Paul Szmal: As we head into summer, the summer reading program at the Geneva Public Library kicks into high gear. And here to talk about that, some of the activities that are a part of it is Brandi Rizal. Brandi, good morning. How are you?
Guest: Good morning. I'm good.
Paul Szmal: So the summer reading activities have a kind of a recurring theme this year. What is that?
Guest: Um, so this year's theme is Unearth a Story. Um, and it's very much, um, dinosaur based, um, and archaeology based.
Paul Szmal: Cool. So we're going to be doing a lot of fun dinosaur programs and digging stuff. So we've got a lot going on. And, uh, the, the reference floor, there's a little something going on there for the adults too, right?
Guest: Yes. So this year, the reference floor is getting in on the summer fun with a second floor bingo during the months of July and August. Um, you can explore what the second floor has to offer and complete a row of simple activities to get a first prize or complete the entire bingo sheet to get a grand prize. And, uh, as, as with every summer reading year, uh, there are prizes for those that compete the reading challenges too.
Paul Szmal: Yes.
Guest: So, um, our children ages, um, zero to teens, they have abilities to get prizes too. So we have either a paper challenge, if they'd like to do paper, or we have an online version that they can do as well, which is the same as the paper. Um, but they'll get a chance to win prizes, books, and raffle tickets for our raffle drawings, uh, as long as they complete their reading.
Paul Szmal: Yeah. Brandy provided me a list of some of the activities that are happening as we head through the summer reading program. And the first one that popped as soon as I saw it is on July the 9th, it's called Cows, Stories, and Ice Cream.
Guest: Yes. So we're going to have two baby cows, um, come to the library and we're going to do some cow stories. And then we will have, um, Scoop's ice cream truck from Canandaigua coming to do ice cream Sundays with the kids and families today.
Paul Szmal: Oh, that is so awesome. I don't know what the, what the better part of that is, uh, hanging out with the baby cows or having the ice cream. I get a little both dairy.
Guest: Yeah. Well, the nice thing is you get to do both as part of the activity.
Paul Szmal: Uh, one of the other, uh, all ages activities that is happening has a fun name, Freddy Frogs Foam Party. I can't believe I managed to say that without stumbling over it.
Guest: Yeah. So this is one of our favorite ones where, um, we have giant foam party in the parking lot. So you'll want to wear your bathing suits and it's a lot of bubble foam and it just builds up. And sometimes the kids just get right in the middle of it and you can't see the kids anymore disappearing, disappearing in a whole big pile of foam.
Paul Szmal: Yes, that is great. That is coming up on July 16th. I keeping with the dino theme for the summer reading program and unearth a story is an event coming up in August. That's called Jurassic Journey.
Guest: Yes. So, um, our friend Chris is going to be here and he's got some fossils to explore and he's got some lifelike dinos that he'll have there for the kids to look and he does, um, a fun little show. He's got a little magic in there as well. Um, and he's just amazing. We'd love him every time he comes here.
Paul Szmal: And this one should capture the attention of your kids or grandkids. If they're of a, especially a young age, Thursday, August six, one word. Mestival.
Guest: Yeah. So we have brought this back. This will be the third year, I believe, um, of our Mestival and it's just so much fun. Last year, the kids absolutely enjoyed sitting in the jello pool. Um, they had fun doing flyswatter paintings, getting wet, playing with spaghetti. So it's a lot of different things to explore. We'll have a little bit of a color run in there. Um, add a little mud pit.
Paul Szmal: Oh, wow. Okay. Have the detergent ready after that one, folks.
Guest: Yes, we do have hoses to hose them off.
Paul Szmal: There you go. There you go. Brandy Rizzo's here from the Geneva Public Library. The summer reading program is going to be getting started and we'll tell you, uh, how to, um, uh, how to, what's the word I'm like?
Guest: Yeah.
Paul Szmal: Uh, how to, uh, register for, uh, some of these programs coming up.
