details, but we actually got to Rockefeller Center late one night to see the tree lit and were disappointed to learn they turn it off so early. Remember, the city never sleeps but apparently the tree does. You have been warned.

The second photo is from our Annual Holiday Story Hour with Senator Brewer last year. This is a reminder that the good senator will be visiting us again this year on Friday, December 18 at 3:30 pm to entertain kids of all ages with holiday stories. The Wilbraham and Monson Academy Bow and Arco Club will perform holiday music and the Friends will provide some great refreshments. We are doing this right after school so pick up your youngsters and head to the library!

Remember your library has quite the collection of holiday movies, music, stories and recipes to keep everyone in the spirit! Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!

Family Literacy Month...and More!

We've got some great programs going on this month. November is Family Literacy Month and we have a wonderful program for families with children in elementary school. One of our all-time favorite storytellers, Mary Jo Maichack, will perform "Books are Celebrations" on Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 pm. This free family-friendly event promises stories, songs, costumes and audience participation. Please try and join us for this special evening. Plus, don't forget to visit our family display full of ideas to bond with your kids. Games, magic, parenting, crafts and cooking. What better way to spend some quality time (when you're not going to the library!)

Another program we are hosting is a Support Group for those that are unemployed or laid-off. This is an informal group that will meet 2 Fridays per month. The next meeting is Friday, November 20 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Bring a bag lunch and join us for conversation and encouragement! I am very pleased we could offer this program. I believe it is a much needed vehicle to get through this difficult time together. You are not alone and friendly conversation could be just what you need! Thanks to Marianne for volunteering to facilitate the discussion, you made this happen! Consider joining us...you never know where a new connection will lead!

Do you have any ideas for library programs? Events or series we could possibly collaborate with other organizations on? Cost effective (read that as free to very inexpensive!) The library does not pay for any programs out of our budget. Funding comes from grants, donations and of course our Friends group. We truly survive on the generosity of the community so tell us what you want to see from your library. As Frasier would say, "I'm listening....."

Finally, to update you on the kitchen "renovation", the cabinets and tile are on order! The wood for the floor is stacked in the corner and we are good to go! While the stove is still functional I have been cooking a little bit. Peeling apples for apple bread while sitting on the plywood floor since I lost my counter space! I can be creative and I am very organized. I packed everything in boxes by genre (the librarian always comes out in me!) such as baking, spices, knives, and oils (I have quite a variety of olive oils...another story for another time!) I can find whatever I need as long as Pete doesn't start rummaging. And speaking of the kitchen, I have to tell you about this vintage lighting store I found on the Cape. Continuum is an antique lighting shop in Orleans. Oh my goodness! I was like a kid in a candy shop! I believe the lighting in any room is like the frosting on the cake (sorry for all the cliches, but you get what I'm saying!) and I wanted to have unique lighting in our new kitchen. And did I find some! (Much to Pete's dismay...) I got pendant lights taken from a diner in Chicago and a 1930's art deco light for over the sink. Oh, this is going to be magnificent!! But really, if you like antique lighting and want that "something special" it is definitely worth the trip...like you need a reason to go to the Cape! More to come as the kitchen continues...

To ease the pain of renovation and ignore all the dust, I have delved into Molly Wizenberg's "A Homemade Life". Molly writes a monthly column in Bon Appetit and has her own award-winning blog titled Orangette. "A Homemade Life" is like good comfort food. It warms your soul. Molly writes informally and lets us peak into her life, memories and recipes. Each chapter will bring back a memory of family and food for the reader as well. A delightful read for this time of year when you just want to snuggle down.



Cheers!

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

Hi Everyone! I am discovering that I tend to blog in spurts. I feel I have neglected you lately so I really wanted to post to say hello and yes, the library director is still alive and well....for now.

The library has been very busy this fall and I personally have been just as busy as well. Did I mention Pete and I are renovating the kitchen? Oh dear! He believes this project will end in divorce and we're not even married! But, if it does, I'm taking the new stove (and the dog, of course!) . She is a beauty (the stove) and she's gas, no more electric for this girl. We are in the demo stages now and on the eternal search for a carpenter and cabinets. There will definitely be more to come as we progress...or regress, whatever the case may be. While I am so excited about this project, it has cut in to my cooking experiments, and we all know fall is such a great time to start cooking and nesting for the winter.

