Herbs: Recipes, Crafts & Gifts at the East Grand Rapids Library! December 5, 2009

Successful and fun program by Connie Hanson! On December 5th a nice crowd enjoyed learning about spices, recipes and gifts. Tasting the goods that Connie brought to share was divine. The Friends hope to bring Connie back in spring 2010 to present another seasonal program. Stay tuned!



Join the Friends of the Library this Saturday, December 5 at 2:00pm for a special free workshop presented by Connie Hanson. Connie, former owner of the local Scents of Summer Herb Shop, will share recipes and herbal gift ideas. There will be plenty of tasting at this creative gathering! See you at the library!

Ash Grove String Quartet Concert Simply Wonderful!

Approximately 80 people attended our Sunday afternoon concert at the library. The musicians were well received by the crowd!

Even the little ones were entranced by the music!



Thanks to all who participated and attended!

Ash Grove String Quartet - November 22, 2009 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Classical Sunday Concert

Sunday, November 22, 2009 2:00pm - 3:30pm Free Concert
Join us in the East Grand Rapids Library on a fall afternoon with the beautiful sounds of the Ash Grove String Quartet.

Grand Rapids-based Ash Grove String Quartet plays intense works of once famous, nearly forgotten Italian, Spanish and Russian composers.

The Ash Grove String Quartet, which was formed about a dozen years ago, consists of Irena Kocharova and Mary Kladder on violins, Christy Wiersma on viola, and Lorene Turkalo on cello. They play for weddings, receptions, and other events, as well as performing string quartet concerts at Festival of the Arts, the Art Grand Rapids Art Museum and at Saint Cecelia. They are also active individually playing and teaching.

Music, a fireplace and a lovely comfortable setting for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

FREE CONCERT

Fantastic June Book Sale!

Another great sale, Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the EGR Middle School. Our presale for Friends of the EGR members was also a hit the night before :) If you have not been to one of our sales, you will get a chance again in January 2010. Don't forget the Friends' Corner at the East Grand Rapids library. It is an ongoing sale packed with lots of goodies!

What's Under There: Reed's Lake Ecology and Fishing Expo

Captain Bill Poisson with his catch of the day in 1953

Discover the wonders of life under the waves of Reed's Lake with a fun afternoon of fishing trivia, lore, and legend and uncover ways we affect the lake environment.

HAVE YOU CAUGHT A KEEPER?
Share your photographs with us!
People can start bringing in their photos anytime.
They should be unframed.
We'll put them on display on the orange wall upstairs, outside the East Grand Rapids History Room and downstairs on the magnetic wall in the juvenile fiction area (we'll
make color copies and put them in both locations).

The pics should be no bigger than 8x10.

People should write on the back any pertinent info
i.e. fish size, weight, where they caught it..that would be great! Identification cards will be posted next to each picture.

Saturday, June 27. 2:00pm - 4:00pm

For all ages - Free - No registration required.


Jim Muller- Reed's Lake ecology expert, former high school science teacher. His knowledge of local ecology will give the community insight into the environmental issues facing Reed's Lake.

Chase F. Klinesteker - Spoonplugging instructor. Will show how knowing the geography of the lake bottom will enhance your chances of catching the "big one".

Learn to make your own lures/flies to attract local fish.

In cooperation with a grant from the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation and the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library.

FANTASTIC USED BOOK SALE - Saturday, June 20, 2009, 9am - 4pm

Bring your friends, neighbors and relatives to our June sale! We have over 30 categories of books as well as music CDs and audiotapes, DVDs and VHS!

Sale location: East Grand Rapids Middle School. 2425 Lake Drive, SE. Located at the intersection of Lake Drive, Breton Road and Lakeside Drive.


It's a great day for shopping in East Grand Rapids! Our sale coincides with the annual Reeds Lake Clothesline Art Show. What could be better?

If you are a member of the Friends of the Library of East Grand Rapids Library, please plan on attending the "Members Only Presale" on Thursday, June 19, 6:30pm - 8:30pm. If you are not a member we would love to have you join! You may sign up to be a member at the EGR Library in the days before the sale or you may join the evening of the Presale. Membership information is found on our blog page, our KDL page http://www.kdl.org/branches/1/news/32 or you may call the library at (616)647-3880,

Hope to see you at the sale!

