Our PAForward Journey to a GOLD STAR!

Well fellow patrons, our library has decided it is time for us to become a PAForward Gold Star Library! We are very excited to be starting this journey as it will take us all year to complete the actions to achieve this goal. The PaForward program is a Pennsylvania operation that aims toward educating all Pennsylvania citizens in the different forms of Literacy. There are five different types of literacy to be discussed and educated on. These five literacies are needed by our community to help us be better citizens, students, parents and just better educated and aware people. Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy are all the different types needed to help our community grow, expand and learn. Our library has been involved in many ways with the different types already, with the information we provide seniors on healthcare and our weekly computer education classes. We help the community with the different programs for our children to help them learn and grow. We will be helping the early preschool children with our 1,000 books before kindergarten program. There are so many things we offer already and more we will continue to offer to better provide our patron base with the necessary tools to accomplish the PA Forward goal. We hope you folks encourage and will support us in our journey and we thank you for your continued trust and patronage.

   The Eighth Annual Golden Ticket Raffle and Dinner will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Fountain Springs Country Inn. This is the largest fundraising activity of the Frackville Free Public Library each year, and it is also a great afternoon out! Your ticket includes a chance to win a grand prize of cash, numerous door prizes, 2 prime rib dinners, and 4 drinks for a ticket cost of $125 for two persons. Cocktails begin at 3PM and dinner at 4PM. Tickets are limited so call the library at 570-874-3382 or see any Library Trustee soon. You can also use our contact page on this website to request information. The library appreciates your support at this annual event.

   Well, the holidays are over, and it's time to settle in for a couple of quiet months of winter. But just because the hustle and bustle has slowed down, it doesn't mean things aren't happening in town. At the library, there is still plenty of program activity going on if you just have to get out of the house! Children's programs are available on January 8 and January 13. Mondays at 6 you'll find the Knitting Class clicking away, and if any seniors got a computer for Christmas, sharpen your skills at our Thursday Computer Class for Adults. The Frackville Area Fireworks Committee is planning for this years display to be held on June 28. Of course, there is money to be raised first, so come to the Mardi Gras on February 7 at the Goodwill Hose Company-music, food, and a chance to meet and greet your neighbors. Tickets will be on sale beginning January 12. Comment on this post if you need more information about any of these activities.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Frackville Museum last Sunday. It's the kind of place where you're bound to run into someone you haven't seen for awhile. The exhibits all bring back memories of growing up in Frackville, including some unusual photos of places or people you may have forgotten. The exhibit includes many photos of course, from the collection of local historian Lorraine Stanton. There are also vintage fashion items, and other collectibles especially from the 50's and 60's. I saw some photos of the interior of the Garden Theater, and one of the visitor's said that there was a special seat in the balcony that held two people! I didn't get into the balcony too much, I guess, for I didn't remember that. There was also a photo of Wagner's Dam, a small body of water that used to exist at the northwest corner of Balliet and Arch Streets. Most people don't remember it now. A visit here is a must for anyone with Frackville roots. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until Spring to visit, as it is closed for the winter months. Look here for news of the reopening in March.

The library is currently taking registrations for two exciting Holiday events.On Saturday, December 13, the library will be holding what has become an annual Christmas treat for families. Christmas at the Library is a lively afternoon of Christmas stories, games, holiday themed crafts, and cookies from 1-3PM. Children ages 0-12 and their parents are invited to register. On Sunday, December 14, the Frackville Recreation Board and the Frackville Elks are holding their annual Christmas Party and Visit with Santa at the Frackville Borough Building. The event, which runs from 2-4PM, features music, refreshments, a gift for each child attending, and a popular bounce house. Children ages 0-12 must be registered by Saturday, December 6 for this event! The library is taking registrations for both of these programs. Call soon!  Don't miss out on these free programs for your family!

Thanks to the employees at the Frackville store of the Wells Fargo Bank, we were nominated to receive a grant of $1000 for their 2014 Community Connections Giving Program. This is an annual program where each of its retail banking stores explores the needs of their local communities and selcts a nonprofit organization or school to receive a $1000 grant. This year, Wells Fargo will award close to  $300,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Pennsylavania. I attended a breakfast in Wilkes-Barre at which all of the recipients from Northeast PA received their grant. It was interesting to see the broad spectrum of organizations that were selected-food banks, libraries, cultural programs, and services to children and seniors. The library is proud to be part of this nationwide partnership and we thank Wells Fargo for their activity at the local level. 

