The Flowers in the Planter

So many people enjoy the beautiful flowers at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The list of the plants used in these photos was compiled by Georgia Valentine one of our Master Gardeners responsible for the gardens. Jane Lendway is the other Master Gardener who cares for the gardens and coordinates other volunteers to weed, water and mulch. These gardens are a gift of love from the Washington/Orange Master Gardeners!


Click on photo to enlarge.

ANNUALS IN THE PLANTER OUTSIDE THE HAYES ROOM – 2007
This year’s plants came from Arcana Gardens and Greenhouses in Jericho. They have an amazing selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, all organic. Check their website by clicking on their name above or stop in at 175 Schillhammer Road, off Rte 117 N from I-89, Exit 11 (Richmond Exit).

In the back: Snapdragons – Royal Bride (white) and Double Azalea Apricot

In the front:
Diascia – Diamonte apricot (looks like a little sedum)
Petunia – Tidal Wave (Well named – it is about to submerge everything else)

Grasses:
Fiber Optic (guess which one!) (this little one is just barely holding its own)
Bunny Tail

That fuzzy plant: an ornamental sage– we lost the label so don’t know the exact name 

In the middle:
Flowering Maple – Bella Vanilla (we hope that the 15’ on the label is a typo…)
Oxypetalum Tweedia – supposedly the only annual with turquoise blue flowers…
Osteospermum – African Daisy
Lettuce – Black Simpson

This planter is Hot and Dry, so we try to water it frequently, and mix in plenty of compost and “Water Grabber” crystals to keep the soil moist.

Ben T. Matchstick Joins Library Staff

Welcome Ben!
The Kellogg-Hubbard Library is proud to announce the appointment of Ben T. Matchstick as the new children’s programming coordinator. Ben is well-known in the community as the founder of the “Cardboard Teck Instantute” and as a beloved children’s entertainer, known for his interactive puppet shows and art projects using recycled materials. In the past, Ben has been at the center of some very popular children’s events at the library, and has also volunteered his time to help with a number of library projects. We are delighted to have Ben as a member of the staff. Join him at story time which returns from its break beginning September 4th on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

In the photo, Ben is standing in front of his creation, "The Little Library That Could", which highlights the ongoing financial support for the Children's Library. The goal is for the engine to reach the top of the hill when we receive a total of $10,000!

Volunteers Needed

For two weeks in September we will be surveying library patrons to find out what town they live in. Currently, we only know someone's hometown if they check out a book or other material. If someone is coming to the library for a program, to use a computer, to read, or for a meeting we don't know their hometown. As we prepare for town meeting day next year, we would like to have a better sense of where our patrons live. (The survey will be anonymous; we won't ask anyone for their name.)

We will ask visitors three brief questions. During each of the times below we need three volunteers: two for the front door and one for the back.

Please e-mail me (mhahn@kellogghubbard.org) if you are able to volunteer for this important library project. (Note that I'm on vacation next week, starting August 20.)

Thank you!

Tuesday September 4th, 10:15am-12pm

Wednesday September 5th, 2pm-4pm

Thursday September 6th, 4pm-6pm

Friday September 7th, 10:15am-12pm

Saturday September 8th, 11am-1pm

Monday September 10th, 6pm-8pm

Tuesday September 11th, 4pm-6pm

Wednesday September 12th, 10:15am-12pm

Thursday September 13th, 2pm-4pm

Friday September 14th, 3pm-5pm

Saturday September 15th, 10:15am-12pm

Montpelier Downtown Community Association

At the MDCA web site you can sign up for a very useful listserve for weekly updates on what events are taking place in Montpelier. (You can also visit Kellogg-Hubbard's web site for links to activities in our service area.)

Current Book Displays in the Library

Have you ever noticed the books displays in the front lobby? This month's displays feature True Adventure, On The Water and Egyptology. The list of books that were on the display earlier today are listed below. Hilari organizes these displays each month.

TRUE ADVENTURE

--"Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America" by Karen Larsen
--"Escape from Lucania: An Epic Story of Survival" by David Roberts
--"Around the World in 80 Days: Outward Bound," a movie written and presented by Michael Palin
--"Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings" by Jonathan Raban
--"Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River" by Peter Heller
--"The Tragic History of the Sea: Shipwrecks from the Bible to the Titanic" edited by Anthony Brandt
--"Trawler: A Journey through the North Atlantic" by Redmond O'Hanlon
--"The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival among America's Great White Sharks" by Susan Casey

ON THE WATER

--"Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die: Fly-Fishing Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations" by Chris Santella
--"The Complete Book of Swimming" by Dr. Phillip Whitten
--"Inland Passage: On Boats and Boating in the Northeast" by David W. Shaw
--"Classic Northeastern Whitewater Guide: The Best Whitewater Runs in New England and New York—Novice to Expert" by Bruce Lessels
--"The Connecticut River Boating Guide" by the Connecticut River Watershed Council
--"Fishing Vermont's Streams and Lakes: A Guide to the Green Mountain State's Best Trout and Bass Waters" by Peter F. Cammann
--"The Complete Angler: A Connecticut Yankee Follows in the Footsteps of Walton" by James Prosek

EGYPTOLOGY

--"The Egyptologist" by Arthur Phillips
--"The Last Camel Died at Noon" by Elizabeth Peters
--"Mystery of the Nile: The Epic Story of the First Descent of the World's Deadliest River" by Richard Bangs and Pasquale Scaturro
--"Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival" by Dean King
--"Decoding Egyptian Hieroglyphs: How to Read the Secret Language of the Pharaohs" by Bridget McDermott
--"Guide to the Valley of the Kings" by Alberto Siliotti
--"Valley of the Golden Mummies" by Zahi Hawass

Read a good book lately?

