Eighteen children returned their Reading Records to the Liberty Library and “purchased” with their reading points 120 cans of cat food, six 16.5 lb. bags of dog food, 48 packets of wet dog food, and an assortment of treats, dishes, collars, leashes, and toys. All of theses items were donated to the Waldo County Pet Food Pantry. Heidi Blood, director of the Food Pantry, and her dog Cubby were at the library on Saturday, September 7th, to accept the donations. Kids read for at least 30 minutes a day during the summer to earn a point sticker on their Reading Record. All who turned in their records had at least 50 points or more. Pictured at left are a few of the top readers in front of a table piled high with pet food and supplies.

Those who turned in a Reading Record but did not attend the Summer Reading Wrap-Up can pick up their certificates at the library. We chose the pet food for you!

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by Pieceworks, Inc., Back 40 Bakehouse, Liberty East, Lake St. George Brewing Company, and Richard & Mary Vann. 

Click to enlarge.

Carol Sloane will be exhibiting “Teddy Bear Delight” during September. Sloane reveres her “childhood friends,” in a series of images created with oil stick on paper.  “Teddy bears hold our dreams and secrets. . .they are our companions and confidants. . . long may they be so,” says Sloane of this collection. A familiar name in the Mid-coast art scene and beyond, Sloane’s work has been shown in various galleries and museums since the mid-1990’s, including, most recently, her 2018 exhibit “Contemporary Scrolling” at the Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, ME. She lives in Rockland. For more about Sloane’s work see carolsloanemaine.com.

Even though it’s summer, we will still accept hand knit items to be distributed in the fall, so keep your needles and hands working when you are able through the upcoming months.  Smaller-sized mittens are most appreciated for Head Start and larger-sized ones for the Walker School.  They are so appreciated and keep the hands of our youngest residents warm! Hats, scarves and cowls are most appreciated for older Waldo county residents who are in need, and these are distributed through the Soup Kitchen.  We thank all of you so much for your efforts over the last few years.

Simple 2-needle mittens: 3-4 yrs,  4-6 yrs, & 6-8 yrs.
A simple pattern for hats can be found here. Another Stockinette Watch cap pattern.

We also collect yarn and needles for Jen Gunderman who delivers these to organizations assisting New Mainers transitioning to life in Maine. They in turn make hats and mittens for other refugees who are in camps awaiting permission to be allowed into other countries to begin making new lives for themselves and their families.

Several knitters are getting together informally to knit and chat on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 at the library. Anyone is welcome to join them.