The quality of my life has been enhanced by having been associated with Deb Horan and the Booklovers' Gourmet for over a decade.
I SHARE EXAMPLES BELOW
____________
DEB OSTROKOLOWICZ HORAN
DEB IN 1995
SUCCESSFULLY
GROWING A BUSINESS
&
CREATING
A
COMMUNITY
'CULTURAL OASIS'
[1995 -2025]
WITH
SIGNIFICANT PARENTAL SUPPORT
WHERE
ALL ARE WELCOME
DEB
A
Rhode Island School of Design
Graduate
Deb's artistic background and skills are reflected throughout the Booklovers' Gourmet
THE
BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET
IS
MORE THAN BOOKS
OFFERING
DIVERSE
ITEMS FOR SALE
FOR ALL AGES, MANY INTERESTS
INCLUDING
ADULT, ADOLESCENT, CHILDREN
Hardcover and Paperbacks
NEW & USED
FICTION & NON-FICTION
LITERATURE
POETRY
ALSO
BIOGRAPHY
CURRENT EVENTS, HISTORY, POLITICS
+
PERFORMING ARTS, ART
ALSO
GRAPHIC NOVELS
&
COMICS
SCIENCE FICTION
ROMANCE
RELIGION, INSPIRATION
+
NATURE, ANIMALS
TRAVEL
SPORTS
COOKBOOKS
AMONG
OTHERS
INCLUDING
LOCAL AUTHORS
---------------
CUSTOMERS CAN ENJOY
HOT & COLD DRINKS
INCLUDING
COFFEE: Expresso, Lattes, Chai, Mocha
TEAS, SMOOTHIES, ITALIAN SODAS
ALSO
FRESH
PASTRY SELECTIONS
OFTEN INCLUDES
CAKE, PIE, MUFFINS, SCONES, COOKIES, BISCOTTI
ALSO
GRANOLA, HONEY
PLUS
CARDS
FOR ALL OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
ALONG WITH
LOCAL ARTIST CREATIONS
Jewelry, Trinkets, Scarfs, Pottery
Incense, Soy Candles
Handcrafted Soaps, Hand Sanitizers
TOTE BAGS, MAGNETS
PLUS
MANY
GIFT
SELECTIONS
PUZZLES, TOYS, CALANDERS
JOURNALS, BOOKMARKS
COLORING BOOKS, PENCILS
CD's, ALBUMS, DVD's
&
HOME DECORATIONS
INCLUDING
WALL ART
&
INSPIRATION ITEMS
____
DEB HAS BEEN A SKILLED COMMUNICATOR
SUCCESSFULLY
KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED
ABOUT
AVAILABLE PRODUCTS, EVENTS
Deb has effectively use print and digital media to promote her business activities
Notifications appear in online newsletters, in printed local media and in mailers using the postal service
ESPECIALLY INFORMATIVE
IS
THE
BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET
MONTHLY
SPECIAL EVENTS / NEWS
NOTIFICATION
SHARING UPDATES
ABOUT:
AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS, SIGNING BOOKS
&
BOOK DISCUSSIONS
ALSO
POETRY READINGS
MONTHLY ARTIST DISPLAYS, RECEPTIONS
LIVE MUSICIANS
WRITERS GROUPS
APRIL EVENTS INCLUDE
. SILK ART WORKSHOP
. WILDLIFE TALK
. PSYCHIC READING
. EVENING MYSTERY BOOK GROUP
. OPEN MIC POETRY
. SPRING ARTWORK
+
LOCAL AMNESTRY INTERNATIONAL MEETING
THE
ORIGINAL
BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET
AT
55 EAST MAIN STREET
(WEBSTER, MA)
HAD
A
TREE IN FRONT OF STORE
The main sitting area in front of the counter, pastry display case had three tables along with a low table cut from the large tree in the above photo.
A single table next to a window was available in a smaller side room lined with bookshelves'
___________
BECOMMING A REGULAR CUSTOMER
I noticed the BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET on East Main Street while driving to Dudley to participate in group hatha yoga classes taught by RAY HOYT in THE YOGA LOFT.
NOTE
For many years I had been attending Antiquarian Book Fairs and Independent Bookstores in nine states while employed at the Shriners Pediatric Burn Hospital for Children in Boston.
I enjoy books and have a large collection of volumes in diverse topics of interest.
A VALUED ASSOCIATION
WITH
THE BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET
I recall my first visit to the Booklovers' Gourmet was a positive experience - purchasing two books, enjoying a pastry.
For many years I looked forward to going to the Booklovers' Gourmet after my Saturday 9:00 am morning yoga class and staying to enjoy the many scheduled book, art, music events among others.
WHAT I HAVE ENJOYED
[1]
THE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
Deb made possible to sit and interact with others on a daily basis, to enjoy various drinks and pastry options with easy conversations
[2]
ATTENDING
AUTHOR, MUSIC & ARTIST EVENTS
AMONG OTHERS
AUTHORS
2014
TOM INGRASSIA
JARED CHRUDIMSKY
Conversations with Tom during this event led to many positive outcomes including my providing one-one-one yoga instruction
MUSICIANS
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS
MARK MANDEVILLE
CAMERON SUPTIN
GREY WHISKER PICKERS
TWO OF TRIO
ARTIST
RALPH MASIELLO
ILLUSTRATOR
A MARVELOUS EXPERIENCE!
EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS
ALSO
2017
DICK FLAVIN
RED SOX POET
I
I ENJOYED SEEING A WORLD SERIES CHAMPION RING
[3]
OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE
J. R. WHITTAKER
ARTWORK
I attended many artist receptions for years on Saturday afternoons enjoying the diverse media and skills reflected in the displayed works.
