News (Page 3)

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

Hey everyone, August has joined the chat! Has summer zoomed by at warp factor 10 or what? Ok, not on those humid days when it meanders like an Altman film. But now that we’ve made it to month number eight, the pressure is on to make it last and have as much fun as possible. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for August and everything after. The Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is a steady stream of incredible programs for all ages.

Book lovers and bargain hunters rejoice! We’re kicking off the month with a Ten Cent Basement Book Sale, Aug.1-3 (Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).

Our “snowy” friend Hedwig has delivered the following message to all wizards and muggles: Don’t miss Chewonki’s “Owls in Maine” on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 10:30 a.m. Learn the habits and adaptations of Maine’s native owls and meet two of them — live and in person.

PanStorm, a community steel band based in Hermon, will play a free concert on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. Their mission is to spread unbridled joy through steel pan music.

Kids will have a blast getting soaked as they play outdoor games on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m. (Ms. Michelle says dress to get wet!).

Get the facts on the latest health food trend at “Microgreens 101” at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 8. Brian and Heidi Lourie, owners of HF Microgreens in Harmony, will give us a closer look at this nutritious and flavorful super food.

TFL’s Reading Group meets at 6 p.m. on Aug, 8 to discuss “Plainsong” by Kent Haruf. The Detroit Free Press called this widely acclaimed book, “Compelling … A lyrical meditation on community and family, and how the former increasingly becomes the latter as traditional ties don’t prove binding.” Copies available at the library.

Time to jump on the bandwagon again as the Sebasticook Valley Community Band plays a free concert on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the TFL pavilion. The band is made up of musicians from different walks of life but they all share a love of good music, fellowship, and fun!

Conjuring Carroll is hosting a combination magic show (30 minutes) and magic workshop (one hour, for kids ages 7 & up) on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 10:30 a.m. He’ll share tricks of the magical trade, show how to make balloon animals, and give tips on showmanship.

Let’s get this party started! “The End of Summer Party” from 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16 features a bounce house, summer reading raffle drawings, games, snacks, pies in Ms. Michelle’s face, and of course, ice cream! Darling’s Ice Cream Truck will be there giving out free ice cream and asking for voluntary donations to an invaluable area resource, Piscataquis Regional Food Center.

Northeast Historic Film presents “Working the Land” on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. David Weiss, the nonprofit archives’ founder, will host the event which he calls, “A marvelous look at woods and farming operations.” The presentation includes images of life at a logging camp including tools and methods used to cut and haul logs that were steered down the Kennebec River to various mills. You’ll also see a log boom on Wyman Lake, a jam at Moxie Falls, and sluicing at Wyman Dam.

Always a fan favorite, “Mr. Drew and his Animals Too” returns on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. for a fun and engaging educational program featuring rescued and rehabilitated exotic reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates from around the world.

Youth Services Librarian Michelle Fagan hosts the Teen Book Club on Friday, Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. (a great way to meet your FA requirement!).

Looking for something that’s both smokin’ hot and totally cool? Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Jazz Band is the perfect mix of Big Band classics, Swing and Latin dance tunes, and more of your listening and dancing favorites. They’ll be in concert Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at the TFL pavilion. Please bring your own chairs! Rain date is Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.

Summer has flown by like R.E.M.’s rapid-fire classic. It’s the end of summer as we know it — and after making the most of August with TFL — you will definitely feel fine!

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 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.

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

July 2024 [pdf]

Librarian of the Year (#LOTY) | Getting the Read and Feed Program Moving | A Long-Overdue Visit from Paul | Bringing a River Back | A Lasting Legacy | Preserving Our County’s History | Fanning Paint Dry | Self Preservation | Charted Waters | Meant to Be | Short and Sweet | Day Trippin’ | Screenshots |

To sign up for our mailing list and receive updates, newsletters, and more, click here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/401590/85992968195933587/share

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

A library is like an all-access pass to great programs, services, and resources. Accessibility is key to everyone. This summer, we’re bringing the whole mountain range to Mohammed. And what an eclectic lineup it is. July at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is for chasing Bigfoot, making fairy houses, reading oracle cards, and watching show-stopping puppeteers! 

Mike Familant’s “Bigfoot Experience: Searching America Tour” stops by TFL on Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. Mike, a New Jersey native, will share his experiences tracking down the truth behind America’s most iconic cryptid. He’s been researching this amazing creature for over 13 years, from the Florida swamps to the north woods of Maine, and has captured some impressive evidence along the way. 

Celebrated Maine author and illustrator Kevin Hawkes (of Library Lion & Chicken Cheeks fame) returns to the library on Thursday, July 11 at 10:30 a.m. to talk about his latest children’s book Luigi: The Spider Who Wanted to be a Kitten. (You’ll even get a chance to see him draw!)

Have you ever wondered what oracle cards are, what you can use them for, and how to read them? Then you’ll definitely want to join us on July 11 at 1:30 p.m. for “Oracle Cards 101” as psychic/medium Michelle Fisk gives us an introduction to oracle cards with some hands-on learning. Michelle is a certified special education teacher, a psychic medium, and a pranic healer who has a passion for helping others.

At 6 p.m. July 11 the Reading Group will discuss books they are currently reading, a departure from the usual format of everyone reading the same book. Feel free to stop by and share a work that you just can’t put down. 

The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers are set to wow the crowd again on Thursday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Central Hall Commons. The award-winning puppetry troupe (comprised of three siblings) from Bar Harbor, who write and create all their shows, will perform “The Legend of the Banana Kid.” (Little Chucky heads to the Wild West with a fistful of bananas to outwit outlaws!)

