LIBRARY LUNCH

The third annual Library Lunch took place on Friday, April 20th. The funds were dedicated to books for the Children’s Library. We are happy to report that we earned $1200. This is up substantially over other years. The success of the endeavor, as always, is due to the hard work and generosity of Friends of the Library members. The sales force of Corrilla Hastings, Marcia Granville and Christine Smith did such a good job that they rounded up 225 lunch orders. Christine even received a couple of donations. Corrilla and Marcia spent hours sorting sandwich types and delivery times to be sure that everyone got what he or she ordered in time for lunch. On Thursday, Corrilla, her daughter Jane and Marcia chopped vegetables, made humus, bagged pickles and sticking on labels. Friday morning started very early for the sandwich makers. Napkins, pickles, apples and desserts were placed in each lunch sack. There was a regular assembly line going with Corrilla, Cathy Hughes, Christine, Marcia Granville and Robin Moore each making a different kind of sandwich. Jim Hastings, Gerald LaCasse and Lee Granville sorted beverages for each delivery. Then it was time to put the right sandwich, made on the right bread into each brown paper container. Corrilla called out the color coded labels, had the wax paper or foil package slapped into her hand and stuffed it into the bag. The sponsor’s label sealed each bag, then the van and cars were loaded. Robin Moor and Lee Granville took the first and the largest load. Then Gerald and Dottie Lacasse left. Christine delivered the third load. Corrilla and Jim went with the final batch. Thanks to the organization skills of Corrilla Hastings, every sandwich reached its destination right on time. Our costs were kept down by our reliable cookie makers; Corrilla, Cathy, Dottie, Marcia and Maxine Russakoff. Shop ‘n’ Save contributed a gift certificate. Shaw’s gave a substantial discount on bread. Al’s Pizza ordered our potato chips at cost, and Sam’s Club’s low prices on beverages and wonderfully fresh vegetables each helped tremendously. Because of all our generous sponsors and to our loyal customers, we will soon be able to furnish $1200 worth of new books to the Children’s Library. Thank you all.

NEW PLANTER

Due to the generosity of Richard Tessier and his students from the Skowhegan Vocational School, the Library now has a new wooden planter nderneath the sign. Sturdily built of treated lumber (yes, there are holes in the bottom for drainage!), this box should last for years. Jim Hastings has already planted pansies in it for the early spring, and will replace them with colorful annuals later on in the season, followed by fall mums and winter evergreen boughs. THANK YOU, Richard!

LIBRARY WEEK CELEBRATION

National Library Week was observed at the Skowhegan Free Public Library by an inspiring exhibit of poetry notebooks by language arts students from the Skowhegan Area Middle School Elm Team. Their teacher, Kathy Evans, arranged the notebooks in the reading room for the enjoyment of library users throughout the week. The poster contest for grades K through 6 resulted in a sizable collection of creative entries. After much deliberation, judges, Emma Sanders and Louise Tessier, chose Elizabeth Noddin from Bloomfield School as the winner for the grades 4 - 6 group, Roland Perkins from Cornville Elementary School as winner for grades 2 - 3, and Ryley Burkhart from North Elementary School for K - grade 1. Congratulations go to these young artists who were awarded gift certificates donated by Mr. Paperback at the Library Week Open House on April 20. A vote of thanks goes to Mr. Paperback, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs.Tessier, and to Christine Smith who hosted the Open House refreshment table.

MAY 18 LAWN SALE

It’s just a few weeks away! Please bring your unwanted items to the Hastings’ barn any time, or call 474-3949 if you want help with transportation. We also welcome volunteer help on both Friday, May 17 for set-up, and on the day of the sale.

ANNUAL MEETING

The FOL Annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 PM. We hope you will all make a special effort to attend this event. Mary Turbyne has arranged an interesting program to be presented by Robin Lisherness and his drama club students who will tell us about their planned trip to Edinburgh in August. MAY IS

MEMBERSHIP MONTH

May is the time to send your membership dues to Kathy Hughes, treasurer at 175 James Road, Cornville, Maine 04976.

RECENT READS

*Marcia Granville: All the Dead Lie Down by Mary Willis Walker
*Jim Foster: The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking
Mary Stuart: Island by Alistair Macleod
Dottie Lacasse: Coming Home by Rosamunde Pitcher
Phil Russakoff: The Girls on the Van by Beth Harpaz
Francoise Labonte: The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva
Thelma Butler: Death in Holy Orders by PD James
Jim Hastings: Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert P. Bix
Kathy Hughes: The Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox
Corrilla Hastings: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Nancy Warren: Black Masters: A Free Family of Color in the Old South by Michael P. Johnson and James L. Roark
*Reviewed in this issue, page 2

NEW COMPUTER CLASS SERIES AT LIBRARY

After a long interruption, and with all new computers, the basic computer class series sponsored by the Friends and the Kennebec Valley Computer Society will resume this month, with the first class, Computer Basics, to be held Monday, May 6, from 6 to 7 pm at the Library. There will be five or possibly six classes to follow, The Windows Operating System on May 13, Using Your Computer on May 20, (no class May 27, which is Memorial Day), Internet I on June 3; Internet II on June 10, and possibly one last class at a time and date to be determined. (The Library will go onto the Summer schedule the week of June 17, so the same time may not be available.) A sign-up sheet will be posted at the Library, or persons interested may contact Jim Foster at jfoster@airolink.net or 474-2589. There will be no charge for the classes.