Sept. 16 Literary Lunch: Sarah Sherman McGrail

The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is thrilled to have Sarah Sherman McGrail open the first literary lunch and book signing of the season, Friday, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m. The library hosts Friday monthly literary lunches with guest authors, book signings, and delicious optional catered lunches (for $10 due at registration) through the spring. Registration is required.

The following is a piece on McGrail’s books, reprinted with permission from the Boothbay Register:

After eight years of finding names, scheduling and doing hundreds of interviews, making hundreds of phone calls, researching on the Internet, and writing mornings and nights, Sarah Sherman McGrail is now smiling and taking a break from her research and writing.

Her two-volume biographies of local Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, "Looking Back: A History of the Boothbay Region’s Veterans during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Volumes I and II" are now available.

These biographies (over 200 local men and women veterans are included) tell the important stories of both wars, the Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1964-1975). Some of the biographies are as short as 100 words, while other veterans opened up to Sherman and their stories are told over 20 to 30 pages. McGrail used hundreds of photographs from the wars collected from the veterans, their families or other sources.

When asked recently about her eight years of work, talking with veterans and their families, McGrail said most of the veterans saw their time in the service as a “sense of duty.”
In her author’s message in the volumes, McGrail mentions that her mother, Evelyn Sherman of Southport, told her that this project was the “most important yet, not because one war is ‘better’ than the other but because many of the Korean War veterans feel forgotten and many of the Vietnam veterans feel that they were disrespected by their own country. As I started researching this project, I was quickly struck by the realization as to how ‘right’ my mother was. This isn’t just a history; it’s an opportunity for healing that is long overdue.”

“Looking Back, Volume I and II” are available to borrow at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library or order your copy for $24.95 each. Contact McGrail at Cozy Harbor Press, Inc., P.O. Box 385, Southport, ME 04576. Telephone 207-633-7161 or email: sarah@cozyharborpress.com.

Registration is required for the Sept. 16 literary lunch at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. Bring your own lunch, or for $10, due at registration, reserve a catered lunch from East Boothbay General Store. Seating is limited. Registration closes Thursday, Sept. 15, noon. Contact the library, 633-3112, www.bmpl.lib.me.us for more information.

Sept. 8 Woman’s Health Talk: Hormones

Ladies are in store for a treasure trove of health information, Thursday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. Woman’s Talk: Hormones will be held in the upstairs Community Room, with holistic expert, Carrie Levine, CNM.

Levine, a Certified Midwife and founder of Whole Woman Health, a holistic health care practice in Newcastle, Maine, evaluates and treats most common women’s health concerns.
For more information, visit Whole Woman Health, www.wholewomanhelath.com.

Current events

• September Artist of the Month: Jon Byrer, Sept. 2-29, enamel oil paintings, photography, and watercolor exhibit, upstairs Community Room, www.JonByrer.com.
• Hallowell Band Concert, Thursdays, Sept. 1 and 8, 7:30 p.m., front lawn.
• Harbor Arts Crafters Guild, Fridays, Sept. 2 and 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., front lawn.
• Boothbay Region Crafters, Saturdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., front lawn.
• NEW! Minecraft Club, Every Wednesday, beginning Sept. 7, 2-3 p.m., Children’s Room, through Wednesday, Dec. 21.
• NEW! Lighthouse Learning Center Story Hour, Every Thursday, beginning Sept. 8, 10 a.m., Children’s Room, through June.
• Woman’s Health Talk: Hormones, Thursday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., with Carrie Levine, CNM, upstairs Community Room.
• Monday Night Book Club, Monday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m., “The Door” by Magda Szabo, facilitator: Laddie Drucker, 633-5578.
• Literary Lunch, Friday, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m., presentation and book signing with author Sarah Sherman McGrail. See above. 
• NEW! Minecraft Club, Every Wednesday, 2-3 p.m., Children’s Room, through Wednesday, December 21.
• Children’s Story Hour, Every Friday, 10 a.m., Children’s Room.
• NEW! Teen Study Hall, time and day TBA.

• Calling all Hobbyists & Volunteers: Do you have a hobby or interest you’d like to share? Would you like to start a group or present on a topic? Would you like to be added to our volunteer list? Contact: croberts@bmpl.lib.me.us.

Upcoming events

• Book Focus, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m. title and author TBD. Facilitator: John O’Connell jwoconnelll@gmail.com.
• We’re having a Party: The Origins of the Democratic & Republican Parties, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m., with Dane Hartgrove, Ph.D., upstairs Community Room. It’s an election year! Come learn the history behind how the parties became established and the current events involved. This is the last meeting of the Current Issues series.

• French Conversation, Monday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. facilitator: Janet Blevins, janetblevins@gwi.net.
• October Artist of the Month: Laurie Burgdorff, watercolor exhibit, upstairs Community Room. Contact Laurie at www.laurieburgdorff.com, laurie.burgdorff@gmail.com.
• NEW! Cancer Care Connect Support Series, Thursday, Oct. 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. upstairs Community room, through April 2017. Are you or a loved one coping with the effects of cancer?  Would you like to learn more about what you can do, or meet others who are having a similar experience?  The library welcomes you to join a series of online listening seminars covering a variety of topics related to cancer care, made available by the American Cancer Society.  This informative series of audio seminars features a rotating panel of experts and invites cancer patients, their caregivers, family, and friends to meet once monthly, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Coffee will be served. Cancer Care Connect Upcoming Dates & Topics: Thursday, Oct. 6: The Challenges of Coping with Cancer and Other Health Problems; Thursday, Nov. 3: Eating Healthy & Managing Weight Changes during Cancer Treatment; Thursday, Dec. 1: Cancer Caregivers: Coping With Holidays & Special Occasions

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, 4 Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538

207-633-3112, croberts@bmpl.lib.me.us, www.bmpl.lib.me.us.