Fanwood Memorial Library

What you missed

2008-02-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

It's a shame that you didn't get to the library on Sunday Feb 3 at 2pm to see our alternative superbowl programming. The Americana Family Jamboree featuring the Demolition String Band played a fantastic blue grass and more set with singing, banjo-playing, dancing, and fun! Included for a few songs were our own Dan Weiss with the wonderful Ms. MaryOlive.
More music is coming to the library in March, April, and in May (Fanwoodstock with be back with Mr Ray opening the show!). Check out our events calendar or come to the library to get a copy of our monthly events schedule.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

Did we all make resolutions? Lots and lots? I hope the included coming to the library for all we have to offer. Books, magazines, books on tapes, dvds, reference, computers, and programming! Lots and lots.
If you check our events calendar, or receive the local Fanwood update by email (sign up available at the Borough site), or read the local newspapers you will find information about the many and varied things we have going on at the library.
Laughing Yoga
Tuesday, January 22nd - 7:15pm to 8:30pm Concerts WHERE: Fanwood Library - Fanwood Room
Let's not even think about the post-holiday blues and come LAUGH with us! Learn what is takes to laugh, laugh. laugh our stress away and put a smile on your face while doing it. Everyone can come, registration is required. For more information Call Nancy Kipping at (908) 322-6400Presented by Fanwood Memorial Library
4th Wednesday Film Series
Wednesday, January 23rd - 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Programs For Adults WHERE: Fanwood Library - Adult Department
The Four Fourth Wednesdays Film Series begins tonight. Selection TBA For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400Presented by Fanwood Memorial Library
January Book Discussion: The Whistling Season
Tuesday, January 29th - 7:15pm Adult Book Discussion Group WHERE: Fanwood Library - Adult Department
The January selection for our book discussion group is The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk of the library. For more information Call The Library at (908) 322-6400Presented by Fanwood Memorial Library
HISTORY of ANIMATION
Wednesday, January 30th - 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Programs For Adults WHERE: Fanwood Library - Adult Department
Tonight local film/video archivist Russell Scholl returns to present a whirlwind historical survey of animated shorts.From the earliest silent experiments to the Golden Age of animation, right up to today's computer-generated imagery, this program covers the waterfront. We won't visit only with the familiar characters (though we'll see some marquee names), tonight we'll also view the work of early American pioneers such as James Stuart Blackton, Windsor McKay and those who followed in their footsteps. Ample due will be given to the more experimental / non-commercial end of the spectrum as well. Included will be the wonderful and bizarre efforts of Melies, Starewicz and other early European innovators, as well as important later figures such as Svankmajer, Trnka and others.Fun! Violence! Propaganda! Claymation! Hot Jazz! Anime! It's all here.Prepare yourself for an evening of Extreme Entertainment.
And that's just January. In February there will be financial advice for Seniors, Romance writer Lois Winston, and a program celebrating the presidents.
So enough exercising (resolution # 3) and join us at the events at the Library.

On Chesil Beach

2007-11-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

The adult book discussion group is meeting tonight at 7:15pm. The book we will be discussing is ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan. Everyone is invited to join us tonight, or for any of our monthly book discussions. In December we will be reading Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Cunningham. Copies of the book are available at the front desk of the library.

Two Thanksgiving recipes

2007-11-19T16:58:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for the kind words about my baking: I owe it all to Sara Lee!

Candy's Pound Cake

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup milk
3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
5 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Cream together the cream cheese and butter; add sugar and mix until thoroughly blended. Then add milk, vanilla, and eggs. Follow with the flour and baking powder. Bake in springform pan or in an angel food pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Maida Heatter

12 ounces (4 cups) fresh cranberries
5 ounces (1 1/4 sticks butter) at room temp.
1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, large
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup milk
finely grated rind of 1 large orange (I used a clementine!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You will need a 9 by 1 1/2 inch layer cake pan.

