Halloween is right around the corner and St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries have a couple of programs lined up to celebrate. The Frazee-Harris Memorial Library (Garyville) will host a “Halloween Simply Paint” at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28. Children ages 6 and up are encouraged to participate. Also on Monday, the Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library (Reserve) will host a “Halloween Cookie Haunted House,” at 6 p.m. for children ages 5 and up. Families are invited to the Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library (Edgard) on Halloween Day to enjoy some Halloween fun. They are welcomed to dress in their costumes to enjoy games and crafts for the entire day. The Frazee-Harris Memorial Library will have a “Halloween Movie Matinee” on Halloween day at 4:30 p.m. for tweens and teens. They are invited to watch “Boo! A Madea Halloween.” Please join us for these awesome programs!

Veterans Day is observed every year on Nov. 11 to remember and celebrate those who have served our nation in our armed forces. St. John the Baptist Parish Library System will celebrate with a few programs. “War Novel Bookends” will be created at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 at the Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library. Adult patrons are invited to paint bookends inspired by classic war stories. The Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library (Central) will be hosting a “Salute to Service” event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. This event invites men and women of the United States Armed Services to share their stories and appreciation of the military. Please call 985-497-3453 or 985-652-6857 if you have any questions.

It’s that time of year again where we plan to sit down to eat with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a time when the world gets to see just how blessed we really are. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to one another. I’ve heard many people say that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday. Is that surprising? Though it’s a holiday sandwiched between the increasingly popular Halloween and the overwhelming merchandised Christmas, Thanksgiving remains the holiday of “coming home.” Our national observance of Thanksgiving is unique. It is a holiday for celebrating faith, family, and freedom. St. John the Baptist Parish Library System will be celebrating Thanksgiving with a variety of programs.

The Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library will host a “Paper Bag Turkey Puppet Craft” at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, and a “Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft” at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 for children, ages 6 and up. They will also host a “Paper Plate Pilgrims Craft” at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 for tweens and teens to enjoy. The Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library will host a “Scarecrow Candy Jar Craft,” at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 for adult patrons. A “Dish/Recipe Swap,” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. Adult patrons are encouraged to bring in a printed original recipe and a sample of the dish to share with others. All recipes will be collected and turned into a book that will be placed in the Central Library’s Louisiana Room Collection. Please stop by the Central Library to sign up or call 985-652-6857 for more information. Children, ages 4 and older, are invited to make “Thankful Turkeys,” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library. “Simply Paint” will be hosted at the Frazee-Harris Memorial Library at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18. Children ages 6 and up will paint a Thanksgiving drawing to commemorate the holiday. Children ages 4 and up are also invited to the Frazee-Harris Memorial Library at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 to watch a “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” Please join the branches as they celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

There will be a multitude of other programs at each library branch for the month of November. For a full list, please refer to our online calendar on our website (stjohn.lib.la.us), Facebook (St. John the Baptist Parish Library) or pick up a newsletter at any of our four branches. I hope you all can attend some of the spectacular programs offered at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries.

Kearston Poché is the administrative services coordinator for St. John the Baptist Parish Library. She can be reached at 985-652-6587.