Do you have visitors from out-of-town staying with you this summer? People are sometimes surprised to find out that any adult can use the Internet at the Stratford library -- not just Stratford residents. Your visitors can check their email, get a schedule for the trains into NYC, update their vacation blog, and (finally) print out their boarding passes when it's time to go.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine....

In the summer, the living is easy (and cheap!) from your couch. Just swing by the library to check out the interesting and fun travel DVDs, and do a little armchair traveling. Bon Voyage!

Pet Show!

The Stratford Library presents its Third Annual Children’s Pet Show on Thursday, July 23 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children in grades 1 to 6 are invited to bring their pets to the Library courtyard to participate in the pet show. All animals are welcome, and pets will be judged on a variety of categories with prizes and certificates awarded. The pet show judges will be Dr. Louis Pieper, veterinarian, a representative from PetCo Animal Supplies, and staff from the Stratford Library Association. Pets must be pre-registered by Monday, July 20 to participate. For a list of pet show guidelines, and to register your pet, please stop by the Stratford Library Children’s Department desk. Spectators and pet lovers of all ages are also welcome to attend. This program is part of the Stratford Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Be Creative.” For further information, call the Stratford Library Children’s Department at 203.385.4165.

Help from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station

Gardeners of Stratford -- are you frustrated by your efforts to raise vegetables, flowers and fruit this year? Has a fungus attacked your fuchsias? Have bugs wiped out your broccoli? Don't know where to turn?

Well, we're sure you know that the library has a lot of great books on gardening and pest control. But you may not know that a state agency called the CT Agricultural Experiment Station is also available to help you solve your garden woes, for free. They will identify a mystery insect, diagnose a baffling plant disease, and test your soil to tell you why your plants aren't thriving. You can mail your samples in or just call and ask them for advice. And there's no fee for these services.

The CAES has been serving science in the public interest in New Haven since 1877. As part of their mission, "any consumer wanting to know the composition of his soil, fertilizer, cattle food, seeds, or whether an insect or plant carries a disease has only to fill out a form and agree that all results will be made available for public use."

You can read more about these specific programs at their website: Insect Information and Problems Soil Testing Plant Information and Problems

Yes we can! (fruits and vegetables)

Last week, All Things Considered ran a story called "During Tough Times, Canning Makes a Comeback." (Listen to their story here, if you like.) All over the US, people are asking their older neighbors to show them how to put up food or learning from books. The company that owns the popular Ball line of canning products, says it has already seen a 30 percent increase in sales of jars and lids this year!

The library has plenty of books you can borrow on canning and preserving if you want to brush up or learn how for the first time.

And here's the perfect reason to start canning: Stratford's farmers' market is up and running again for the summer. The market will be held every Monday from June 29th to October 2nd (1 - 6 pm) at DeLuca Field's overflow parking lot in the South End of Stratford. Senior coupons and WIC coupons are accepted. For seniors who participate in the Senior Nutrition Program, coupons are available through the Salvation Army at 367-0605. WIC coupons should be obtained for the month of July at the WIC office at 752 East Main Street, Bridgeport or by calling 576-8072. For more information about the Farmers Market, contact Greta Roberts at groberts@townofstratford.com or 385.4090.

Come to the Library on the 3rd of July

Yes, the library is open on Friday July 3, from 10 am - 5 pm... so come in and get some ideas for your Independence Day cookout. We have lots of books on grilling, on summer desserts, and on entertaining a crowd. You could also check out a few books on the American Revolution if you want to impress your friends and family with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Here's a colorful but easy idea for dessert: Old Glory Cupcakes. You can make your own cupcakes, following the recipe below, or you can start with supermarket cupcakes as long as they have white frosting. If you use store-bought cupcakes, all you need to purchase for decoration are a pint of blueberries for every dozen cupcakes, and red "fruit leather" to make the stripes. Old Glory Cupcakes -- Makes 24 cupcakes 3 cups blueberries, washed and divided 1 (18- to 19-oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix 1/3 cup applesauce 3 egg whites 1 (8 oz.) pkg. reduced-fat cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 roll red-colored rolled fruit leather (from a 4.5 oz. box) Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix with applesauce, egg whites and 1 1/4 cups water for 30 seconds on low speed, then 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon batter into 24 (2-inch) aluminum or paper lined muffin cups; evenly divide about 1 cup of blueberries on top of batter; do not stir. Bake cupcakes following package directions; remove to a wire rack and cool completely. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spoon onto cooled cupcakes; spread to the edges. Unroll fruit snack and, with a sharp knife, cut into strips 1/8 inch wide by 2 inches long. On half of each cupcake, arrange strips, as shown, trimming each to fit with clean scissors. Arrange remaining 2 cups blueberries on the frosting on other halves of the cupcakes, about 10 blueberries per cupcake. (This recipe is from Celebrate with Style, a good website for finding affordable and fun ideas for entertaining.)