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Something happened recently at the library that reaffirmed my belief in the basic goodness of people and the belief that the organization I have chosen to spend a lot of my time and experience with is truly making a difference in the lives of others in a lot of small, but meaningful, ways.
That “something” was a visit by a woman in search of sheet music for songs that were popular in the 1930s through 1950s. She explained that she is a pianist who visits dementia and senior living homes in the surrounding community each week to play piano for them. She likes to sit with the residents and invite them to look through sheet music to remember favorite songs from their past. Songs that revive precious moments otherwise long forgotten by life.
And then, she plays for them. In a way, it conjures up scenes for me of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers “Dancing Cheek to Cheek” in the 1999 movie “The Green Mile” while elderly residents of a senior living home find themselves awash in memories of their own past loves and dances.
I wasn’t at the library when she visited. But, fortunately, Stephanie Doody was. Stephanie is one of our most avid volunteers, and probably the only volunteer we have under the age of 50. She has two teenage boys, an active social life, volunteers elsewhere and is still in the library most days of the week.
Requests for sheet music are not an everyday occurrence for us. So, it would have been easy for Stephanie to simply say, “Gee, I don’t think so,” and let it go at that. But, for someone with service running through her veins, that would never do.
“I asked her to wait and went on a quest in our basement, gathering song books and sheet music that we had on hand,” Stephanie recalled. “I think she was a little surprised when I returned with so much and asked her to go through everything to see if any of it looked suitable to her purpose.”
As it turned out, our unnamed pianist was thrilled with how much of the music was perfect and would almost certainly delight her listeners. So, she collected it all up and asked how much she owed for it, to which Stephanie replied, “Nothing. Consider it a donation. And, thanks for caring enough about others to volunteer your time and talents to bring joy into their lives through your music. We are just so happy to help you, in a small way.”
For some reason, I love this simple story. A woman dedicated to giving, serendipitously running into another woman dedicated to serving, and both of them making the world a little bit better in the process. I guess purpose really is often found in unexpected places.
--Joe David
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When you become a Friend, you help support an important part of the social fabric of your community. Plus, you earn "Early Bird" privileges at most book sales, which means you gain entry to the sales in advance of non-members to have first shot at the books of greatest interest to you. And, we will notify you of any scheduled book sales or special events. So, you'll never miss out on an opportunity.
One student from each of the three Forest Hills public high schools was on the receiving end of a $1,500 scholarship awarded by the Friends in March for outstanding achievement in academics and volunteerism.
This year’s winners included Sam DeRoos (Forest Hills Northern), Paige Kitts (Forest Hills Eastern) and Saniya Mishra (Forest Hills Central) who were selected from a group of 10 highly qualified and deserving applicants, according to Friends Past President Debbie Straub, who oversees the scholarship program.
“We started the year with the intention of awarding two scholarships,” she explained. “But, when our board saw how many exceptional young students had applied, it voted to add a third $1,500 scholarship to the budget. I think that says a lot about the Friends’ commitment to volunteerism.”
As an all-volunteer organization, the Friends understand the importance of volunteering and use the scholarship program as one way to express their appreciation of and respect for young people in the community who manage to share their time and talents while achieving academic excellence.
We asked each of our winners to share their plans and a little about their involvement in volunteering and extracurriculars. Here is what they had to say.
Sam DeRoos
I will attend Michigan State University in the fall studying biochemistry on a pre-med track in the Lyman Briggs Honors College of Science. I chose Lyman Briggs because of its academic living/learning style community. I have always aspired to become a physician, and I believe Lyman Briggs will help me achieve that goal.
Since I speak Spanish--having studied the Spanish culture since elementary school in the FHPS Spanish immersion program--I plan to pursue a minor in Spanish and use my second language in healthcare.
As for extracurriculars, I plan to continue playing tennis and basketball in the intramural sports programs. I’m not fully aware what other options are available to me at MSU. So, I’m looking forward to freshman orientation to learn about the different groups I might join and volunteer opportunities in the East Lansing area.
I was first exposed to volunteering by my parents. I have also been a part of numerous organizations which prioritize volunteering/community service, such as my church, scouting, student government and National Honor Society. However, what really drove me to continue was witnessing the impact of helping others firsthand. Helping others has become an integral part of who I am, and I believe it's essential to carry forward this spirit of service into the next chapter of my life. I will definitely be looking to join student organizations at MSU that prioritize volunteer work as part of their mission. I am looking forward to new opportunities and experiences in college.
