Friends Welcome David Purnell, Classical Guitarist

David entertained a nice crowd this afternoon. It was warm and toasty by the fireplace as the snow fell through the blustery wind across Reeds Lake.

CLASSICAL GUITAR @ the EGR Library! Sunday, November 30 at 2:00pm

Wind down after the holiday! Listen to classical guitarist David Purnell at the East Grand Rapids Library. Enjoy wonderful music in the comfortable and beautiful space of the library. This is a free event sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Great Day Trip to Chicago!

A busload of Chicago sightseers had a fun time in the "windy city" on November 1, 2008. Many shopped, visited museums, strolled or took in a play. This was our second annual fundraising trip.

Chicago Shop 'til You Drop Fundraiser Trip, Saturday, November 1, 2008

The bus will board in the EGR Community Center parking lot at 7:30am sharp and return to the lot at approximately 11:00pm. Once in Chicago you will be on your own to explore the city. There will be one pre-determined drop off and pick-up location.

We had such a great time on the trip last year! We hope you will join us!

All proceeds benefit the East Grand Rapids Library.

Visit from John Otterbacher, Grand Rapids Author, September 16. 2008

East Grand Rapids Library patrons enjoyed an inspirational visit from the author!




2008 Michigan Notable Books Press Release:





John Otterbacher's

Sailing Grace

"About Sailing Grace

Sailing Grace, released in both hardcover and softcover editions in July 2007, introduces herself this way:

After eight visits to surgery in eight months, ˜heart transplant” is working its way into conversations with John’s doctors.

John and Barbara are talking about going sailing instead.

Sailing Grace, narrated with present-tense immediacy, is John’s account of drowning in heart disease, fighting back to the surface, and sailing on. It begins with him flat on his back in a local health club, gasping for air. It ends thirty-one months and four thousand miles later when he, Barbara and their two youngest children maneuver their sailboat Grace into Schull Harbor, Ireland.

A gritty account of their family’s struggle to do better than simply survive, Sailing Grace is also a commentary on how love heals, dreams energize and trauma can be a wake-up call. From hospital ward to the stormy Atlantic, this hard-edge story will resonate with anyone who has confronted profound adversity, be it coronary disease, cancer, or the heavy weather that unexpectedly blows through every life.



About John


Since earning his doctorate in clinical psychology, John Otterbacher has taught college, served as a State Representative and Senator, worked as a psychotherapist, and taken some long sails with his family (sixteen months in 1989-90 and six years between 1998 and 2004), recently sailing across the ocean four times.

A longtime contributor to sailing magazines (Sailing, Cruising World and Yachting Monthly in England), John wrote Sailing Grace at his editor’s insistence.

John currently lives and writes in Michigan.

What others are saying

Most book reviewers don’t spend time and column space on new authors from midget presses. In spite of that, John, Barb and Sailing Grace are getting some very good coverage:

“Sailing Grace is a thoroughly engaging book. Wise people have known forever that life is a near death experience. The costumes of our lives can be suffocating, and Otterbacher and his family shed theirs going to sea. They win big and we win along with them by reading the engrossing and perilous adventure story they made of their lives.”

Jim Harrison, Author/poet

“John Otterbacher’s exquisite tale of one man’s journey into himself and of his family’s dramatic crossing of the Atlantic is a powerful elixir for anyone tiptoeing through life and settling for dreams deterred. Sailing Grace is absolutely terrific in it’s rendering of the sea, of man, and of our innate need to engage our soul and senses in ways both small and gargantuan. I wept at the conclusion.”

Tom Rademacher, Grand Rapids Press

“On the blue Atlantic and in bleak hospital words, John Otterbacher has weathered the sorts of storms that ultimately define a person… assuming they manage to survive. Otterbacher’s gifts were his family and friends, and the dream that sustained him. Ours is this book that, with humor and humility, tells his tale.”

Herb McCormack, Sail Magazine

“Anyone who appreciates the power of the ocean and the humility of putting to sea in a sailboat will understand John and Barbara’s choice to go to sea with his damaged heart. Anyone who doesn’t, will, after reading Sailing Grace. “

Elaine Lembo, Cruising World Magazine

“Once I started reading this book, I could not stop.”

Rich DeVos, Co-founder of Amway, International Yachtsman

“A love story in more ways than one. Facing the future without trepidation is one of life’s greatest gifts…. It leaves you limp, exhausted. If it doesn’t sell, there is no adventure left in literature.”

Judd Arnett, Detroit Free Press"



Visit the author's website for great information:

http://web.mac.com/sailing_grace/iWeb/Sailing%20Grace/Author.html

"Wednesday Wars" Author,Gary Schmidt, Friday, March 7, 2008

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed listening to Professor Schmidt talk of his life and writing. After the lecture Pooh's Corner Book Store was on hand with titles for autographing by the author.

Alice Apol, program coordinator, introduced our author.


































Those of us who have read Wednesday Wars really appreciated the cream puffs!

Friends of the EGR Library Presents 2008 Newbery Honor Book Author Gary D. Schmidt

The Friends are delighted to welcome the author of the 2008 Newbery Honor book, Wednesday Wars to our Library:

Date: Friday, March 7, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Location: EGR Community Center, 750 Lakeside Dr. SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Lower level of building.

Professor Schmidt will speak on his life and writing. He will be available to answer questions and sign books. Pooh's Corner Book Store will be there with a table of his titles.

Please check out this link from the New York Times Sunday Book Review focusing on Schmidt's Wednesday Wars http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/books/review/Stone-t.html

By TANYA LEE STONE

Published: December 16, 2007

Please come and enjoy this free event in celebration of the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library's 50th Anniversary, 1958 - 2008.

