By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

GARYVILLE – The Garyville branch of the St. John the Baptist Parish public library system hosted the final performance of this year’s summer reading program Thursday when magician Trigg Burrage paid a visit.

Burrage, who hails from the Northshore, brought his high-energy act to the library and had the crowd of children, teens and adults laughing and applauding throughout the 45-minute show. Burrage was also one of the featured performers during last year’s program.

In between magic tricks and sight gags, Burrage, a native of Australia and the 2008 valedictorian of Slidell’s Northshore High School, managed to impart a little wisdom about the value of libraries to those in attendance. He told the group he got his start in magic at the library by first reading about it and then holding his first performances there.

It was a fitting way to draw a successful summer at the library to a close.

“This was a great summer,” said Library Supervisor Dolores Anderson. “Some of our kids read like 50 to 100 books.”

Anderson said most of this summer’s special programs had a large turnout with last week’s Book It at the Beach event drawing a crowd of 75.

After the show, the children were treated to coupon for free french fries.

The parish’s summer reading program officially draws to a close today, which is the last day participants can turn in their reading logs.