Using 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) of the butter, spread a bit on the sides of the pan and then spread the rest on the bottom of the pan. It should coat the pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup plus the 2 tablespoons of sugar over the butter. Sprinkle the cranberries over the sugar. It's alot.

Beat the remaining 3/4 stick of butter until soft. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Then, on lowest speed, add the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt alternately with the milk until just combined. By hand add the rind.

Smooth the top.

Bake for 1 hour, the top will become brown while baking ( I baked it for 50 minutes).

Cool the cake in the pan. After 10 minutes run a knife around the edges to loosen. Ten minutes after (twenty in total) run the knife again. Then cover the cake with a flat cake plate, hold the pan and the plate firmly, and turn them both over. I knock it twice (for good luck) and remove the pan. If any of the cranberries stick to pan and not cake I just loosen them with the knife and place on the cake.

Maida adds lots of other instructions. She glazes the cake with red currant jelly, which is warmed to melt, and puts it on the cranberries so they glisten. She makes a ricotta cheese cream to serve with. She also likes vanilla ice cream with the cake. Anything Maida likes is okay by me. I once wrote her a letter and asked if she would be my second mother. She said she would think about it. We have a few Maida Heatter cook books in the library. They should be treasured!

If you make either cake, leave a comment and let me know how they turn out.
Happy Thanksgiving
Nancy

Holiday Cookies

2007-11-17T16:04:00.000-05:00

Care to share a holiday cookie? I'll post a family favorite and you can post one too!

Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies

Yields: 18 servings

"These cookies look like little Christmas Wreaths and are great fun for the kids to help with. Very Easy. People always look at these suspiciously, but once they try them, they can't get enough. Recipe may be halved."

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter

4 cups miniature marshmallows

1 teaspoon green food coloring

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups cornflakes cereal

1 (2.25 ounce) package

cinnamon red hot candies

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Microwave marshmallows and butter on High for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave on High for 2 minutes more. Stir. (This can be done in a double boiler if one doesn't have a microwave.)
2.	Add and mix quickly the coloring, extracts, then cornflakes. Drop by spoonfuls in clumps on greased wax paper and decorate with 3 red hots each.
3.	Once cool, transfer to lightly greased serving/storage tray with lightly greased fingers.

Holiday Books

2007-11-17T15:55:00.000-05:00

For all of you who enjoy reading those special and inviting Holiday Books; we have put them on the bookshelf between the window and the copier in the front of the main room of the library. Come find a new book or an old favorite.
And don't forget that on December 16 at 2pm we will have a presentation of a one-man show of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This performance will last approximately one hour, is appropriate for children ages 10 and up, and should be fantastic!

Adult Book Discussion

2007-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

The book for November 27 is ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan. Copies are available at the front desk at the Fanwood Library. Come get a copy, read the book, and join in on the discussion.
December 18 book is SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS by Laura Cunningham. Copies will be available after the November meeting.
Always interesting, lively conversations, and coffee!

The Kite Runner

2007-10-24T08:44:00.000-05:00

I just read a review of the film The Kite Runner. My advice is to read the book first, then see the movie. The book is wonderful and the review of the movie is the same!

Blogging :It's for everyone!

2007-10-01T09:51:00.000-05:00

I met a new friend yesterday and yet I know so much about him. His favorite shampoo, his favorite coffee, what market he goes to and so much more. That's because I read his blog. I know when he posts a new edition because I subscribe to it on a RSS feed. Who, that's a lot of information. But then again my new friend gives us a lot of information. How to cook and what to cook, where to eat, and how to act. All of it he does from Paris France.
Would you like to meet him? Or read his book? I know you will like my new friend!

Concert on the Lawn

2007-09-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our Klezmer concert on the lawn. And what a success it was! Over 100 patrons of the library and, I suppose, the arts came to listen to an almost 2 hour rollicking good concert, performed under a blue sky, on an almost fall day.
If you enjoyed the concert perhaps you would like to listen to more klezmer music. If you check our catalog, under sear, type in klezmer, and up comes Pincus and the Pig: a klezmer tale based on Serge Prokofiev's Peter and the wolf.
Please check out our events calendar for more exciting events, on the lawn or inside the library, to come.

