43
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Several guests showed up to the Boardman library on Sept. 29 to participate in the Murder in the Library mystery event.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The cast of the Murder in the Library event and event coordinator Jen Kuczek stood together after the event at the Boardman library on Sept. 29 ended. Pictured, from left, are (front) Mary Yee, Mallory Wiand, Nicole DiPiero and Vikki Peck; (back) Stuart Gibbs, Kevin Clark, John Yingling, Rob Morris and Jen Kuczek.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Bo Jalais, played by Rob Morris, confessed the truth to the audience after they guessed who the murderer was during the Murder in the Library event at the Boardman library on Sept. 29.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Guests filled the Boardman library on Sept. 29 to take part in the Murder in the Library: Pasta, Passion and Pistols mystery game.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Volunteers dressed up as suspects and gave clues for the Murder in the Library event on Sept. 29 at the Boardman library.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The three winners of the Murder in the Library program received a prize for winning. Pictured, from left, are Sandy Garver - second place, Mattison Russel - first place and Judy Cundik, whose guess was the furthest from correct.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Boardman library hosted a murder mystery event on Sept. 29, called Murder in the Library: Pasta, Passion and Pistols.
Jen Kuczek, a Poland librarian, worked for several months planning and organizing the event. More than 90 people attended the Boardman library to try and figure out who killed the main character, Pepe Roni, owner of La Speranza restaurant.
“I think the excitement of the audience and the staff members who participate is my favorite part,” said Kuczek.
Out of the eight people who volunteered to play cast members, seven of them participated in the one last year. Six of the cast members are also staff members from the different library branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Kevin Clark, an administrator at CCCTC, and Rob Morris, a French and drama teacher at Valley Christian, were the only two who are not library faculty.
The characters the volunteers portrayed were Marco Roni, Clair Voyant, Father Al Fredo, Mama Rosa, Rocco Scarfazzi, Tara Misu, Bo Jalais and Angel Roni. The character names were all a play on words referencing Italian and French food and language.
The audience members got to enjoy Italian cuisine, such as bread, pasta salad and a biscotti between scenes. At the end of program, the audience members used clues given to them throughout the program to guess which suspect was the one guilty of killing Pepe Roni. Three winners received a gift bag. The first place winner was the one who got the correct answer, the second place winner was the one who came the next closest to being all correct and the third place winner was the one whose guess was furthest away from the correct answer.
“I think they really enjoy it and their dedication is amazing. Having access to information they make costumes and have accents from what region they’re from. It’s just really fun,” said Kuczek about the volunteers.
This is the second year Kuczek has organized a mystery at the library event and she hopes they continue to stay as popular as they are now. The next program is planned for Spring of 2017.