Gratitude Sweet At New Tampa Library

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 06, 2008

» Comments | Post a Comment

NEW TAMPA - It was a chocolate lover's day in the sun.

It was melted, sticky, sweet, bitter, dark, rich and creamy. Some was in wrappers, some in broken pieces, some in the form of lollipops.

And about 350 guests, ranging from tots to seniors, recently turned out for the treats when the New Tampa Regional Library hosted the second Chocolate Extravaganza.

It was designed to "thank the patrons of the library," said Gary Gunter, president of Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library. "A lot of people come to the library, but this brings in additional people."

The community room featured a serving line with chocolate candies, cookies and syrup. The line culminated in a flowing fountain of melted chocolate in which guests could dip strawberries, banana slices, pineapple chunks, marshmallows and pretzels.

Amy Scheld of Arbor Greene, who attended with her daughter, Michaela, 14, said: "I love the library. What other library would have a chocolate festival?"

Lenora Lake