One Book Wraps Up with African Library Project

The One Book One Community programs for 2008 wrapped up on Monday March 31 with sorting and packing of Books collected for the African Library Project. As well as working on getting the books ready to send to Mabule Primary School, those who gathered enjoyed foods of Africa, African music played on balafon (similar to a marimba or xylophone), information about CHABHA, an organization providing assistance to children affected by HIV/AIDS and more. The following photographs were taken at the wrap up which was held at the UU church in Norway.

Rob Shetterly's "Americans Who Tell the Truth"

On Monday, March 24, Robert Shetterly spoke to over 50 people gathered at Norway Memorial Library to learn about his "Americans Who Tell the Truth" project. Twelve of the portraits have been on display at Norway Memorial Library since the beginning of the month. Shetterly shared photographs of portraits not included in the current exhibit by projecting images on a screen.
Without notes, Shetterly spoke eloquently and with genuine passion about a number of the subjects in his portraits. He talked about how the project began with one portrait of Walt Whitman and how it has now grown to over 100 portraits with no end in sight. He talked of learning about the people he has chosen to include by reading their words and getting to know them by their writing and sometimes by meeting them. Included in the talk were thoughts about art, America, hopelessness and truth. To learn more about the project, visit www.americanswhotellthetruth.org

March 17 Program: Organizations

On Monday, March 17, the One Book On e Community's program focus was "Making A Difference: Organizations"
Janet Littlefield, Director of Friends of Little Field Home, presented a talk about the orphanage she helped to found in Malawi, Africa. If you were unable to attend, but want to learn more, use the link from this blog to visit the Little Field Home website. It's full of information and photographs and will allow you to view a video that was part of Janet's presentation on Monday night. Pictured to the left are: Kate Michaud, Janet, Bill Flynn, and Andy Churchill. Kate is a sophomore at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. She is organizing a Jump Rope-A-Thon fund raiser for Little Field Home to be held at the High School on April 6th. With Janet is Bill, her fiance. Andy is a sophomore at Hebron Academy is also helping with the organization of the Jump Rope-A-Thon.

Also presenting on Monday were Allen Crabtree and Julie Peterson who both served as Red Cross Volunteers following Hurricane Katrina. Allen, who works in public relations with the Portland chapter of American Red Cross, talked about the aftermath of the storm in New Orleans and becoming a Red Cross Volunteer. Julie spent two weeks in Gulfport, Mississippi providing disaster mental health services and spoke about her experience there. Locally, she has worked as a Disaster Action Team captain to provide immediate assistance at fires in Oxford County. They showed photos from their experience as part of their presentation. To learn more about volunteering with the American Red Cross, use the link to their website from this blog.

March 10 Program with Maine Guides

People gathering to hear Don Kleiner and Wendy Bertrand talk about safety and survival in the outdoors.


Wendy and Don spoke before dividing participants into two groups to further explore map and compass skills and wilderness safety and survival techniques.

Information was available about the One Book One Community 2008 Project to Make A Difference. Participating Libraries are collecting books and sending them to a children's school library in Mabule, Africa with the organization African Library Project. Collection boxes are in place in Libraries around the Oxford Hills, contact libraries for collection criteria. Books N Things of Norway is offering a 20% discount on items purchased for donation to the African Library Project.

A Successful Kickoff to Oxford Hills Reads 2008

On Monday, March 3, the One Book One Community programs of Oxford Hills Reads 2008, began with a visit by author Kate Braestrup. An audience of over 120 people gathered in the Forum at Oxford Hills Comprehensive to learn more about the "Making A Difference" themed programs planned for the following 4 Mondays in March. Books were available for purchase and locations, dates and times of book discussions were announced. Information about the African Library Project was made available, donations were collected and T-shirts designed by Lorraine Gedat were sold to cover the cost of shipping the collected books to Mabule, Africa.

After a welcome and overview of the program, Braestrup, author of Here If You Need Me, was introduced. She read an excerpt from her book and spoke spontaneously and eloquently about her experiences. Opening up to questions, the audience responded with many inquiries about her position with the Maine Warden Service, her experience as a widowed and re-married mother, her life as a Unitarian Universalist minister and more.


Following the talk, audience members were invited to enjoy refreshments made by library staff and friends, and to have book signed by Kate. There was opportunity to sign up for programs, visit with neighbors and friends from all around the Oxford Hills and to learn more about ways to participate in programs and events throughout the month of March.

Book Discussions

All discussions are open to the public, you may attend in any town or location and do not need to be a resident or library card holder.

