Recipe for a Wonderful 4th of July weekend

Recipe for a Wonderful 4th of July weekend On Friday night, start with a free concert in Boothe Park by the US Army's fantastic big band, the Jazz Ambassadors. Add an enthusiastic audience to create a mix of patriotism and fun. Now mix in a trip to Short Beach on Saturday night for a free fireworks show. Bake well in the late day sun and enjoy with a picnic supper. Serves a crowd -- so come early for the best seats! For more information about either event, call the town's Recreation Dept. at 203-385-4052 or check their website, www.townofstratford.com/recreation Free Concert! The U.S. Army's Jazz Ambassadors Friday, July 2 • 7:00 p.m. Boothe Memorial Park (Bring a chair or blanket) Rain venue: Flood School Auditorium Stratford’s Annual Fireworks Saturday, July 3rd Atwood Express Band Concert on deck at 7:00 pm Lynn Lewis + Friends at Gull's Landing at 7:30 pm Fireworks display at 9:30 pm Short Beach Park Why not borrow some patriotic music from the library to add to the spirit of your holiday? Kate Smith, Lee Greenwood, and Glenn Miller are among the stars performing classic American favorites on this CD, "Stars and Stripes Forever." You haven't really heard Sousa marches until you have heard them played by the Marines --Sousa wrote many of these marches while bandmaster of the Marines. The Ceremonial Brass, Max Impact, The Singing Sergeants and They Symphony Orchestra -- all performers of the United States Air Force Band -- collaborated on several of the pieces on this inspiring collection, "Home of the Brave."

Nonfiction that reads like fiction....

You say you're not a big reader, but you love hearing about events that are true? Then visit our display in the reference room of the library, where we currently display books such as these, demonstrating that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction!

Be amazed at the two significant individuals with different impacts on the World's Fair in 1893 - one a mass murderer, one a talented planner and organizer of the exposition. (Read "Devil in the White City: murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America" by Erik Larson)
Discover the details of the 1820 wreck of the whaleship "Essex", the true story at the heart of the famous novel "Moby Dick". (Read "In the Heart of the Sea: the tragedy of the whaleship Essex" by Nathaniel Philbrick)
Put yourself in the shoes of the runners described in an incredible tale of physical endurance! (Read "Born to Run: a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen " by Christopher McDougall)

Beaches and Books

Stratford's beaches open this weekend. Do you have your beach sticker on your car? If you haven't received a beach sticker yet, the Recreation Department's website has info on how to get yours.

Of course, if you're planning to spend any time on the beach you'll want to pack a summer beach book in your tote bag. This summer the library is hoping to add some fun to your summertime by offering a no-pressure, no-stress Adult Summer Reading Program.

• No meetings!
• No required reading. Read whatever you like.

Just stop by the library and tell us what book or books you've read -- even if it's just one. A weekly raffle will award great prizes donated by local restaurants and businesses.

The Adult Summer Reading program starts on Monday, June 21. You can sign up the first day or any day over the summer. Come on in and see what we have to offer! Prizes big and small will be awarded weekly to our reading clubbers.

Speaking of beach reads, here are some good reads while you soak up the rays:

On Folly Beach by Karen White. Emmy Hamilton has opened a secondhand bookstore in Folly Beach as she tries to make a new life after her husband's death. When she discovers love notes hidden in the books, she may have stumbled on a mysterious and tragic love story in the town's past.
The Beach House, by Jane Green. Eccentric and broke, widow Nan Powell decides to turn her beloved old home in Nantucket into a bed-and-breakfast. The cast of characters who come to stay find their lives changed in surprising ways.
The Last Beach Bungalow, by Jennie Nash. April and her architect husband have grown apart while she underwent cancer treatment, but they hope that a move to the lavish new house he designed will be a fresh start. Instead, April finds herself inexplicably drawn to a small beach bungalow that calls to her in some mysterious way.

