School has ended and the thoughts of summer swirl lazily in our heads like the soft petal of a flower floating on a gently flowing river – SCREECH, CRASH, BANG! Yikes, sorry. That was the sound of reality hitting the fantasy that summer is a time for fun and relaxation. Most of us would relish the time to sit idly by and soak up the summer sun, but reality is often filled with the kids' activities, work, lawn care, home maintenance, etc. Time for relaxation and fun usually finds a spot at the bottom of our wish list.
If you are one of those pining for a little old fashioned R&R the Greensburg Public Library has a program for you! The annual STORIES UNDER THE STARS program will be held on Friday, June 15 at 6:15 pm. This program began several years ago as a way to celebrate the beginning of summer and allow the community to see the library as a place for families to gather and enjoy spending time together.
This year's program will include the traditional "bring your own" picnic on the library lawn complete with ice cream sundaes and lemonade provided by the FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. Bring your favorite picnic foods and a blanket or chairs and settle down on the lawn for a night of stories, music and fun.
The Barnstormin' Bluegrass Band will begin the evening's entertainment at 6:30. This family band will do a little pickin' and fiddlin' while you enjoy your picnic. At 7:00 the band will take a break as we serve ice cream sundaes have a few stories and at approximately 7:30 the band will take the stage again for another hour or so of traditional and gospel bluegrass music.
Greensburg is fortunate to have a wealth of local talent and the Barnstormin' Bluegrass Band is one to see. The Wullenweber family band includes Mom- Shari, Dad – David and kids Noah, Elizabeth and Rebekah.
Each family member plays a unique role in the band with Shari scheduling performances and playing guitar and singing lead and harmony. David is the "leader of the band" and the official bus driver and plays bass. Noah is 17 years old and plays Scruggs style banjo on an instrument that he and his dad built. Noah also plays lead guitar. Elizabeth is 15 and plays the fiddle and the clawhammer banjo. Elizabeth has a strong bluegrass voice and does most of the lead singing for the group. Rebekah is 12 and plays the mandolin. She also sings lead and adds some great harmony to the vocals.
The Wullenweber's played over 90 shows in 2006 including Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, the Indiana State Fair and at Bean Blossom for Wagon Train Days. They are looking forward to playing for their local library. More information about the band can be found at www.barnstorminbluegrassband.com.
This program is family friendly so bring Grandma and Grandpa and all the kids. There will be games for the kids to play and a little toe tapping or dancing is encouraged. In addition to the fun we will try to help out the community with a food drive for Human Services Food Pantry. Anyone bringing canned goods to the event can enter a drawing for several books that will be given away throughout the evening.
As summer progresses the library will host several other family activities including "Get a Clue @ Your Library" the summer reading program geared to help keep kids reading throughout the summer. Registration for the program is underway, so stop in and sign the kids up for the Pre-reader, Elementary or Young Adult reading program. Each age level has a series of prizes to be earned and the Children's Room has other activities planned including a Mystery party, a Water Show and others. Most programming requires registration. Please call Adult Circulation at 663-2826 or the Children's Room at 663-4455.
Other possibilities for fun on a hot summer day are the children's computers with games, a TeenScape area with a computer for teens only.
Kids can call Dial-A-Story at 663-KIDS and listen to a new story each week or have mom or dad sign into the library website at www.greensburglibrary.org and click on Tumblebooks for a read along story, puzzles and games. The library's entire collection can be viewed on the website as well.
Stop and see us or give us a call – Your library is a great place to relax and enjoy your summer and, who knows, maybe you'll find a vacation book that will help you really get away!