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Spring 2008
Celebrate Muriel Havenstein’s 85th Birthday!
Save the
Date! Mark your calendar! Skidompha’s jazz concert series,
Jazz in May 2008, will feature a celebration of legendary jazz
pianist Muriel Havenstein’s 85th birthday at 7:30
p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.
Affectionately called Maine’s marvelous “Midcoast Monster”, the
diminutive (4’10”) Muriel will once again be accompanied by four
of America’s finest jazz musicians, Noel Kaletsky on clarinet
and saxophone, Scotty Philbrick on coronet and guitar, Gary
Gemmiti on drums, and this year, Lou Bocciarelli on bass.
For the
fourth consecutive year Skidompha Library will bring the finest
jazz, in concert, to the midcoast. Tickets are $25 and are now
available at Skidompha Library, the Maine Coast Book Shop and
Café in Damariscotta, and I’m Puzzled in Nobleboro. All
proceeds will benefit Skidompha Library. Any questions? Call
Skidompha at 563-1940.
As in the
past, this year’s concert is generously sponsored by Downeast
Energy. “These jazz concerts are wonderful events,” said John
Peters, Downeast Energy’s President, adding, “We are pleased to
sponsor them. The 2008 concert is extra special because we will
be celebrating the amazing Muriel’s 85th birthday.”
The
musicians who accompany Muriel are looking forward to the
concert as well. A new performer will join the original three
this year. Noted bass player Lou Bocciarelli will replace John
Hunter, who is performing in Europe.
According
to professionally acclaimed Noel Kaletsky, a long time friend
and admirer of Muriel’s, “We look on this event as a gathering
of Muriel’s personal as well as professional family. It is such
a special occasion, especially this year we will help celebrate
Muriel’s 85th birthday. I only hope I am as good at
playing my instruments as she is on the piano when and if I
reach that honored age!” Noel added, “I, as well as the other
members of the group have had the pleasure of performing with
Muriel many times over the years, but this annual concert is the
most fun. It brings out the best in us because we are playing
with a wonderful legend who we love and admire, and because as
opposed to playing gigs, this is the real thing…a real concert.”
Noel
added, “We are pleased to welcome Lou Bocciarelli to our Muriel
‘family’. Lou is one of the best bassists we know. Lou is from
Griswold, CT, and is a teacher as well as a gifted performer.”
Skidompha
Board President Jean Vernet expressed the Library’s gratitude to
Downeast Energy for their generous sponsorship of the 2008 Jazz
in May, Muriel’s 85th Birthday Celebration concert.
“Downeast Energy is a charter member of the concert’s jazz
‘family’ that Noel referred to, as sponsor of all four of these
events. On behalf of the Library’s patrons, volunteers, Board
members and staff, we express our deep appreciation. They have
contributed in a major way to bringing the best in jazz to the
midcoast. Support like this from Downeast Energy and other good
citizens assures the excellence of non-profit agencies on the
midcoast.”
“Because of Winn Dixie” is April Books in
Motion
“Because
of Winn Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo is Skidompha’s Books in Motion
Choice for April. Thirty free copies of the book will be
available Tuesday, April 1 at Skidompha Youth Services section
thanks to April Books in Motion sponsor, William J. Whitney,
D.D.S.
With her
first novel, “Because of Winn Dixie”, Ms. DiCamillo won the
Newberry Award as the m/ost distinguished American children’s
book published that year (2000). It is the story of 10-year-old
Opal, who lives with her preacher father in a town that seems
cold and unwelcoming at first. Discovering a stray dog that she
names Winn Dixie (after the southern supermarket chain) where
she finds him, helps Opal break the ice and learn to even love
her eccentric neighbors in this unforgettable Florida town.
Books in
motion is Skidompha’s monthly “Read the Book, Watch the Movie”
community read program that offers young people a book to read
at the beginning of the month, and the movie based on the book
to be watched at month’s end. The program, books, and the movie
are free to participants through the generosity of monthly
sponsorship of local businesses. Skidompha expresses its
gratitude to April’s Books in Motion sponsor, William J.
Whitney, D.D.S.
The movie,
“Because of Winn Dixie” (2005), will be shown at 6:30 p.m.,
Friday, April 25, in Skidompha’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street
entrance. Attendance will be free. The movie and snacks will
also be free thanks to the April sponsor. The movie stars Anna
Sophia Robb and Jeff Daniels, plus a lovable dog as Winn Dixie.
True to the book, viewers will find this film heartwarming and
enjoyable for the whole family.
Skidompha Campus is Smoke Free
Skidompha
Library is now completely smoke free. Smoking inside the
Library has always been smoke free, and smoking on the
building’s periphery has been discouraged. But, some people
have insisted on using the property as their private smoking
room.
Library Director Pam Gormley said, “We have had quite a few
complaints, and have responded by putting prominent signs at
both entrances, Main Street and Elm Street, proclaiming,
“Skidompha is a Smoke Free Campus!” The campus includes
inside, of course, but also the front portico, the rear entrance
area and parking lot, the gravel walkway on the building’s north
side, and the rear fire escape.
Jennifer
Betts Joins Youth Services Staff
Jennifer Betts, of Newcastle, has
joined Skidompha Library’s Youth Services staff as a children’s librarian,
Library Executive Director Pam Gormley announced.
Jennifer will share the Library’s Youth Services responsibilities with Jenny
Mayher. A native of Florida, Jennifer has lived in Newcastle for five years.
Her husband, Brooks, is in charge of the Lincoln County Shared Services (Miles
and St. Andrews Hospitals) information systems.
She graduated from Florida
State University, and holds an M.S. Degree in Speech and Language Pathology.
With 10 years of teaching experience in the elementary grades, Jennifer has
recently served as a volunteer in the Great Salt Bay Kindergarten Reading
Program. She has worked with Maine Child Development Services in Knox County,
serving children from birth through age five.
Commenting on her new
assignment, Jennifer said, “I am pleased and excited to be working with
Skidompha. It is more than just a Library – it is a community center. I am
impressed with its children’s programs, and am delighted to be part of it.
Skidompha serves the very young skillfully and thoroughly. It serves adults
with equal commitment and quality. I think our new challenge is to develop
programs to attract pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults into reading, and
more use of the great resources the Library offers. This is an exciting
challenge and I have no question that we can accomplish it. We will be
developing new programs and will emphasize working with schools and
organizations.”
Jennifer added, “Also, I look
forward to working side by side with Jenny. I believe the two of us will bring
synergy to Skidompha’s Youth Services.”
“Jennifer is a wonderful
addition to our Skidompha staff,” said Pam Gormley. “The challenge to get more
young adults into reading and using the Library is real, and it can be met. We
will be giving new effort to that end now that Jennifer has joined us, ” Pam
added.
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