Making a list, checking it twice

The holiday season is upon us and our new winter reading program is set to begin.  We've been checking off our list of things to get done before we start and most of the details are completed and we're ready to go.  We have some small prizes, like earbuds, pencils, and hot chocolate, for reading and reviewing books as well as two grand prizes that someone will take home next February.

The Mermaid's Tale in downtown Amherst has donated a Vera Bradley set, Blue Lagoon, that would be perfect to win for yourself or as a gift.  You'll also have the option of entering your name in a raffle to win a new Kindle Touch.  Imagine downloading books wirelessly and taking advantage of the latest reading technology.

We will have paper forms available at the library's Reference Desk for you to log your reading and enter our contest or sign up now to manage your account online and print off your completion certificates to be entered to win. Online is the best way to take part and check out other people's reviews, track your reading on your smartphone, and maybe pick up a suggestion for a new book or author.

If only my Christmas shopping was all done!

Winter Reading

Usually about this time of year the great state of Ohio sends me a giant manual listing out details of their upcoming summer reading program.  While this is a thick and heavy package, the book is at least three inches thick, I've never found it a particularly useful  tool and have taken to using it mostly for a bookend or to add to our recycle bin. 

But when the monumental volume appeared this year, thoughts of next summer's programming was too far in the future to even comprehend but why wait.  Why not a simpler form of summer reading available....in the winter?! Eureka.

So look for our first ever Winter Reading program.  The program is being put together and will be availalbe exclusively online.  Read six books and submit a short book review on each one and you'll be able to print off a certificate for a prize bag that you can pick up here at the library's reference desk.  Your certificate will also be entered into a drawing for a special grand prize to be announced soon (think Vera Bradley and maybe something with a touch screen).

Winter months are the perfect time to warm up with a good book and hopefully add a little fun to your reading by checking out reviews and book suggestions by fellow readers.  There has to be some benefit in enduring another Ohio winter....

Winning Weekend

It was a "sweet" weekend with our library community room filled with more than 800 cupcakes when the judges, Tim Kiedrowski and Maggie Notley Gross, came to judge our first ever Amherst Cupcake Wars.The grand prize winner was Angela Bak, who took the first golden spatula with her recipe for Coconut Almond Cupcakes. Angela also won a patriotic cupcake cookie jar, free donuts from Kiedrowski's and some free cupcakes from Sweets By Maggie.

Two other golden spatulas went to Michelle Kissane for her Treasure Chest Cupcakes and Renee Bennett for her Banana Split Cupcakes.

Honorable mentions were awarded to
Susan Sailer's Panda Cupcakes and the baking duo of
Mackenzie Tyson and Marley Biczykowski  for their Thin Mint Cupcakes.

Terri Belush won a free birthday cake from Kiedrowski's when her name was drawn from all the raffle entries.  Mackenzie Tyson and Marley Biczykowski had their ticket drawn and won a free party for six at Sweets By Maggie.

Thirty five people entered our cupcake contest.  When the crumbs cleared on Saturday after the bake sale we had raised just over $400 for the Amherst Food Pantry. Nancy Burls, Coordinator for the Amherst Food Pantry, congratulated everyone on their fundraising efforts. 

"The library really goes all out to help support the work of our local food pantry", said Nancy.  "This cash donation allows us to buy gift cards that can be used for produce and fresh items like eggs, milk and fresh vegetables."  

Every single cupcake found a home last Saturday and thanks to the baking, and eating efforts of our library community, we all came together for a great cause, and had a lot of fun at the same time.  Thanks to our judges who spent more than two hours deliberating over which cupcakes deserved the top honors.  It was a very, very hard job.  Congratulations to everyone who helped make the day extra special.

CUPCAKE MANIA

Cupcakes have started arriving at the Amherst Public Library where Amherst Cupcake Wars is well underway.  Everyone who enters fills out a registration form which acts as your entry into a drawing for a free birthday cake from Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Bakery or a party at Sweets By Maggie.


If you're not baking cupcakes then plan on eating them.  Saturday at 10 a.m. our Bake Sale opens where you can see the winners of the coveted Golden Spatula awards as well as purchase cupcakes to take home, or just eat.


All the proceeds go to the Amherst Food Pantry.  Tim Kiedrowski and Maggie Notley Gross will be our judges this evening! Let the competition begin....where's my fork?

Countdown to Cupcake Wars

Everyone who attended the Cupcake Demo last week with Chef Maggie Notley from Sweets By Maggie got some great ideas for Cupcake Wars.  Maggie demonstrated how to make a fondant rose just using your hands, no special tools.  Buttercream roses are a thing of the past now that we can all fashion flowers in bright vibrant colors. 

Even the cupcakes were special as Maggie got into the whole retro historical theme and brought in 60 tie dyed cupcakes, all red, and blue.  We also learned how to make ganache and home made caramel.  Did you know that when Hershey first started his candy empire, caramel was one of the first candies he produced way before chocolate was even in the picture?

Once the pastry bags full of buttercream came out it got pretty quiet in the room as everyone concentrated on the perfect swirl.  Each participant took home a recipe for Amherst Bicentennial Caramel and hopefully some great ideas for Cupcake Wars.

