Beth Clinton

If you’re reading this first thing in the morning on Thursday, Aug. 16 you still have time to get the kids to the library for the Summer Reading Club closing party at 10:30 a.m.

The party will have all the necessities — crafts, games, prizes and snacks — so come on down and celebrate your summer reading.

You also have time to roust your teens out of bed to make it to the Teen Summer Reading Club closing party. It’s Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. This party will feature an escape room and ice cream sandwiches. Really, what more could you ask out of a party?

Then, after all the Summer Reading Club excitement and the heat wave and the cruise ship visitors, the library is taking a break and will be closed on Aug. 17 for Gold Cup and Saucer Day. Enjoy the parade.

Of course, the fun never stops in the Children’s Library so drop in any morning from Aug. 20-24 for a selection of S.T.E.M. activities presented by Brilliant Labs. Robotics, electronics, coding, and green screen animation are just some of the activities that are on the menu. No registration required. Call 902-368-4644 with any questions.

Library will be open again on Aug. 18. And, because it’s Saturday we’ll have Drop-in Drawing for the teens at 1:30 p.m. This is a weekly program so visit the library any Saturday to draw and we’ll provide the supplies.

Don’t want to draw but just want to hang out? We have dedicated seating for teens, and Ipads and an XBox gaming system that can be borrowed for use in the library.

We also have games like Ticket to Ride (my personal favourite), Settlers of Cataan (close second favourite), backgammon, crib, cards and lots of puzzles for teens or anyone to use.

On Sept. 13, 4 p.m. teens can have their say in library programs and happenings by joining the Teen Advisory Group.

Summer will be over in the library world starting Sept. 9 with the return of regular weekly programs in the Children’s Library. For the ever-ready-to-read preschool crowd we offer Family Storytime on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. For littler ones we have Toddler Time on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Also, on Thursday there’s Wiggle, Giggle, Read — an event where babies and caregivers enjoy songs, tickles and rhymes, starting at 1:30 p.m. On Sundays there is always never-ending Lego fun starting at 2 p.m.

On Aug. 25 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. the Charlottetown Tool Library will be at the library to teach sustainable sewing and how to make a variety of re-usable bags. You can learn machine and hand sewing. All supplies and tools are provided. This is a family friendly program, but children must be supervised (no running with scissors!).

Aug. 25 also brings Art in the Open to the library. The library is hosting a display of ink drawings that provide a slice of information about selected library books. The display will be at the library in the week preceding Art in the Open and will be available for viewing at the library until 8 p.m. on Aug. 25.

September brings many things, including Labour Day so the library will be closed Sept. 3 so we can all enjoy the fruits of our labour by staying home and reading (feel free to do the same). September will also bring the last chance to hear some behind the scenes talk from the Charlottetown Festival’s artistic director, Adam Brazier.

On Sept. 6 he will offer up Director’s Cut Jesus Christ Superstar”, a half-hour introduction to the timeless story and rock opera playing at the festival this summer. One lucky attendee will win a pair of tickets to the show. On Sept. 12 the Mid-Morning Book club will have its Catch-up After the Summer meeting at 10 a.m. Drop in if you would like to join the book club.

Three members of Prince Edward Island Ground Search and Rescue were recently honoured as first-ever recipients of the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award, a national recognition delivered collaboratively by provincial, territorial, and federal governments.

Cindy MacEwen, Scott Stevenson and Ken Hall were the driving force behind the expansion of search and rescue across the Island, spearheading the amalgamation of three teams into one robust provincial team. Their dedicated volunteerism and leadership helped provide P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue with specialized training, and critical equipment to achieve a higher level of response.

“Over the past 10 years, Cindy, Scott, and Ken have led P.E.I. GSAR in significant growth and advancement, through team recruitment, training, strategic project implementation, and fundraising,” noted a release from Public Safety Canada.

“This award recognizes their vision, integrity, and contributions to Prince Edward Island on the national level and P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue couldn’t be prouder of their contributions and recognition.”

The award was presented in Ottawa last month. MacEwen represented P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue at the award ceremony.