Beyond the South End

Thomaston Library News

From Ann Harris, Head Librarian

Martin Luther King, Jr. Food Drive

The Thomaston Public Library is once again participating in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr., food drive for local food pantries. You can drop off unopened, non-perishable food items with current use-by dates at the Thomaston Library or the Cushing Library from now until February 28. The food drive’s sponsors are St. John’s Church, Thomaston Baptist Church, the Monday Morning Meeting, and Thomaston and Cushing public libraries. Let’s keep Dr. King's spirit of service alive by filling our neighborhood food pantries in this time of ever-growing need.

Danbury Mint Collection on Display

The Thomaston Public Library will feature a special display of the exquisite set of Danbury Mint collectibles donated to the library last fall by Mr. Keith Alley of Rockland. The set includes finely-wrought, painted models of the Statue of Liberty, White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court building, and Lincoln, Jefferson, and U.S. Marine Corps memorials.

This collection is now a permanent library display, but we’d like to express our gratitude to Mr. Alley for his donation and honor Presidents’ Day by highlighting it for six weeks within the main display case inside the library. The models will appear, with descriptive tags, set against the flag Mr. Alley donated along with the collection. The flag is accompanied by a certificate from the Architect of the Capitol verifying that the flag flew over the Capitol. This set of collectibles will be on display from the 21^st of January through the month of February.

Qi Gong Classes Moved to the Gym

The free weekly Qi Gong classes taught by Tim English and sponsored by Thomaston Public Library have been a huge success. So many have attended that the classes have been moved from the Thomaston Academy building’s Room 200 to the gym. Classes are held weekly at 1 pm on Saturdays. Running time is about an hour. There will be no class on February 2.

Tim first started practicing Qi Gong, a Chinese exercise, about three years ago. The term loosely translates to 'life force cultivation.' The practice involves a combination of slow rhythmic movement and breathing that provides the dual benefits of exercise and meditation.

This event is open to people of any age and skill level. No experience is necessary. For more information, please call the Thomaston Public Library at 354-2453.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Barefoot Books

Celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Snake with Barefoot Books. Dena Davis, Thomaston mom and owner of traveling bookstore Dena’s Barefoot Book Nook, will be leading a Barefoot Sing Along and Story Time on Friday, February 1st at 11:00am at the Thomaston Public Library. She will lead participants in song, movement, story, and a fun craft.

Barefoot Books is an independent publisher that creates beautifully illustrated, educational, and multicultural books which celebrate creativity, imagination and the diversity of our world! This story time is open to children of all ages. A variety of Barefoot Books, Putumayo cd’s, Folkmanis puppets, and puzzles will be available to purchase with proceeds benefiting the library. For more information about Barefoot Books visit www.BarefootBookNook.com or call Dena at 354-0614.