News (Page 3)

Our latest newsletter is out now! Click the link below to see it!

October 2023 [pdf]

Contents: Celebrating the Library’s Past, Present, and Future! | Bringing Songwriters ‘Round | Juke Box Heroine | “10/4, Good Buddy!” | Wild Thing…You Make My Heart Sing | Pulling Your Strings | Pop Goes the Artist | Three Times A Charm | Droning On and On | Get a Whiff of This! | Spoiled Meat | A Tale You Can’t Resist | A Book for Ants? | Discovery Process | Counting Crows (and Cows) | Screen Shots |

by Kim Brawn

We project a lot onto October. Thoughts turn to scenes of brilliant foliage, creative costumes that scare and delight, and pumpkin spice-infused everything. Sometimes October plays the unpredictable card, in politics they call it the October surprise (think tall FBI guy turned author), sometimes it’s a very jolting surprise like I had waiting for the bus at the corner of Van Ness and California in San Francisco on October 17, 1989.* Hopefully this October will be full of comfortable fall rituals and surprises of the interesting and exhilarating kind. The Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft has a myriad of ways to spend your autumn days.

Rescheduled from August, Ed Linz returns to TFL on Thursday, October 5 at 6 p.m. to tackle the Vietnam War, the topic of his latest book, “A Filthy Way to Die.” Ed, an engaging presenter, will discuss the origins of the war and memories of it from his Naval Academy classmates who fought on the ground, in the air, at sea, and on the rivers and canals. This will be an interactive session seeking comments and thoughts from those in attendance.

Bias is the topic of discussion for TFL’s Philosophy Circle on Friday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m. Can anything be unbiased? Who gets to determine bias and how is it determined? Our own implicit biases can definitely surprise us. There are many philosophical and psychological angles to approach the subject. (All are welcome, prior attendance not necessary.)

“Family Fun Night” will crank up the spooky vibes on Tuesday, October 10 at 5:30 p.m. with Halloween-themed activities. Enjoy snacks, play games, and have fun! (All are welcome.)

TFL’s Reading Group meets on Thursday, October 12 at 6 p.m. to talk about People of the Book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks. While it received plenty of high-profile praise, an online review by Daniel De Kay caught my eye, “This is a book-lover’s book. Coursing through history with diversions into social upheaval, love affairs, botany and biology, it’s an engrossing voyage across centuries.” (Copies of the book are available at the library.)

Here’s a surprising duo: Michael Good, a birding guide and naturalist (who’s not an author) and Sandra Neily, a Northwoods mystery writer (who’s not a birder). Now what could they have in common? Come find out on Thursday, October 19 at 6 p.m. as Michael, the biologist and Maine guide, and Sandra, the award-winning author of Deadly Turn and Deadly Trespass, team up for  what’s sure to be an intriguing program.

Sometimes I swear we have a poltergeist in the front rooms at the library. A noise will surprise me, I go investigate and find no one there (or so it seems?). But soon, a gaggle of ghosts and goblins will be on full display as kids and teens trick or treat for books on Halloween (Tuesday, October 31) from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Get a free book whether you wear a costume or not. Original front doors will be open.)

Be sure to check out our upcoming book displays where we celebrate indigenous authors and stories (Indigenous Peoples’ Day is Monday, October 9) and offer up some “wicked” good reads.

Who knows what’s in store as we breeze into October, crunching through a carpet of fallen leaves. Fingers crossed you have lots of warm-apple-cider-sweater-weather moments as you cheer on your favorite teams—with no seismic surprises. But remember to include frequent trips to the library in your rites of fall, we still have a surprise or two up our sleeve.
*6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck that 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 programs are free & open to the public. When possible, we livestream events via Facebook.

By Kim Brawn

We’re very fortunate that Lucia Eddy Thompson was fond of reading and not poker or we might have a casino instead of a library at 186 East Main St. in Dover-Foxcroft! It was 125 years ago that our founder Dr. Elbridge A. Thompson dedicated the Thompson Free Library in the loving memory of his wife, Lucia. This month, we celebrate that anniversary—what began as a proposal at a town meeting in 1897 transformed into a library that has changed lives and the greater community.

