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Open House for Community Development - May 29th Your Opportunity to Get Involved

2019 Summer Reading Program at the Library

Start the summer with a BLAST! at the June 1 kickoff of the summer reading program for the Halifax County-South Boston Public Library System.

Registration for the summer reading program will start on June 1 at both the South Boston Public Library and the Halifax Public Library.  The theme for this year’s program is “Blast Off to Great Books!”

The performing group Science Tellers will present “Aliens: Escape from Planet Earth” at the South Boston Public Library on June 1 at 1 pm.

The performance tells the story of a midnight meteor shower, when something mysterious falls from the sky toward Earth — but it’s not a shooting star. Two curious kids venture into the forest to investigate and find themselves mixed up with a family of visitors from another planet! Pursued by a crazy space scientist, they must risk everything to rescue the aliens and get them back to their spaceship — before it’s too late!

The performance is an action-packed educational alien adventure using science experiments for special effects.  In the second part of the show participants will go “behind the scenes” of the special effects and recreate the science experiments from the program.

There will be reading logs for three age groups: children from birth to age 7, tweens and teens from 8-17, and adults.  All children, tweens, and teens who register for the summer reading program will receive a free summer reading program cloth tote bag, while adults who register will receive a summer reading program pin-on button.

The summer reading program will run through July 27.  Everyone who turns in a completed reading log by July 27 will receive a prize.

The library wishes to thank the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region for the generous grant of $3,000 to enhance the 2019 summer reading program.

Jay Stephens

Director

Halifax County South Boston Public Library

Upcoming Workshops at the Farmers Market with Staunton River Battlefield State Park

June 8th - Fairy Garden Contest at the Farmers Market

FAIRY GARDEN CONTEST AT THE HALIFAX FARMER’S MARKET

By Irene Dunn

The Southside Master Gardener Association will hold a Fairy Garden Contest on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Halifax Farmer’s Market starting at 8 a.m. This contest is free to the public and prizes and ribbons will be awarded. A miniature container garden may be submitted by an individual of any age. There is no size limit, but the gardens must be able to be carried to the display tables. Please bring your gardens between 8 and 9:45 a.m.

Fairy Gardening has been around for hundreds of years. It first debuted in the US in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, where the Japanese Pavilion displayed bonsai dish gardens. It has become more popular in recent years. A miniature garden is where you can use your imagination to create a year-round tiny space to tend to and lure fairies where they feel at home and bring luck and happiness. This is a great, fun project for children to get involved in gardening, learn respect for growing things and making memories. Adults and kids alike will love to plan, pick out plants, play in the dirt, construct tiny items and learn how to maintain their fairy garden.

The garden can be placed inside or outside in living spaces or the garden. It is a great advantage that you can build a fairy garden inside regardless of the weather. Any type of container with a drainage hole can be used. It can be inexpensive by collecting things such as pebbles, rocks, moss, twigs, bark, leaves, fabric, string, small toys, popsicle sticks or items made out of clay. These can be used to make fairy houses, paths, arbors, seats, swings, and ponds etc. There are many ideas and inspirations on-line and stores where you can also buy fairies, gnomes and accessories to make your garden magical.

The Fairy Gardens will be judged by two separate panels of independent judges: one for youth 16 and under and one for adults 17 and over. The judging will be based on the Fairy Garden’s overall design, creativity, imaginative use of live plant material (must have at least 2 live plants) and other components used. NO artificial plants or live animals can be used. Judges will determine the first and second place winners for the adult division. Youth division winners will be awarded ribbons. Visitors may vote for one entry for the People’s Choice category between 10 and 11 a.m. Winners will be announced around 11:15 a.m. and receive their prizes and ribbons.

During judging you will be able to enjoy all the market has to offer, fresh produce, organic meats and eggs, homemade breads and sweets and lots of arts and crafts. The Halifax Farmer’s Market is located at 209 S Main St, Halifax. Entry forms and rules may be picked up at the Halifax Extension Office, 171 S Main St, Halifax, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the market during regular market hours. For more information, visit www.ssmga.org or call the Halifax Extension Office at 434-476-2147 option 0. Please put the Fairy Garden Contest on your list of the most fun things to do this summer.

Caption for picture

This beautiful landscape would make any Fairy happy. Garden made by People’s Choice winner Lacy Owen.  Bring your fairy garden to the Halifax Farmers Market on June 8^th between 8 and 9:45 a.m.