Spring 2021 Volume 44 Issue 1 Marble Columns Newsletter of the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library

A Real Mystery from the Blackstone Library

Have you ever visited the crime novel, is Tom Straw’s mezzanine level of the Black- first book under his own Spring Book Sale stone Library—the area name.

Children’s Books where study desks are promi- There is a correlation be- Friday, 5/14—Sunday 5/16 nent under a low ceiling? tween Richard , aka This is where author Tom Tom Straw, and the Richard Adult Fiction Straw penned much of his Castle character of the ABC- Friday 5/21—Sunday 5/23 first novel, The Trigger Epi- TV series. Straw wrote ghost sode, in 2000. He loved “his novelizations of his Nikki Heat Hours: perch up in the carrels” and mysteries with their own Friday & Saturday 9am—2pm spent many productive hours plots for the now retired Cas- Sunday 11am—3pm there. Tom does have a home tle series. office in Branford where he

At River Run Business Park writes but continues to write Photo of the author by Jill Krementz Tom Straw is also an Emmy- 59 School Ground Road anywhere inspiration will lead and Writer’s Guild of America him. Nathaniel Hawthorne maxim, -nominated TV writer and MARK YOUR CALENDARS: "Easy reading means damn producer having written and Subsequently, writing as Rich- hard writing." produced Night Court, Parker For the Annual Fall Book Sale ard Castle, he authored his Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s on the Green—September 30 first seven Nikki Heat novels: Recently Tom wrote a manu- World, Grace Under Fire, Cos- through October 3, 2021 , Naked Heat, Heat script for his next novel, a spy by, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. Rises, Frozen Heat, Deadly thriller with the quality of his

Books are available year round Heat, Raging Heat, and Driv- best-sellers. As Tom told me during an on our Virtual Book Cart on ing Heat, all of which became That manuscript has been email interview, his novels the library’s website at New York Times bestsell- optioned by a major Holly- begin with an idea that won't blackstonelibrary.org ers. Buzz Killer, another wood studio, and he is cur- let go. Tom mostly writes rently writing the pilot epi- detective fiction. He tends to sode for the planned TV se- outline first to plant fair clues ries. Publication date of the and red herrings for the read- novel is pending as is the se- er. This requires knowing a ries debut. bit of where it's all going. Tom

says he does “a lot of re- Tom Straw’s books can be writing” following a first draft. purchased through Amazon He is proud of the fact that or reserved through the his editors marvel at his man- Blackstone Library. uscripts because of the effort

he has put into them. He -Alpha Coiro views that as the author’s job. Straw also subscribes to the In Memoriam

Michael Sykes, 77, most re- astounding age of 104, was cently of Fitchburg, MA and Beverly Bunn Cleary. She was formerly of Branford, passed one of America's most suc- away peacefully on February cessful authors for children 28, 2021 after an illness. He and young adults and was was the son of Herbert and mourned by those who re- Charlotte Sykes. While living member Henry Huggins, Ellen in Branford he worked for the Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Town in the human resources Beezus and Ramona Quimby department. Michael also (as well as Ribsy, Socks and With Much Gratitude... immersed himself in civic Ralph S. Mouse) some of organizations, volunteering whom have become immor- talized on Broadway and in After decades of tirelessly at the Branford His- movies. hard work and dedi- torical Society, Community cation to the House and served many years "I think children want to read Friends, the Board is as President of Friends of the about normal, everyday kids. losing two promi- Blackstone Memorial Library. That's what I wanted to read Michael Sykes nent members. In 2000 he was honored by about when I was growing Hatsie Mahoney is a the Town for his volunteer up," Cleary told NPR's Linda past president and work including spearheading In 1939, she graduated from Wertheimer in 1999. Over 91 Paula Harrington is a the annual Friends of the the School of Librarianship at million copies of her books former membership Blackstone Library Book Sale. the University of Washington have been sold worldwide chair/assistant with a second bachelor's de- since her first book was pub- treasurer. As part of Another icon of the literary gree in library science and lished in 1950. the wheelhouse of world, while not a Branford accepted a year-long position the Board of Direc- resident, and passing on as a children's librarian in tors, both were visi- March 25, 2021 at the Yakima, Washington. ble in all aspects of fund-raising. Their presence will be missed. New Membership Software

The Membership Committee Some of the features the soft- commerce, nonprofits, chari- of The Friends of the James ware provides are: ties, clubs and community Blackstone Memorial Library organizations. It supports has been busy working on our • Emails to our members organizations from a few new membership software and contacts announcing members to 15,000 members package. As our membership activities and events in size. has grown, there has been a • Event registration need to upgrade from keep- • Online and mobile pay- Wild Apricot was rated in the ing our membership records ments 2020 Top 20 Membership on an Excel spreadsheet to a • A dedicated Friends’ Software by Captera for its more dynamic software to website functionality and pricing. The better communicate with our software was recommended members. Wild Apricot is a cloud-based by FOCL (Friends of Connecti- membership management cut Libraries) and is used by After extensive research, the and communication system many other Friends groups in committee selected Wild used by business and trade the region. Apricot as the new software. associations, chambers of Judy Stebbins

