By Buffy CalvertO’CONNOR PLEDGES $200,000

The O’Connor Foundation has awarded a 1-2 matching grant of $200,000 to the Andes Public Library and Community Center renovation and expansion. The foundation will match all monies raised after October 24, 2007, $1 for every $2. We are very grateful to the O’Connor Foundation! Donations and events are already making up the match.

A good crowd turned out for the Library’s Silent Auction

Wayne and Diane Decker immediately responded to the challenge with a generous donation toward the project. Thank you Wayne and Diane! The raffle of a beautiful, hand-stitched quilt donated by Lesley Gray generated over $1,000 more. Lovely gift, Lesley! The Silent Auction held on November 11th proved to be a great afternoon of feasting and good-natured rivalry and brought in more than $3000 toward the O’Connor match.

Mary Tucker, Merna Popper, Rima Walker and Phyllis Galowitz enjoy food and friends at the Silent Auction

We want to publicly thank all the generous donors who made the auction such a pleasant success: Brooke Alderson, The Andes Hotel, Armando Aranjo, Ashokan Architecture, George Ballantine, Carol Anne Bloise, Joanne Callahan, Cantina, Gloria Carlson, Cassie’s Kitchen, Dale and Sue Cole, Delhi Consignment Shop, Curves, Delaware Trading Post, Delhi Liquor Store, Delhi Paint and Paper, Discoveries, Kay Fuller, Judy Garrison, Good Cheap Food, Tyler Gray, Greenberry Hair, Greenfish Adventure Sports, Daniel Harmon, Garry Hayes, Heaven, Hogan’s General Store, Home Goods, Phyllis Horowitz, Roshan Houshmand, Richard Johnson, Linda & Peter Lederman, Kabinett & Kammerer, Karen Levey, Bob Lidsky, Main Street Cards & Gifts, Dennis & Jane McClure, Jack & Nancy McShane, Mercantile, Michael & Jeffrey Ashton, Gerard Murphy, Tom Navin, Paisley’s Country Gallery, Peabody’s Pets, Don Peebles, Merna Popper, Prints Charming, Rachel’s Framing & Fine Art, Art Reed’s Sweetwater Glass, Randall Johnson’s Revelation, Anne Selvin, Slow Down Café, Sonny Somelofski, Deb Stalter, Steinway Books, Styles in Motion, Tay Home, Nat Thomas, Mary Tucker, Rima Walker. Great stuff and services, wonderful support! Gloria Carlson and Rima Walker, who spearheaded the auction and all the gourmet cooks, deserve a round of applause.

IT RAINED ON OUR PARADE BUT WE HAD FUN INDOORS

As a cold rain sluiced down on the October 28th Harvest Moon Festival, we offered a cozy respite with delectable baked goods and a book signing by Mia Dunleavey. Deb Stalter, Linda Lederman, Gloria Carlson, Buffy Calvert, Mary Tucker, Paula Montecalvo, Ann Liddle, Judy Garrison, Barbara Mellon, Anita Lanziero, Phyllis Galowitz, and Karen Levey brought in a mouth-watering display display of goodies, which netted almost $400. Mia graciously donated $248, the proceeds of the sale of her book, “Money Can Buy You Happiness.”

GRANTS STILL PENDING

In August we applied for two major grants: $99,982.00 NYS Library Construction grant and a $35,000 Green Building Initiative Grant from the Kresge Foundation. To apply for the state grant, we needed a match in the bank beforehand. Walter B. Gladstone, a long-time benefactor of the library, and two anonymous donors stepped up to the plate with $101,000 so we could make the application. This grant has passed two levels of review and is now being evaluated by the final appraisers, the State Dormitory Authority. Keep your fingers crossed!
All new personal donations are fully tax deductible and will be counted toward the O’Connor match.

ON BOARD 24/7/365 (366 next year!)

We don’t often laud our Board of Trustees but here are the visionary and hard-working people behind the scenes: Judy Garrison, Phyllis Galowitz, Michael Passafiume, Deb Stalter, Mary Tucker and me. Our staff and trustees will be happy to answer your questions, and listen to your suggestions and concerns. You are the public in the Andes Public Library and the community in Community Center.

NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR

We’re looking for a new Library Director. Gloria, our current Director, feels the need to reduce her hours; Laurie, Assistant Librarian, with two lively little ones, doesn’t want to increase hers, so we will be hiring an additional person to fill the role of Director starting in January. Applicants should send a cover letter and résumé by December 10th, 2007 to Board of Trustees, Andes Public Library, PO Box 116, Andes, NY 13731.~