Literary Charades Madness to raise library funds

By Gladys Alcazar-Anselmo

The East Village Association will raise funds for the Chicago Public Library Sept. 25 at Roots Handmade Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave.

This year’s event is a one-night charades competition. Teams of four will “act out” book titles without speaking, while other members of their team try to guess the book title. The objective is for teams to guess the titles as quickly as possible.

The final four teams, with the fastest completion times, compete for the crown of 2014 West Town Library Champions. Winners will receive prizes from local businesses and sponsors, plus bragging rights for the next year. Proceeds will be directed to future programming at the West Town Branch Library.

Mark your calendars, and watch for upcoming posts (here and on the East Village Association Facebook page) on how to register a team or purchase a ticket.

West Town Summer Learning Challenge

More than 100 guests celebrated the West Town branch library's Summer Learning Challenge program Aug. 7 with toys, school supplies and a cardboard zebra.

The challenge was designed to encourage children to read, reflect and explore the library at 1625 W. Chicago Ave.

Reading goals for each child during the 8 weeks was 300 minutes. West Town's top reader, an 11-year-old girl, read for 3,100 minutes. She was grand prize winner of s Kindle Fire provided by the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

This year's participation was the highest ever: 560 children. Beyond staff outreach to Erie House, Northwest Settlement, Talcott School and Noble Daycare, the program had 180 walk-ins.

The celebration was coordinated with the East Village Association and local businesses. Children at a craft station made masks, bracelets and peacocks. Pin the Tail on the Zebra and hopscotch offered chances to win prizes, and a snack station served pizza, cake balls and juice boxes.

All party participants had the opportunity to select a book to take home and received school supplies and book bags donated by the East Village Association membership and Ald. Robert Fioretti’s office.

East Village Association members Catherine Garypie and Ronda Locke assisted in coordinating the donations for the event.

Special thanks to sponsors West Town Bakery & Diner, Roots Handmade Pizza, Mariano’s, Cat & Mouse Game Store and Building Blocks Toy Store, who provided goods to help make the event a huge success.