Upcoming Programs

Cutting the Cord: Birdscaping: discussing newly released, Saying Goodbye to Cable Home Sweet Habitat highly rated books from a May 13 @2 - 3:00 pm May 22 @ 2 - 3:00 pm wide variety of genres. This Dealing with cable can be a Looking to kickstart your month we’re reading The Mid- pain, but trying to find an spring gardening? This beau- night Library by Matt Haig. alternative can be equally tifully illustrated program Somewhere out beyond the frustrating. If you’ve had explores the importance of edge of the universe there is a enough of cable and need creating welcoming habitats library that contains an infinite some guidance for making for birds through thoughtful number of books, each one your next move, come to our landscape choices, including the story of another reality. class on cutting the cord! native plants vital for food One tells the story of your life We’ll discuss all the most and nesting sites. Learn about as it is, along with another popular streaming services the benefits and joys of cre- book for the other life you and devices so you can de- ating beautiful layered gar- could have lived if you had cide which one is right for dens designed to bring avian made a different choice at any you! performers right into your point in your life. While we all own backyard. Sponsored by wonder how our lives might Virtual Branford Forum: the Friends of the Blackstone have been, what if you had Immigration Law Library the chance to go to the library May 16 @ 2 - 3:30 pm and see for yourself? Would The Branford Forum, a com- Best Seller Book Club any of these other lives truly munity organization that May 29 @ 3:30 - 4:30 pm be better?Sponsored by the brings nationally renowned Have you ever thought about Friends of the Blackstone Li- figures to the Shoreline, is joining a book club? It’s a fun brary. returning to the Blackstone way to get connected, make Library for a series of virtual new friends, and read more Registration is required for all conversations. books! In the Best Seller Book programs. Call 203.488.1441 Club, we’ll be reading and ext. 318 , or visit our website blackstonelibrary.org. When you are next in the library, you may notice two plaques in honor of the Friends— Friends Donate $30,000 to Library one at the entrance to The Friends of the Blackstone the Reading Room on Library were able to present the first floor, and one the library with a special gift at the entrance to the of $30,000. This gift is being Auditorium Balcony made in honor of the Black- on the second floor. stone librarians and the won- The plaques were derful work they did through placed to recognize the pandemic. This gift is in the Friends gift of addition to the funds the $50,000 toward the Friends donate each year that recent renovation. support the library and its various programs and ser- Photos by vices. The additional funds Diane Puchalski were raised through the mini- sales held in the River Run warehouse, and also through the very successful online sales, which exceeded expec- tations this year. Thank you Pictured here are Barbara Barrett, Friends Vice President, Al Bertoline, to all the hard-working Friends President, Beth Law, Board of Trustees President, and Karen volunteers who made this Jensen, Library Director. Photo by Diane Puchalski possible. Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 117

Friends of the Return Service Requested James Blackstone Library 758 Main Street Branford, CT 06405

From the President

Happy Spring to Everyone! rector, and the Trustees at a June 15, 2021 at 5:30pm. We Board of Directors 2020—2021: special ceremony this month. are hoping for a hybrid ap- Alfred Bertoline, President It is a wonderful time of year, proach with an in-person Barbara Barrett, Vice President and the Friends of the Black- May – Our Spring mini-book meeting at the Library and a Jonathan Grande, Treasurer stone Library have several sales are scheduled for May zoom meeting. This will be a Judy Stebbins, special celebrations and fun 14 – 16 (Children’s books) fun celebration of all the Assistant Treasurer activities scheduled over the & Membership Chair and May 21 – 23, 2021 (Adult efforts made by our members Ellen Carucci, Secretary next few months including: sale) and will be held at our and volunteers during the Alpha Coiro River Run storage facility. past year. Please mark your Robert DiGioia April – the Board of Directors Plenty of openings are availa- calendars and plan on joining Jonathan Clark of the Friends voted to do- ble for members and volun- us. Joe Genua nate an additional $30,000 teers to lend a hand before. Mary Hally grant to the Library. This was Paula Harrington Please call Joe Genua (Book Thank you for your continu- Hatsie Mahoney made possible due to the sale Chairman) 203-506-5750 ing good work for the Friends Andy McKirdy incredible efforts of our or email and the Library. Pam Roy members and volunteers in [email protected] John Smith making our fall mini-book indicating your willingness to Alfred Bertoline Callista Stoddard sale and our continuing help. President Carol Titcomb Helen Wong online and virtual book sales highly successful operations. June – The Annual Meeting of Karen Jensen, Library Director The grant will be presented the Friends of the Blackstone Member Ex-Officio to Karen Jensen, Library Di- Library will be held on