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On this date in 1851, Herman Melville’s book, Moby-Dick, was first published in London under the title, The Whale. The book’s first line, “Call me Ishmael,” is considered among the 100 best first lines from novels. The book was the product of a year and a half of writing and Melville’s own experience at sea. The whale was based on the real life albino Mocha-Dick whale and the sinking of the whaling ship The Essex. The novel has long been a classic, grappling with the age old question of good against evil and the idea that man cannot enact revenge against nature.

We are hoping nature shines down upon us Saturday, October 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. when PCL and PTO host our annual Pumpkin Walk. The event, open to the public, offers a walk through our haunted library, a craft, snacks and more, culminating in a pumpkin lit hike through the woods that is worthy of Harry Potter. The evening ends with not-too-scary stories in the amphitheater. Thanks to offers of pumpkins from Cory Holman, Joanne Westphal and Edmondson’s Orchards, we are no longer in need of pumpkin donations. What an amazing community we live in!!! This event will take place rain, snow or shine, so dress appropriately!

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Tomorrow’s Gentle Yoga class at 9:30 a.m. is on the library, whether or not you were a part of last week’s interruptions due to a school lock down drill. Please let instructor Tina Livingston know you are coming. The library will cover the fees. You can send Tina an email at [email protected].

Story Stew happens this Thursday, October 20, at 9:30 a.m. Rumor says that Halloween fun is in order. Thursday evening at 7 p.m., local author Shenandoah Chefalo joins us to talk about her book, Garbage Bag Suitcase, and her own experience growing up in foster care. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing.

Families are invited to join us this Saturday, October 20, at 10 a.m. to celebrate National Grouch Day with a showing of the film, Inside Out (Rated PG). Enjoy an emoji snack and craft, too!

The next time you are in the library, I invite you to jot down your ideas for our new library in the binder in our sitting area. This is the time to DREAM THE POSSIBILITIES. For now, anything goes. You can write down ideas or slip photos and magazine articles into the sleeves. Leave your name or not! My dream? A white, clapboard farmhouse style building with a wide porch with rockers, an indoor fireplace, a seating area and a community room.

You may or may not know that the coffee chain Starbucks was almost named after the doomed ship Pequod in Moby-Dick. The name was resoundingly vetoed and Starbo, the name of an old mining camp near Mt. Rainier, was suggested instead. One of the founders, a fan of Moby-Dick, saw the similarity between Starbo and a character in the book named Starbuck. Starbucks the company name became, changing the way we have looked at our morning cup of java ever since.

Have a wonderful week and don’t forget to add your ideas to our DREAM BOOK. Feel free to enjoy a cup of coffee on us while you do so!

“It is good to have an end to journey, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” – Ursula Le Guin

SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.

Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette

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