The true treasures of the season are inside all of us
Weekly activities
n Preschool Story Hour every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.
n We close Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at 5:00 p.m. and are closed on Christmas Day. We reopen Friday, Dec.26.
Treasures of season
We can all look at 2008 with some sense of dismay as economic conditions have taken the world with some surprise. Some might argue that we should have seen it coming but that is probably water over the dam at this point. As we sing Christmas carols, recall the good in people and in our community, timeless messages from the past speak again. The Editors of McCall’s in 1959 provided these Christmas thoughts for all the year – they remain true for today.
This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure.Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind; be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again.
Upcoming events
There are lot of activities scheduled for January. Pick up a Schedule of Activities on the front desk and see more activity details on the bulletin board posters for each event.
Viktor Frankl used a wonderful approach to understand life and to deal with the challenges that come our way. His philosophy and insights will be shared in a lecture on Jan. 6, at 10:30 a.m., by author and counselor Rosemarie Jaffin.
If you’re still hesitant in dealing with the Internet, need time to discuss how to get connected or how to feel more competent when it comes to using the Internet, consider signing up for “Basics of Internet Searching” on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Pre-registration and $1 sign-up fee are needed for this class.
Do you look at paintings and wonder what messages are impeded or what the artist may have included? “The Hidden Life of Art” will find Dr. Jaffin looking at the messages that the great artists conveyed in Christmas paintings, many of which we see on cards, posters, ads, stamps, etc. This media presentation is scheduled for Jan. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
World Travels with a Glassblower is the fun activity on Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m. as local artist Mark Heighway shares what he’s learned about glassblowing in his travels.
Feng Shui: clearning energy for the new year is the focus on January 9 at 10:30 a.m. when Feng Shui certified consultant, Nan Grover shares ideas that aid in freeing positive energy for one’s life and in the new year.
Short-term volunteer
If you enjoy people and have an opening in your schedule for Tuesday or Thursday 9am to 1pm, please fill out a volunteer application to help us assist in Internet sign-up. This volunteer project is from the beginning of January to Easter.
Gifts/donations
As you make final determinations for the year in terms of gifts and donations, please remember the library. The gap between what the operating budget provides the Beach Library and what we need to remain pre-eminent in collections and resources continues to be a challenge, making the need for private gifts and donations all the more imperative.
Gifts can be made payable to The Beach Library, 2755 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. If you can consider a gift of more than $500 for the Construction Fund, please inquire for a copy of the Cumulative Giving Program brochure.
Quilt
Since hanging the quilt “Let’s Talk” over the front desk, we’ve been ticked with those who stop at the desk to admire and enjoy this creation; then they begin to share their own guilt story with us. One of those stories, shared by resident and artist Peg Whipple goes like this: [setting is 1930 while living in small town between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Florida] Mother and Mrs. Warner were invited to Quilting Bee at one of the neighbors. I didn’t get to quilt, but at least I saw how it was done. The preparations had all been done the day before. The dining table had been moved out of the room so the quilting frames could be hung from the ceiling, where four large eye rings had been strategically placed. The hostess had prepared the quilt with the backing, padding, and the top she had so carefully pieced all winter from her sewing scraps.
Two ladies sat on each side and one on each end of the framed quilt. The needles were busy until lunch time, when the hostess served a home cooked meal. After lunch they all went back to sewing, and by dinner time the quilting was done. All the owner had to do was hem around the edges.
At the end of the day the ladies had a nice visit and the children were tired from a day of playing. Soon the room would be back in order, the eye rings would remain in place for the next quilting bee.
Library hours
Dont remember library hours? Call for information.
When we are closed, a recorder gives the hours of operation, either on 765-8162, or on 765-8163.
Except for holidays, which would be mentioned on the recorder, we are open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9 to 5, and Saturday 9 to 1.
We look forward to seeing you.