STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
He calls himself “Dizzy Hips.”
And Paul Blair gave youngsters something to think about as he took them through 15 minutes of hula hooping tricks that included getting hula hoops to move in opposite directions around his torso at the same time.
“Higher! Higher!” the children yelled as he spun the hoops into the stratosphere, each time successfully ringing them around his wrist as they fell back down to earth.
The out-of-books demonstration was part of The Community Library’s Book Around the Block, a party celebrating the end of the summer season.
Taqueria al Pastor served up free tacos, while Sun Valley Company rolled out its famous brownies and Rice Krispie treats. And youngsters competed in a Musical Book Walk and corn hole for prizes.
“The idea is to run around real fast as they play music and then step on a book character,” explained Emily Chavez about the Musical Book Walk. “They’ll spin the wheel and, if it lands on the character you’re standing on, you get a special treat!”
Will Duke spun tunes that made history, noting that the Book around the Block fell on the 54th anniversary of Woodstock and that George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” had been voted the No 1 country song of all time. And when Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly” hit No.1 on May 9, 1964, Armstrong became the oldest person to ever hit No. 1 at 62 years and 279 days old, he added.