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Kids have jolly time at library
By LINDA M. LINONIS
GIRARD
Santa Claus and his reindeer, led by Rudolph guiding the sleigh, flew into Girard Free Library, 105 E. Prospect St., on a snowy Monday night.
About 75 children welcomed the jolly man of Christmas, and parents and grandparents, who braved the snowy conditions, watched. Some children were eager to sit on his lap, others a bit anxious about actually seeing Santa in person.
Santa said he was enjoying the snow and the children.
The three-fold event featured free photos with Santa (photos may be picked up Dec. 13), a craft area where children decorated foam ornaments in the forms of trees and gift boxes and a train display by Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club.
Rose Ann Lubert, library director, said Friends of the Library sponsor the annual event for the community. The event usually attracts a couple hundred children, but the snow kept attendance down.
Maria Selack, children’s librarian, said the holiday activity was a good outreach to the community. Heather Walker, a librarian, served as photographer, and seventh- and eighth-graders from the Builders Club at Girard Junior/ Senior High School assisted with crafts.
Jonathan and Katie Merrill brought their sons, Ethan, 2, and Jacob, who will be a year old Thursday. “Ethan has been looking forward to this all day,” his mother said. Her husband noted that the event is nice for families.
Diane Fossaceca, Friends president, was accompanied by her grandchildren, Marco, 4, and Sophia, 18 months. Both children were “looking forward to seeing Santa,” she said, but Sophia had a change of heart and burst into tears when she got close to the red-suited, white-bearded stranger.
“This is something nice for the children,” Fossaceca said. “We’re so blessed to have this library.” The free photo with Santa is a nice gift to families, she said, and a way to give back to those who support the library.
Jessica Anthony said her 2-year-old daughter, Madison, told Santa about the “Elmo stuff” she wanted. She said her daughter has a good experience at story time, and the library is a nice place for the toddler to interact with other children.
John Ciccarelli, a member of Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club, said the 11-by-16-foot display of O gauge Lionel trains delighted children and their parents. The portable layout depicts pre-World War II Youngstown, and the trains bear the names Republic Steel and Youngstown Sheet and Tube.