March 15, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Talk of the Town with Susan McKinney

Every week we ask a village official three questions. This week we talked to St. Joseph Township Librarian Susan McKinney about the summer reading program.

This post is sponsored by St. Joseph Siding and Window.

What sort of events do you have planned as part of the summer reading program?
The reading program began on June 3rd and the library had had Kim Sheahan a Professional Storyteller.  Each week of our program we offer Drop-In craft time, adult coloring time and sidewalk chalk art.

Drop-In Craft Time is on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages three and up. The craft takes 10-15 minutes. Adult Coloring Time takes place Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and is for adults ages 18 and up. Sidewalk Chalk Art takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays for children ages three and up. Children can decorate our sidewalks and parking lot with their creative pictures.

We have Concerts on the lawn on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Our concert dates this summer are July 5 and July 26.  People should bring a blanket or chairs to sit on the south lawn and listen to some musical entertainment.  If it is raining, the concert is cancelled.

On July 12th will be the Summer Reading Program party from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The library will have the Mobile Scovill Zoo inside the library.  The grand prize drawing will be at 3 p.m. and we’ll have Inflatables on the south lawn 2 to 4 p.m.  This party is open to all area children.

Can people still sign up for the summer reading program?
  Yes, people can sign up for the reading program until the last day which is Saturday, July 6th.  All log sheets must be turned in by Saturday, July 6th for eligibility in the grand prize drawings.  We have a children’s program (age 3 to completed 6th grade); a teen program (completed 7th grade to completed 12th grade) and an adult program (age 18 and up after high school).


Why do you think it is so important for the library to have a summer reading program?
The main reason to have a summer reading program is to encourage people to continue reading when they are not in school.  Summer Brain Drain happens if we do not continue reading.  Summer Brain Drain (also called Summer Slide) is the phenomena where you forget what you learned in the previous year of school.  Reading stimulates brain activity so that the children retain more of what they learn.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Booker to be honored tonight at fire station

October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

When Ross Booker was 10 years old he went with his mother, Marita, to volunteer with their church group at...

Wentzloff brings Lurch to life in Addams Family

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Lili Wentzloff knows how to portray a character with few words. She is portraying Lurch, the butler of the creepy...

Senior Spotlight… Sam Wesley

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

What are your plans after high school?I will attend the University of Illinois. Who are three people you would like...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jeff Van Buskirk

October 7, 2020

October 7, 2020

What is your favorite childhood memory?I took guitar lessons when I was in 4th or 5th grade and did not...

10 things you don’t know about me …BRANDI CARMIEN BURNETT

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

BRANDI CARMIEN BURNETT will be inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight during halftime of the Homecoming Football game....

‘Once a spartan, always a spartan’ by Katelyn Berry

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

When I pictured giving a speech at my high school graduation, this isn’t exactly what came to mind. I imagined...

Senior Spotlight: Libby Rowland

May 13, 2019

May 13, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. First up is senior Libby Rowland. What will you be...

Daily Exercise Recommendations

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

By: Christie Clinic Department of Family Medicine We all know physical activity is good for our overall health, but many...

10 things you don’t know about me… Taylor Baldner

January 29, 2020

January 29, 2020

This week we asked Taylor Baldner of Taylor-Made Photography to tell us 10 things about herself. Baldner has recently joined...

SJO makes graduation plans for June

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is making plans for graduation to honor the Class of 2020. In a letter sent to...

Kids say…

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Every week we ask five St. Joseph area students a question about farming. Today, five students from PVO South tell...

‘Having a trip on the books gives us something to look forward to’

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

It’s a crazy time in the travel industry, that’s for sure. While some news tends to lean towards the doom...

Dream come true: St. Joseph native earns veterinarian degree from University of Illinois

July 18, 2019

July 18, 2019

Suzanne Ford has always wanted to be a veterinarian. “My mom says I was two years old when I said...

‘We lost a very good man in Jim Cotter’

September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021

Jim Cotter loved to brag about his kids. This past Saturday was no exception. Cotter took time out from covering...

10 things you don’t know about me… Abbie Layden-Rogiers

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Each week we ask a community member to tell us 10 things about themselves. This week is Abbie Layden-Rogiers, owner...

Comments
Leave a Reply