Author Cathie Pelletier to speak at Stockton Springs Community Library on Sunday, July 28th at 2 PM

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present author Cathie Pelletier discussing her work on Sunday, July 28th at 2 PM. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. Stop into the library or call 207-567-4147 during open hours to reserve your seat.

Cathie Pelletier is the author of sixteen books beginning with The Funeral Makers, her first novel published by Macmillan in 1986. Her most recent book is Northeaster, A Story of Courage & Survival in the Blizzard of 1952. She and theoretical physicist S. James Gates, Jr. co-authored Proving Einstein Right, released in 2019 by Public Affairs. The book was awarded the Brown University Book Award for 2020. Also released in 2019 is The Ragin’ Cajun, a memoir she wrote with her friend fiddler Doug Kershaw (Mercer University Press). A Middle Grade novel, Mystery Traveler at Lake Fortune, was released in July 2023 by Down East/Rowman & Littlefield. Evangeline’s Journey is due in 2024.

Producer Gabrielle Tana has recently optioned Pelletier’s novel The Funeral Makers for Doug Liman to direct and Pelletier to adapt. She has worked on several film projects with Grammy-winner and AFI founder George Stevens, Jr. She and the late Donald Sutherland collaborated on one of her original screenplays. Under the pseudonym of K.C. McKinnon, Pelletier wrote Dancing at the Harvest Moon and Candles on Bay Street, both with Doubleday, the latter earning a million dollar advance. Harvest Moon was printed in 22 languages and was a CBS film starring Jacqueline Bisset and Valerie Harper. Candles was translated to 16 languages and was a Hallmark Hall of Fame film starring starring Alicia Silverstone.

Two of her novels received notable mentions from the New York Times Book Review. Her third novel The Weight of Winter, won the New England Booksellers Award. In 2006 Running the Bulls won the Paterson Prize for Fiction. Her first middle grade novel, The Summer Experiment, was published in 2014. Pelletier was privately hired to write a memoir, now finished, that centers on the Vietnam War.

Cathie created and sold to Simon & Schuster a book for country music icon Tanya Tucker, titled 100 Ways to Beat the Blues. She co-wrote The Christmas Note with her friend, and Grand Old Opry legend, the late Skeeter Davis. She has co-written songs that were recorded by David Byrne (of the Talking Heads), the Texas Tornadoes, and others. She and Tanya Tucker are working on a children’s book.

A book-signing will follow the presentation. Books will be available to purchase.

Be sure to pre-register at 207-567-4147 to reserve your seat for what promises to be a very interesting afternoon!

Summer Reading Program at Stockton Springs Community Library Begins Tuesday, July 9th

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a Summer Reading Program on Tuesdays from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM from Tuesday, July 9th to Tuesday, August 6th.

We will explore themes such as endangered animals, ways to repurpose, recycle, and reuse, and more. There will be stories, activities, snacks, and lots of fun. 

Come to one session, all sessions, or come whenever you can! 

This is a free program and open to all.

For questions contact the library at 207-567-4147.

Mac Smith to Speak about his new book “Plain Madeleine” at the Stockton Springs Community Library on Sunday, April 21st at 2:00 PM.

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a talk by author Mac Smith on Sunday, April 21st at 2:00 pm at the Stockton Springs Community Library. The talk will focus on Smith’s new book, Plain Madeleine. 

The story of Madeleine and Colonel John Jacob Astor is very much part of the story of Bar Harbor, Maine. The relatively poor Madeleine Force met Colonel Astor, the third richest man in the United States, in Bar Harbor in 1910. The vicious scandal after their wedding caused the newlyweds to board the Titanic to return to America; the ensuing tragedy would claim the life of the colonel.

Madeleine Astor returned to Bar Harbor after the Titanic disaster, where all eyes were on her, and where she was triumphant in claiming the role of social leader. In 1916, she remarried in the center of Bar Harbor, and gave up everything Astor.

The story follows the 17 years of her second marriage, and then her scandalous third marriage. Madeleine, now in her 40s, married a penniless young boxer and her name erased from the Social Register after that. She died a lonely figure in her 40s.

