Calvert Library Foundation Gala Art Auction is a Great Date Night! (press release)

September 18, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robyn Truslow

410-535-0291

 

Calvert Library Foundation Gala Art Auction

 

On Saturday, October 7, 2017, the Calvert Library Foundation will host the fourth Gala Art Auction to benefit all Calvert Library locations.  Whether you are into art or not, this is an outstanding “date night.”  The event will be held at St. Paul’s Church Hall in Prince Frederick.  It will kick off at 6:30pm with an extravagant pre-auction “Taste of the Region” reception, with live musicians, and a review of the collection of art to be sold.  The auction will start at 7:30pm.  The professionally curated collection of beautifully framed art, including the works of many prominent international artists, as well as sports and music memorabilia, will be auctioned by an entertaining, professional auctioneer out of New York.  Art values will accommodate a broad range of budgets, many not expensive.  Door prizes, including a beautiful, framed work of art valued at not less than $150 will be given.

 

Thanks to the generosity of Calvert County individuals and businesses – in addition to the beautiful, framed art, sports memorabilia and music memorabilia from New York -- the live auction and the associated Silent Auction on October 7 will feature:  weekend and week-long beach and skiing condo get-aways, professional sports ticket packages with rare seating opportunities, fine jewelry, beautiful works of art by regional artists, antiques, food specialties delivered to your home, gifts from local businesses, and Chesapeake Bay excursions!  A hundred percent of the successful bids on these amazing items will go to Calvert Library and all its branches!  You must be present at the Auction to bid.

 

Tickets for this event are just $20 and can be purchased from any Calvert Library location.  There will be a cash bar.  Even if you are not able to attend, you can still support the event by purchasing auction tickets to be given to others and 50/50 raffle tickets at any Calvert Library location.  There are also a variety of sponsorship opportunities available.  Tickets will be available at the event.  The raffle ticket winner does not need to be present to win.  Email LibraryArtAuction@comcast.net for details or check www.calvertlibraryfoundation.com.

 

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Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!

 

Calvert Library Hosting Maryland Sesquicentennial 1864 Slave Emancipation Quilt (press release) + link to photo

 

Calvert Library Hosting Maryland Sesquicentennial 1864 Slave Emancipation Quilt

September 1, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291

 

Until September 28, Calvert Library Prince Frederick is hosting the Maryland Sesquicentennial 1865 Slave Emancipation Quilt that was coordinated and designed by Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither in conjunction with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.  Each county plus Baltimore City designed their quilt block in response to direction to reflect stories of people, places and events in their areas at the time of Emancipation.  Visit the library to see this masterpiece in person.

 

For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.

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Photo:

http://calvert.lib.md.us/images/GaitherandQuilt.jpg

Dr. Joan Gaither pictured with the quilt at Calvert Library Prince Frederick

 

 

Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!

 

Dining in the Field back for 2017! (press release)

August 21, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robyn Truslow at 410-474-3160

Described as "the social event of the year," the Dining in the Field inaugural event in 2016 raised $4,647 for the Young Farmers Scholarship Fund. This year's event aims to double that. Tickets are already selling for the Thursday, October 12 event set to take place on gorgeous Briscoe Farms on the Patuxent River.  Cocktails at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m., rain or shine.  Early bird tickets are $150 online through Dining Eats Local on Facebook and the Calvert County Farm Bureau site until September 15.  Dropping a check or cash off at the Farm Bureau will save you $5/ticket.  There are only 200 spots so committing early is recommended.

Brain child of former delegate Sue Kullen, the event raised awareness and support for the local farming economy.  Kullen is an active member of Calvert Eats Local, a group that meets monthly at Calvert Library Prince Frederick that was started by Greg Bowen and the library from a book discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Calvert Eats Local (CEL) has over 500 members and is dedicated to the support of sustainable agriculture and community in Southern Maryland.  Kullen said that she was inspired by a statistic she heard at a CEL meeting that suggested that if everyone were to purchase just 10% of their food locally, it would add $28 million to the local economy.  The delicious, high-end meal she and other volunteers designed was sourced entirely from 30 local and regional sources.  She challenged attendees to commit to purchasing as much of their food locally as was reasonable.  The dinner which included cocktails, wine, Patuxent oysters, grilled pork chops, charcuterie & cheese board, salad, rockfish with a creamy crab sauce, and a variety of local roasted vegetables was an example of what an inspiring meal could be made from all local ingredients.

