Itâ??s still summer at the library Dalton Library Delights with Mary Keenan Hart

Oh, those back to school TV and newspaper ads...they have never been welcome in my house.

They tell me that summer is fast approaching its end. The gloryof no schedules and the joy of letting a day choose its own pace will soon be gone.

Even in the days with seven kids at home for summer and the inevitable chaos that could bring, I never wanted to focus on school bus schedules or the ensuing shopping trips; I just wanted more picnics, sleep outs in the back yard and the next camping trip. Fortunately for me (and I hope many of my readers), our library has not jump started September. In fact, these August days at the library are full of the reminder that it is still summer.

The library board will host its second annual Wine Tasting Party at Maiolatesi Wine Cellar on Sunday, August 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.

In addition to the chance to sample one of the wines carefully crafted by Sal Maiolatesi, you'll see a beautiful cherry bar made by Sal's father and a wide selection of wine glasses, wine racks, cheese boards and gift baskets available in the retail section.

But the best part of the afternoon is that a chance to see old friends, chat, sample the wine and wonderful hor d'oeuvres donated by local businesses and library patrons, listen to keyboard selections performed by Susan Sheerin and take in a spectacular view from the deck. Inside seating is also available.

What could a more pleasant way to spend a late Sunday afternoon? Please join us; you'll be helping our library as this is the board's main fundraiser for the year and the proceeds will be used for general maintenance and improvement of our library building. Tickets, $20 per person, are available at the library or from any one of the board members.

If you'd like to read more about the Maiolatesi Wine Cellar before Aug. 19, check out its web site at maiolatesiwines.com. Last year's event was a great success; let's make this year's event even better. See you on the 19th.

More summer events continue at the library. The Summer Reading program is scheduled for its last event, Animals of the Night Sky presented by the Everhart Museum at the Streamside Park on Tues., August 7 at 11 a.m. This grand finale will also feature a pizza party and prizes for all participants.

The Junior Battle of the Books is a challenging summer reading program for 4-6 graders. The young people have read and discussed five highly acclaimed books and the contest to challenge their knowledge of these books will take place Thursday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mall at Steamtown. And the following week, students in grades 7-9 will match wits with other Lackawanna County students at the Senior Battle of the Books.

This battle will occur Thursday, Aug.16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mall at Steamtown. Over the course of the summer, these 7-9 graders have also read and discussed many outstanding and demanding books. Both groups have been most fortunate as they've had two wonderful facilitators, Janet Geeza and Celeste Cali. Good luck to our Dalton teams ; we're cheering for you.

Activities for adults have continued – and will continue – throughout the summer months. If you've never tried you hand at MahJong (Mondays at 10:15 a.m.), or bridge ( Tuesdays at 10:15), why not consider either or both? And if you love exchanging ideas about complex subjects and commonplace ones, too, why not join our Conscious Conversation group on Tuesday afternoons at 5 p.m.?

Although these events won't take place until late September and October, they are worth mentioning.

The first meeting of Saturday Spotlight, Sept. 24, will feature a book suggested by Nancy Santore. "Hamlet's Dresser" is the memoir of Bob Smith whose life was "saved" through literature and art, specifically Shakespeare and the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Conn. where he became Hamlet's dresser. There are a few copies of this book in the library system and it's also available at online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

As we move into October, our readers will join the Scranton Reads project when we read another memoir, "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya. The work, by the father of Chicano literature translated into English is the coming of age story of a young boy, Antonia Mares, living in the Hispanic community in New Mexico in the 1940s. His aunt Ultimo, a coriander (one who heals), comes to live with the family and helps young Antonio come to terms with all the conflicts he finds in his life. There will be 20 copies of the book available for those who want to participate in the discussion here in Dalton. Contact Janet Geezer to sign up for a copy and for further details.

And while I have already had to acknowledge that time forces us to think ahead, parents (and kids, too) might want to check the library's web site for the initial meetings of Creative Kids (grades 3-6) and the preschool story hour. That information should be available within a week.

Mary Keenan Hart is chairperson of the Friends of the Dalton Community Library. Reach her or the library staff with questions at 570.563.2014 or visit www.lclshome.org/dalton.