During this very special time of year, the three great faith traditions of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza follow one another and fill our days. Among the many faith-based messages of the Holiday Season, peace is a common theme. One of the greatest is found in the Gospel of Luke: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” I’d like to pass along some contemporary messages of peace: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel has said that “ Peace is our gift to each other.” Nobel Peace Prize Laureate the Dalai Lama tells us that “World peace begins with inner peace.” Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta believed that “Peace begins with a smile.” And an African proverb says that “There can be no peace without understanding.”
Sometimes, important messages are found in unexpected places. I can think of two:
John Lennon’s, “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.” And, from acclaimed author David Baldacci, a warm and fuzzy message, “Why can’t people just sit and read books and be nice to each other?
On behalf of the Trustees of the Public Library of Catasauqua, the Library Staff, Sandra, Kathy and Phil, wish everyone a spirit-filled Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year.
Our good wishes would not be complete without mentioning the many individuals and agencies that have kept the Library connected to the communities we serve. Our friends in health education: the Center for Vision Loss, Hartzell’s Pharmacy and Penn State Extension Division. Our friends in community services: Blondie’s Rebecca Zukowski-Gillespie, Catasauqua Community Partnerships, Catasauqua Emergency Services, Catasauqua Garden Club, Catasauqua Main Streets, Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association, Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild, North Penn Legal Services, Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Services, The Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua Women and Vacation Bible School, Dr. Stephen Sell, Suburban North Family YMCA, Harry C. Trexler Trust Trustees, Officer John Wiseman and Officer Zora, and Women’s Club of Catasauqua.
Heartfelt thanks go to all our many friends who have remembered the Library in their charitable giving, and for the specific gifts of Patti Danko, Kevin Fraser and Adrianne Kiesbar and those who wish to remain anonymous.
NEW BOOKS:
Adult Fiction:
“The New Iberia Blues,” James Lee Burke
“Pandemic,” Robin Cook
“Sea of Greed,” Clive Cussler
“The Boy,” Tami Hoag
“Before We Were Strangers,” Brenda Novak
“The House Next Door,” James Patterson
“Liar, Liar,” James Patterson and Candice Fox
“Verses for the Dead,” Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
“The Other Wife,” Michael Robotham
“Turning Point,” Danielle Steel
“A Delicate Touch,” Stuart Woods
Adult Non-Fiction:
“Good Housekeeping Air Fryer Cookbook: 70 Delicious Recipes,” Good Housekeeping and Susan Westmoreland
“Good Housekeeping Instant Pot Cookbook: 60 Delicious Foolproof Recipes,” Good Housekeeping and Susan Westmoreland
“The Allies: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin and the Unlikely Alliance That Won World War II,” Winston Groom
“Guinness World Records 2019,” Guinness World Records
“The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019,” Sarah Janssen (Editor)
“The Library Book,” Susan Orlean
“Churchill: Walking with Destiny,” Andrew Roberts
“Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth,” Sarah Smarsh
“Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents,” Pete Souza
Young Adult:
“Two Can Keep a Secret,” Karen M. McManus
“The Fork, the Witch and the Worm: Tales from Alagaesia (Volume 1: Eragon),” Christopher Paolini
Juvenile Fiction:
“The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid,” Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco
Children’s Picture Books:
“The Snowy Nap,” Jan Brett
“Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas,” James Dean and Kimberly Dean
“How to Catch a Mermaid,” Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
