The Mechanicsville Local June 22, 2022

Pamunkey libraries kick off summer reading festivities

By Christina Amano Dolan Editor

Pamunkey Regional Library branches have begun launching fun, interactive oceanthemed summer bashes in celebration of this year’s summer reading program theme, “Oceans of Possibilities.”

Earlier this month, the Mechanicsville Branch hosted around 325 community members for their outdoor June 4 “Summer Reading Kickoff Party.”

The event featured live performances by the Mustangs Dance Team and the library’s own hula group, a Kona Ice truck, bubble toys, sidewalk chalk, giant Jenga and Connect Four, a beanbag toss, cornhole set and indoor book sale. The library was also visited by Hanover Fire-EMS firefighters, the sheriff’s office and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Niki Bernett, the branch’s youth services librarian, said they aimed to cater to all ages at this year’s kickoff party, which returned in 2022 after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year, we really wanted it to be a ‘welcome back to the library post-COVID’ and tried to get all ages,” she said, as the day included chair yoga in the library’s meeting room for older patrons.

The Atlee Branch librarians launched their own “Summer Reading Kickoff Patio Party” on Wednesday, June 15, which was followed by the Ashland Branch’s “Summer Reading Extravaganza” on Saturday afternoon.

The Atlee Branch’s kickoff party drew a crowd of over 150 visitors with at least 100 new sign-ups for the summer reading program. The event featured a selfie station, cornhole game on the lawn, refreshments, bubbles, prize giveaways, popsicles and a fish craft table. Anne-Marie Parrish, the branch manager, read aloud “I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean” by Kevin Sherry for a children’s story time.

The Ashland Branch’s weekend party featured water games in the spirit of the program’s aquatic theme, with members of the fire department even offering their water hoses for entertainment. Visitors also crafted ocean animals using recycled materials.

“The goal of the summer reading kickoff is to let people know about summer reading and get them to sign up for the program and answer their questions about it,” said Bernett. She said visitors who signed up for the reading program were able to pin an ocean animal to the Mechanicsville Branch’s “ocean wall” during the party.

The purpose of the summer reading program is to keep children engaged with reading all summer long and prevent the “summer slide,” she said.

“Students who don’t continue reading and learning through the summer then start the school year at a deficit,” Bernett said. “And we’re trying to avoid that by keeping them reading and active and learning all throughout the summer.”

Parrish added the program aims to promote the enjoyment of reading among all ages and said “you’re never too old for summer reading.”

“Our big thing as libraries in general is to promote literacy all the way around,” Parrish said. “Lifelong learning never stops.”

The program challenges each participant to reach 1,000 points by Aug. 31 by logging in

see READING pg. 20

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The Local takes a trip to Athens, Greece

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Gene Haynie, Ann Bevan and Cary Bevan are shown with their copy of The Mechanicsville Local in front of Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Cary is a recent graduate of VCU and was given the graduation gift of a trip to Greece and London.

Hanover CSB seeking participants in Virginia’s Young Adult Survey

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Hanover residents who are 18-25 years old are eligible to take the Virginia Young Adult Survey. The Hanover County Community Services Board is distributing the survey in Hanover communities.

This statewide survey of young adults was developed in partnership with Virginia’s Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness (OBHW) at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and their partner , OMNI Institute, a nonprofit organization working with Community Service Boards (CSBs) and coalitions across Virginia to learn more about substance use, mental health and health related behavior, among young adults. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Grant funds from OBHW will provide a $25 gift card to qualified Hanover County residents who complete the survey.

“We want to hear about your experiences and opinions on substance use and mental health in our community. Your responses will help us develop health and wellness programming that better meets your needs,” said Hanover Behavioral Health Wellness Specialist Courtney Mills.

“To participate in the survey, you can text Virginia to 855-632-2201 for the survey link,” said Mills. Contact this email address with any questions: hanoverbhw@hanovercounty.gov. Hanover CSB thanks those who partner with them to keep Virginia healthy.

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