-
Dec 8, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
‘Wicked,” by Gregory Maguire, has been on my “To Read” list for as long as I can remember. Despite being published in 1995 (and on my radar since about 2000), I still didn’t get around to reading it before the long-anticipated film came out in November.
-
Nov 24, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
All right folks, it is time to buckle up, because the holiday season is HERE. I don’t know about you, but in my experience this means that the next five weeks are going to absolutely fly by, with the exception of a few inevitable days that pass by agonizingly slow.
-
Nov 17, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak |Alison Espach |Liz Moore |Chris W Whitaker
There are many wrongful presumptions about librarians, one of them being that we like to spend our time discussing scholarly, highbrow, deeply intellectual subjects. I suppose this is true of some librarians, but my coworkers and I are much more frequently talking about food. And occasionally Bravo … but, mostly, food. As such, I’m always excited when an opportunity to write a column about food comes up, and what better time to do so than the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving?
-
Nov 3, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
With tomorrow being Election Day, I imagine many of us — no matter your position on the political spectrum — are feeling a bit on edge. While I certainly think voting is important, I also believe in protecting your mental health and well-being, which is why I’m looking for something light and bright to take my mind off of politics for the moment! If this sounds appealing to you, give some of these books and movies a try.
-
Oct 20, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
Summer will always be my favorite season, largely because I absolutely despise the cold, but fall is a close second. October, in particular, holds a special place in my heart. I’m a huge fan of autumnal hues and the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, of leggings and oversized sweaters, of apple orchards and hayrides, and — of course — of curling up under a blanket with a book and a pumpkin spice latte.
-
Oct 13, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
Hopefully many of you are (like me!) enjoying a three-day weekend, having been given the day off today in celebration of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. The downside, of course, is that the library building will be closed, so you can’t spend your free hours roaming the floors, exploring the Makerspace, or simply sitting in one of the cozy corners reading or studying.
-
Oct 6, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak
October is one of my favorite months of the year. The dahlias are in their glory, the humidity has dropped and the temperature no longer feels oppressive, and there is SO much to do. Between apple-picking, farmers markets, and Halloween-themed events going on every weekend, it’s impossible to feel bored! At the risk of overwhelming you, I’m going to add one more exciting occasion to the list ...
-
Sep 29, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak |Jodi Picoult
If you asked me a few years ago to name a luxury food item, I would have said something like “caviar” or “truffles.” These days, my idea of a splurge is cream cheese to go with my bagel. A small part of me dies each time I have to purchase eggs. I may have to take out a second mortgage on my home to support my kids’ raspberry habit. Unfortunately, we can’t count on the price of groceries going down any time soon, but perhaps we can turn to our own backyard to help ease the burden.
-
Sep 22, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak |Jodi Picoult
I have a friend who has — no exaggeration — over 100 plants in her home. She knows all of their names, and has found the ideal spot in the house for each one, depending on how much light they require. She even has cute little growing lights for those that need it. Not only has she managed to keep her plants alive, they are absolutely THRIVING.
-
Sep 1, 2024 | 
thewesterlysun.com | Cassie Skobrak |Jodi Picoult
I remember hearing, as a child, that time speeds up the older you get. It seemed like a dream to me at the time, when a trip to Home Depot with my parents felt like it lasted three whole months, but these days I wouldn’t mind time slowing down a bit.
