From frogs to magic: Portage Library offers final week of Summer Reading Program

Closeup of a frog near a local pond. Note his camouflage. (May 2009 file photo by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library invites frog lovers to hop to the library for a frog Storytime with Ariel Lake at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1. After stories and a project, the Jim Henson movie Kermit’s Swamp Years: His true story, warts and all will be shown, and popcorn will be served.

Local singer/songwriter Hannah Bethel will give an acoustic performance at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, in the community room. Originally from Chassell, Bethel has been performing in numerous venues for six years and in May was invited to showcase at the Florida Music Festival 2009. Her song "Believe" was chosen for an independent film, and her album, Watch Me Fly, is being considered for an independent film by Larry Holden. In the Spring 2009, Bethel released her first music video for her song "Backroads," which can be viewed at www.myspace.com/hannahbethel. Bethel will be returning to Nashville in August to continue her music career.

Isle Royale Interpretive Ranger Jordan Kibat will offer a special "Wolves" Storytime at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. Children will listen to wolf stories, watch a slide presentation about wolves and pack mentality and play games that imitate how wolves work as a team: Catch the Moose and the Human Knot.

Also on Thursday, Aug. 6, Merle Kindred will present an update on "Building an Energy-Efficient House in Kerala, India" at 7 p.m. Kindred will show slides of the construction of the prototypical energy-efficient house she commissioned that was completed in May 2009. The house is made of burnt bricks and mud walls with provisions for solar hot water, biogas, a smokeless chula (wood-burning oven), rainwater harvesting, micro-hydro, and containment of rain water.

In July 2008 at the Portage Lake District Library, Merle Kindred gives a slide presentation on the energy-efficient house she commissioned in Kerala, India. Kindred will offer a second presentation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. She will show slides of the recent construction and completion of the house. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

Kindred will discuss her three-year association with the Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD) in Kerala, India, as Volunteer Communications Consultant. COSTFORD is a non-profit organization that uses eco-friendly design and social consciousness as a path to positive societal change.

The Summer Reading Program will end on Saturday, Aug. 8, with Magic Shows performed by Craig Waddell. Two performances will be given: Show times are 12 p.m. - 12:40 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 1:40 p.m.

Waddell has been doing magic shows for the Houghton Elementary School Carnival for the past eight years and specializes in the art of illusion.

Children are invited to Storytimes every Monday with Maria Sliva and alternating Wednesdays with the Houghton High School Key Club. These programs include stories and a project and will continue through August.

All library programs are free and everyone is invited to attend. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.