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Preparing for St. Patrick's Day
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Times photo: Brian Gray Betty Parkinson helps Bailey Smith with her St. Patricks Day top hat and other crafts Saturday at the Monroe Public Library. Children were able to make crafts and listen to stories as they celebrated the Irish holiday. They can wear their hats in tomorrows parade around the Square.
MONROE - Green County may be known for its Swiss heritage, but everyone was little Irish on Saturday.

The Monroe Public Library was the place to be Saturday for children who wanted to get an early start on St. Patrick's Day. The second floor of the library took on an Irish look as children created leprechaun hats, necklaces, potato puppets, bookmarks, fairy wands and windsocks.

Children kept busy with the crafts but also took time out to listen to Kris Ault read a book and tell them a story. Ault even showed a couple of kids how to do an Irish jig.

Bailey Smith and Betty Parkinson made crafts to give to friends and to keep for themselves to use in the St. Patrick's Day parade Tuesday.

Bailey couldn't help but smile as she held up the crafts she made and proudly showed off her new hat.

"I had a lot of fun," she smiled.

She even got to sing a song about Irish stew, she added.

Alex Kloepping, one of the volunteers who helped the kids make crafts, said they obviously had a good time.

He did, too, he said.

The kids will be able to wear their Leprechaun hats and wave Fairy Wands, while marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade at 5:17 p.m. Tuesday. Decorated wagons and strollers are welcome. Materials to make Shamrock Crowns will be available in the children's room of the library from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday prior to the parade.