June Is Here

June is here, and our world has been transformed - green grass, leaves on the trees, colorful flowers and warm temperatures. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, it’s all about paws. as the 2014 summer reading program, “Paws to Read,” kicked off with a party on Wednesday, June 4. Kids of all ages are invited to pick up a reading log and register for door prizes. Every child who reads or attends a library program on 20 separate days between  June 1 and August 31 will receive a prize and will be eligible for additional prize drawings. Teens have a separate program requiring 15 books to win a prize. Also for teens are a teen trivia contest and anytime crafts.  There will be special programs each Wednesday at 2 p.m.
On June 11, Ben Carlsen will be there along with Black Lab puppy, Wenzel, for “PAWS for service dogs.“ Ben and his wife Pia are volunteer puppy raisers for Leader Dogs for the Blind. They live in Thief River Falls.
The program on June 18 is entitled “PAWS to Create Art.” A teacher from the MN Textile Center will bring lots of different kinds of animal furs that are used in making a variety of things from clothing to art.  Children will get to make a colorful piece of felted art to take home.
Cheryl Winkelman will be at the library on Wednesday, June 25, with PAWS for Craft Time. I don’t know exactly what she’ll be doing, but she always comes up with some fun projects.
Staff from the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge will be at the library on July 2 with PAWS for Wildlife Safety.
Also in conjunction with the  summer reading program, there will be a PAWS to read photo contest. Children, teens and adults are all invited to submit a picture of their favorite pet reading or being read to. You may submit a printed photo or e-mail the digital file. One entry per person, please. There will be prizes.
Not part of the summer reading program, but a special opportunity nonetheless, is an appearance by Ozzie Tollefson on Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. Tollefson, originally from the Fosston area, spent 48 years in education, teaching and presenting educational assemblies. He will be signing his book, Mr. Teacher,a novel about a young schoolteacher in northern Minnesota during the final year of WWII.
While you’re at the library, be sure to take a look at the current display in the Sorenson Gallery, where you will find cloudscapes by photographer Lance Thorn.