MUSCATINE Iowa – The forecast for high heat indices and the possibility of thunderstorms has not cancelled the planned Grand Celebration for the opening of the Musser Public Library & HNI Community Center, but it has changed some events and moved everything inside the building at 408 East 2nd Street.
With the National Weather Service predicted heat indices of 100 to 105 degrees on Saturday and a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms, library officials opted to cancel the outdoor activities. That does not mean there will not be plenty of fun things to do throughout the day.
“The forecast raised concerns for our patron’s safety so we opted to cancel the outdoor activities,” Kimbery McCracken, library assistant, said. “There will still be plenty to see and do inside the building with the puppet theatre shows and the ribbon cutting ceremony plus all the nooks and crannies available to explore.”
The Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre will begin the fun at 11 a.m. with a presentation of “Uncle Rabbit” in the Joyce Vesey Children’s Storytime Amphitheatre. Monica Leo of Eulenspiegel will lead a finger puppet making workshop at 1 p.m. followed by the theatre’s production of “Little Red Riding Hood” at 3:30 p.m.
Before that performance, however, the Musser Public Library & HNI Community Center will conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony to official open the remodeled facility. State Representative Gary Carlson, who is also vice-president of member and community relations for HNI Corporation, will be the featured speaker while the two Little Miss Muscatine girls will do the honors of cutting the ribbon to officially open the facility.
“We wish to thank HNI, Carver Foundation, and all those who donated to the CAT grant,” Pam Collins, library director, said. “We could not have done any of this without our generous and supportive community.”
The library staff welcomes everyone to come and tour the facility during this grand opening celebration. The Musser Public Library & HNI Community Center will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. this Saturday.