Reading Time With The Rotary

Luke Snider, 4, of Harrisonburg takes his favorite book for a spin in the sports car situated in the Rotary Reading Corner at the Village Library in Broadway. (Photo by Aimee George)

Amie Lam, 2, sits in her mother Tabatha’s (left) lap during story time with Debbie Huckeba (center) at the Village Library. The pair, from Timberville, shared a table with Levi Forster, 5, (second from right) and his sister Naomi, 2, of Broadway. (Photo by Aimee George)

"Service Above Self," and a bit of gambling, is what allows the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville to continue to serve the community.

The club was issued a $3,000 matching grant by Rotary International for the new Village Library in Broadway, which was used to provide a reading area for children.

Dubbed the “Rotary Reading Corner,” the nook is defined by bright, bold colors, a racecar seating area, a “funky” red sofa, rocking chairs and tables and chairs for crafting and other activities.

The cost to create the corner totaled more than $8,000. Though currently in use, the club continues to raise funds for the project, as well as other efforts.

“We love the reading corner, and the new library has so much more room,” says Tabatha Lam of Timberville, who enjoys story time Thursday mornings with her daughter, Amie, who is nearly three years old.

Barbara Andes, Branch Manager of the Village Library says, “the kids have just been loving it and having a fantastic time — they are really enjoying all the great new items.”

The new Village Library in Broadway will celebrate its grand opening, March 16 from 11 to 1 p.m.
There will be snacks, stories, crafts and more. For more information, call (540) 896-1646.

Taking A Gamble


Casino Night, one of the club’s larger fundraisers, is hosted annually at the Plains Community Center in Timberville.

“This is the fifth year of Casino Night. We struggled for a while to find a nice, big fundraiser, rather than making a big dinner for everyone. We hope to bring in several thousand dollars,” says Ina Baker, Membership Director of the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville.


The evening will be full of events, including casino games, video horse races, silent auctions, door prizes and a buffet dinner.

“There will be a $1,000 grand prize given at the end of the evening,” says Baker.

She says the Rotary Club focuses on many projects, both locally and globally: “The first project of Rotary International was to provide public restrooms in businesses; before this, restrooms were not accessible to the public.”

“Some of our current projects include: Adopting families at Christmas for shopping and dinner, a weekly reading at John C. Myers and Plains Elementary, emergency survival kits and food donations,” explains Baker.

The Rotary Club is also active in efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.

“Only three countries remain: Nigeria, Afghanistan and India. The rotary has been very active in this eradication, even going door-to-door in underdeveloped areas to eliminate polio.”

For more information on the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville call (540) 896-2575.
 

Contact Aimee George at  (540) 574-6269 or ageorge@dnronline.com