Bring your boxes and bags to the library this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Mid-Columbia Libraries biggest fundraising activity--the biannual Giant Bargain Book Sale.

Since Sunday morning, a dedicated group of volunteers have been unloading and sorting thousands of books, movies, audiobooks, and more in the meeting room at the Kennewick branch, located on Union Street.

When the Sale opens on Friday, readers of all genres and tastes will find items to their liking - from Christmas to cookbooks, from sports to science fiction. Parents, teachers, and homeschoolers look forward to the sale, where they can purchase kids' and young adult books for 25 cents each.

"The proceeds from the sale support important library initiatives, like the Summer
Reading Program, which motivated over 13,000 local readers this year. Friends of Mid‐Columbia Libraries is our library's greatest donor, and it is an even greater gift that we have a group of loyal volunteers who return season after season to host this giant sale," said Kyle P. Cox, Interim Executive Director for Mid‐Columbia Libraries.

WHEN: Friday‐Saturday, October 28 ‐ 29: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 30: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mid‐Columbia Libraries ‐ Kennewick Branch, 1620 S. Union, 99338
For more information, go to: www.midcolumbialibraries.org.

Several businesses are offering safe trick-or-treating options for youngsters, as well as parties and dances for kids (and adults) to show off their costumes. Here are a few options to ensure your family has a spooktacular time! (*admission fees may apply)

A costume party for ages 5 to 12 on Oct. 28th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elite Force Cheer behind Columbia Center. There will be a bounce house, costume contest and more. *

A Halloween party for babies up to age 6 at Tiny Tots Indoor Playground in Richland from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 31st. *

Hike up Badger Mtn. Trail with the YMCA. The walk starts at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29th. The hike wraps up with a free BBQ, face painting & pumpkin decorating.

Ranch & Home's SafeT Street Trick or Treat will be held Oct. 31st from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel next to Columbia Center mall in Kennewick.

Richland Community Center's Fall Carnival takes place on Oct. 28th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. *

A Halloween Dance will be provided by the Columbia River Dance Band for all ages on October 26th from 1 to 3:45 p.m. at the Pasco Senior Center. *

For your older kids, be sure to check out various Corn Mazes and Haunted Houses througout the region!

If you are trying to decide on the perfect homemade costume, turn your little one into a sweet M&M. MOM Magazine reader Evonne Walls provides a a tutorial that is simple to follow, even if sewing isn't your strong suit.

M&M Costume

Materials

• Fabric (felt or cotton blend is fine) in the color of M&M you want to be. Two yards for a toddler and up to three yards for an older child
• One to two yards of batting to make the M&M a little poufy
• Small remnant or quilter's square of white or brown fabric to make the M on the front of the costume
• White thermal underwear (one or two piece)
• Velcro strips

Instructions

1. Use a piece of cardboard to cut out a pattern. Cut a large circle to the size you need your costume to be, keep in mind its better for the costume to be a little big than too small. (Cut an oval pattern for a peanut M&M.)
2. Cut out four circles from the fabric and two circles from the batting using the cardboard pattern.
3. Cut a large M (Search for M&M under Google images for to print out a template) out of white material, then glue it to the front or use Wonder Under to iron the M onto the one of the circles. Appliqué the edges of the M. This circle will be the front of the front M&M piece.
4. Select two circle pieces and sew two strips (6"-7" each) of Velcro across each piece, one about one-third away from the top and the other one-third away from the bottom of the circle. You will then sew the other side of those Velcro pieces onto the back and stomach/chest region of the thermal underwear.
5. Now you will take one circle with the Velcro and the circle with the M and place them on top of the each other so the M and the Velcro are facing each other. You will repeat this step with the other two pieces except you just need to make sure the one circle that is blank has the right side (finished side) of it facing the Velcro strips.
6. Sew around the edges of each pair of circles leaving about 4" open at the top so you can turn the circles right side out so the raw seams are on the inside of the costume .
7. Stuff the batting inside the circles through the opening so it lays flat inside.
8. Once you have stuffed the batting inside you can close the opening by folding in the edges and hand stitching it closed or sewing it on your sewing machine.
9. You're done. Have your child put on the thermal underwear and then attach the circles.

Variations

Instead of affixing the M&M with Velcro you can sew straps or strings into the shoulder area and on the sides so you can tie the costume on.

Still trying to figure out Halloween costumes for the kiddos? Think outside the box - a cardboard box, that is. Check out all the great costume ideas using cardboard here, like Mia's American Doll costume.

The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities will host its 2^nd Annual Trick or Treat on the Trail, a  Halloween themed hike up Badger Mountain Trail on October 29^th at 10:00am.  This is a free family event open to anyone in the community. Give your kids the experience of seeing the entire Tri-Cities from atop the moutain.

Families and children are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes for our Trick or Treat hike.  Particpants will be provided trick or treat bags, goodies along the trail, a snack and water.

