Ice Cream Social is Saturday at Blue Ridge Summit library

July 15, 2004|by RICHARD BELISLE

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, Pa. - This year, the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library has to raise $8,500 as its share to keep the library operating and a good chunk of that money comes from its annual Ice Cream Social and Book Sale, said Nancy Bert, the library's branch manager.

The 30th edition of the social will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library.

The library, a branch of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library in Waynesboro, Pa., has been in continual operation in the mountaintop community since 1922, Bert said. It started out in a room at the Church of the Transfiguration and moved to its current building at 13676 Monterey Lane in 1958 in what was the Blue Ridge Summit train station.

The library operates with an annual budget of $42,800, most of which comes through the state of Pennsylvania. It also gets money from Washington Township.

The library serves patrons in the Blue Ridge Summit area, plus some from Adams County, Pa., and Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland since Blue Ridge Summit borders both states on the Mason-Dixon Line.

Frederick County contributes money to the system through the main library in Waynesboro, Bert said.

She works full time in the library. Deborah Heinecker is a part-time assistant.

Proceeds from the ice cream social help pay for building repairs, maintenance, operating expenses and utilities, Bert said.

More than 1,000 books will be offered for sale at the social.

Food will include locally made ice cream, hot dogs, steamers, nachos, snacks, baked goods, funnel cakes and beverages.

Library volunteers will sell T-shirts, tote bags, notecards, art prints, Christmas ornaments and woodblock library miniatures. Floral bookmarks made by Caroline Mack, now deceased, a longtime Blue Ridge Summit resident, also will be sold. A white elephant sale will offer various items.

The Wayne Band will perform at 11 a.m. and other groups will give concerts throughout the day. David Smith and his One-Man Sideshow will perform for children.

Firetruck rides also will be offered.

Free seated massages will be given by Synergy Therapeutic Massage Center and Training School of Blue Ridge Summit.

Robert S. Davis of Blue Ridge Summit will present the Harvey Bridgers Award, a $50 savings bond, to a fifth- or sixth-grader recognized for exemplary use of the library and its services.

For more information, call the library at 717-794-2240.

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