Podcast

 S2E8: Shedding Shoulds and Building Boundaries with Mary Ann Griffith

Meet Mary Ann Griffith, certified counselor, and learn all about the incredible benefits of therapy in this month's episode! Mary has recently moved to Sandwich and opened her own Counseling business in town called Greentree Counseling. Give her a ring if you're interested, curious, or just want to meet Mary Ann.

 S2E7: Daniel Kling & Lisa Boecker: Finding a Culinary Vocation

On the menu for this episode of Sandwiched Between the Books is a delicious conversation with Daniel Kling and Lisa Boecker, the Culinary Arts instructors at Indian Valley Vocational Center here in Sandwich, IL. You'll learn about each of these chefs' love for and history with food, as well as their approach to teaching students about the ever-expanding word of careers in the culinary industry. Prepare to be inspired... and a little hungry!

 S2E6: Jane Wolf: Local Educator and Library Board President

From a reading library books on a small farm, to breaking new grounds at Waubonsee and IVVC, to charing the Sandwich Public Library District board of trustees. That's the story of Jane Wolf, long-time library board president, who has devoted her life to education and to making her community better. Now she tells us her story in this special episode of Sandwiched Between the Books!

Library Highlight: Museum Adventure Pass & Explore More Illinois

S2E5: Amy Cahn & Terri Landsteiner: Opening Doors & Building Bridges

In this conversation, you'll meet Amy Cahn and Terri Landsteiner, both employees at Open Door Rehabilitation Center here in Sandwich. Over the past year, they have created a new program that seeks to prepare, equip, and place Open Door clients in employment in our community. You'll be moved by their vision, advocacy, and passion. Want to know more about Open Door? Visit their website, www.odrc.com! Looking to hire at your business? Give Amy and Terri a call at (815)786-8468.

Library Highlight: ScanEZ Station

Amy & Terri's Book Recommendations:
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

S2 E4: Cerelia Lesko SHS 2023 Valedictorian

Long-time library patron and 2023 Sandwich High School valedictorian, Cerelia Lesko sat down with us to talk about teachers, friends, and family that have inspired her to love learning and practice kindness. Cerelia's warmth and joy will make you want to be a better learner, community member, and person. Stick around to the end of the episode to hear Cerelia's commencement speech to her classmates!

Library Highlight: Free Summer Lunches

Cerelia's Book Recommendations:
Guides on Local Plants and Flowers (various)
Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Lereaux

S2 E3: Dr. Blair Wright: Following Your Passion & Finding Your Community

Meet Dr. Blair Wright, a Sandwich native, local pediatric doctor, and truly incredible human. You’ll be inspired by her passion for our community and what she contributes to it, as she shares about growing up in Sandwich, going through medical school, and how important our town is to her. Don’t miss this lovely conversation with this exceptional citizen!

Library Highlight: Updated Website & Summer Reading Blast-Off 2023!

Dr. Blair's Book Recommendations:
The Color Monster: a Story about Emotions by Anna Llenas (kids)
The Measure by Nikki Erlick (teens)

S2 E2: MATT & BARB'S 2022 FAVORITES: Books & Movies

 If you weren't sure that Barb loves books and Matthew loves movies, this episode of the podcast will confirm it! In this conversation, you'll hear our hosts talk about their favorite books and movies they read or watched in 2022. They could have talked about these beautiful stories for days, but instead they limited themselves to an hour and twenty-seven minutes, breaking the record for our longest episode yet!

Library Highlight: Explore More Illinois

S2 E1: BOB DELL: Elderhood, Letters to the Editor, & Living in Europe

We kick off season two by sitting down with Bob Dell, a member of our community who is passionately involved and serving, even well into his nineties! You'll be inspired to give back to our community, to advocate for others, and to grow up to be a positive influence for good.

Library Highlight:
Early Voting from March 20th - March 31st, 2023 from 8:30am - 4:30pm 

The *ALL NEW* Oddities Book Club! A genre exploration of Fantasy, Science fiction and Horror.

Bob's Book Recommendations: 
Elderhood by Louise Aronson
Remember by Lisa Genova
Exercised by Daniel Lieberman
Disrupt aging by Joanne Jenkins

S1 E9: THE 2022 SANDWICH FAIR SPECTACULAR PT.1: History of the Fair with Joan Hardekopf

Join us for a three-part Sandwich Fair Spectacular to celebrate the finale of our first season on the podcast! In this fair-loving trio of episodes, you'll hear from fair historian Joan Hardekopf, fairgrounds supervisor Jim Webber, and some of the fair's biggest fans! Don't miss a single episode as we take a deeper look into our town's grandest event of the year: The Sandwich Fair!