Cover picture courtesy of Calvin College Spark, Grand Rapids, Michigan. http://www.calvin.edu/publications/spark/

Jazz and Friendship at the Library, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

What a wonderful afternoon at the Library! William Huyge's Jazz Trio performed to a very appreciative crowd. The Friends celebrated their 50th on the coldest day of the year with great music and the warmth of friendship!

William Huyge - keyboard, Charlie Hoats - bass, Earlie Braggs - trombone

L - Cake and punch!

R - Helen, Jenelle and Rita
Below - Mary C.

Come celebrate the Friends’ 50th with Jazz and Refreshments at the Library on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Click on Picture
The community is cordially invited to help the Friends of the EGR Library celebrate 50 years of togetherness. Please stop by to listen to wonderful jazz by William Huyge's Jazz Quartet, share some delicious anniversary cake and check out all that the library has to offer!

1958. Marion Branston on the left

DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST GRAND RAPIDS LIBRARY BRANCH OF THE KENT COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

1958

The Community of East Grand Rapids

The Officers and directors of the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library 1958:

Mrs. Elbert Abbott, Mrs. Charles Cutter, Dr. Kenneth Nickel

Mrs. Harold Baer, Mrs. Irving Folger, Mrs. J. Boyd Pantlind,

Mrs. Craig Booher, Mrs. William Gallmayer, Mrs. Milton Peterman,

Mrs. George Branston, Mr. Dale Gasch, Mrs. Robert Richards,

Mrs. Samuel Capps, Mrs. Edward James, Mrs. Don Swartz,

Mrs. Luther Carpenter, Mrs. Frederick Mueller, Mrs. Stephen Tourre,

Mrs. George Clements, Mrs. C. Robert Muth, Mrs. Thomas Waugh,

Kent County Library System

Miss Joyce Pleune, Director, Kent County Library System

City of East Grand Rapids, Mayor and City Commissioners

Fantastic time had by quilters at February 2, 2008 full-day Ami Simms' "Twisted Sisters" workshop!

Friends of the EGR Library Celebrate their 50th Anniversary, 1958 - 2008, with special programs!

Ami Simms and 15 quilters enjoy the day, each making unique "Twisted Sisters" blocks.

Ami is the one in the green "Michigan rag fur" jacket! See if you can find her. Please also check out her site http://www.amisimms.com to see her books, patterns (including rag fur jacket), quilt workshops, lecture tour and charitable Alzheimer's project.

Sign-up Now for Full-day Quilting Workshop with Ami Simms! Visit http://www.amisimms.com

Friends of the

East Grand Rapids Library

sponsored

Ami Simms’

FULL- DAY QUILTING

WORKSHOP

TWISTED SISTERS

"TWISTED SISTERS"

Begin your own machine-pieced masterpiece!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

10:00am - 4:30pm

East Grand Rapids Community Center, Lower Level 746 Lakeside Dr., SE E. Grand Rapids, MI

$50.00 Workshop , includes:

CLASS FEE: $33.00 + REQUIRED TEMPLATE & PATTERN: $17.00

SKILL LEVEL : BEGINNER or INTERMEDIATE

Class space is limited. Please sign -up at the EGR Library now.

Library Phone: 616 - 647- 3880

Program Contact Information - Mary Dersch

E-mail: derschmary@netscape.net

Phone: 616-241-2092

Ami Simms is the author of eight books on quilting, Picture Play Quilts, How To Improve Your Quilting Stitch, Invisible Appliqué, Every Trick In The Book, Classic Quilts: Patchwork Designs From Ancient Rome, How NOT To Make A Prize-Winning Quilt, Creating Scrapbook Quilts, and Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts. She is also the creator of the WORST Quilt in the World Contest®.

Ami has been leading workshops and giving lectures on quilting throughout the United States since 1982 and has taught quilting in Australia, Canada, England, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, and has also led quilting tours to Italy, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. Up until 1983 she taught public school (second graders, then senior citizens). In 2005 she was named Teacher of the Year by Professional Quilter Magazine.

She has also appeared on television on the Home & Family Show, on "Simply Quilts" on HGTV and was a featured guest on Kaye Wood’s PBS show “Kaye’s Quilting Friends” with a segment on Twisted Sisters. She was most recently a guest on "Quilter's Toolbox." on QNN.

Ami’s interest in quilting began in 1975 while she was working on her undergraduate thesis in anthropology that focused on the old order Amish of northern Indiana. She boarded with an Amish woman and learned to take her first quilting stitches under her watchful eye.

Ami has completed over 200 quilts, of varying sizes, in both traditional and contemporary designs, both hand and machine quilted. Her quilts have been featured in several national magazines, a handful of books, and have been exhibited in juried competitions in California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

A resident of Flint, Michigan, Ami lives with her husband, Steve, and daughter, Jennie.

http://www.AmiSimms.com

Mallery Press, Inc.

4206 Sheraton Dr., Flint, MI 48532-3557

S

City Knitting - Yarn Connection

Thursday, January 17, 2008.

7:00pm - 8:30pm City Knitting, a fantastic shop in Eastown will be at the library. http://www.city-knitting.com/info/

Weaving, knitting, crocheting demonstrations and hands-on fun! Come and learn.

Location: EGR Library, lower level, large meeting room

Celebrating the Friends' 50th Anniversary

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE -
EGR Middle School Cafeteria
Sat. Jan. 5, 2008, 9am - 5pm

A huge success! Thanks to all our faithful supporters!

Friends' USED BOOK SALE, Saturday, January 5, 9am - 4pm, East Grand Rapids Middle School Cafeteria, 2425 Lake Drive, SE

Mark your calendars for this fantastic sale! Over 26 categories of books for all ages. We also have a great selection of CDs, DVDs and VHS titles.

All proceeds benefit the East Grand Rapids Library