Dream Weaver owner Trish Weaver was the primary chef and caterer for the event and generously donated her time and talents for the planning and event.  She said, "I love this stuff…I love Calvert County, I love sourcing my food from my neighbors and I love building community."  Kullen recruited 17 other equally dedicated volunteers who shared their skills ranging from graphic design to washing up.  Caterer Sue Dzurec helped create a magical atmosphere with brilliant décor and signage celebrating the farms featured. She also helped in the "kitchen" along with Gwyn Novak of No Thyme to Cook.  Suzi Gibson loaned some of her splendid local flower arrangements to the event.  Jeannae Pinno with Stonesby Events helped with logistics, beauty and even helped serve the food.  Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore accepted the freshly ground local flour and grains from Next Step Produce in Charles County and baked all the bread for free.  Farmers were purposely not asked for discounts since the purpose of the event is to support local farmers but the quantity made wholesale prices worthwhile for many. Slack Winery and Running Hare were generous with discounts for wine and beer.  The featured cocktail cooked up by Kullen was a delightful blend of local lemons (really!) and St. Mary's County Tobacco Barn Distillery honey flavored rum.

The food was amazing and it was seasoned with the most beautiful setting and sunset and a magical fellowship shared among the diners.  Did I mention that tickets are available for the October 12 event?  Reserve your seat at the table!

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Photos attached in a powerpoint.  If you would like higher resolution of any of the photos, please contact Sue Kullen at psue@comcast.net. 

Calvert Library to Host Classes on Grassroots Engagement (press release)

 

Calvert Library to Host Classes on Grassroots Engagement

August 19, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291

 

Once again Calvert Library is participating in the statewide One Maryland One Book initiative of Maryland Humanities.  This year, everyone is being encouraged to read Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  The main character in Purple Hibiscus is selectively mute, Nigerian, fifteen-year-old Kambili who lives in a protected compound with her family.  Her father is wealthy, generous and politically active in public and repressive, abusive and fanatically religious at home.  Though it is an intense novel with themes of home, family, religion, rebellion, corruption, nature, freedom and tyranny, Purple Hibiscus is ultimately about finding your voice. 

 

With that in mind, Calvert Library is hosting a four-part class called #DoSomethingCal! to help attendees find their voice. Former delegate and current organizer and facilitator Sue Kullen will teach the skills of getting organized and involved in issues that affect your community.  When asked why the library is hosting this series, Public Relations Coordinator Robyn Truslow said, “We’ve had a lot of requests from customers to offer this training and it fits so well with an important theme in this year’s One Maryland One Book title.  It’s an important time for people to learn how to advocate for what they believe in, in a persuasive, civil way.  We might get angry about something but anger doesn’t change minds and hearts.”  When Sue Kullen was asked why she agreed to teach the free course, she said, “I believe we can change the world by listening to each other, learning to understand one another’s perspectives and communicating our own experience and beliefs with civility.  Sometimes it might seem that someone’s perspective is rooted in malevolence, but you’ll often find it’s based in fear and misunderstanding.  A grassroots effort to educate and help people past that fear or lack of knowledge can be very powerful.”  With a self-deprecating laugh she added, “Or maybe you just need to learn how to convince someone of the need for a bus stop in your neighborhood!” 

 

Attendees will individually come up with a topic they care about and that can be addressed as a short-term project.  They will use that issue for hands-on practice of a variety of skills such as researching the topic, assessing personal strengths, identifying needs for the project, building a team, running positive, productive meetings, influencing people, using appreciative inquiry and good listening skills, and using a bridge-to-action plan.  Each class will be from 6:30-8:30pm at Calvert Library Prince Frederick and the dates are Thursdays, September 7 and 28 and October 5 and 26. For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291 or check the website at http://calvert.lib.md.us/omob.html.