Library Highlight: Newsbank

Joan's Book Recommendation: The Sandwich Fair since 1888

S1 E8 BERT TROEGER: The Sandwich Park District, Then & Now

Episode Info:
In this bite-sized story of Sandwich, you'll Meet Bert Troeger; she's a Park District Commissioner who has been serving for fifty-five years, a local school secretary, and an incredible example of how to give back to our community!

Library Highlight: Genealogy Resources

Bert's Book Recommendation: Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene

S1 E7 YUKI CHEN: SHS 2022 Valedictorian

Episode Info:
We sat down with the 2022 SHS Valedictorian, Yuki Chen to learn about her life, education, and future plans. You won't want to miss this inspiring episode that also features a recording of Yuki's speech to the class of 2022 at SHS Commencement.

Library Highlight: Virtual Reality

Yuki's Book Recommendation: A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino

S1 E6 ROBERT MITILIERI: Library Board Member 

Episode Info:
From skipping school to hang out at Coney Island, to building a communications center in war-torn Nicaragua, to cooking Sunday dinner, our very own library trustee and technology expert, Robert Mitilieri, shares stories from childhood, his career, and his love for Sandwich, with humor, humility, and passion.

Library Highlight: Proctor Services

S1 E5 AGNES SCHWARTZ: Holocaust Survivor from the Illinois Holocaust Museum

Episode Info: 
From Budapest, Hungary, Agnes Schwartz was 10 years old when German forces occupied her town and her family was forced to move into a “Jewish Designated” or “Yellow Star” building. Their Catholic housekeeper, Julia, took Agnes to her home before the ghetto was established and claimed her as her niece. Agnes became a “hidden child,” living in the open but living in fear, not knowing when her family would be reunited. During the Allied bombings, she was sent underground to hide for months. Her father was saved by Raoul Wallenberg and hidden in one of his safe houses. Her grandmother, aunt, and uncle were rounded up and shot into the Danube River. Agnes’ mother was deported and perished at Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Her book, “A Roll of the Dice,” is in its second publication.

Library Highlight: Kanopy

S1 E4 BARB POSINGER: Best Books of 2021

Episode Info: 
Our library director, Barbara Posinger highlights the best books of 2021!

Library Highlight: License Plate Renewals

Barb's 2021 Personal Recommendations:

• The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec - Fantasy  
• Through the Woods by Emily Carrol – Graphic Novel, Horror 
• Piranesi by Susanna Clark – Fantasy 
• Billy Summers by Stephen King - Thriller 
• Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy – Contemporary Mystery 
• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – Science Fiction 
• Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Historical Fiction 
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune – Fantasy 
• Outlawed by Anna North – Historical Fiction 
• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth – Horror  

New York Times Bestsellers of 2021:

• How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Imbue – Cultural Fiction
• Intimacies by Kate Kitamura – Literary Fiction  
• The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois By Honorée Fanonne Jeffers – Historical Fiction 
• No One Is Talking About This By Patricia Lockwood – Literary Fiction 
• When We Cease to Understand the World By Benjamín Labatut. Translated by Adrian Nathan West. - Science Theme / Fact & Fiction 
• The Copenhagen Trilogy: Childhood; Youth; Dependency By Tove Ditlevsen. Translated by Tiina Nunnally and Michael Favala Goldman. - Autiobiography 
• How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America By Clint Smith - History 
• Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City By Andrea Elliott - Nonfiction 
• On Juneteenth By Annette Gordon-Reed - Poetry 
• Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath By Heather Clark - Biography 

S1 E3 MICHELLE SHEPARD: Art, Education, & Small Business

Episode Info:
We sat down with the owner of The Petit Palette (our local art school here in Sandwich) to learn more about her work and passion for art education.

Library Highlight: Museum Adventure Pass

Michelle's Art School: The Petite Palette

Michelle's Book Recommendations:

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• Harry Potter Series
• Sarah J. Maas [Author; 18+]

S1 E2 AUDIE PENN, Part II: Difficult Conversations, Meaningful Meetings, & Identifying Options

Episode Info:
We sat down with local consultant and founding member of Faro Partners to talk about how we go about having tough conversations, how we can transform meetings by thinking in relational terms, and what it means to know your options before it's too late.

Library Highlight: Notary & Voter Registration

S1 E1 AUDIE PENN, Part I: Leadership, Strategy, & Choice

Episode Info:
Matthew and Barb sat down with Audie Penn, a local consultant and founding member of Faro Partners, to talk about effective leadership, the necessity of strategy, and the importance of choice.

Library Highlight: Career Online Highschool

Audie's Book Recommendations:

• The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter Senge
• The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company by Ram Charan