Join us after the hike for a family BBQ picnic, pumpkin decorating, face painting and lots of games at Trailhead park

Parking is limited, arriving early and carpooling are strongly encouraged!  Participants must sign up the morning of to the hike at Trailhead Park in Richland (Base of Badger Mountain). Morning of registration begins at 9:15am.  The first 100 kids registered will receive a free t-shirt!

I used Random.org to generate a number based on the number of entrants. It produced number 17, so lucky blog commenter #17 - Alison Bryant is the winner! Congratulations Alison, I hope you have a blast at Disney on Ice! Please let us know how the show is.

Mid-Columbia Libraries' eBook collection is now compatible with the world's bestselling eBook reader, the Amazon Kindle. Customers can download popular and classic eBooks to a Kindle device or any mobile device running the free Kindle app.  Kindle users can browse Mid-Columbia Libraries' online collection of over 20,000 eBooks, check out titles using a library card, and select "Get for Kindle" to deliver eBooks to their Kindle device or app.

The library is celebrating with a contest to give away two Kindles. Residents can enter three ways: through the app on Mid-Columbia Libraries' Facebook Page, on the library website at www.midcolumbialibraries.org, and with each library eBook they download (requires a library card).  Residents are encouraged to enter all three ways for more chances to win. The contest runs through October 31.

"We know many of our customers have been eagerly waiting for this news, and we're happy to announce that library eBooks now work on Kindles," said Michael Huff, Collections & Merchandising Director for Mid-Columbia Libraries. "This means our eBooks are now compatible with all the major eReader devices on the market, as well as with smart phones and home computers."

Mid-Columbia Libraries also offers eBooks and audiobooks for use on computers and popular mobile devices such as iPads, iPhones, and eBook readers like the Barnes & Noble Nook and Sony Reader.  The library is always adding to its downloadable collection and has seen demand increase 305% over last year.  Customers can suggest titles for the library to purchase for its collection.  Mid-Columbia Libraries' eBook service is provided through OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com), a global leader in eBook distribution for libraries and schools.

OverDrive is a full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. OverDrive delivers secure management, DRM protection, and download-fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers serving millions of end users.

Mid-Columbia Libraries enriches our communities by empowering individuals with mate rials and services for life-long learning and growth, starting at birth.  With eleven libraries and a Bookmobile, Mid-Columbia Libraries has provided our region with excellence in library services for more than 60 years.  For more information, go to: www.midcolumbialibraries.org.

THE TOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

MOM Magazine is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney on Ice to one lucky reader. In the comment section below, tell us if you have ever seen a Disney on Ice show, and if so, which one. We'll randomly pick a winner on October 17th.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTSDISNEY•PIXAR'S TOY STORY 3

IS COMING TO PORTLAND, OCTOBER 27 - 30!

WHAT: Toy Story 3, the Academy Award^®-winning smash hit blockbuster, is so hot it's cool as everyone's favorite toys take to the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3! An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the Toy Story gang to fans and families around the country in this all-new, high-energy ice spectacular.

Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, everyone's favorite characters are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to Portland for seven performances!  Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever.  Plus a few new faces join the fun, including Barbie's groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear.  It's the biggest Toy Story experience ever on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz's galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down on the set of  "Woody's Roundup."  Relive the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

WHEN:            October 27 - 30, 2011

Thursday, October 27^th - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 28^th - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 29^th - 12:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 30^th - 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Rose Garden - One Center Court Portland, OR 97227

TICKETS:          Ticket price levels are $17, $21, $36 (VIP) and $62 (Front Row). Opening Night tickets available for only $11 each (not valid on premium seating; limit 10 tickets per order). Tickets are available at the Rose Quarter Box Office, all participating Safeway/TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE, or at ComcastTIX.com. For groups of 10 and more please call 503.963.4400.

READY! for Kindergarten teaches parents and guardians how to talk, sing, read and play with children in simple ways that foster essential pre-literacy, pre-math and social-emotional skills. Utilizing research provided by educators, the READY! program is available for free to residents of Kennewick with children ages birth through 5 years old. Ineligible participants living outside the Kennewick boundaries pay $52 per class. Funded by the Kennewick School District, participants in the program are provided with material, books and educational toys each session. Classes are offered during the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.

Enrollment for the Fall session has begun and classes are available weeknights October 18^th through the 26^th, November 1^st through 3^rd and on Saturday October 15^th and 29^th. Sessions take place at a variety of elementary schools throughout Kennewick to meet the needs of caregivers. Spanish classes are also available November 5^th through the 7^th.  First time enrollees must attend the "Intro to READY!" mini-class which is held 30 minutes before the regular class begins. To enroll online, visit: http://www.readyforkindergarten.org/kennewick. Returning enrollees who "refer a friend" will be entered in a drawing to win a basket of educational toys and books.

In addition to classes being offered for free to Kennewick residents, free childcare is available so parents can focus on material presented while their children are cared for. Material and concepts provided during sessions will help children learn the skills they need to start and stay at grade level.