“I baked a cake this morning with a mixing machine I got at the Woodstock Library Fair, probably 35 years ago,” says Freya DeNitto, who has been attending the annual fair for 47 years and is co-chair of this year’s edition, along with library board member Jesse Jones.

Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, this year’s fair will feature commemorative rosettes hand-sewn by Mariann Durkin for the first 80 people through the gate, an Authors’ Booth, and an original Woodstock Dress, designed by Augusta Allen, great grandmother of Deborah Allen Heppner. “The dresses were associated with the fair because a lot of women wore them there in the 1930s,” says board member Sheila Isenberg.

Soon after Isenberg moved to Woodstock 30 years ago, she came across the dress, most likely at a yard sale, although she can’t quite remember. It’s sat in her closet since then because it’s so small, with a Scarlett O’Hara waist, she couldn’t find anyone to fit in it. It turns out the dress is the perfect size for board member Mindy Pickard, who will wear it to the fair after a careful hemming.

Isenberg has also organized the Authors’ Booth, which she hopes will become an ongoing tradition at the fair. In past years, individual authors have set up a table to sell and sign books, but this year, there will be a series of three or four writers at a time manning the booth from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s almost embarrassing how many writers we have here,” says Isenberg, herself an author. She has recruited 13 pen jockeys, a small percentage of the talent residing in Woodstock, Saugerties, High Falls, Stone Ridge, and farther reaches of the Hudson Valley.

They will be selling their books and will donate a portion of any proceeds to the library, as will the Golden Notebook, which will be supplying some of the titles. Best of all, notes Isenberg, “Local people can meet some of the authors they read in the library.” Starting small, she hopes to expand the number of writers in future years.

On hand will be Shalom Auslander, whose memoir Foreskin’s Lament was called “funny, fierce, and subversively heartfelt” by I New York Times. Lee Harrington will have copies of his novel Rex and the City, about a man, a woman, and a dysfunctional dog. Of Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Isenberg points out, “At least two of her books are about motorcycles.” See the sidebar for a complete list of authors, as well as the music schedule.

As usual, the fair will feature live music by local performers; Food Fare, offering the best from area restaurants, plus summer favorites from the grill; a White Elephant tent full of choice collectibles; an exhibitor’s tent of local crafts; a huge children’s area, organized by Lesley Sawhill, with activities such as face painting, games,and hands-on crafts; thousands of used books in the barn, thanks to book sale chair Leslie Siegel; and a 50-50 raffle.

Based on past fairs, it’s expected that the winner of the raffle may take home as much as $1000. At the 4 p.m. raffle drawing, a massive sheet cake, emblazoned with birthday wishes for the fair, will be cut and fed to attendees.

“The library fair is a coming together of the community,” enthuses DeNitto, who will be at the Dutch Reformed Church, helping Food Chair Sondra Howell put together the dishes for sale.

Although she now lives in West Shokan, where she is on the board of the Olive Library, 72-year-old DeNitto still spends time at the Woodstock Library, which she says has probably the best collection of art books outside of a university library.

“In the age of electronic books — which I don’t have any objection to,” she remarks, “the library is still a center of the community, and we have to watch that we don’t lose that. We have so much dissension in town, but the library is a place everybody can love.” ++

---

Library Board Petitions Available

Petitions forms are now available for those who wish to run for the Library Board of Trustees of the Woodstock Public Library District, where three five-year positions will be up for election, alongside the annual budget vote, on Thursday, September 1.

Petitions must be given to the Clerk of the Woodstock Public Library District or his/her appointed Deputy at the Woodstock Library no later than 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 2.

According to Library Director Amy Raff, the three seats up for election September 1 include current Library Board of Trustees President Margo McLoone, Secretary Doris Goldberg, and trustee Barry Miller. Miller and McLoone both won reelection as incumbents five years ago, following a massive board reorganization between 2003 and 2005. Miller is currently the board’s longest-serving trustee.

Both Goldberg and Miller will be running for reelection. McLoone will not be running, which Raff reacted to with regret.

Petitions require twenty-five qualified voters’ signatures with all names clearly printed and addresses listed in terms of residences and not post office boxes.

For further information, and forms, visit www.woodstock.,org or call 679-2213.++

---

Music schedule for Woodstock Library Fair

Studio Stu will emcee live music organized by music chair Barry Miller:

10:00 a.m. Ratboy Jr. (Tim Sutton, guitar and vocals; Matt Senzatimore, drums, keyboards)

10:50 Elly Winninger, guitar and vocals

11:40 The Princes of Serendip (Julie Parisi Kirby, vocals and guitar; TG Vanini, vocals, piano, violin)

12:35 Charles Lyonhart and the Junkyard Angels (George Quinn, bass; TG Vanini, violin; Chris Zaloom, guitar)

1:30 Gypsy Jazz Gang

2:25 Harvey Citron/Christine Spero band

3:15 Not the Beatles

4:05 Blonde n’ Blue dance band

Writers at the Authors’ Booth and some of their titles:

Author and essayist Shalom Auslander — Foreskin’s Lament

Memoir author, novelist, playwright and journalist Laura Shaine

Cunningham — Sleeping Arrangements; A Place In The Country; Writing For Your Life

Award-winning mystery writer Alison Gaylin — Hide Your Eyes; You Kill Me; Heartless; Trashed

Novelist and essayist Lee Harrington – Rex And The City

Author Sheila Isenberg — Muriel’s War; A Hero Of Our Own; Women Who Love Men Who Kill; My Life As A Radical Lawyer (with William M. Kunstler)

Author, playwright, and radio personality Dan Logan

Author, co-author and writing teacher Peter Occhiogrosso — The Real Frank Zappa Book; The Joy Of Sects; Once A Catholic; Through The Labyrinth; The Healing Path Of Prayer (with Ron Roth)

Author and essayist Melissa Holbrook Pierson — The Perfect Vehicle; Dark Horses And Black Beauties; The Place You Love Is Gone

Author and former film editor Barbara Pokras — Feeding Mrs. Moscowitz And The Caregiver

Memoir writer and teacher of memoir writing Fred Poole — Authentic Writing

Author, playwright, and editor Nina Shengold — River Of Words; Shorter, Faster, Funnier; Clearcut; Cinderella Cleaners

Memoirist and teacher of memoir writing Martz Szabo — The Guru Looked Good

Novelist and college professor Joseph Zeppetello — Daring To Eat A Peach++