It started out as a simple request. Publisher Sudie Gambrell would be out of town so sAs of today school is out for summer and many parents, grandparents and caregivers are already searching for ways to entertain and occupy their children over the break. Well, your Bay Minette Public Library has a novel remedy for boredom and restlessness — our annual Summer Reading Program!

Because so many of you made the program a part of your summer activities last year we will be extending this year’s reading into July. “I am very excited about extending our program into July. Anything we can do to help keep our kids reading during the summer will also help keep them from losing academic ground over the summer,” said BMPL Children’s Librarian Victoria Barnett.

The eight-week program kickoff is Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the library. The library courtyard will be filled with fun activities for children that follow this year’s theme “Dig Into Reading.” Kids can sign-up for the program, get their reading log, dig for fossils and have some outdoor fun and refreshments. The remaining programs will be at 1 p.m. at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center across the street from the library. A complete schedule is also available on our website www.bayminettepubliclibrary.org.

“For many, Tuesdays are the high point of the week,” Barnett said. “We are fortunate to be located close to the park and the splash pad.  Many families come to our morning storytime then go to the park until it is time for the afternoon program.”

Storytime is every Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the children’s library year round. According to Barnett, the Family Guidance Center of Alabama will be providing its Kids and Kin program every other week in June and July at storytime. The Kids and Kin Program provides support, resources and workshops for relative child care providers as well as raising awareness of the provider’s important role as caregiver.

The Summer Reading Program has a full schedule of wonderful entertainers to help kids beat the heat and learn something in a fun way. “I am thrilled to be working on my sixth summer reading program,” Barnett said. “We will be digging for fossils and dodging dinosaurs all over the library. Many favorite performers are returning this year, including Charlie Williams, the Noise Guy and Mark Seymour, Be-At Your Best.”

On June 4, Flow Circus will be performing at the Civic Center. They provide engaging “experiences of play that captivate, energize and inspire” through feats of daring and skill.

Charlie “the Noise Guy” Williams, a perennial favorite, will be returning on June 11 with his show entitled “Eat My Dust.” Williams is a vocal sound impressionist, author and illustrator who uses sound to enhance storytelling, reading and writing.

Monty Harper, a children’s performer, songwriter, and teaching artist will be performing songs that celebrate reading and science on June 18.

Mark Seymour will return on June 25 with his Be-At Your Best program which motivates children through drum and music and teaches responsibility, anti-bullying and character education.

Due to the July 4 holiday we will not have a program the first week in July but will return on July 9 with Cowboy Bruce Brannen who will take his audience “back in time to the early years of America’s Western Expansion through stories, poems and exciting demonstrations of the ‘almost’ extinct cowboy arts.”

A storyteller will help us “Dig Into Reading” on July 16 and a wrap-up party is planned for July 23.

The Summer Reading Program is free of charge and is funded by the city of Bay Minette and once again this year by a very generous grant from the fabulous ladies of the Heritage Junior Women’s Club. The HJWC does so much for the community and for the library. Next time you see one of the members give them a big “thank you” for helping provide such wonderful programming for our Summer Reading Program!

The library’s Summer Reading Program is a family tradition for many in the community including our very own children’s librarian. “Even before I worked here, I brought my children to the summer reading programs,” Barnett said.

Last year began the tradition for my family and I am looking forward to bringing Jack back again this year to see these wonderfully talented and educational performers. If you haven’t experienced it yet then maybe this summer can be the first chapter in your own summer reading success story.

In other news: mark your calendars for a Community Yard Sale sponsored by the Old Town Bay Minette Arts Council on Saturday, June 1st from 8 a.m. until 1p.m. at Blackburn Park. Call 937-3572 for more information.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.comomeone from the paper needed to go to The Wharf when they unveiled their new light and sound show.

I’m glad it was me.

A two-block section of Main Street is lined with a powerful surround sound system. There are LED nets around 19 towering palm trees. There are more LED light panels under the trees and along the buildings. Then there are lighting fixtures that create special effects — everything from swirling multi-colored spotlights to pirate ships sailing down the street.

And all this can be yours twice a night, but not for the $20 you would expect to pay. No, Wharf owner Art Favre will give it to you for FREE. Starting tonight and running through the 100 Days of Summer, there will be a pair of 12-minute shows every night. The first show features a water theme and will start at 8:30 at night. At 10 p.m., the patriotic show will air.

After interviewing the show designer John Steenhoven, my wife Kathy and I began walking up and down the street a couple of Saturdays ago, looking for a good vantage point for pictures. The street was blocked off, so we didn’t have to worry about traffic. Officials plan to barricade the streets before each show to reduce the risk of pedestrians and cars meeting.

The “unveiling” was actually the fifth night of tweaking the computer-driven show, but there were still a few bugs in the system. As the time neared, the speakers roared to life with a standard safety message. “SPECTRA is a multisensory immersive experience featuring highly amplified lights and strobing lights …” But the message ended abruptly and the show didn’t start. Three times, the safety message started but did not finish. The show didn’t start either.

“Do you feel like Clark Griswold is back there playing with the wires?” asked Kathy. I had to give her a fist bump for coming up with a pop culture reference on her own.

I had a feeling the light show would be impressive, just looking at the equipment. I was more worried about the sound. Too many times I’ve seen shows that used “popular” music, but didn’t want to pay to use the original recordings, so you end up with a Muzak version. When the show started and it wasn’t John Fogarty singing “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” I was concerned. But then I heard the familiar strains of George Harrison on “Here Comes the Sun” and I knew it was going to be OK. From there we got to hear songs by Katrina and the Waves (anybody want to guess which one?), Jimmy Buffett, the Beach Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, the Black-Eyed Peas, Katy Perry and Faith Hill.

It literally is a feast for the ears and eyes. The music was loud enough, but not overpowering and deafening. Steenhoven said they have three different volume levels, depending on how many people are there. The trees dance and bounce as the lights run up and down the street.

I was thoroughly impressed. They unveiled the second patriotic show last week during the billfish tournament. But starting tonight, folks can see both shows if they hang around. And that’s part of Favre’s plan. Go early and see a show. Grab a bite to eat. Shop a little and see the second show. Officials know The Wharf won’t compete with the beach or fishing. They wanted to make it a nighttime destination. And this goes a long way toward that.

Now that they have the lights, speakers, miles of cables underground and the computer controls, I personally hope they expand their repertoire of shows. The water and patriotic shows are fine for the summer. With the infrastructure in place, it would be easy to create a special Christmas show. While traditional carols and standards would be OK, I want to put in my vote for an extravaganza featuring the Trans Siberian Orchestra’s music.

William Moore is the Senior Editor at Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at wmoore@gulfcoastnewspapers