Reading Is Fun! On a hot and sunny Thursday afternoon last month St. Helena Club youth awaited a visit from one of the members favorite organizations, the local Federated Women's Club. Members know that any time these wonderful women show up something very special happens. This dedicated group sponsors a local Reading is Fun (RIF) program. RIF brings the joy of reading and of book ownership to our Club Youth.

The Club prepared for the visit. The art room was transformed into a bright and cheerful reading room. There were plenty of places to sit and listen to the stories that St. Helena Children's Librarian extraordinaire, Leslie Stanton read. Two very long tables held an abundance of books in English and Spanish. Then of course there were the cookies.

Club Members were transfixed by Leslie's animated and playful readings while sneaking peaks at the piles of books and cookies waiting for them. When Leslie finished her reading program she invited Club Members to get up and select a book to keep and a cookie to enjoy. The room broke into happy chaos! The Members clearly appreciating finding and keeping just the book they want and a yummy cookie to munch.

The Club would like to thank Susanne Salvestrin and all the woman of the local Federated Women's Club for organizing and sponsoring Reading is Fun. The Boys & Girls Club is fortunate to be a recipient of your commitment and generosity to your community. For this we thank you and our Members love you!

A Summer farewell. The last day of the Calistoga Club's Summer Program was a significant day of heartfelt goodbyes, thank you's and hugs.

It was a day for Members to reflect on and appreciate all they did from their favorite moments with friends and Staff to their personal accomplishments over the course of the summer. Among the highlights that Members shared were the morning walks around town, singing campfire songs without the campfire, the theme weeks, friends old and new and just how much fun it was. At different points in recalling the Club's summer a member or two would start singing a familiar song with everyone eventually joining in.

The consensus among Members and Staff is this year's Summer Program has been one of the very best. There were so many good friends and memories made over the weeks together no one realized just how quickly the summer went by.

This summer the Club registered 145 members, roughly tripling in size since last summer. If anything is clear, it's that the Club has become a place kid's look forward to taking part in. A place they can rely on. A place they can call home and their own.