Here’s to stories . . .

Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
January 15, 2019 11:00 p.m.

Stories are an important part of our lives. How to be get to know another person? We exchange stories. How do we pass the time with an old friend? We tell “remember when” stories. The Friends of the Library honors the storyteller’s art with another of their Story Slams.

There are usually five or six storytellers. Sometimes I know one or two of them; others are new to me. Some storytellers are familiar figures on the local stages. Their stories are themed to a specific topic. On January 24, this year’s Story Slam theme is “Feast or Famine.” There is generally someone who introduces the speakers and may or may not have a story of their own. This year Arlene Filkoff is the ring mistress for the event.

The evening begins with a reception starting at 5:30 pm so that you can sip, taste, and talk with friends. The story telling will begin at 7:00 pm. The audience can buy votes for their favorites. Yes, there are some times when buying votes is encouraged. The winner will be crowned Island Tales Story Champion. (To purchase tickets for the January 24 championship online, click here.)

The format assures a nice evening with socializing and listening fun. I’ve attended a few of these and they provided insight as well as humor. While I encourage you to attend for the enjoyment of the evening, this is also an important event for the FOL. This time you will also be answering a need. Normally the twice annual book sales raise over $20,000 for the library. This year there will be no spring book sale. The FOL has planned a series of smaller events to support their commitment to our library.

Someone once observed that houses were like children, always needing new shoes. So it is with the library. Costs increase, the number of people served increases, but not usually the budget. Consider this as a way to have an evening’s fun, see friends, and support a good cause.

Tickets are priced at $50 and are available from the FOL website or at the library on 4th Street.

Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.

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wilma allen
wilma allen(@wilmaa65gmail-com)
5 years ago

Well said, Evelyn. These story slams are always fun, and they help buy new books for the library that you can read for free!