Thursday Sept. 24, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 29
The Weekly Post
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New Williamsfield library opens Monday By JEFF LAMPE
WILLIAMSFIELD – Since 1991, the hope has always been to have a larger library in town. Starting Monday (Sept. 28) that dream will become a reality in Williamsfield, where a new, much larger public library will open to the public northeast of Williamsfield High School at 407 Norman Drive. A grand opening is set for Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m., but paWeekly Post Staff Writer
Blood moon a highlight of the sky By REBECCA CAMPBELL
This is an exciting time for space. This year saw the first high quality photos of Pluto; the International Space Station has two astronauts that are spending an entire year in space to study the effects on the human body; and this June saw the end of an eight-month experiment simulating a mission to Mars (a yearlong study began in August). It seems to me that we are living in a science fiction novel. Staying closer to home, there have been some spectacular events that could be viewed from your back yard. From the meteor shower to the rare blue moon this year, we have been able to witness the beauty and majesty that the night sky has to offer. But the wonder does not stop there. On Sunday (Sept. 27) you will have the opportunity to view a rare event in the night sky. It is a “Supermoon” total lunar eclipse. Sounds amazing, right? Well it is! Such a moon has not been seen for more than three decades, and if you miss it you will not be able to see another one until 2033. So what exactly is happening? The moon's orbit is elliptical, and as a result is closer to the earth at some points than others. The full moon in September will occur when the moon is at or For The Weekly Post
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trons are welcome to visit the new facility and to check out books in the days between now and that more formal grand opening. According to Trustee Randy Fritz, the Williamsfield Public Library District was established in 1991 and was originally housed in the Village Hall. The library moved to a small building on West Gale Street in 1996 and has remained there until moving to its new location. Cost of the new library was
Work is still underway on a new library in Williamsfield that is scheduled to open to the public Monday. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
under $400,000, which was raised through savings, donations and extensive community help. Everyone involved with the
HISTORY COMES ALIVE
project is proud to point out that funding for the new library came without a tax increase. Continued on Page 7
Brimfield board earns applause By TERRY KNIGHT
BRIMFIELD – Like last month, Brimfield Union School District 309 held its September meeting in the high school commons/cafeteria because it expected an overflow crowd. Unlike last month, school board members turned their chairs to face that crowd and, perhaps, the music. By voting 7-0 as the crowd requested – hiring a slate of sports-related personnel – they ended up getting applauded for it. Both meetings involved rather lengthy executive sessions to discuss sensitive personnel matters away from public view. In August, three-hours-plus apparently was devoted to Superintendent Joe Blessman’s contract. Although dozens of people waited, that session resulted in no action, no discussion and a cranky crowd baffled by their lack of opportunity to speak. On Sept. 16, two people representing the majority had applied in advance to get on the agenda so they could make brief, but pithy remarks. “We’re also aware of the dissension within the school,” Steve For The Weekly Post
Deanna Cantu speaks while acting out the part of Ada Taft, wife of Elmwood sculptor Lorado Taft, played in the background by John McClarey. The actors were part of the first Elmwood Township Cemetery Walk last Saturday. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
A fun day with ‘ghosts’ of Elmwood
ELMWOOD – Last year, I wrote a column about the Galesburg Public Library’s program called “The Ghosts of Galesburg.” It’s a walking tour of some older buildings in town, each which has an actor or actress portrayJon ing the ghost of a former Galesburg resident. GALLAGHER Some residents are somewhat famous (George “Superman”
Reeves’ mother Helen Lescher Bessolo or gossip columnist Alma Archer Fox). Sometimes the ghost is a forgotten resident like a cop who was killed in the line of duty in the early 20th century. It’s always fun, educational and free to the public. This year’s tour is Oct. 26. I wrote about it last year and said: “It would seem that with all the characters I’ve been told about from our own town, Elmwood would have no problem assembling an interesting ghost tour of Continued on Page 8
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