This new book from historian Mac Smith documents Madeleine’s life in Bar Harbor and the Astor presence on Bar Harbor through Colonel Astor’s family and the Kane family–Astor cousins who were prominent there. It puts Madeleine Astor’s story in the context of Bar Harbor’s Golden Age. In telling Madeleine Astor’s story, the story of a changing Bar Harbor is also revealed. 

A Navy veteran of the first Gulf War and former reporter for The Bar Harbor Times, Mac Smith lives in Stockton Springs, Maine in the village of Sandy Point. He is the author of several books of Maine history, including Mainers on the TitanicPeyton Place Comes Home to Maine, Siege at the Statehouse, and Disaster at the Bar Harbor Ferry.

Following the talk Mac Smith will sign copies of Plain Madeleine, which will be available for purchase. Copies of his other books will also be available.

Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

SSCL is located at 6 Station St. in the heart of Stockton Springs. For more information please contact the library at 207-567-4147.

Stockton Springs Community Library Hosts a Spring Fling Story Hour April 6th

The Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a Spring Fling Story Hour for children of all ages on Saturday, April 6th from 10:00 to 11:00 am. In addition to the stories, there will be snacks and a craft activity.

All are welcome to this free event. The library is currently engaged in a fundraising raffle for a $100 gift card to Stone Fox Creamery. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase during the Story Hour and during all regular library hours.

Stockton Springs Community Library Story Hour Celebrates Dr. Seuss March 2nd

The Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a Celebration of Dr. Seuss at the March Story Hour for children of all ages on Saturday, March 2nd from 10:00 to 11:00 am. In addition to the stories, there will be snacks and a craft activity. 

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known under his pseudonym “Dr. Seuss,” was “probably the best-loved and certainly the best-selling children’s book writer of all time,” wrote Robert Wilson of the New York Times Book Review. Geisel entertained several generations of young readers with his zany nonsense books. Speaking to Herbert Kupferberg of Parade, Geisel once claimed: “Old men on crutches tell me, ‘I’ve been brought up on your books.'” His “rhythmic verse rivals Lewis Carroll‘s,” stated Stefan Kanfer in Time, “and his freestyle drawing recalls the loony sketches of Edward Lear.” Because of his work in publishing books for young readers and for the many innovative children’s classics he wrote himself, during the second half of the twentieth century Geisel “had a tremendous impact on children’s reading habits and the way reading is taught and approached in the school system,” declared Miles Corwin of the Los AngelesTimes.

All are welcome to this free event. The library is currently engaged in a fundraising raffle for a $100 gift card to Stone Fox Creamery. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase during the Story Hour event.

Special Film Screening of “Trolls Band Together” at the Stockton Springs Community Library February 23rd

Everyone’s invited to the Stockton Springs Community Library for a special screening of the animated film “Trolls Band Together” on Friday, February 23rd at 6:30 PM.

Children of all ages are invited to wear their pajamas and bring a favorite blanket and a stuffed animal friend.

In addition to the film screening there will be snacks and beverages.

The event is free and all are welcome.

For more information call 567-4147

Special Holiday Film Screening of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Stockton Springs Community Library 

Everyone’s invited to the Stockton Springs Community Library for a holiday screening of the original animated film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Friday, November 24th at 6:00 PM.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a classic 1966 animated film based on the children’s book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It is the story of The Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway. Boris Karloff, in one of his final roles, narrates the film and also provides the speaking voice of The Grinch. 

In addition to the film screening there will be snacks and an activity.

The event is free and all are welcome.

For more information call 567-4147

Make & Take Lego Club

Stockton Springs Community Library Hosts Free LEGO CLUB Starting November 1st

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a monthly free MAKE AND TAKE LEGO CLUB on the first Wednesday of each month between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM. The focus age group is children 4 through 10 years old, but all ages are welcome. No registration is necessary.

Come build a LEGO creation, and then take it home to keep and enjoy with your family and friends!

Mark your calendars for the FREE MAKE AND TAKE LEGO CLUB taking place on the first Wednesday of each month from November through March between 3:30 and 5:30 PM:

Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
For more information call 207-567-4147. Come and join the creative fun!