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SOLON—Solon’s kids were welcomed to the library’s Storytime with a ukulele last week, as new Youth Services Librarian Cassandra (Cassi) Elton sang and strummed “If You Want to Read a Book” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
Elton, who began in her new role on Sept. 18, will be facilitating and planning weekly Storytime, instructing Babygarten, and organizing early-out activities and teen programming.
Working with boisterous children sounds like a fun challenge to her, rather than a scary task. She loves kids’ contagious enthusiasm.

NORTH LIBERTY– What kid hasn’t turned up their nose at vegetables, no matter how well prepared, opting instead for French fries or pizza, if given the choice? It’s a perennial problem for parents of middle-schoolers and teenagers.
A new program, piloted this summer in Johnson County, aims to offer a solution. On Aug. 9, kids who participated in the Grow It Cook It summer day camp held their first public “Taste and Tour” event at the garden space adjacent to the North Liberty Community Pantry (NLCP).

Solon’s Homecoming royalty will be named this week, culminating with the crowning of the queen Friday night during halftime of the varsity football game against Fort Madison. The 2017 Homecoming Court includes: (front) Alexis Ashton, Grace Keith, Ellen Cross, Delaney Bair, Sophie Nicol, Olivia Felton; (back) Nick Radcliffe, Luke Ira, Tyler Linderbaum, Payton Bandy, Zach Wegmann, Spencer Wegmann and Jaden Owen. (photo by Doug Lindner)

SOLON– “Cast out the Demons,” capped on each side by the Spartan logo, was the warning off Highway 1 as the Washington Demons came to town on Friday, Sept. 15. They should have heeded the warning as the Solon Spartans demolished the Washington Demons, 40-0.
The Solon Spartans are sitting at 4-0, 2-0 in district play, and have only allowed seven points.
Did Solon Head Football Coach Kevin Miller see that coming?
“I’m not sure to be honest,” Miller said. “We knew that we had some important pieces in places that would allow our team to achieve at a high level.”

By Nathan Countryman
Solon Economist
SOLON– D.R. Miller is proving you’re never too old to start a new career.
Miller was recently named the new manager for the Old Gold Diner in Solon, taking over for Duane McAtee, who retired at the end of July.
“One of the biggest challenges for me has been that I’ve been used to writing everything down in ink in my professional life,” Miller said. “This job requires you to write things down a lot more in pencil, to be willing to be flexible to whatever changes the day brings.”