Fun was the theme at the party celebrating the end of the summer reading program at Mendon Library. Photo by Kelly Paganelli
The “Unearth A Story” Summer Reading Program brought the Honeoye Falls-Mendon community out together for a variety of adventures. Almost 2,000 folks participated in the Mendon Public Library’s programs and reading challenges. Of the 284 children who picked up the Field Journals, 125 completed the reading challenge and read nearly 10,000 books. Additionally, more than 875 Take Home Crafts were distributed throughout the community.
Raffle prizes were awarded to kids, teens and adults. Prize winners included: Back Yard Barnyard, A. Reznikov; Back Yard Barnyard, C. Pascucci; Canandaigua Sailboard, Michael; Canandaigua Sailboard, A. Wilson; Canandaigua Sailboard, C. Carter; Canandaigua Sailboard, S. Bennett; Canandaigua Sailboard, A. Reakes; Club House Fun Center, Landon; Genesee Country Village, A. Chapman; Genesee Country Village, C. Livingston; Genesee Country Village, Michael; Landers River Trips, A. Wilson; Landers River Trips, E. Kniley; Lavender Moon Prize Bag, K. Livingston; Memorial Art Gallery, Vera; Memorial Art Gallery, Andre; Okay Gift Bag, K. Fornot; Okay Gift Bag, H. Potter; Red Wings, M. Livingston; RMSC Family Pack, Fornot; Seabreeze, Arcadia; Seabreeze, B. Fabretti; Seabreeze, Reznikov; Seneca Park Zoo, A. Bennett; Seneca Park Zoo, E. Searles; Strong Museum, H. Galvsha; Strong Museum, L. Phelan; Strong Museum, Cooper Family; Strong Museum, C. Lenahan; 20 Deep Gift Card, B. Bigham; Yoga Love Gift Card, Phelan Family; Salvatore’s Gift Card, A. Esquivel; Scratch Off Album Poster, Allie B; Coloring Book, M. Viscardi; Coloring Book, Abigail K; Coloring Book, E. Bergman; Pirate Book, Otto; Dino Puzzle and Book, H. Evans; Dino Puzzle and Book, S. Harris.
Teens submitted book reviews, and there were four winners for the $25 Visa Gift Card (Sam Ameed, Asra Mayar, Adrian Reznikov, and Alex Reznikov). Hattie Auyer, Violet Catalano, Kate Lighthouse, and Charlotte Staples helped out at programs. The Teen Services Librarian, Emily English, offered awesome programming on Tuesday and Thursdays. Participation and involvement was impressive, especially around vegetable and flower plantings featured in the library’s donated raised garden beds from Taproot Collective. VolunTeen Gardeners for 2026 included: Eleni Apostoleris, Bryn Carson, Carlisi DiMino, Carter Gebhart, Kate Lighthouse, Lily Loewenguth, Mara Nichols, Kepler Piper, Walden Piper, Charlotte Staples, Preston Urbanski and Claire.
There were a number of adults submitting book reviews for the HFMP Gift Card. Beth Adams won the adult prize. Rory Allison, Jennifer DeVille Catalano, Mary Anne Magee, Cathy Rawlins, Gretchen Schober, and Nancy Yohannes, were valued adult volunteers.
Reading, exploring, or crafting – library patrons participated in it all. It was great fun to meet at the library and around the Village, Town, and County. Library officials were thrilled to have special guest readers including State Senator Pamela Helming, Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, Town Supervisor Joe Alati, County Legislator and Village Mayor Rick Milne, Monroe County Sheriff Kelly Valvassori, and Principals Allison Cimmerer and Joelle Weaver.
The Mendon Public Library offers the Summer Reading Program to the community thanks to generous grants and support from The Friends of Mendon Public Library, Honeoye Falls Marketplace, Honeoye Falls Salvatores, M&T Bank, Memorial Art Gallery, Mill Art Center, 20 Deep Winery, Back Yard Barnyard, Canandaigua Sailboard, Cottage Hotel, Dipper Dan, Genesee Country Village and Museum, Kiwanis, Lander’s River Trips, Lavendar Moon, Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester Red Wings, Seabreeze, Seneca Park Zoo, Strong Museum of Play, and Yoga Love. Next summer’s program theme is “Mysteries Await at Your Library.”
As summer winds down, the Friends of Mendon Public Library continue to support the love of reading by delivering 150 paperback books to Lima Primary School for distribution in their First Day Kindergarten Packs.
Library hours continue to be 9 am – 8 pm Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 5 pm on Friday, and 9 am – 3 pm on Saturday. The library will be CLOSED for Labor Day, Saturday, September 5 and Monday, September 7. For more information about library hours, services, and programs, please check the website: mendonlibrary.org. On that website, you can sign up for the monthly enewsletter to receive program notices and the latest library news.
