Volunteer Spotlight: Louise Snow

Posted on December 27 2007

Louise Snow has lived in Orono for 44 years. She has been a member of the Library Board of Trustees for many years and is currently the chair, keeping board meetings running efficiently in record time. An avid reader, she is keen to see the new library built in Orono as soon as possible.

Two of Louise's favorite hobbies these days are quilting and growing orchids in her home greenhouse. She has put both of these passions to work to help the OPLF. She has donated many items to the OPLF's two auctions, including several orchids which were very popular bidding items at both auctions. One of her quilts was raffled off at last year's auction as well.

Her latest contribution to the OPLF combines her love of quilting and flowers. She designed and pieced her 'State Flowers Quilt' which features 50 colorful squares representing the state flowers of each US state surrounded by green borders. The quilt was machine stitched by Dianne Hodgkins in intricate flower and leaf patterns. It was displayed at Merrill Bank, The Pretty Woman store, and the campus branch of the University Credit Union prior to the December 11, 2007 raffle.  Lucky winner, Lou Bain, had the winning ticket and the raffle raised over $1000 for the foundation.

Louise believes in giving back to your community and she demonstrates that by combining your interests with giving, it can be a lot of fun.

Go Green Auction Nets $19,000!

Posted on May 30 2008

The 3^rd Annual OPLF Benefit Auction was held on May 17 at the Buchanan Alumni House in Orono.  Nearly 150 community members gathered for the festive occasion, enjoying hors d’ouvres, live music by guitarist Rich Kenefic and lively bidding on over 100 great auction items.  The “Go Green” theme showcased the Foundation’s plans to build a LEED certified library and included item categories such as Green-i-licious, Green Thumb and Green With Envy.  : small;">John Cheney of Realty of Maine presided over the live auction festivities, encouraging bidders to remember that they were there to build a new library.

Highlights of this year’s event included the “Instant Wine Cellar”, a rack of 33 bottles of wine, won by Bucky Owen in the Heads or Tails game and a raffle of 100 gallons of heating oil from Old Fox Fuel, which was won by John and Shelly Jemison.

The event raised nearly $19,000 for the Foundation, bringing us a few steps closer to our $2.2 million goal.  With ground breaking planned for this summer, the auction proceeds provide a great boost in this final phase of fundraising. 

Auction co-chairs Laurie Rose and Bob Bass extend their thanks to the many donors and patrons who made this year’s auction such a success.  Special thanks go out to Kathy Hill of the Buchanan Alumni House, past auction chair Sarah Kenney for her help and advice, auctioneer John Cheney, guitarist Rich Kenefic, and to John and Roberta Bradson of the The Store Ampersand in Orono for their exceptionally generous donation of fine wines and other green-i-licious items for the auction and their overall support of the Library campaign.

 

Ken and Barbara Nichols examine an auction item

Guitarist Rich Kenefic entertains the crowd

Auction co-chairs Laurie Rose and Bob Bass address auction patrons

Auctioneer John Cheney congratulates Bucky Owen, winner of the Instant Wine Cellar

John and Joyce Wiebe share a laugh during the live auction

John and Shelly Jemison were happy to win the raffle of 100 gallons of heating oil from Old Fox Fuel.

 

 

2nd Annual Pixie Ball

Posted on May 5 2008

Dozens of happy pixies and their adult guests enjoyed a magical afternoon at the 2nd Annual Pixie Ball on Saturday May 3, 2008.   The Keith Anderson Community Center was transformed into a fairy wonderland by artist Valerie Wallace with the help of her children Ruby, Veronica, Daphne and Calvin. The pixies had the opportunity to show off their fairy finery on the Pixie Promenade, meet the Fairy King and Princess, learn some ballet moves from Ballerina Elizabeth of the Robinson Ballet and nibble on treats and sip punch from china tea cups.
Valerie Wallace coordinated the event with the help of Laurie Rose and Louise Jollife (refreshments) and Sandy Cyrus (sound and lighting). They had help during the event from Hannah Cyrus and Mark Bilyk (Fairy Princess and King), Eric Landis (photos) and Elsa Saunders and Ruby and Veronica Wallace-Ewing (set up, serving punch, etc.).   Proceeds from the event will benefit the OPLF.

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King grant goes to Orono Library

Posted on April 15 2008

The Orono Public Library Foundation recently received a $50,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation toward the capital campaign for a new library. The gift came in response to a grant request for the group's fundraising to build a public library at the corner of Pine and Birch streets.

The gift from the King Foundation brings the campaign total to $1.85 million. The campaign goal is $2.2 million.

"The volunteers have been focusing on the next 'four months to go to groundbreaking,' and the King Foundation gift could not have come at a better time," said capital campaign co-chair Dana Devoe. "This level of giving from the King Foundation motivates us to forge ahead with our plans and energizes our volunteers who have been working on this project for almost three years."

