PR September 2002

Local quilter, Linda Reuschlein, will speak about quilting today and present a small trunk show on Tuesday, September 24, 7 PM at the Westernport Branch of the Allegany County Library System at 66 Main Street.

Library staff members have been so impressed with Reuschlein’s work. “We’re looking foreward to this program returning to Westernport,” comments Kay Hutton from the Westernport Library. “I’ve seen her work; her quilts are prize winners.” Another staff member was taken by the personalization and detail that goes into the grandchildren quilts.

A member of Schoolhouse Quilters’ Guild and Creative Needle Quilters, Reuschlein teaches quilt making to the male inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution at Mexico Farms. The “Stitchin’Time” men make small quilts for children in need. Reuschlein will have with her the work of the “Stitchin’ Time” men as well as her own.

September 9, 2002

Learn to Protect Your Family From Identity Theft, Credit Card Fraud, and Bankruptcy at Library's September 19th Money Smart Session

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Linda Burkey

South Cumberland Library

100 Seymour Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

Learn to protect you and your family from having your identity stolen, becoming victims of credit card scams, or going bankrupt! These are the subjects that will be covered in Money Smart Seminar # 2, Thursday, September 19 at 7 PM at the South Cumberland Library. Michael Twigg, Deputy State’s Attorney, will be guest speaker for the program that will last about one hour.

The 10, Free, Money Smart Programs are being offered by the Allegany County Library System in partnership with the Human Resources Development Commission. The series was developed by the FDIC; and Sandy MacMillen, Director of the Family Asset Development Program, is coordinating the sessions.

“There’s plans to offer this personal finance series at our public libraries throughout the county so as many residents as possible can take advantage of them without traveling a great distance,” explained Linda Burkey, Coordinator of Community Outreach for the Library System. “Times are changing; it use to be rather simple to do your banking and take care of your personal finances. Today, there are so many options offered by financial institutions. For this reason, this program is great not only for those who are just starting out on their own, such as teenagers, but allows anyone to update their personal habits.”

MacMillen explained that he “personalizes each class for those present. We use a lot of real-life situations to demonstrate the material and encourage participants to share with one another for a better learning experience.” The Money Smart Program is a prerequisite to acquire FADP matching funds for home buying and education; you save a given amount, and they give you matching funding.

Space is limited. Please Call 301-724-1607 for more information or to register.

Pre-registration is not required.

September 9, 2002

Library Book Group Returns to India in September Read

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Linda Burkey

South Cumberland Library

100 Seymour Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

The Book Discussion Group of the South Cumberland Branch Library will meet Thursday September 26, 7pm at the library to discuss A Fine Balance by Bombay born Rohinton Mistry.

Mistry book will quickly transport you to India to an unnamed city by the sea. It’s 1975, and a state of “Internal Emergency” has been declared. Your extended circle of friends in the book include Dina, 40-something year old widow trying to make next month’s rent; Maneck, the son of an old school friend of Dina; and two tailors, Ishvar and his nephew Om members of the Untouchable caste. Emotions you’ll experience?—the whole gamut you’d expect of people living under such uncertainty. The characters learn to trust, become friends, and even learn to love.

Kirkus Reviews compares Mistry’s writing to writers such as Dickens and Solzhenitsyn. While a little lengthy, library patrons have been recommending this book as a good fiction read for the general public. It is winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Fiction, the Giller Prize, and the Commonwealth Writers Prize. Mistry now resides near Toronto.

The Discussion Group has chosen Mutant Message by Marlo Morgan for their October discussion. The group meets the 4^th Thursday of each month to discuss a book chosen by group participants. Everyone is invited to join us for any discussion. No registration is required. Copies of the books are available through your local library.

September 13, 2002

Library's "Just For Teens" Winners Announced

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Linda Burkey

South Cumberland Library

100 Seymour Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

Travis Shugars is the August winner in the Allegany County Library System’s “Just For Teens” summer reading incentive and Courtney Lynn LaGratta was drawn as the Grand-Finale Winner for the summer program. Congratulations to all who won this summer. Travis won $25 in Gift Certificates and Courtney $75 in Gift Certificates given by the Country Club Mall.

To qualify to win, teens 13 to 17 were asked to answer whether they would recommend to others the books they were reading for fun this summer. 122 entries were received with reviews on all types of books. A brochure with the titles recommended the most will be available in time for the library’s celebration of Teen Read Week, October 13-19, when libraries across the country make a special effort to inspire teens to make some time to do some reading “just for the fun of it”.

A special thanks goes to the Country Club Mall and the Downtown Cumberland Business Association for supplying Gift Certificates that made this program possible.

September 18, 2002

Homeschoolers' Book Discussion Group Announces October Read

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Linda Burkey

South Cumberland Library

100 Seymour Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

The Homeschoolers’ Book Discussion Group of the Allegany County Library System have chosen the The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare for its discussion on Monday, October 14 at 2 PM.

This story of Kit Tyler, an orphan from the Caribbean Islands who is sent to the Connecticut Colony, takes place during 1687. It’s a time when people are suspicious; even being a rebellious young teenager or an old Quaker woman is enough to instigate a witch hunt. It’s a story that just might add light, especially for children and teens, on the present fears of our times.

“Booklist” has this to say about the The Witch of Blackbird Pond: “Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial.”

The Book Discussion Group meets the 2^nd Monday of each month at the South Cumberland Library. Discussions last about one hour and are open to all children ages 7 to 15. Copies of the books are available at your local library.

“As we start up our 2^nd year of discussions, there seems to be interest in having a separate discussion for the younger members of the group,” explained Linda Burkey, Coordinator of the group for the Library. “We are also advertising the group to include 7 year olds who have expressed an interest.”

September 23, 2002

The Library's History Lecture for the Month of October: "The Influence of the Railroads on the Growth of Cumberland"

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Linda Burkey

South Cumberland Library

100 Seymour Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

“ How the Railroads Influenced the Growth of Cumberland” will be the subject of the Allegany County Library System’s History Lecture on October 1^st. at 7 PM at the Main Library, 31 Washington Street. Harry Foreback and Richard Kirsch will be the guest speakers.

Foreback retired from the railroad after 41 years as an Engineer; he has also worked as an Engineer for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. With loads of experiences from the past to share, Foreback enjoys sharing his history with children as well as adults.

Kirsch is a local Railroad Historian and works with the Western Maryland Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. He will round out the program by sharing a short overview of what was going on in the area that attracted the railroad and how the railroad developed Cumberland into a thriving city.

“This program is designed so that all generations should be able to have a good time learning about this part of Cumberland’s history,” commented Linda Burkey program coordinator.

The program is part of the Allegany County Library System’s History Lecture Series, which offers local residents programs on a variety of local history subjects. A program is offered the first Tuesday of each month at one of the library system’s branches. The talks usually last about a half hour or so with a question and answer period following.

September 24, 2002

Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program at Westernport Library

PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System

Contact: Pam Neder

Westernport Public Library

66 Main Street

Westernport, MD 21562

Penny Campbell will be at the Westernport Branch of the Allegany County Library System on Tuesday, October 1 at 7 PM to talk to the public about the benefits of Colorectal Screening.

Campbell, who works with the Western Maryland Health Systems, explains how colorectal cancer is one of the types of cancer that can be prevented in many cases by proper early screening.