New Book Club New Book To Be Read

2007-09-09T13:20:00.000-05:00

Have you read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenidies? This will be the first book that we are reading for our new book club. The group meets on the last Tuesday of the month, which in September is the 25th, at 7:00pm. Copies of the book are available at the library but if you have your own or have already read the book even better.
The next books to be read are Water for Elephants in October and On Chesil Beach in November. You can reserve these books now and start reading. We are also looking for suggestions for future book club reads so join us on the 25th and add to the discussion.

What a lucky day this is!

2007-09-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel that there is no one out there in the blogging world who has the time to read our blog. And then the most unexpected thing happens; I find some one who does read it! It makes me want to come back and post something new. Something interesting. Something, perhaps, fascinating. Something someone will read.
I better get thinking.

Have you seen this?

2007-08-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

I find this to be fascinating!

Four weeks to go!

2007-07-30T18:35:00.000-05:00

I heard some one say today that there are four weeks left until the end of summer. My guess is that this person uses the ancient 'school calendar', which states that summer officially ends the day after we don't labor ( and when we also stop wearing white shoes). If that is so well then YIKES!
I have so much that I haven't done. Mainly weeding the garden but also trips to the beach, concerts to listen to, outdoor BBQs that I plan on making and so much more.
And I am sure that a lot of our highschoolers out there have yet to start their summer reading. So let this be a reminder: Come get your books!.
Reminder to self: weed garden.

Tai Chi is coming back

2007-07-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

Could it be that we are halfway through summer? If that is true then it must be time to think about Tai Chi. It starts again on September 10th at a new time 8:45 am to 9:30am. Liz will be leading our faithful group once more. Registration will begin on August 15th at 10am and is limited. Put it on your calendar so you don't forget!

Must ReadJudyBlume

2007-07-12T13:28:00.001-05:00

Was that your mantra when you were a kid? If so check out the new book which will explain why this is so. Everything I needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume is new to our collection. Go back in time and find out why, yes, why, you are what you are because of Ms. Judy Blume!

Feedback

2007-06-28T09:31:00.000-05:00

Feedback is so important to us at the library. We want to know what books you are interested in us having in our collection, what events you would like to see, and what you think of our DVDs.
I mention this because last night we had a program at the library about blueberries. Once again, it was a standing-room only event, and everyone enjoyed hearing about the fruit and getting to eat some of it too! This morning I heard the rave reviews, and was asked would the speaker be back to give her impression of cranberries.
That is feedback. And that is what we want to hear.
If you have any ideas let me know. We listen, We need feedback.
And don't forget that our friendly partner, Scotch Plains Library, is having psychic Jane Doherty talking about her new book on July 17 at 7:00pm .

Do You Blog?

2007-06-21T10:07:00.000-05:00

You know that we do! Even people who will say that they HATE blogs read them. In fact you blog because you are reading one now. Our neighbor library Scotch Plains LIbrary has a blog that will be of interest to you. About books, the library and more. So, please, check it out.
And also check out one of my favorite blogs http://www.davidlebovitz.com/, about Paris, baking, life, and love.

Summer reading, part 2

2007-06-12T14:58:00.000-05:00

The summer reading list is up and running at the library. All members of the class of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 can come to the library and pick up a copy of your required reading. While doing that you can also pick up a quick beach read, something interesting to read before sleep, something that will make the tv not turn on, or something new and exciting! The summer reading list books are located in the Young Adult section of the library.