As described on its Web site, the King Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes strengthening and supporting communities and draws upon the values and spirituality of the founders. The foundation has a special interest in organizations and people who have less recourse to usual channels of resources, focusing on community-based initiatives, especially in Maine.

"We are very grateful for the support from local citizens, regional corporate donors and several foundations within the state of Maine," Devoe said. "Every dollar raised puts this community one step closer to building its first free-standing public library and a centerpiece for a newly revitalized Orono Community."

Friends Book Sale adds $2,500 to FOPL gift to Foundation

Posted on February 14 2008

The Friends of the Orono Public Library dedicated the proceeds of this year's annual Used Book and Bake Sale to our new library.  The sale was a great success, adding $2,500 to the Friends gift to the Foundation. Patrons of all ages found book treasures, and enjoyed hot soups, baked goods and conversation with other book lovers at the February 9 sale.  Foundation Co-Chair David Chase was on hand to discuss Foundation Plans and Progress with patrons, and a red shovel could be seen among the many, many books available for sale.

Friends book sale chair Edwin Nagy had this to say about the sale, "I always like to imagine the many homes that a book visits during its life, and I was gratified to see so many people coming out to not only give some books a new home, but to help give the Orono library a brand new home.  The sale was very successful in generating both excitement and funding for the new library building."  

Photos of the event can be found at:http://homepage.mac.com/enlandis/FOPLBookSale2008/

Calling All Shovels!

Posted on February 6 2008

The Orono Public Library Foundation is asking community members to drop off their old shovels at the library. Library volunteers will be painting the handles red to promote the new library campaign. The shovels will then be planted in donor's front yard as a visual indication that the campaign is near the end and that ground breaking will take place as soon as the funds are raised. The Orono Public Library Foundation has raised 1.8M dollars to date but still have $400,000 to go! This amount needs to be raised within the next 4 months in order to begin construction this summer. The Foundation is also planning a Phonathon to solicit funds from the community on Wednesday, Feb 27th. Members of the OPL Foundation steering committee will be placing calls from 5-8pm on that evening in the hopes of getting close to the 2.2M dollar goal. For more information please call the library at 866-5060.

 

Calling all Parents!!

Posted on January 30 2008

CALLING ALL PARENTS!

We need to raise $400,000

in the next 4 months!

The Orono Public Library and the Orono Public Library Foundation have been working for many years to raise money for a new library for the Town of Orono. Many of you have probably seen plans for the new library or have driven by the site on Pine Street.

We are in the final stretch of a long campaign. We have raised $1. 8 million, but we need to raise $400,000 in the next 4 months if we are to break ground.

Can you help?

We are looking for volunteer parents to serve on a Public School Library Subcommittee. The subcommittee will be responsible for planning events for students and publicizing events to the media. We want the kids to feel involved in this campaign-this is their library. This is YOUR library!

Orono needs a library and we need parents! We need your ideas and your energy! If you would like to help, please contact Laurie Rose at the library, 866-5060.

Creating our way to a New Library

Posted on October 25 2007

    Lemonade, bookmarks, birthday parties, house plants, quilts, international food.  These are some of the creative ways that Orono residents have put their hobbies and interests to work to help build our new library.
    So many people have generously given their time, energy and hard earned money to help build our new library and we have almost reached our fundraising goal.  Some people may think that if they cannot write a big check, there is nothing that they can do to contribute.  Not true!  Just look at the creative ways people have given to the OPLF.  Maybe something you love to do could help to make our new library a reality.  
    Elsa S. (age 7) spent her last day of summer vacation selling lemonade outside of the library and donated the proceeds to the OPLF.  Brownie Troop 251 worked closely with residents of Dirigo Pines to make Beaded Bookmarks which are being sold to benefit the New Library.
    An Orono resident celebrated her 40th birthday by asking guests to contribute to the OPLF in lieu of gifts.  Over $400 was raised for the library and the guests enjoyed eating lots of Pat’s Pizza and “the best chocolate cake I ever had”, from the Let Them Eat Cake bakery in Belfast.
    Kathy Lyons loves gardening and growing things.  This fall she split and potted a selection of houseplants and offered them for sale at Orono Festival Day, at the Dirigo Pines garden club meetings and at the library, donating the proceeds to the OPLF.   Louise Snow loves to quilt and to grow orchids.  She has donated several orchids to the OPLF’s two auctions, a quilt that was raffled off at the first auction and, most recently, another quilt that will be raffled off in December 2007.  
    Bear Brew Pub owner, Matt Haskell, hosted an International Night for the New Library.  Guests enjoyed great food and music while raising money for the library campaign.
    These are just a few examples of how much fun giving can be.  Thanks so much to these Orono residents for their creative contributions and to all of you who have contributed the OPLF campaign.  We are almost there!