By TERRI RITTER
North Webster Public Library

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Public Library news and events this week:

The North Webster Library’s Summer Reading Program is wrapping up with 380 children and teens having read over 3,000 hours so far. The last day to earn prizes is Saturday, July 25, so be sure the kids get all their reading credits turned in by Saturday. The Summer Reading Program culminates with the Grand Finale Picnic on Wednesday, July 29.

Families are invited to bring a picnic supper and join us in the North Webster Community Center gym. The doors open at 5 p.m. for games. Then at 6 p.m. hotdogs will be served to children and teens who have completed at least five hours of reading by July 25. Prizes and awards will follow. There will be lots of door prizes, so that every child goes home with a prize. The library will close early that day at 5 p.m., so our entire staff can attend the festivities.

Teen readers will have another opportunity to celebrate the next day 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Teen Reader Pizza Party. Youths in grades six through high school who have participated in the teen Summer Reading Club must have completed at least 40 hours of reading by Saturday, July 25, to earn a ticket to the pizza party. Youth must have a ticket to attend, so be sure they complete and turn in their 40 hours of reading to qualify.

You don’t need a ticket to attend the Advanced Canning Class 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 1. This class is free and open to everyone who is interested in learning how to home can fresh and cooked meats. Expert canner Olivia Frantz Coons will teach how to do it safely along with the convenience, economic, and health benefits of home canning. There will also be a door prize drawing with a chance to win a case of mason jars.

Do you love mysteries? How about westerns? Tickets are now on sale for the North Webster Library’s “Way Out West” Murder Mystery Dinner 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8. It will be an evening of double-dealing, double-crossing, blackmail, and riddle-solving as we try to finger the varmint that did the dastardly deed. Ticket packages are $15 per adult and include character assignment, clues, dinner, and the game. Participants are asked to come dressed in western attire. The number of tickets is limited, so be sure to purchase yours early from Adult Services Director Beth Smith.

There will be more mystery at Voyager Book Club 10 a.m. Monday, July 27, when the group meets to discuss mystery books. If you’ve read a good one lately, bring it to Voyager Book Club and tells us about it. Next month, the book club will read and discuss books they’ve enjoyed reading at the beach.

Summer is the time for backyard barbecues. Prepare your favorite barbecue recipe and join us for Revolving Recipe Round-Up at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 28. It will be a tasty time as we sample and share each other’s recipes. The library supplies the table service and free coffee and bottled water.

If you’re missing your favorite newspapers while visiting the lake, you can read the latest issues of many of your favorites at the library including the Indianapolis Star, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette as well as local newspapers. Stop in, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on the news.