GOOD NEWS: Summer Reading Program is in full swing

It’s easier this year than ever before for you and your children to enroll in the Charleston County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, enjoy lots of fun and win prizes.

You can sign up online and keep up with what you’ve read during the two months of the program, which started June 1.  Each page read equals a point.  When you reach 300, 900 and 1,800 points, you win prizes from local attractions and sporting events as well as food coupons and gift cards — all just for reading.

Check out the link above, too, for reading lists, dozens of events, prizes and more.   Summer reading is a major event each year, all part of the library’s continuing efforts to promote literacy and reading for the whole family. The library says it’s especially important to encourage students to read during the summer as studies show they can easily regress over the summer break, impacting their preparedness for entering school in the fall.

Hundreds of free programs are being offered at the library’s 16 branches, including magicians, plays, storytellers, science experiments, concerts and even activities with live animals. As a sampling, some of the programs coming up soon include:

• Porkchop Productions Presents The Tortoise and the Hare, June 7 at 4 p.m., Mount Pleasant Regional Library
• Imani Milele Children’s Choir from Uganda, June 8 at 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., Main Library
• Puppet Show by All Hands Productions – Billy Goats Gruff and Other Stuff, John’s Island Library, June 13 at 2 p.m.

In other Good News:

Johnson offers new Charleston history.  Former newspaperman Skip Johnson has a new 40-page book, “Charleston: The Brief History of a Remarkable City,” available for just $10.  The book, a primer, traces Charleston’s history from Christopher Columbus through the Emanual AME  murders, and is intended for anyone, especially tourists, who might want to read that history if they could do it inexpensively and in one interesting sitting. Find out more online: CharlestonTheBook.com

A look at the county’s proposed budget.  Charleston County’s proposed $440 million budget for the Fiscal Year 2017 seeks to address the needs of a growing population. The proposal includes no property tax increases but  adds 25 new positions to provide direct services to citizens and addresses the increasing service demand. The positions include 11 new employees for the drainage program recently approved by council to meet federal mandates and improve service to the community.

 “This proposed, no-tax-increase budget responsibly addresses the growth in customer service demands and funds road and drainage repairs stemming from the October floods,” said County Administrator Keith Bustraan. “In addition, this budget will strengthen county finances and prepare for the coming generational change in leadership.”  County Council has to approve the budget in three readings.  The first reading was June 2.  The next readings are June 7 after a public hearing and June 21.  More info.

County to hold sales tax meetings.  Charleston County Government will host a series of public information community meetings to discuss the proposed sales tax referendum being considered by Charleston County Council and to receive public input. The meetings will be held in an open house format.  No formal presentation will be made.  All meetings will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The meetings are scheduled as follows:

• June 13:  North Charleston City Hall, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston,

• June 15:  West Ashley High School, 4060 West Wildcat Blvd., Charleston

• June 20:  St. Johns High School, 1518 Main Road, Johns Island

• June 22:  Location to be determined for James Island meeting

• June 23:  Jennie Moore School, 2725 Bulrush Basket Lane, Mount Pleasant

Magnolia encourages blood donations.  Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is partnering with the American Red Cross to encourage blood donations in June by offering free garden admission to America’s oldest garden. Give blood or attempt to give blood at an American Red Cross blood drive or donation center in the tri-county area in June to receive a coupon that can be redeemed for admission before July 31. The free admission is not valid in conjunction with other discounts to Magnolia.