Double Vision

Our Family Fare series in the park has been sponsored by the community and the Library Trustees for the past 18 years. The series is for families to come and enjoy entertainment for 6 weeks during the summer. This year’s programs are sure to please all ages. All programs will be held in Victory Park and in the event of rain will be held in the Library’s Auditorium.

FAMILY FARE 2010

July 8, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
JUDY PANCOAST
New Hampshire’s own Judy Pancoast, well known to Family Fare audiences, will make her New Hampshire debut with her brand new band, The Groovy Dudes, on July 8th. Judy Pancoast and the Groovy Dudes will rock the park with their signature brand of “Bubblegum Pop for Sweet Kids, ” including new Judy tunes and fan favorites such as “A Little Bit of Elvis” and “Swimming in Jello.” Don’t worry about bringing a chair…you won’t want to sit down!

July 15, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
STORYTELLER /SONGWRITER STEVE BLUNT
Songwriter and storyteller, fun for all ages. There will be stories and songs to sing and just plain silliness.

July 22, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
DAN GRADY AND HIS MARVELOUS MARIONETTES
Show is fast-paced, stringed puppet production comprised of routines that have that special something which is sure to tantalize, captivate, enchant and delight all those whom attend. The broad range of acts include tightrope and trapeze artistry as performed by Eadarg Bros., to the country western strumming and crooning of the celebrated superstar Conway Kitty.

July 29, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS – NATURAL SELECTION
Make a Splash! Summer reading program theme. Water animals will include alligator, snake, tree frogs, toad and turtles and many more. The animals have been rescued and captive born / raised non-native (or “exotic”) wildlife, assist us as Ambassadors of Education… spreading the message of conservation, appreciation and respect for all of Earth’s creatures

August 5, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
VIC & STICKS
A musical storytelling show performed with a vaudeville/ragtime flair! Mixed with old fashioned vaudeville theatrics, this show will surely entertain.

August 12, 2010 – 6pm – Victory Park
DOUBLE VISION
Double Vision (mime, acrobatics, and juggling). The Scalises always knew they wanted more than anything else to be entertainers. Prepare to be amazed as Jody and Linda Scalise showcase their mime, acrobatics, and juggling talents.

We hope that you will enjoy this year’s Family Fare events and that you all have a safe and happy summer season.  See you at the library!

The book sale is coming! It is just two days away. It was announced in the Express (pdf) yesterday on page 10 and I visited several grocery stores on Saturday. We’ll be open from 2:30p to 6:30p, hoping for some good foot traffic by piggy backing on the Thursday afternoon Farmer’s Market.

For $5.00 people will receive a paper grocery bag at the entrance of the Winchell Room. Each additional bag can be bought for $5.00 per. If there are any questions about the sale or donations, please page or forward them to me. My voicemail is 624-6550 x610 and my e-mail address which is ereddy@manchesternh.gov.

• July 9th is Take a Pirate Journey from Wildlife Encounters – snakes and creepy things.
• July 16th is Sing songs with Marcus Gale – you know Big Dog Little Dog.
• July 23th is Dan Grady and his Marvelous Marionettes – Conway Kitty and the Edarg Brothers.
• July 30th is Mr. Phil – magic act pulls bunny out of hat.
• August 6th is Outback Adventure with Wildlife Encounters – kangaroo and koalas oh my.
• And things wind down on August 13th with The Norman Magic Experience – fun with magic.

Programs start at 6pm in the park. If it’s rainy (*sad*) things move to the Library Auditorium. Hope to see you there.

Our own Mayor Guinta was among the celebrants and toasted the event:

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank you all for attending The Big Read this evening and for your continued support of libraries in and around greater Manchester. It is wonderful that libraries have come together to put on The Big Read program and tonight’s fundraiser. Libraries can be beacons of light for people of all ages, providing both education and entertainment for all visitors. Your great support will help our libraries continue to provide unparalleled service to all the avid readers both in Manchester and surrounding areas.

Since I first read The Great Gatsby in high school, it has been one of my favorite American novels. It provides not only a brilliant story and viewpoint into a truly gifted American author, but also a fantastic theme for tonight’s event.

Thank you again for your support of these wonderful libraries and enjoy the party!

Sincerely,
Frank C. Guinta
Mayor

We’re looking forward to more super events around this book.

