USAF Colonial Brass

You are invited to a free concert at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Monday, March 5, 2007 at 7pm in the Hayes Room. The Colonial Brass features talented musicians with extensive experience in civilian and military bands and orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. The ensemble utilizes a wide variety of music to entertain audiences of all ages. They have appeared at prestigious venues such as Tanglewood, MENC (Music Educators National Conference), and the New York Brass Conference. The creativity and professionalism of the Colonial Brass inspires audiences wherever they perform. The music they will play ranges from classical to swing to the Sound of Music and a military song or two. The organizer of this program, Lawrence Price, is a delightful person. He plays french horn and is a graduate of The Juilliard School. Join us on Monday for the kick off to the Colonial Brass tour of New England!

Income Tax Forms

I hate to bring up unpleasant subjects, but it might help folks to know that the library has tax forms, both federal and state. We've heard that the post offices no longer carry them. We have the basic forms for the taking, and also have a notebook of less common forms (such as "Income Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen") which can be photocopied. The price for library copies is 15 cents, and our copier does take one dollar bills.

On Tuesdays at the library, the Central Vermont Community Action Council provides volunteer preparers who will e-file your federal and state income tax returns at no charge for any family whose total income for 2006 does not exceed $38,000. Hours of service are from 4-8 p.m. in the Frances Holmes Room on the 1st floor. Ask the staff at the front desk for directions. If you want more information on this great program, call the CVCAC office at 479-1053.

Please don't ask the library staff for help with your income tax. We are highly trained professionals, but income tax preparation was not part of that training! However, we'll be glad to direct you to the forms and publications you need.

By the way, if you'd like to get a better handle on your personal finances in the next year, we're displaying books on that subject near the tax forms. You'll find books like, "The Young Couple's Guide to Growing Rich Together", "Personal Finance for Busy People", and "Personal Finance for Dummies".

Montpelier taxes

An editorial in the February 23, 2007 issue of the Montpelier Bridge is critical of city and school spending and the impact on property taxes. As a library patron pointed out to me, there is an unfortunate error in the editorial that results in an overstatement of the rate of increase of school and city budgets.

The editorial states that the city’s budget is increasing at the rate of 2.1% and school budgets are increasing by 4.59%. The author continues, “Now, let’s combine both budgets. If both school and city budgets are approved, we’re looking at a projected 6.6 percent increase.”

This math is incorrect. If the city’s budget increases by 2.1% and the school's by 4.59%, the combined increase is 3.61%, not 6.6%. (The rate of inflation in New England in 2006 also happens to be 3.6 %.)

Montpelier residents have a relatively high property tax burden. But arguments in opposition to library funding, or funding of other community services, should be based on an accurate analysis.

No More Book Donations Please!

We have stopped taking book donations for our next book sale which begins March 19th. Due to the flood watch we are getting things off the floor in the basement where we usually keep donated books. Our space is limited and we will be moving supplies and equipment to the first or second floor. We hope that with all the preparations in place the flood will not materialize! Please keep your book donations at home for now. We'll let you know when we can take them again. Thanks for your understanding.

Meet Your Legislators at the Kellogg-Hubbard

On Monday, February 26, at 7pm the you'll have a chance to meet some of the Washington County Senators and House members who represent our service area: Montpelier, Berlin, East Montpelier, Calais, Middlesex and Worcester. Our legislators will tell us what they are working on and will answer any questions you have. Refreshments will be served in the Hayes Room. Don't miss this opportunity to hear what is happening under the Dome.

Times Argus Op-Ed

The Times Argus has published an op-ed that Sarah Hofmann and I wrote, titled "Kellogg-Hubbard Library plans for future."

A Single Pebble Raffle at the Library

Have you seen our display for the February/March Raffle in the front lobby of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library? We are offering a 14-Course Chinese Dinner for Ten People at A Single Pebble in Burlington. Planning a family event, a special dinner with friends, a graduation or birthday celebration? Now’s your chance to win this chinese banquet for ten people. The drawing will be held on March 31st. Tickets are $2 each, 6 for $10, or 15 for $20. As we all know, A Single Pebble is THE place for Chinese cuisine and was voted best restaurant in Vermont. All proceeds of the raffle will benefit the library. Thanks to Steve Bogart at A Single Pebble for this generous donation.

Gargoyles Guarding the Library

Sometime during the night two gargoyles appeared at the front entrance of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library much to the delight of library staff and patrons. Who created these masterpieces? We don't know, but we are so happy to have these great creatures in our midst. We would love to know who the artists are so that we can thank them for this lovely gift!

Difficult Conversations Series

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WORKSHOP SERIES No matter how competent you are, we all have conversations that cause anxiety and frustration. Whether you're trying to manage a delicate situation at work, navigating a disagreement with a neighbor, or managing a dust-up at home, many of us tend to avoid those "difficult conversations." This "Difficult Conversations" workshop series can help. All workshops will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This workshop series, based on the book Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen, offers tips and a chance to practice bringing up the hard stuff with less stress and more success. Workshop participants will receive a free copy of this book with a list of program sponsors on the inside cover. Pre-registration is required for each workshop. Call Karen at
223-9606 or email klblazer@montpelier-vt.org.

We had an overwhelming response to the first workshop– The Basics of Having a Difficult Conversation with Kathleen Moore and Ginny Sassaman. We will hold a second workshop on this topic on February 28 at 6:30pm. Whether trying to manage a delicate situation at work, talk to family members about a loved one’s needs, navigate a disagreement with a neighbor, or voice opposition regarding municipal affairs, many of us tend to avoid or stumble through these “difficult conversations”.

February 21 – Difficult Conversations with Neighbors with Brooke Hadwen
How do you talk to your neighbors about the fumes that come in your window when they leave their car running? The dog that barks each time you sit in your yard? Or the ball that keeps coming over the fence onto your garden? Learn ways to give information, ask for what you need, and negotiate differing expectations.

Space is limited so please call to register!

Exploring the Sacred

EXPLORING THE SACRED: The Feminine in the Cosmos and in the Human Person with Dr. Ted Brenneman, Professor Emeritus, Religion, University of Vermont. This series will focus on the quality of the feminine and the way this quality expresses itself in the configuration and processes of the earth. Brenneman will explore various facets of the feminine by examining a group of goddesses that express and live out particular qualities of the essential or “archetypal” feminine: the feminine in its first and most fundamental form. The first presentation was cancelled due to the Valentine's Day blizzard, but we will meet Wednesday, February 21 and 28, at 7pm in the Hayes Room at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.