Savor the flavors of August at Thompson Free Library
By Kim Brawn
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Libraries are like dim sum and tapas — small bites loaded with big flavor. A way to sample many different “cuisines” (as in books, authors, & topics) from around the state, country, and world. If variety is the spice of life, then the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is off the Scoville heat scale.
While in town for the Alumni Weekend parade on Saturday, Aug. 5 be sure to stop by TFL’s Mini Book Sale (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) featuring kids’ books and paperbacks all for 10 cents each! Sale will be in the front of the library with original doors open.
Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. the Maine Highlands Council for the Arts presents PanStorm in concert under the TFL pavilion. PanStorm is a community steel band from Hermon whose mission is to spread unbridled joy through steel drum music. Admission is by donation.
Bringing high speed and affordable internet to everyone should not be mission impossible. Find out how to save money and gain access to what has become an essential utility on Tuesday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as Eastern Maine Development Corporation discusses the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Life flows better with a flexible and a strong core and local fitness professional and personal trainer Adrienne Clarke will pump you up at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9 in the TFL pavilion (bring a mat, water bottle, and towel.
Kids will love “Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals” on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 10:30 a.m. Lindsay Aucella brings her larger-than-life puppet pals to family audiences across New England. This variety show is funny, fast-paced, interactive, and will delight all ages.
Imagine hiking over 25,000 miles — including thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail three times! Parkman resident Dave Miller, who goes by SlowFoot, has done just that. He has almost 30 years of backcountry experience with volunteer and paid AT trail crews. On Aug. 10 at 1:30 p.m. SlowFoot will reflect on his thru-hiking experiences from the 1990s. Please note: this is not an instructional talk about ultralight thru-hiking.
“Lungfish”, Meghan Gilliss’ debut novel, is described as a brilliant and heartbreaking story about addiction, doubt, marriage, motherhood, and learning to see in the dark. Meghan will visit TFL on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. to discuss her book which was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. She lives in Portland and has worked as a journalist, a bookseller, a librarian, and a hospital worker.
Popular Maine author Cathie Pelletier (Northeaster) will visit TFL again on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m to highlight her latest children’s book “The Mystery Traveler at Lake Fortune”. The story begins with siblings Charlie and Clarissa Baker and their parents setting off on a rustic (no electricity, smart phones, or iPads!) adventure in rural Maine. When they arrive at Lake Fortune, they are welcomed by a rickety cabin with an outhouse, a thunderstorm, and a creature in the attic that masquerades as a ghost. “Is this a scientific experiment?” asks Clarissa. “Is the government paying us?” Soon, clues start appearing with a mystery to be solved. Cathie will discuss her books, writing process, and have copies available for purchase.
Time marches on and thankfully so does the music of the Harold J. Crosby Community Band. This musical institution from Dexter will play under the pavilion on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.
Party vibes are in the air on Friday, Aug. 18 from 6-8 p.m. outside the library. Join us for the “End of Summer Reading Party!” It’s geared towards kids, but all ages are welcome (even non-summer reading participants). There will be a bounce house, games, prizes, snacks, and raffle drawings. Summer reading paperwork must be in by 5 p.m. on Aug. 18!
Maine summer resident Gretchen Cherington stops by TFL on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. to discuss her book “The Butcher, The Embezzler, and The Fall Guy: A Family Memoir of Scandal and Greed in the Meat Industry”. It’s been described as a mesmerizing true story, filled with drama and suspense and told with remarkable emotional insights. Gretchen, the daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Richard Eberhart, shares her journey to unravel the mystery of her grandfather’s potential involvement in a huge corporate scandal in the early 1900s.
Finally, our parade of authors concludes with Ed Linz on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. He returns to tackle the Vietnam War, the topic of his latest book “A Filthy Way to Die”. Ed, an engaging presenter, will discuss the origins of the war and memories of it from his Naval Academy classmates who fought on the ground, in the air, at sea, and on the rivers and canals. This will be an interactive session seeking comments and thoughts from those in attendance.
From the deadly serious to the mysterious, from the practical to the whimsical — with pungent, robust and comforting notes — August at TFL is a diverse menu worth sampling and savoring.
TFL hours: Tues. & Thurs. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Weds. & Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., & Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit our website www.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. When possible, we hold events in our outdoor pavilion and livestream them via Facebook. We are located at 186 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft.