The Dark Side of Yuletide

We all love the warm and fuzzy feelings we get around the holidays. It is a comfort we can anticipate, and yet we fail to understand the other side of the bright holidays. 

Did you know that murders are statistically more common around major holidays, including Christmas? Amidst the glow of the firelight and mistletoe, the sinister reality is that people are still dying on the most joyous day of the year.

If that's the case, maybe we can alchemize this fact into something at least entertaining? Murder mysteries might relieve a little bit of the discomfort of this fact. To save you too much trouble, I divided them into two categories so you can pick your poison. If you can't stand the darkness, I've balanced it out with a little light 😁

Dark Reads

On Christmas Eve, heavy snowfall brings a train to a halt and passengers decide to take shelter in a nearby country house. It appears that someone should be home, and yet no one is apparently there. When a murder takes place as they search the house for clues, the passengers have to unravel the mystery before their time runs out.

Each of these stories is as playful as it is ingeniously plotted, the author's sly humor as evident as her hallmark narrative elegance and shrewd understanding of some of the most complex--not to say the most damning--aspects of human nature. A treat for P. D. James's legions of fans and anyone who enjoys the pleasures of a masterfully wrought whodunit.

If you are looking for a horror that blends Stephen King and the humor of The Office, Secret Santa might be for you. This horror-comedy is set in the 1980s starting with Lussi landing a job at a publisher that tasks her with finding the next big horror story. The difficulty of such a task is compounded by the fact that she is bullied by her co-workers which culminates when they give her a demonic-looking object during a Secret Santa exchange. However, before long these same co-workers become victims of horrific "accidents" that makes Lussi suspicious of the very gift they gave to her.

 Rose Grandon is a college sophomore when she is attacked, assaulted, and left for dead after a midnight mass choir practice. The last thing she hears is a tenor voice singing Silent Night. She is found several hours later in a ditch, beaten but alive. As she is treated in the hospital, she finds out that she is pregnant and makes the difficult decision to keep the baby. When she finally gives birth to a baby girl, she names her Mary. Rose raises her daughter in her small Connecticut hometown as she tries to get her old self back. Yet, twice a year the evil attacker strikes - once on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day. Until the attacker is behind bars, neither Rose nor her baby can ever be truly safe, but now that he's found out that he has a daughter - it changes everything.

Cozy Reads

Following the charmingly inept Inspector Frank Grasby and his boss, Superintendent Juggers, this Christmas mystery occurs in 1953 at a seaside village. When a fisherman is found with a stocking around his neck, the investigation starts out simple enough but devolves into darker tones as these two investigators are trapped by a violent storm. The body count starts to rise as they encounter sinister villagers, stockings mysteriously washing ashore, and the village's obsession with fine hosiery. This story moves along with humor, depth, and even a bit of romance and could be a perfect cozy entertainment for the holidays. 

 Murder occurs during a Christmas house party and the victim, the owner of the substantial estate, is found in a room locked from the inside. Mathilda Clare was one of the guests resigned to spending Christmas at the Lexham Manor, along with 5 others: Nat Herriard, Joseph, Stephen, Paula, and Nat's sharp-dealing partner. Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard investigates only to find that each guest has something to hide. Through the investigation that seems to only grow more complicated as it goes along, readers will find the answer is hidden in plain sight. 

A book restoration expert and her husband travel to Loch Ness, Scotland at behest of their dear friend who is getting married. Since they plan on being married on New Year's Day, the couple travels there for the holidays, but are also roped into the mystery of twelve very rare and important books having gone missing.

While looking into this mystery, one of the guests gets poisoned and another gets shot in the heart, raising the stakes on the entire case. Now they must race to find a killer and book thief before more murders occur and their friend's future is at stake. 

Christmas of 1923, Lady Eleanor Swift has received a letter from an old friend of her uncle, Mr. Godfrey Cunliffe, asking her to stay in Cornwall for the holidays. The reason being, he believes his gardener is trying to kill him. Eleanor, along with her butler and detective beau, hurry to the manor house only to find a dead body. But, it is not Mr. Cunliffe - rather it is his gardener! Winter, 1923. It’s nearly Christmas and Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather strange letter from an old friend of her uncle. Mr Godfrey Cunliffe has asked her to stay in Cornwall for the holidays – but only because he believes his gardener is trying to poison him! Eleanor quizzes the family and finds that everyone from the handyman to Mr. Cunliffe himself is keeping secrets, but he is still scared for his life.

Then the bulldog, Gladstone, pulls a charred corner of the missing garden plans from the fireplace and Eleanor believes she might have the clue that can find the hidden answer somewhere on the grounds. However, she is thwarted when someone tries to run her over with a lawnmower and she knows she had better solve this mystery before her time is up.

Puzzles as brain boosters

We have an ongoing Community Puzzle table that has put together some neat ones. All throughout the year we have a puzzle set out on one of our tables upstairs so that anyone in the community can participate in putting it together. Take a look at some of the ones we've completed so far:

Puzzles are an underrated pastime activity. Yes, it is slow, sometimes tedious, but there is something you can glean from such a paced activity. Unlike the fast, flashy hobbies of today, puzzles require patience, perseverance, and concentration. It's a skill-building activity and one that has proven to result in other benefits aside from the obvious. When you participate in puzzling, you can: improve your memory, problem-solving, attention, spatial reasoning, and mood. It has also been associated with stress reduction and preventative brain health such as reducing the acceleration of mental aging. If you are concerned with dementia or other accelerated memory decline, puzzling can be the perfect way to work in some preventative care.

Putting together jigsaw puzzles isn't the only way you can improve your health. Doing crosswords or Sudoku can also have beneficial effects. Chess and Scrabble can improve problem-solving and critical thinking. Word searches and card games are also games that can help memory. There are so many options that are relatively cheap and easy to pick up with the intention of improving overall health. And here at the library you can participate in at least one of these activities with other people, so the added stimulation of companionable conversation might also serve a purpose.

Words as therapy

Libraries are a place of words. The written word in the form of books, magazines, newspapers, and the like can be found in most of the space. Of course you can find self-help books that can be both therapeutic and chockful of information. But what else can a library provide? The quiet, unofficial works of a library and its frequenters can be the healing that takes form through various interactions.

Many people still believe that public libraries are stuffy, silent, and boring. Libraries are nothing like that, or at least the good ones aren't. People often come to the library for their daily dose of interaction and social connection. The words that are exchanged between patrons or between library staff members and patrons are sometimes the lifelines between people. Some conversations pass undetected by those outside their bubble, while others are clearly transmitted across space. Either way, these everyday interactions weave together people's day-to-days in the simplest and purest form of communication.

Neighbors chance upon one another within our walls, old classmates create tiny reunions when they accidentally meet through our threshold, and older patrons excitedly revisit with someone they haven't seen in years right in our foyer. These conversations are healing to our well-being as it ties us into our community, giving us direct links into caring for others, and building a sense of support simply through conversing. We witness interactions like this almost every single day.

Then there are the words that pass just between our own ears. The words you tell yourself, the ones you write to yourself, the ones you create and mull over. Oftentimes, having a spare moment to sit with the thoughts and feelings we experience can be a luxury. The simple act of bringing awareness to the self builds an important skill called self-awareness. Developing this skill can lead to better decision-making, stronger relationships, and improved emotional intelligence. Imagine simply being able to think freely and understand oneself in order to improve so many things at once.

The library tends to be a place that people come to think, work, create. Through these activities, there is a sort of rhythm that oftentimes gets lost in the hurry of our days. We learn to speak to ourselves again, to draw attention to the innerworkings of our own being, the thing that is often ignored in the hustle and bustle of modern living. Through this act, we get in touch with our natural way of operating in the world. We begin to get in touch with how we move internally and how that translates externally, which can allow for a sense of calm. In the same way a baby will be soothed by the sound of caretaker's heartbeat, we can also be comforted by our own inner pattern.

It is a common thing for me to reiterate to others that the library is more than just dusty old tomes and volumes. It encompasses so much more than it is usually given credit for. Stop into your local library for books, movies, take-and-makes, and more - but stay for the connections. Your heart will thank you. 💝💗💞

End of the Year Cheer

I have already seen someone's Christmas tree in their front window of their home. It was well before Halloween (several weeks actually) and was definitely Christmas themed. Where I think people can do whatever they want and should be able to celebrate Christmas early, I do like to think that it distracts us from the other meaningful holidays leading up to it.

Halloween has always been a favorite purely due to nostalgia. It was one of the holidays that was mostly geared towards kids and growing up this holiday was always hyped up. There were Halloween parties at school, dress-up days, and trick-or-treating. You got tons of candy and sometimes fun party toys or other kinds of treats. You got to play pretend and watch others join in too. It was a sort of magic that is difficult to manufacture. I think most people still really enjoy this holiday, but by decorating for another holiday so early on you can forget the true enchantment of it.

And Thanksgiving. It's like we are forgetting this holiday even exists. I think it's so important for us to keep the sentiment in mind, not necessarily the historical significance (though it can be equally as important with the correct facts) of this day. If Christmas doesn't really resonate as the day to be thankful for you and your loved ones being alive, then Thanksgiving surely should be. This is literally the single day in the year that highlights the need and importance of being thankful. If you aren't the type of person who practices gratefulness regularly this can be the day you set aside every year to do just that.

If you haven't heard of the positive effects of practicing gratitude, you can do a quick Google search and find these common themes: reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, enhances mood, and improves sleep. Even a single day to gain a little bit of that? Worth it. Not only that, you could prolong the effects by using Thanksgiving as your jumping off point for the year. Incorporating thankfulness can be a daily practice instead of an annual occurrence too. Lastly, the Macy's Day Parade is one of my favorite things to watch on TV and it only happens around this time. It just signifies to my subconscious that it's almost time for all the yule festivities!

So, throw up your Christmas tree before Halloween. Stock the aisles full of holiday decorations months before the actual holiday. Wish people a Happy New Year in September for all I care. But, if I can simply implore you to remember the significance of each one and what it means, that will be enough. They are cherished parts of someone's memory, maybe a large part of why someone keeps choosing to live on, and/or just a really meaningful time for someone else. We should honor each one not only for ourselves, but for others as well.

Enjoy your holidays and enjoy each other. 👪💝👐

Gluten-free like me? Try these fall recipes!

Want that apple pie taste without the horrible cramps and other unmentionable side effects of gluten? Try this recipe out:

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

First of all, what are the best apples to use in this recipe? Here are some to use: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala, Jonathon.

Now onto the recipe itself! Here is what you will need:

• 8x8 Baking Dish
• 4 Granny Smith (or your choice) apples - peeled, cored, chopped (4 cups)
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon gluten free flour (Almond or Coconut)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Add whip cream or vanilla ice cream when serving to make it even sweeter!
• For the crisp
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup gluten free old fashioned oats
• 4 Tablespoons of cold butter
• 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour
• Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then spray a medium-sized baking dish (like a 6×9″ or 8×8”) with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. To a large mixing bowl add chopped apples, sugar, gluten free flour, and cinnamon then stir to combine and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
3. For the Crisp Topping: to the same mixing bowl, add ingredients for crisp topping then use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is the consistency of a crumbly paste. Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture over the apples then bake for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
4. Let the apple crisp cool for 20 minutes before scooping into bowls and serving with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

If you're anything like me, when I was forced to go gluten-free one of the top things I missed was sweet desserts - particularly of the baked variety. When fall hit, I would especially miss pumpkin related baked goods. So, thankfully, there are ways to make delectable gluten-free options like this one right here:

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

What you will need:

• Loaf pan
• 1-1 1/2 gluten free baking flour blend (Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour)
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 Cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 Cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 Cup olive oil
• 1/4 Cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then spray a 9×5” loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. To a medium-size mixing bowl, add the gluten free flour blend, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon then whisk to combine and set aside.
3. To a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract then whisk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients then whisk until smooth.
4. Scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan then smooth the top with the back of a spoon and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Check on the loaf at the 20 minute mark — if the top is already browning, gently place a piece of foil on top (no need to crimp) then continue baking. Since this is a long-baking quick bread recipe, you don’t want the top to burn before the center has had a chance to fully bake through.
5. Let the pumpkin bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes then remove and transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a gallon size Ziplock bag on the counter. This bread is best served on day 2 after it has had a chance to soften.

I missed pumpkin baked goods, but I have also missed apple ones as well. When autumn rolls around, I crave these two like no other. Thank goodness there are options out there, like this one:

Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Things you'll need to get started:

• 12-cup muffin tin
• 1/2 Cup Olive oil
• 3/4 Cup sugar
• 1/4 unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1-1 1/2 Cups of gluten free baking flour blend (Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour)
• 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup shredded apples

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees then line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and set aside.
2. Add oil, sugar, and applesauce to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer, then beat until pale and smooth, 1 minute. Add eggs then mix until just combined. Add vanilla then mix until just combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt then add to the wet ingredient in two batches, mixing until just combined before adding the second batch. Add apples then fold into the batter with a spatula.
4. Scoop 1/4 cup batter into each muffin tin liner then bake for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool in muffin tin for 10 minutes before transferring muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter for 3-4 days.

You can find more gluten free recipes here: iowa girl eats. If you try one out, please let us know how you liked it here.

Credit to: Author Porter, Kristin. "Fall Cooking Bucket List: 50 Cozy Gluten Free Recipes." iowa girl eats, Iowa Girl Eats, October 17, 2025, https://iowagirleats.com/fall-cooking-bucket-list/

Watch these this Halloween

I just wanted to take a moment to share some of my favorite Halloween tv shows and movies that I always circle back to no matter how old I get.

Movies

• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Halloween Town (1998)
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Interview with the Vampire (1994)
• Beetlejuice (1988)
• Practical Magic (1998)
• The Corpse Bride (2005)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• Nightmare on Elm's Street (1984)
• Gremlins (1984)

TV Shows

• Sleepy Hollow (2013)
• What We Do In the Shadows (2019)
• Supernatural (2005)
• Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
• The Walking Dead (2010)
• Charmed (1998)
• Goosebumps (1995)
• Tales from the Crypt (1989)
• Once Upon a Time (2011)

You can probably tell that I am a millenial from the fairly concentrated time range, but I assure you these are worthwhile if you haven't watched them before. Personally, I enjoy rewatching familiar shows because of the nostalgia, making it cozy and worth the revisit. There's nothing more fulfilling than burrowing down in some soft blankets with a warm beverage and indulging in a show you haven't seen for a while. Most of these I would not watch any other time of the year, though you can certainly do that if you want. Yet, it's much more festive to turn one on around this spooky season. I hope this quick list helps you find something new or reminds you of something you want to rewatch💀🍂

MeL will remain with us for another year

The Michigan Library Association sent out communications for the state of public library funding, including the ever-useful MelCat system. We are relieved to hear that the Library of Michigan has been enabled to spend federal dollars, as well as, remains staffed which ensures that they will continue providing assistance to statewide programs and services. There was also a sizeable one-time increase in state funding for MeL (Michigan eLibrary), further padding the ability to continue this invaluable service.

If you aren't sure what MeL is, it is a system all throughout Michigan that connects libraries who share their collection with other participating libraries. For instance, if you were looking for a particular book that was not at your home library but it was in another library somewhere in the state, as long as they are part of MeL you can borrow it from that library and have it sent to yours to pick up. And MeL is not only limited to books, if a library allows a material to circulate via MeL, it will show up in the OPAC. Some examples are American Girl Dolls, video games, magazines, CDs, research journals, vinyls, among various other types of things.

MeL is not only convenient and diversified, but it also serves the wonderful purpose of opening up opportunities to the more rural areas of our state. Without this service, materials that would benefit someone who is not geographically within the service area of a collection goes without. Imagine a homebound college student taking online courses and they are attempting to write a research paper on the effects of pesticides on our agricultural process and its lingering affect on food. Instead of focusing only on online research, they can request research journals from other colleges or institutions and get those sent to their local library for someone to pick up. Without MeL, this would not be possible.

By visiting mel.org, you can search for materials on their website and see what might be available for you to borrow. Explore how this service might benefit you, and as you do keep in mind how this service could benefit others as well. We love that we can continue providing materials to our patrons through MeL and we hope you do too!

Fall Things To Do

It is official. We made it to autumn. We have started seeing the changing of leaves and some drop off the tree, but full colors won't be for another few weeks. That doesn't mean you have to wait until then to celebrate the season. Below is a list of things you can start planning or participating in this fall:

Uncle John's Cider Mill

If you have never been to this place, you have to put this on your docket to visit this year. It is conveniently located off 127, right next to the highway, with big signs that let you know you're getting close so its difficult to miss. There is a generous amount of parking so even if its busy you can usually find a spot.

You have so many choices when it comes to what to enjoy first, but many people's favorite thing is to participate in the cider and donuts they provide. If you head into the main building, you are immediately hit with the scent of freshly made cake donuts and pressed apples. You may have to wait in a line to get your hands on either of these treats, but once you do you will be enchanted by the flavors and the atmosphere. If you are lucky, you might even come when they are in the process of crushing the apples to make the cider. 

You can enjoy these while you mull around and if you find your way to the lower level you can enjoy the cute gift shop full of interesting bits and bobbles. If you make your way outdoors, you might wander your way to the wine tasting room or the bakery building nearby. Overall, this can be a solid location to spend a few, lazy hours enjoying fall activities.

Potter Park Zoo

What could be better than looking at cute and/or fascinating animals while leaves tumble down all around? The zoo is the perfect place to blend learning about animals and enjoying fall scenery. If you wait until October you can also participate in Boo at the Zoo. You can dress up in costumes as you parade around the park looking for activities all around as well as brushing up on your animal knowledge. There is a hay ride, cider and donuts, an inflatable bouncy spot, and so much more! Be aware that some of the activities may be available at an additional cost and not included in the price of the ticket.

Fall Festivals

The fun thing about living in Michigan is that each season brings about different types of festivals and catching one of them is a must. Check out:

1. Grand Ledge Fall Festival: features vendors, crafts, and family-friendly activities like a petting zoo and pony rides.
2. Oktoberfests: Old Town, Brewhouses, and Pubs all take advantage of the fall season to celebrate different kinds of beers, some specifically around the German culture. Horrocks is also a popular place to stop by because they have a biergarden and live music.
3. Fall in love with Old Town: usually a Saturday in September, this festival is more about exploring and supporting the historic parts of town.

You can keep abreast of festivals popping up near you by a quick Google search or by scrolling on social media. There's always something you can find and plan for!

Nature Centers

A perfect way to start viewing the leaves changing is to visit a nature center. There are a few in the Lansing area that attract attention, but even visiting a park can afford you some wholesome experience. Consider visiting Fenner Nature Center, Harris Nature Center, and Woldumar Nature Center and walk their many different trails to take in the sights and sounds of the changing season. Fenner Nature Center often does cider & donuts, live music, pressing apples, and pumpkin painting. Be on the lookout for other events on their websites or social media.

Tunnel of Trees

Speaking of nature, the best way to view the changing colors is to drive from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. It is a scenic drive down M-119 that spans around 20-miles of winding roads. The narrow roads can oftentimes feel like an actual tunnel so just imagine the majesty of reds, oranges, and yellows gliding over you! It can double as a road trip and give you an excuse to visit the smaller towns, enjoying the quaint charm of sleepier Michigan areas.

Pumpkin Patches and Orchards

If you do a quick Google search, you will see various options in the Greater Lansing area including:

1. Country Mill Orchard and Cider Mill
2. Uncle Johns Orchard and Cider Mill (see above information)
3. Reese Farms
4. Peacock Road Family Farm
5. Brimley's Pumpkin Farm
6. Barkham Creek Farms
7. Clearview Orchards

Any of these locations will have a load of pumpkins to choose from, but how you do it is up to you. You can walk to a row of pumpkins and pick your choice, or you can look through a variety that have been assorted for you. One is more involved and requires more stamina, but the experience of doing this activity is unforgettable. If you have a family or want to make a memory with a loved one, this is a perfect excuse.

🍁🍂

Fact Checkers Favorites

Have you ever wondered if what you were hearing or reading was real or fake? Being concerned with whether or not something is true should be considered a civil responsibility, and one that we should take upon ourselves to uphold with integrity. With that being said, you may have not been introduced to the CRAAP test, but it's one of the best ways to source the information you might come across. Here's how to use the test, ask yourself:

1. Currency: Is the information timely and up-to-date for your topic?
2. Relevance: Does the information relate directly to your research needs?
3. Authority: Who is the author or publisher, and are they qualified and reputable in the field?
4. Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence and correctly cited, and can it be verified by other sources?
5. Purpose: What was the motive behind creating the content—to inform, persuade, or sell, and does it show bias?

From these questions, you should be able to identify whether or not something holds some value. If information does not conform under these rules, you may have a biased or inaccurate piece. And for fun, once something is verifiably true, you can say, "Well, that was a load of CRAAP."

Another great way is to use your library or local colleges to look up information via the databases that are available. You can access some of these resources for free on their websites without the need of a library card or being a student of their college. A quick Google search can get you to the right place.

Test your skills and fact checking by looking at sites like Not Real News or The Onion to see if you can spot the lies, misinformation, and other misleading tidbits within their articles.

Here is a short, reliable list of vetted sources you can refer to when you need to fact check:

• PolitiFact
• Fact Check
• Snopes
• NPR Fact Check
• Media Bias Fact Check
• SciCheck

The strongest position you can take is one where you are correctly informed...and have fun saying "CRAAP"!

Is September the new January?

Change is a constant. People gravitate toward constants, but may struggle with the concept of change itself. Many people think favorably of things that remain steady, predictable, and planned. However, we also tend to build things around great change: changing of seasons, political figures, weather, a new school year, etc. So, when summer begins its transition into fall, it's natural to feel either a sense of upheaval and/or renewal. This time of the year begs us to face the ever-constant: our relationship with change.

Just as we go into the New Year with a sense of renewal and hope, so too can September be the time of transition and reevaluation. In fact, this month can be called a 'temporal landmark' which is a significant time where goal-setting creates a boost in motivation and psychological sense of a clean slate. This can be a time of self-reflection and separation from the past. You can make September a routine "checking-in" point in the year to identify whether or not you are hitting your goals and/or achieving what you want in life.

Ride the same back-to-school energy by using that mindset to carry you through an intentional look at your year. A few bits of advice that can help you on your way:

1. Revisit goals you set earlier within the year.
2. If it's not working, reset it.
3. Break down goals into smaller, manageable ones.
4. Create a way to track your progress.
5. Keep things simple.

You can set practical steps towards your goals or create new habits starting this fall - it's the perfect new start to the year! 🍁

Late Summer Reads

In our particular area of the world, there is a certain rhythm that fills the days. We may not notice the small ones, but the seasonal ones are more apparent. Late summer is a time in the year with colder nights but mercifully warmer days. Yet, it hallmarks what is to come when autumn finally arrives. Although most people enjoy the change to fall, it is also one step closer to the dreaded frigid winter months. So, why not hold onto the end of summer or even celebrate the transition into fall with some books!

Persephone Fraser is pulled back to Barry's Bay, her home town, when a call about a former close friend's mother's funeral comes, pulling her back into orbit with Sam Florek. It was their friendship over the course of 6 summers that turned into something breathtaking, only to be ripped apart, that pushed her far away from anything her heart could want. When she returns, their connection is undeniable. Yet, unless Percy can find a way to face her choices and make peace with the things she tortures herself with, neither will know what all of it amounts to. This story is built on nostalgia, love, and choices that change people forever.

One summer in the late '70s, Caitlin Somers chooses Victoria Leonard as her friend, thrusting her into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family and sweeping her off to places of unimaginable privilege. During their vacations, they become "summer sisters". Years later, their long, complicated friendship has faded but when Caitlin begs Vix to come to her Vineyard wedding to be her maid of honor, she knows she will go. Not simply as principle, but to finally know what happened during that last shattering summer and why her summer sister still has the power to break her heart.

Four freshman arrive at a college, they strike up a conversation in their shared room, and seeds of friendship are planted despite their backgrounds being from completely different worlds. Their bonds grow tighter as their college years pass, making them inseparable, but as graduation looms, a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. In the aftermath, the friends promise to always be there for one another no matters the distance. 10 years down the road, one calls the other after remembering their pact, testing whether promises made have the strength to stand the test of time. In this portrayal of grief, hope, and love, you will be asking yourself, "When things fall apart, who will be by your side to help pick up the pieces?".

Brought back to Grace, Arizona by her ailing and distant father, Codi is attempting to confront her past while struggling to follow Loyd Peregrina's advice of, "If you want sweet dreams, you've got to live a sweet life." What she comes back to, however, is a silent environmental disaster and some illuminating clues to her own identity. With a blend of flashbacks, dreams, and Native American legends, the book is a suspenseful story around Cori and a man whose view of the world could change the course of her life.

At the age of 58, divorced and facing an empty nest, Dawn is trying to settle herself into her new future. However, she finds herself continually returning to the past and a secret she's kept for so many years: when she was 16, she found herself pregnant. Being in Trinidad, and as was a common practice, she was forced by her parents to give the baby up for adoption. Now, more than 40 years later, she feels the overwhelming need to reconnect with her lost daughter, but tracking her down is not easy. It will take an immense emotional load to retrace her steps back home and to question the very choice she had to face all those years ago, the one that has shaped all the choices she has made since then. Depicting the powerful bonds of a mother-and-child, this story echoes of enduring bonds in love, family, and home.

Thomas is caught in the mundane of being a shrimp shanker while selling his wares in the afternoon and rehearsing songs on his guitar as he pines for Joan Wyeth down the street. Although he is a folk musician at heart, a private dream he keeps, he must eek out a slow, deliberate life in his grandfather's trade with his mother in Longferry. However, when a stranger shows up with the temptation of Hollywood glamour, he is shaken from the drudgery of life and sees the silver lining in a different future. Will Thomas trust the American's promises of a bright future, and how far can he truly carry his dreams? This is a haunting story about a young man hemmed in by his circumstances though longs to fulfill the purpose he believes will lead him away from it.

This is a story about a young woman attending a liberal arts college in New England as an international student and her long distance Skype calls to her mother who lives in Brazil. In the blue glows of their computer screens, the two women develop new rituals of intimacy and caretaking. Although their realities apart are vastly different, they find communion in drinking whiskey together in the middle of the night and keeping watch as the other slides into sleep. 
Yet as Autumn approaches, each begins to realize that spring might not hold hopeful beginnings but rather difficult endings. This follows the difficult transition of a person making a home in a foreign place and the sacrifices they and their loved ones make in order to fulfill that dream.

In this book of mystery and heart, you will meet a strange character named Ayumi Shibuya. Carrying a tattered notebook, dressed in a designer duffel coat, he intercedes on behalf of the living searching for a way to bridge the gap between this world and the next. Ayumi meets his clients at a luxury hotel to lay down ground rules: the service is entirely free, but the reunion is a one-time deal. Oh, and it can be refused by the dead and only happen during a full moon. During these encounters, we see a variety of longings unfulfilled only fulfilled by the Go-Betweeners. With each rendezvous, you are given a clue as to who Ayumi really is. In this page-turner you are led through both living and dead as they are given one last chance at closure.

We have gotten a lot of patrons asking about our book sale. At Portland District Library, we do a semi-annual book sale and it's coming up soon. Stop in September 8-19 and fill a bag with not only books but anything else that we set out on the tables to sell for only $2.00! 

You can also visit the cart upstairs and the book room to find things to stuff in your bag. You can certainly bring your own bag but if you don't, we have you covered - we've got (free) bags here. Please stop by the circulation desk to ask about bags or anything else related to the book sale.

If you can't make it during this date, know that we keep the cart and the book room stocked full of things for you to peruse, buy, and take home. From books to CDs to movies to puzzles, there is an array of things to choose from all year round. Spend some time looking at our selection and see if there is something(s) you would like to take home with you this next book sale!

We are getting a new coat of paint

The library has been under light renovations to introduce new colors to our space. If you stop in you can see the swathes of our new paint on the walls and ceilings, but please be aware that certain areas will be more restricted or closed entirely while the painters are working. The painters are working their way from the top-down and soon each floor will have a new look. It would be worth a gander to pop in and see what your local library looks like now, but you can always wait until it's completely finished as well. We anticipate this task being completed in September.

And while you're in, you can also explore the programs and materials we have available to borrow. We have new items freshly rotated from our new shelves, giving you the opportunity to see different titles. These are right at the front of the collections so it is easy to explore them as they become available. You can also inquire about our programs at the Circulation Desk which is also right at the front. We have a library calendar of events that outlines everything happening here, and its color coordinated so its easy to find things based on age ranges. 

With a new set a of paint, you may be interested in trying something new as well. The library is a perfect, free way to explore some low-pressure activities including (but not limited to):

• A new hobby
• A new skill
• A program
• A board game
• Doing a community puzzle
• Exploring local history

You have access to so much when you utilize the library and it can be so new and surprising to simply visit. We invite you to come and admire, but stay for the array of options we offer.

Memories at the library

It's natural for us to want to make memories, curating our schedules to work around a carefully planned vacation that is sure to make them. We organize our lives in compartmentalized sections, always planning a section for relaxation and enjoyment, and look at locations or places that will fulfill these requirements. Yet, perhaps we don't stop and think about the places we routinely visit as places to make memories. The places you orbit, travel, and frequent can fall into a rhythm that rarely gets identified as anything but what it seems like: usual. However, let me challenge you to look at it from a different perspective.

Maybe the truest memories we make are the steady, everyday ones that we constantly live. Whenever you walk down the street and simply observe the scenery. Whenever you drive down the road and name the things as they pass as a sort of game, to yourself or with others in the car. Whenever you visit a place that you see almost every day like the grocery store or the gas station. These memories are collected and kept in a seamless way so it doesn't stand out. It's simply the baseline flow of thoughts you live with every day. Yet, when you draw attention to them, you start to realize how much they actually mean.

A visit to the library can be something that builds, not just impresses a few times and then disappears from thought. There are so many people, especially families, that come to the library not really seeing the potential of making it part of their regular schedule. Libraries aren't generally seen as big and flashy. They don't pull in the masses as a fun and exciting part of a city's venue, but it certainly can be like that if you give it a try. Even so, a library tends to slowly make space in the mind and heart as a safe place to simply be. No expectations. You can return time-and-time again and simply enjoy existing. Sometimes, people (even adults) just need a place like that.

Not everything in life has to be about catching the next big moment, you can experience lasting memories simply from existing in place that holds space for you. That's what makes things last a lifetime.

Rain or shine, we're here

The library is such a dependable place. If you need a quiet place to study, it's usually the first place someone thinks of to go. Yet, you may not think of us as anything other than a serene space filled with a lot of silence. That's great for someone looking for some peaceful solitude, but you might be surprised how versatile a space we have. No longer must you feel intimidated by the almost-sacred silence of library space in days gone by. Rather, we have programs and events that often fill up the space with people and noise (to a reasonable extent), including movie showtimes, family story times, ukulele practicing, sea shanties, kids reading to animals, teen advisory boards, adult book clubs, and so much more.

If you haven't been to a summer reading kickoff, that is a perfect example of the peak of chaos (all for the good of reading) that can inhabit a library. Gone are the stuffy days where librarians were "shushing" and asking for patrons to be quiet. In are the fun, explorative, imaginative days of: trying a new hobby, creating crafts, learning a new skill, meeting new people, having pleasant conversations with neighbors, and expanding your horizons. Libraries are so many things: the community hub, the supporters of knowledge, the safe place, the perpetuators of creativity, and just the general all-around place to go when you don't have a place to go. We love that we can say "rain or shine, we are here for you".

I hear so many people come into the library and say, "I didn't know you (insert something we do/have)!" It is so nice seeing curious minds venture in because they have discovered another avenue to explore. What is more exciting than experiencing something you thought you knew, made "new"? Even if you've never stepped foot in a library, it's never too late. 

Experiencing the library can be so many things all at once, but the main thing is that it acts as a bridge. It connects people to resources they cannot get themselves or never knew existed. It allows people to experience other lives, other places, other worlds. It's a place people can gather in community and communication. The exciting thing is, the library can be whatever the community needs it to be - it isn't a stagnant place where change never happens. If you imagine dusty shelves of books you have to hold like priceless art pieces, think again. Libraries are priceless because of what we offer, not necessarily the price points on the materials.

Libraries have been evolving with the times, but if you haven't been in one you would miss that fact entirely. Librarians have also been evolving, developing and improving on the stereotypical assumption that we will put a stop to most your endeavors, especially if it looks anything like fun. Whatever the reason you haven't seen us in a while, or at all, we invite you to come check us out. We will do our best as stewards of goodwill to help you, and in the very least, give you a place to go.

Summer Reading 2025

If you are looking for a fun challenge this summer, consider starting a reading one. There are so many different options to try out and each is relatively easy to sign up for. Take a look at a few here:

Portland District Library

Yes, your local library does put on a reading challenge every summer and we would love for you to participate! You have two ways you can sign up: in-person using a paper tracker -OR- via our app called Beanstack. For directions on how to sign up for the app, please call (517-647-6981) or stop in.

Any way you decide to log your minutes, as you move through the program you earn level badges. Each level you complete you earn a prize and a ticket, which you can allocate to a drawing for a grand prize. Earn up to 8 tickets that you can divvy up between any of the prizes in any way you see fit.

And it's free to sign up!

Barnes & Noble

I've been curious about this reading program, but haven't done much delving in until now. Information seems a bit sparse on their website but looking at their .PDF illuminates how it actually works. 

If you sign up for this program, you simply track 8 books and describe what part was your favorite and why. Once you are finished, you bring the completed journal to your local branch and then you get to choose a book from the list provided. Seems pretty breezy to me!

