Dear Editor:

The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library celebrated a wonderful event on September 14, held at Mine Oyster called The Poetry of Wine.

This was the kick-off event of our 2013/14 Annual Appeal, helping us begin raising the $65,000 we need to fund this year’s budget.

What a terrific evening!

Wine and food representing the traditions of six countries was available to folks, while listening to music.

During the course of the night four local poets read their work, culminating with Maine’s own Betsy Sholl, the 2005-10 Maine Poet Laureate.

None of this could have been possible without the generosity of Elena and Ralph Smith, owners of Mine Oyster who donated the space and food. M.S. Walker wine distributor donated the wine. Beautiful posters advertising the event were provided free of charge by Atomic Studios of Boothbay Harbor. Thank you to the library trustees, especially Pauline Dion and Lee Hammond for the Silent Auction help and setting up, and to Library volunteer, Bonnie Ginger, for locating the poets and setting out all those posters.

During the evening attendees were able to place bids on many outstanding silent auction items. The following area businesses that donated to the auction: Two Salty Dogs, Brown's Wharf, Coastal Maine Popcorn Company, Enchantments, Eventide Specialties, Friends of the Library Used Bookstore, Greenleaf Inn, Grover's Hardware, Hammond Lumber Company, Harbor House Inn, Hawke Motors, Janson's Clothing, Joy to the Wind Gallery, House of Logan, Mama D's, Moxie Inc., Kaler's Crab and Lobster House, Red Cup Coffehouse, Sprucewold Lodge, Tidal Transit, TopSide, Welch House, Slick's, Spruce Point Inn and the YMCA.

So, thank you to one and all for making this first of what we hope will be many more Poetry of Wine celebrations such a success. The sage words of Winston Churchill were amply on display on September 14, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Tim McFadden, Director
Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library