Library Friends embark on
fund raising campaign
A group of patrons of the Clearwater Memorial Public
Library, formed as the CMPL Friends, has been meeting regularly since mid-2007,
with the intent of helping Orofino’s library in its long list of needs and
maintenance.
To push forward this effort, the organization is planning
its first annual event, that of a Mystery Dinner Theater, to be held the weekend
of June 11-13.
A limited number of tickets will be pre-sold for
each of three evenings (40 tickets per evening) for this exciting event, which
includes a full dinner and entertaining mystery play at the High Country Inn.
Sponsors
of tables are also being solicited, with a sponsorship of $100 plus the price of
tickets for either a four or eight person table.
Tickets per person will be $40 or $75 per couple.
Guests will have a choice of entrees, including
Chicken Breast Divan, Stuffed Pork Loin, or a vegetarian and gluten-free dish,
Red Stuffed Pepper.
An
outside no-host bar will be held on the inn’s deck preceding the event, and a
group of special raffle items will be on display, which will be awarded
following the weekend event. Purchasers of raffle tickets
For information on either sponsoring a table or to buy
single or couple tickets, please contact board members Jo Moore at
Library has shown steady growth
Many different organizations since the late 1930’s and
1940’s have made valiant efforts to establish and maintain a library here in
Orofino, with the American Legion Auxiliary, the Orofino chapter of AAUW, the
Orofino Jaycees, and the Orofino Rotary making major contributions of money and
labor.
Over
the years the location of the library was moved several times, but it was in
1965, over 50 years ago, that the present location was donated, and later deeded
by Dr. H.D. Britan following his death. Much renovation and expansion was done
to the building through grants, the formation of a library district, and private
donations and volunteer help from 1969 to 1983.
From its beginning in 1949 with a total of 600 donated
books, to 1985 when the new wing opened, book collection had increased to
24,637.
That same year the library was brought into the computer
age, and the last twenty-five years have shown a dramatic increase in resources
through the internet and the VALnet regional circulation system.
The 90’s saw an adult literacy project started, which has
now developed into a separate entity.
Also, a grant-funded study resulted in a plan to
link the three school libraries, our library, and the school and public
libraries in Pierce and Weippe.
Funds have been generated for the library through the book
sales held each year, and the Friends have worked hard under Bernadette Dellalo
to beautify the grounds around the library. But greater needs for maintenance,
repairs, and more beautification prompted the idea for a bigger event which will
be the Mystery Dinner Theater.
The group hopes to raise at least $3,000 with this project
in order to pay for a new window, trim, and woodwork.
There will be many other needs in the near future
to bring the library building up to date by replacing old heating plumbing, air
conditioning, etc.
Accompanying raffle to be held
In addition
to the Mystery Dinner Theater, the CMPL Friends will be selling raffle tickets
for some very nice prizes, which will be awarded following the final evening of
the dinner and play.
Prizes include a beautiful Dooney and Bourke handbag and
accessories, with $50 inside; a set of hand-thrown pottery with large salad bowl
and eight bowls, graduated in size, all made by Bernadette Delallo; a Romantic
Getaway
at the High Country Inn, which will include dinner,
overnight and full breakfast; and the final prize is an insulated cooler on
wheels stuffed with tasty gourmet picnic items.
Tickets will sell for $5 each, or 6 for $25.
The Friends group will be on hand at the library
the next four Fridays to sell tickets.
Purchasers may choose which of the prizes they wish
to buy tickets for.
Each prize ranges in value from $150-$250.
More about the play
As far as anyone can tell, a mystery dinner theater has
not been held in Orofino for many years. Guests at the library event will be
treated to a fun-filled play performed by some of the city’s most well-known
citizens, including Jeff Jones, Mayor Ryan Smathers, Carla Laws, Bobby Samuels,
Phil Shriver, Will Weise and Pat Larson, Amanda and Dave Tucker, Ted Leach, and
Cherish Hinton.
The play is directed by Diane Hairston, who with her
husband, Andy, recently moved to Peck to be near Andy’s family.
Diane is an accomplished director, with a lot of
civic theater experience in other locations.
The CMPL Friends are very pleased that Diane is
volunteering her time and talent to this great project.
Table sponsors needed
If you would like to sponsor a table for $100 plus cost of
tickets for either a four or eight-person table, please contact Jo Moore at
Most
of the tickets available are for Friday evening, June 11, but a few remain for
Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13.
Times for the events will be
Sponsors
will be publicly recognized and the sponsorship of $100 is tax-deductible.