Paige Kitts
Next year I will be attending Alma College. I chose it over other schools because of its small size, fantastic study abroad program, and the high level of support they offer. I will be going in undecided and am interested in a lot of subjects and areas. I love math, English, environmental science, psychology, American Sign Language, and special education. I'll definitely be using my first year at college to narrow in on a subject area.
I have always been motivated by caring for others and doing what I can for them. My parents, especially my mother, have also been huge motivators, which led to my love for the Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouts was the beginning of my volunteer work and has given me so many opportunities to help people. I have been volunteering at Girl Scout Day Camp for five years now. Girl Scouts has shown me that you can have fun and feel good while helping others. I am an Ambassador Girl Scout and have been in scouting for 12 years. I am on track to complete my Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, this August. I am planning on registering as a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and will continue using the skills I've learned through scouting during college and the rest of my life.
I have also been a varsity rower for four years, and this year I was a member of the crew in my school's theater production of The Little Mermaid. I had so much fun and wish I had been able to join theater sooner. I would love to continue doing theater in college.
Saniya Mishra
I will be attending Yale University, where I will be studying Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry on a pre-med track. I was inspired to pursue a career in medicine because I want to help others and give back those around me. In addition to becoming a physician in the field of public health, I also aspire to eventually serve in the U.S. Senate.
My favorite extracurricular activities include volunteering and participating in student government, both of which I look forward to continuing in college. I got involved in volunteer work because I felt really appreciative of the support I've gotten from the community, and I wanted to give back, too.
I'm definitely motivated by my appreciation for the community, which has led me to volunteer with the Friends of the Cascade Library and Coders4Tomorrow to support the resources and opportunities the libraries can provide to the community.
I definitely will continue volunteering in college. I want to be involved on campus, and I also look forward to continuing to engage in community service in the Forest Hills area when I am back home.
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From left to right: Sam DeRoos, Paige Kitts and Saniya Mishra
One of the community’s most family-oriented traditions will take place in a little over a month when Cascade Township rolls out its annual Fourth of July celebration. And, as usual, the Friends will help make the event special with their annual used book sale both outside and inside the library.
Things will kick off with a members-only pre-sale from 3-5 pm July 3 inside the library’s Wisner Center, according to Kathy Sullivan, event chairperson.
“Last year’s presale was such a hit with our members that we decided to do it again this year, but with one important improvement,” she said. “Last year, we limited the number of book categories for the presale. This year, we will have all categories on display for members to choose from.”
Then, weather permitting, additional tables will be set up outside in the parking lot for the bigger Fourth of July sale, which will be open to the public from 8 am to 3 pm. Sullivan said more tables will be outside than last year based on feedback from patrons.
“Several people expressed a preference for more books outside after last year’s sale,” she said, “and we are making every effort to accommodate their preference. But, we don’t have as much of the parking lot available to us as we did five years ago since the township has other needs for the space. So, we’re making do as best we can.”
While the cost of just about everything else in the world has skyrocketed in the last year, the Friends’ book prices have not gone up, with hardcover adult books at $1 and paperbacks at $0.50. Children’s books are half the price of adult books.
“We’re also having a $10 bag sale right from the outset of the day,” Sullivan said. “All the adult books you can reasonably fit into a bag the same size as one of our bags for just $10. If you bring your own bag, please note that oversized bags—such as IKEA bags—are not appropriate and will need to be re-bagged at checkout.”
Shoppers can expect all the regular categories of books, including fiction, non-fiction, biography, cooking, religion, business, home & garden, self-help, travel, recreation, art, reference, and children’s. CDs and DVDs will also be available individually or by the bag.
Consider Volunteering for the Sale
An event this big has a lot of moving parts. And, the most important part is the people who volunteer their time to make it a success. If you've volunteered in the past, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, this is your chance to find out and have a positive impact on your community at the same time. There are several different roles you can fill, and none of them requires a lot of experience.
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Members-only presale July 3 from 3-5 pm. Sale opens July 4 at 8 am.
What seemed like a pipe dream not so long ago is steadily taking shape on the grounds of the library, as good weather and an army of workers make Friendship Park more and more of a reality.
What looked like a chaotic mess a few weeks ago now sports paved walkways that meander throughout the park. Trees and bushes are mostly in the ground while gardens are taking root and pathways are being cleared. Tables and benches are on order, and the amazing pavilion is sitting invitingly on the front lawn like a giant flying saucer in search of E.T.
