Archive: Around Town

Summer has officially ended and with it a whirlwind of activity from Lansing's  literacy volunteers.  Efforts began in May as representatives from the Child Development Council and Tompkins Community Action responded to an invitation to assist in the planning of  an early childhood event with local volunteers.

The Zero to Three Jubilee had its debut on June  14th.   The Jubilee was created in an effort to celebrate and meet the Lansing community's youngest children and families.  A community resource table introduced participants to the wealth of resources found in Lansing and Tompkins County.  Music, baby signing, finger play and stories were center stage at circle time.  The event was hosted by Lansing Loves to Read and the Lansing Community Library.

Also in June R.C. Buckley Elementary, Lansing Lions Club and the Lansing Community Library collaborated to offer the Summer Reading Buddy Program and the Bag of Books project.  Self (family) and school referred children participated in a project developed to combat the infamous 'summer slide.'  The summer slide is when children lose some of the skills/knowledge that their educators and families had hoped they would retain over the summer months.   Books for this project were provided by a Friends of the Tompkins County Library Grant procured by the Lansing Lions Club.

Eleven volunteers and one literacy loving Leonberger joined children as weekly reading buddies at Lansing Community Library.   Project coordinators report appreciating the diversity of the  volunteer group.  They were particularly pleased with the level of male involvement this summer.  Five men participated in this year's program.

Real Men Read With Kids is  one  outreach effort that highlights the importance of men reading with children.  It is an online campaign started by former teacher and librarian, Deb Hanson.

Summer reading continued with July and August bringing  multiple guest readers (including an appearance by the Cat in the Hat to the Lansing Lions Annual 4th of July Chicken Barbeque) to Lansing events.  Guest readers joined Bob Keefe,  local composer, musician and teacher at the weekly park story times.

On August 9th Celebrate Lansing celebrated with stories.  Story circles were hosted by Dog Lovers Read, Train Lovers Read, Deputy Sheriffs Read, Boy Scouts Read and Girl Scouts Read.  This event was also the site of a "secret mission."   35 children joined a mission to promote literacy by painting stones to place around town- Reading Rocks!

Lansing held one final event culminating a summer season laced in literacy.   Friends of Salt Point and Lansing Loves to Read collaborated to host Osprey Time at Salt Point:  Stories, art and fun for kids!  This event allowed the children to learn about ospreys and view the Salt Point osprey chicks before they migrated.  So long ospreys!  So long summer!

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