July 10, 2010 – NOLA.com – The New Orleans Public Library is partnering with City Councilman Arnie Fielkow’s office to sponsor “Let’s Go From N.O. to Vero!” a contest in which New Orleans students who turn in a winning personal essay will be chosen to go on an all-expenses paid six-day trip to the Vero Beach Sports Village in Florida.
The theme of the essay is “How do you feel about New Orleans in 2010?” Students are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings about our city, as well as their vision for the future of New Orleans.
Twenty boys and 20 girls, ages 12 to 15, will be chosen for the trip, to take place in early August. The first 100 contest entrants will receive a free book. Contest winners will be notified in late July.
The library will host a free “Step Up to the Plate” writing workshop in July to help students develop their entries with brainstorming sessions for topics and composition. Visit www.neworleanspubliclibrary.org for details on the contest workshop.
Entries must be submitted on 8-1/2-by-11 paper, and they must be typed or neatly handwritten. Creativity is encouraged.
Each entry must include the entrant’s full name, street address, daytime phone number, age, grade and school. Students must have a library card to enter the contest. They can apply for the cards when they submit their entries at library branches.
All entries are due to the library by July 16 at 1 p.m. The Library Board of Directors will judge the contest.
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The Summer Reading Program is still open for children up to 12 years old.
Those who read eight books or 800 pages this summer will qualify for a certificate, a coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut, a free Wendy’s Frosty, a day pass for an adult and child to the Aquarium of the Americas good from Aug. 3-8, and many other goodies.
Teens ages 11 to 17 can sign up to read six books and be entered into a drawing for electronics and can also receive the rewards listed above.
Reading during the summer break is shown to keep children from losing their reading skills while school is out.
The Summer Reading Program is also sponsoring craft lessons this summer.
The Children’s Resource Center, 913 Napoleon Ave., is holding a children’s craft lesson Monday at 11 a.m. and a teen craft lesson on Tuesday and July 20 from 1 to 2 p.m. Also Tuesday, there will be a children’s craft lesson on making candy sushi at 10:30 a.m. at Latter, 5120 St. Charles Ave. The Latter Branch is also holding an Artist Card craft lesson on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Mid-City Branch, 330 N. Carrollton Ave., is holding a Bastille Day craft lesson on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Keller Branch, 4300 S. Broad St., is holding a teen craft lesson Saturday at 2 p.m. The King Branch, 1611 Caffin Ave., will hold a teen craft lesson on making candy sushi July 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Visit the Algiers Regional branch, 3014 Holiday Drive, or Hubbell branch, 225 Morgan St., on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. during the summer for a children’s craft lesson. The Alvar Branch, 913 Alvar St., has a children’s craft lesson every Saturday at 2 p.m.
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The Summer Reading Program brings performers and nature exhibits to the library for free shows throughout the month. Here’s what’s happening this week.
Today: Philip Melancon, the funny singer, musician and storyteller, will perform at 10:30 a.m. at the Children’s Resource Center. Boudreaux, the Zephyrs mascot, will appear at 2 p.m. in the eastern New Orleans modular library, 5641 Read Blvd. Also today, Curtis Pierre will perform his Brazilian and samba percussion show at 11 a.m. at the Gentilly Branch, 2077 Caton St. The ZOOmobile brings animals from the Audubon Zoo to the Nix Branch, 1401 S. Carrollton Ave., at 11:15 am.
Friday: The Wetlands Express visits the King Branch at 11 a.m. The Children’s Resource Center will hold “Fetch Science,” based on the PBS series, at 11 a.m.
Saturday: Irwin Royes, the world’s smallest magician, will bring his wonder and humor to the Lakeview modular library, 6317 Argonne Blvd., at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday: Royes will perform magic at 10:30 a.m. at the Gentilly Branch.
Wednesday: The AquaVan will bring live watery creatures to the main library auditorium, 219 Loyola Ave., at 11 a.m. The Bookmobile will visit the Algiers Regional modular library at 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: The Wetlands Express will bring live swamp critters to the Children’s Resource Center at 10:30 a.m. and to the Gentilly Branch at 1 p.m. Save the Lake presents a special children’s program at the Mid-City Branch at 11 a.m.
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The Hubbell Branch will hold a free teen game night Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. as part of the summer teen reading program. Come and play Wii, PlayStation 3 and X-Box 360 games and enjoy snacks.
Source: K.G. Wilkins, Nola.com
