Stonington Public Library

Read with Tenny – a Pre-K program
2025-09-09 11:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Visit and read with certified therapy dog, Tenny, on the second Tuesday of every month at 11am. His person, Jessica Shively, will bring him by SPL to meet some of our youngest patrons and their families. It’s a chance for kids to learn new ways of interacting with a dog and with each other in a (loosely) structured activity. Tenny is a 3 year old, 105 pound Great Pyrenees mix who grew up on the Maine coast. He loves love and sharing it with other people. His human, Jessica, moved to Stonington from Castine in the summer and spends her days beachcombing with Tenny and exploring new hiking trails. Follow Tenny and Jessica on Instagram.

Story Time
2025-09-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-11 10:00 - 11:00 | ME
Monthly story time with hands-on activity. Fun for kids of all ages!
SPL hosts story time on the second Saturday of every month from 10-11am. Check our website or social media (@stoningtonpublicllibrary) for details, because we often go offsite to various island locations for story time.

Reader's Choice: The Eyes & the Impossible
2025-09-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Reader’s Choice: Laura Watson
Monthly SPL book club that meets on Zoom. Contact SPL at email below to join the book club mailing list.
The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers
MILS catalog record
“Johannes is a free dog, a fast dog. He lives in an urban park by the sea, and every day, he runs through the park, seeing all, missing nothing, and reporting what he sees to the park’s three ancient Bison, the Keepers of Equilibrium. But the Equilibrium has been disrupted. Mysterious rectangles are hypnotizing Johannes, the humans are erecting a mysterious new building, and an entirely new kind of animal has arrived in the park. Johannes must see better, run faster, and ultimately do more than run and see—he must liberate those he loves.” – From cover jacket
About Laura
Hometown and current residence: I was born and raised in Chicago and still live there, none of this suburban stuff. I mean that I live within the city limits. My house is near Lake Michigan on the northside of the city. I am a very urban person outside of Maine and childhood summers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Water is a very strong element in my interests and life. I think that I was born with a “water gene.” I love to sail, kayak—be out on water.
Connection to the island: My Maine connection is through my brother-in-law, Ron Watson, a local business owner. Ron moved to Stonington in the 1970s to build 54-feet fishing boats. At that point my husband, Bob, and I started to come to Maine in the summers to visit with Ron. I typically visit in July or August for about a month. I plan to continue that even though Bob died in 2022.
Why do you read? I have always liked reading since childhood. I snuck a flashlight under my blanket to keep reading past my bedtime. I took out the maximum number of books allowed at my school and local public library. It transported me to new places, new experiences and new ideas. It could be exciting, adventurous and at times, thrilling. For a while when my kids were very young and I was working, I didn’t have much time to read and I missed it. Now I belong to two book clubs, probably because of the isolation of Covid. I want to be exposed to literature/books outside my comfort zone, knowledge or usual interests. I like to be challenged, listen to other people’s observations and perspectives, and share pleasures of a book or talk over ideas or passages which perplexed me.
What genre do you hate to read? I really dislike dystopic fiction, which has made me shy away from sci-fi and murder mysteries or explorations of depression. That does not mean that I do not read fairly grim non-fiction or historical fiction—in those cases, it happened anyway and I need to deal with that.
Last book you LOVED: Forgive me for naming two books that I loved this year. 1. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver for so many reasons. I adored the beginning of the book. It grabbed me almost immediately and wouldn’t let me go. 2. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. It is so beautifully written and it made me cry. (That’s a high compliment).
Currently reading: I am currently reading Sonata in Wax by Edward Hamlin.
Why did you choose The Eyes & the Impossible? I became aware of this book first as an audiobook. I didn’t even realize that it was a middle school book until I was nearing the end. I liked the unusual narrator, Johannes a wild dog. It was joyous, humorous and imaginative to see the human world and natural world through an animal’s eyes. It borders on fantasy fiction because the animals can communicate, they meet together and plan, and we can understand them. On the other hand, the animals are not magical, they are mostly restricted to behaving like animals of their species. The humans in the story continue to see them as animals. I think that it explores and supports strong, positive (human) characteristics like trust, loyalty and community. I believe that it a well-told story which can delight and speak to all ages.

