New Book - Black Olives by Martha Tod Dudman

We just received this new book on our shelves, Black Olives by MarthaTod Dudman. The author is currently in Presque Isle to meet with readers and talk about her latest work. Both the title and the cover of the book caught our attention. If you are intrigued, read more below.

From the author's page on Simon & Schuster's site:

Martha Tod Dudman is the author of Expecting to Fly and Augusta, Gone, which was adapted into an award-winning Lifetime Television movie. She lives in Maine.

I turn my head and stare up at the roof of the truck cab. He has no idea I'm here, and I don't know where he's going.

Upon a chance sighting of her ex-boyfriend, Virginia does something most of us have only dreamed of. Unseen, she jumps into the back of his Jeep, and remains hidden all day, observing the man she once loved. She's compelled to complete her unfinished portrait of their breakup, and relive the magical thinking of their romance.

I knew him by heart for ten years and he me, Vir-ginia reflects. And now, only nine months later, I know nothing at all.

The novel unfolds over the course of one day, ping-ponging between Virginia's fear of discovery and the illicit thrill of "breaking and entering" into the life of her former lover.

Will she finally confront him, as she's longed to do since they parted? Will she slink away in defeat? Any woman who has ever lived and loved will find herself swept up in Virginia's mesmerizing journey.

Read more here.

Genealogy Workshop March 18th

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP ON MARCH 18TH AT 1PM

Learn to connect the dots in your family tree. Come to the next genealogy workshop and learn the basics of genealogy research. Find out more about the genealogy collection at the library.
Come with questions and leave with answers.

Ann Cushman will be the presenter. Please join us on Tuesday, March 18th at 1:00 in the library multi-purpose room. Register by contacting Gail Roy at 764-2571 or send an email.
You can also register at the circulation desk in the library.

New Services at the Library

You can now have documents notarized at the library and you can apply for a passport at the library.

If you have questions about Notary Services, please contact Lisa Shaw

Notary Services

For Passport questions, please contact Gail Roy

Passport Information

Passport Info on our library webpage

Body Care Recipes

This time of year when we are winter weary and tired of dealing with chapped lips, dry skin, and dull hair, books that promise some nice homemade remedies are fun to read and the recipes certainly are worth a try. We could all use a little pick-me-up right about now.

We have two new books you might enjoy:

Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair
Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body
By Dina Falconi

This book provides recipes for holistic skin care for everyone: women, men, teens, babies, and elders. Provides more than 450 formulas for facial care, eye care, lip, mouth, tooth care, hair & scalp, hands & feet, first aid, and whole body treatments. Make your own lip balm, body scrub, foot soak, peppermint foot powder, bath oil, shaving lotion and much more.
There is a wonderful recipe for Bald Head Balm on page 141.


Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles
175 Homemade herbal formulas for glowing skin & a vibrant self

Learn to make face cleansers, body powder, shampoo, conditioner, exfoliants, lip balm, insect repellants, moisturizers and more. The foot scrub on page 272 is made of cornmeal, oatmeal, sea salt and lemon or peppermint oil. You can make your own herbal eye pillow or herbal sleep pillow. Other recipes: Make your own chemical free Insect repellent: Lemony Bugs-Away Spray on page 356 and Bite Me Not Balm on page 354, applesauce and wheat germ moisturing mask page 157 and peaches and cream glow mask on page 156. How about some Sip-'N'-Kiss Tea for sore throats or after dinner refreshment?

If you try some of these, let us know how they turned out.

Baking Bread

For many of us, making bread is a real challenge.

If you have your grandmother's recipe for bread and it always comes out perfect, then you are very fortunate. The rest of us need help. Luckily, the library has several bread cookbooks and each offers different tips and tricks.

I recently took home the new cookbook, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, and tried a recipe myself. The results were amazing. The bread was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Here are some photos. Come and get this book and try it yourself.

Number One on the New York Times Best Seller List

Boston Globe Review

USA Today Review

International Herald Tribune Review

Presidents' Day

The library will be closed on Monday, February 18th, 2008 for Presidents' Day.

Who is your favorite President? We all have one.

An informal poll in the library produced the following list: Carter, Clinton, FDR, Reagan, Jefferson, Washington, Harding, Lincoln, George W. Bush, and JFK.

This holiday, why not take some time and read up on your favorite president. Better yet, read up on one you know nothing about. Likely candidates: Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Frankline Pierce, and John Tyler.

President Hair Display at Academy of Natural Sciences

Academy of Natural Sciences President Hair Album

American Presidents

White House Page for Presidents

American Presidents

Presidential Libraries

C-SPAN Presidential Libraries

Some titles in the library you might enjoy:

• Stealing Lincoln's Body by Thomas J. Craughwell
• Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
• The Lion's Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and His Family in Peace and War by Edward J. Renehan, Jr.
• Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush by Robert Draper
• Giving: How each of us can change the world by Bill Clinton
• Thomas Jefferson by Joyce Appleby
• His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
• First Ladies: An Intimate Portrait of White House Wives by Margaret Truman
• Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher: A Political Marriage by Nicholas Wapshott
• The Graphic Story of the American Presidents

Book Club

The book club will meet on Thursday, February 21st at 6:00 in the library to discuss Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.