We had a great time at the first county wide Cupcake War fundraiser to support the public libraries in Schuylkill County. I entered as a baker and it was fun coming up with what I hoped was a unique idea. I put together a spice cupcake with apple pie filling and a caramel frosting. These were called 'Not Your Mother's Apple Pie Cupcakes' and a lot of the tasters said they like the combination. There were over thirty bakers in two categories of under age 18 and over 18. Some of the kid's entries were very tasty. I enjoyed an unusual Sweet Potatoe cupcake, and I absolute loved a Walnut Cupcake made by the grandson of one of our patrons. Jacqui Verhauz of Jim Thorpe entered the competition in support of Frackville. Her cleverly named Butterbeer Cupcake, a rich butterscotch flavor with scrumptious buttercream on top definitely deserved the win for Best Taste. Glad I was able to get one of those before they were gone! Think about enterering next year-it was really fun! Thanks to Claudia Gross of the Orwigsburg Public Library for all her efforts in getting this organized.
 

     Only two weeks left until the Annual Frackville Pumpkin Festival! On Saturday, October 1, 2011 between 10AM  and 2PM you'll find lots of autumn fun on Frack Street between Balliet and Lehigh. Pony rides, pumpkin crafts, music, lots of great food, and many contests with prizes provided by our local businesses. Join the scavenger hunt, write a pumpkin limerick, eat a pie very fast, enter your favorite pumpkin or squash recipe, or bid for a pumpkin art piece-you can do it all at the Pumpkin Festival. On Friday, September 30 at 5:30PM at the Schuylkill Mall, you can try your skill at Pumpkin' Chunkin'-throwing a pumpkin as far as you can in the parking lot to win Mall gift certificates. It promises to be a great weekend, so mark your calendar and plan to attend. Your friends and neighbors will be there-why not you too! Call the library for information about all activities at 874-3382.

      On Saturday, July 30, 2011, the Frackville Recreation Board will be holding their Annual Christmas in July event at the Frackville Elks. This fun-filled evening will feature music by DJ Ed Collins, a local favorite and a light buffet. The real attraction of the event is the long list of great prizes donated by local merchants and Frackville supporters. Gift cards, cash, services, and great Yuengling items will be in the drawing. In addition to a chance to win the prizes, each ticket holder will also receive a collectible Yuengling beer glass. Tickets are $15.00 per person, and can be purchased at the library or from any Recreation Board member. Call 874-3382 for more information. Proceeds go to the Recreation Board to cover the cost of free community events such as the Christmas Parade.

       Once again the library is sponsoring its Art of the Pumpkin contest in conjunction with the Frackville Pumpkin Festival, being held September 30 and October 1, 2011. Wooden pumpkin blanks are being sold at the library for $10 each ($5 for students or adults over age 65). These blanks can be decorated in any medium-paint, paper, fabric-the possiblilities are endless. The finished art pieces will be displayed around town prior to the festival, and will be judged to determine a winner. Prizes will be announced soon. The pumpkins will then be awarded to the highest bidder in a Chinese auction. All procedes go to the library's general fund. So put on your creative thinking cap, and create a one-of-a-kind pumpkin for this unique contest. Entries must be returned to the library by Wednesday, September 21.

     The library has kicked off its Annual Fund Drive and Century Club Campaign for 2011. This activity is very important in that it not only helps us to maintain our services to the community, but it also insures that we meet the standard for local effort that the State of Pennsylvania requires in order to give us State Aid to Public Libraries. As you plan the remainder of your charitable giving for the year, please consider the library.Any amount is greatly appreciated, but if you can, a donation of $100 or more qualifies the giver to be part of our Century Club. This fund is used to enhance and expand the library through building repairs, new equipment, and other special projects. We look forward to having you as a member.

     The Frackville Recreation Board in conjunction with the American Legion Post 398, Frackville will be holding our community's annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, 2011. The parade begins at Lehigh Avenue and Arch St. at 8:45AM and will proceed up Lehigh Aveneue and over Spring Street to Memorial Park. At the park there will be a ceremony honoring local veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as musical selections by soloist Mary Wofford and a gun salute and taps by the American Legion Post Honor Guard. Light refreshments will be served afterwards at the American Legion Post on East Oak Street. All Frackville citizens are invited to attend. Parade and ceremony will be held rain or shine. For more information call the library at 874-3382.