Savor the Wild
2025-09-24 17:00 - 18:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Supporting Maine’s Blueberry Growers and Preserving Open Land by Winemaking
Join us for an inspiring presentation by Michael Terrien, founder and winemaker of Bluet Maine Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine, as he shares the story of Maine’s 10,000-year-old indigenous wild blueberry, exploring its rich ecology and cultural history. What began as a romantic, terroir-inspired journey has evolved into a mission to support the families who tend these wild fields by paying a premium for their fruit, recognizing the value of blueberry wine as a way to sustain blueberry fields and the iconic Maine landscape. Michael will highlight Bluet’s efforts to grow nationally and encourage others to craft blueberry wine, with a hopeful message about land preservation amid threats of development.
Michael Terrien is a California-based winemaker, born in Harpswell, Maine, on a fading saltwater farm. After swordfishing with Linda Greenlaw and earning a BA in philosophy, he moved west for a degree in Enology from UC Davis. Over the past 30 years, Michael has crafted wines, especially Pinot Noir, with a deep appreciation for expressing terroir. In 2012, he co-founded Bluet Maine Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine, a crisp wine made from only Maine blueberries. Inspired by the belief that wine—at its best—should reflect the land, Bluet celebrates Maine’s indigenous blueberries and the extraordinary landscapes where they have always thrived.
During his regular visits to Stonington, Michael stays with his mother Suzy Van Wye and Richard Barnes.

Downeast with SPL: Kathy O'Rourke & Rugosa Rose
2025-09-26 18:00 - 19:30 | John Rohman’s Barn, 16 Thurlow Hill, Stonington, ME, 04681
Three Stonington women make up the Rugosa Rose trio: Cindy Coombs (left), Lynn Winters (right), and Kathy O’Rourke (center). Cindy is a Maine native, while both Lynn and Kathy have chosen to retire here. They weave harmonies through an eclectic mix of folk, pop, country, and soft rock classics and originals, Cindy and Kathy accompanying on guitar and Lynn on mandolin. Their music is a big part of their personal happiness, and they take great pleasure in sharing it with others.
Kathy O’Rourke will also perform a selection of her original songs both solo and accompanied by musician friends.

Admission by donation at the door. Contact SPL at phone or email below to reserve a seat.
Downeast with SPL is a fundraising series showcasing local makers, producers, and artists. These small, intimate gatherings are a chance to meet the people and businesses behind the tastes and beauty and moments that we love about Downeast Maine. Our partners are generously donating their time and services and handmade goods to support Stonington Public Library’s mission.

Author Event: The Glass Eel by J.J. Viertel
2025-09-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Reading and book signing with local author Jack Viertel. He co-authored his debut Maine thriller, The Glass Eel, with his son Josh Viertel. Copies will be available to purchase at the event, or pick it up in advance at Blue Hill Books.
About J.J. Viertel
J. J. Viertel is the pseudonym used by the father-son writing team of Jack and Josh Viertel who live in Maine and New York. With Josh Viertel’s background in environmental activism and organic farming and Jack Viertel’s deep roots in storytelling and theater, the duo offers a novel that’s as grounded in real-life experience as it is gripping in plot. They mostly write in Szechuan restaurants, but occasionally retreat to a shared Google doc, or a sofa overlooking Eggemogin Reach on the coast of Maine. The Glass Eel is their debut thriller. Read more about the authors on their website.
About The Glass Eel
In this gripping debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in a criminal ring when she discovers her ex-husband’s cache of elvers—two-inch-long baby eels that fetch $2000 a pound on the black market.
Caterpillar Island is off the central coast of Maine—beloved vacationland of lobster bakes and quaint fried clam shacks, kayaking and country houses. At night, though, by the light of a headlamp, the island is alive with cash, guns, and poachers. Oxy addicts, struggling retirees, and unemployable deadbeats dip their nets in the creeks to catch elvers which are smuggled to Korea where they are raised then processed into unagi for the international sushi market.
Into this dark and dangerous world falls Jeanette King, who has, up to this moment, been earning her meager living mainly by picking and packaging peekytoe crab meat for shipment to New York and Boston. As Jeanette gets drawn into a fast moving story of risk and violent consequences she enlists the aid of a local policeman and an Indigenous activist. Together they try to set things right for the people and the planet, but the deeper they dig the more dangerous things get. An ensuing procession of colorful locals, corrupt state politicians, and treacherous outsiders weaves a tale that reveals the underbelly of a deadly business.

