By John Maruskin

Santa Claus is coming to town. Yep, it’s time for the Jolly Old Elf’s Annual visit to the Clark County Public Library this Saturday from 10 a.m. till Noon. Santa likes to come to the library as soon as he can in December because he loves meeting with Clark County children who he admires for also being readers. Santa loves a good book, especially one with pictures, too.

So, bring the kids and grandparents and relatives visiting from out of town and come see Santa this coming Saturday. Candy canes and pictures with Santa are free, as always. If you’ve been a good grownup and you don’t fuss in line, you may qualify for a candy cane, too.

Library Director Julie Maruskin’s three-story miniature bakery will be on display at the library for the holidays. The display features her own handcrafted toys and dolls as well as vintage items. Best of all? Guess the number of gingerbread cookies in the display, and you can enter your name in a drawing for a dozen cupcakes from Winchester’s Banery Bakery or a gift card to The Daily Grind coffee shop!

Craft Elves Rejoice. The library’s Annual Merry Craftmas Drop-In Craft Program for Adults, is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can drop in any time from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public ages 17 and up. This is a play day for adults, please leave the kids at home. Registration is recommended to ensure we have plenty of supplies – but not required.

Come out and craft with us at the library on Saturday because we’re just spooling around! Learn to use new and vintage spools to create five different ornaments like adorable snowmen — and others — to use all around your holiday house from packages to wreaths.

Ornaments are fast and inexpensive to make, especially for ornament swaps or teacher gifts. Come for half an hour and make one ornament — or bring your lunch and stay all day!

Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., CCPL’s Writer Series concludes for 2017 with a writing workshop led by former Kentucky Poet Laureate, George Ella Lyon.

Last December George Ella charmed and inspired an audience of 30 library patrons as she explained how to use memories of past dwellings to create appealing fiction and telling memoirs.

Her workshop was so popular the library invited her back. This year, George Ella’s workshop is entitled “Where I’m From,” and in it she will teach you how to evoke your sense of self by enumerating the people, places, things and events that have been important to you.

George Ella is one of Kentucky’s best writers and a wonderful teacher. This workshop is free and open to the public. Please register to attend by calling the library or by using the Evanced online registration system: www.clarkbooks.org

Other events this week:

— Meeting of Minds, the library’s discussion group meets tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. We’ll discuss current events and bright shiny things.

— Wednesday at 2 p.m. Kentucky Picture Show presents a conspiracy theorist’s dream film. In 1967, four undercover CIA agents were sent to NASA posing as a documentary film crew. What they discovered led to one of the biggest conspiracies in American history. Rated — R for language.

— Wednesday st 7 p.m. Trivia Night at the Engine House Pizza Pub.

— Thursday st noon, Book Lunch discusses Hillbilly Elegy.

— Thursday and Dec. 4 & 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., Scrapbook artist Donna Carter will show you how to create beautiful Holiday scrapbook pages and cards. Bring your own scrapbook materials.

Giddy-up let’s go, it’s the Holiday Season.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.