News

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

When you walk into a new place it can feel a bit strange. But visit often enough and that feeling falls away—you won’t be a stranger for long at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. Now, it’s not quite like Cheers—we won’t remember everybody’s name and neither will you—but a nice feeling of familiarity builds over time. June is when the snowbirds arrive home, and the summer people come to town. New faces and old friends will see each often thanks to the great programs we have on tap.

Be sure to tip off your friends and neighbors: TFL’s Ten Cent Basement Book Sale is back June 5-7. (Sale hours: Thurs 10-6, Fri 9-5, Sat 9-12:30.) Bring your change and dollar bills and scope out tons of books, DVDs, and puzzles. These mega-deals will make for cool gifts or beach reads, and even spice up those rainy weekends.

Saturday, June 7 is a terrific twofer: the book sale is on and it’s Caturday! That’s right, director Jon Knepp’s two cute and curious cats, Freya and Andy Jr., will be on hand to investigate TFL’s nooks & crannies while enjoying ample attention from doting humans along the way.

Unfortunately, the concept of summer can differ from the reality. The days can be really hectic and sometimes stressful. It’s important to take breaks and relax. Join us for a pleasant one-hour respite at Adult Coloring 101 on Thursday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. We’ll have plenty of great coloring pages and colorful gel pens and pencils to choose from, along with light snacks and soothing sounds. Adult coloring may increase mindfulness, enhance creativity and can calm the brain and body—in other words, it helps you chillax, baby!

TFL’s Monthly Reading Group is a way to connect with other bibliophiles and discuss an array of varied and interesting books. June’s selection is Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. The Seattle Times calls it, “A warm and wholehearted work of literature, an honest and detailed account of grief over time, studded with moments of hope, humor, beauty, and clear-eyed observation.” (Copies available at the library.)

Don’t let reading fall by the wayside during the summer months. Keep the momentum going with TFL’s Kids’ Summer Reading Program (for all youth: infant to age 17). Sign up is June 24-28 (Tues-Sat). Completion of the program gives participants free books, free ice cream from McDonald’s, free fair passes to the Piscataquis County Fair—plus the chance to win other big prizes.

Therapy dog Erma and her human companion April Taylor are definitely not strangers to TFL. We are very excited for the return of Reading with Erma Tuesdays at 2 p.m. starting June 24. What better way to practice reading than in a nonjudgmental environment, snuggling with a wonderful dog. (And it counts towards summer reading!)

Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan hits the road in the Read and Feed Mobile on Wednesday, June 25 as the second season of the free books and produce program kicks off. The first route will be the Eastern Route with stops in Brownville, Milo, Sebec and Charleston. Michelle is a friendly face who loves making books and fresh produce accessible to everyone. (Check out our Facebook page or website for more details.)

Abracadabra! It’s time for TFL’s Summer Kids’ Series. Wow, it’s here again and Michelle has put together an incredible line-up starting off with a Magic Show on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m. Master magician Phil Smith entertains the crowd with his sleight-of-hand skills, humor, and more. (Geared towards elementary but open to all ages.)

Author Nomar Slevik describes himself as a “writer of high strangeness” so it’s not too surprising that he is a paranormal researcher with many books, documentaries, podcasts, and music to his credit. He stops by the library on June 26 at 6 p.m. to discuss his book Humanoid Encounters: Creatures, Phantoms, and Other Strange Entities Sighted in Maine. The book takes us deep into the eerie, uncharted territories where the unknown walks among us. That should pique your curiosity.

We all have those moments when we go somewhere for the first time, and it seems kind of weird—that sense of unfamiliarity can make us feel like a stranger in a strange land. Thankfully that wears off fast at the library: you explore, ask questions, try different things—learn the ropes—and hopefully come back again. This June and beyond there are plenty of reasons to visit again and again. So don’t be a stranger.

