SMCitizen column, July 17, 2009

Freedom Public Library
By Carol Jones
for July 17, 2009

“The Ultimate Showdown” progresses

“Holy rusted metal, Batman!” We have to choose a winner!

The Ultimate Showdown game battles are well underway to the delighted shouts and screams of our young participants during the Thursday and Saturday Florida Library Youth Program (FLYP) sessions.

The game is a bracket-style tournament created by Erin Arnold to select youngsters’ favorite Ultimate Champion out of 64 fictional characters. Of course, the winner must be chock full of Heart, exhibit oodles of Smarts and Originality, be a Game-Changer and, oh yes, receiver of the coveted Coolness Bonus.

If a participant misses a FLYP session during the summer, it’s easy to catch up. Just sign in to Erin’s library blog and track the game’s progress: http://librarianwearschucks.blogspot.com

The game is now in the second stage, aptly named “Sweet Sixteen” for the 16 characters left. The winner is far from decided.

Heather’s schedule of summer reading fun with FLYP

Following are the events planned for the FLYP sessions.

Tuesday, July 21, 6-7:30 p.m. -- FLYP Little: Pajama Party! Have you seen ART? The wonderful world of color and design, visual arts in stories, poems, songs, and crafts. Refreshments will be served.

Thursday, July 23 - 2-4 p.m. -- Dance and Move! Footloose and Fancy Free in the library. How DO you dance?

Stupendous Saturday, July 25, 2-4 p.m. -- Arts, Film and Fooling Around - Just when you thought you couldn’t get any smarter, along comes another fabulous adventure in surreptitious education through entertainment! Refreshments will be served.

Tuesday, July 28, 6-7:30 p.m. -- FLYP Little: Pajama Party. Dancing into Dreamland. Who dares to dance? Creative movement in stories, poems, songs and crafts. See a star, or be a star. The spotlight is on you! Refreshments will be served.

Thursday, July 30, 2-4 p.m. -- FLYP Finale! No Contest Talent Contest! Our fabulous finale offers an unparalleled opportunity to perform before a wildly enthusiastic audience! ALL TALENTS ARE WELCOME! No talent? No worries! Just bring your unique self and we’ll provide the talent. Everybody wins. Refreshments will be served.

Writers group

Reminder: For the July 18 meeting only, the Freedom Writers group of Florida Writers Association (FWA) will start their meeting half-an-hour early. Bring your work-in-progress and join us from 10 a.m. until noon for a lively critique session. Membership in FWA is not required to attend.

Artists and Photographers

Oak Run’s Artist of the Month of July, Bernard Brizee, exhibits a fine array of watercolors in the library’s art corner. Stop by and enjoy his rendering of Old Quebec City and Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

The Shutterbugs display their winners in the Advanced category of last November’s contest. Many interesting photos also decorate the walls and columns. This group never runs out of unique ideas for pictures.

Library Hours

Freedom Public Library is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday. Open times are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. For questions, or to arrange an appropriate time for your group, call Heather Ogilvie, 438-2580.