My boys are 7 and nearly 5-years-old. My oldest loves showing off his reading skills to the family, and I am always trying to find new ways to feed his passion for books, especially when school is out.

Did you know that kids who don’t read over the summer lose ground when they return to school in the fall?

“Much like we would expect an athlete or a musician's performance to suffer if they didn't practice regularly, the same thing is true for young people when it comes to reading performance," says Ron Fairchild, founding CEO of the National Summer Learning Association in an article published last year on the International Reading Association’s Web site.
But those who keep reading over the summer keep their skills sharp.

That’s why I’m super excited about Team Read, the summer reading program at The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The annual program runs now through July 31 and you can win awesome prizes including tickets to a Reds game or tickets to Coney Island for you and your family. Plus, if you read the most books at your branch library, you can win a NOOK Color e-readers.

Registering is easy: hop online to register or stop into one of the Library’s 41 branch locations. Once you complete books, just sign into your online Team Read account and log books or minutes read. You can also print out a logging form or pick one up at your library branch. The more books you read, the more prizes you win.

The program is free and for everyone – preschoolers, kids, teens and adults. You don’t have to have a library card nor do you need to be a Hamilton County resident to register.
Don’t know what to read? The library has summer reading lists posted by age group on their web site by age category: Pre-school, kids, teens and adults.
Feel free to share your favorite book here or join the Twitter conversation by using #myfavoritebook in your tweets this week.

For program updates and other library news, follow The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:
•On Twitter: www.twitter.com/cincylibrary
•On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiLibrary

Laura

We will be out "Guest Grillers" at BD's Mongolian Grill in Deerfield Township. Check out the info below for details. We would love to see you tomorrow night!

(courtesy of mason buzz) A memorial benefit for fallen Warren County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Dulle has been set for Wednesday, June 8, with proceeds benefiting an organization set up in support of his sick daughter.

Deerfield Township and bd’s Mongolian Grill are teaming up to host the benefit, also held in honor of his oldest daughter Madelyn, known as Maddie.

The 10-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of children’s cancer called pleuropulmonary blastoma in October 2003 and is currently undergoing treatment for it.

Maddie’s Hope, a nonprofit organization, was formed in 2004 to honor her and to raise money to help in the fight against cancer. Donations are used for cancer research, programs and services for the children and their families while at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Maddie’s Hope and the Sgt. Brian Dulle Memorial Fund. Dulle, a 36-year-old married father of three young children, was killed trying to end a police chase last month.

The memorial event features food, raffles and silent auction, T-shirt give-aways and other activities. “Guest grillers,” including Deerfield Township officials and local celebrities, will be on-hand to show off their skills and help raise funds.

Organizers expect a turnout of about 500 people to attend. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. that evening at the Deerfield Township restaurant at 8655 Mason-Montgomery Road and is expected to run until at least 9 p.m.

Glen Power from The Script called in this afternoon and we chatted about a bunch of things including the Sept 10th date here at PNC Pavilion and more. Listen below and buy your tickets beginning this Friday morning at 10am,

Hey, it’s Brian Douglas! Join me on Saturday, June 11 from 9-11 a.m. at Wal-Mart on 2900 Towne Blvd in Middletown, OH for Mayfield Dairy’s Taste A Palooza!

Come out and see me, sample all the Mayfield ice cream flavors, check in on Facebook to receive coupons for free ice cream and more! Bring the kids to experience the ice cream festival!

Log onto Facebook and like Mayfield at http://www.facebook.com/MayfieldDairyFarms?sk=wall to submit your favorite milkshake recipes and enter to win The Ultimate RV Getaway for your family! See you Saturday!

Cincinnati This Weekend
New on DVD
Drive Angry¡¨ Nicholas Cage

New Movies this week
¡§X-Men First Class¡¨

Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers
Friday, Sat and Sunday at GABP
Friday Fireworks
Saturday first 20,000 fans receive a military style cap.
Sunday first 10,000 kids receive a free Gapper pillowcase.

16th annual Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory
Featuring "Butterflies of Brazil"
Now through June 26th.

June is Q102 Listener Appreciation Month
Win tickets to the summer¡¦s hottest shows like: Kings of Leon, Kid Rock, Janet Jackson, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at Riverbend and PNC Pavilion.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
New "Night Hunters" exhibit
Merging the best of the Nocturnal House and the Cat House.

Summerfair at Coney Island
Browse the photography, painting and jewelry displays and more while enjoying music and food.

New Movies
The Hangover Part II – Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis
Kung Fu Panda 2 – Jack Black

New on DVD
I Am Number Four – Alex Pettyfer and Dianna Agron
Gnomeo & Juliet - Animated

P & G Taste of Cincinnati
Fifth Street between Race and Broadway . features more than 40 area restaurants, more than 70 entertainment acts. Dancing with the Stars’ Mark Ballas will make an appearance on the Metromix stage on Saturday at 5:30. Saturday and Sunday, from noon to midnight, and Monday, noon to 9 p.m. Admission is free

Doggie Dash
Saturday, 10 a.m. at Sawyer Point. Registration 8:30 a.m. Two mile walk along Ohio River with your dog. Walkers without dogs welcome. Rain or shine. Benefits Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Cincinnati.

RGI River Run
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on the Purple People Bridge. Registration begins at 8 a.m. 5K run/walk appeals to top runners, recreational athletes and families; includes parent/child team division. Includes Special K for children with disabilities and Children’s Fun Run. Benefits Kicks for Kids.

