In: News

Attention book lovers and deal seekers! The next Friends of the Thompson Free Library Ten Cent Book Sale is coming up November 8-10. The sale will be held in the library’s downstairs meeting room and proceeds will benefit children’s programs. Included in the sale are weeded and donated paperbacks and hardcovers, cookbooks, romances and fantasy, mysteries, young adult and children’s books, audio-books and puzzles. Everything is just ten cents!

Book sale hours:

  • Thursday, November 8: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Friday, November 9: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Saturday, November 10: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

In: Authors, Events, News
Join us for an author talk and book signing by USA Today best-selling author Paul Doiron. On Thursday, November 15 at 6 pm Doiron will read from his latest novel, Stay Hidden, the ninth book in his series of crime novels featuring Maine game warden Mike Bowditch. Paul Doiron’s first book, The Poacher’s Son, was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. His other novels include: Trespasser, Bad Little Falls, Massacre Pond, The Bone Orchard, The Precipice, Widowmaker, and Knife Creek. Books will be available for purchase at the event courtesy of The Briar Patch. About the James Brown Lecture Series: The James Brown Lecture Series has been endowed with memorial funds donated to the Thompson Free Library in memory of James Brown, who lost his life in a boating accident in 2008. The series presents lectures on topics related to history and literature, both areas of the humanities of great interest to Brown. As the longtime chair of the English Department at Foxcroft Academy, James Brown helped two generations of students explore the world of books. He was president of the Thompson Free Library Association and was also active in the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society.

In: Community, Events, News

Learn about the many ways you can help your community as an American Red Cross volunteer.

Drop by the Thompson Free Library  on Tuesday, Oct. 16, any time between 4-6 pm. Red Crossers from the Northern and Eastern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross are looking forward to meeting you!

Red Cross volunteers make a significant impact on the community. In the past fiscal year, they’ve responded to 92 disasters in the Northern and Eastern Maine Chapter, assisted 288 individuals affected by home fires and other disasters and assisted 96 service members, veterans or their families.

Volunteers make up 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce. By mobilizing the power of volunteers, the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to affected individuals and helping them begin their road to recovery.

The Red Cross also provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families at home and around the world, collects 40 percent of the nation’s blood, trains people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills and makes communities safer through disaster preparedness measures.

Consider joining the Red Cross today. To learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross, call 941-2903 x 115.

In: Artists, News

 

We’re excited to exhibit the work of Abbot photographer Steve Maines at the Thompson Free Library this October! Steve has traveled the world as a photographer and is the author of “Dancing with Spirit: Reflections from the Mirror of Life.” Stop by the library on Saturday, October 6 from 10-11:30 am to meet Steve and purchase a copy of his book!

Artist’s Statement:

I was born in Bar Harbor, Maine. At age 2 my family moved to the Bangor area. I attended school in Holden, high school at Brewer, and college at the University of Maine, Orono. Then I went off into the world to find a job as a paper mill engineer. I was drafted and spent 3 years in the army, the last year in Vietnam.

I returned home only to find that paper mills were closing down and laying off people. I moved to Australia and got a job there as a photo chemist. Two years later, my wife and I took a year off and hitchhiked across Australia, bought a car and drove to London, then flew home. I spent the entire year studying photography, and upon arrival, announced my new career as a photographer.

I moved to Greenville, did some photography for the ski area and worked for the Moosehead Gazette. Two years later, I moved to Guilford and opened a photography studio. I continued on as a photographer 12 years in Guilford, 10 years in Cape Elizabeth, and 14 years in Abbot.

During the past 35 years I spent 2 to 3 weeks most winters traveling, mainly to developing countries and working as a photographer for the relief agencies (Care, UNICEF and many others). Most of the photos exhibited were taken during this period.

I now live with my wife, Martha, and son, Sam, here in Abbot. We live in a log home that I built with a lot of help from a friend. We used mainly local, environmentally friendly construction materials. We have solar power for all of our electrical needs, heat the house with wood, and have a good sized vegetable garden.

Eight years ago, at 66, I picked up a fiddle, and just to prove that “you could teach an old dog new tricks,” I am learning to play it. My current passions are traveling, working with students, and playing the fiddle.

In: Caregiving, Events, News

Are you a parent or other adult caring for children? Consider signing up for this four-session program that will help you build, practice, and strengthen skills to prevent child sexual abuse.

Parenting to Keep Kids Safe meets 5:00-7:00 pm on September 25, October 9, October 23, and November 6 at the Thompson Free Library. Please contact the library if you would like to attend, and ask about options for on-site childcare.

This program is facilitated by Rape Response Services, a PENQUIS subsidiary.