Month: September 2026

Join 100 Books After Retirement

September 17, 2026 Library Programs, Reading Challenge
Join 100 Books After Retirement

Congratulations, you're retired! Whether it was a week ago, a year ago, or even longer, take advantage of this new chapter by making reading a part of your life.

Our newest challenge, 100 Books After Retirement, makes it easy and fun to work your way through a lengthy to-be-read list, or build a reading habit, even if you never had time during your working years.

For AAPLD cardholders only, registration is required.

To get started, log into Beanstack and register for the 100 Books After Retirement challenge, or stop by the Adult Services desk at the Main Library or Eastgate branch. Track your books online in Beanstack, or on a paper log. You'll receive a prize for signing up, a prize at 50 books, and a prize when you finish the challenge.

Read at your own pace. There's no deadline, and every book (or audiobook!) counts-- including those you read for other AAPLD reading challenges.

A book a day keeps reality away, and promotes brain health! Sign up today!

 

 

Meet September’s Artist of the Month!

September 5, 2026 Artist of the Month
Meet September’s Artist of the Month!

In 2010, Deanne Mroz had a successful career in advertising, when a contest win started her on a brand new path. After being chosen as the Grand Prize Winner in the Amazon Kindle Commercial Contest, she took her prize winnings (Amazon gift cards) and spent them on a brand new DSLR camera, so she could learn photography. After taking photography classes, she launched Deanne Mroz Photography, and has been happily photographing families ever since.

Mroz also applies her design talents to capture images and landmarks of Chicago. A native of the area, she loves the nostalgia of familiar places, including some that live on only in her memory. Enjoy her bright, joyful images of the Windy City-- past and present-- on the Art Wall at the Main Library.

Your name: Deanne Mroz

Your community: Algonquin area

Your background as an artist: I studied web design at NIU and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication. I worked in advertising, doing web design and video editing, and now have my own photography and design business. My personal photography focuses on family documentary projects, where I capture one image every day throughout the year. Frosty Time Design is my creative outlet outside my photography and freelance work.

Your preferred media: Photography and graphic design. Photography allows me to capture people, stories and meaningful moments. while design provides another outlet to explore ideas and bring them to life.

Your preferred subject: The restaurants, venues, neighborhoods and landmarks we grow up with become part of our stories, and even the places that are long gone can hold a special place in our hearts.

Your inspiration: Growing up in the Chicagoland area, I love the places, memories and traditions that make the area feel like home. My art is inspired by those places and the memories attached to them. It's a way to celebrate the places we love, preserving a little piece of local nostalgia and creating artwork that feels personal, familiar and connected to home.

Is your work for sale? Yes. My Chicago posters are available for purchase on my website. My work has also been featured and sold at a shop in downtown Algonquin.

Spice Club – September 2026 – Tajín

September 1, 2026 Spice Club
Spice Club – September 2026 – Tajín

Tajín is a popular Mexican seasoning made with a blend of mild chile peppers, lime, and sea salt. It has a bright, tangy flavor with mild heat and is designed to enhance food rather than overwhelm it. Tajín is especially popular sprinkled over fresh fruits and vegetables. Try it on watermelon, mango, pineapple, cucumber, avocado, tomatoes, or corn. It can also be used on salads, tacos, eggs, seafood, meats, snacks, and many other dishes. It is a versatile seasoning for meals, fruits, vegetables, and everyday snacks.

Tajín was created in Mexico and was introduced on December 23, 1985. The company's history describes its beginnings as a small operation selling the seasoning from store to store, one bottle at a time. After becoming successful in Mexico, Tajín was first exported to the United States in 1993. The brand later expanded internationally and began increasing its presence in mainstream American stores around 2012.

Tajín's story began in a Mexican kitchen. As a child, founder Horacio Fernández loved the chile sauce made by his grandmother, Mama Necha, who used seven different chiles. He especially enjoyed putting her sauce on freshly cooked corn. Years later, he developed a way to dehydrate the lime and chiles while preserving their flavor—and Tajín was born.

The name Tajín was inspired by the ancient archaeological site of El Tajín in Veracruz, Mexico, which the company's founder visited in 1985.

ALLERGEN WARNING - AAPLD is not responsible for any reactions or sensitivities to any spice. Please be aware that spices may contain or come into contact with common allergens like dairy, eggs, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, or wheat. Stay safe! Cook with caution.

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