July 15, 2026
Thank you to our wonderful Friends of the Library and all our supportive friends and family from near and far! We had a wonderful turnout for the Bellringer Run with 215 runners this year. The winning runners are: 1st, Joy Keller; 2nd, Samantha Bay, and 3rd, Hadley Bay – 1st, Lian Wielert, 2nd Riley Naughton, and 3rd Colten Thewis. First places finishers were each awarded a Sara Balbin runner trophy on our local granite and medals from Apple Awards. Ribbons for age categories were handed out too. We like to thank Mike Thewis our Race Director and his team of volunteers: Marcy Henri, Sara Schultz, Jim Markee, Kay & Ken Reader, Harry & Liz Smith, Alison & Steve Thewis, Cheryl & Mike Hamm, Tana Turonie, Dave Karlinsky, Terry Van Buren, Darcie Lehman, Laura Laitinen-Warren & Breck Warren, Lucas Warren, and Charlie Warren and Starr Thewis. Thank you to The City of Mellen’s Matt Mesko & Russ Karow, the Mellen City EMT’s Gwen Watson and Jake Kruzan, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Department, Kenny Claggett of Superior Choice Credit Union, and the Mellen Lions Club, Sam & Carolyn Kochel, and Morgan Peck. It was a beautiful day to celebrate Independence Day with all of you!
Thank you to all our participants! You have helped once again to make the Bellringer Run the most successful fundraising event of the year! We have a few children’s sized t-shirt available for purchase at the library for $15 each. Thank you to our sponsors: Ashland County Housing Authority, Bayfield Electric Cooperative, The Brick Helping Hands Food Shelf, Camp Eagle Ridge, Cans for Kids, Copper Ridge, Dusty’s Saloon, Fisher Sand & Gravel, The Kochel Family, Kretzschmar Holsteins, Inc., Mellen Chamber of Commerce, Mellen Home & School Association, Mellen Lions Club, Mellen Rod & Gun Club, Mountain Funeral Home, North Country Lumber Co., Inc, Northern Highlights, Northern Lights Electrical, Northland Foods, O’Dovero Farms, The Reader Family, Superior Choice Credit Union, Tamarack Health, The Thewis Family Busing, Tom Lazorik Electric, Town of Morse, Tri-M Sanitary/Recycling, V-Septic Service, Wholly Threads, and Wild Grounds Coffee, Co.
Thank you to the library’s parading dinosaurs and friends: Mike Thewis, Breck Warren, Arielle Ciatti, Charlie Warren, Lucas Warren, Starr Thewis, and Skyler Thewis. We’ve received many compliments on our group. The dinosaurs were representative of our programming theme “Unearth a Story.” Our programs, crafts, and weekly projects have centered around dinosaurs, paleontology, and fossils. Summer Reading doesn’t end until the first day of school. So be sure and stop by the library to earn your reading medals and pick up a craft. This week, Axel and Dax Vernoski were awarded their Summer Reading medals. Congratulations!
The Friends also hosted a Summer Raffle and chose to do a 50/50 Raffle this year. Dennice Polencheck is our lucky winner! Thank you one and all for purchasing tickets.
The week or so ahead:
8:30am on Wednesday the 15th: Asahi Nordic Exercise
10am on Thursday the 16th: The Littles Storytime (Last one.)
7pm on Thursday the 16th: Adult Storytime with The Declaration of Independence as our theme
12:30pm on Friday the 17th: Teen & Tween Painting -“Backyard Magic” with Paint with Skye
10am-2pm on Monday the 20th: CLICK Computer help with Jake Koval
8:30am on Wednesday the 22nd: Asahi Nordic Exercise
6pm on Friday the 24th: Christmas in July, “Santa’s Secret” with Michelle the Painter
6pm on Monday the 27th: Summer Reading Book Club “Dragon Teeth” by Michael Crichton