Rosswords: Sunday Solve
2025-10-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Grab your pencils and sharpen your minds! Join Chris Ross for a group crossword solve on the first Sunday of every month. All welcome.

Edible Island: Japanese Sushi
2025-10-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Healthy Island Project Kitchen, 91 S Burnt Cove Rd, Stonington, ME
Learn how to make sushi with Frederica Marshall and Herman Kidder. We will make both vegetarian and seafood sushi. For food safety, no raw seafood will be used in the workshop. Participants are recommended to bring a wooden spoon or shamoji (flat bamboo rice paddle).
There is no fee to participate in the workshop. Donations are welcome and go toward future Edible Island workshops. Registration is required. Contact SPL at the phone or email below to sign up.

Reader's Choice: James
2025-10-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Reader’s Choice: Katherine Page
Monthly SPL book club that meets on Zoom. Contact SPL at email below to join the book club mailing list.
James by Percival Everett
MILS catalog record
“When Jim hears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. This brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before.” – From cover jacket
About Katherine
Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey (Essex County, north Jersey about an hour from NYC).
Current residence: Lincoln, Massachusetts and Deer Isle, Maine.
Connection to the island: We came to the island in 1958 to Goose Cove Lodge. I had my 11th birthday there that July. It was a very rustic place in a breath-taking location with three delicious squares a day from the island women working there and nature walks and excursions, including ones on his large sloop, provided by the owner, botanist Dr. Ralph Waldron. My parents, Alice and William Page, bought 2 acres of shorefront on Southeast Harbor in 1964 and built a small cottage in 1969. My husband and I bought a small house next door in 1998. I haven’t missed a year and this July marked my husband’s 50th, our son’s 40th. My parents rest in Mt. Adams cemetery, so we’ll be here a while longer.
Why do you read? All of the above [listed in the original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation, commitment to a specific topic]. I don’t really know why I read except for the fact that I can’t remember not being able to read, (I wasn’t an infant prodigy, but growing up in a house filled with books, probably teethed on some). Reading is an everyday activity like waking up, eating, moving around, talking, sleeping and breathing.
What genre do you hate to read? Horror.
Last book you LOVED: North Woods by Daniel Mason.
Currently reading: Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch, The Black Box by Henry Louis Gates Jr., The Village of Eight Graves by Seishi Yokomizo, and Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton (I usually have a few going at a time).
Why did you choose James? I have read other books by Percival Everett and admire his writing very much. When I read about James: A Novel before it came out, I was intrigued. I put a hold at the library and when I picked it up, read it straight through. Aside from the link to Twain, it works as a stand alone book. However, what made it special for me as a former teacher was the correction it offered on the racism in Huckleberry Finn. That was always a problem teaching it. I think the group will have much to say about James and, if possible, reading Huckleberry Finn afterwards would add to our discussion (but not mandatory!!). Stephen Spielberg has acquired the rights. The film will be out in 2026, so more to talk about then!

Rosswords
2025-11-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Grab your pencils and sharpen your minds! Join Chris Ross for a group crossword solve with other word nerds and puzzlers. All ages and levels welcome.

Second Saturday Story Time
2025-11-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Monthly read aloud story time with hands-on craft or activity. Theme and location vary. Check website and/or Instagram for details as they become available.

Edible Island: Out on a Limb Apples with Chef Teri Hardy
2025-11-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Healthy Island Project Kitchen, 91 S Burnt Cove Rd, Stonington, ME
SPL and Healthy Island Project are back with Out on a Limb apples. This year Teri Hardy will lead the workshop and teach participants how to make chicken Normandy and apple fritter cake. The workshop will also feature an apple tasting. Space is limited. To register, contact SPL at the phone or email below.