Talking about my friend's artwork was special, fun
[4]
SPECTACULAR SUNFLOWERS
FROM SUMMER INTO FALL
[5]
THE SCULPTURE
YEARLY APPRECIATED ARTWORK
[6]
DEB SERVICE
OBTAINING
NEW & USED BOOKS
THREE EXAMPLES OF MANY PURCHASED
2013, 20218
INVESTIGATING RESPORTING AT ITS BESTMOSS DOCUMENTS
HOW 'BIG FOOD' CREATED OUR HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS
2019
ALEX HONNOLD
The focus of the stunning documentary
'FREE SOLO'
[7]
SHARING YOGA EXPERIENCES
CELEBRATING
WEIGHT AT 125 POUNDS
SIGNIFICANT MEETINGS OCCURRED
Conversations resulted in me providing customized yoga instruction to individuals
(one-on-one, one-on-two)
------------------
A MAJOR DECISION BY DEB HORAN OCCURS
BOOKLOVERS' GOURMET ADDRESS TO CHANGE
WITHIN SIGHT OF ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION
ADDITIONAL
POSITIVE EXPERIENCES
OCCURRED AFTER THE DECISION WAS MADE TO RELOCATE
THE BIG MOVE 2020
Deb selected and organized images that were printed as a hardcover booklet entitled
THE BIG MOVE 2020
THE NEW BOOKLOVERS GOURMET
NOTE
SIX LARGE FRONT WINDOWS
AND
TWO SIDE WINDOWS
FEATURES:
. BIGGER
. BRIGHTER
. EASY ACCESS, NO STAIRS
. PLENTY OF PARKING
. WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE
. LARGER, MORE DIVERSE INVENTORY
&
FIVE TABLES, MANY CHAIRS
OPPORTUNITIES I ENJOYED
(MARCH - MAY, 2020)
RELATED TO THE BIG MOVE
[1] Providing boxes, assisting with many others in the packing and transport of the store contents over ten days to the new location
[2] Participating in helping to install the new flooring and painting in both rooms
ALSO
Assisting Deb in the set up the new bookstore including the placement of books on many existing bookshelves including ones that I donated.
_________
PANDEMIC CHALLENGES WERE ADDRESSED
DEB & TINA,
OWNER & VALUED ASSISTANT
BOTH RECEPIENTS
OF
THE JAMES PATTERSON BONUS
RESPONSIBLE
FOR SMOOTH BUSINESS OPERATIONS
INCLUDING
REVIEWS OF SELECTED BOOKS
ONE EXAMPLE
KUDOS TO BOTH OF THEM!
------
ENCOURAGING
CUSTOMERS
TO
SHOP SMALL
DEB
HAS
GIFT CERTIFICATES
AVAILABLE ONLINE
I HAVE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED
EVERY YEAR
BANNED BOOKS WEEK
DISPLAYS
ARE SET UP
&
ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING
THAT
APRIL
IS
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
AND
SATURDAY
APRIL 26, 2025
IS
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY
NOTE
PACKAGE DELIVERY
&
RELIABLE POSTAL SERVICE
OCCURS
AND
ONCE AGAIN
ENJOYING COMPANY OF OTHERS BECAME POSSIBLE
CULTURAL EVENTS CONTINUED
AMONG THOSE I ENJOYED
(2020 - 2023)
MARK MANDEVILLE
RAIANNE RICHARDS
AT BG
ON
ZOOM
RALPH MASIELLO
ILLUSTRATOR
AUTHOR
TOM INGRASSIA
TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY
ONE DOOR CLOSES
LOCAL AUTHOR
DAWN WILSON
WITH
MANY STUDENTS PRESENT
ILLUSTRATIONS BY STUDENT
HAYDEN BRAYTON
2023
LOCAL AUTHOR
AUTHOR
ROD LEE
INTERESTING READING
J .R. WHITTAKER NAME IN THIS BOOK
NOTE
WE CELEBRATED THE LIFE OF A FRIEND
NORMA MOST
KIVA WORCESTER
HER KINDNESS IS MISSED
___
WE NOW ENJOY WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH DANA
OUR
2022, 2023 & 2024
END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS
AT
BG
WERE FUN FOR ALL
2025 UPDATED DRINKS MENU
MANY OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
ESPECIALLY ENJOYING
PURCHASED BOOKS
ON
DIVERSE TOPICS
+
+
2025
MY MOST RECENT
BOOKS PURCHASED
ABOUT
PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
&
FEMALE MATHEMATHICIANS AS 'HUMAN COMPUTERS'
ENJOYED
RECEIVING
A
SIGNED BIRTHDAY CARD
I have appreciated Deb organizing the signing of cards celebrating the birthdays of regular customers for many years
RECENTLY
LORRAINE
WAS CUTTING HER CAKE
OUR MOST RECENT
APRIL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
DEB
CREATED
A
30th ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION / MEMORY TREE
AND
ALL WERE ENCOURAGED
TO
SHARE SOME THOUFGTS
HIGHLIGHTING
ONE
LEAF MESSAGE
DEB
ALSO
RECEIVED
TWO NOTABLE DOCUMENTS
RECOGNITION
FROM
THE
MASSACHUSETTS
SENATE & HOUSE POLITICIANS
ACKNOWLEDGING
DEB'S PARENTS
Lorraine and Ed have both significantly contributed to the growth and success of the Booklovers' Gourmet
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO INTERACT WITH THEM
Where
good books,
good coffee
& good friends
meet!
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH ME, DEB
MY FUTURE SHIRT
BOB CROWTHER - NUTRITION - YOGA
