By Kim Brawn

July at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is the equivalent of an amazing movie montage! Hope you’ve had your eight hours of sleep AND a caffeinated beverage because you’re going to need it. Lights, camera, action!

We zoom in on audience reactions at “Mad Science of Maine: Fire and Ice,” Thursday, July 3 at 10:30 a.m. This spectacular show thrills with impressive science experiments like foggy dry ice storms and safe and fun fire demonstrations!

What’s a montage without music? The Sebasticook Valley Community Band plays a free concert on Sunday, July 6 at 4:30 p.m. at TFL. Musicians from different walks of life come together to share their love of great tunes.

Even more “oohs, aahs, and woahs!” as the always popular Sparks’ Ark Animal Services is back with another live animal program on Thursday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m.

Oh no, all this running around has tweaked your back, no worries come to “Muscle Pain 101” on July 10 at 1:30 p.m. and learn ways you can help your muscles feel better faster. Physical therapist Susan Garrettson will show us how some fairly simple positioning of your arm, leg, rib cage, or neck can help promote effective relief from soreness and muscle pain.

The Summer Kid’s Series—geared towards elementary age but all are welcome—continues with the clinking sound of Legos cascading out of an enormous tote. Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan offers up the “Lego Building Challenge” on Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 a.m. She’ll supply the Legos and challenges—the kids bring their imagination and building skills.

Another musical interlude with Some Reel People in concert at 6 p.m. on July 17. This self-described “joyous and informal country dance band” puts on quite the show that will move your body and soul.

Cut to a close-up of a boy, deeply focused with a thin paint brush in hand during “Paint By Number with Ms. Michelle” on Thursday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. Michelle channels her inner Bob Ross in this fun program and kids get to bring home their finished art work.

The Harold J. Crosby Community Band keeps the plot moving along on July 24 at 6 p.m. with rousing marches and songs that feature wind, brass, and percussion instruments.

Themes explored, emotions elicited, and imagery revealed when poets Julia Bouwsma and Audrey Gidman unite for a poetry reading and discussion on Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m. Julia is Maine’s Poet Laureate and the author of three poetry collections, including the newly released Death Fluorescence. Audrey is a Maine poet, editor, and the author of body psalms which received the Elyse Wolf Prize, and the forthcoming griefnotes. 

We transition back to animals, both specimens and live, as “Chewonki: Maine Mammals” wows the crowd on Thursday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m. Find out fun facts about your favorite creatures!

Those broad smiles leap off the cover of Letters of Laughter and Loss: A Maine Love Story conveying a strong sense of happily ever after. In the book, author Cheryl Stitham-White shares the poignant details of her day-to-day life after the sudden death of her husband of 46 years in letters she wrote to friends and family. Find out how she navigated the loss and accepted a future without the love of her life. Cheryl, who went to Foxcroft Academy and Colby College, divides her time between South Portland and a camp on Sebec Lake, will be in conversation with TFL’s director Jon Knepp at 6 p.m. on July 31.

The scene shifts to Soil & Water’s incredible Law Farm in Dover-Foxcroft where Ms. Michelle has put up a story walk featuring Daylight Starlight Wildlife by Wendell Minor. Exploring nature while reading is the best way to spend family time!

Erma and April walk into a library . . . that’s right, the beloved therapy dog and her human companion April Taylor will be at TFL on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Kids can improve their reading skills in a comfortable, nonjudgmental atmosphere.

Cue Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” as Michelle packs up the van and drives around the area sharing free books and free produce. Wednesdays this summer TFL’s Read and Feed Mobile will have two routes that alternate. The eastern route has stops in Brownville Junction, Milo, Sebec, and Charleston while the Monson/Dover-Foxcroft route has four stops in those towns. (Visit the library for details or find them on Facebook, Instagram, or our website.) Produce is from PRFC through Good Shepherd, Helios Horsepower Farm, and Leaves and Blooms Greenhouse.

It feels like we should end this miles-long montage with a ton of fireworks after previewing all the programs and activities that TFL has lined up for July. I finally breath a sigh of relief but then I remember what Jon said to me, “Wait ‘til you see August!” OMG, we’re gonna need a bigger boat and a longer article. For now, let’s roll the credits over some crazy outtakes and cool music!

(Please note: the library will be closed on Friday, July 4 for Independence day.)

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public.

Our Spring Newsletter is out now! Click on the picture or link below to read it!

June 2025 [pdf] The Right Stuff | Lighting the Way | You Can’t Choose Your Family | Sometimes You Can Choose Your Family | Made in Maine | When the Gale-Force Is With You | Too Good to Pass Up | Picking Up the Pieces | Screen Shots

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

When you walk into a new place it can feel a bit strange. But visit often enough and that feeling falls away—you won’t be a stranger for long at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. Now, it’s not quite like Cheers—we won’t remember everybody’s name and neither will you—but a nice feeling of familiarity builds over time. June is when the snowbirds arrive home, and the summer people come to town. New faces and old friends will see each often thanks to the great programs we have on tap.