Read with Tenny – a Pre-K program
2025-11-11 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-09 11:00 - 11:30 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Visit and read with certified therapy dog, Tenny. His person, Jessica Shively, will bring him by SPL to meet some of our youngest patrons and their families. It’s a chance for kids to learn new ways of interacting with a dog and with each other in a (loosely) structured activity. Tenny is a 3 year old, 105 pound Great Pyrenees mix who grew up on the Maine coast. He loves love and sharing it with other people. His human, Jessica, moved to Stonington from Castine in the summer and spends her days beachcombing with Tenny and exploring new hiking trails. Follow Tenny and Jessica on Instagram.

SPL Group Exhibit Reception
2025-11-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join SPL and the exhibiting artists for a reception with light bites & beverages. Rugosa Rose, an trio of Stonington women, will perform live music at the reception.
Six artists have each installed a selection of works in six separate rooms of the library. The exhibit runs from Tuesday, November 4 through Saturday, January 31.
FABIOLA ZAMBON
Fabiola was raised in Milan, Italy. She spent 20 years in California as a lighting & design consultant for Ron Rezek and in corporate retail with Design Within Reach and Vitra Design Museum. Though a lifelong urban dweller, Fabiola couldn’t resist the allure of the magnificent Down East coast. In 2018, she became a year-round resident of Blue Hill, embracing small-town living. In 2020, she began capturing her perspectives on Maine’s beauty by painting its landscapes and, a year later, added portraits of local friends and her family to her focus.
Boy with Balloon at Blue Hill Harbor • Oil on canvas by Fabiola Zambon
JESSICA SHIVELY
J. L. Shively lives on an island in Maine where she is continuing her search for old cemeteries and abandoned places while completing her collection of short horror stories. She has a Master of Letters from Drew University where she studied creative writing and the psychological fascination of modern ruin. In her writing, Shively focuses on character-driven fiction and adventure stories that are thrilling or even speculative in nature. Her photography reflects her interest in both nature and ruins and how the two worlds often intertwine. You can follow her @entertheruin.

Letchworth Powerplant • Photograph by J. L. Shively
JUDY RADER
Judy Rader is a retired art teacher who moved to Maine for “full-time” painting. The beauty, variety, and character of the Maine landscape provide an endless source of inspiration. All paintings are oil, painted on site and sometimes finished up in the studio.
Almost Home • Oil on canvas by Judy Rader
KRISTIE BILLINGS
Kristie Billings was born and raised on Deer Isle. Kristie comes from a long line of lovers of the sea. She is a poet, a collector, and an observer. Kristie tends to gravitate to things others may pass by, and that some may find unsettling. Kristie shoots 35mm and 120mm film. Both color and black and white. Kristie has had her shown in many galleries and venues and also was a featured artist for the Word Literary Arts Festival in Blue Hill. Kristie also is the proud author of Sea Witch: Photographs, Poems and Forget-Me-Nots from a Mainer Growing Up published by Seapoint Books and Media LLC. You can follow her @kristiebillingsphotography.
Pitcher • 35mm film 2025 by Kristie Billings
LINDA SMILEY
“My passion for sea kayaking left me with a fascination and love for the unique beauty of the Maine coast, and Deer Isle/Stonington in particular. I am thrilled to call Stonington home, which allows me to explore all the nooks and crannies of the land and sea in great detail, in all seasons. Many of my paintings are done ‘plein air’ (in the open air, on site). I paint for the joy and at times great challenge of it, and also to make note of and learn to look more carefully at the world around me. My career as an architect required a more pragmatic and precise kind of creativity. I love now having the creative freedom that being a landscape painter offers. Painting what I see and experience allows me to share the beauty of sometimes fleeting moments with all those who see my work.“
Winter Warmth • Oil painting by Linda Smiley
MEG WOLFE
Meg Wolfe is an interdisciplinary artist and gardener based in Deer Isle, Maine since 2019; with a 30+ year history working as a choreographer, performer, curator, and producer in Los Angeles and New York. Their projects rove across media, spaces, and intuitive practices; enacting non-narrative sensory experiences, both intimate and epic. You can learn more about Meg and their art and choreography on their website.
Strange Weather • Acrylic and sequins by Meg Wolfe
WILL TERNAY III
Will Ternay III is a native of Philadelphia. As a child he spent summers on Deer Isle, while his parents attended classes at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. At 16, he took a kitchen position at Haystack, setting him on a life long course, pursuing the culinary arts. His second passion, photography, captures a variety of subject matter. Will is most fascinated by the beauty of times’ artful hands of natural decay, inviting the viewer to contemplate the storyline of what once was. He and his wife Stacey, reside in Sunset, Deer Isle.
Buick “Estate” • Photograph by Will Ternay III

