One Smashing EventTV Turn Off Week celebrated
by Kelly GrinsteinnerAssistant Editor
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:10 AM CDT
HIBBING — It’s obvious that Summer Campbell isn’t afraid of heights.
On Wednesday afternoon, the sixth grade student at Lincoln Elementary School was lifted more than 65 feet into the air by truck bucket. Below her, a large bull’s-eye was painted on the avenue.
Traffic along 21st Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenue had been rerouted to accommodate the TV stunt. With all her might, and a little assistance from Public Works employee Jon Blazina, Campbell hurled the TV set to the ground.
The TV set — as predicted — broke into several pieces.
Similar to a pinata, the “guts” of the TV had been taken out and replaced with treats and small toys. All those present made a mad dash for the goodies once the TV set hit the pavement
“That was awesome,” said Campbell, once her feet were back on the ground.
The first-of-its-kind event was organized by the Hibbing Public Library, which is celebrating national TV Turn Off Week, April 21-27.
The stunt was thought up by Children’s Librarian Chuck Bell. The aim was to give kids and families the opportunity to get out and away from the TV.
“TV is predictable,” he said when asked the message of the event. “While you never know what can happen at the library.”
Campbell was chosen as the TV tosser through an essay contest. All kids in grades three through six were eligible. To enter, kids had to write a one-page essay on “Why Books are Better than TV.”
“I really like books,” said Campbell when asked why she entered. “Books, to me, are like an adventure. I also like to write.”
She said the essay was easy to pen, adding that she also likes to compose songs and write poems.
Campbell’s entry was chosen by a committee of librarians from a few entries. Bell said they would have liked to receive more, “but the ones we got were stellar and hard to choose between.”
He went on to comment on Campbell’s essay.“She did her research,” said Bell. “ Each point she made was backed up by a book or genre reference. I was impressed.”
The TV-avoiding festivities continued inside the library. There, several local groups and organizations manned booths to promote their activities.
That was in addition to family-oriented programs and entertainment including a puppet show, a medieval combat demonstration and karaoke.
Bell explained that he was first exposed to the TV Turn Off concept while serving as a librarian in Wichita, Kan. He had wanted to introduce it here, hoping simply to draw attention to it.
“I saw the need for something unusual, something that would really get people talking,” he said. “I wanted buzz about the event. While brainstorming, I remembered a radio station that allowed people to throw watermelons off their broadcast tower and I thought, ‘why not TVs?’”
TV Turn Off Week was started in 1994 by the Center for Screen Time Awareness, as a way to promote activities that involved anything but the television.
The Center, according to its Web site, provides information so people can live healthier lives in functional families and vibrant communities by taking control of — rather than being controlled by — the electronic media in their lives.
Bell said he’d deem the event a success if, three months later, people are still talking about it and wondering what will happen next year. He also confirmed Wednesday that plans are being made for more TV smashing in 2009.
“Absolutely, and promotion will start earlier,” he said. “I want to have a greater ‘block party’ atmosphere, with concessions and entertainment.”
From the Hibbing Daily Tribune, April 24, 2008. More pics to come!
by Kelly GrinsteinnerAssistant Editor
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:10 AM CDT
HIBBING — It’s obvious that Summer Campbell isn’t afraid of heights.
On Wednesday afternoon, the sixth grade student at Lincoln Elementary School was lifted more than 65 feet into the air by truck bucket. Below her, a large bull’s-eye was painted on the avenue.
Traffic along 21st Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenue had been rerouted to accommodate the TV stunt. With all her might, and a little assistance from Public Works employee Jon Blazina, Campbell hurled the TV set to the ground.
The TV set — as predicted — broke into several pieces.
Similar to a pinata, the “guts” of the TV had been taken out and replaced with treats and small toys. All those present made a mad dash for the goodies once the TV set hit the pavement
“That was awesome,” said Campbell, once her feet were back on the ground.
The first-of-its-kind event was organized by the Hibbing Public Library, which is celebrating national TV Turn Off Week, April 21-27.
The stunt was thought up by Children’s Librarian Chuck Bell. The aim was to give kids and families the opportunity to get out and away from the TV.
“TV is predictable,” he said when asked the message of the event. “While you never know what can happen at the library.”
Campbell was chosen as the TV tosser through an essay contest. All kids in grades three through six were eligible. To enter, kids had to write a one-page essay on “Why Books are Better than TV.”
“I really like books,” said Campbell when asked why she entered. “Books, to me, are like an adventure. I also like to write.”
She said the essay was easy to pen, adding that she also likes to compose songs and write poems.
Campbell’s entry was chosen by a committee of librarians from a few entries. Bell said they would have liked to receive more, “but the ones we got were stellar and hard to choose between.”
He went on to comment on Campbell’s essay.“She did her research,” said Bell. “ Each point she made was backed up by a book or genre reference. I was impressed.”
The TV-avoiding festivities continued inside the library. There, several local groups and organizations manned booths to promote their activities.
That was in addition to family-oriented programs and entertainment including a puppet show, a medieval combat demonstration and karaoke.
Bell explained that he was first exposed to the TV Turn Off concept while serving as a librarian in Wichita, Kan. He had wanted to introduce it here, hoping simply to draw attention to it.
“I saw the need for something unusual, something that would really get people talking,” he said. “I wanted buzz about the event. While brainstorming, I remembered a radio station that allowed people to throw watermelons off their broadcast tower and I thought, ‘why not TVs?’”
TV Turn Off Week was started in 1994 by the Center for Screen Time Awareness, as a way to promote activities that involved anything but the television.
The Center, according to its Web site, provides information so people can live healthier lives in functional families and vibrant communities by taking control of — rather than being controlled by — the electronic media in their lives.
Bell said he’d deem the event a success if, three months later, people are still talking about it and wondering what will happen next year. He also confirmed Wednesday that plans are being made for more TV smashing in 2009.
“Absolutely, and promotion will start earlier,” he said. “I want to have a greater ‘block party’ atmosphere, with concessions and entertainment.”
From the Hibbing Daily Tribune, April 24, 2008. More pics to come!
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