Be sure to tip off your friends and neighbors: TFL’s Ten Cent Basement Book Sale is back June 5-7. (Sale hours: Thurs 10-6, Fri 9-5, Sat 9-12:30.) Bring your change and dollar bills and scope out tons of books, DVDs, and puzzles. These mega-deals will make for cool gifts or beach reads, and even spice up those rainy weekends.

Saturday, June 7 is a terrific twofer: the book sale is on and it’s Caturday! That’s right, director Jon Knepp’s two cute and curious cats, Freya and Andy Jr., will be on hand to investigate TFL’s nooks & crannies while enjoying ample attention from doting humans along the way.

Unfortunately, the concept of summer can differ from the reality. The days can be really hectic and sometimes stressful. It’s important to take breaks and relax. Join us for a pleasant one-hour respite at Adult Coloring 101 on Thursday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. We’ll have plenty of great coloring pages and colorful gel pens and pencils to choose from, along with light snacks and soothing sounds. Adult coloring may increase mindfulness, enhance creativity and can calm the brain and body—in other words, it helps you chillax, baby!

TFL’s Monthly Reading Group is a way to connect with other bibliophiles and discuss an array of varied and interesting books. June’s selection is Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. The Seattle Times calls it, “A warm and wholehearted work of literature, an honest and detailed account of grief over time, studded with moments of hope, humor, beauty, and clear-eyed observation.” (Copies available at the library.)

Don’t let reading fall by the wayside during the summer months. Keep the momentum going with TFL’s Kids’ Summer Reading Program (for all youth: infant to age 17). Sign up is June 24-28 (Tues-Sat). Completion of the program gives participants free books, free ice cream from McDonald’s, free fair passes to the Piscataquis County Fair—plus the chance to win other big prizes.

Therapy dog Erma and her human companion April Taylor are definitely not strangers to TFL. We are very excited for the return of Reading with Erma Tuesdays at 2 p.m. starting June 24. What better way to practice reading than in a nonjudgmental environment, snuggling with a wonderful dog. (And it counts towards summer reading!)

Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan hits the road in the Read and Feed Mobile on Wednesday, June 25 as the second season of the free books and produce program kicks off. The first route will be the Eastern Route with stops in Brownville, Milo, Sebec and Charleston. Michelle is a friendly face who loves making books and fresh produce accessible to everyone. (Check out our Facebook page or website for more details.)

Abracadabra! It’s time for TFL’s Summer Kids’ Series. Wow, it’s here again and Michelle has put together an incredible line-up starting off with a Magic Show on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m. Master magician Phil Smith entertains the crowd with his sleight-of-hand skills, humor, and more. (Geared towards elementary but open to all ages.)

Author Nomar Slevik describes himself as a “writer of high strangeness” so it’s not too surprising that he is a paranormal researcher with many books, documentaries, podcasts, and music to his credit. He stops by the library on June 26 at 6 p.m. to discuss his book Humanoid Encounters: Creatures, Phantoms, and Other Strange Entities Sighted in Maine. The book takes us deep into the eerie, uncharted territories where the unknown walks among us. That should pique your curiosity.

We all have those moments when we go somewhere for the first time, and it seems kind of weird—that sense of unfamiliarity can make us feel like a stranger in a strange land. Thankfully that wears off fast at the library: you explore, ask questions, try different things—learn the ropes—and hopefully come back again. This June and beyond there are plenty of reasons to visit again and again. So don’t be a stranger.

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

Shift happens. And it happens in May. The landscape blooms, the colors pop. As green as an Irish hillside. It’s summer’s opening act. In pre-Netflix days, Memorial Day weekend was the start of Hollywood’s blockbuster season with theater lines twisting down sidewalks and around parking lots. It’s when we shift into high gear at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft: preparing for our busiest stretch filled with scores of visitors and a profusion of programs.

As summer approaches, parents can feel pressure from all angles. New parents especially face a host of different issues, that’s why “Baby and Me” from Northern Light Mayo Hospital is such an incredible resource every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at TFL. If you are a new or expecting parent, you can get advice, support, and connection from this growing and thriving program.

TFL’s Reading Group discusses Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt on Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. A review from Elle calls it “Infused with heartfelt humor, Van Pelt’s elegant portrait of a widowed woman who finds understanding and connection with a clever octopus is refreshingly, if surprisingly, relatable. Despite the unorthodox relationship at its core, the debut novel offers a wholly original meditation on grief and the bonds that keep us afloat.” (Copies available at TFL.)

