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Health & Fitness

Exercise Your Mind at SCDL

Summer Reading Fun, Plus Organic Gardening, Arts and Crafts, great Teen Programs, and more at Stark County District Library

Did you know the Stark County District Library is More Than Books? Every year the library offers hundreds of informative, inspiring, and enriching programs for visitors of all ages—for free. In addition to story times, programs for teens, job and computer skills classes, and book groups, Stark County District Library hosts gardening programs, genealogy classes, health and fitness programs, and craft programs. Now that summer is here, it’s time for great summer events and programs, including Photo Contests, a Teen Jeopardy Tournament, an upcoming visit from SEO’s Mobile Technology Training Center, visits from Amish Country Mystery authors Amanda Flower and Linda Castillo, and a great Exercise Your Mind Summer Reading Challenge for kids and teens. So take a look, explore our online events calendar, or the new issue of Stark Scene, and find something that inspires you today.

As always, each program listed below is linked to the Stark County District Library Events calendar, where you'll get more information about the program (such as the time the event is offered), and have the opportunity to register online or by phone to attend.

The Exercise Your Mind Summer Reading Challenge begins on Monday, June 3 and continues through July 27. Kids ages newborn through 12th grade can pledge to read 1 to 100 books this summer and win prizes for meeting the Challenge. This year we’re using an online system for tracking books read—the instructions are here.

Monday, June 3 also marks the start of the Summer Reading Photo Contest at a branch near you. Enter your original photos at one or more participating locations (North Branch, DeHoff Memorial Branch, Jackson Township, Perry Sippo, Main Library, and Lake Community in partnership with Quail Hollow State Park Camera Club). The contest runs until July 27. Here’s a link to the page where you can find entry forms and rules online.

More Summer Reading Kick-Offs are scheduled for SCDL locations in the coming days. East Canton Branch celebrates Summer Reading Kick-Off on Tuesday, June 4 with amazing face painter and story teller Marjorie Funk.  On Wednesday, June 5, Jackson Township, Lake Community, Plain Community, and Madge Youtz Branches will all host Summer Reading Kick-Off with games, fun, and refreshments.  North Branch also has a Kick-Off on June 5—it’s the annual Ice Cream Social, and it includes a visit from Bungles the Clown, Mr. Pete’s Popcorn, and more. Additionally, Perry Sippo Branch and Main Library will celebrate Summer Reading events on Thursday, June 6.

The library will host Teen Jeopardy Tournaments throughout June and July, leading up to the Championship round in August at Main Library. Sandy Valley Branch hosts the first of the Tournaments on Tuesday, June 4. More are coming to locations near you—here’s a link to all of them.

Jackson Township Branch presents StoryWalk™ on Thursday, June 6. StoryWalk™ is a family activity where children read books page by page along a walking trail. Our trail begins and ends at Jackson Township Branch, and will be open for fun and adventure each Thursday through June 27.

On Friday, June 7, DeHoff Memorial Branch hosts the Lemonade Stand Entrepreneur Series for teens. Learn basic business fundamentals in the operation of a lemonade stand. A certificate of completion will be presented to those who complete the training, which takes place each Friday, from June 7, to June 28.

DeHoff Memorial Branch will also host free Blood Pressure Screenings on Monday, June 10. Mercy Medical Center will provide the screenings on Mondays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm until June 24.

The Van Gogh Club explores art basics under the guidance of artist Patti Wollenberg. Learn about famous artists and art movements while learning to express yourself through your own artistic creations. Van Gogh Club meets on Monday, June 10 at Madge Youtz Branch, and continues each month on the second Monday of the month.

Teens, join us for a creative odyssey: 23 projects in 23 days, including electronics, music, science, as well as indoor and outdoor creations. The Great Create meets at Main Library starting on Monday, June 10, and continues every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through August 2.

Cindy Petitti from Anthony Petitti Garden Center will visit Jackson Township branch on Monday, June 10 to present Organic Gardening. She’ll offer advice and instruction on how to create and manage an organic garden, focusing specifically on herbs and their use in cooking.

Take better pictures this summer, and learn what all the numbers and menus (from exposure to f-stop) on your camera are for. Join Bob Moffitt from the Quail Hollow State Park Camera Club and bring your camera to Lake Community Branch for Basic Camera Settings on Tuesday, June 11. Then, enter your great summer photos in one of the library’s photo contests!

Teens and Adults can enjoy some great summer reading and book discussion at Book Chatter on Tuesday, June 11 at Plain Community Branch. The first title is Unwind by Neil Shusterman. We’ll meet on the second Tuesday of the month through August 13.

Enjoy the music of the Big Band era at Summer Sounds on Tuesday, June 11 at Perry Sippo Branch. The Musical Memories Orchestra will perform some of the best loved Big Band songs, and the Perry Sippo Friends of the Library will provide ice cream. So bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy the start of summer. If it rains, we’ll move the performance indoors, so come out rain or shine. I'm going to go ahead and put in a request for "Take the 'A' Train" right now.

There are many other excellent events planned at a branch of the Stark County District Library near you, including children's story times, book groups for adults, computer classes, classes that will assist you with your eReader, programs for teens, and much more. For a full listing of events and programs, check http://www.starklibrary.org/calendar-search and find something that enriches and inspires you today.

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