Pizza Hut

There are a few chain restaurants that offer reading challenges, including Pizza Hut, but you can explore the many options by searching online. Personally, I like the sound of earning a single topping personal pan pizza just for reading! It is easy to download their app and track progress.

Online options

If you are just looking for an easy way to motivate your little readers, doing a quick search on the web can pull up many resources and tools to support them. During the summer, many organizations such as Reading Is Fundamental or The Good and the Beautiful offer things like reading charts, reading lists, and other motivational options to encourage reading.

Other public libraries

Many families don't know if they're allowed to participate in more than one reading program at a time, especially if that program is at another public library. We want to assure you that most libraries are not stingy about what libraries you utilize for reading, and most will encourage you to sign up for more than one program! In our area, here are a few libraries to consider signing up at:

• Grand Ledge Area District Library
• Sunfield District Library
• Mulliken District Library
• Ionia Community Library
• Lyons Township District Library
• Delta Township Library
• Saranac-Clarksville District Library

Any way you choose to read this summer, feel good about the progress you make. Any time spent reading is time well spent.

Summer Reading is easy

Summer reading is in full swing, so if you haven't signed up yet you should consider joining today! It's easy to start: stop in, get a paper tracker (or download the Beanstack app), track your minutes, and win prizes. Not only can you get level prizes, but you can also use your completed tickets for a chance at a grand prize.

If you aren't sure what to read, try these books out to get you started:

Sunny Greene, a plus-size divorcee, begins her struggle to embrace her size and start dating again. But, the dating world is pure chaos, and stuck between 3 eligible men (1 being her ex himself), she is not having an easy go of it. With a Carrie-Bradshaw-esque heroine, readers are pulled on, rooting for Sunny as her journey brings her through the trials of dating, friendship, and finding yourself.

From the author of The Killers of the Flower Moon, a retelling of what happened to His Majesty's ship "The Wager" when it left England on a secret mission in 1740. It chased treasure only to maroon its crew on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. In order to escape their natural prison, 30 sailors strapped what was left of their ship and sailed away, finding purchase in Brazil and being hailed as heroes. However, the real kicker comes when 3 other sailors turn up in Chile with a completely different story to tell. Rather, it seemed the stranded crew had major disagreements on how to proceed and ultimately they fell into violence and anarchy. It was decided that the Admiralty convene a court martial and whichever side was deemed guilty would hang.

Alice is a photographer, satisfied with standing on the sidelines and capturing others in the limelight, but when her Nan falls and breaks her hips she goes back to the place where it all began: the lake. She spent just one summer at 17 in this place and took a photo of 3 teenagers in a yellow speedboat - one that comes speeding back into her life with a man in it. Charlie was 19 when she took that photo and with his piercing green eyes he sees Alice as the person who sees others - which makes her worry for her heart.

Joan, a woman whose life hasn't really turned out how she planned it, decides to change her life dramatically by opening a café where customers can find connection through conversation. She creates a space for meaningful relationships and builds a lasting legacy through her business. In this novel about found family and the joy and loneliness that comes with age, Joan's rich observations lead you into a comic yet profoundly moving story about seeking satisfaction at every stage of life.

When one sister returns home to work for the other, it could be seen as a disaster waiting to happen. Denise and Helen might be a nightmare working together under usual circumstances, but when shady real estate developers destroy their childhood home to make way for condos, these ladies will be the perfect duo. Siblings-turned-sleuths find out about a dead body that turns up after one of the Falcon family's building collapses. So they do some of their own investigating to see how low these developers will go in order to stay afloat - and hopefully pin them before a big storm hits and wipes out all evidence.

Daphne found her fiancé's recounting of their "story" to be funny - up until he realizes that he's actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Now in Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne is a children's librarian living with the only person who could understand her predicament: Petra's ex, Miles. Opposites attract when these two come up with a plan to take misleading photos of their summer escapades. Maybe these ex-fiancés can find something better than what they once had?

A group of international players, all with their own loyalties and grievances, gather together for a diplomatic dinner. Gathering in a tiny village off the coast of Iceland, they can't even finish their dinner without one of them ending up dead. Jane, the ambassador's wife, is tasked with finding the killer but with violent weather trapping them together and a finite suspect list, you would think it would be quick work. Nope, this locked-room mystery is 336 pages long so get ready for the twists and turns in this mystery!

Portland Creates 2025 Reception

Portland Creates finally came to a close on Friday, June 13 with around 60 attendees. We had a total of 85 artists and 129 submissions this year, doubling what we had last year, with various art types.

The attendees enjoyed light refreshments, music, and some came in their best attire. We gave out door prizes as well as a best dressed prize after making the announcements for the winners. Here are some pictures of the attendees, including some of the winners:

While waiting for the announcement, attendees had the option to create a unique page or two for our community art book. Take a look at some of the work of art we had:

These pieces will be compiled into a community art book and will be available to look at later this year. We want to take a moment to thank the community for their participation in this program and their steadfast support for all the things we do here at the library.