Hunger 5K Walk and Run
Monday, 9 a.m. – Noon at Sawyer Point. Begins near the Purple People Bridge. All the money raised goes directly to food pantries, soup kitchens, and social service agencies in Cincinnati's neighborhoods. Benefits Freestore Foodbank.
Rob Base at Boogie Nights Nightclub at Hollywood Casino
Friday. He’s half of the hip-hop duo that brought us “It Takes Two” and “Joy and Pain!”.

Dinosaurs Alive! At Kings Island
More than 60 life-sized dinosaurs will be on display, including 56 animatronic models, in a spectacular outdoor Jurassic forest setting. A separate admission ticket of just .00 is required for the attraction.

Weird Al Yankovic
Sunday, 8 p.m. Doors open 7 p.m. Weird Al has a new arsenal of material including a Lady Gaga spoof, "Perform This Way.

Night Hunters Exhibit at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Renovated exhibit merges the best of the Nocturnal House and the Cat House in one.

Zoo Babies at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
See Zuri, the one-month-old giraffe. Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and other kid favorites will perform on select weekends throughout the month.

Newport Aquarium Penguin Palooza
Exhibit hours 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission adults… Children . Toddlers free.

16th Annual Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory
Featuring the styles, sounds and soul of Brazil. Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Runs through June 26th.
Cleopatra: The Exhibition at Cincinnati Museum Center
Art & history which has been lost to the sea and sand for nearly 2,000 years. Here through September 5th.
 
Memorial Day Events:

Memorial Day Weekend Festival
Where: Koenig Park in Reading
When: Friday, May 27, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (music starts at 8 p.m.), Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, from 2- 11 p.m. and Monday, May 30, from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
What: Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with games, rides, bands and food at Koenig Park in Reading. This festival benefits the Valley Youth Organization.
Cost: Free of charge
Contact: 513-563-2885 513-563-2885

Arlington Memorial Garden
Where: Arlington Memorial Gardens-- 2145 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231
When: Friday, May 27, Saturday, May 28 and Monday, May 30, from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m.
What: Visit the Garden of Patriotism to display your tribute to a loved one. These lasting memories will stored with others after Memorial Day.
Cost: Free of Charge
Contact: http://www.arlingtonmemorialgardens.org

City of Fairfield Memorial Day Parade
Where: Parade route: Left on Hicks Blvd., right on Nilles, left on Bibury, right on Wessel, ends at Fairfield Veterans Memorial Park, 700 Wessel Drive.
When: Monday, May 30, at 10 a.m.
What: This parade features veterans, military units, the Fairfield High School Marching Band, Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield Fire and EMS units, and community groups and organizations. The parade will conclude with a brief ceremony including guest speakers and music.
Cost: Free of charge
Contact: http://www.fairfield-city.org/events/memorialday.cfm

Evanston Memorial Day Parade and Community Parade
Where: Evanston Recreation Center-- 3204 Woodburn Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45207
When: Monday, May 30 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
What: The parade is a 2-mile loop through community at goes from 10 a.m. until noon. Then, the Community Fair takes place from noon-2 p.m.
Cost: Free of charge
Contact: 513-281-2775 513-281-2775

Blue Ash Memorial Day Parade
Where: Parade route: Begins Reed Hartman Highway and Cooper Road, east on Cooper to Kenwood Road, south on Kenwood to Hunt Road, east on Hunt to Veterans Memorial Park.
When: Monday 10:15 a.m.
What: Following the parade, celebrations will take place at Blue Ash Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free of charge
Contact: 513-745-8550 513-745-8550

Memorial Day Specials at the Cincinnati Museum Center
Where: 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate
When: Saturday through Monday
What: Discounts to Cincinnati Museums for veterans and their families with a valid ID.
Cost: Active, retired or veteran military personnel can receive one All Museums Pass free of charge. Immediate family of active, retired or veteran military members receive off an All Museums Pass, Omnimax ticket or combo ticket. Active, retired or veteran military and their immediate family members (up to four people on one sale) also receive off tickets to the exhibition Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.

Want to win a NOOK Color e-reader? How about winning tickets for you and your family or friends to go to a Cincinnati Reds game or to hang out at Coney Island for the day?

All you have to do is crack open the books and get reading this summer.
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is giving away 123 NOOK Colors and more than 600 Reds tickets and more than 600 tickets to Coney Island as part of its annual summer reading program, dubbed Team Read.

The eight-week program officially kicks off Wednesday (June 1) and runs through July 31. You can register online or at any of the 41 library branches. The program is free and for everyone – preschoolers, kids, teens and adults.

Prizes are awarded based on age category and the more books you and your family read, the more prizes you will win. For every reading level you complete, drop by a Library location to collect a prize.

Readers do NOT have to have a library card or live in Hamilton County to participate.
Various kickoff parties are planned at branch locations this week, starting this Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Main branch at 8th7th and Vine Streets. Stop by the library before the Reds game, grab a free refreshments and play Reds Trivia to win Reds Hall of Fame tickets and prizes.

If you can’t make that, grab the kids and stop by any library branch location this Saturday (June 4) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The UC Bearcats mascot will be at the Anderson branch, at 7450 State Road, and members of the Cincinnati Kings will be at the Pleasant Ridge branch, at 6233 Montgomery Road. There will be refreshments, games and other events at all 41 branch locations.

A full list of kickoff events can be found here.
For program updates and other library news, follow The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:
•On Twitter: www.twitter.com/cincylibrary
•On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiLibrary

JT makes fun of himself and takes a shot at Justin Bieber too. This was shot during the dress rehearsal and never aired this past Saturday night.