VALE – The Vale Community Book Club will discuss “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith at this Thursday’s meeting.
The group meets at 7 p.m. at the home of Carol Spears, 683 Cottage St., in Vale.
Tami Anderson will facilitate the discussion about this American classic, which traces a young girl’s coming-of-age at the turn of the 20th century.
Francie Nolan and her family lived in the abject poverty of the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, home to uneducated first- and second-generation immigrants from Europe. They lived in one square mile marked by inadequate tenement housing, and all groups had derogatory names for the others.
Apart from the growing up experiences that children of any era can relate to – navigating parental and sibling relationships, making friends, and discovering first love – the novel also deals with more serious subjects like alcoholism, the death of a loved one, attempted molestation and ruined reputations caused by premarital sex.
A tree which managed to grow up through the pavement symbolizes the tenacity necessary to survive in that environment, and also Francie with her literary ambition and thirst for education.
Anyone interested in the book club may call Marge Mitchell, 208-739-6777, or Lucy Hutchens, 208-739-6954 for information.
The November selection is “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury. The discussion will be facilitated by Twilla Hayden.
Note: Review information taken from The New York Times Bookend and Goodreads online.
Also on the calendar in Vale:
• The annual Vale FFA Scholarship Auction will be held Saturday, Oct. 13.
Offering an array of donated gifts, goods and services, the auction raises money for scholarships for FFA members and also helps pay their cost to national convention competitions.
The auction will start at 10 a.m. at the Vale School District bus shed.
• The Vale High School Alumni Association has another planning meeting scheduled in preparation for the second annual Hall of Fame Banquet.
The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, at the Vale Emma Humphrey Library meeting room, 150 A St. E.
Everyone is welcome to help plan the banquet, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Malheur County Fairgrounds in Ontario.
For tickets and more information, contact Bobbi Buttice, 541-823-2900.
• The Vale Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at the Diamondback Bar & Grill, formerly the Sagebrush, at 5 p.m. Saturday. The eatery is at 197 A St. E. in Vale.
The Chamber also is planning a board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, with the monthly luncheon meeting coming up on Oct. 25, at noon at Chavelita’s.
Also on the October calendar: A free showing of short films for Halloween from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31, offered by the Drexel H. Foundation at the Rex Theater.
The spooky entertainment coincides with the Chamber’s annual business trick or treat festivities. Businesses downtown will welcome costumed kids with safe and fun trick or treating from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Halloween.
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