Tuesday, July 28, 2015-- In this issue:

•  Events this week... 
•  Paint the Peninsula Continues 'Til end of Month
•  August Art Show: Water & Light
•  A Special Gift to the Library
•  Cuba: Hopes for New Friendships
•  What's Happening in 1940?
•  Children's Author Event

• Steve Corning, entertainer extraordinaire, will present a juggling workshop for kids 7 to 13 at the Library THIS WEDNESDAY July 29 at 2:00 PM. Space is limited--more info or register here.
  

• Join us for the next to last Kneisel Hall Children's Concert of the summer, as musicians from Kneisel Hall's Young Artist program perform a variety of chamber music pieces and engage their young audience TOMORROW! Wednesday, July 30, 4:30 PM.  All ages are welcome!

• Former Submarine sailor, marine historian and retired U.S. Navy Captain Robert Slaven, a Blue Hill native, will give an illustrated talk on the Seafaring History of Blue Hill at the Library THIS THURSDAY!, July 30 at 7:00 PM. More info here.
   
• Knitters interested in helping to raise money to buy holiday gifts for local kids can find out more about the Blue HIll Mitten Project and get knitting help, THIS THURSDAY! July 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM. More info here.  

• Blue Hill Bach begins its 2015 Festival weekend at the Library THIS FRIDAY! July 31 at noon. Conductor & keyboard player John Finney will talk about the historical framework for Bach's music, and with other musicians, will give a musical preview of the summer festival.

• Don't forget to visit our weekly Saturday book sale THIS SATURDAY! August 1 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Quality used book of ALL sorts for both adults and children - most just $1 or $2 (children's 25¢ - 50¢); with many new titles each week. Stop by and check out the weekly half price specials!

• THIS SATURDAY! August 1 at 10:30 AM kids and their families are invited to meet a very special community hero, an emergency medical technician. We will take a tour of a real ambulance and learn what it is like to drive it!

Weren't able to attend Paint the Peninsula, the library's fresh paint silent auction, on July 18th? You still have a chance to view and purchase some of the work. A number of paintings are on display on the main floor of the library and are available for sale until the end of the month. Stop in, you might go home with a treasure! See the side panel for some of the works.

The Library is pleased to announce the opening of the August show on Friday, August 7, 2015, 5:00 to 7:00 PM. "Water and Light" features the works of twenty nine artists inspired by the play of light on Maine's extensive coast and waterways. The exhibition will be available for viewing from August 3 to 31.
This highly anticipated event is an August tradition at the Library. It includes abstract and representational paintings, works on paper, photographs, accordion books, sketchbooks and objects. The show is organized and curated by Marcia Stremlau, the artist and former owner of Handworks Gallery together with Jennifer Mitchell-Nevin, Curator for Gallery 61 at the New York Institute of Technology.

The artists are:

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of artwork will benefit the Library. The Blue Hill Library is an independent non-profit organization. It relies heavily on the generosity of donors to meet its annual operating budget. The show will be open for viewing Monday through Saturday in August during Library hours. For more information, please visit www.bhpl.net or call the Library at 374-5515.

Don Mallow, renowned artist and architect, presented the library with a framed watercolor, The Old Cemetery on Union Street, that he painted in 1965 (almost exactly 50 years ago!). 

Mallow, whose recent works are currently on exhibit in the Britton Gallery through Friday, has had 11 solo shows at the Blue Hill Public Library over the years. As he handed the work over to Library Director, Rich Boulet, Mallow explained, "I have had this painting for a long time. It depicts an important part of Blue Hill's history and I can't think of a more appropriate home for it than the library." He noted that the bridge that appears in the foreground doesn't exist anymore.

Local author, artist and conservation biologist Dr. Alison Dibble will present an illustrated talk about her recent trip to eastern Cuba at the Library on Tuesday, August 4 at 7:00 PM. She will highlight the people she met, habitats, plants and animals she encountered, and ways that friends in the U.S. can help the Cubans meet their food security and conservation goals.

This event is free, and open to everyone. For more information call the Library at 374-5515.

The Library invites the public to an evening of cultural vignettes from 1940, the year the Library opened on Parker Point Road, on Thursday August 6 at 7:00 PM. As part of the celebration of its 75th birthday year the Library will present an evening of exploring the culture of 1940.

Benny Goodman, known as the "King of Swing" led one of the most popular bands of the time.

Live music of the period, including swing dance tunes will be performed by the New Trad Trio, and dances will be demonstrated by local performers Bernadette Dempsey and Bob Brown. Fashions from the era will be on display. Local actor Patrick Harris will provide commentary, poetry and prose, and recent George Stevens Academy graduate and actor Corey Gray will project onto three screens wartime footage from across the ocean in Europe as background to the cultural scene here in America.

This event is sponsored by the Library. There is no charge, and everyone is welcome. For more information, call the Library at 374-5515.

The Library will host a children's author event with Gary Urey, who writes the series Super Schnoz. This event, previously scheduled for August 1, is now scheduled for Saturday August 8 Kids will have the chance to meet Gary Urey, author of the Super Schnoz series of children's books about a boy with a super-sized nose with super smelling powers. In the first story bullies begin coming after the boy until they realize that with his super-schnoz he can detect when the principal is coming, at which point he becomes respected and popular.  His friends design investigations for his "super power worthy" nose which leads to all sorts of adventures.

Gary Urey says that, as a kid, he was a reluctant reader and it was through super heroes that he got his love of reading and writing. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and says that he puts his professional theatre training to good use every time he sits down to write funny stories for kids. He now lives and writes in Portland, Maine with his wife and two daughters, and has just finished the next installment of the Super Schnoz saga. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.  

Don't hesitate to call us for more information at 207-374-5515.