Irondale's National Night Out

Irondale’s 7th Annual National Night Out

“Dance Out Crime”

Tuesday, August 3rd

6:30 – 9:00 pm

Downtown Irondale (in front of the Whistle Stop Café)

This year’s “National Night Out” in Irondale will involve interaction between police officers and Irondale citizens. Mayor Tommy Alexander, Chief of Police, Jerry McIntosh, and Fire Chief, Randy Davis will be there to welcome the people of Irondale. Take the opportunity to visit with the Irondale Police in a relaxed and fun environment.

Dance Out Crime is the continuing theme for our National Night Out celebration. Give neighborhood crime and drugs a going away party! Activities will include a live band (Charlie Soul), a super slide, face-painting, other games and prizes, and free food and drinks. Irondale police officers will be there to talk with the citizens of Irondale and child ID kits will be available along with information about neighborhood watch groups.

National Night Out’s main goal is to bring Irondale together as a tight knit community and form solid, friendly relationships with the Irondale Police. Mingling with the police and other citizens helps continue to make Irondale the safest and friendliest place to live and work.

Ramona and Beezus

The Ramona series written by former librarian Beverly Cleary has been a favorite among kids (of all ages) for decades! Now these lovable stories are moving to the big screen! The movie Ramona and Beezus will be hitting theaters on Friday, July 23rd.

More information about the book series can be found on Beverly Cleary's website. You can also watch an interview with the author, play games or take a quiz about Ramona & her friends!

Portland, Oregon is the setting for many scenes in the Ramona books. From Portland's Park & Rec website:

Grant Park was the setting for many scenes in children's books by Beverly Cleary. In 1991, a group of teachers, librarians, and business people formed the Friends of Henry & Ramona, and began to raise funds for the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children. Portland artist Lee Hunt created life-sized bronze statues of three of Cleary's best-loved characters - Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Henry's dog Ribsy. Fountains were installed under Ramona's and Ribsy's feet for kids to splash in during warm weather. Scattered around the concrete fountain slab are granite plaques engraved with the titles of the Cleary books that take place in Portland - and a map of the neighborhood showing where events in the books "really happened."

And I will end this post with a bit of nostalgia......if you were a 80's child (like me) you may remember a short-lived TV series starring Sarah Polley:

Studio By the Tracks Annual Benefit

Want to own a cool piece of art AND help out a good cause?!?

Studio By The Tracks Annual Benefit "Art From The Heart" will be held this Sunday, July 18, 2010. The fun begins at 6 pm at B&A Warehouse (1531 1st Ave. South). For more information and to purchase tickets, call 951-3317 or visit their website. You may also visit their web site to view some of the items that will be available for purchase.

History of SBTT from their website:

Studio By The Tracks (SBTT), a non-profit organization, was formed in 1989 to provide free art classes to special needs adults and emotionally conflicted children. SBTT provides a focused, energized effort which allows troubled young people and adults with special needs an outlet to create. We encourage a supportive and nonjudgmental atmosphere necessary to nurture creative abilities, enhance self-esteem, and explore alternative ways of coping with emotional and physical conflict.

The success of our program is two-fold. First, since opening our doors in 1989, over 1,000 at-risk youth have participated in the curriculum at SBTT. A great number of these young people maintain contact with the Studio and many credit the Studio as a catalyst in their success after leaving the program.

Secondly, SBTT serves adults with autism, Asperger's or mental illness. Many of these individuals have been coming to the Studio since 1989 and have become career artists who sell their artwork and cultivate collectors. Assisting these students in their determination for creative growth and self-sufficiency is one of SBTT's greatest successes.

To support our mission, SBTT hosts a yearly benefit, "Art From The Heart," at which artwork by students as well as local artists is exhibited and auctioned. We have also recently opened an on-site gallery for the permanent display of our students' work.

Few art studios across the country offer programs for at-risk youth and adults with autism, Asperger’s or mental illness. Located in Irondale, Alabama in a renovated building next to a railroad track, SBTT is a welcoming place. “The impact of Studio By The Tracks has been much greater than we ever imagined”, Director Ila Faye Miller states. “It’s much more than free art classes. It’s about providing a safe, positive experience for people who have been handicapped by negative circumstances and society’s assumptions about their ability to achieve.”

Book Club Wrap-Up - Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Thanks to everyone who joined us for last night's book discussion of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. We had a fabulous turnout! Special thanks to Charlotte for bringing the delicious chocolate chip cookies!

Publisher's Summary:

Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom. Relegated to the care of an eccentric great-aunt after her mentally unbalanced mother's accidental death, 12-year-old CeeCee is quickly surrounded by the strong women and cultural elements of her new Savannah community.

Everyone enjoyed the book - we felt it was a lovely Southern novel that is perfect as a summertime or beach read. While everyone found similarities to the book The Help, most of us agreed that you couldn't compare the two books - they were both unique in their own way!

Further Information:

Beth Hoffman's official website

History of Savannah

Here is a video of the author talking about Saving CeeCee Honeycutt:

Join us next month for Book Club on August 9th at 6:30pm. We will be discussing Jamie Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet. Hope to see you there!

50th Anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird

On July 11th, 1960, Harper Lee's iconic book To Kill a Mockingbird was released. Now, 50 years later, towns all across the country are celebrating this beloved novel.

Monroeville, AL is gearing up for a long weekend of celebration of all things "Mockingbird." Festivities begin on Thursday, July 8th and continue through Sunday, July 11th. For more information visit Monroe County Heritage Museum's website.

Interesting Links:

Don't Mention the Mockingbird!

Gadsden Times article about the movie's premiere in 1963

Upcoming Documentary: Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird

NYT's article about celebrations all over the US

Win a To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Prize Pack

For further reading:

Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird by Mary McDonagh Murphy

I am Scout : a biography of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields

Mockingbird : a portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields

Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird by Catherine Bernard

Summer Reading Finale!

Summer Reading Finale Celebration!!!

Saturday, July 10th

12pm-2pm

Fun for the whole family!

* Storytime with Miss MOOlissa, the Barber's Dairy Mascot

* Free Food

*Jump in the Choo-Choo Jump'n Slide

* Pucker Powder

* Door Prizes for all ages

Alice in Charge

The newest book in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice series, Alice in Charge was released a couple of weeks ago.

Summary:

Her already challenging final year of high school complicated by racist vandalism and a classmate's confession that a new teacher has been taking advantage of her, Alice struggles with feelings of vulnerability before finding the courage to confront the difficulties head on.

This book is a must-read for any Alice fan! I think the reason why so many people love her is because she isn't perfect and she worries about everyday things. She is unsure of herself and what the future holds - what teenager can't relate to that?!? Alice works through her problems with the help of friends and family and laughter.

While this book is set during Alice's senior year of high school, the series actually starts when Alice is in 3rd grade. So if you have a younger sister she may want to start there - the whole series is hilarious!

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has an awesome blog that has everything you ever wanted to know about Alice. She also answers fan questions not only about the series, but about life in general. Click on the links below for more info!

The Official Alice Blog

List of the whole series - in order!

Request Alice in Charge

Library Closing

The library will be closed Saturday, July 3rd through Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day. We will re-open Tuesday, July 6th at 9:30am.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!