Have a minimum of two dozen cupcakes at the library before 5 p.m. this Friday, July 8.  Judging takes place after closing and winners will be announced during the bake sale on Saturday, July 9.  Remember all the proceeds benefit the local Amherst Food Pantry. 

Up in the air with Matt Jergens

There were a lot of things up in the air yesterday when the Amherst Public Library hosted comedian juggler Matt Jergens as part of the library's summer reading program.  The air was not only filled with a bowling ball, scarves, balls and even raw eggs, but the air in the room filled with laughs and an almost electric current of fun that ran through each person there and transformed some of us into kids again.

Matt was juggling outside the building as people scurried to park and get to the show.  Inside the music began and everyone took their seats, some kids wondering if they had sat too close, as bowling balls and even a seven foot unicyle came on stage.  Volunteers helped out and after the show everyone got a hands on juggling lesson.

"The best part of my day is being able to pass on a love of juggling to the audience," said Matt.  "Seeing that look of amazement on someone's face during that 'ah-ha' moment when it clicks that they are juggling is priceless." 

Matt travels throughout the east coast, and wherever juggling is needed, performing at resorts, festivals, and business venues.  "This was a great show," exclaimed one grandmother who was busy juggling scarves during the workshop.  "You have to have him back again."

I think she's definitely right about that.

Learn to Juggle with Matt Jergens

Juggling too many items on your agenda?  I know I am.  Monday, June 27 at 2 p.m. everyone is invited to enjoy the comedy juggling performance of Matt Jergens.  And maybe afterward you can take part in a juggling workshop.

His show is a blend of incredible juggling tricks, kid-friendly comedy, and plenty of audience participation. Whether he's balancing a basket of eggs that's twenty feet in the air or riding on top of his tall unicycle, audiences can't get enough of Matt's crazy routines.


Matt learned how to juggle during his senior year in high school.  While attending The Ohio State University his roomate turned out to be a professional magician who gave him insight on promoting his show and working within the entertainment industry.

Today, Matt performs over 300 shows a year, entertaining crowds at business venues, fairs, schools and on the big stage.  But he still remembers what it was like the first time he discovered the thrill of accomplishment and after his performance on Monday, everyone will have the option of staying after the show for one of two 30-minute juggling workshops led by Matt.

Come on...you can juggle your schedule around to join us on Monday.  Remember the Main Street Center is located at 255 Park Avenue in downtown Amherst.  For more information on Matt Jergens visit his webpage and check out his photo gallery.

Can't Stop Storytime

Neither asphalt, nor trucks, nor large men in orange vests can stop determined people from getting to storytime at Amherst Township Park.  Today we had 22 people who hiked, biked, and  even came by scooter to attend our Tuesday Storytime in the Park. 

Mrs. Stanley was ready with stories about vacation and at some points the crowd had to help with some of the lines that repeated in the one book as we all shouted "summery, Saturday morning!" over the drone of the big construction equipment.

Kids who did make it to storytime saw an extra bonus as we spotted a rabbit hopping by and a bird flew into the shelter house to feed her three babies in the nest.  It was a vacation from the library as we shared some nice stories in  the park and marvelled at the joys of nature so close....even with all the noisy trucks.

Amherst Township Park will have a nice paved parking lot next week when we return for our next storytime in the park on Tuesday, June 28 at 10:30 p.m.  Maybe some of the construction workers will stop by again.  You know they really liked that last book we read!

Fairy Time Fun

This has been a magical week at the library.  Tuesday Zap the Magician gave us an inside look into the world of magic during our teen magic workshop.  Everyone learned some great tricks and even some performance tips when showing magic to your friends and family.

Today we had more than 60 kids make a fairy house to take home.  During the two hour workshop we had more than 100 people visit and construct some very cool houses that are sure to attract some fairies to local neighborhoods. Barb Toth and her group of volunteers helped everyone construct a fairy from simple materials and allowed each participant to pick out the hair color and skirt colors.  There was even fairy food to put into the little dishes in order to attract hungry fairies.

Kids worked for hours and the results were amazing.  You can make your own fairy house at home using things like pine cones, leaves, and things you find around your yard.

For more ideas on constructing fairy houses you might want to check out Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane or some of the other books and movies available at the Amherst Public Library.

Let the Reading Begin!

Wow, it's been out of control here at the Amherst Public Library.  It's four o'clock on Friday afternoon and I've just taken a moment to sit down.  We've registered over 400 kids and teens for our summer reading program and some kids have already earned some prizes.

Thanks to everyone who waited patiently if there was a line. 

We had a great time at craft day Wednesday when we had hundreds of people come in for our Founders Day Puppet craft.  We soon "bagged" the whole idea of pioneer puppets as kids let there imaginations go wild producing alien puppets, Star War creatures, princess puppets and even an Abraham Lincoln puppet complete with money under his hat.

The best part of craft day is our "no rules" rule of anything goes as far as creativity. 

With five days of summer reading complete we're off to a good start.  Keep reading!