EGR Time Capsule: Celebrating the 50th Birthday of the East Grand Rapids Library - Fundraiser

The Friends of the Library of East Grand Rapids, the Library staff and the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation rallied together for a wonderful fundraiser, Saturday evening, April 25, 7:00 - 9:30. The event included a silent and live auction of items and events, such as a week at a cottage on Lake Michigan, a chance to ride in the fire truck in the 4th of July parade, choice seats in the new press box for the East v Lowell home game, a signed and framed Chris Van Allsburg poster and many other interesting and fun items.



The party was catered by Ramona's Table and Graydon's Crossings, Gaslight Village restaurants. The food was varied and delicious! We have great eateries in our city!


One of our favorite local musical groups, Potato Moon, entertained. The members of this group are East residents and so musically talented!


The library staff and Friends of the Library created activity tables from the decades, 1950s to the present. The history of the EGR Library accompanied each decade represented.




1990's table




Gale and Diane Demarest, Sam Helmrick, Friends of the Library



Gail Haebich and Pamela VanderPloeg, current KDL Assistant Director, former EGR Manager



Dawn Lewis, current manager and Geil DeYoung, former manager



1980's table



1960's table. Jacque and John Miller. Jacque was a former assistant library manager.



Helen Salan, Rita and Stuart Citron, Dawn Lewis and Tony Barnes






Former library manager, Gail DeYoung and Kent District Library Director, Martha Smart, had a good time seeing friends, co-workers and former library employees!







1970's table



1950's table



Gail Haebich and Gail DeYoung, former assistant manager and manager of EGR Library



Birthday cake!



Brian Donovan, City Manager, ticket man!



All around the library!


Potato Moon


Karen Brower, city clerk, Tony Barnes, Community Foundation



Live Auction!



Mary and Tom Christensen, Friends of the EGR Library




Over 100 people attended this event. All proceeds will benefit the Library and the Community Foundation. Thanks to all who came, had fun and supported this worthy event.

Celebrating with the kids at the EGR Library's 50th Birthday!

Renee Hudson
http://www.reneemagic.com/airbrushgallery/index.html


The afternoon birthday celebration included airbrush tattoos by artist Renee Hudson, singing with local composer and singer, Carol Johnson and lots of artistic fun at the craft tables created by the librarians!


Tattoos! Singing! Crafts! CAKE! FUN!






http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com/

SAVE THE DATE- EGR Time Capsule: In celebration of the 50th Birthday of the East Grand Rapids Library - Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Friends team up with the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation to celebrate the library's 50th birthday. Daytime activities at the library for the whole family. Carol Johnson is entertaining at 3:00pm. Free to all during the day. The evening's event is a fundraiser. $30.00 per person or $50.00 per couple. Potato Moon will delight as you enjoy the food and cash bar. There will be some fantastic silent auction items up for grabs. Proceeds to benefit the EGR Library and the EGR Community Foundation. Please plan on joining us!






Afternoon Event: Carol Johnson, 3:00pm

"Accompanying herself on guitar, piano and banjo, and with a hearty dose of audience participation, Carol has indeed warmed hearts and lifted spirits of countless thousands through her delightful recordings and personable presentations." http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com/

Evening Event: 7:00pm - 9:30pm

POTATO MOON is a country/blues/swing/rockn'roll/folk band from Michigan and is made up of siblings Bennie, Jane and Lu Lu Jones along with father Luther Jones and cousins Jimmy Jones and Midnight Jones. "After the Harvest" is their 5th album and the follow up to "Life of the Lonely Jones." It highlights Potato Moon's unique vocal harmonies, diverse songwriting, and rock n' roll/blues influences. The group started as a folk group but has, over time, revamped it's sound and lineup to include a more diverse repertoire.


http://www.potatomoon.org/home.html

Everyone Gathers to Read

Everyone Gathers to Read (EGR), a community-wide celebration of reading, for all ages! Read What a Wonderful World illustrated by Ashley Bryan, enjoy crafts, sign up for poetry, photo and bookmark contests, and enjoy the sounds of the Gratitude Steel Band!

* Check out the informational poster and schedule! http://www.kdl.org/branches/1/news/121
* See the entry forms for the Photo, Poetry, and Bookmark contests!

Sponsored by the Friends of the EGR Library and the East Grand Rapids Public Schools.
This truly is a community event!


If you have any questions, call the East Grand Rapids library at (616) 647-3880.

Another Wonderful Used Book Sale!