For many parents (and their children), whether the are back to school on a modified plan or doing a fully remote-learning schedule, an educational professional recommends the following advice for embracing this new school year.  Thank you, The New York Times for your article, Keeping a Love for School Alive.

• Create a welcoming at-home learning environment with clear boundaries
• Figure out what they hate, and why they hate it
• Don’t catastrophize about the “what-if’s” about your child’s education

From Mr. Christian, our BCLS Branch Manager and Library Director

• Properly worn mask (that means covering mouth AND nose) at all times and temperature check upon entry
• Only 12 customers allowed in at any one time
• You will now be able to pick up your holds here at Riverton (though you can still do curbside at Cinnaminson if you prefer)
• We cannot accept returns at the desk.  All items being returned must still go through the book drop.
• While we are open to browsing and computer use (including copying and faxing) we are not yet open for notary services
• We are not open for meetings, programs, or as a study/work area

For those who are concerned about mail-in voting, “one of our most trusted institutions” is being considered as a site for dropping off voting ballots — public libraries!

The New York Times‘ How Libraries Can Save the 2020 Election opinion page investigates those cities that may extend the steeled and secure voting boxes that would be available at public libraries — saving voters from in-person or mailing in their ballots.  Read the controversy in their article and you decide.

As most Rivertonians may know, our own Dreer’s Nursery first imported the dreaded Japanese beetle (as a grub) to the United States in some iris bulbs from Japan in 1916.  These destructive beetles spread throughout the country.  One Riverton neighbor remembered that as a boy, he collected these pests by the jar-full in order two quell their spread.

Spotted Lanternflies: This time, not that we imported these deceptively-lovely planthoppers from Japan, but they have arrived in Riverton.   The menace must be stopped in order to protect the vines, fruit trees, and other tasty sap plants that they enjoy; they are not harmful to people, but they kill trees. Praying Mantis will eat the Spotted Lanternfly, but if you see this pest, step on it, kill it, as advised by the PA Dept of Agriculture.