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

Shift happens. And it happens in May. The landscape blooms, the colors pop. As green as an Irish hillside. It’s summer’s opening act. In pre-Netflix days, Memorial Day weekend was the start of Hollywood’s blockbuster season with theater lines twisting down sidewalks and around parking lots. It’s when we shift into high gear at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft: preparing for our busiest stretch filled with scores of visitors and a profusion of programs.

As summer approaches, parents can feel pressure from all angles. New parents especially face a host of different issues, that’s why “Baby and Me” from Northern Light Mayo Hospital is such an incredible resource every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at TFL. If you are a new or expecting parent, you can get advice, support, and connection from this growing and thriving program.

TFL’s Reading Group discusses Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt on Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. A review from Elle calls it “Infused with heartfelt humor, Van Pelt’s elegant portrait of a widowed woman who finds understanding and connection with a clever octopus is refreshingly, if surprisingly, relatable. Despite the unorthodox relationship at its core, the debut novel offers a wholly original meditation on grief and the bonds that keep us afloat.” (Copies available at TFL.)

Take a break from your to do list and come to the library on Caturday (9-1 on Saturday, May 24). Director Jon Knepp’s cool cats, Freya and Andy Jr., will charm and relax you as they explore every nook, cranny, and shelf while stopping for frequent pets! (Accommodations can be made for those who are allergic or not feline fans.)

We’re excited to have the very versatile Gale Robinson (from Leaves & Blooms Greenhouse) back for another fun and easy craft project. She’ll guide us through “Design a Bookmark 101” on Thursday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. using acrylic paints, Washi tape, & rub-on transfers. (All supplies provided.)

TFL will be closed on Tuesday, May 20 as staff members attend the MLA (Maine Library Association) Conference.

Be sure to join us for the last “Homeschool Drop-in” of the season on Wednesday, May 21 from 1-2:30. It’s a great time for homeschool parents and children to gather and socialize. Special guest Jewel will be building with dominos, as kids watch and help.

The library will be closed Tuesday, May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday as we prepare to hit the ground running towards summertime. Helpful hint for the week before: bring a ginormous L.L. Bean or T.J. Maxx bag—or we’ll round up something—to carry that extra-large haul to keep you going over the extra-long weekend! They’ll be lots to choose from display-wise as my colleague Shannen Rhoda is planning her follow-up to April showers—you guessed it—a floral theme! And she will be (tentatively) taking us for an out-of-this-world ride—stay tuned.

May is a mix of being in the moment and planning ahead, making sure all those ducks are in a row. Come enjoy this prelude to summer at the Thompson Free Library. Lean into the shift, savor the warmer days, and soak up the vivid tones and hues—who knows, sometimes the opening act is a true revelation. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

My observation is that April is a tipping point—when a paradigm shift occurs and the light at the end of that cold, dark tunnel brightens.

My hypothesis is that April at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft will help you discover your own origin story, create beautiful gardens with plants indigenous to Maine, gain insights into the Ukrainian and Russian people, see if petting cats can trigger your feel-good brain chemicals, and why celebrating young scientists is a win-win for everyone.

To test this hypothesis, we’ve put together an incredible lineup of programs that will provide valuable information and enjoyment, as those sporadic showers turn into fetching flowers.

With spring taking hold, now is the time to switch to garden mode. Join Kate Garland, UMaine Cooperative Extension horticulturist, for “Native Plants for Ornamental Gardens.” on Thursday, April 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. Discover why native plants matter and how to integrate them into your spaces. Explore valuable resources for selecting the right plants and enjoy a virtual walk through a collection of native species. (Pre-registration is preferred.)

TFL’s Reading Group discusses Matt Haig’s bestseller The Midnight Library on April 10 at 6 p.m. The central theme: between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices. The New York Times describes the novel as “An absorbing but comfortable read…a vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [that] might be exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.” (Copies available at TFL.)