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Related Links

Link to Calvert Library’s OMOB page

 

 

Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!

 

Calvert Library Hosting a Virtual Reality Roadshow! (press release)

July 26, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robyn Truslow

410-535-0291

 

Calvert Library is hosting a Virtual Reality (VR) Roadshow!  Visit the library in Prince Frederick on Saturday, August 19, from 10am to 1pm to try out a variety of virtual reality platforms such as Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.  Thanks to funding from the Maryland State Library Agency and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the library will receive training and be able coach you through the experience.  There will be librarians on hand to hear what your thoughts are on other VR opportunities you would like to see Calvert Library offer! Immersive learning has always been the most effective means of gaining knowledge but it hasn’t been the safest…you wouldn’t want a surgeon-in-training’s first incision to be in your abdomen…or a pilot’s first landing to be in a Boeing 747 full of passengers.  VR is allowing immersive training without putting anyone at risk. What can you see for the future of VR?  Come to the Roadshow to get your imagination revving!  For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291. 

                                                                                    

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Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!

 

Documentary Showing and Discussion at Calvert Library Prince Frederick

July 24, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robyn Truslow

410-535-0291

 

In a community partnership project, Calvert Library Prince Frederick is hosting a showing and discussion of the Ava DuVernay’s documentary about race, justice and mass incarceration, 13^th.  The main event is Thursday, August 24 with the movie starting at 5:30pm and the discussion scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.  For those whom 5:30pm on a weeknight is too early, the library will also show the film at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 19 with the anticipation that those viewers will be able to attend the discussion at 7:15 p.m. on August 24. 

 

The film itself is a critically-acclaimed and thought-provoking film and won the Peabody award and BAFTA for Best Documentary in 2016.  The discussion promises to be rich and provocative.  Dusty Rhoades and Willetta Love from the Community Mediation Center of Calvert County will moderate.  Partners and participants include All Saints Episcopal Church, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Community Mediation Center of Calvert County, the Honorable E. Gregory Wells of the Calvert County Circuit Court, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, Calvert County NAACP, Point of Change Jail and Street Ministry and Remnant Center of Excellence. 

Calvert Library summer student intern and Calvert High School rising junior, Le’Andre Campbell has helped collect questions to think about prior to seeing the film, as well as questions to kick the discussion off afterwards.  When asked about his interest he said, “I saw this documentary on Netflix and I think it’s an important topic to discuss. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to get the community together to talk and I’m working on getting other teens to the library for the event.”

 

Michael Kent with the NAACP will talk about what is happening on the local level around this issue of mass incarceration.  A representative of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland will talk about related legislation at the state level.  Others involved in the legal and penal system will be available to answer questions and provide information from their own experience.  Content of the film is intense and parental guidance is encouraged.

 

For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.

 

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Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!

 

Hamilton Sing along at Calvert Library Prince Frederick (press release)

July 12, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robyn Truslow

410-535-0291

 

 

Do not miss “Hamilton:  A Sing-along” on Saturday, August 5, 1-5 pm at Calvert Library Prince Frederick.  Many Hamilfans sing to themselves in their cars and showers; now is the time to sing together!  Have some Hamilton clothes?  Wear them!  Feel free to get up and dance if the mood hits.  “Blow Us All Away.”  You will want to be in “The Room Where It Happens.”   Everyone is encouraged to bring their own snacks.  Some mature lyrics.  “Wait for It.”

 

The Broadway hit was inspired by Ron Chernow’s book, Alexander Hamilton.  That book will be discussed on Tuesday, August 15, 7 pm at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. It is available in several formats: book, Book on CD, Overdrive downloadable ebook and eaudio.  Reserve one soon!

 

For more information, contact Joan Kilmon, 410-257-2411.

 

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Robyn Truslow

Public Relations Coordinator

Calvert Library

850 Costley Way

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410-535-0291

410-535-3022 (fax)

Calvert Library…Your Source for Awesome!