Fascinated by Harry and Meghan? Say hello to Henry and Lucy, the stars of Gerard Gawalt’s latest book Fire and Ice: Henry and Lucy Knox and the Settling of Maine. Henry, a bookseller from Boston, who became a general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War married Lucy from a wealthy British loyalist family and the heir to an expansive property in the Eastern District of Massachusetts known as Maine (now Knox County). Gerard, who has written many historical books and is a curator at the Library of Congress, will discuss this intriguing true story on Thursday, September 7 at 6 p.m. as part of the James Brown Lecture Series. (In memory of James Brown who, for many years, was the chair of Foxcroft Academy’s English department as well as the president of the Thompson Free Library Association.)

Come celebrate TFL’s 125th anniversary from 2-4 p.m. on September 9, the very day in 1898 that the library was originally dedicated. There will also be an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the outdoor pavilion that was constructed this spring and summer—and has, according to library director Jon Knepp, “greatly improved our ability to hold programs and host groups in the wonderful outdoor space at the library.” Local musicians Hunt and Allison Smith will provide an incredible soundtrack for the event with their original and traditional tunes. Inside TFL, there will be an open house displaying some of the artifacts and pictures of the library throughout its history. Light refreshments and a cake will be served. This celebration is free and open to the public.

Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan teams up with Penquis Cap’s Jennifer Cook to present “Family Fun Night” on Tuesday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. Activities include games and crafts. Snacks will be provided, and all are welcome. (This ongoing program will be held the 2nd Tuesday of each month.)

Nature documentaries are more spectacular than ever thanks to drones. If you’re captivated by these hi-tech devices that have flown into most aspects of our lives, come to “Drone Photography 101” with Blaine Chadwick on Thursday, September 14 at 1:30 p.m. in TFL’s outdoor pavilion. Blaine, who owns 3Rivers Unmanned Aerial Service in Milo, will talk about the history of commercial drone use, how he uses his drone to help highlight the area’s diversity and beauty, and the role drones play in real estate and land assessment. He’ll also give a demonstration (weather permitting)!

Many of us who grew up in Maine mill towns look back and wonder how all the smoke and chemicals affected the health of residents. If this topic resonates, join us as author Marie Thérèse Martin (who goes by Terry) stops by TFL on Thursday, September 21 at 6 p.m. to talk about her memoir And Poison Fell from the Sky. Terry grew up grateful for the paper mill that buoyed the economy of her small Maine town, providing jobs for hundreds of local workers, but years later when she was a nurse and her husband a doctor, they began to believe that the area’s sky-high cancer rates were caused by the smoke and chemicals that billowed from the mill’s stacks. They sounded an alarm which began a long and bitter fight “to expose the devil’s bargain their hometown had struck with the mill.”

Tom Lyford is the colorful manifestation of the library’s past, present, and future rolled into one. The former TFL staffer, and current bon vivant volunteer, has decided to regale us with a Bonus 101 entitled “The Boss of Me: A Personal Resume Told through Stories and Poems” on Thursday, September 28 at 1:30 p.m. Tom calls it “a tongue-in-cheek mini-memoir detailing my supposed work-life from Day 1 (birth) to the present.” (And he swears that this will “probably, most-likely, undoubtedly—well, maybe—no, really” be his final program.)

The themes of small-town life and relationships and their complexities ripple through Shannon Bowring’s character-driven debut novel, The Road to Dalton. Shannon, who grew up in northern Maine and works in the Patten Free Library in Bath, visits TFL on Thursday, September 28 at 6 p.m. Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez, describes her novel as “Paved with beauty, grace, humility, and love . . . a triumphant work that reminds us what literature should be.”

And it was a love of books and learning that inspired the building of this library as a gift to the community. It’s become a dynamic hub of activity as well as the keeper of an impressive collection. Just as Dr. Thompson did over a century ago, TFL is making choices today that will make life better for our future selves, individually and collectively. It’s an exciting time for us and we want to share it with you!

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. When possible, we hold events in our outdoor pavilion and livestream them via Facebook.

by Kim Brawn

Are you tired of paying for endless streaming channels? A la carte has become mucho dinero! Entertainment costs big bucks these days, so finding the best deals is essential. This summer there’s no question where you’ll find great bargains: the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. Our July programs feature top-notch talent (human and animal!), intriguing topics for all ages, and are free and open to the public.

