There will be no concert on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Happy Thanksgiving!
Dec. starts our Christmas extravaganza of concerts. All concerts start at noon and unless stipulated are in the Cumberland Room.
Monday, Dec. 1. Al Bonnis, Singer/guitarist
Wednesday, Dec. 3. “Elf” featuring Playhouse performers
Thursday, Dec. 4. Four Fifths Barbershop Quartet. Carol Darling Reading Room
Friday, Dec. 5. Sweet Assurance Ladies Ensemble
Great New Books
Tom Clancy Executive Power by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. An international incident may fracture the Ryan family in the latest entry in this No. 1 New York Times bestselling series.
Even in a family of strong individualists like the Ryans, Kyle has stood out as a lone wolf. For years he’s gone his own way, joining the DIA rather than the CIA, and disagreeing with his father’s politics. Now he’s missing in an African country on the brink of a coup. His last message to his handlers, “We’re on the wrong side of history.”
His father, the president of the United States, is about to discover which is more important to him: the interests of his country or the life of his son?
Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn. This fast-paced book is the account of the role the author’s German family played as spies for the Axis powers during World War II.
Kuehn was raised knowing nothing about her family’s involvement in the war; she only found out when she was contacted by a screenwriter who asked about their story. From there, she questioned her 70-year-old father, who tearfully shared what he knew.
Kuehn learned that her Aunt Ruth, who was half-Jewish, became romantically involved with Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels. When Goebbels discovered her heritage, he sent the entire family to Hawaii, where they supplied information that facilitated Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
Kuehn’s meticulously researched and well-written account is personal and deeply suspenseful, blending family memoir with World War II espionage intrigue. Her account is enhanced with illustrations, family trees, period photos, maps, and archival photographs, which are primarily sourced from the Kuehn family archives.
The supplemental materials are thoughtfully integrated into the text, enhancing the book’s dynamic story without overwhelming it.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino. The former journalist’s first novel is a sharp, emotionally charged take on the real-estate rat race, blending millennial anxieties with biting humor.
After being outbid numerous times in her Washington, DC, house hunt, publicist Margo Miyake is getting desperate, as she’s certain that the only way to get her life back on track is to trade in her and her husband’s cramped apartment for a larger house.
Soon she is entangled in an increasingly absurd bidding war and engaging in stalker-like behavior, all in the name of finding her dream home. The result is both hilariously chaotic and surprisingly resonant.
From the first chapter, the story hooks readers with its sharp premise and a protagonist whose unfiltered internal dialogue is equal parts outrageous and relatable. Kashino’s talent lies in capturing the emotional weight that can be attached to something as seemingly ordinary as a house.
The novel balances its satirical edge with a deep understanding of modern desperation — particularly around housing, identity, and stability — making it a fun and compelling read.
Library Laugh I
What is the best food to eat when you’re scared? I scream.
Stingy Schobel Says
Donating used items to charity is a great way to find a new home for your old things, get a tax deduction and help a worthwhile nonprofit raise funds. But some items are not acceptable for donation, so it’s best to ask before you drop off.
In general, there are four categories of goods that are very difficult to donate and should either be recycled or sent to a landfill.
Mattresses and box springs, for example, are difficult to donate, since it is illegal in most states to refurbish or resell beds, for sanitary reasons.
Used electronics have become very difficult to give, since prices have come down and functionality is constantly and rapidly evolving.
It’s best to take old electronics to stores like Best Buy, where they are collected and recycled.
Library Laugh II
Who are the cleanest people in the choir? The soap-ranos
Libraries=Information
Of the 6 million tons of trash that make it into the world’s oceans every year, about 80% is plastic.
The major threats to aquatic wildlife, including food packaging like six-pack rings, cling wrap and plastic sandwich bags, are often inadvertently dropped at the coasts by beachgoers.
Even if they’re deposited into a trash receptacle, a strong gust of wind or an overflowing trash bin can lead to litter on beaches that ends up in the water.
Bring your trash home to properly dispose of it, or, even better, take everything in reusable packaging.
Turkey Day Bonus
What did the tree say to the lumberjack? “Leaf me alone!”