Prospect fundraiser returns for first time since March 2020
PROSPECT — Janet Leise and her band, the North Country Session Players, had their last public performance before the COVID-19 pandemic almost exactly three years ago, when they played the first Books and Ladders Band Jam at the Prospect Fire Hall.
At the time she wasn’t sure if the fundraiser event for the Prospect Community Library and the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department would return, so getting to play with her Irish music band Sunday, March 12, was a happy day for the Prospect native.
“I’m glad it came back because here you’re supporting the library, the fire department and local music,” Leise said. “We enjoy it, we love it, especially because it’s a community event.”
The Books and Ladders Band Jam started in 2020 as a fundraiser for the library and the fire department, and returned after a three-year hiatus Sunday with performances by four bands, basket raffles and 50/50 drawings.
Julie Ochaba, president of the library friends group Bookends, said the money raised through the event is split between the library and the fire department, because each relies heavily on fundraisers to operate.
“It was the library friends’ idea to have a get-together live music event where everybody could come together,” Ochaba said. “The fire department is working on building a new building, and the library needs money to buy books and have free programs.”
Sam Wagner, president of the Prospect VFD, said the fire department and library work together often — a good partnership the two organizations have developed as neighbors.
“It was a really good fundraiser in 2020 for both the library and the fire department,” he said. “We try to work in partnership.”
The Prospect library is planning to have its annual book sale in the Prospect Fire Hall, which, children’s librarian Suzanne Adams said, should make for a better buyer experience not hindered by weather.
“It always rains on the book sale days,” Adams said with a laugh. “Our summer reading this year is ‘All together now,’ and it’s focused on communities. We’re hoping to work with the fire department more because it’s in our community.”
Throughout the day, guests of the event heard country rock songs from Tornado Alley, folk songs from Hayday and Irish folk songs from the North Country Session Players. Jim Butler, mayor of Prospect, emceed the event, and said the library is important to not only borough residents, but also people living in its surrounding communities.
“We really consider the library to be the jewel of our town,” Butler said. “It’s important to have events like this because they raise awareness in the community.
“There is a lot going on in Prospect.”
Ochaba said in addition to seeing the fire hall crowded with people listening to music, eating and buying raffle basket tickets, she was excited to be raising money for the library and fire department — and to hear her friend’s band play.
“Anything we make in money is great, it will help,” Ochaba said. “Whatever we get we will be thrilled with, but it’s nice for the community to come out.”
