Pine Tree Hospice’s Caregiving and Bereavement Book Club  will meet 3:30-5 pm Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Thompson Free Library. The group will read “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks.

This poignant and compelling love story is about loss and discovery, grief and caring. It tells the story of a man who lives for his wife and journeys with her as she loses herself to Alzheimer’s Disease. “The Notebook” is set in the post-war rural south, a spectacular location where this wonderful story unfolds and takes you into a beautiful life.

The reading materials will be available to borrow at the Thompson Free Library. Anyone is welcome to join; we are looking forward to an interesting group with plenty to think, say and talk about – and you don’t need to attend each meeting to be part of this club.  The next meetings will be Oct. 17 and Nov. 19.  Please call Pine Tree Hospice at 207-564-4346 for more information and to sign up or stop at the Thompson Free Library to check out your book and sign up.

Do you have questions about climate change? Join us on Tuesday, August 13 at 5:30 pm for a presentation by Robert Whittaker of the Climate Education Project. Learn about the causes and consequences of climate change, and find out what we can do to make a difference.

“There is still time to change the direction we’re headed and avoid the cliff ahead, but we need to understand what is happening, and why, in order to see clearly how the choices we make now will profoundly affect the lives of all living things for thousands of years.”–www.climateeducationproject.org

We’re looking forward to two upcoming events featuring live music at the library!

Join us on Thursday, August 8 at 6:00 pm for a performance by the Harold J. Crosby Community Band of Dexter. Bring your blankets, beach towels, or lawn chairs for this family-friendly outdoor concert!

Then mark your calendars for Thursday, September 19 at 6:00 pm for Susan Ramsey (violinist), Ruth Fogg (cellist) and Isleen Halvorsen (harpist). The trio will perform a variety of music, including Celtic, contemporary, and classical.

Both concerts are free and open to the public.

Local Author Joe Siccardi will host a book launch for his third book “My Name is Sam … and Heaven is Still Shining Through” at the Thompson Free Library on Tuesday, July 2 at 6:00 pm.

“My Name is Sam … and Heaven is Still Shining Through” is a follow-up to Siccardi’s breakout novella, “Heaven Shining Through.” It introduces Sam (Samantha), her family and friends in more detail than the original, and picks up where the original novella left off.

In between the novella and novel, Siccardi published a non-fiction book, “Wisdom From a Father … One Dad’s Thoughts on Life.” It was published in November and is an update of posts made on his blog, wisdomfromafather.wordpress.com. The 52 essay chapters include reflections on life, love and family. All are written from the heart, sometimes seriously and sometimes with a touch of humor.

Siccardi is a 52 year newspaper publishing veteran, most recently as publisher/editor of a community weekly newspaper in Seneca County of the Finger Lakes in New York. Siccardi credits the quiet of Maine as the impetus for completing his writing projects. He moved to Dover-Foxcroft almost four years ago while commuting to and from upstate New York until his publication was sold. He retired permanently to Piscataquis County in July 2017.

“My Name is Sam … and Heaven is Still Shining Through” will be available at book signings and presentations, which are currently being scheduled. All of Siccardi’s books are available online through Amazon.com or at his website, wisdomfromafather.wordpress.com.