Dr. Nan Amodeo will lead the discussion.

Free full text online at Project Gutenberg.

More for Valentine's Day

This beautiful book was donated by Sam & Lise Collins & Family in Remembrance of Mr. Peter McConnell. See inside images here This book is a perfect Valentine's Day book to read.

Valentine's Day Facts from Census.gov

Sailor's Valentines

Candy Hearts

Valentine History

Indiana University Valentine Exhibit

Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day stop into the library to get a romantic bookmark and select one of the books on the display table. There are lots of different love stories to read. Pick one up, eat some chocolate, and enjoy the day.

Here are a few new romance titles:

Want to learn to make good bread?

We all dream of great bread that is crusty on the outside and dense and chewy on the inside. This book promises great bread in only 5 minutes a day. I'm going to take it home and try it and report back on my success or failure. Feel free to post and share your bread recipes and success or failure stories.

Read more here

Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader

Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader

Nelson Madore & Barry Rodrigue, Editors,
with Corinna Miller and Chase Hebert

Normand Beaupre, French Language Editor

From the back cover: "Dozens of voices celebrate - in essays, stories, plays, poetry, songs, and art - the Franco-American experience in Maine."

University of Southern Maine Franco-American Collection

Lincoln's Birthday

One of the best books I've read in a while is Stealing Lincoln's Body by
Thomas J. Craughwell.

To celebrate Lincoln's birthday, stop by and look through our books on Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and the Civil War and slavery.

We also have Library of America books which are wonderful collections of works by various writers.

A Long Time Forgotten

If you love local history, you have to see the new book on the Presque Isle Opera House. With the upcoming Sesquicentennial in 2009, this is a wonderful addition to the local history collection in the library.

A Long Time Forgotten by John Llewellyn Hone

About the author, excerpt from the book: "The author was born and raised in Presque Isle and is the grandson of John J. Hone, the owner of the Music Hall and the Presque Isle Opera House and son of Llewellyn Hone who along with his brothers kept the Opera House running. "

The book is filled with wonderful photos, stories, and lots of well documented history. I can guarantee that everyone will find something of interest in this story of the Opera House (well actually three Opera Houses). You'll read about the time period of 1890-1947 and see the development of theater over the years and end with films being shown in the Opera House.

Along the way you will learn about Chautauqua (see page 289 to start) and many other things that will be new and exciting.

Stop in and take a look. Take it home. Enjoy!

The author, John Llewellyn Hone, welcomes comments and discussion with readers and can be reached at:
john821@comcast.net or 15515 Aitcheson Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707

Pet Grief

Dealing with the loss of a pet can be devastating. Pets are more than mere animals. They are our friends, family, and constant companions. They give us so much and ask for little. It is no wonder that the loss we feel can be deep, painful, and prolonged.

There are some wonderful books and online sites to help cope with this type of grief.

• Thanks to the Animals by Allen Sockabsin
• Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
• Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement

University of Florida Pet Grief Support Hotline
Volunteers staff this line to support those who have lost a pet.
Webpage has links and recommended reading and answers to common questions.

About.com Pet Loss and Grief Page

Pet Loss Support Page

Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline

Animal Chaplains.com

American Veterinary Medical Association
Pet Loss Support Hotlines

Pet Grief Hotline

Cornell Pet Loss Support

My Pet Died: How Can I feel Better?

How Do I know when it is time – Pet Euthanasia

When a Pet Dies

Physicians as Authors

Some of us really enjoy reading books about a profession or specific field of work. Doctors who write about their experience in the field of medicine is one popular type of book.

Some authors you may want to read:

Sherwin Nuland, M.D.

Books by Sherwin Nuland:

• How We Die : Reflections On Life's Final Chapter
• Doctors : the biography of medicine
• The Wisdom Of The Body
• The art of aging : a doctor's prescription for well-being
• Maimonides

Jerome Groopman, M.D.

• The Anatomy Of Hope : How People Prevail In The Face Of Illness
• The Measure Of Our Days
• Second opinions
• How doctors think

Atul Gawande, M.D.

• Complications : a surgeon's notes on an imperfect science
• Better: A Surgeon's Notes On Performance

When Doctors Write by Stephen J. Dubner

When Doctors Write II

Fiction Writers with Medical Qualifications

Digital Television Information

The deadline to switch from analog broadcasting to digital television has been set for February 17, 2009.

We are all faced with two options:

1. If you currently receive free over the air programs through an antenna, you can apply for a maximum of two $40 coupons per household to go toward the purchase of a converter box which will change digital signals back to analog. This will allow you to use your current TV and keep everything as is. Expected costs for converter box is approximately $50 - $70. Coupons can be requested by calling 1-888-388-2009 or going online
   
2. Own or purchase a TV capable of receiving the digital signals

For more information visit:

DTV
DTV Transition