CELEBRATE! And we SURE did!

The feeling of joy... and happiness... and goodness ... and community... and friendship .... along with the spirit of collaboration and kindness..... all of these things and more were evident @ 268 Bloomfield Avenue (a/k/a The Caldwell Public Library) on Friday, December 17, 2010. And, since a picture tells a thousand words they say: here are two of our favorites. Thank you Marsha Robbins or Pattie Mathieson for clicking what appears to be me leading the group in song ("For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in honor of Gene Collerd as well as Stephen Cristiano maybe?). You can see I have NO ego if I am including such a goofy picture of myself. The reason I like it is b/c Gene and Elizabeth Collerd are featured as well as our sainted Consulting Archivist for the past 7 years or so, Tony Cucchiara. (And, former Mayor Gartland spent WAYYYYY too many years at Library Board meetings over the past 24 years so it is fair that she is featured in a flattering light as well. Four people who deserve thanks looking good in a picture vs. one who looks goofy -- well -- the odds are against me!)

Thank you as well, Warren Westura, from Caldwell's PATCH for the picture of those gathered in The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room -- to listen to me lead the rest in song! (Just kidding!) Warren - I believe this picture is my absolute favorite! For - the showing of teens and pre-teens - and a profusion of SCOUTS! - all looking and sounding INTERESTED in our community's history, and the photographs of Caldwell "Then" and "Now." That is a tribute to their teachers, their parents and grandparents, and many in our community. (Thanks as well to Jessica and Tatiana Mickley and Janet Markman for their coverage of December 17th o/b/o The Progress and the Jersey Tomato Press.)

The Library Board of Trustees, the Caldwell Public Library Foundation, and my colleagues and I are working valiantly to bring all these treasures to you ASAP -- so keep a watch on our website and blog. And continue to support our library - YOUR Library - which by all evidence seen on Friday, December 17th really seems to be: "The Heart of Our Town." Happy 2011 all!

~Karen