Summer reading. There's nothing like it. Nowadays, our local library and retail bookstores host book clubs and new author readings all the time. This is a fairly new phenomenon and always a surprise considering our audio and video mass media and what some might think is a decline in reading.

Not so, say the pros. Readership is at an all-time high. When I was a youngster, summer reading meant the bliss of a Nancy Drew mystery or a Rosamond du Jardin teen story. My mother would let me select one volume at our local Drug Fair, (yes they used to sell books in drugstores) or drop me off at the little Four Corners Branch Library near Silver Spring where I would find it near heaven to pick more than four or five volumes on loan.

I recall reading John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row," Betty Smith's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," the Paul Gallico series on "Mrs. 'Arris," a "grown-up book" by Annemarie Selinko called "Desiree" which ultimately taught me more about Napoleon than any world history course I would ever take.

I ate up the high manners novels of John P. Marquand, the misty gothic atmosphere of the Daphne DuMaurier stories, the still-perfect "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and a huge dose of Agatha Christie mysteries which my intellectual next door neighbor and much revered uncle always encouraged.

When I look back it's a bit astounding as all of these books were read before I had reached the age of 12.

The result is that I am still an avid reader. Many times I believe I have traveled somewhere only to remember that it was something I read in a novel. Because I associate summer with reading, it pleases me to no end that our local Glenwood Branch Library has so many summer reading opportunities for youngsters in the area.

Stop by the library. The programs are numerous and varied. Even if vacation plans don't include a trip to Mt. Everest, the folks at the library will help guide our area youth to summits which are quite attainable.

If you have a mind to, send me an e-mail noting what book really made an impact on you as a young reader. I'd love to share some of these titles with our readers.

Speaking of reading. Did you know that we have a bona fide romance writer smack dab in the town of West Friendship? If you don't know her then visit Joya Field's fascinating Web site at www.joyafields.com.

You'll be amazed to learn that Field, known to many as 4-H mom, was once a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. She's written a passel of books, articles and short stories. She's also one involved mom with her kids, J.T. and Erica, and her husband, Joe. Beside her busy daily writing schedule and home duties, the effervescent Field is the publicity chairperson for the Maryland Romance Writers and the critique group coordinator for the Maryland Writer's Association.

Marriotts Ridge High School student Kaitlin Paddy loves softball. The 10th-grader is a member of the travel team, The Patriots, and lately she's delighted that she can finally get a snug fit for her Patriots softball cap. Last week the black-haired beauty had 10 inches sheared from her long locks for the charitable organization 'Locks for Love."

Kaitlin's mom, Nancy Paddy, snapped a digital picture of the sophomore girl's long coal black tresses as the hair was packed up for delivery to the organization which helps youngsters with hair loss due to health problems. Now Kaitlin's softball cap fits and some young person will benefit from her long and now shorn tresses. Melissa Pattison, stylist at Glenelg's Studio 10 who did the "final cut" was delighted to once again assist in such a worthy cause.

On the heels of Tom Fenlon's successful "Smiles for Life" campaign, our local dentist wants you to keep in touch. Fenlon, whose dental office is in the West Friendship Neighborhood Shopping Center, has for several months offered an amazing program in which he donated all fees for teeth whitening and bleaching to the "Smiles for Life" organization.

Still stuck for a mini camp for the kids this summer? The Friendship Baptist Church offers the Good News In Lifeway's Bible Week 2008: Cactus Canyon, a one-week western themed vacation Bible school for participants of all ages.

The session is set for July 13-17, 7-9 p.m. Interested? Call Cathy Klimovitz at 410-552-0481 or e-mail Klimovitz at mcklim@msn.com. Friendship Baptist Church is located at 1391 Sykesville Road (Route 32), in West Friendship.

Registration for a teen fitness training at the Glenwood Branch Library begins this week. The session, for kids ages 11-17, is billed as fitness fun with Leo Conlon of the Glenwood Community Center. The free session is set for July 8, 7-8 p.m. and will be held at the library. Call 410-313-5577 to sign up for the event.

Big canine doings at the Howard County fairgrounds this weekend. The Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club will show more than 2,000 dogs each day this weekend during the American Kennel Club show set for July 3-6, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily admission is free. If you love dogs, than this is the show for you.

Now, as to my diatribe on the despicable earwig. I have only heard back from one person who happens to be Christine McKevitt. She and I have much in common. We attended the same parochial grade school. We both went out with the same boy from Gonzaga High School back in the 1960s and we both detest earwigs.

McKevitt admits that she recently found one skulking about under her loofah sponge and this has given her daughter much cause for angst.

I have heard shrieks from my own daughter also due to the sneaky pests. The invasion is in full force. My recollection is that by September the earwigs are only a distant memory. Do send in your earwig stories.

user comments (1)

user lovetoread says...

Lisa-
Thanks so much for the kind words about my web site, writing and family and for keeping us all informed of the happenings of our neighbors around West Friendship. Keep up the great work and keep reading!
:)Joya

Posted 9:49 PM, 08.04.08

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