Guest: Yes. Thank you. Uh, some of the activities for elementary school age kids are pretty cool as well. Uh, one that stuck out is coming up on July 14th. That is firefighter tales.
Paul Szmal: Yes.
Guest: So we will have our fighter fighters in to read some stories to us. And then afterwards they'll talk a little bit. They'll get, um, a little baggy of some goodies and they'll get to view the fire truck as well. So they'll learn a lot about fire safety, have some fun stories. And of course they always love seeing the fire trucks. So if you hear sirens going off at about one 30 in the afternoon on July 14th, that's because the fire guys and gals are letting the kids play with the fire sirens, which I know every kid enjoys.
Paul Szmal: Uh, there's also a survival adventures activity on July 21st.
Guest: Yes. Um, scouting America is going to come and teach us some survival skills, some not tying. Um, we had them here last year and it was absolutely amazing. The kids had so much fun learning about different survival skills and we'll do a couple of survival stories as well. And then to wrap up the month on the 28th of July police stories.
Paul Szmal: Yes.
Guest: So this year, um, we're going to have a GPD officer in to read us some police stories and teach us about some different things that they do. Um, and then we'll have a little bit of bike safety as well for the kids as part of it. And then a couple of the activities for middle and high school students. So we wanted to highlight a glow in the dark foam party. This will be on July 16th.
Paul Szmal: Yes.
Guest: So this is, um, for our tweens and teens, kind of like what we have for the younger kids, but it is glow in the dark foam and it is at night. Um, the glow in the dark foam one gets really high. So we really lose the teens in there and it does glow. Um, we've had times where it's bouncing down main street and cars are stopping cause they have no idea what it is. And, uh, then, uh, this event's going to be recurring for elementary school ages and also going to be a couple of sessions on August 5th for the teens and tweens. It's called the game truck experience.
Paul Szmal: Yes.
Guest: So, um, we have a game truck coming and inside of it has all sorts of different video games. Um, so we have two sessions that kids can sign up for and they can have different, um, tournaments with their friends inside the game truck playing different video games. And who wouldn't love this one? A pizza taste off on August 14th.
Paul Szmal: Yeah.
Guest: So this is one of our favorites. Um, we get, um, our local pizzerias involved and they donate pizzas for the teens to taste. And then the teens get to vote on the best pizza in Geneva for the year. Now whoever wins gets a certificate.
Paul Szmal: Here's the best part of all of these activities as are the activities in general at the Geneva public library. They're free.
Guest: Yes. Yep. All of them are free. So if people want to register for these, when, uh, when does registration open so they can get their, uh, their kids involved in some of this fun stuff?
Paul Szmal: Um, so registration opens June 8th, um, for all of our big programs, the all ages programs open June 8th. Um, and then some of our smaller programs for our elementary and middle schoolers, um, they open four weeks before the date. Also want to mention that, uh, you're going to have some community heroes that are going to be participating in storytime activities over the summer.
Guest: Yes. So we have different people coming in to teach us, um, a little bit about microbiology, um, and, um, protecting our waters. Um, so our lake people are coming to teach us about our lakes and how we can better protect them. And also, uh, from time to time, the Geneva public library does a movie night and there's one coming up this Friday.
Paul Szmal: Yeah. So this Friday we have, um, the movie goat and as always, um, Mark's pizzeria has been great at donating a pizza for us for this movie night. Um, so I'll have pizza and popcorn and families are welcome to register online and come see a movie this Friday.
Guest: And by the way, you can register for these activities by going to the website. It's gplny.org gplny.org Geneva public libraries on Facebook too. If you search Geneva public library, you'll be able to give it a like and a follow to keep up to date on the activities.
Paul Szmal: So Brandy, as always, we appreciate it. Thank you so much. And, uh, hope the kids have a lot of fun playing in the foam, eating ice cream and doing all the other fun stuff that we have planned for him this summer.
Guest: It will be a great summer.