The Friends have agreed to stock and maintain a Little Free Library in the park...sort of an offspring of the parent library sitting right next door. If everything stays on schedule—and there’s no reason to think it won’t—the township is planning on the grand opening celebration at 11 am on June 29.
The township is hoping a generous and appreciative community will make donations at the grand opening to support the development of a new grand entrance to the library, which will be undergoing a major refresh in the first part of 2025.
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Friendship Park is rapidly taking shape and will open to the public June 29.
Editor’s Note: Those of us who work alongside other volunteers in the basement of the library, sorting thousands of books for resale, know firsthand just how much their commitment, passion, sense of humor and concern for others make it a wonderful and meaningful way to invest time and talents in the community.
Marge Ohlman was born just “down the road” in Hastings, MI and moved to Grand Rapids with her mom in the 10th grade, a year after her father’s death. A whole lot of living intervened between her graduation and her eventual love affair with the Friends of the Library, including her marriage to Dean, a move to California, the birth of three boys, and some volunteering with the elderly.
“When the kids were in school, I volunteered at a nursing home,” she recalled. “I just visited with the people who lived there and did some social things with them. It’s amazing what a difference you can make in others’ lives just by showing them you care.”
And, that’s a philosophy that resonates in everything Marge does in her role as supervisor and “CEO of Morale” for the many volunteers who sort donated books and operate the Friends’ “Chapter Two” bookstore.
Marge can’t recall exactly how she first got involved with the Friends. But, she thinks it might have something to do with her gregarious personality and generous outpouring of words. “I live close to the library, and I love libraries and books,” she said. “I stopped in one day and began talking to the librarians, which I know will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. And, before I knew it, I was a volunteer.”
Marge said that her love of volunteering at the library is rooted both in all the good the group is able to achieve in support of the library and all the joy and love she derives out of her interaction with other volunteers and Friends members.
“One of my favorite experiences as a volunteer occurs every time we have a book sale,” she explained. “We always have a long line of people waiting to get into the sale, and I absolutely love talking to them. Walking up and down the line conversing with them makes me happy.
“I find the library to be my happy place,” she added. “It’s a super easy job because each of the volunteers has taken ownership of what needs to be done, and they all love being together. And, when you step back and look at all the programs we are able to fund, including the development of what will be Friendship Park, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of satisfaction in how we are able to positively affect the community.”
On those rare days when you don’t find Marge in the library’s basement pre-sorting books, straightening things out and sharing laughs with other volunteers, you’ll probably find her reading a mystery by David Balducci, Louise Penny, Michael Connelly or Lisa Gardner. Or, she might be meeting up with some old friends for regular breakfasts, lunches or vacation trips.
And, of course, the first loves of her life—even ahead of the library—get a disproportionate share of her time and love, as she dotes on her husband, Dean, their three boys—Greg and Eric who live in Grand Rapids and David who is in Columbia, SC—and her eight grandchildren.
When asked where her seemingly endless supply of optimism and hugs comes from, Marge admits that she’s really not sure. But, she thinks it might have started with her mom. “She really loved people, and so do I,” she said. “I’ve lived my life based on a couple of mantras: ‘Share the Joy’ and ‘Upward and Onward.’ I’ve just always felt that a positive outlook is your best path to happiness. And, it’s worked for me so far.”
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Marge Ohlman (right) sharing her positive outlook with Gail Rapp.
Editor's Note: The Friends are able to help fund many events, programs and equipment needs of the Cascade Branch of KDL thanks to the donation of time, money and used books from members of the community. Here are some of the ways that your generosity has been put to work in recent months. These activities are sponsored in whole or in part by the Friends.
The Cascade Branch of KDL continued to justify its reputation as a programming leader during the first quarter of 2024 by hosting 138 separate Friends-sponsored events, which attracted 4,441 participants to what is inreasingly becoming an important hub of community interaction, according to Lulu Brown, Regional Manager of the Cascade & Caledonia branches.
“Young families account for 70 percent of our program attendance and circulation,” she said. “Our storytimes have grown significantly in 2024, with many parents saying their favorite parts of storytimes include choral reads and great sensory bins, which were purchased with help from the Friends.
“We are continuing to offer programs for families with childrean ages 0-5 Monday through Friday at 10am,” she added. “No other branch in KDL offers this level of investment into our littlest patrons.”
