Seventh annual wine and cheese fundraiser supports Cambodia water wells

On Saturday, Feb. 27, Ben and Karen Little will host the seventh annual wine and cheese tasting fundraiser to support Cambodia water wells at their home in Frisco.

The fundraiser will feature wines provided by Littles Wine and Spirits from Denver and music by WMD Family Bluegrass Band. The event will be from 5–7:30 p.m. at 183 East Ophir Lake Road, Frisco. The cost is $25 at the door, please RSVP to poppoplittle@hotmail.com. There is very limited parking, so a carpool will be available at the senior center from 4:45–5:15 p.m. and at the end of the program.

Since 2009, the Littles have dedicated their time to providing wells to villages in rural Cambodia. They have raised enough money for almost 300 wells in the last five years and also built a library, Ben said. In 2015, donations provided 50 water pump wells, 10 cement pipe wells, maintenance on 19 wells and 100 filters; as well as the salary for an English teacher, librarian and funding for a computer and water tank. The 2016 fundraiser is committed to supporting three projects: water pump wells — each well and filter is $236; replacement of filters installed in 2012 were $18; and second floor interior construction at Kouk Reang’s village library.

If you cannot attend the fundraiser but would like to donate, please send checks made payable to Lantern Projects #184 to Ben Little, P.O. Box 4083, Frisco, CO 80443. Please indicate project choice on the memo part of the check.

Book Club Mad Hatter Tea Party celebrates eighth year

This year is the eighth annual book club tea at the North Branch Library from 2–4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Summit County Library invites members of book clubs and anyone who would like to join a book club to hear what services the library can offer.

“We want to help clubs with everything from starting a club to finding books for an on-going group,” said Janet Good, North Branch Library branch manager, in a statement.

Currently, there are 20 active clubs in Summit County that have either shared their information with the North Branch Library or have attended the annual book club tea.

“We are aware there are certainly more than that in the county,” Good added.

One group, the Classics Book Club, was formed at one of the book club teas. The number of clubs in the county increases every year by at least one or two.

The library staff members choose a different theme each year for the book club tea. Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” appealed to the staff this year with its Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

“Everyone is invited to wear a hat, and the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit are expected to make appearances,” Good said.

Tea time begins at 2 p.m. at the North Branch Library’s Blue River Room. The library provides the tea, and guests are asked to bring tea time snacks. The tea is two-hours long, and prizes are awarded for correct answers to trivia questions, which will be based on “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll.

The library staff explains the services they provide book clubs from suggesting books to acquiring enough books for a group. The most enjoyable part of the afternoon tea is when each book club recommends the best reads from the past year.

“Last year, we ended up with a list of 84 recommended titles, enough to keep a group meeting monthly occupied for years,” said Good.

The list is sent out via e-mail to all attendees and is available at the North Branch Library in its “Favorites” notebook.

At the tea, book clubs that are open to new members announce this, so that anyone in attendance who is looking for a group to join may approach clubs that appeal to them. The library also keeps a card file of all the book clubs it is aware of in the county, so individuals may contact the club liaison.

To join one of these three clubs please email the liaison: The Classics Book Club: Jane at JaneVanBaren@SummitCountyCO.gov; BBC: Jeannette at Jeannette@gongloff.com; Senior Center Happy Hour Book Club: Diane at rdwilliford@outlook.com

Check the Summit County Library websitesummitcountylibraries.org for more details or pick up a flier at any of the branches to learn more about this upcoming event.