News

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.

First up, read our brand-new January newsletter, detailing all of the latest happenings at TFL by clicking here or on the picture below:

Next up is Kim’s February article, hot off the presses!

A “Puzzling” February at Thompson Free Library

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

How did you end up staring down the puzzle at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft? Were you getting your car serviced and walked over to kill time, were you leaving and caught a glimpse, spun around and sat down? Maybe after a few pieces fit, you were hooked. Or, quite simply, you’re a dissectologist—someone who loves jigsaw puzzles. Whether you tackle it as a tag team or a lone wolf, our puzzles help test your problem-solving skills and are a great escape.

The downside is when it’s finished, it’s all over, and on to the next one—that’s why this February we hope puzzle lovers will join us for a Puzzle Exchange!  The small display table as you enter the library will have an exciting array of puzzles that visitors have already solved. So please bring in any puzzles you want to get rid of and grab a “new to you” puzzle from the table. Swapping is a fun way to replenish everyone’s supply, but you don’t have to donate a puzzle to take one.

The dead of winter seems like the ideal time for self-care so this month we’re highlighting our Hygge Nook (Wednesdays 3:30-5 p.m. through March 26). It’s puzzling why more folks haven’t taken advantage of this wonderfully cozy, quiet space to read, write, or knit. Afterall, hygge is the quality of feeling content and comfortable and who doesn’t want that? (This program is open to all ages but keep in mind it’s designed as a space for whispers and quiet activities.)

Author and 1972 Foxcroft Academy graduate David Albee headlines a book launch and signing at Center Theatre on Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m. The Last One Out Of Town Turn Out The Lights tells the inspiring untold story of how a soul-crushing school district consolidation changes the fate and fortunes of two rural Maine high schools.

David’s career as an award-winning sportswriter and columnist spans 35 years at five newspapers in four states, from Maine to California. (Admission is $5.00 with proceeds going to TFL.)

Do you like a good mystery? Then you’ll want to stop by the library and pick up Laura Lippman’s bestseller Lady in the Lake, the Reading Group’s current selection. They meet Thursday, February 13 at 6 p.m. to discuss the novel which is set in 1966 Baltimore and follows a housewife turned aspiring reporter who pursues the murder of a forgotten young woman. The Baltimore Sun says, “Lippman has an almost uncanny ability to get into the heads of her characters—the good guys and the not-so good guys—and bring them vividly alive.”

Caturday returns Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. with the wonderfully charming and enigmatic Freya and Andy Jr. These two cats really make themselves at home—on shelves, tables, and the circulation desk. They enjoy socializing and just being admired. Their human companion TFL’s director Jon Knepp says they look forward to this monthly change of pace. (If you are allergic or not a fan, please let us know and accommodations will be made.)

Puzzle fans—and anyone age 10 & up—will enjoy Morse Code Bracelet Making with Ms. Michelle (youth services librarian Michelle Fagan) on Thursday, February 20 at 3:30 p.m. Have fun creating and decoding!

Laser tag is a fantastic outlet for kids’ pent-up energy as winter slogs on! Ms. Michelle is coordinating Laser Tag Night on Friday, February 21 at 6 p.m. This event is for grade 5 and up. All equipment will be supplied, and registration is required. (To register, please contact the library.)

Like puzzles, science is a system to test your ingenuity and knowledge, as well as hypotheses. Thankfully, Ms. Michelle is doing a Spring Science Fair again! This event is open to all school aged kids K-12th grade in our community and surrounding communities. Public school, private school and home school kids are all welcome to enter. Space is limited so registration is required. (Call Michelle at 564-3350 or email her at mfagan534@gmail.com to sign up.) Fair day is Saturday, April 26—all community members are encouraged to come support these young scientists!

Libraries are the perfect place to solve a puzzle—the 500-piece kind or the more baffling and perplexing kind that needs reading, research, and perhaps an interlibrary loan or two. Be sure to stop by TFL this February to work on our jigsaw-in-progress and take advantage of our Puzzle Exchange!

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.

By Kim Brawn

You never know what someone is going through so be kind. We’ve all heard variations of that quote—urging us to lead with empathy. Challenges can be seen or unseen, known or unknown, big or small. Programs and services at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft can help you navigate these challenges (possibly eradicate some!)—or at least distract you from them.

January 2025 starts off with a wonderfully curated lineup from Michelle Fagan, our youth services librarian. Ms. Michelle understands the challenges people face and likes to address them head on in fun, inventive ways.

Let your problems melt away in the Hygge Nook every Wednesday from 3:30-5 p.m. Come relax in a cozy space and do quiet activities. All ages are welcome but please remember it’s a quiet space with whispers only.

Kickstart the new year by joining TFL’s monthly Reading Group. They meet Thursday, January 9 at 6 p.m. to discuss Moon in Full by Marpheen Chann, a second-generation Asian American writer, speaker, civil rights advocate, and gay man whose debut memoir examines various obstacles that he has faced. “Moon in Full is a beautifully written, deeply layered and open-hearted story about so many things: beauty, love, pain, loss, reunion, displacement and forgiveness,” writes author Jaed Coffin. (Copies available at TFL.)

It can be hard to find accessible, family friendly activities so mark your calendars and join us from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14 for our monthly Family Fun Night. There will be trivia and chili and activities for younger kids too.

When you homeschool your children it can be hard for them to connect with other kids  and for you to meet other adults on a similar path. That’s why Ms. Michelle came up with Homeschool Drop-in time. In January, feel free to stop by the library from 1-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15 to gather with other homeschool families during this monthly program which features self-led projects for the kids.

Caturday has quickly turned into (almost) everyone’s favorite Saturday of the month at TFL. It’s when our director Jon Knepp brings his adorable cats, Freya and Andy Jr., to the library. Join us 9-1 on Saturday, January 18 to watch these fabulous felines play, lounge, groom, and sleep—maybe even get a chance to pet them. (For those who are allergic or not feline fans, please let us know and accommodations will be made.)

Reading together as a family is great fun and an invaluable learning experience. TFL’s monthly Family Book Club is the perfect way to foster a love of books and improve reading skills. Join Ms. Michelle 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21 to eat pizza and talk books. Chat about the current read Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh and get next month’s book Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright. (Contact Michelle for copies.)

Sensory Play Group is a monthly program for children who are neurodivergent or have disabilities that offers support and connection to both kids and their caregivers. There will be play activities with many ability ranges in mind. Bring a bag lunch or snack from home to eat during the group time. January’s session will be held on the Tuesday the 28th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Open to the whole family, all ages.)

Libraries can’t solve every problem, but they can definitely help. It’s amazing how much better we feel when we conquer small tasks like printing a return label, a favorite recipe or making copies of a flyer—or bigger ones like faxing important documents or researching a newly diagnosed health issue. We don’t need to know the specifics of what everyone is dealing with—or spill the tea on ourselves—but it’s good to know that whatever the new year brings, we’re not alone, there are valuable resources nearby and kind people who will rise to the challenge.

Please note the library’s holiday schedule: Closing at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. Closed on Christmas & New Year’s Day (Wednesday, December 25 & Wednesday, January 1.)

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.