Discussion Dates, Locations, Times, and Leaders

Tuesday, March 11, Paris Public Library, 7:00 pm, Pam Chodosh

Tuesday, March 11, Bolster's Mills Village Library, 7:00 pm, Nancy Lundquist

Wednesday, March 12, Zadoc Long Free Library, Buckfield, 6:00 pm Connie Cushing

Thursday, March 13, Whitman Memorial Library, Bryant Pond, 2:00 pm, Marta Clements

Thursday, March 13, Harrison Village Library, 7:00 pm, Marilyn Crowley

Thursday, March 13, East Otisfield Baptist Church, Rayville Rd., 7:00 pm, Henry Hamilton and Jean Hankins

Saturday March 15, West Paris Public Library, 9:00 am, Jeanette Baldridge,

Tuesday March 18, Norway Memorial Library, 7:00 pm, Jeanette Baldridge

Wednesday, March 26, Waterford Library, 10:30 am, Andrea Burns

April (tba), Hebron Academy Library, Cilla Potter

Truth Teller Portraits Now On Display

Norway Memorial Library now has on display a selection of portraits from Robert Shetterly's "Americans Who Tell The Truth" project. Portraits on exhibit include: Samantha Smith, Marian Wright Edlemen, Bill Moyers and "Granny D"(Doris Haddock.)
Shetterly will speak at the library on Monday, March 24 at 7:00 pm. This program is free and open to the public.

On the project website, Shetterly says, "I began painting this series of portraits --- finding great Americans who spoke the truth and combining their images with their words --- nearly three years ago as a way of to channel my anger and grief. (Following 9/11) In the process my respect and love for these people and their courage helped to transform that anger into hope and pride and allowed me to draw strength from this community of truth tellers, finding in them the courage, honesty, tolerance, generosity, wisdom and compassion that have made our country strong. One lesson that can be learned from all of these Americans is that the greatness of our country frequently depends not on the letter of the law, but the insistence of a single person that we adhere to the spirit of the law."

The portraits may be seen anytime the library is open and will remain on view through March.
To learn more about Americans Who Tell The Truth, visit http:wwwamericanswhotellthetruth.org

Kick Off to One Book One Community will feature author Kate Braestrup

Join others from all over the Oxford Hills on Monday, March 3 at 7:00 pm for the Kick Off to the 2008 Oxford Hills Reads program. The speaker will be Kate Braestrup, author of Here If You Need Me, which is the book selected as the One Book One Community read.
This will be your opportunity to purchase a book if you haven't already done so, listen to and meet the author, learn more about the "Making A Difference" programs planned for the following four Mondays in March, and find out about book discussions being held in several libraries in around the Oxford Hills.
Be a part of Making A Difference: Oxford Hills Reads 2008. Plan to come to this program and bring a friend along, read the book and join in a discussion or arrange one for your own book group. All programs are free and open to the public. Call a participating library for more information.

Participating Libraries

Bolster’s Mills Village Library 583-6421
Freeland Holmes Library (Oxford) 539-4016
Harrison Village Library 583-2970
Hebron Academy Library 966-2100 ext. 237
Norway Memorial Library 743-5309
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Library 743-8914 ext. 5107
Paris Public Library 743-6994
Stephens Memorial Hospital Library 743-5933 ext. 323
Waterford Library 583-2050
West Paris Public Library 674-2004
Whitman Memorial Library (Bryant Pond) 665-2505
Zadoc Long Free Library (Buckfield)336-2171

"Here If You Need Me" chosen for 2008 One Book One Community read

Kate Braestrup's book, Here If You Need Me, has been chosen as the One Book One Community selection for The Oxford Hills Reads program for 2008.

Kate Braestrup is chaplain for the Maine Warden Service. The story she tells in Here If You Need Me is her own,and begins with the sudden, tragic death of her husband, Drew, a Maine state trooper who was killed in a car accident. Braestrup, left with her grief and her four young children, made the unlikely choice to fulfill her husband's dream of becoming a minister. After doing so, she then began as chaplain to the Maine Warden Service serving on search and rescue missions and ministering both to people whose loved ones are missing and to the game wardens who do the searching.

"This is the story of Braestrup's journey from grief to faith to happiness, an uplifting account about finding God through helping others." (from publisher description)

Join in to celebrate the unity of the Oxford Hills by reading the book and talking together. During the month of March, discussion groups will gather to talk about Here If You Need Me. Contact a participating library for information about book discussion locations, dates, and times.
There will also be weekly programs related to the theme "Making A Difference." These programs are designed to bring together a wide variety of people from the towns of the Oxford Hills to learn how various people, as individuals and organizations, make a difference in their communities and in the world. Included in these programs will be a talk by the author on Monday, March 3rd, at 7:00 pm at the Forum of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School (snow date Tuesday, March 4), and as a Wrap Up , a community project is planned and will give participants the opportunity to make a difference themselves.

Watch this blog or contact a participating library for more information.