After all that excitement, you can head to the TFL Pavilion at 6 p.m. July 18 and chill out to the sweet sound of strings with Susan Ramsey and Ruth Fogg of the North Country Strings Duo. They’ll play a variety of musical selections and banter a bit. Come savor the melodies  of fiddles, guitars, and the cello—a potent force of strings! (Students from North Country Strings Music Studio will join in, along with other special guests.)

Michelle Fagan, youth services librarian, hosts the Teen Book Club on Tuesday, July 23 at 10 a.m. Read a book and come talk about it. (Can be used for FA requirements.)

Did you know there’s a fairy housing shortage? Ms. Michelle intends to fix that. Meet her Thursday, July 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dot Warren Nature trail (across from the parking lot at Sedomocha) to make “Fairy Houses.” 

The timeless tunes and rousing marches of the Harold J. Crosby Band will have you tapping your toes on July 25 at 6 p.m. at the TFL pavilion.

 A reminder that Michelle is on the road every Wednesday through September with the “Read and Feed” free books and produce program. She alternates routes each week with stops in Dover-Foxcroft, Charleston, Monson, Milo, and Sebec. (Contact the library for more details.) 

Don’t forget to bring the kids to “Reading with Erma” starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays—a great way to improve reading skills and confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment. (First come, first served.)

While the Interlibrary loan service is on a state-wide pause as we transition to a new  delivery vendor, you might want to check our Balsam Reciprocal Borrowing program. TFL patrons will be able to check out books at other local Balsam libraries in Dexter, Guilford, Greenville, and others with their TFL account. You must return materials to the library you borrowed them from. (FYI: Maine residents can also get a free library card at Bangor Public Library and access their collection.)

Making everything more accessible is a major goal at TFL. We give free access to author talks, live concerts, special events, and interesting and informative programs—allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved. Easy access to summer fun should be a right, not a privilege. 

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

The text we were hoping for arrived at 12:46 p.m. on a Monday: “Michelle won!” It was immediately followed by “Yay’s” and “Hooray’s” and a whirlwind of social media posts and emails. 

Jon Knepp, director of the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft, had just shared the news that TFL’s Michelle Fagan was named Maine Librarian of the Year at the annual Maine Library Association conference on May 20.  So of course, everyone shouted it from the rooftops—well, the sandwich board in front of the library and even the Center Theatre marquee! 

Many of Michelle’s current and former coworkers, patrons, friends, and fellow librarians from around the state and here at home wrote glowing accounts of Michelle’s dedication to the library and her community. “It was such a lovely surprise; I had no idea! I am humbled and a little overwhelmed by all the love and support. So thankful. This award is great for our community. Our library is awesome, and it makes others take notice,” said Michelle who is our youth services librarian.

But she’s not resting on her laurels. June marks the start of TFL’s Read and Feed Program—a combination of bookmobile and mobile food distribution, which was made possible through funding from Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Community Driven Strategies to End Hunger Initiative. Michelle will travel around the area distributing free books and produce at designated stops once a week on Wednesdays through September 25. The program will alternate between two routes, the Monson/Dover Route and the Eastern Route. (For more details, contact TFL.)

Wednesdays will also see the return of “Reading with Erma” on June 5 at 2:00 p.m. Reading with a therapy dog is a great way to help kids learn how to read in a comfortable, nonjudgmental environment. 

Learn how to safely preserve all those delicious locally grown foods at “Canning 101” on Thursday, June 13 at 1:30 p.m. Laurie Bowen from UMaine Cooperative Extension will give an overview of how to safely preserve food with methods such as freezing, dehydration, boiling water bath canning as well as pressure canning. After the program she will do free dial gauge pressure testing. (Free & open to the public.)

At 6 p.m. on June 13, TFL’s Reading Group will discuss The Road to Dalton, the impressive debut novel by Shannon Bowring. (Copies available at the library.)

Summer is the perfect time to relax and read. Be sure to sign up for TFL’s independent summer reading program June 18-22. All ages welcome! Birth-teens can earn a free book and raffle tickets for a chance to win a prize. Adults can also get raffle tickets to win their own prize. 

We’re excited for Night of the Living Rez author Morgan Talty’s return to TFL on Thursday, June 20 at 6 p.m. Morgan, who has received numerous awards, will talk with Jon about how his life has changed since his last visit and discuss his new novel Fire Exit featuring a protagonist haunted by guilt and shame. Booklist gives it a starred review calling it, “Tender and heartbreaking. . . . sweetened with touches of humor, the novel raises important questions about human connection and belonging.”

If we had the chance, we’d ask the world to dance—whether you boogie down with friends, family, a partner, or by yourself—come have fun at our “Summer Kickoff Community Dance Party” 6-9 p.m. on Friday, June 21 under the TFL Pavilion. DJ Bobby Hartford spins cool tunes as we welcome those hot summer nights! (All ages welcome.)

The Summer Kids’ Series starts Thursday, June 27 at 10:30 p.m. with Mad Science of Maine. Their “Radical Reactions” program offers up some kooky, crazy chemistry with science experiments that are fun and informative. 

“Some Reel People” will wow the crowd on June 27 at 6 p.m. They describe themselves via Facebook as “a joyous ever-evolving traditional country dance band from the Dexter area, playing jigs, reels, waltzes and polkas, their combined sound of fiddles, guitars, mandolin, banjo, bass, cello, accordions, and recorder will make you want to dance!”

Libraries with their great reach are like motherships that sends smaller vessels near and far to serve the needs of the community. We hope to catch you at our home base—186 E. Main St.—or on the road with Maine’s Librarian of the Year. Let the summer vibes begin!