Summer is here! Along with the arrival of the summer solstice, we have undeniably summer-like weather. When these high temperatures arrive, I am very happy to live in a time with air conditioners! And I am so grateful for our small, but pleasantly refreshing, backyard pool. I hope I get to spend a lot of time in the water or just enjoying the outdoors despite the heat. I am also grateful that the terrible storms and accompanying tornadoes that moved through the areas north and east of us did not affect our immediate area. Having F-2 tornadoes anywhere close by is not a pleasant thought.

Thursday, June 21 is the first day of summer, with the solstice actually occurring at 6:07 a.m. This will be the longest day of the year, with the sun rising locally at 5:34 a.m. and setting at 8:43 p.m. Some interesting thoughts about summer and the summer solstice from www.earthsky.org:

“It has been universal among humans to treasure this time of warmth and light.

For us in the modern world, the solstice is a time to recall the reverence and understanding that early people had for the sky. Some 5,000 years ago, people placed huge stones in a circle on a broad plain in what’s now England and aligned them with the June solstice sunrise.

We may never comprehend the full significance of Stonehenge. But we do know that knowledge of this sort wasn’t limited to just one part of the world. Around the same time Stonehenge was being constructed in England, two great pyramids and then the Sphinx were built on Egyptian sands. If you stood at the Sphinx on the summer solstice and gazed toward the two pyramids, you’d see the sun set exactly between them . . . and on the day of the solstice, be sure to look at your noontime shadow. It’s your shortest noontime shadow of the year.”

I hope everyone will enjoy a great summer!

Hughesville Events:

Weds. June 20 Gardening at Hughesville Area Public Library (HAPL), 146 South 5th Street, for kids ages 5 to 12 years old. Help the library staff plant the new community garden.

Thurs. June 21 “Wee Make Music” for children aged 12 months to 3 years and their caregivers at HAPL, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Thurs. June 21 “Basic Finance”, a program for tweens and teens at HAPL. This program takes place at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Fri. 22 June “Busy Bee Art Club” for children ages 1 to 4 years and their caregivers at HAPL at 10:30 a.m. This is a creative, exploration activity.

Sat. June 23 & Sun. June 24 Summer Fest with Meagan’s Box Foundation, a two day event with free admission at the Hughesville fairgrounds. Featuring harness racing and live entertainment.

Mon. June 25 “Wee Tales” for children ages 12 mo. to 3 years and their caregivers at HAPL, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Tues. June 26 “Wee Build” Block Party for children ages 1 to 4 years old at HAPL at 10:30 a.m.

Weds. June 27 “Musical Instrument Showcase” at HAPL for children ages 5 to 12 years. Learn about different musical instruments. 2 p.m.