Iditarod Race

The Last Great Race on Earth http://www.iditarod.com/

The Alaskan Iditarod Race started on Sunday, March 2. I have posted the website along with some background on the race. I have always been fascinated with this race and the stamina that is needed to complete this race. The video at the homesite is great!

You can’t compare it to any other competitive event in the world! A race over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. She throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog teams. Add to that temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills, and you have the Iditarod. A race extraordinaire, a race only possible in Alaska.

From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days.

It has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth” and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest. German, Spanish, British, Japanese and American film crews have covered the event. Journalists from outdoor magazines, adventure magazines, newspapers and wire services flock to Anchorage and Nome to record the excitement. It’s not just a dog sled race, it’s a race in which unique men and woman compete. Mushers enter from all walks of life. Fishermen, lawyers, doctors, miners, artists, natives, Canadians, Swiss, French and others; men and women each with their own story, each with their own reasons for going the distance. It’s a race organized and run primarily by volunteers, thousands of volunteers, men and women, students and village residents. They man headquarters at Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Nome and Wasilla. They fly volunteers, veterinarians, dog food and supplies. They act as checkers, coordinators, and family supporters of each musher.

National Anthem Day

The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America. It was written by Francis Scott Key. National Anthem Day celebrates this song, and the rich history behind its creation. The song officially became our national anthem on March 3, 1931.

Many people think the Star Spangled Banner was written during the Revolutionary War. It was actually written during the war of 1812 (1812-1814).

In August 1814, the British army detained Dr. William Beanes as a prisoner of war. He was a friend of Francis Scott Key. On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key and a U.S. negotiator boarded a British vessel where Beanes was being held. He negotiated his friends' release. But then, Francis Scott Key was detained that day along with the negotiator. They were held until after the attack on Fort McHenry, which guarded the harbor and city of Baltimore.

He watched the bombardment of the fort from the ship. The next morning, he was ecstatic to see that the American flag was still flying over Fort McHenry. This historic event inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" the following day (September 14, 1814).

Jesse James and John James Koblas

Last night outlaw genre author John James Koblas was a guest at the Friends of the Library Hot Reads for Cold Nights program in the library. Mr.Koblas is an expert in the field of outlaws and has written 55 books about them. He has also started a series of three books depicting the Sioux Uprising of 1862 with his first book Smoke.



Although it was a cold and stormy night ten people came to hear Mr. Koblas talk about Jesse James and the Younger gang. He explained their backgrounds, ages of Jesse James and Frank James and how the James-Younger gang became bank robbers. He also spoke on how the bank robbery in Northfield was planned and executed. He talked about the Younger's in Stillwater prision and how well they were liked by the warden and guards. Questions from the crowd were answered very well by Mr. Koblas.


Refreshments were provided by the Friends and a drawing for four Wabasha Eagle Center tickets. The next Hot Reads For Cold Nights will be Pat Coy presenting A Glimpse of Ireland on Thursday, March 13 at 7 pm in the library.

Jesse James Wild West with John J. Koblas

Kasson Public Library Friends will present a special Hot Reads For Cold Nights event tonight at 7 pm. in the library.

Author John James Koblas will speak about Jesse James and the Wild West. Mr. Koblas is a prolific writer in the outlaw genre and the foremost authority on the James-Younger gang exploits in Minnesota.

Mr. Koblas will speaking on the Sioux Uprising of 1862 at the Dodge Center Public Library on Monday, March 10 at 7pm

Free will offering will be taken in support of the activities of the Friends of the Kasson Public Library. Refreshments will be served.

The next Hot Reads for Cold Nights will sponsor Pat Coy and a Glimpse of Ireland on Thursday, March 13 at 7 pm in the library.

2008 Friend of the Year

Each year at the Friends' of the Kasson Public Library annual meeting a person is honored for doing an outstanding job for the organization during the past year. This year the Friends' decided to honor two people, Children's Librarian Mary Rose Mataitis and Bookkeeper Nancy Bauman. These two women exemplify what it is to help the organization with their unique talents. Congratulations to Mary Rose and Nancy.

In the two pictures below Friends' President Clint Patterson is awarding the plaques to the 2008 receipents.

Mary Rose has worked at the Kasson Public Library for the past eight years. Mary Rose was honored for her behind-the-scenes work for the Friends organization as well as her work with children's programming.

Nancy Bauman has been a member for the last few years and was honored for her work on the Friends By-Laws and accounts.

2008 Friends' Annual Meeting

The Annual Friends' of the Public Library meeting was held on Saturday, February 23 at the Hubbell House in Mantorville. There were seventeen people in attendence for the meeting, as always an excellent meal. Mantorville resident Jill Foley graciously accepted our invitation to play several selections for us on her violin.

The highlight of the meeting was the Friend of the Year award. This year two people were selected to receive this award, Children's Librarian Mary Mataitis and Bookkeeper Nancy Bauman. Friends' Chair Clint Patterson handed out the award plaques.

Valentine Cookies at Prairie Meadows

Library Director Bonnie Adams went to Prairie Meadows on Thursday, February 7 at 10 am to decorate cookies for Valentine and share Valentine stories from the past. Twelve residents participated and enjoyed frosting cookies and sharing stories.

As part of the Kasson Public Library Books on Wheels outreach program the library goes to Prairie Meadows twice a month with a program and deliver library items for the residents. This service is in it's third year and is very popular with the seniors and the library.