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<p>PITTSTON &#8212; The colors of autumn aptly set the stage Saturday for Pittston Memorial Library&#8217;s Scarecrow Festival.</p><p>Carol Coolbaugh, manning the front desk, said pumpkins that were offered to the first 100 children were gone in the first 15 minutes of the event.</p><p>&#8220;Not only were the children having fun with the wonderful display of scarecrows and activities, they were also taking out books and getting library cards,&#8221; said Coolbaugh.</p><p>Elizabeth Pantucci said her daughter, Violet, was having loads of fun as she made her way through the colorful displays and activities.</p><p>Violet, 5, smiled brightly when her mom asked if she liked coming to the library.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s one of her favorite places,&#8221; said Elizabeth Pantucci.</p><p>Jason Boettger played different roles at the event, judging the pie-baking and entering the scarecrow contest.</p><p>What he enjoyed most was simply being able to spend time with his family.</p><p>Taking time to explain his Mindcraft-themed scarecrow, he credited his children with getting the job done. (For the older crowd out there, Mindcraft is a video game some younger folks just love.)</p><p>Boettger said his children &#8212; Caden, 9, and Abigail, 7 &#8212; colored, pasted and sealed the scarecrow, which had a pixelated appearance and was a favorite of attendees.</p><p>Boettger, whose wife Kristen is the children&#8217;s librarian, said the library regularly provides carefully crafted activities geared to the younger set.</p><p>Danny Klein, Duryea, said his children thoroughly enjoyed the festival and the library.</p><p>Grace Klein, 6, and Maddox Klein, 5, enthusiastically participated in the games and raffles, finally taking time to sit and enjoy a snack.</p><p>Danny and wife Lynn were especially happy to be among those who received a pumpkin.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to take it home and carve it later,&#8221; said Danny. &#8220;This has been a really wonderful day.&#8221;</p><p>Norma Talbot, meanwhile, was taking time to admire a scarecrow crafted by members of the Falls Active Adult Center of which she is a member.</p><p>Members of the center were hoping to win &#8220;best scarecrow,&#8221; and a small cash prize.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re in need of a television set,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And winning would be really helpful.&#8221;</p><p>Rose Fasciana volunteered at the event dressed as a scarecrow, taking time for photos and a hug with those who stopped.</p><p>Fasciana, who can also be seen dressed as a tomato at the Pittston Tomato Festival, is a pre-school teacher who enjoys costumes that bring a smile to children&#8217;s faces.</p><p>Library director Patricia Joyce, also bearing a bit of straw and burlap, said the event&#8217;s first year exceeded expectations.</p><p>&#8220;There was about 300 people here,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;re really happy.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Elizabeth Pantucci, daughter Violet, 5, and Amy Jones, all of Pittston, make their way through a scarecrow display Saturday, which was part of the Pittston Memorial Library&#8217;s inaugural Scarecrow Festival. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_scarecrow1-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Elizabeth Pantucci, daughter Violet, 5, and Amy Jones, all of Pittston, make their way through a scarecrow display Saturday, which was part of the Pittston Memorial Library&#8217;s inaugural Scarecrow Festival. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_scarecrow3-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Library Director Patricia Joyce enjoys some time with Grace Klein, 6, and Maddox Klein, 5, during a scarecrow festival at the Pittston Memorial Library on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_scarecrow3-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Library Director Patricia Joyce enjoys some time with Grace Klein, 6, and Maddox Klein, 5, during a scarecrow festival at the Pittston Memorial Library on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Pittston library’s scarecrow festival combines fun, learning