Kristi’s notebook: Supporters make a killing for library

Only at a murder mystery event is it fun to be the guilty party.

Carrie Jenott turned out to be the culprit at a recent Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation gala, “Murder on Main Street.”

“She was a very good sport,” says Mary Kelly, community relations and marketing director for Sno-Isle Libraries. “And had a fun time doing it.”

Chris Loos of Edmonds was the event chairwoman. They raised more than $23,000 from guests and corporate sponsors including Once Sold Tales, 3M and Washington Energy Services.

The money will be used to support the library throughout Snohomish and Island counties, including Books for Babies, a program that introduces the library to new parents.

Jenott is co-owner of Once Sold Tales, an online used bookseller. She sells discarded and surplus donated books and media on behalf of Sno-Isle Libraries and Friends of Sno-Isle Libraries.

“We turn waste into wealth and aid and abet their fundraising efforts,” Jenott says. “To date, Once Sold Tales has raised almost $200,000 for the Sno-Isle Libraries.”

“I confess, it was a lot of fun,” Jenott said. “In fact, prizes were awarded for creative answers to the Whodunit Murder mystery, and without a better alibi to come up with, I decided to turn myself in with an outrageous story, and won two prizes (handcuffs!).”

  • Here is an opportunity for those who like to mess with wooden boats, says Joshua Brown, volunteer coordinator with The Center for Wooden Boats at Cama Beach.

    Do you like to work with kids?

    “Not a seasoned boatwright?” Brown says. “Don’t know a thing about boats? No problem. Even if you like your feet on dry land, the center is all about learning.”

    Help visiting children build sails for toy boats. Tell stories about your connection to Puget Sound.

    The Center is located on Camano Island at the restored 1930s-era fishing resort.

    For more, go to www.cwb.org.

    “As long as you like meeting new people, sharing fun and exchanging skills and stories, you can be an asset,” he says. “Get on board.”

  • Meet Samuel Green, the state’s first poet laureate, at 3 p.m. Thursday in Oak Harbor. Our Legislature established a poet laureate program to build awareness and appreciation of poetry.

    Green will discuss his ties to Whidbey Island at the Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Drive in Oak Harbor.

    His grandparents moved to Oak Harbor in the 1930s.

    Green grew up just a few miles from Deception Pass Bridge. He teaches at Seattle University and in Ireland and just won the Washington State Book Award for Poetry.

    Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.

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