7-3-2026

This Monday’s heat was too much for the FFA Petting Zoo, but not too hot for 50 parade goers or our local police department.

The ETLPL’s annual Kids Parade and FFA Petting Zoo was held in the 90+ degree heat which eliminated the petting zoo portion. Bikes, scooters, strollers, and wagons were decorated. Temporary tattoos were applied. Water was handed out and spray bottles misted necks and knees. Instead of ending at Playmore Park, it returned to the library where staff was on hand with spray bottles, a mister/sprinkler, and ice cream sundaes in the air-conditioned programming space. Ice cream may become the traditional ending going forward our current lack of a freezer notwithstanding.

The FFA Petting Zoo has been rescheduled. With the closing of Martin’s Hardware, we likely lost access to their bounce house. The FFA will fill that hole in July 27^th when we host the end of Summer Reading Pizza Party. Fingers crossed we have reasonable temperatures that day. I did put out a request to the Friends to borrow canopies to help make the day more comfortable for all involved and those spray bottles will be on hand as well.

Na Hale, the July 6^th program, is new to us.  The performer is a Native-Hawaiian who will give a cultural “Edutainment Demonstration & Show & Tell”. Part presentation, part interactive, the performer will bring lava rocks, sea turtle shells, conch, and ukulele. I believe there will be bit of dancing involved. The performance begins at 1:30 in our lower level. No grass skirts required.

Art Attack will be held twice in July – the 17^th and 31^st at 3:15. This craft program is open to all ages, but we do ask for registration the Monday beforehand. A link to register online can be found on our website. A call to the library will do as well.

The Tuesday meeting of the Adult Book Club is meeting in a member’s home on July 14^th. Anyone planning to attend that day should ask the library for the address. This book club offers readers two choices of meeting dates: second Friday or second Tuesday. The Friday meeting will still take place in the library. Both meetings discuss the same book. Readers can select either discussion date each month based on other commitments. Copies of the book are placed on hold by the library and available for anyone to checkout. Can’t make the meeting? The book is still a great suggested read. This month we are reading Maria Benedict’s Her Hidden Genius.

After years of recommending her books to historical fiction fans, it’s time I read one.

Happy 4^th of July.

Reading Now: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict

Listening to Now: Nobody Knows You’re Here by Bryn Greenwood