Oh, he tried to keep it from us, but the tireless journalists at ShelfTalker uncovered a secret about one of our own: Kenneth Brechner of DDG Booksellers in Farmington, Maine, who is also ShelfTalker’s Thursday blogger, has just won the prestigious MSBA Business Friend of Education Award from the Maine School Management Association (“Maine’s Advocates for Public Education and Strong Leadership”).
What makes this award extra impressive is that it often goes to corporations that donate money to the schools, but this year, the organization recognized the many ways this fine indie bookseller contributes to schools through collaborative bookstore programs and time spent volunteering in a variety of ways in the schools.
Last year, Kenny’s store won the WBNA’s Lucile Micheels Pannell Award for Best General Bookstore, about which the award committee’s Kelli Chipponeri wrote, “This year my selections were heavily influenced by the bookstores that are the epicenters of their communities. The outreach that these booksellers do, with little resources and support, makes them not only cultural touch points for the people who shop at their stores, but influence and promote reading, art, and education (as well as other ideas that feed the mind and soul) in communities.”
Kenny has always been the Flying Pig’s gold standard for school involvement, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that his countless hours of work and enthusiastic school support have been officially recognized by the ENTIRE STATE OF MAINE! Congratulations, Kenny!