Making connections with Thompson Free Library
By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library
Wow — summer raced by and gave us whiplash. If you had a jam-packed schedule like we did here at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft, you could probably use a break, however brief, to recharge, catch your breath and refocus as autumn sits at the front door like an impatient dog.
After a very busy summer bursting with programs, TFL will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 2 for the Labor Day holiday. Have a fun and safe long weekend!
Switching into fall mode, Ms. Michelle (Youth Services Librarian Michelle Fagan) is back with Sensory Play Group on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The group meets downstairs at the library where there are sensory bins, therapy balls and more. It’s geared towards kids who may be neurodivergent and their caregivers, but all abilities are welcome — a wonderful way to find community support.
Garlic is not for everyone, but fans can rhapsodize non-stop about its incredible taste and health benefits. I mean come on — garlic bread, shrimp scampi, Ina Garten’s 40 clove garlic chicken! Wouldn’t it be great to grow your own and have it available year-round for a variety of delicious dishes? Join us on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 1:30 p.m. for “Growing Garlic 101” with Peyton Ginakes, a fruit & vegetable researcher with UMaine Cooperative Extension. Peyton will share how to plant, care for, harvest, and store this versatile kitchen staple. Perfect for gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels!
TFL’s Reading Group will discuss “North Woods” by Daniel Mason at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11. A review on Reddit (by user historianatlarge) describes it as “a novel about America, and American history, and our relationships with other people and the land itself, even as we are destroying it. It’s the most beautiful argument for the main objectives of environmental history (e.g., the agency of the natural world, the existence of history before and after humanity), but it’s also beautiful human storytelling.” Copies available at TFL.
Stargazers and budding astronomers are invited to take a “Night Sky Tour” with Northern Stars Planetarium at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Chase Memorial Airport on Pine Street in Dover-Foxcroft.
Mix up your routine with Family Fun Night on Friday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. “We are doing outdoor games and a baked potato bar. It’s free and open to all families. A great way to spend family time and connect with others in the community,” says Michelle. Please call the library to sign up.
Caturday is the perfect time to chill out. Director Jon Knepps’ cats, Freya and Andy Jr., will be back roaming the library stacks on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and agreeable to some gentle pets along the way!
It’s crazy to think back to the mid-90s when I was working at an arts and crafts magazine in Buellton, California (where Miles and Jack stayed in the movie “Sideways”) when our genial photographer and resident tech guy Craig came into our office all excited about this new thing he was setting up and wanted us to try called “email.” I didn’t really understand much of what he explained but thought it sounded cool. And the rest as they say is history. I’ve been online ever since and am grateful that I’ve had that opportunity. Not everyone does, and coverage and speed can vary dramatically.
Here at TFL we try to level the playing field and make the internet accessible to as many people as possible and we have exciting news re: our hotspot lending program. Jon explains, “Thanks to the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, we have received six more Mobile Beacon hotspots — they’re easy to use and a great choice for those who need internet connectivity on the go or where there is no broadband access. They’re also great to try out mobile internet as an option. The hotspots use the T-Mobile network, which we’ve found in our testing is available in more local places than the other major carriers (even at Sebec Lake!) We now have 13 hotspots available to lend to anyone with a library card. The hotspots typically go out for one week, but are automatically renewed as long as there is no one waiting for one. So whether you’re at camp, on a road trip or want to test out the wireless options before purchasing yourself, ask at the desk to try one out.”
It’s hard to predict September — summery, fall-ish or both. A month to find that back-to-school rhythm, whip out that project list, or just savor the seasonal shift. Whatever your mood or goal, the library has the books and resources you want and need. But for now, let’s fire up the interwebs and get our groove back with Earth Wind and Fire’s classic “September” and start chasin’ the clouds away . . .
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. Free Wi-Fi available 24/7 in the parking lot.