• Maine author Susan Conley and Maine photographer Winky Lewis will discuss and read from their new book, Stop Here, This is the Place: A Year in Motherland, THIS THURSDAY! August 25 at 7:00 PM. More info here.

• No book sale this Saturday August 27-- weekly book sales are over. Monthly book sales start Saturday September 3, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

• The Blue Hill Public Library invites kids ages 8 and up to join the "Inklings" Book and Movie Club on the last Saturday of the month, August 27th at 2:00 PM. More info here.

Stonington summer resident and author Penn Rhodeen will discuss and read from his new book, "Peacerunner," at the Library on Wednesday August 31 at 7:00 PM. The book tells the true story of a little known American politician who played a critical role in ending centuries of conflict in Ireland. Operating without any official position or assignment, willing to meet with everyone-even those widely seen as terrorists-former congressman Bruce Morrison helped end a brutal conflict that most observers thought would continue indefinitely.

In a narrative that grips the reader from the first pages, Rhodeen recounts Bruce Morrison's heroic peacemaking efforts in a fast-paced account that the distinguished Irish historian J. J. Lee calls "a joy, like a novel you'd devour for pure pleasure." With an introduction by President Bill Clinton, the book includes appearances from Clinton, Tony Blair, George Mitchell, Jean Kennedy Smith, Gerry Adams, Ian Paisley and other larger-than-life figures.

Penn Rhodeen is a practicing lawyer in New Haven, Connecticut who focuses on matters involving children and malpractice. He has been involved in political campaigns since high school, ranging from local to presidential. He heard Martin Luther King speak of his dream during the March on Washington, watched the Kennedy funeral procession from the North Lawn of the White House and went to Woodstock. This is his first book.

Books will be available for sale and signing. This event is sponsored by the Library and Blue Hill Books--there is no charge, and everyone is welcome. For more information, call the library at 374-5515.

Brooklin resident Dr. David Porter will give a talk about mushrooms found in the wild-the ones to enjoy and the ones to avoid-at the Library on Thursday September 1 at 7:00 PM. This talk, entitled "Identifying Mushrooms Safely," is part of the Library's Live & Learn series - supported by Friends of the Library.

David Porter moved to Brooklin in 2006 after a 38 year career in academics as a professor in the Plant Biology Department at the University of Georgia. His specialty is mycology, which is the study of mushrooms and other fungi.

Dr. Porter teaches a class in Fungal Ecology at the College of the Atlantic and has also mentored several students there.  He has given various mushroom related outreach programs through the Maine Mycological Association, Colloquy Downeast, Acadia National Park, Downeast Audubon, and local land trusts.

Chanterelle mushrooms are a popular edible mushroom that is found in the area, but you have to be careful in identifying it to not confuse it with something poisonous.

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

Kayak's View of Pumpkin Knob by Leslie Anderson

Participating Artists: Eileen Ahern * Anya Antonovych * Margret Baldwin * Charles Fenner Ball * Deborah Belyea * Wimberley Burton * Kathryn Calhoun  * Lynne Chamberlin * Diana Chase  * Phil Chase * Johanna Chase * Steve Collier * Brittany Courtot * Teddi-Jann Covell * George L Crosby * Heidi Daub * Galen Davis * Charlene Decker * Linda Deming * Alison C. Dibble * Paula Dougherty * Pamela Elias * Kate Emlen * Jill Finsen * Susan Finsen * Anina P Fuller * Cynthia Gallant-Simpson  * Eric Glass * Nina Hartman * Dottie Hayes * Em Herzstein * Nancy J. Hill * Edee Howland * Susan Hudson * Wendy Eysenbach Jagger * Lucy Jakub * Scarlet L. Kinney * Renee Lammers * Lakshmi Devi Lefebvre * Wendy Lewis * Rita Lundin * Heather Lyon * Charles Marbach * Deborah Wedgwood Marshall * Frederica Marshall * Maria Matthews * Mary Ann McKellar * Jane McNichol * Naishun Chang * Lawrence Moffet * Rosie Moore * Katherine Noble Churchill * Corey A Paradise * Trish Pettigrew * Rebecca Poole-Heyne * Karen Prinkey * Carolyn Raedle * Rebekah Raye * Penny Ricker * Jerry Rose * Carla Heider Rosenzweig * Jack Schlueter * Elsie Sealander * Walter Smalling * Bruce Stahnke * Judy Steeves * Axel Stohlberg * Sherry Streeter * Marcia Stremlau * Judy Taylor * Paul Trowbridge * Adele Ursone * Michael E. Vermette * Jennifer P White * Anne Gates Yarnall

Geometry in Blue Hill Bay by Katherine N. Churchill

The public is invited to meet the artists at a reception on Friday September 2, 4:30 to 6:30 PM. The library will remain open until 7:00 as part of Blue Hill's First Friday.

Looking for something to read?  Try a "blind date with a book." The 52 Weeks of Giving volunteers have selected books for you from the Library's book sale area, wrapped them in paper and put a quote from the book on the outside.

Anyone who wants to try a book can take one and keep it. The idea is to try reading a book you might not usually pick. There are books for adults, young adults and children-- you'll find them on display in the Larchwood Children's room and upstairs in fiction. This young patron decided to give it a try!

Adults:

*    Beyond Labels Discussion Group: Mondays, 10:30 AM-12:30

 *   Pickup Games of Chess: Thursdays 5:30 to 8:00 PM

 *   Basement Book Sales: Saturdays, 9 AM to 2 PM