Caturday returns on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. I had the pleasure of hanging out with director Jon Knepps’ two cats, Freya and Andy, Jr., during Caturday in March. They  never stop moving, except to enjoy the pets and attention lavished upon them. They love investigating every corner of the library—hiding, climbing, snoozing, running, jumping—delighting feline fans of all ages. (For those who are allergic or not cat fans, accommodations will be made.)

If you’ve ever watched Finding Your Roots on PBS, you’ve probably wondered who your ancestors were, how to go about finding them, and what do some of the terms such as “once removed”, pedigree charts, or vital records mean? Join Nancy Battick on Thursday, April 17 at 1:30 p.m. for “Exploring Your Roots 101” when she’ll give you clues to start searching your own family roots. Nancy is a past president of the Maine Genealogical Society, author of the Family Discoverer column in the Piscataquis Observer, and an experienced genealogist.  She’ll offer tips and distribute a handy primer to help you begin your genealogical journey. (Geared towards beginners, all are welcome.)

Robert Klose is an Orono-based writer who teaches at the University of Maine. He will headline “A Tale of Two Adoptions” on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in which he’ll  focus on his two memoirs, stemming from his adopting boys from Russia and Ukraine as a single man. “I have put together a book talk centering on these adoptions. I think it makes for a timely presentation, given the drama playing out in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Despite the carnage, I like to tell my audiences that I have sons from Russia and Ukraine, and they get along, so there is hope,” says Robert.

Our young scientists have been hard at work on their projects for over a month, following the scientific method (more rigorously than I have!) in preparation for the highly anticipated “TFL Science Fair” on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Let’s show them what real community support looks like—come check out all the cool experiments, chat with the researchers, and celebrate science!

Well, we’ve analyzed the data and drawn our conclusions: libraries are essential community hubs that offer a wide range of resources and services to everyone, while providing free programs to enrich lives, encourage connection, and promote learning. Get the word out—especially to your representatives—and come experience it for yourself!

Please note: TFL will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. We apologize for any inconvenience.

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public.

By Jon Knepp, Director, Thompson Free Library

Thompson Free Library and the Dover Foxcroft Historical Society are proud to announce that our Sponsor the Observer campaign has been successfully completed thanks to the generosity of thirty-four individuals, organizations, and businesses donating a total of $4,900. The digital archive maintained by the Thompson Free Library and the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society is a tremendous resource for our community. And now, we have made it even better by rescanning the Piscataquis Observer collection between 1921 and 1986, replacing badly damaged images with clean ones, allowing our community free access to search through the paper for names, towns, or really anything. This collection is a vital piece of our county’s history and for local historians, geneaologists, and anyone who wants to research our rich history and we are proud to provide access to it

The archive was created to house all of the county’s newspapers from 1838 to present as well as FA yearbooks (1940-present). Unfortunately, when the archive was created, the newspaper portion was made with a well-used, very scratched copy of microfilm. When scanned, entire lines went missing. e’s scanned in as c’s or vice versa. You can read the images, but searching is useless. Even The Piscataquis Observer itself became “The Piscatarus Qhseg ‘et.”

The enhanced scans allow users to search for themselves, their family, friends, their house, or any part of our rich history. If you haven’t browsed the archive previously, now is a great time to check it out. If you need help doing so, that’s what we’re here for at the library! For more information, reach out at 564-3350, email director@thompsonfreelibrary.org, or stop in and chat about it at 186 E. Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426. Thanks again to all of our generous donors and those who worked on the project. For a full list of donors, please head to the archive: https://doverfoxcroft.historyarchives.online/home or www.thompsonfreelibrary.org.

