Written by Beverly Ewart
Lake Ontario has been in the news for the last few days, which set me on a quest to find some books about that gorgeous Great Lake. However, while Lake Ontario was on my mind, our Director, Emily, mentioned that she had recently enjoyed reading The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which takes place on Lake Superior – not Lake Ontario.
So today I will offer a peek at one of Emily’s favorites. Check it out:
The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon. “For three decades following World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, possessing all the power and prestige Silicon Valley does today. And no ship represented the apex of the American Century better than the 729-foot-long Edmund Fitzgerald — the biggest, best, and most profitable ship on the Lakes. But on November 10, 1975, as the ‘storm of the century’ threw 100 mile-per-hour winds and 50-foot waves on Lake Superior, the Mighty Fitz found itself at the worst possible place, at the worst possible time. When she sank, she took all 29 men onboard down with her, leaving the tragedy shrouded in mystery for a half century. In The Gales of November, award-winning journalist John U. Bacon presents the definitive account of the disaster, drawing on more than 100 interviews with the families, friends, and former crewmates of those lost. Bacon explores the vital role Great Lakes shipping played in America’s economic boom, the uncommon lives the sailors led, the sinking’s most likely causes, and the heartbreaking aftermath for those left behind — ‘the wives, the sons, and the daughters,’ as Gordon Lightfoot sang in his unforgettable ballad. Focused on those directly affected by the tragedy, The Gales of November is both an emotional tribute to the lives lost and a propulsive, page-turning narrative history of America’s most-mourned maritime disaster.”– Provided by publisher.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CFL will be closed Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day.
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence”. Martin Luther King Jr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chess Club at CFL meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3–4. Tuesday is free play with Ryan Nolan and designed for those that have some experience.
Thursday’s weekly session is with Zachary Woodley-White and is designed for beginners who would like to learn how to play. We offer rudimentary instruction and a judgement free space for younger players to establish and build on their fundamentals. No registration needed, ages 12 and below. Questions? Contact Zach at zwoodleywhite@ncls.org
Grab a board, find a friend, and start a game at any open table in the Main Reading Room. Other board games are available or bring your own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEEN ANIME meets on Thursdays from 5-7pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dungeons and Dragons: The Canton Free Library is running a Dungeons and Dragons campaign! This program is a beginner level program aimed at teens who are looking to learn how to play Dungeons and Dragons. Limited to ages 13-18, with no registration necessary. We will meet on the last Wednesday of each month from 4-6. Contact Zach at zwoodleywhite@ncls.org for any questions. Currently playing Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition.
Children’s Programming at the Canton Free Library:
O-17 months: Baby Storytime is for our library babies and a caregiver. We’ll share books, bounce rhymes, songs, finger plays, and lots of smiles, and then close with social/play time. Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 am. No registration is needed. Resumes Tuesday, September 15th.
18-35 months: Toddler Storytime is for children and their caregivers. We’ll share books, rhymes, music, movement, and lots more early literacy fun! Mondays 10:30-11:00 am. No registration is necessary during the school year. Resumes Monday, September 14th.
3-5 years: Preschool Storytime is for children and their caregivers. Stories, songs, movement, crafts, friends, and lots of fun! Wednesdays 10:30-11:15 am. No registration is needed during the school year. Resumes Wednesday, September 16th.
K-2nd grade: Each month at Books and Beyond, we’ll explore a theme with books, activities, games, and art. Meets each third Thursday afternoon from 3-4 pm. Registration for each month required by the Monday before. Resumes Thursday, September 17th.
3rd-6th grade: Tween Time offers a mix of cool crafts, art exploration, games, STEAM, and book talks of popular and classic literature. Meets every fourth Thursday afternoon from 3-4 pm. Registration for each month is required by the Monday before. Resumes September 24th.
K-6th grade: Lego Club: A different challenge/theme will be given at the start of each meeting. Meets the last Monday of the month (unless that’s a holiday, whereupon the date will be announced) from 3:00-4:00pm. Registration is required by the Friday before, but it fills fast! Don’t wait! Resumes September 28th
Ages 5 and up: Arts After School: Artist Kris Rozelle will lead a different art project each month for kids aged 5 and up. Meets the first Wednesday of the month from 3-4 pm. Free, but registration is needed for each class. Since class size is limited, please let us know if your registered child cannot attend so another child may have their spot. Thanks! October 7th is the first class.
Questions about children’s programs? Ms. Val @ 315-386-3712 x 4 vwhite@ncls.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORLEY BRANCH is open Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm. Call for more information: (315) 379-0066.
RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open on Tuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Call the library at (315) 344-4155 for more information.
CANTON BRANCH is open 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday. Contact us at (315) 386-3712 or cantonfreelibrary.org.