I’ve been going through some of our Biology books and found a few that are worth a second look:

Digital Biology: How Nature is Transforming our Technology and our Lives by Peter J. Bentley
From the bookjacket:

Imagine a future world where computers can create universes — digital environments made from binary ones and zeros. Imagine that within these universes there exist biological forms that reproduce, grow, and think. Imagine plantlike forms, ant colonies, immune systems, and brains, all adapting, evolving, and getting better at solving problems. Imagine if our computers became greenhouses for a new kind of nature. Just think what digital biology could do for us. Perhaps it could evolve new designs for us, think up ways to detect fraud using digital neurons, or solve scheduling problems with ants. Perhaps it could detect hackers with immune systems or create music from the patterns of growth of digital seashells. Perhaps it would allow our computers to become creative and inventive. Now stop imagining.

Life Itself: Exploring the Realm of the Living Cell by Boyce Rensberger
A New York Times 1997 Book of the Year From the NY Times review by David Papineau:

How could an assemblage of merely physical parts perform such sophisticated tasks, let alone construct itself unaided from a single cell? It is little wonder that as recently as a century ago most scientists believed that living matter was animated by a special force, an elan vital that added meaning and purpose to the dumb matter in our bodies.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo by Sean B. Carroll
From the Amazon Review:

“Every animal form is the product of two processes–development from an egg and evolution from its ancestors,” writes Sean B. Carroll in his introduction to Endless Forms Most Beautiful. The new science of “evo devo”–or evolutionary developmental biology–examines the relationships between those two processes, embryonic development and evolutionary changes, despite their radically different time scales.

We have had some wonderful comments and a great time looking at the Library from this perspective. Here are a few of my favorites from the series:

• Listening Closely – Last winter some characters from Disney on Ice visited us. They gave everyone Nemo hats; the kids were spellbound. I found myself utterly charmed by the scene. A few days later our beloved Head of Technical Services sported the hat in an administrator’s meeting.
• A Peaceful Moment at West – Yvonne took this one and I thought the light and calm in it was lovely. Who wouldn’t want to hang out at THAT Library?
• Children’s Book Week – To celebrate some of the staff volunteered to pose with their favorite kids’ books. I think the resulting photos were absolutely lovely portraits. They showed us as well really are: loving our jobs and a bit silly.
• Photographing the photographer – I thought it was really super that the Union Leader wanted to do a story about what libraries offer… especially in the bad economy (The story was published on May 18th, 2008. You can find it in Newsbank. You’ll need your library card number to login.) I really liked the action in this picture. Notice who’s not in the photo he took? There’s a reason for that. Cross modeling off the list, I’ll have to stick it out as a librarian.
• Above and beyond – I missed it, unfortunately, but apparently there was a runaway during the Wildlife Encounters program and this guy climbed the auditorium wall. It cracked me up.
• A new reading room – We were overwhelmed by his generosity and proud to name the Allen G. Cote Reading Room over at the West Branch. Mr. Cote’s family was on hand for the ceremony.
• Day 276 with Paige – Library staff, big hearts always, rescued a kitten who had been living behind the library. She got very cozy for the week she stayed with us and we were all very fond of our foundling. Our Amy G. gave her a lovely home.
• Clowning Around – Could this little face be any sweeter? Er, I mean fiercer? Raaawwr.
• Customer Service – This is what we are all about and I think this photo captures it perfectly. Something about the sense of collaboration and warmth makes me smile every time.

So it’s with mixed emotions that we post our last photos of the project today. Well, Yvonne posts them; she’s my hero. Having spent the last hour looking through the collection we have built, I am proud that it’s exactly what I hoped it would be. These photos give a glimpse into the daily life and inner workings of our Library. It’s a remarkable place with lots of spirit and action. It does not belong to those of us fortunate enough to work here, but to the whole city of Manchester. Thank you to everyone.

ps. If you did follow along, don’t worry, Yvonne and I are cooking up a new photo project for a new year.

This year’s delicacies included:

• German Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from Amy H.,
• Pfeffernusse Cookies from Michele G.,
• Peanut Butter Balls from Cindy,
• Red’s Christmas Bars from Jan,
• Chocolatey Raspberry Crumb Bars from Steve,
• Raspberry Pillows from Yvonne,
• Lichen brought chocolate crinkles (recipe below) and molasses (cookies).

Chocolate Crinkles – a Rancourt family tradition

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. In large bowl, mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla – test to make sure it tastes okay. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.
2. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours or, if you can’t wait that long, put it in the freezer for ten minutes and call it good.
3. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray.
4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Don’t eat more than six spoonsfulls – more than that always gives you a tummy ache
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks

If you’re dying for any of the recipes for the other offerings leave a comment and we’ll make a case to the bakers to share their recipes.