Good morning.  This is Kelly Kill from the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce with the upcoming activities.

The Covered Bridge Farmers’ Market is held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on the bridge in Memorial Park, St. Marys.  The markets include not only fresh produce, herbs and plants, but also baked goods, crafts and arts.  Each week there will be performing artists doing demonstrations and creating a festival-type atmosphere.  If you would like to participate as a vendor, contact the Chamber office, 419-300-4611 to receive an application.  There is special pricing for those who wish to sell each of the 14 Saturdays.  Everyone is invited to come to downtown St. Marys and browse the market, be entertained and “shop til you drop!”

The Campus Ministry worship band “Proof of Purchase” will give a free concert on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Gazebo in Memorial Park in St. Marys.  The band, part of the Campus Crusade for Christ Ministry, will give a 90-minute performance with music, testimonies and words from the gospel.  This will be outstanding family entertainment for all ages.  Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and plan to attend.  For more information, contact Steve Stroh at 419-305-1737.

AAarrrgh!! Its pirates on the high seas!  The Pirates of St. Marys is coming Saturday and will be a celebration of the seafaring crew with games, food, entertainment and more.  Highlighted will be the CBS’ Pirate Master show and their judging of the Best St. Marys Pirate 2007, a Jack Sparrow look-alike, a pirate soapbox derby, dunking of St. Marys Mayor Greg Freewalt and others, and a lot of fun and games.  Come see the pirate ship and “if yer young maties” want a high seas good time, come to St. Marys for this pirate event.  For more information, call 419-953-6377.

This Sunday the Rotary Club continues its Concerts in the Park events by hosting the Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes, 555th Air Force Band.  The band is wholeheartedly committed to reflecting the diversity of our great nation.  They encourage individuals from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds to learn about the Ohio Air National Guard and seek positions in the band program.   Also included in the St. Marys performance will be members of the Memorial High School Band. The performance, to begin at 3:00 p.m., will take place in the Memorial High School Performing Arts Center.  The admission is free, but a ticket is necessary.  Free tickets are available by contacting 419-394-4011.

The St. Marys Community Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.  They invite adults to read and discuss the book The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd at the Tuesday Morning Book Group, July 3, at 10:30 A.M. The Secret Life of Bees is told from the point of view of 14-year-old Lily, whose only memory of her mother is the night she was tragically killed. The beautifully told Southern tale is about Lily’s search for a mother and her coming of age. Spiritual, emotional, and compelling, The Secret Life of Bees is available at the Library. Check out a copy today so you can join the Tuesday Morning Group discussion. For more information about this and other Library programs, visit the St. Marys Community Public Library at 140 S. Chestnut Street or on the web at www.stmarys.lib.oh.us, or call (419) 394-7471.

There are several celebrations you might want to attend over the Independence Day holiday.  Celina is offering Freedom Days this weekend on Lake Shore Drive.  Included are fireworks, laser light show, live music, concessions, and free games for kids.  Hours are Friday from 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight. New Knoxville is offering their Independence Day Celebration on July 3 and 4 with music, games, plenty of food and a pie-eating contest.  They also offer a fireworks display at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.  The St. Joseph Festival will also be held on July 3 and 4 with food, games and more.  Fireworks are at 11 p.m. on July 4 in Wapakoneta.

Adult and high school or college student artists residing in Auglaize, Allen, Mercer, Van Wert, Hardin, Darke, Shelby, and Logan counties are eligible to enter the 18th Annual St. Marys Summer Artfest. Judges will be Evelyn Mahrt and Patrick Mauk. Prizes and awards include: Best of Show, sponsored by Hunter Printing and Office Supply; 18th Annual Award offered by the Friends of the Library; Watercolor Award sponsored by Wright State University-Lake Campus; 3 Dimensional Award given by Donald Glaser; Photography Award offered by Coldwell Banker-Plus One Professionals; Ohio Theme Award sponsored by Doris Lawler; Graphite/Pastel Award offered by Bill & Jamie Carpenter; Oil/Acrylic Award sponsored by The Peoples Bank Co.; People’s Choice Award offered by the Friends of the Library; First Place sponsored by First Financial Bank; Second Place sponsored by Wright State University-Lake Campus; and Third Place offered by First Financial Bank. Ribbons will be awarded to all winners and honorable mentions. Entries for Artfest are due at the Library: Thursday, July 19, 10am - 7pm; Friday, July 20, 10am - 5pm; Saturday, July 21, 10am - 2pm; and Monday, July 23, 10am - 7pm.  Opening Day Reception & Awards Presentation is scheduled for August 5, 2pm - 4pm. Exhibition dates and times are as follows: August 6-9, 10am - 7pm; August 10, 10am - 5pm; August 11, 10am - 2pm; and August 12, noon - 4pm.

The three Chambers in Auglaize County are taking applications now for the next Auglaize County Leadership Class which begins in September.  The program each year is comprised of about a dozen individuals who meet on the third Thursday of each month from September through June.  Class topics throughout the year include: Criminal Justice and Safety, Communications and Media, Health Care and Human Services, Education, Local Government, Agriculture, History and Tourism,  and Industry and Economic Development.  It’s a great way to learn about the county and to make some important business contacts.  If you would like to be a member of the next class which will begin in September of 2007 just call one of the three Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce offices.  These offices are the Southwest Auglaize Chamber at 419-629-0313, the Wapakoneta Chamber at 419-738-2911, and the St. Marys Chamber at 419-300-4611.

The Auglaize County Council on Aging is accepting garage sale items now through early August for their August 10 Garage Sale.  All items should be clean and in working order.  They may be dropped off between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Auglaize County Leadership class members will meet this morning to talk about Agriculture.  Class members will also be touring various farms and agriculture-related businesses throughout the county and have a panel discussion at noon on agribusiness.  The Auglaize County Leadership Program each year is comprised of about a dozen individuals who meet on the third Thursday of each month from September through June.  Class topics throughout the year include: Industry and Economic Development Education, Communications and Media, Criminal Justice and Safety, Local Government, History and Tourism, and Health Care and Human Services.  It’s a great way to learn about the county and to make some important business contacts.  If you would like to be a member of the next class which will begin in September of 2007 just call one of the three Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce offices.  These offices are the Southwest Auglaize Chamber at 419-629-0313, the Wapakoneta Chamber at 419-738-2911, and the St. Marys Chamber at 419-300-4611.

Your garage sale is over and you have leftover items.  Bring those items to the Agape Pantry located at 1220 East Spring Street.  Agape volunteers will take not only clothing items, but household items, furniture, bicycles and more.  Don’t forget also that Agape sells these items to anyone, then turns the profits from the sales into food items to be given out to those who are in need of food.  They currently are serving 300-500 citizens of Auglaize County each month.  Help Agape help others – bring your clean used items to Agape and don’t forget to shop in their thrift store while you are there.

To register for any of these programs, or to check out other programs at the St. Marys Community Public Library, call 419-394-7471, visit them on the web at www.stmarys.lib.oh.us, or visit them at the Library, 140 S. Chestnut St.

What do you like to do?  Do you like to work with people?  Are you interested in history?  Do you like to teach others, or do you like to craft things yourself?  If so, you might want to check out the Auglaize County Historical Society.  The society has volunteers in many capacities.  They offer tours of their museums, they make displays, take historical artifacts on the road for classes, have a newsletter, and much more.  You may just find something that you enjoy and still volunteer to help others at the same time.  If you are interested in working with the society, call 738-9328 or 394-7069 to sign up.