Day 3 - Linesville Community Public Library

Wednesday might be my favorite day in the summer.  The Linesville Community Public Library has an awesome summer reading program.  It is not unusual to have over 30 children show up for storytime at 10 AM.  The children hear a story, do a small craft, and have a snack - all in an hour.  Ben still likes to go - and he's going into 5th grade.  They have about 15 prizes displayed, and the kids earn tickets for chances to win by reading.  Jordan, who is going into 2nd grade,  needs to read an hour to earn a ticket.  He will sit and read book after book until he reaches an hour - and does this several times a week.  It's awesome to see (and hear).  They have done some really great things for story hour over the past few years - special speakers, animals, field trips to the creek, etc.  At the end of July, they do a special party with snacks and a special activity or entertainment, and they raffle off the prizes.  On Fridays there is a special craft program for kids in grades 4 - 6.  Ben does this, too.  He is actually a little old for the storytime, but he goes to help Jordan and keep him company (wink).  The library is such a part of my summer - I can check out magazines and movies as well.

The town of Linesville is quite quaint - really worth just taking a stroll down the main road (rte. 6).  There are three stores in a row that help to create the charm.  First there is Ginny's Bulk Foods - a little shop that sells spices, nuts, sugars, flours, all kinds of baking and cooking things.  When I needed sugary decorations for an ocean-themed cake, I knew this was the place to go.  I stopped in today for those cinnamon-sugared almonds you can buy at craft fairs.  Yum.  I was greeted by red, white, and blue candies and baking supplies, just in time for the holiday.  You can also buy fresh honey peanut butter - made right in front of your eyes.   Next door is Rebecca's Family Restaurant.  Great food served with a smile in a beautifully decorated country-style restaurant.  Next door to that is Treasured Gifts, a wonderful country gift shop.  It is run by Patti Ryckman, who opened the store in 2002.  I remember it well - her two sons, who were students of mine, worked hard to help renovate the space.  I am so happy to see how successful she's become - such a lovely family. By the way, they are having an Independence Day Sale this weekend - 25 percent off everything.  Down the street is a new consignment shop called Flip-Flopps.  I didn't have time to stop, but the window dressings made it look very enticing.  Across the street is the Laughing Duck Book Store, always a good place to stop to find a good read for a great price.

Down the road, though I would drive and not walk, is Ray's Marketplace, the local grocery store owned by David Ray, an amazing family man.  He coached my son's baseball team last year and was always so positive and kind.  One day last summer when we were in his store, he let my sons go in the back with him and help him make meatballs.   They still talk about it.  You can find most anything you need here, and they have the best prices on meat.

There are more treasures in Linesville, and I know I have not covered them all.  But by walking around this town, you can really get a sense of the appeal of small-town life.  It's especially nice to see the American flags displayed on the telephone poles, and when there is an Amish horse and buggy tied to one of the poles, I can't help but to smile.  It's good to feel that happy over the simple things in life.

And for you geocachers, there is a two-step geochache here at the library!

By the way, yes, I realize that I have not talked about the Linesville Spillway, yet - that deserves its own entry, and Ben made me promise to not go there today since he was at basketball camp and could not go with us.