Dear Folks,

      Last March, we started booking folks to play at our Mt. Airy Train Station Free Concert Series and here we are, at the end of October, with a good forecast, (thanks be to Elliot Abrams at Accuweather, who has helped us plan whether to cancel or go ahead with concerts all season) of a clear crisp (read chilly) day and evening for our season finale with a great a cappella group of women from Haverford, called the Outskirts. 7-9 p.m. dress warm and we'll have the hot coffee, tea, and cocoa on. I heard this group at Mt. Airy Village Festival in the early fall and they were terrific. I'm a little behind on modern culture and was watching my first full episode of Glee last night and now I fully expect that we will all break into song and dance as we get infected by the contagious sizzle of the music. Wouldn't the Outcasts be surprised !

      Anyway, thanks to all of those in the nearly 25 different groups who have played here this season, who have come and listened here and supported our musicians, and who helped finance this concert series by donating around $1,000 at Walk a Palooza II.  I do think that this little series is a part of what I call the warp and woof of community that makes Mt. Airy an exceptional community in which to live.  Speaking of which, our discussions continue about the possibility of creating a book co-op or something like that, somewhere in Northwest Philly,  which would give us more room for books, and more room for concerts and other public events that we love.  Perhaps the concert series could go year around if we find a spot that has enough room to create a "concert hall/movie theater/community meeting" site. 

         Our first meeting was covered in the Chestnut Hill Local and you can read it by clicking here. I also was interviewed Zach Subar of Mt. Airy Patch.com and that little article came out this week and can be read through this link.  Many of you who read this are on the mailing list and have volunteered to help explore this idea. If you aren't and want to be kept informed, drop me an email. This will be a long thoughtful process.

     By the way, I did just get an email from one of our committee members passing on the news article that the empty Border's site which first inspired this talk of a book co-op has been rented and appears to be destined to be a day care center but information is still a little sketchy at this link.

    A reminder about three other momentous events that are yet to occur in BOOKtober. The first is that there are, as of now, only 3 1/4 shopping days left in our big 30% off Sale.  Secondly, the book drive for kids in Camden without books has three overflowing boxes of books so far and the young girl who is running the drive has $80 more in cash which was donated to spend on books here. That drive goes through Saturday. And finally, HALLOWEEN !  We have a grand tradition here of welcoming trick and treaters and giving anyone who shows up in costume to choose between CANDY or a FREE BOOK. What would you choose?  If you have young'uns or you dress up yourself I hope you come by on Monday evening.   BOOOOOOKtober!

Greg and Cynthia