Don’t Miss: Gala for Central Falls’ Historic Adams Library
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Friends of Adams Memorial Library of Central Falls are pleased to announce the “SAVE THE LIBRARY: Adams Memorial Library Autumn Gala” coming up on Friday, September 30. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The public is invited.
The party promises a memorable night with Celtic music from the Broad Street Ceilli Band featuring members of Pendragon; entertainment by crooner Steve Palumbo; and special appearances by Big Nazo and the frozen mimes of Ten 31 Productions; catering by Tom’s Market and open bar from Bartending by Dennis. One of the key events of the night will be an Inside the Studio silent art auction that invites participants to bid on two-hour blocks of creative and reflective time with noted artists including Irene Lawrence, Jerry Ehrlich, Lloyd Martin, Bert Crenca, Scott Lapham and Brooke Hammerle.
A great need
The City of Central Falls made national headlines by eliminating funding for its library at the beginning of summer due to its financial crisis. While volunteers re-opened the Adams Memorial Library in August, they're only able to keep the library open to the public for 15 hours per week. Proceeds from the event will go toward expanding library hours, hiring a Library Director and bringing vital programming such as literacy programs to the community.
An historic library
The Adams Memorial Library has played a vital role in providing services to the Blackstone Valley for the past 101 years. It's also played a role in the life of Irish Patriot James Wilson, who pulled off the most celebrated international escape of the 19th century when he fled an Anglican prison aboard a whaling ship and landed (and remained) in Central Falls. The Library also has art of interest, including paintings by Lorenzo deNevers, a Central Falls resident who painted two presidents while they were in office and whose “Christ de la Résignation” and “Sainte Face” sit in the Vatican. The library holds a lovely facsimile of Civil War hero (and Rhode Islander) Sullivan Ballou's heart-rending love letter to his wife on the eve of his eventual death in the First Battle of Bull Run, a letter made famous by Ken Burns' documentary, The Civil War.
In addition to the party itself, high-quality copies of Ballou's famous love letter will be on sale during the Gala.
Tickets can be purchased online here, where donations can be made as well. Donations are being accepted for the Silent Auction as are sponsors for the night's events. For more info please call Heidi at 536-0875 or visit www.cflibrary.org/gala.
Comments:
Travis Yowley
6:39am on Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Nope! No way do I support this. I will not be a part of privatizing CF's PUBLIC LIBRARY! Let me guess, Flanders and his cronies will be sipping Martinis at their clubs and the poor and middle classes will be at the library. Class warfare is here.
Jerauld Adams
1:48pm on Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sorry to disappoint you, but the Adams Memorial Library has been privately owned since it was built in 1910. It still is the PUBLIC Library for the citizens of Central Falls.
I'm sorry that you're not going to support keeping the Library open or perhaps you're too cheap to donate to a good cause? Would a tax deduction entice you?
Thanks for your support for an effort that is run with 100% volunteers!
Travis Yowley
6:56am on Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Then why did it close?
Jerauld Adams
10:00pm on Sunday, October 02, 2011
Missed you at the Fundraiser Mr. Yowley?