Reader's Choice: The Sympathizer
2025-11-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Reader’s Choice: Sally McConnell
Monthly SPL book club that meets on Zoom. Contact SPL at email below to join the book club mailing list.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
MILS catalog record
“The Sympathizer is a blistering, award-winning exploration of identity, politics, and America, wrought in electric prose. The narrator, a Vietnamese army captain, is a man of two minds and divided loyalties, a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist sleeper agent in America after the end of the Vietnam War. A powerful story of love and friendship, and a gripping espionage novel, The Sympathizer examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.” – From back cover
About Sally
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Current residence: Williamsburg, Virginia and Stonington, Maine.
Connection to the island: Our connection to the island dates to 1985 when we visited Deer Isle for the first time and rented a cottage belonging to Robert McCloskey. We’ve spent time here every summer since then and now reside in Stonington from April through November.
Why do you read? Reading is the greatest gift!! I used to read fiction almost exclusively, but now that I’m retired, I read more non-fiction and memoirs.
What genre do you hate to read? I can’t tolerate superficial or poorly researched biographies.
Last book you LOVED: The last book I LOVED was The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck.
Currently reading: I just finished reading These Precious Days by Ann Patchett, and I’m now reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
Why did you choose The Sympathizer? I chose The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, because the author creates a character with a dual identity who defies American stereotyping.

Farewell Potluck Brunch
2025-12-14 11:30 - 13:30 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join the SPL board and friends in honoring outgoing SPL director Chris Ross. Chris has done lots to build community and enrich the cultural and educational offerings for islanders over this five-year tenure, and he is leaving a thriving library behind for his successor. Help send him off with a celebration worthy of his contributions!

Reader's Choice: A Christmas Carol
2025-12-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Reader’s Choice: Sue Stoessel
Monthly SPL book club that meets on Zoom. Contact SPL at email below to join the book club mailing list.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
MILS catalog record (SPL edition does not match edition pictured above)
“As much a part of Christmas as mistletoe and carolers, Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ was once read publicly on Christmas Eve each year by Dickens himself. This heart-warming tale continues to stir in us the same feelings of repentance, forgiveness, and love that transformed Ebenezer Scrooge from grumbling, ‘Bah! Humbug!’ to sharing Tiny Tim’s happy ‘God bless us, every one!’” – From Penguin Random House website
About Sue
Hometown: Andrew and I are from Marblehead, MA.
Current residence: We built a house in Stonington in 2018, and were there seasonally until 2022 when we both retired and became permanent residents.
Connection to the island: Andrew and I spent summer vacations on Little Deer Isle for over 30 years, although Andrew’s first time there was as a teenager. We’ve also stayed in Stonington for a few winter breaks beforehand. We got to know the area and the people well and knew we’d like to retire here.
Why do you read? I read for all the reasons you’ve listed [in the original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation, commitment to a specific topic], but lately, maybe more for escape. 😉
What genre do you hate to read? I read everything, with a preference for science, nature, non-fiction and poetry. My least favorite genre is the post-war wealthy suburban/urban angst novel. First world problems.
Last book you LOVED: I adored Still Life with Oysters & Lemons by Mark Doty that we read in [SPL] book club [2023]. I have gotten my own copy and already re-read it a couple of times.
Currently reading: I’m currently reading a compilation of the writings of 13th century Islamic poet and mystic, Rumi.
Why did you choose A Christmas Carol? I chose A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens because I have an antique volume that belonged to my mom that she read to us every year as kids, and that I have continued reading every Christmas since. I think a lot of folks have seen film versions or plays of A Christmas Carol but not as many have read it. I especially liked the section of the Ghost of Christmas Present who shows Scrooge the poverty hidden under the magnificence of the Victorian British Empire. It was one of the first books that made me aware that not everyone benefited from the capitalist expansion brought about by the industrial revolution.
