Celebrants enjoy cake and costumes in honour of William Shakespeare’s birthday. (Photo courtesy of Michael Green)

On behalf of War Memorial Library, I would like to send a note of heartfelt thanks to our collaborators for the Bard's Birthday Bash (3rd edition, woot woot!). As Shakespeare wrote, "action is eloquence"...and all of the following people were busy making this event wonderful. Thanks to key strategists/institutions: Clint Ward of Village Theatre/Hudson Film Society, Audrey Wall (Greenwood), Bill Young, and both local newspapers for so kindly publicizing this event. Also to CBC's Homerun Show. Thank you dear Greenwood Poets. Thank you Wandering Minstrels: Ramona Vialard, J.P. Vialard, and Brian Gallagher. Thank you Sonia Haberstich, for your funky glasses-turned-into masks and good humour. Thank you War Memorial Library's awesome volunteers: Cheryl Reay, Donna Atwood, Liz Dawe, June Pederson, Jeanne McClintock, our friends in the Library Shoppe (who made us a wonderful and surprising tickle trunk), and Louise Wibe (whose energy puts us all to shame!) We want to say "wow and thanks" to As Kneaded (Sherri Graham) for the delicious cakes cleverly decorated to look like Shakespeare's plays. We are extremely thankful to our friends at the Town of Hudson...Nancy Mitchell (who painted Shakespeare's portrait), Haley Richard (face painting) and some very talented young people: Tristan Pierce, Emily Perry, Alex De Donne, and Wylder Vuorela-Haring (who not only wrote an original piece called "Caught in the Act", but acted it for us). You inspire us and always have an audience at the Library for your performances. Thank you to Lydia Berryman (Girl Guides) for going above and beyond, MC-ing and adding fascinating trivia and facts. Finally, we are so lucky to have Donna Karpman in our town. Her smarts, enthusiasm, preparation, and obvious good heart make all of the difference.

Julia Schroeder, chair WML