Among many other talents, Brian Daniels, of Brunswick, writes a humorous commentary newspaper column and blog for the Bangor Daily News, "Thoughts of an Average Joe."

Daniels's fictitious character, "Average Joe," is a clueless, middle aged, middle of the road, thick around the middle man--Joe Wright.

We won't try to describe this entry--just give it a listen!

Learn more about Brian at: http://averagejoe.bangordailynews.com/the-website

We couldn't overlook Joshua Rosenthal, of Damariscotta who is an accomplished professional musician--at age 12!

He plays fiddle, cello, viola, and "occasionally some mandolin," although fiddle, or violin, is his primary instrument which he has been playing for 7 years.

According to Joshua, "Quebecois" is one of the most recognizable music styles in the world. It is full of great dance tunes and fun syncopated (not on the normal beat) tunes. The traditional way of playing Quebecois is fiddle, piano, and/or guitar. Jigs, Reels, and Waltzes are the three most common styles. Here, are a number of examples of his fiddle playing.

You can learn much more about Joshua at www.fiddlocity2.com

Sharks and Stripers and Bluefish Oh My!!!! Our intrepid Gardener- Scientist- Entymologist- & Raconteur Extraordinaire from South Bristol, Bob Emmons shares some of his misadventures, preposterous lies, and bad jokes as...wait for it: a Fisherman! Just don't cut his fishing line or it'll cost you!

The final show from Chicago features music from the Paul Butterfield Blues Band as well as harmonica music from Charlie Musselwhite and others. All Blues from the Summer Room podcasts were edited and compiled and edited by good friend of Skidompha Library, Mark Addison.

All songs performed by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band except where noted.

Chicago Blues 3 Playlist

Born in Chicago (Intro)

3:06: Got My Mojo Workin

6:40 Shake Your Money Maker

9:06 Walkin’ Blues

12:23 Born in Chicago

15:28 Get Out of My Life Woman

18:42 Baby Please Don’t Go

22:56 Three Harp Boogie (Misc. musicians)

26:24 Chicken Shack (Charlie Musselwhite)

30:38 If I Should Have Bad Luck (Charlie Musselwhite)

37:06 East West

51:11 Blues with a Feeling

This podcast, the second from Skidompha Owl's friend Mark Addison of Damariscotta Mills, is part of a series that explores Blues music from the Mississippi Delta in the 1920s to Chicago in the 1940s to England and the US in the 1960s and 1970s--to contemporary Blues musicians.

This podcast covers blues songs from the 1920s and 1930s performed by a variety of blues musicians from the Mississippi Delta region and other parts of the rural south. It also introduces two Mississippi musicians that would make it big in Chicago, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.

All Blues from the Summer Room podcasts were edited and compiled and edited by good friend of Skidompha Library, Mark Addison.

Playlist:

Intro: Intro to When the Levee Breaks by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe

1:37: A Spoonful of Blues, Charley Patton

4:48: Cool Drink of Water Blues, Tommy Johnson

8:21: Fixin’ to Die Blues, Bukka White

12:21: House of the Rising Sun, Leadbelly

14:30: See See Rider, Big Bill Broonzy

17:33: I’m So Glad, Skip James

20:22: Sittin’ On Top of the World, The Mississippi Sheiks

23:25: Preachin’ the Blues, Son House

30:05: Eyesight to the Blind, Sonny Boy Williamson

33:05: When the Levee Breaks, Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe

39:17: Baby Please Don’t Go, Big Joe Williams

42:39: Baby Please Don’t Go, Lightnin’ Hopkins

46:15: I Feel Like Going Home, Muddy Waters

49:43: Sittin’ On Top of the World, Howlin’ Wolf

52:50: Come On in My Kitchen (Robert Johnson), performed by Eric Clapton

The monster under Ethan's bed has gone fishing for a week! How is Ethan ever going to get to sleep without a really scary monster? Will a stand-in monster do? Find out by listening to this amusing story read by Skidompha Library's own Terry Hapach.

This podcast, the first from Skidompha Owl's good friend, Mark Addison of Damariscotta Mills, is the first in a series that explores blues music from the Mississippi Delta in the 1920s to Chicago in the 1940s to England and the US in the 1960s and 1970s to contemporary blues musicians.

This podcast introduces the series and the Mississippi Delta, the music of Robert Johnson and others. Many of Johnson's tunes have been covered by many contemporary musicians. Let us know what you think!

Playlist:

All songs by Robert Johnson.

2:57: Come on in My Kitchen

8:27: I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom

11:25: 32-20 Blues

14:25: Walkin’ Blues

17:41: Sweet Home Chicago

20:38: Kind Hearted Woman Blues

23:28: Terraplane Blues

26:28: Hellhound On My Trail

29:55: Cross Road Blues

32:28: Stop Breakin’ Down Blues

34:50: If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day

37:28: Love In Vain

40:10: Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)

43:00 Phonograph Blues

45:40 Me and the Devil Blues

A girl and her father take a moonlit, winter nighttime stroll near the farm where they live to listen and look for owls.

Bundled against the frosty air, they trudge through the pristine snow. A wonderful tension builds as the father imitates the great horned owl's call once without answer, then again.

Finally, from out of the darkness comes a reply, echoing through the trees!

Author Jane Yolen has written more than 200 books.

This was lovingly recorded by Skidompha Library's good friend Anna Belknap in January 2016.

This lesser-known but wonderful book starts off with a young boy who meets up with an old man in the middle of the Desert of Drize and the old man starts telling the boy about how there are more people less fortunate than he is and how he is lucky to be himself.

The real world message about how life can get really tough for people, but as long as you stay as yourself, you will always be lucky in getting through life is a very positive message for both children and adults!

For anyone who is not used to Dr. Seuss’ usual way with tongue twisters in his books, there are many places in where the wording gets a little crazy and it might be difficult for smaller children to follow on their own. Parents might want to listen along with this recording with their children so that they can help their children understand the tale.

This was wonderfully recorded by a good friend of Skidompha, Anna Belknap in January, 2016.

The Polar Express is a 1985 children's book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, a former professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. In 1986, it was awarded the Caldecott Medal for children's literature. The National Education Association named the book one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by School Library Journal. It was adapted as an Oscar-nominated motion-capture film in 2004 starring Tom Hanks.

Here, Skidompha Library staffer Terry Hapach's reads this wonderful tale with warmth and childlike charm.

Image credit Amazon.uk