Peacock Tales

Volume 19, Number 4 · October 2009

What a Delightful Evening!

Second Annual "Off The Shelf ... A Celebration of Books" Event a Huge Success

It was September 23 at Bella Sera and the place was jumping. After eight months of planning and hard work we again, successfully, held our library benefit "Off the Shelf . . . A Celebration of Books."

Nearly 300 people attended the event and showed off their literary and artistic creativity in decorating their tables according to a scene, character or theme of a mystery book of their choosing. The decorations included the props from your standard detective books and shows like nooses, footprints and magnifying glasses but there was also a one-of-a-kind sculpture, buildings that depicted the scene of the crime and tasty chocolates that have a prominent place in many of the "delectable" mystery books. The book themes ranged from Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo to Sherlock Holmes and a Jimmy Buffet mystery.

Kathryn Miller Haines, author of three mystery books, was our speaker, our own Doug Nolin was our emcee and our table judges were Washington County Judge Katherine Emery, Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani and Alexis Rittenberger, the Director of Library Services at Washington and Jefferson College. We also held a "live" auction with Auctioneer Tripp Kline cajoling for bids.

The proceeds, over $15,000, will benefit the Washington District Libraries, comprised of 16 libraries in Washington and Greene Counties.

Reflecting on the success of this year's event, Jonathan Higie, Managing Partner, noted, "Peacock Keller is extremely honored to sponsor this event which provides greatly needed assistance to the Washington District Libraries. We are fortunate to have a wonderful group of employees that work hard to plan the event and we are most appreciative and humbled by the generous support of our sponsors."

"We look forward to continuing the close relationship between Peacock Keller and the Washington District Libraries for many years to come," he said.

We are already planning next year's event and Carol Andrews, our Marketing Director, will be glad to take your reservations for 2010. Next year's theme for books and table decorations will be "Heroes."

First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County took
First Place for their depiction of Scooby Doo: The Movie.

Showing off the First Place Award are (left) Jane Longstreth,
Branch Manager and (right) Lisa Moore, Asst. Branch Manager.

Fredericktown Library took Second Place for The Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes —complete with 'Holmes' in the person of Ed Petsko.

Community Care earned the People's Choice Award for Mum's the Word.