In: Community, Events, Music, News, Outdoors

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.

In: Authors, News

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.

In: Children, Community, Events, News

“A Universe of Stories” is the theme of the Thompson Free Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program. All ages are invited to participate!

Every Wednesday at 10:30 am join us for a special children’s program:

Kids can sign up to read with Erma the Reading Education Assistance Dog every Wednesday at 2:00 pm.

Also join us for live music with singer-songwriter Martin Swinger on Thursday, July 18 at 5:30 pm and the HJ Crosby Community Band of Dexter on Thursday, August 8 at 6:00 pm.

Summer Reading materials can be picked up at the library. All programs are free of charge. At the end of the summer, we will celebrate with a Summer Reading party on Thursday, August 15 at 3:00 pm.

Looking for other fun things to do this summer? The Thompson Free Library has a Maine State Park Pass you can borrow and a library membership to the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor! For more info, please contact the library at (207) 564-3350.

 

In: Community, News

Visit the library during Whoopie Pie Festival weekend to shop our giant Ten Cent Book Sale! Get your summer reading for camp! We have adult fiction titles, large print, children’s books, DVDs, and puzzles. Proceeds from this sale benefit children’s programs.

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held in Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, June 22 from 10 am to 4 pm! Sample delicious whoopie pies and enjoy arts, crafts, food, games, and live music.

View the full schedule of events for the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival here.

In: Events, News

June at Thompson Free Library by Kim Brawn

Perspective is a clever shape-shifter. It can change, switch, broaden, narrow—be shared or challenged or gained. With or without intention. Reading is a great way to discover a different perspective. Travel can broaden it. Conversations, especially the listening part, can give insight into someone else’s. Trying something new can give you a fresh one.

Out of the gates, on Friday, June 7 at 3:30 p.m. TFL’s Philosophy Circle will discuss Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius. A quick search turns up this gem of his: “Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” That could certainly get the party—by that I mean, spirited discussion—started. This group has no special reading requirements, just bring your thoughtful curiosity and willingness to listen, as well as share.

Ever-popular Lego bricks seem to be the Dorian Gray of the toy world, the designs get bolder with age but no signs of slowing down. In fact, Ms. Michelle’s Lego Club is one of our longest-running and most-anticipated recurring programs. Bring the kids for fun times on Tuesday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 25 (the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month) from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12 at 2 p.m. marks the return of Erma the Reading Therapy Dog with her human handler April Taylor. Erma is a German short-haired pointer that is registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc. and is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ). Kids can practice their reading skills and gain confidence in a relaxing, non-judgmental atmosphere. (Erma & April will be at the library on Wednesdays at 2 throughout the summer.)

If you would like to learn some techniques that may reduce stress and distractions, improve cognitive ability, help with anxiety and depression, and maybe even change your perspective, then join us for Mindfulness 101 on Thursday, June 13 at 1:30 p.m. Alicia Randolph-Lucchesi, an experienced teacher with an extensive background in many holistic approaches, shares the basic principles and practices of mindfulness. She’ll guide us through a simple meditation and discuss various types of meditation so you can discover which one is right for you—whether you have two minutes or 20!

Jackman native and Guilford resident Roger Guay discusses his book (written with Kate Clark Flora), A Good Man with a Dog: A Game Warden’s 25 Years in the Maine Woods on Tuesday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. Roger has searched for lost hunters and hikers and pulled more than 200 bodies out of Maine’s north woods, often accompanied by a little brown lab named Reba (He helped established canine units as a regular part of the game warden service.)

Ms. Michelle’s Art Exploration introduces kids to the colorful joys of Tie Dye on Wednesday June 19 at 3:30 p.m. (Art Exploration is held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.)

You know the drill: gather your change and small bills because the Ten Cent Book Sale rides again: June 20-22 (Thursday 2-7, Friday 9-5, & Saturday 9-1). My inside source tells me there will be “lots of fiction” available.

If you want to learn how to research your family’s history, be sure to attend B.J. Jamieson’s Genealogy Workshop on Tuesday, June 25 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. She is a Maine State Library Genealogy Reference Specialist who will answer your questions and teach you how to use the Digital Maine Library to access your ancestral adventure—the results may give you a different perspective indeed.

The Summer Reading Program kicks off the week of June 25. For all the details check out our Facebook page or visit our website.

Mark your calendars: TFL’s next Movie Night—quality cinema you may have missed—is Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m. We will announce the feature film on our Facebook page and our website.

Fiber arts are the focus as Artist of the Month Jo Eaton, a local resident and TFL Knitting Group member, displays her wonderful pieces. Stop by and see her intriguing and creative take on hats and landscapes.

This June, the library offers an array of events (special and ongoing) that in small, and perhaps unexpected ways, may give you a fresh perspective and a little rush of dynamic energy.