December 16, 2025 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

10 things you don’t know about me… Pastor Kim Dancey from Homer UMC

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

I am a friend and follower of Jesus and live in the wonder of his grace. I’ve been married to...

Kidd hopes to ‘Gather the Good’ on blog

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Nancy Kidd knows there is good in all people. The St. Joseph resident said that as a former juvenile detention...

CU Feed the Need to distribute food this week

August 26, 2020

August 26, 2020

CU Feed the need has even more food to distribute this week thanks to the St. Joseph Food Pantry. The...

St. Joseph PTC sponsoring school supply drive

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

Katie May doesn’t want any child in St. Joseph to start the school year without the supplies they need. The...

Senior spotlight… Lindsey Aden

January 2, 2020

January 2, 2020

What are your plans after high school? I hope to attend Stanford University to double major in political science and...

Foundation created to honor Oberheim

June 9, 2021

June 9, 2021

The family of Police Officer Chris Oberheim is working to develop a not-for-profit foundation. The foundation name was announced Tuesday...

Krall joins Longview Bank

April 22, 2021

April 22, 2021

Brad Krall is coming home. Krall is now the Loan Officer and Mortgage Lender at Longview Bank in St. Joseph....

Fine arts student of the month… Kabriel Schuster

August 29, 2019

August 29, 2019

Each month a committee of teachers selects a fine arts student of the month from nominees from the drama, art...

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

Athletic complex to be dedicated tonight

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

 The St. Joseph-Ogden School District will honor Glenn Fisher tonight.The district voted in June 2020 to name the athletic complex...

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...

‘Her heart was golden’ — Short loses battle with cancer

June 10, 2019

June 10, 2019

Nine years ago, Sarah Logan Loomis raised her hand at a meeting of parents. The meeting was for her daughter,...

Doctor’s love of medicine started at early age

February 18, 2019

February 18, 2019

St. Joseph resident Dr. Jeanelle Murphy fell in love with medicine in the oncology wing at the Children’s Hospital of...

Bree Trimble Working Out With Siblings and Father

July 7, 2020

July 7, 2020

Like all athletes, Bree Trimble plans on coming back to the Parkland College Cobra women’s basketball team as a bigger,...

10 things you don’t know about me… Sue Esposito

March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 things about themselves. This week it is Ogden Trustee Sue...

Comments
Leave a Reply