Category: Library

Local Authors Night at Stockton Springs Community Library August 17th

The Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present three local authors from Maine Authors Publishing and Cooperative on Wednesday, August 17th at 6:30 pm. The participating writers are William Anthony, Hans Krichels, and Janet Williams.

William Anthony lives primarily in Maine with his wife and an English Lab and a Maine coon cat. When he’s not writing or painting, he’s out on the Damariscotta River in the Susan B., a Maine-built wooden boat. His book Farnsy is a novel featuring William Phineas Farnsworth (Farnsy), a young police officer in his hometown on the Maine Coast. He loves police work, but his relationship with Lucy is off again, and with his 35th birthday looming, he feels trapped in a life as predictable as the tides – until some Necco wafers appear mysteriously in summer cottages on nearby lakes. Anthony paints a rich picture of a Maine town and its vibrant characters.

Hans Krichels is a teacher, writer, and woodcarver who lives with his partner, Nancy, in Bucksport, Maine, where he has lived and worked since 1971. His recent book, We Have Met the Enemy is a collection of essays, screeds, and story-poems all based on observations and happenings during the days of the pandemic in the author’s town. His recent work also includes pieces in Goose River Anthology 2019 and Willie Knows Who Done It, a collection of Maine Based Stories. 

Janet Williams grew up in England and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 20. She worked and raised her family in Cleveland and retired to Maine in 2007. Always an animal lover, all of her dogs and cats come from a shelter or off the street. Her recent book, Maxx and Mrs. Queen is a heartwarming and unusual animal rescue story. Maxx, Harry, Greta, Tootsie, and ZaZa were themselves homeless until Uncle Oscar found them one cold, dark night and took them home. At the invitation of Mrs. Queen, Uncle Oscar takes his family to the palace for tea, and so begins this imaginative animal rescue story.

All are welcome. Autographed copies of the books will be available for purchase following the presentation.

Visit www.maineauthorspublishing.com for more information about Maine Authors Publishing and Cooperative.

For more information visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org or 207-567-4147.

Mac Smith to Speak about “Siege at the State House” at Stockton Springs Library on Sunday, July 24th at 2:00 PM

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a talk by author Mac Smith on Sunday, July 24th at 2:00 PM. Smith will speak about his new book Siege at the State House.

Siege at the State House tells the true story of a coup that was attempted between Maine’s governor and the leaders of a new political party, almost plunging the United States into its second Civil War. With the Maine State House under siege for several weeks by a confederate force, the occupation culminated in a showdown between armed rebels and Civil War hero General Joshua Chamberlain, with Chamberlain standing on the State House steps, exposing his chest, and daring any man present to settle the standoff with violence, if they dared. It was an event the war hero called “Another Roundtop.”

In light of recent national events, this piece of Maine history is a timely and cautionary tale brought to life by historian Mac Smith. Elements of the story include a Christmas Day raid on Maine’s weapons arsenal, missing election results, and seven jackasses.

A Navy veteran of the first Gulf War and former reporter for The Bar Harbor Times, Mac Smith now lives in Stockton Springs, Maine, in the village of Sandy Point. He is also the author of Mainers on the Titanic and Peyton Place Comes Home to Maine. 

Following the talk Mac Smith will sign copies of the book which will be available for purchase. 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’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM “OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES” BEGINS JUNE 28TH

“Oceans of Possibilities,” Stockton Springs Community Library’s Summer Reading Program, will start on Tuesday, June 28th  from 9:30 to 11:00 AM and will also take place on the following Tuesdays.

Come explore the amazing variety of life under the sea and have lots of fun learning about fascinating sea creatures and ocean tales. There will be stories, activities, crafts, and snacks. 

The program is open to all ages.

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

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will hold a new fundraising raffle to support the all-volunteer library.

