42 OCTOBER 2021 By Hailey Pearson This past year, Phoenix Public Library turned lemons into lemonade when challenged with turning in-person programming to online, all while maintaining and fostering an engaged community. With all of the branches closed down, PPL was presented with the opportunity to reimagine its current programs and see how they could benefit community members at home. “We’re finding that online programs are popular, being that they are available to anyone throughout the city,” said Geraldine Hills, Phoenix Public Library Communications Liaison. As a result of the growing popularity, PPL created free online book clubs that enable adults, tweens and teens to read along, participate in discussions, and join a community of like-minded readers, all from the comfort of their homes. Before going online, each book club was branch-specific and didn’t necessarily reach all age groups. “This way, our book clubs are available to everyone, despite what their nearest branch may be offering,” Hills said. PPL offers clubs for tweens, teens and adults who enjoy reading and discussing books. The adult online book club, Book O’Clock, was the first to be created in 2020. The adult librarian staff runs this club, and they meet one Wednesday a month. Books are chosen based on popularity and availability in multiple formats, for example, audiobooks, e-books and print, ensuring that they appeal to a diverse audience. In October, they’ll be reading My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. The club will meet on Wednesday, October 20, from 6-7 p.m. The tween and teen book clubs were started over the summer by the children’s librarian staff. Hills said that the programs have proven to be successful and well attended. The tween club, called Check’ Em Out, appeals to ages 8-11. The club focuses on graphic and comic book novels. They’ll be reading The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner and meeting on Tuesday, October 26, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. “What is nice about this club is that, as we all know, kids have busy schedules. This is something that they can participate in without having to worry about rides,” Hills said. Our Weekend is Booked, the teen book club, is held on the last Saturday of each month. A group of teen volunteers is in charge of choosing the books. Their next meeting is on October 30 from 2-3 p.m., where they’ll be discussing The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. “This program shows that no matter the format, people love being connected to books and talking about books, no matter what the genre is,” Hills said. All of the clubs are free but do require online registration to join. phoenixpubliclibrary.org Phoenix Library presents an opportunity to flex reading muscles Prompt Quality Professional Service r shop - ROM US AVE! Products OFF d Mailboxes 018 -4pm AND SECURE LBOXES ROC#308272 ompt ality ssional rvice S ts F oxes ECURE C#308272 SINCE 1978 Prompt Quality Professional Service 602-956-7299 • 6 Standard residential locks within 15 mile radius of our shop - If outside area service charge applies. ORDER FROM US AND SAVE! $ 159 95 PLUS TAX • Locks Rekeyed • Commercial Locks • Deadbolts • Residential Locks • Safes • Security Products 20% OFF Safes and Mailboxes VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018 Open Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm & Fri 8:30-4pm LOCKABLE AND SECURE MAILBOXES ROC#308272 Call us today to schedule your appointment!

43 OCTOBER 2021 les By Jennifer Marshall Pumpkins, crisp air and football are all synonymous with the arrival of October. The tenth month gives us several notable days to commemorate and celebrate. So grab a handful of candy or a piece of pumpkin pie and check out these ideas on how you can get involved. Remember that biology teacher who inspired you to become a doctor or the English professor who ignited a desire to pen the great American novel? Or, perhaps you were called to the teaching profession. In 1994, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated October 5 as World Teacher’s Day , the perfect time to thank teachers for all they have done – especially these days! Former students can show their appreciation by writing teachers a special note telling them the important role they have played in their success. For current students, one of the ways to show appreciation is presenting your teacher with a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or a collection of their favorite candies. A sincere and heartfelt “thank you” for their hard work will go a long way, as will treating teachers and classmates with respect. en.unesco.org October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month , and according to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Arizona website, “every two minutes a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed in the U.S.” Their signature fundraising event is vital to maintaining the organization’s research and advocacy efforts. The 2021 race will be virtual and held on Saturday, October 23. Entitled “Walk Where You Are,” this race encourages participants to walk locally – in the yard, the neighborhood, around the park or on a treadmill. Invite friends, pop in your earbuds and make a day of it by going out to lunch or dinner afterward. Komen officials want everyone to participate at their own comfort level. komen.org All month long, witches, ghosts and goblins have been gathering, eager to usher in the most spooktacular day: Halloween . Meanwhile, families have been busy crafting, decorating and baking, hoping to give their spirited visitors a most spooky welcome. As All Hallows’ Eve draws near, families can celebrate the season at events like these: The Epic Toy Show Halloween Bash October 30 at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium, 552 N. 40th St., Phoenix. This family-friendly event features costume contests, trick-or-treating and plenty of toys and comic books for sale. Admission is $8 and children 12 and under are free. Visit the Epic Toy Show Halloween Bash Facebook page for more information. The Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature’s Farm October 2 at 1663 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert. It’s a bit of a drive, but for $10 per person, families can pick a pumpkin, go on a hayride, experience the Spider Web Crawl, pet and feed animals and find their way out of the Alexander’s Adventure Maze. mothernaturesfarm.com How do you spell October? F-U-N Tuition-free classical education where everyone gets to play. !"#$%&'($"&)&*++,-&.(/#- 0"$12#34$"+5($6&7&89:;<&;9=>??;@ Limited seats available now in grades 6 th , 7 th , 9 th & 10 th .