Pickleball which is described as a mix between tennis, badminton and table tennis continues to be a very popular new sport that is now being regularly played by 13.5 million Americans. I recently learned that they have installed a Pickleball court in Circle Park. On Monday, August 5th starting at 6pm, you will have an opportunity, free of charge to try out the game to see if it’s for you before running out and buying the paddles and balls. The demonstration called Pickleball for Beginners will have all the equipment on hand for trying out the sport and will provide instructions on the finer points of the game. There is no pre-registration required so just show up in your sneakers and give this fun game a try.

I want to thank everyone who volunteered to assist in the recent Sunshine Hall Free Library’s Book and Bake Sale. The dedicated volunteers were the essential key to the Sale’s success. The volunteers who moved hundreds of books showed up at 4pm on Friday and then again on Sunday afternoon and cheerfully went about their strenuous task. The “day of” volunteers who restocked books, sold 50/50 tickets, and worked the sales desk were amazing. Then the Town of Highland’s best bakers showed up in force with their delicious donations that literally sold like “hot cakes.” I learned a good hack at the sale-a woman was buying one of Martha Worzel’s homemade chocolate chip banana breads. She picked it up and kinda hefted it in her two hands-and said to me  “see this bread is heavy so it’s the real deal full of good healthy bananas and not a mix.”  She then bought the second one for good measure! I also want to thank Lori Dezso for the spectacular Reading Rainbow themed hand decorated sheet cake beautifully designed with butterflies and flowers. And thank you to Frank Monteleone from the Hydrofarm in Eldred who morphed into the best sort of Cookie Monster by buying every single cookie and brownie at the Sale and then left us a very generous donation. The Book and Bake Sale was a complete success and will immediately help the Library fund the purchase of new books and equipment. And a big shout-out to Joan Turner, the President of the Friends of the Sunshine Hall Free Library, who showed up every day and  as she has done for the past twenty or so years kept us all on the tasks at hand. Kudos to the Library’s Helene Hoffman whose flawless organizing kept us all in high gear (the only gear she knows!). Many thanks to all the volunteers who packed up books, moved books or baked great treats and all who came and bought books. Congratulations to Kate Gutekunst who was the winner of the 50/50 drawing. Speaking of the Library starting on August 3rd, they have a slew of great and entertaining activities coming up for kids ages six-twelve years old—how about the Library’s Olympic Games at Circle Park or the upcoming Annual Treasures and Trinkets Sale on August 10th? Go to sunshinehallfreelibrary.org for more details.

I want to wish my friend and partner in various life escapades Kristen Smith a very Happy Birthday. Jump into fresh adventures and that new backyard pool and have a fantastic celebration.