By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library
“Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” The line is from an 18th-century poem by William Cowper and captures what many of us like best about working in a 21st-century library: the diverse experiences, people, tasks and conversations. Book and program topics range wildly, as do people’s interests. Anyone can explore almost anything. May at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is as varied as the month itself.
It’s more important than ever to fulfill our civic duty. That’s why the Highlands Regional League of Women Voters Maine is holding a non-partisan candidate forum at the library on Tuesday, May 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for all declared Dover-Foxcroft select board candidates. A great chance to ask questions about local issues that matter to you.
We’re still in voter mode as the LWV offers a “Guide to the June 2026 Primary Elections” on Tuesday, May 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. They’ll cover political party vs. unenrolled voters and also explain semi-open primaries and ranked choice voting. It’s a practical way to get ready for the June 9 primaries.
Multi-talented Gale Robinson (Leaves and Blooms Greenhouse) is back with another fun and easy craft project on Thursday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m. with “Decoupage 101: Mason Jar Tissue Holder”. She’ll guide us through transforming a quart-size mason jar into a decorative tissue holder by applying patterned napkins, tissue paper or fabric — creating a fabulous and functional decor piece. All supplies provided.
TFL’s Reading Group chooses books that run the gamut which make for engaging discussions. They’ll share their thoughts about “The Dreamers” by Karen Thompson Walker on May 14 at 6 p.m. From The Guardian’s review, “On a university campus in Southern California, a college student falls asleep and cannot be woken. Over the following weeks, an inexplicable sleeping sickness sweeps through the nearby town, causing an epidemic that baffles medical experts and puts the community in quarantine . . . Lyrical and beguiling, The Dreamers is a deeply immersive novel about a community in peril, collective hysteria, and the moral, emotional, individual and group choices we make when our lives, and those of our loved ones, are in danger.” Contact the library for a copy. New group members welcome.
With a title that nails the chaotic and uncomfortable state of limbo where many caregivers exist, “Neither Wife nor Widow” author Dale Ruth Sherburne visits the library to talk about her book on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. It’s described as “a riveting, straight-from-the-trenches memoir about the emotions experienced while caregiving for a family member with dementia. Through dozens of conversational vignettes, the author bares her feelings with raw, unapologetic honesty. Stories range from humorous to touching to wrenching, and shed a previously unseen light into a caregiver’s mind.” Dale is a Maine native who raised two daughters with her husband Russ in an 1850s farmhouse with a menagerie of beloved pets.
Now we make a U-turn back to one of our favorite subjects — the paranormal — with author, researcher and content creator Nomar Slevik at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. He’s come to TFL before to talk about “UFOs Over Maine and Humanoid Encounters”. This time, he plans to share some stories from his new book “In The Pines: True Stories of Mystery, Mayhem, and Monsters in Maine”. His latest work includes unexplained encounters of everyday Mainers. From crop circles and spontaneous human combustion to alien visitations and bizarre true crime, each account reveals a side of the Pine Tree State that is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
The seasonal shift is almost complete. We have free passes to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay (opens May 1) Discovery Museum in Bangor, Harrigan Museum in Milo, Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Center Theatre and the Maine State Parks vehicle pass (Peaks-Kenny opens May 15) to loan out to our patrons. Contact the library for details.
You’ll want to keep these scheduling updates in mind: TFL will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 due to a staffing issue and we will be closed on Tuesday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. We apologize for any inconvenience.
In the spice rack of months, May might be cardamom: aromatic (think chai latte!), warm, fresh with complex flavors that can be sweet, minty, and citrusy. Flowers blooming, greenery popping, energy shifting. This month join us for a wide-ranging mix of activities — maybe even try a new author or genre — and kick things up a notch. Variety is the spice of libraries too!
TFL hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday & Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit our website www.thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library or contact us at [email protected] or 207-564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public. Free Wi-Fi available 24/7 in the parking lot.
