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

The Caldwell Public Library MUSEUM!

Halloween was a VERY busy day at the Caldwell Public Library as volunteers from the Caldwell Fire Department transported our October exhibit of "The Great Fires and Firefighters of Caldwell" to its permanent home on the walls of the Caldwell Fire House. And, an hour later, Eagle Scout Candidate Stephen Cristiano, with the assistance of fellow Scout Christopher White and Assistant Troop Leader Bruce White hung an exhibit a long time in the making: Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell: Then and Now. My suggestion? Although it will be on display in The Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room from now until December 31, 2010 -- STOP what you are doing, and, check it out. The "Gallery Guides" accompanying the exhibit should be finished momentarily -- so set aside some time to step back in time, and remember, enjoy, appreciate. Thank you Gene. Thank you Stephen. What better way to celebrate 100 years of Scouting than this exhibit, this project?!

IRON CHEF - watch out for the Scouts!

Yes indeed - the IRON CHEF competition at the Longfellow Wayside Inn Scout Camporee was FANTASTICO! And, while Mayor Gartland may have been sharing some of her culinary talents, I, KKLembo certainly was NOT! (ask my husband, ask my children, ask anyone - "what shape pasta? what color sauce?")

We all want to know how many of our Scout Chef recipes ended up on the Dining Room Menu at the Wayside Inn since we left? Who wants to call Innkeeper John Cowden and ask? (And, while you are at it - make reservations to stay for a night or two. You will understand why Longfellow wrote poetry about the Inn once you go there.)

A Field of Dreams to be Sure!

This picture captures but a few of the thousands of images and memories all of us left Sudbury with this past Sunday.

Baseball with the Melrose Pondfeilders...a talk about vintage baseball by author/historian John Zinn....Pastor John Nash's homily during the 8 a.m. ecumenical service ("Everything I need to Know About Life I Learned from Baseball") (note: Pastor John is an Eagle Scout!)...the Wayside Iron Chef contest of Saturday night....a tour by Ben Edwards...meeting the Wayside Inn's miller, and innkeeper, and chef.....setting up camp....all the great new friendships and the fun of sharing with "old" friends. More pictures, along with "roses and thorns" later....

< 20 hours and, Sudbury bound are we!

"Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our
lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time."

Well, I do believe Scouts leave nothing behind, if I understand correctly from Mr. Downey, Mr. White and Mr. Cristiano - and I will see that "up close and personal" when we leave campgrounds behind Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts Sunday afternoon the 16th.
(But, why jumpahead before the weekend even starts!)

Over a year, really close to 18 months, of planning is coming to an end with this week-ends camping event in Sudbury. Bruce White, Bill Downey and the good leaders and scouts of Troops 9, 6, 3, and 1 have collaborated and planned, and we will meet up with Sudbury Scouts for a weekend of camping and GREAT FUN!

More will be shared when we return -- but must share one secret: Saturday night's schedule includes the Wayside Iron Chef Competition! I know the "secret ingredients" as well, but I won't talk.