The New York TImes Book Review Summer Reading

2007-06-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

I was away this past weekend and didn't get to look over the Book Review section until this afternoon, after I spied Dan checking out 10 days in the valley, because he read about it in the book review. (I didn't finish the book, just didn't like it, but I don't think I like her books, and that's why so many books are published so that I can read ones I like to finish.)
Anyway this post is going to be split in two: Books I plan to read this Summer (and I am always optimistic that I will get through most!) and past Summer reads that I have loved. I need you help on the second post but we will get to that then.
I have circles on pages 8, 14, 16, 17, 27, 35, 38, and 54. I have already read a few, yes, I put them on reserve so when they came in I started reading, like Literacy and Longing in L.A. (page 55) , A Thousand Splendid Suns (page 58 and a definite must read) and Abundance (page 4). Like the first loved the second and found the third to be of great interest.
The time is right for you to start our own summer reading list. Remember you can put books on hold from home (with your library card number and your pin number which is usually the last 4 digits of your telephone number) or come in and we will help you. But you better get started soon. There are a lot of great books to read this Summer!

Tai Chi

2007-05-22T11:42:00.001-05:00

Holy Moly we did it! For those of you who made it through all ten weeks, and I am proud to say that was quite a bit of us, I salute you. We must keep up our exercises for the summer so that we are ready to tackle new and exciting challenges in the fall class, beginning Sept 10 at 8:45am. In the mean time, we shall eat cake:

Crumb Cake

for the cake:

1 1/4 cups cake flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp slat
6 tbsp butter, softened
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
1/3 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with 'pam' and fit it with parchment paper.
In a bowl mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt to combine. Add butter ad mix until it resembles moist crumbs with no big clumps of butter. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until light and fluffy or so. Plop in pan.
Crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cup cake flour
4 tbsp butter melted
(I added choco chips)
mix it all together, then place on top of batter evenly and all over so that everyone gets an even amount of crumbs and no one complains.
Bake for 35-50 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes. Dust with confectioner's sugar.

Hope you make the cake, hope you enjoyed the class.
Please come in and say hello to me this summer.

Special Event

2007-05-17T08:58:00.000-05:00

Tonight Fanwood's own Mindy Szeto will be presenting a program on "Sugar Buster: A Guide to Healthy Living and Eating". We will start at 7:00pm and everyone is invited to participate and learn how to live better and wiser.
See you there!

Kurt Vonnegut

2007-05-08T09:05:00.000-05:00

Kurt Vonnegut on libraries from his 2005 "A Man Without A Country" - the simple, beautiful and powerful swan song of this great American master.

"And while on the subject of burning books, I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength, their powerful political connections or great wealth, who, all over this country, have staunchly resisted anti-democratic bullies who have tried to remove certain books from their shelves, and destroyed records that than have to reveal to thought police the name of persons who have checked out those titles.

So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House, the Supreme Court, the Senate, the House of Representatives, of the media. The America I loved still exists at the front desks of our public libraries."
--Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 - April 11, 2007)
Thanks Kurt - 'And so it goes.' ... Dan

What I have on hold

2007-05-01T10:25:00.000-05:00

It is easy to place a hold on a book. You can come to the library and ask at the circulation desk to do it for you, you can place a hold while you are browsing at the computer catalogs, or you can do it from your home computer. You need to know your library card number and your pin number (which should be the last four digits of your telephone number). These are the books that I currently have on hold:

The thirteenth tale:a novel by Diana Setterfield. I was recommended by Jennie at the Scotch Plains Library.
Animal, vegetable, miracle: a year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver. A year of living the life of a localvore, eating only food from within a 50 mile radius. I love her fiction and I can't imagine being a localvore in Fanwood. Lots of fish I guess but what would be the cooking oil?
Nineteen minutes: a novel by Jodi Piccoult. This is summer reading at its best!
The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander. A long awaited second book.
The most famous man in America: the biography of Henry Ward Beecher by Debby Applegate. This book just won the Pulitizer for biography, and it continues my education in the years 1837 - 1864. Ask me about it.
The Yiddish policeman's union: a novel by Michael Chabon. Everyone who loved Kavelier and Clay raise their hand. That is why it's on my list.
What the dead know by Laura Lippman. It is going to be summer soon, Summer read anyone?

That's my list. Any opinions? What's on your list.