Tickets are $1 each and will be sold beginning June 4th during SSCL’s annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale. The Raffle prize is a $100 gift certificate to Sweet Cheeks Bakery of Verona Island. Sweet Cheeks is a gourmet bakery and sweets shop featuring homemade traditional family recipes.

Drawing for the raffle will take place on August 20th at 2:00 pm at the library’s annual Pie & Art Festival.

Tickets will also be available for purchase during the library’s open hours, which are Monday and Wednesday 3 – 5 pm, Tuesday 4 – 7 pm, Thursday 9 am – Noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Saturday 9 am – 3pm.

For more information phone 567-4147 or visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org

Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at Stockton Springs Community Library Saturday, June 4th

On Saturday, June 4th from 9 am to 1 pm the Stockton Springs Community Library will host its Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at the library in Stockton Springs. Time to come out of hibernation and join in the fun as you find bargains to read, eat, or plant. The sale starts promptly at 9:00 so no early birds please.

Library volunteers are busy dividing perennials for this popular fundraiser. There will be a wide variety of flowers and herbs to brighten your gardens. You can stock up on books for summer reading while snacking on delicious homemade baked goods. There’s always a great variety of sweet and savory baked goods available. 

Stockton Springs Community Library was founded in 2001 and is located in the historic Colcord House on the corner of Main and Station streets. The library is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information visit www.stockstonspringslibrary.org or call 567-4147.

Art in the Stacks at Stockton Springs Community Library Features Binders Keepers Altered Books

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present a special Holiday Art in the Stacks exhibition featuring altered books by Stockton Springs artist and entrepreneur Chelsea Porter from Monday, November 29th until Thursday, December 23rd.

Porter’s business, Binders Keepers, features books cut and folded into intricate designs. She started using this art form in 2017 when she learned the basic technique from her mother and aunt. Each book is measured, marked, and then folded page by page to make the design. Porter is able to create nearly any design imaginable and is able to personalize the artwork by folding in names or special dates.

Crafting an image or word into the book can take between four and twenty hours to complete. Porter acknowledges that it is time consuming yet therapeutic. Though each design varies, each requires a hardcover book with a minimum of 500 pages. She mainly uses books that are poised to be thrown away. 

Porter markets her work through an Etsy site: www.etsy.com/shop/BindersKeepersArt

Despite the pandemic, Porter has seen her online sales increase, and since joining the platform in 2017 she has shipped her creations to customers in 43 states.

Holiday Art in the Stacks will be open for viewing during library hours: Monday 3 – 5 pm, Tuesday 4 – 7 pm, Wednesday 3 – 5 pm, Thursday 9 am – Noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Saturday 9 am – 3 pm.

Sale of Porter’s work will benefit the library and the artist.

SSCL is an all volunteer library located in the heart of Stockton Springs. For more information visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org or phone 207-567-4147.

Tai Chi in Stockton Springs

Tai Chi has been fantastic at Stockton Harbor this summer and fall. We had over 20 participants. The healthy practice and camaraderie were appreciated by all. We thank the Town of Stockton Springs for supporting this program.

  • Photo credit: Barbara Clemens
  • Photo credit: Barbara Clemens
Tai Chi at Stockton Harbor

We will begin our Zoom Tai Chi sessions for the winter on Tuesday, October 26th, meeting all winter via Zoom on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 am. We will return to the harbor in the late spring. These Zoom sessions will serve all our members, including year round and summer people.

If you are not already a member of the Stockton Springs Tai Chi group and would like to join please call the library at 207-567-4147 to register.

Halloween Celebration with Trunk-or-Treat Hosted by Stockton Springs Community Library Saturday, October 30th

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a Halloween celebration for children of all ages on Saturday, October 30th from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM outdoors on the library grounds. 

The Halloween party will include a costume parade, a story, snacks, and trunk-or-treating in the town office parking lot, next to the library. There will be prizes awarded for best costumes in different categories.

The event is free and open to all. 

SSCL is an all volunteer library located in the heart of Stockton Springs. For more information visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org or phone 207-567-4147.