Friends recap of a busy 2009
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
President of the Friends of the Onaway Branch of Presque Isle District Library recently released a summary of the activities the organization was involved in from Jan. 2 to Dec. 31, 2009.
?We started out the year with a ?First Tuesday with Friends? program ?Banding Owls in Northern Michigan? by Ed Pike of Harbor Springs,? said president Jocelyn Bergstedt, in her year-end report dated January 2010.
In February, Roger Bergstedt presented ?Sea Lamprey Research in Lake Huron.? The March program by Dr. Steve Baker, a retired veterinarian featured ?Native Orchids in Michigan.? In April, Billies of Cheboygan brought in local models and put on a fashion show/tea.
A recess was taken until September when poet laureate Doyle Morgan Fellers of Dripping Springs, Texas read from his book, ?Come Sit with Me, Poems and Points.? Doyle left a copy of the book for the library.
IN OCTOBER, Jeff Lang of the Michigan Loon Preservation Association gave a program on loon and also donated a loon film to the library.
There was no program in November because of the election, however, mushroom lady Marilyn Smith, a biologist from Harbor Springs, gave an interesting program called ?Fall Mushrooms in Michigan.?
Bergstedt said, ? Sharon Dulak, chairman of the First Tuesday programs, must be thanked for the outstanding job she does in arranging for these programs. Also, her husband and helpers who cover the windows to darken the courtroom and those who help set up and take down chairs.?
The programs are conducted at the Onaway Courthouse the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. The last one this season will be presented April 6 by Mardi Link, who will speak about her research and writing of the book, ?When Evil came to Good Hart,? a crime that happened at Good Hart near Harbor Springs.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS the group provided for include: ? Wil Reding, Rambling Naturalist. ? The VanFrankenhuzens with drawing sessions and slide shows of wildlife rehabilitation at Hazel Ridge Farms in Bath. ? MadCap Puppets presented ?Once Upon a Clock.?
Other projects are providing junior guild books for middle school and high school age students.
Seven new books are added to the library each month. Six new computer chairs were purchased for the library along with a big book display rack in the children?s room. In September, school supplies were purchased and made available for children using the library.
Bergstedt added that used books are for sale in the library as
Monthly friends? meetings are the third Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in the library.