Take a break from your to do list and come to the library on Caturday (9-1 on Saturday, May 24). Director Jon Knepp’s cool cats, Freya and Andy Jr., will charm and relax you as they explore every nook, cranny, and shelf while stopping for frequent pets! (Accommodations can be made for those who are allergic or not feline fans.)

We’re excited to have the very versatile Gale Robinson (from Leaves & Blooms Greenhouse) back for another fun and easy craft project. She’ll guide us through “Design a Bookmark 101” on Thursday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. using acrylic paints, Washi tape, & rub-on transfers. (All supplies provided.)

TFL will be closed on Tuesday, May 20 as staff members attend the MLA (Maine Library Association) Conference.

Be sure to join us for the last “Homeschool Drop-in” of the season on Wednesday, May 21 from 1-2:30. It’s a great time for homeschool parents and children to gather and socialize. Special guest Jewel will be building with dominos, as kids watch and help.

The library will be closed Tuesday, May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday as we prepare to hit the ground running towards summertime. Helpful hint for the week before: bring a ginormous L.L. Bean or T.J. Maxx bag—or we’ll round up something—to carry that extra-large haul to keep you going over the extra-long weekend! They’ll be lots to choose from display-wise as my colleague Shannen Rhoda is planning her follow-up to April showers—you guessed it—a floral theme! And she will be (tentatively) taking us for an out-of-this-world ride—stay tuned.

May is a mix of being in the moment and planning ahead, making sure all those ducks are in a row. Come enjoy this prelude to summer at the Thompson Free Library. Lean into the shift, savor the warmer days, and soak up the vivid tones and hues—who knows, sometimes the opening act is a true revelation. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

My observation is that April is a tipping point—when a paradigm shift occurs and the light at the end of that cold, dark tunnel brightens.

My hypothesis is that April at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft will help you discover your own origin story, create beautiful gardens with plants indigenous to Maine, gain insights into the Ukrainian and Russian people, see if petting cats can trigger your feel-good brain chemicals, and why celebrating young scientists is a win-win for everyone.

To test this hypothesis, we’ve put together an incredible lineup of programs that will provide valuable information and enjoyment, as those sporadic showers turn into fetching flowers.

With spring taking hold, now is the time to switch to garden mode. Join Kate Garland, UMaine Cooperative Extension horticulturist, for “Native Plants for Ornamental Gardens.” on Thursday, April 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. Discover why native plants matter and how to integrate them into your spaces. Explore valuable resources for selecting the right plants and enjoy a virtual walk through a collection of native species. (Pre-registration is preferred.)

TFL’s Reading Group discusses Matt Haig’s bestseller The Midnight Library on April 10 at 6 p.m. The central theme: between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices. The New York Times describes the novel as “An absorbing but comfortable read…a vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, [that] might be exactly what’s wanted in these troubled and troubling times.” (Copies available at TFL.)

Caturday returns on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. I had the pleasure of hanging out with director Jon Knepps’ two cats, Freya and Andy, Jr., during Caturday in March. They  never stop moving, except to enjoy the pets and attention lavished upon them. They love investigating every corner of the library—hiding, climbing, snoozing, running, jumping—delighting feline fans of all ages. (For those who are allergic or not cat fans, accommodations will be made.)

If you’ve ever watched Finding Your Roots on PBS, you’ve probably wondered who your ancestors were, how to go about finding them, and what do some of the terms such as “once removed”, pedigree charts, or vital records mean? Join Nancy Battick on Thursday, April 17 at 1:30 p.m. for “Exploring Your Roots 101” when she’ll give you clues to start searching your own family roots. Nancy is a past president of the Maine Genealogical Society, author of the Family Discoverer column in the Piscataquis Observer, and an experienced genealogist.  She’ll offer tips and distribute a handy primer to help you begin your genealogical journey. (Geared towards beginners, all are welcome.)

Robert Klose is an Orono-based writer who teaches at the University of Maine. He will headline “A Tale of Two Adoptions” on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in which he’ll  focus on his two memoirs, stemming from his adopting boys from Russia and Ukraine as a single man. “I have put together a book talk centering on these adoptions. I think it makes for a timely presentation, given the drama playing out in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Despite the carnage, I like to tell my audiences that I have sons from Russia and Ukraine, and they get along, so there is hope,” says Robert.

Our young scientists have been hard at work on their projects for over a month, following the scientific method (more rigorously than I have!) in preparation for the highly anticipated “TFL Science Fair” on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Let’s show them what real community support looks like—come check out all the cool experiments, chat with the researchers, and celebrate science!

Well, we’ve analyzed the data and drawn our conclusions: libraries are essential community hubs that offer a wide range of resources and services to everyone, while providing free programs to enrich lives, encourage connection, and promote learning. Get the word out—especially to your representatives—and come experience it for yourself!

Please note: TFL will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. We apologize for any inconvenience.

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public.