Recs and ReadsBy Anne McKay GarrisChristmas is in the air if you are a Floridian, adopted, or otherwise. And the annual Clearwater Beach Community Christmas Caroling will be held on Tuesday night, December 16, starting at 7 p.m. This year it will be in Mandalay Park, located beside the fire station on Mandalay Avenue (across from the tennis courts). Bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on and a friend, or neighbor to enjoy the singing. The popular Lindblom Family will be leading the carol singing again this year, and refreshments will be served by the Clearwater Beach Association, sponsors of the event. If you are a native, this is a good time to wish your neighbors a Merry Christmas. If you are visiting, this is a chance to join the natives in their annual celebration of the best time of the year. I was delighted to find light and delightful Christmas reading gathered in one spot at the Beach Library. Our new librarian, Maureen Kaufman, helped me find them. In addition to helpful stuff like Jazzy Gift Basket and Christmas Gifts For Everyone, I found easy read books by Jan Karon, Debbie Macombe and even John Grisham. Mr. Grisham's book is a light-hearted story of a man who decided to skip the usual Christmas stuff and go on a cruise. It's full of chuckles and warm fuzzies. Mrs. Kaufman, our new librarian, is a retired school teacher from the Chicago area of Illinois, and has gone recently from being a full time Clearwater resident to part time, due to the arrival of grandchildren and the desire to be with them in Illinois. She has worked for the Clearwater Library for eight years, most of them at the Countryside Branch.
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