Adult Summer Reading

Remember the first-ever Adult Summer Reading Program last year? This summer, we're doing it again to help you jump-start your reading! Register on June 21 or thereafter at the Adult Reference Desk, and fill out a "reading slip" for each book you read. Not only will you "water your mind", but you may win one of the weekly prize drawings! A festive kick-off with goodies and gifts (while they last) is on June 21. The last day for the program is August 14.

Some of the drawing prizes have been donated by the following businesses and organizations. We thank everyone for their enthusiasm and interest in offering incentives for your summer reading!

Acapulcos Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina, Blue Point Bar & Grill, Goody Bassett's Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe, Millers Hallmark, Oronoque Farms, Rivenova Italian Restaurant, Shell Station Restaurant, Sikorsky Financial Credit Union, Stratford Brakettes, Stephen's Pub & Grille, Stratford Family YMCA, This and That Consignments, Collectibles and Curios

Is your front yard a beautiful "site" to see?

Seventh District Councilwoman Kimberly Meuse announced this week that the Stratford Beautification Committee is seeking nominations for the twelfth annual Stratford Beautification Awards Program. This is your chance to nominate properties you believe worthy of recognition, whether it's your own property or one you've admired around town.

This year, the focus will be on front yards and the curb appeal of local properties. The Committee is interested in homes and businesses that have attractive landscaping, flower beds or gardens -- or properties that feature unique fences, walkways, lighting fixtures or door treatments in Stratford. Nomination forms are available online. For more information, contact Town Planner Dave Killeen at 203.385.4017.

Want to add loads of "eye appeal" to your home and garden? Boost your chances of winning a Beautification Award with these books available at the Stratford Library:

Curb Appeal Idea Book by Mary Ellen Polson. Spruce up the front of your home and create a good first impression. You'll find hundreds of ideas for the front of the house, from the curb to the front door and every space in between
Hardscaping: How to Use Structures, Pathways, Patios & Ornaments in Your Garden, by Keith Davitt. "Hardscaping" is just what it sounds like: the elements of your yard made of brick, concrete, stone or lumber. This book has loads of photos and projects from a simple concrete birdbath to an elaborate masonry walkway.
The Well-Decorated Garden will take you step by step through projects to take your outdoor space from "okay" to "wow!". You can make pebble-covered flowerpots, butterfly boxes, tile plant markers, or adorable ladybug cottages.
Do you feel like your front yard is too dark, too small or too barren to create an attractive scene? In Paradise Found, Rebecca Cole presents simple and beautiful solutions to gardening in small, difficult, or awkward spaces.

Library Book Sale is center of town activity this Saturday

This Saturday, June 5, the Stratford Library will be at the center of a buzz of activity. Come on down, park in our huge lot behind the library, and take advantage of these opportunities for free and low-cost family fun. The Annual Stratford Library Book Sale runs from 5:30 pm Thursday, June 3 to Sunday afternoon June 6 at 4 pm. No admission charge. At this major library fundraiser you will find thousands of gently used books for all ages, movies, CDs, and LPs. Prices vary during the sale; see our Library website for details. Location: 2203 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06615. Healthy Stratford Council Walk through Stratford's Historic District. Leaves from the Perry House, on Broad Street adjacent to the Library's parking lot, 10 am on Saturday. Free. The 2.5 mile narraated walk will pass such landmarks as the Judson House, the Edward Curtis House, and the Old Episcopal Burying Ground. Please register in advance by calling 385-4090. Children's Carnival and Sidewalk Crafts Showcase at the Sterling House on Main Street, two doors down from the Library, Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday. Free. Art Show sponsored by the Stratford Arts Guild, in front of the Library, Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm on Saturday. Free. Stratford Arts Guild members will show photography, jewelry, watercolors and other works of art. Rib Night sponsored by the Rotary Club, 6 pm at the Baldwin Center, next to the Library. Tickets are $30.00 each; proceeds benefit the Dictionary/Thesaurus Project for Stratford and other Rotary projects for the community. Call 385-4055 for tickets.