New title: The Devil's Share, by Kris Farmen

The Devil's Share, written by Kris Farmen of Anchorage and published McRoy & Blackburn, Publishers, of Ester, is a coming-of-age story that takes place in the Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness. This novel, Farmen's first book, is one of many titles available in the John Trigg Ester Library by authors, publishers, or illustrators who hail from Ester.

Adult, paperback, ISBN 978-0-9820319-3-3

New title at the JTEL: the Solar Design Manual for Alaska

The fourth edition of the Solar Design Manual for Alaska: Building toward the ultimate, net-zero-energy, passive solar Alaska home is out. This book, written and edited largely by Rich Seifert, shows that you really can use solar energy in Alaska, and describes passive and active systems, thermal systems and photovoltaics, solar gain in dozens of communities across the state, and more. This title is in the John Trigg Ester Library in the construction section of Reference. The book is published by the Cooperative Extension Service, publication #EEM-01255, and is also available for PDF download at Alaska Sun.

Pies, people, and music

The music festival was fabulous, and made about $500-$600 more than last year (final count over the next couple of days may increase the tally of day's take, which was in the realm of $3,150). We again had 17 pies entered in the contest, and TWO of the three judges' favorites went for $100 each! The funds raised will got to our site preparation, happening in September. We'll keep you posted on the details.

The information table is still up at the gazebo, so if you are passing by and would like to find out a bit more about the library, please stop in and rest awhile.

Photos from the event are on Facebook and a few will be posted here soon. Thank you to everyone who helped out, and to all who came to enjoy the great music and the yummy pies.

LiBerry Pie Throwdown!

Part of the LiBerry Music Festival is our fabulous pie contest! Last year, 17 pies were entered, with the big prizes going to the top three winners (and other entries won prizes, too), which were then auctioned off to the audience. The top-earning pie went for a $75!

The Pie Throwdown is a delicious way to support the library: bake a pie (or two, or three!) using berries and bring it to the Golden Eagle Saloon at 2 pm on August 21 for judging. Awards will be presented at 4 pm, and the grand prize winners will be auctioned off to benefit the library. The other pies will be sold by the piece.

Here's the particulars:

• pies must be homemade (no storebought) and must include berries, preferably wild Alaska ones. Berries may be those traditionally thought of as berries or any by the strict botanical definition (such as tomatoes or watermelons). Savory or sweet pies accepted.

• entry fee is $2 per pie. Multiple pie submissions by the same cook are perfectly fine.

• "Bribes," or extra donations to the library, may earn special note and an award (as happened last year: there was a Largest Bribe award). Just let the judges know how much and for which entry!

• Award categories will be determined by the judges at the time of the contest. Winners will be announced at the Golden Eagle starting at 4 pm.

• Judges are Judie Gumm, David Guttenberg, and one other to be determined by auction. If you would like to judge pies (and thereby have the duty to taste all of those delectable entries!) please arrive at the Golden Eagle no later than 2:40 pm. Bidding for the position will start at 2:45.

• Leftover slices will be offered up to the audience for donation. Top-winning pies will be presented whole (minus judges' sampling) to the audience for auction.

Jeremy Harrod, guitarist, will provide music after the awards. For more on the other great musicians who are playing, go to the music festival webpage. For more information on the contest, contact board member Melinda Harris, pie contest organizer, at 455-4359 or 378-6744.

5th annual LiBerry Music Festival!

The 5th annual LiBerry Music Festival, a benefit for the Ester library, is coming up SOON! A celebration of local music and berry pie, this fun event will take place Saturday, August 21, in Ester.

Where: Ester village, in the Ida Lane Clausen Gazebo (across from the post office), the Golden Eagle Saloon, and Hartung Hall

When: 2 pm until late at night on Saturday, August 21

What: a music festival, a drumming circle (4 pm at the gazebo), a pie contest (pie entry 2 to 3 pm at the Golden Eagle, awards at 4 pm) and a foot-stomping good time!

Why: a fundraiser to raise money for heating oil and the new John Trigg Ester Library building

Who: Elzbeth Adams, Almost A Minyan, the Banana Girls Marching Ukulele Band, Mel Birch, the Carper Family, Celtic Confusion, Russell Copelin, Dangertown, Jeremy Harrod, Hillbilly Mafia, Jesse Hobbs, Hustler's High, Matt Johnson & Friends, Jean McDermott, Musical Rumors, Tim Robb, Zingasa

For the complete schedule and performance locations, go to the festival page.

Dedication party at the gazebo

The dedication of the library gazebo took place on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon. Here's a few photos of the event, by Monique Musick of PhotoSynthesis Alaska.

Deirdre Helfferich started off the event and introduced Bobby Lounsbury, a good friend of Ida and Ansgar Clausen.

Bobby read a biography of Ida Lane and told a few anecdotes about her.

Margaret Rogers and Sarie Brainerd looking at Ida's cookbook, which was passed around for the guests to peruse.

The stained glass windows in the gazebo were created by Denise Akert-Mohr. Hans Mölders did most of the construction on the gazebo, but many people helped with the grounds, the pad, and the final finish work.

After people spoke, it was time for food! A recording of Ida playing honky tonk at the Malemute made for some lively background music.

Joe Geiss of Harmony Logworks, left, made two beautiful benches for the gazebo. He, his wife Amy Cameron, right, Hans Mölders, and Deirdre Helfferich installed them at the work party.

Ida's Clip Joint sign and dedication on the bulletin board.

Dedication for the Ida Lane Clausen Gazebo