Year Sponsors
1921 Dave and Barbara Lockwood | 1925 Dave and Barbara Lockwood
1933 Gregory Nolan and Deborah Gardner | 1938 Carlson and Carolyn Williams
1939 Carlson and Carolyn Williams | 1940 Barbara Buerger
1941 Barbara Buerger | 1944 George and Jan Barton
1945 Gregory Nolan and Deborah Gardner | 1952 Lynn Van Note
1953 Bill and Heidi Erspamer | 1954 Sean Stitham
1956 Bill and Heidi Erspamer | 1961 Jim and Mary Annis
1963 Bruce and Nancy Grant | 1964 Carlson and Carolyn Williams
1967 Carlson and Carolyn Williams | 1969 Dan and Pat Juska
1971 James and Kathy Castonguay | 1973 Sean Shortall
1975 Moosehead Marine Museum | 1977 Randy and Kerry King
1978 Luke Muzzy | 1983 Bangor Area Coffee News
1985 Ben and Malorie Sprague | 1986 Jon Knepp

Donors
Bruce Lyford | Shirley Wright
Stephen and Lindsay Tudor | Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis
Carol & Eric Boothroyd | David McDermott
Peggy Baldwin | Alfred S. Buck
Kevin and Jane Stitham | Dick McDuiffie
Mike Boss | Bridgett Ireland
Nancy Battick

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

March arrives with a built-in tension. The upbeat concept we hold in our minds versus
an uncertain reality. Our hope is tinged with a steely resolve to muddle through. “Winter
is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls
inside of us too,” wrote garden author Jean Hersey. Whether you’re ready to research a
spring project or desperately need some escapist fare, the Thompson Free Library in
Dover-Foxcroft is here to help you make it through—and even enjoy—this unpredictable
month.

Nothing heralds the coming of spring like our seed library! We offer donated seeds from
our community and various other donors. If you have extra seeds from previous years
that you don’t need, please bring them in to share with your neighbors. If you’re
interested in trying a new type of plant or flower in your garden this year, stop in and
check out what we have to offer. Over the years we’ve had donations from Burpee,
Fedco, Ripley Farms, Helios Horsepower Farms, Bob's Hardware, and many, many
patrons.

Spring forward means it’s lighter longer so why not shake up your daily routine by
joining us for Family Fun Night on Tuesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. We’ll be playing card
games and bellying up to the potato bar, featuring baked potatoes with a variety of
toppings to choose from—it’s sure to be a good time.

If your to-do list is driving you nuts, take a breather and shift your focus at TFL’s
Reading Group on Thursday, March 13 at 6 p.m. when they’ll discuss bestselling and
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley’s book Perestroika in Paris. The New York
Times described it as
“ . . . a captivating, brilliantly imaginative story of three extraordinary animals—and a
young boy—whose lives intersect in Paris in this feel-good escape.” (Copies available at
the library.)

Andy Jr. and Freya take their feline follies on the road again Saturday, March 15 during
our 9-1 shift. Director Jon Knepp brings his two cute and curious cats to the library once
a month for Caturday. Be sure to swing by and say hello as the dynamic duo put some
extra sizzle into the Ides of March. (If you are allergic, or not a fan, just let us know and
accommodations will be made.)

As winter (hopefully) starts to loosen its grip, now’s the perfect time to do a PSA for
TFL’s Storytime held at 10 a.m. on Fridays. The basic plot: Ms. Michelle (Youth services
librarian Michelle Fagan) reads a couple of books and kids get to play. “It’s a great time
for kids to socialize and hear fun books and for parents to socialize with other parents. A
good community event for families,” says Michelle. (Open to all kids, geared towards
ages 3 -9.)

TFL’s Shannen Rhoda has a March display that will help you stay entertained while
debating the eternal question: which is better, the book or the movie (or the series)?
Like we don’t already know what the answer (almost) always is!

I can’t wait for pockets of colorful blooms to appear. For now, I’m grateful for that
glimpse of red—a skittish male cardinal that makes the grayish white landscape pop.
Charles Dickens’ words really do resonate, “It was one of those March days when the
sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the
shade.” But don’t descend into March madness (unless you love basketball!), make the
Thompson Free Library your “I’m over this” destination. As those late twentieth-century
nepo-harmonizers once sang, “Don’t you know, things can change, things’ll go your
way—if you hold on for one more day!”

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds &Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website:
thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at
thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All TFL programs are free & open to
the public.