There's nothing better than getting lost in a good book - print, digital, or audio!
But, there is also an attraction to reading great news articles, opinion pieces and essays, and blog posts. These days, I never seem to have as much time to read, so a book can actually be daunting (I can't believe I'm saying that!). But, I can always spare 30 minutes to an hour to delve into something shorter.
I feel fortunate that so many news outlets have made their Coronavirus coverage free to everyone, even if you don't subscribe. But also that writers of all persuasions are putting out thought-provoking work.
Reading our newsletter isn't bad either... If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider sending it to a friend. If you know someone who doesn't know about all the library offers, let them know what you get from the library and point them to our website: https://library.strathamnh.gov.
I often collect things I'm reading here in this newsletter - tonight, here's a few more.
Before we get to reading: Memorial Day
Memorial Day Remember and Honor
Memorial Day 2020 Stratham, NH
Event Date: Monday, May 25, 2020 - 1:25pm to 1:45pm
Stratham will honor Memorial Day and those who have fallen with a brief ceremony followed by a silent procession throughout the town. Fire apparatus’ and police vehicles will leave the Fire Station at 1:25 pm and drive to Stratham Hill Park Veterans Memorial Garden where they will stop and conduct a brief ceremony at 1:30 pm that will include raising the colors, laying a wreath, an SVFDA Honor Guard rifle salute, and playing of Taps.
Following the ceremony, the Fire and Police departments will ride through town with lights on but with sirens silent, in respect for those who have fallen. Rather than inviting the public to attend the ceremony at SHP this year, we will be live-streaming it on the Town of Stratham Facebook page (@townofstrathamnh). The silent procession route and approximate times will be published on the FB page and the public is invited to watch from the sides of the streets closest to their homes, while maintaining social distance.
For everyone’s safety, we respectfully ask residents to not attend the SHP ceremony, but to instead watch it live on Facebook. We also encourage residents to line the streets of Stratham for the silent parade while maintaining at least 6 feet from each other. Flag waving and red, white, and blue outfits are highly encouraged!
Route Map Here
Start: Portsmouth Ave. to Lovell Rd. to Willowbrook Rd., to High St., to Winnicutt Rd., to Union Rd., to Bunker Hill Ave., to Stratham Heights Rd., to Rt 33 North through the business district to the traffic circle, to College Rd., Squamscott Rd., to Chisholm Farm, to Portsmouth Ave., to Fire Station.
And now: books!
Summer to-read lists are out. Start making your wish list now!
The pandemic has separated many grandparents from their grandchildren. Here’s advice for safely reuniting your family’s oldest and youngest generations.
A life in seemingly endless lockdown and isolation from grandchildren is not how grandparents want to spend their golden years. But adult children don’t want to risk exposing an older, more vulnerable generation to the new coronavirus during a family visit.
But a healthy life is more than just physical health. Loneliness is also a general predictor of decline and death in people over 60. As reality sets in that pandemic living will be measured in months and possibly years, grandparents are asking, “How can I safely visit my grandchildren?”
How to get road trip ready (excerpts)
“Our mantra is: ‘Plan for the road ahead,’ ” says Mary Maguire, Massachusetts spokeswoman for AAA Northeast. “That means looking ahead at what authorities are saying and what restrictions — or recommendations — are in place along your route.” For instance, says Maguire, “If you’re traveling through Massachusetts and stop to get gas, you have to have a face covering on, so you need to familiarize yourself with executive orders along your route and at your destination.” The CDC website (www.CDC.gov) has links to health departments for all states, the District of Columbia, and numerous US territories. Prepping Your Car
Give your car a thorough cleaning and look-over
Clean the doorknobs and handles, steering wheel, gear shift, all surfaces
Go to a mechanic or go through the car yourself to check that everything is in good working order (wipers, fluids, a/c, tires, etc.).
Get a full safety inspection to lessen any chances of a breakdown.
Pack a car safety kit (12-volt tire inflator, flares, flashlight, portable jump-starter, blankets, and electrical tape).
Pack a first aid kit (Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, instant cold pack, etc.) Stock up on supplies
Pack extra supplies, especially hard-to-find items, plenty of water, and spare batteries.
Pack a cooler so you can have sandwiches, snacks, and cold water until you can resupply. Don't forget the cutlery!
Toilet paper supplies still seem to fluctuate, so bring a couple of rolls just in case. Once underway
When stopping to get gas, make sure you wear a mask and gloves to operate the pump and credit card touchpad, and sanitize or thoroughly wash your hands after.
One of most stressful unknowns while road-tripping right now might be finding a clean restroom along your route. Several helpful apps can help make this an easier decision: Flush — Find Public Toilets/Restrooms and BeTomorrow’s Toilet Finder (both free Android and iOS apps) list many public and paid bathrooms worldwide, and let you know their location and if they provide disabled access — and if they require a key.
“One of our favorite apps for travel is Roadtrippers.com,” according to Jerome and Jennifer Braga, professional photographers originally from Middletown, Conn., who now travel the United States full time in their RV. “We use it to map our trip and to find roadside attractions, photographic opportunities, fuel stops, and any random adventures that pique our interest.”
From: Getting Road Trip Ready: Boston Globe, Kari Bodnarchuk Globe correspondent, May 20, 2020
A librarian friend shared this...
I feel like it's a letter directly to me!
"I used to think I was the textbook example of a classic introvert–that is until I started working from home. Forget Productivity
So when a lot of Americans began telecommuting during Covid-19, people started tweeting how productive Isaac Newton was during the bubonic plague (read this rebuttal)–like he should be our role model. But how about just trying to get through the day? I consider that productive. As a manager, yes you should check in with your employees and work toward goals. But productivity is a myth. Let. People. Breathe. (just not on each other) Encourage Self-Care
If I hear "we're all in this together" again I think I will scream. But that’s my cue to take a walk. That’s what relaxes me. As a manager, support self-care for your employees. In a remote work environment, that might mean taking lunches at weird times (as in, OMG it’s 10:08am and the sun is shining…I need to go outside!). In general, remind people to TAKE YOUR LUNCH. Going for a walk, taking the dog out, supporting a local business, etc. are all good things. Everyone Needs an Office
Even though we are working from home, it’s made me think about how when we are back at the library everyone needs an office. Will Covid-19 officially kill the open office plan? I hope so. Having worked in a cube farm before, I didn’t like it. Everyone needs privacy and the ability to concentrate. Now they need a space that also protects them from viruses."
These are just a few thoughts from the post. I highly recommend reading it all!
Speaking of Isaac Newton and Pandemics...
The New Yorker article that Mr. Library Dude refers to above - "The Truth About Isaac Newton's Productive Plague" - is a great read!
"The Washington Post wrote, 'So if you’re working or studying from home over the next few weeks, perhaps remember the example Newton set.' Social media, naturally, has been more extreme. Get that novel written, or that screenplay, and, if you don’t, you should at least refocus your life and find your purpose. If not, you’ve failed the take-home epidemic exam. Newton could shift the universe. Shouldn’t we be able to organize our closets?"
We're all in this together... You can't see us in the library, but we're in our homes getting digital books out to you, planning online programs, calling to chat and see how you're doing (want a call? Let us know: 772-4346!), and... writing newsletters.
Vogue: The 22 Best Books to Read This Summer (
16 Highly Anticipated Summer Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down (