     On Tuesday, August 17, 2010 the library will be joining the Schuylkill County Firefighters Convention and the Frackville Recreation Board for their Family Night event at the Elks Grounds on Arch Street between Second and Third. Games, crafts, music and refreshments will be featured free of charge between 6 and 9PM. After the festivities an outdoor movie will be screened. Come along and enjoy this old-fashioned block party event where you can meet your neigbors and salute our local firefighters too.

      In preparation for the Frackville Pumpkin Festival on October 2, the library is again launching it's contest for artists, The Art of the Pumpkin. Artists can purchase a wooden pumpkin blank from the library for $10.00($5.00 for high school students and adults age 65 and up). The pumpkin blank can be decorated in any medium-paint, fabric, paper, anything you like.  Pumpkins will be on display around town the week before the festival. One the day of the festival, they will be judged and prizes awarded. Call the library at 874-3382 for more details or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com. The festival is being organized by the Frackville Business and Professional Association.

     On Saturday, August 21, 2010, Frackville's Goodwill and Friendship Fire Companies will be hosting the Schuylkill County Firefighter's Convention. I'm sure many of you will remember this event from years past, and it is always an exciting time for the town. Here at the library we are planning to be involved in helping to make it fun for our patrons and other residents. If you are a library  fan and would like to join our Frackville Free Public Library Supporters Group to march in the parade, please contact Elaine at the library. The route is approximately 2 miles long, and there is some uphill. It begins at 1PM, and will probably move relatively slowly. For more information call 874-3382 or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

       Tickets for the library's 3rd Annual Golden Ticket Dinner are now available. This event, which benefits the library, will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2010 (no football until the evening that day!) at the Fountains Springs Country Inn. The festivities begin at 2PM. For a donation of $125, attendees will receive two delicious dinners with wine or beer and a chance to win the grand prize of $2500! What a great way to start off the New Year-take a chance to win big and help keep your public library going strong for 2010 and beyond. Call the library for information or to reserve your ticket or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com. Tickets may also be purchased from any Library Trustee.

    Our 3rd Annual Golden Ticket Dinner is set for Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 2PM. It will once again be held at the Fountain Springs Country Inn,. For a donation of $125, attendees will receive a delicious dinner for two, wine or beer, and a chance to win our grand prize of $2500! A fun afternoon with friends and neighbors and a great way to help the library. As you probably know, 2009 was a tough one for libraries. Reductions in funds on both the municipal and state levels make local fundraising more important than ever. Please consider using a part of your charitable giving budget for this event . Information and tickets are available at the library . Call 874-3382 or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

     We had a great evening at the library's birthday bash last week! All the guests were fascinated by the 1939 vintage film we were showing on our new TV, part of the Senior Spaces grant. Senator Argall presented us with a Pennsylvania flag and we enjoyed a delicious cake. Thanks to all who attended to help us share memories of our first 70 years.     

 

      Thanks to all for attending the First Annual Pumpkin Festival sponsored by the FBPA. Everyone there seemed to enjoy the day. Great music, food, and lots of activities provided the kind of community activity we'd all like to see more often in Frackville. Plans are already in place for next year, when the Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2, 2010. Look for new events, improved offerings, and even more fun.  

      and you're invited! On Friday, November 13, 2009 the Frackville Free Public Library turns 70 years old. We're going to be celebrating with an open house event on that day at 7PM at the library. Come visit if you haven't been here in awhile, and find out what we're doing to make the library meaningful to all of the community. If you're a regular user, we hope you'll help us celebrate the institution whose services you've come to value. Be a part of Frackville history and join us.

      It's getting close! The First Annual Frackville Pumpkin Festival makes its appearance on Saturday, October 3, 2009. The festivities begin at 9:45AM at the library with a pumpkin parade up to Frack St. and Lehigh Ave. where the festival will begin. There'll be live music, activities for the kids, pony rides, pie eating, and more. You can enter your favorite pumpkin recipes, write a pumpkin limerick, or decorate pumpkins to win ribbons and prizes. Call or visit the library for a festival schedule and contest information. Let's make this a real community-wide event! The Festival is being sponsored by FBPA.