Scott Handville, Assistant Director Because of one of Scott’s previous blog posts, he was contacted by Brandi Scardilli, of Information Today, Inc., about how Gardiner Public Library, among other libraries, promote Oscar nominations, and winners.
Click on the link to read the entire blog!
Ever wonder about the tradition of the ball dropping in Times Square? The website www.timeanddate.com says, “A particularly striking aspect of the New Year’s Eve festivities is the ball drop in Times Square in Manhattan, New York City. The ball is made of crystal and electric lights and is placed on top of a pole, which is 77 feet, or 23 meters, high. At one minute before midnight on December 31, the ball is lowered slowly down the pole. It comes to rest at the bottom of the pole at exactly midnight. The event is shown on television across the United States and around the world. The event has been held every year since 1907, except during World War II.
Across the United States a range of cities and towns hold their own versions of the ball drop. A variety of objects are lowered or raised during the last minute of the year. The objects are usually linked to an aspect of local history or industry. Examples of objects ‘dropped’ or raised in this way include a variety of live and modeled domestic and wild animals, fruit, vegetables, automobiles, industrial machinery, a giant replica of a peach (Atlanta, Georgia), an acorn made of brass and weighing 900 pounds (Raleigh, North Carolina) and ping pong balls (Strasburg, Pennsylvania).”
Still looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve? Check out these celebrations in Maine’s biggest city of Portland:
https://www.eventbrite.com/d/me–portland/new-years-eve-parties/
Let’s all plan on a wonderful and positive year in 2019!
Thanksgiving and Marjorie Standish. While the two are not necessarily tied to each other, I do associate both of them with good comfort food. So as Thanksgiving approaches, I will share with you Marjorie’s recipe for Baked Acorn Squash. It’s about as simple and delicious as you can get. It is also featured in the new book, Cooking Maine Style which is edited by Sandra Oliver and features classic recipes of Marjorie Standish. You can check it out at the Gardiner Public Library.
BAKED ACORN SQUASH
Wash the squash, cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds using a spoon. Wash once more, turn squash upside-down in a baking pan, pour ¼ inch cold water in pan.
Bake at 400 degrees for ½ hour. Remove from oven, turn squash right side up. Salt and pepper it, sprinkle with brown sugar (maple syrup is good, too). Place piece of butter in each half. Return to oven, bake 30 minutes longer. Serve.