While the kids are often at the heart of programming, librarians are also finding ways to engage adult patrons. “The turnout for the Puzzle Tournament on February 19 exceeded our expectations, with 89 participants enthusiastically engaging in the challenging puzzles and lively competition,” Brown explained. “It was truly heartwarming to witness the spirit of camaraderie and curiosity that filled the room throughout the event. We are planning to repeat this event on June 8 due to patron interest.”
Registration for the puzzle tournament opened on May 9 and is limited to 15 four-person teams. If there are any spots still open, you can register at kdl.org.
‘Spring Break Staycation’ Wows the Kids
Spring break often leaves parents and grandparents wondering how to make the time fun and interesting for the kids whose families aren’t heading off to Florida or Cancun. Well, the Cascade branch had an answer for them this year with its “Spring Break Staycation,” which drew 3,362 patrons—mostly smiling children—into the library for 10 events over the first five days of April.
“Spring Break Staycation began as an idea to serve families who expressed a desire to visit the library more often during Spring break in 2023,” Brown explained. “This year, the branch focused on creating activities that would make spring break memorable in an effort to encourage connection to the library and its resources.”
Increased traffic and excitement had a positive impact on the number of items checked out of the library, a metric that continues to improve, according to Brown.
“As we look to refine the times we offer programs and lean into times when families need educational and fun programming, we are making progress with increasing our circulation. In fact, Staycation led to an 18% increase in the number of items checked out compared to previous years.”
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These are just a handful of the happy moments that came with the Spring Break Staycation.
Every engine needs fuel to keep running. Cars need gasoline. Bodies need food. Solar generators need the sun. It’s pretty basic. Well, book donations are the fuel that keeps the Friends’ engine running. And, our fuel has been slightly harder to come by recently.
If you are downsizing, clearing clutter or just generally clearing out, please consider donating your books, DVDs and CDs to the Friends of the Cascade Library. We sell these items in our Chapter Two bookstore, on eBay and at our many sales to provide the funds that support the extra programs that make the Cascade Library one of the most community-focused branches in the KDL system.
You can drop your books in the green bin outside the library's Wisner Center. Or, if you have a large volume of books and need help getting them to us, we have a free pick-up service that we call "Book-It" that you can access on our website's home page at cascadefriends.org. Please mention this service to your friends and neighbors.
Also, if you enjoy garage sales, you can also mention to the sellers that the Cascade Library would love any leftover books from their sales. Every little bit helps!
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The green book donation bins are open 24/7 for you to drop off your used books.
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
The Friends sponsored a jigsaw competition at the library earlier this year thinking it would be a fun diversion for a few patrons. But, so many enthusiasts
showed up that many had to be turned away. So, the library staff is going to give it another try on June 8, opening the competition to 15 teams of four people.
Compete against other teams (teams can be formed either before or at the event) to solve identical jigsaw puzzles in the least amount of time.
Refreshments will be provided, and you can bring puzzles with all pieces included to swap with other puzzle enthusiasts. Registration for the puzzle tournament opened on May 9. You can check at kdl.org to see if there are any spots still open.
May Is Quiet Time at the Library
You might have noticed that things have been a bit quieter than usual at the library in May. That’s because children’s programming is suspended during the month to allow staff to plan for summer lineups and visit the district’s schools to promote the library through card registrations and promoting the Summer Wonder Challenge. The kids will be back in June, and so will their lovely “noise.”
Communications Chairperson Needed
Communications is an important part of just about everything in life, and that’s definitely the case for the Friends. That’s why we are actively looking for someone to serve on our board who would like to take the lead in managing some or all of our communications needs.
Depending on the individual’s experience and preferences, some duties could include preparing and distributing email to members, preparing articles for the newsletter, posting on Facebook, etc. If you would like to lerarn more, send an email to cascadefriends47@gmail.com.
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If you don't have an active Friends membership, this might be a good time to update it so that you're ready to go for the Fourth of July pre-sale for members only on July 3. You will be able to purchase a membership at the information booth at the sale. But, save yourself the hassle and take care of it now. It's easy to renew or purchase a new membership.
Check your membership card to see if it has expired. If it has, you can go to the "Store" on our website to renew or stop by the front desk the next time you visit the library. Membership dues remain very low at $5 for students and seniors (60+), $10 for an adult (under 60), $15 for a family and a one-time $100 charge for a Lifetime membership.
Every time you renew or become a new member, you’ll receive a coupon for a free book from our Chapter Two book store...a $3 value.
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