Mark August 21st on your calendar, round up your friends, and register a foursome for a great day on the classic links of Chicopee Country Club.  It’s time for the 7th Annual “Friends of the Chicopee Public Library Golf Tournament”.  Each golfer will enjoy a round of golf with cart, lunch at the Country Club, and dinner at the Hu Ke Lau restaurant for just $95.  Singles are welcome and will be placed on teams by the Golf Committee.

If you are not a golfer, you can participate in other ways.  The Golf Committee is recruiting sponsors, prize donations and volunteers to help during the tournament. Or, join us for the awards banquet at the Hu Ke Lau.

All proceeds from the tournament support the library and its mission.  The success of past tournaments has made it possible for the Friends to underwrite some of the library’s activities and reading programs, purchase family passes to area museums, donate equipment, provide a new fish tank, restore historic portraits in the library collection, purchase a Yamaha baby grand piano for the community room, and underwrite other wish-list items and projects.  For further information contact Catherine Glennon at 594-1800 x 116 or Paul Duval at 594-4486. We look forward to another terrific tournament and hope you can join us!

The Fifth Annual Fine Art Friends Art Exhibit was held in the Henry J. Bazan Community Room for the month of March 2009.  The exhibit had a great turnout, bringing in 68 talented artists from the area. 

The Friends wish to thank Nancy Contois, Director of the Library and her staff.  Also, we thank the many Art Angels, Patrons, Friends, all of the Artists and Volunteers for their generosity.   The Art Exhibit project was supported in part by a grant from the Chicopee Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

We are most grateful for this support and encouragement offered by individuals and organizations within our community.  Because of this we look forward to our Sixth Annual Fine Art Friends Art Exhibit, already being planned for next March, 2010.  Applications for artists will be available in November, 2009.

Awards were presented to artists in seven different media, merit awards, and a Best in Show award.  Winners at the 2009 exhibit were chosen by our judge, local artist Lucie Bilodeau, and are listed below.  Awards were presented to the winning artists by Co-chairs Nancy Michon and Francine J. Hayward at the March 12th reception, which was open to the public and very well attended.  President of the Friends, John Michon, and Chicopee Mayor, Michael Bissonnette gave welcoming speeches.  Back by popular demand was our friend Dan Kane at the baby grand piano. Those who attended the reception were able to meet the artists and enjoy delicious refreshments donated by many of the Friends.

For pictures and details of the 2008 & 2009 Awards Receptions, please visit http://friendsofchicopeelibrary.blogspot.com/ creatively set up for the Friends by Ralph Mitchell Jasinski. To see more of Ralph's work, visit http://mitchellgallery.blogspot.com/.

Best in Show 
Diane Allen, Village Commons in Snow, watercolor

Acrylic
1st Prize: Beverly Bajek, Night Watch  
2nd Prize: Barbara Jendrysik, I'll Be Reading Soon

Graphics
1st Prize: Donna Jean Shaw, Serene Giants
Second Prize: Gert Joffe, Pemmaquid Point, Maine

Oil
1st Prize: Ellen S. Farley, Casablanca Lilies
2nd Prize: Richard Tkacz, Peaceful Marsh

Mixed Media
1st Prize: Robert R. Hinga, Wren
2nd Prize: Frankie Borrero, On Broadway

Pastel
1st Prize: Nancy Michon, Floral with India Bell
2nd Prize: Pat Morris, Autumn

Sculpture
1st Prize: Joe Q. Peters, Untitled Glass
2nd Prize: Lori St. Pierre, Young at Heart

Watercolor
1st Prize: Mary Ann Wordsworth, Crazy Moon
2nd Prize: Marie Flahive, Saturday Class

Merit Awards
Ruth LaPrise, Winter in Vermont, watercolor
Janet Miller, Garden Pear, oil
Barbara St. Jacques, Stargazer, oil
Maureen Keough, Studio Shelf Life, pastel

Welcome to the Friends of the Chicopee Public Library's new website.   I hope you take a moment to explore our photos, our new online store, our calendar of events, and much more.  Come back often to learn about what is happening with the Friends of the Library.