Page 3 - The Buzz 07/24/2026

JULY 24 - AUGUST 6, 2026 The LOCAL NEWS | A3
MCLS Summer Reading wraps

up July 31 BY LYNETTE DOTSON | THE BUZZ

Summer Reading 2026, Unearth apply your tickets gained to your
a Story ends July 31. Remember to favorite Summer Reading prizes. If
log your reading either by using the you have completed the challenge
Beanstack app or by visiting The by reading for 500 minutes, be sure
John McIntire Library or any of the to stop in any MCLS library for a free
five Muskingum County Library Sys- book.
tem branch libraries. So far, MCLS library card holders
Also remember to collect any have amassed 2,633,382 minutes
weekly prizes you’ve earned, and of reading collectively since May 30,
surpassing the library’s goal of 2.5
Youth motocross million minutes read.
As of Friday, July 24, there is a
racer raises money week left in the challenge to tally up
during festival more minutes and to finish strong as
a team of MCLS patrons and individ-
ually.
The Summer Reading Challenge is
always open to readers of all ages.
And minutes can be tracked for
reading all sorts of things, including
this article and others in The Buzz!
Going back to school is a crucial the Donation Tree at Colony Square Among the Grand Prizes for Sum-
time for students and their fami- Mall near T.J. Maxx. Pick a tag (or mer Reading are book box sets, a
lies, which can often be stressful. more) from the tree. Purchase the Toniebox, Nintendo Switch Lite, four
The goal of the Donation Tree is to items listed. Drop off your donation escape room passes for Escape
add additional support by providing at The 146, JCPenney or directly to Goats, a $150 gift card to Riesbecks,
essential items students need as Eastside Community Ministry (221 and a Dillon State Park Cabin Stay
they prepare to start a new school Stillwell St., Zanesville) during drop- and excursion (see app or website
year. off hours, Monday through Thursday Rylee Commeans set up a lemonade stand to for details).
Items are bring collected through from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed during raise money for motocross where she competes Summer Reading may be coming
all over the state. Rylee made the decision bring
the end of August to assist Eastside lunch noon to 1 p.m.) and Saturday her lemonade stand to Main Street in Dresden to a close, but you can continue to
Community Ministries with their 10 a.m. to noon. during America’s Basket Festival on one of her prioritize reading all year long! Stay
wonderful programs which serve Donations will be distributed at the only days off from competing this summer. She connected with the MCLS via their
races in primarily the boys class and she likes
and support our community. Lace Up For Kids event in August. beating them, since in the girls class most of the mobile app, their website, or their
How does it work? It’s simple! Visit competition are her friends. Matthew Dotson social media pages.

The Friendship VII Chorus celebrates 50 years

SUBMITTED | THE FRIENDSHIP VII CHORUS

The Friendship VII Chorus was char- choruses, friends and family a chance
tered in 1976 by combining the Cam- to reminisce the past 50 years and
bridge Cameo Chorus and the Zanes- look forward to harmonizing, enter-
ville Chorus. They decided to meet in taining and meeting new friends in the
New Concord, Ohio, thus naming their coming years.
chorus after John Glenn’s space cap- The Friendship VII Chorus is a part
sule, ‘The Friendship VII’. The chorus of the organization ‘SingUnited Inter-
is celebrating this milestone by doing national’ (formerly Sweet Adelines).
a 50th anniversary tour, with perfor- The International organization did a
mances featuring great American art- rebranding this year in order to bring
ists and songs. (Below is a list of our connection, friendship, and music to
tour dates.) the world as we grow into the future.
On October 4th, the chorus will have Our chorus members and perfor-
an open house at Cambridge Country mances include Muskingum, Guern-
Club from 1-4. They are inviting the sey, Morgan, Washington and most
public to come celebrate with them. surrounding areas. We rehearse on
The 50th Birthday/Anniversary Bash Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00
will give former members, neighboring at College Drive Presbyterian Church
CONTINUED ON A4