All that being said, my reading and listening has slowed down considerably also but I do have some good selections for you. Lately I have been on a non-fiction kick. I have just finished "Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs took on New York's Master Builder and transformed the American City" by Anthony Flint. This book traces the urban planning of NYC under the direction of Robert Moses and the watchful eye of activist Jane Jacobs. Jacobs' grassroots efforts kept the politically savvy and powerful Moses from "renewing" Greenwich Village and putting an expressway through Washington Square Park. This was a great read. Inspirational as to the power of people as well as lots of history about NYC and its parks, bridges, buildings, and neighborhoods.

The other book I am in the middle of is "My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey" by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. I will wait to pass judgement on this book since I think I'm just getting to the good stuff. The beginning was very technical and I admit, I re--read a few chapters when I was more awake but I did find the medical explanations to be fascinating. Many have recommended this book and at this point it certainly has promise. I am interested to read about her human experience, recovery and feelings since she has spent her life being analytical. The description she gives when she first realized she was having a stroke was riveting.

That's all for now. I am too tired to even explain the potential budget cuts. We are talking devastating library services to the point of possible closure. I am not exaggerating and I don't cry wolf. This is serious. Watch the selectmen's meeting this coming Tuesday, October 27 and mark your calendars for the Special Town Meeting on November 16.

New Hours...Again.

Don't be scared. I hate to keep changing the hours on you. This time we have merely "tweaked" the hours to accomodate the after-school crowd. Since cuts to local aid are looming on the horizon, we have chosen not to increase our hours. It would just confuse and infuriate you more if we had to change them yet again! We have done the best we can at the moment to keep everyone somewhat content with a few mornings, evenings and Saturdays and we will continue to provide you with the quality service you have come to expect. Thank you for being patient with us during these difficult times. New hours are posted to the right.

Pete and Hope's Cape Escape

No, that's not Pete. Does anyone know who that strange man is with the two hot babes? Just wanted to share the most relaxing vacation with all my friends. Not really library business but everyone needs a little beach everyday! Many thanks and hugs to our wonderful friends and hosts...yeah, and Jon too!

"Book it to the Library" Road Race and More!

Okay, all you runners, and walkers as well as all of you that enjoy and take advantage of the regional delivery system to get many of your books and videos. Here is a great way for you to support all that the Western MA Regional Library System (WMRLS) does for all of us...and you get some exercise too. What a deal. Register today for "Book it to the Library" a 5k road race in scenic Whately, MA on October 3. Make a day of it. Stop in Northampton for lunch (after you change that sweaty t-shirt! That's what I am planning on doing!) Visit this link for more info and registration http://friends.wmrls.org/

Also all my runner friends, don't forget about the Peaked Mountain Birthday Run / Walk on October 18. Visit the Trustees of Reservations site at http://www.thetrustees.org/ Always a good time. Must admit, a bit hard on the uphill climb but after that it's a ton of fun!

And BTW, don't expect much from me. I've just been running again after a year long respite but I am going to try. It's amazing how fast your body can forget that it used to like to run 30 miles a week! I am just happy to survive a 3 mile run at this point. Talk about starting over!

"I run for hope, I run to feel, I run for the truth and all that is real..." from the awesome song "I Run for Life" by Melissa Etheridge. Should be on every runner's ipod.

Still Alice...

is still haunting me. (I borrowed that line from my friend Kate's email to me regarding this book. It was too appropriate to pass up!) Yes, Still Alice by Lisa Genova continues to haunt long after you have read the last page. I could write a three page review about this work but it just must be read. No words are good enough, strong enough, gentle enough to describe this book. If I simply gave you a synopsis, you might not even be interested. For example, do you want to read a book about a 50 year old woman struggling with early on-set alzheimers disease. Many not, but you must. It is from this very woman's point of view. Her struggles. Her family's struggles. I've already said too much. The way I keep describing this book is that it feels as if you took a blow to the chest and you are trying to gasp for breath. I could only read a few chapters at a time. I had to put the book aside, remember how to breath, wipe a tear or two, and digest what I read. This book has moved on to my list of top 100 books to read before you die.