The Times Argus is running a fun ongoing piece in which they ask some local "celebrities" what they are reading and ask people to post their own summer favorites. Follow this link:

"Under a tree. In a hammock. On the beach. In a porch swing. There's no end to the places you can settle into a good book in the summer. As for what to read - we asked several well-known Vermonters what they're paging through in this season of long (mostly) sunny days."

A Message From Megan

To all the wonderful patrons and friends I’ve made during my time here:
It’s nearly impossible for me to write these words, but I would like share with the children and families of the children’s library that I am leaving my position here. I’ve accepted a position as the new school librarian at the Moretown Elementary School. My children, Josie and Bergen, are both students there and I am looking forward to this opportunity to be more connected to them and this incredible school. That being said, I am incredibly sad to be leaving the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The staff – my co-workers – are imaginative, inventive, and committed to library services in ways that have surpassed my expectations. They’ve also become dear friends. The board of trustees works diligently behind the scenes and I thank them for their vision and support. And our patrons – you – have welcomed me into the lives of your children and I feel so blessed to have been a small part of your child’s journey. I will continue to patronize my beloved Kellogg-Hubbard – where else can one find an equal collection of such depth, a building of such architectural beauty, and a staff as dedicated as this? Cheers, my friends, and may your journey through life continue to be enriching, joyful, and full of books.

Moments of the Day

Working as a volunteer this past Saturday for the Onion River Century Ride brought great moments throughout the day. Jan Schlosser and I staffed the second food stop in Barton at the Sugarmill Farm. Jeannette, the owner, is incredibly friendly, helpful and generous. Her grandson's dog, Tucker, was a big hit with the riders this year. Although he wasn't suppose to eat our food (due to allergies) he stayed close at hand to clean up any crumbs that hit the ground.

The surroundings at Sugarmill Farm are really beautiful like this big, red barn. It makes a great backdrop for the cyclists.
The cyclists are a fun and varied crew, too. I especially enjoyed the riders who suggested that we have contests among the food stops next year. Which food stop is the most fun - contest. We got points for having Tucker the dog, and for holding an umbrella over the riders when we had a few raindrops. Many riders commented on the vast array of good food. We aim to please!

Memorable moments: Watching Mary Hooper, Montpelier's Mayor ride 113 miles! Kudos to you, Mary. Watching Nina Otter ride 113 miles after very little training! Watching Jacob Klein ride 60 miles - his first time out on his bike this year! Tom celebrating his 50th birthday by riding 113 miles! Two of the riders doing head stands at each food stop to drain the blood from their feet! (Click here to see photos of the headstands from the Montpeleir Matters Blog.)



We stopped to save a 10 inch turtle in the middle of the road. Others saw a moose on Rt12.



The camaraderie among the cyclists and volunteers was great to behold! Volunteers -get your bid in for which food stop you want at next year's Century Ride! I call the Barton Food Stop!

ORS Century Ride Raffle Winners

The winners of the Onion River Century Ride Raffle are:

Jay Kimberley - Onion River Sports Car Rack System
Joel Page - Capitol Plaza Hotel - One overnight for 2 people with movie passes
Bob McCullough - Sarducci's Restaurant - $40 gift certificate
Meg Scherbatsky - Bear Pond Books - $35 gift certificate
Matthew Lavey - Julio's Cantina - $25 gift certificate
Cameron Cope - Coffee Corner $25 gift certificate
Gerrie Dennison - Buch Spieler $20 gift certificate
Seth Dunn - Capitol Video $10 gift certificate
Kerrin Kritchmar - Rhapsody $10 gift certificate
Dell McDonough - Lake Elmore State Park two half day boat rentals.

Congratulations to these winners! Please support these local businesses!

Haiku. Do you?

Okay, so I like making up haiku. We all have failings. They're really fun, though: short and, once you get the rhythm down, easy to compose. [De-composing? That's harder.] Here's how they go:

Haiku

Are five, seven, five
Syllables, that is. Titles?
You just make 'em up

A Strange Library Meteorological Phenomenon Observed

Rain pours down. Thunder
roars, lightning crackles overhead.
Must get videos.

And on a mostly unrelated note I'm reading Little Heathens. It's a memoir of growing up on an Iowa farm during the Depression years by a woman named Mildred Kalish and it's wonderful.
She writes of old family recipes and cures, of favored animals and relatives, and of the sheer joy to be had from working hard and living simply. AND she's a listmaker on the level of E.B. White, which I find quite enjoyable. The book's available here at the library and there's only one person after me on the hold list. Reserve your copy now...

George