It wouldn’t be summer at TFL without “Reading with Erma!” every Wednesday at 3 p.m. through Aug. 23. Erma (a certified therapy dog) and her human companion April will read with kids who might need extra help, want to be ready for the next school year, and who love dogs and reading!

TFL’s Summer Kid’s Series presents “Chewonki: Fur, Feathers & Feet” Thursday, July 6 at 10:30 a.m. This traveling natural history program, aimed at preschoolers through second grade, focuses on animal adaptations and includes furs, skeletons, and live animals.

At 6 p.m. on July 6 award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist Amy Calder stops by to discuss her book, “Comfort is an Old Barn: Stories from the Heart of Maine.” Amy has been with the Morning Sentinel for 34 years, starting in their Skowhegan (her hometown) bureau. She’s covered city government, murders, car crashes and, in 2009, started writing a weekly human interest column, “Reporting Aside.”

The sweet sounds of singer-songwriter Alexandria Thomas will fill the air during a special Sunday concert on July 9 from 3-5 p.m. Alexandria was born and raised in Alabama, playing guitar and singing in public since age 14. She moved to Maine in 2022 and says, “I absolutely love it.” In addition to playing gigs in the area, she teaches music at Piscataquis Community Secondary School in Guilford. Her solo sets include country, pop, and everything in between. Crowds may exceed chairs, so consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket.

Many of us remember Show and Tell from childhood — you never knew what to expect or where it might lead. Youth Services Librarian Ms. Michelle gives the game new life with “Kids Community Show and Tell” on Thursday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. Kids can bring a favorite object, art they made, a picture of their favorite place or person and then share with the audience. Children will get up to 3-4 minutes to share. No expensive objects or in-person pets, please/

Looking for a more natural approach to de-stress or clean? Join us for “Let’s Talk (& Make!) Essential Oils 101” with TFL’s Michelle Fagan on July 13 at 1:30 p.m. Did you know that oils can help with headaches and make wonderful perfumes too? Michelle will share her aromatherapy knowledge, experience and tips — and guide participants through making their own take-home oil spray or roller concoction. First come, first served.

Give kids a close encounter of the wildlife kind on Thursday, July 20 at 10:30 a.m. at “Wildlife Encounters’ Junior Zookeeper” program. Presenters from this ecology center & farm school will bring wild exotic animals that kids can learn about and maybe even get to touch.

Take a break from Netflix and join us at 6 p.m. on July 20 for “Working the Land” from Northeast Historic Film. David Weiss, the nonprofit archives’ founder, will host the event which he calls, “A marvelous look at woods and farming operations.” The presentation includes great shots of life in the wood’s camp including tools and methods used to cut and haul logs to be steered down the Kennebec to various mills. You’ll also see filling ice wagons, a log boom on Wyman Lake, a jam at Moxie Falls, and sluicing at Wyman Dam.

Calling all teens (grades 8-12), we have a monthly reading group just for you. TFL’s Teen Book Club starts Tuesday, July 25 at 3 p.m. Just choose a book and then meet and talk about it. Foxcroft Academy students can use it for reading requirements. See FA’s website for requirements.

Join us for the “Pam & Sihtric Dog Show” starring Pine Tree Hospice’s Pam Pultz and, Sihtric, her beloved (and very cute!) canine companion on Thursday, July 27 at 10:30 a.m. Undoubtedly, this talented (and Westminster award-winning!) Parson Russell Terrier will win hearts and minds and steal the show with his tricks. Pam will share dog trick tips and take questions.

If you like to bird watch, you’ll want to come to “State of the Birds: Decades of Change” July 27 at 6 p.m. Nick Lund, from Maine Audubon, will discuss how bird populations are continually changing, what species are disappearing, which ones are increasing, and what the future might bring.

Maybe your budget is tight, you don’t feel like coordinating plans, or just want a break from your phone. Maybe the kids are complaining they’re bored. Never fear, TFL is here — your summer activity and entertainment destination. We’ll give you much more bang . . . for no bucks!

TFL hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit our website www.thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207-564-3350. All programs are free and open to the public. When possible, we will hold events in our outdoor pavilion and livestream them via Facebook.