This year’s theme of the Water Tower Festival is hometown heroes.
However, instead of reading this new novel last night, I had the privilege of watching the Pipestone Jr. Ambassadors Contest sponsored by Michelle Cheeseman State Farm Insurance Agency & the Pipestone Area Chamber. As a former speech coach and a current introvert, I am amazed at the confidence and articulation of our youngest community members.
Twenty-six youth answered questions about the heroes in their lives, potential superpowers they would love to have, and a variety of other questions to help the audience (and judges) get to know them. Some answers were serious and thoughtful, while others were filled with humor and great comedic timing.
I won’t lie, the 5th grader who, if given a chance, would open up a book store in our town, is my own personal Home Town Hero. After all, there is no such thing as too many books.
My librarian bias aside, every kid who stood on the stage last night deserves hero status. Public speaking is hard. To do so with humor and eloquence right in the middle of the block (under the attentive gaze of adults) is even more difficult. But sometimes doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes is also heroic. I saw many businesses, volunteers, and donors working in the heat to make Kids Night a success. Many of these same individuals will be standing on the courthouse lawn during the vendor fair or cleaning up tables or serving food and drink to the masses throughout the whole weekend.
Heroes are everywhere.
And so are books about them!
If you are looking for a good book or are simply looking for a quiet and fun place to rest between Water Tower Festival events, Meinders Community Library is a great place to go. We have games, computers, and free wi-fi to any patron. No library card is needed for in-house use.
We close at 5pm on Fridays and are open from 10am to 2pm every Saturday except holiday weekends. In fact, the public library will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday July 2-4.
If ever in doubt about our hours, simply give us a call!
a huge thanks to all our home town heroes in Pipestone~ jody