Lemonade for Booker!

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Thanks Jane!

The last Books & Stars of the year featured "Tales with Tails" naturalist Kevin Strauss

Books & Stars featured naturalist Kevin Strauss!

He told stories that took us to the forests of long ago and into a world where animals can talk. A rather small but appreciative audience enjoyed the stories and the beautiful evening.

Many thanks go a grant Southeastern Arts Council that made this year's Books & Stars possible. Thanks also to Marvin & Eileen from the Cocoa Bean who where back supporting Booker with their sales of the cool Hawaiian shaved ice!

Thanks also goes to the Northfield Parks & Street crew for setting up the showmobile. Diana on Booker checked out and in LOTS of books on Booker. Thanks Diana! Thanks also go to Kelly, the community services intern and Ana, Nicholas, Tate, Claire and other library pages who helped at Books & Stars. We had a great 2008!

Fun at the pool with Hans Mayer!

We had a beautiful summer evening at the pool with talented musician Hans Mayer. Over 300 people enjoyed the entertainment and free admission to the pool - thanks to a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council with support from Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division and the City of Northfield Library.
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Our last MN History Player Virginia Mae Hope

We met Virginia Mae Hope, and heard exciting stories of women flying airplanes and serving their country during World War II.

Virginia Mae Hope, a native of Winnebago, Minn., was a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. The WASP performed wartime duties in the United States, thus freeing male pilots for combat. Hope was one of only 1,074 women to recieve the WASP silver wings after completing rigorous training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. After graduation, she was assigned to the Weather Wing and stationed at Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. She died on Dec. 7, 1944, in Omaha, Neb., when the plane on which she was a passenger crashed after takeoff.
Virginia Hope was known to say, "Isn't it just wonderful!" about her WASP career, though she and other female pilots faced blatant discrimination simply because they were women. Not until 1977, 33 years after the program was disbanded, did Congress recognize the WASP as military pilots and grant them veteran status.

Her visit was our last in our series celebrating Minnesota's Sesquicentennial. The Minnesota History Player visits where made possible by a grant from the Northfield Area Foundation.
Thank you!