Dream Big Snakes at GV Library!

Sunshine, an Albino Burmese python, is 14-feet long
and weighs 120 pounds. Photo credit: Aubrey Foote

The grand finale for the summer reading program at the Garden Valley Library brought in fire trucks and ambulances, face painting, a fishing booth, and the Reptile Adventure Petting Zoo.

Tyler Messina, of Meridian, has been seen on television for years since he began taking in rescue creatures as a child, after he had to put his dog to sleep. Since then, he’s been taken with reptiles.

 

Diesel splashes with engine-like ferocity.

  His non-profit rescue menagerie has over seventy lizards, turtles, snakes and frogs--and spiders.



Messina remarks, “The children don’t bother them, as they’re always around and about people.”

  

Children’s librarian, Karen Benedict, says that the youngsters get coins for time spent reading. She marvels at one child—“He’s read fifty-four hours in eight weeks. I cannot wait to find out the total for all of them. I’m so excited!”









Crouch Volunteer Ambulance EMTs and Fire Chief,
Jon Delvalle, entertained library kids. Photo by Aubrey Foote

 Coins can buy toys like hula hoops, magnifying glasses and glow in the dark thingys.

Emily and Aspen, with Baby and Pop. Photo by Aubrey Foote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After everyone had eaten pizza at the picnic tables outside, the reptiles were the last to go. Teen helpers, Emily Goetsch and Aspen Foote, had to finally relinquish Baby, the Boa Constrictor and Pop, the Corn Snake.