Explosive expression takes flight at Scoville
Kyla DeRisi and Isabella Yoo ran the exploding paint event at Scoville Memorial Library Thursday, July 17.
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
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Jessie Sheehan and Chris Morocco are at the Aug. 2 ‘Page to Plate’ event sponsored by the Hotchkiss Library.
Ruth Epstein
Among the authors present on Friday was Chris Whipple, whose timely book is titled “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.” Asked about its premise, Whipple replied, “The political scandal of the 21st century.” He said he felt compelled to write it because he had unique access to the key players. He wrote it in just 107 days.
While working on his first book, “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency,” he got to know many of those in the inner circle, including Ron Klain (Biden’s chief of staff), “so I was able to do a fly-on-the-wall account.” In his other work titled “The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden’s White House,” Whipple focused on how President Biden and his team battled to achieve their agenda.
Whipple, who lives in Essex, was at the book signing two years ago and called it “one of the great events. It opened many doors for me.”
Seated a few tables down from Whipple was Gary Shteyngart of Red Hook, New York, who was there to promote his children’s book “Vera of Faith.” He pointed out the story was about a 10-year-old girl living in a dystopian American town trying to hold her family together. “I’ve written some dystopian memoirs that are all hopeful at the end,” he said.
His range of subjects is wide, as witnessed by another of his works called “Our Country Friends,” which was a New York Times bestseller, and talks about people coming to the Hudson Valley. Shteyngart, showing a dry sense of humor with a straight face, explained in this book “there are a lot of affairs. It’s spicy.”
His next book, which will be called “Capy Bora” will have a 150-pound rodent as its protagonist. He was quick to show a photo on his phone of the creature.
Amity Gage shows her latest book, a suspense novel set in Maine.Ruth Epstein
Amanda Gage of West Hartford was there to talk about her fifth book, “Heartwood,” a suspense novel set in the deep dark woods of Maine. “I like atmospheric books,” she said. “I like settings. The tension and mystery come from settings.” The story follows a game warden.
Gretchen Hachmeister, the library’s executive director, was very pleased with the way the event was going. As she circled the tent, stopping to visit with the authors, she noted how grateful she was the sun was shining and it wasn’t 95 degrees. She had high praise for the team that organized the event, including staff, board members and volunteers. “They make it all happen.”
She was there bright and early the next morning as audience members gathered throughout the day for “Page to Plate.” Among those featured was Chris Morocco, food director of Bon Appetit and Epicurious. He and local author/chef Jessie Sheehan gave a demonstration on how to make everyone’s favorite — the chocolate chip cookie.
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) talks with Anne Childs in the nonprofit organization tent at The Lakeville Journal Street Fair Saturday, Aug. 2. Childs was representing Great Mountain Forest at the event on Academy Street in Salisbury.
Patrick L. Sullivan
Missy Wolff, their mother, said that this was the third summer the children had been selling the bracelets. They had raised some $6,000 over that period, which is impressive at $10 a pop, and even more so at $5, which was the original price.
Audrey Cole, whose business card refers to her as being with the “Senior Medicare Patrol” for the Western CT Area Agency on Aging in Waterbury, was securing her signs and pamphlets from a persistent breeze.
She said her specialty is Medicare fraud as committed against unwary senior citizens.
In a nutshell, her advice to anyone who gets a dodgy phone call about their Medicare status is “Don’t engage.”
What makes a call dodgy?
“If you didn’t initiate the call.” In other words, this isn’t someone calling the senior back with an answer to a question.
Other signs of skullduggery are calls that raise fear in some way. (Sometimes it’s as crude as a threat to cancel a person’s Medicare unless they give up bank account information.)
Or calls that come during holidays.
Cole said that when banks and government offices are closed, it gives the crooks more time to empty a victim’s bank accounts.
On a more bucolic note, Danny Tieger (with his guitar) was singing to an ever-shifting group of children, most of whom seemed to know him.
Danny Tieger played guitar and sang for a group of children during The Lakeville Journal Street Fair Saturday, Aug. 2.Patrick L. Sullivan
As parents held up phones to record the doings for posterity, Tieger got a group to pitch in on a number called “Penelope Poppins.”
Over in the non-profit organization tent, State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) chatted with Lakeville Journal Editor John Coston as well as Anne Childs and Caroline Collins from Great Mountain Forest.
Christine Gevert was urging visitors to sign up for season tickets for Crescendo, and Craig Davis and Lynn Martorell were spreading the word about East Mountain House, a new hospice facility opening soon in Lakeville.
Vance Cannon from the 21st Century Fund for HVRHS had a special treat for the younger set: little octopi that were made with a 3D printer at the Mahoney-Hewat Science and Technology Center at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
The octopi made an excellent set when paired with the toy ducks available at The Lakeville Journal tent.
At the balloon and face painting tent, the youngsters who weren’t having their faces adorned were choosing from a balloon menu that included a sword, dog, flower, snake and magic wand.
Northwest Passage, with Ed Thorney, Scott Camara, Greg Riess and Dave Mallison started their set at about 1 p.m., opening with “Drift Away.”
Those with an appetite could try a lobster roll, tacos, specialty candy and vegan wraps and burgers.