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Looking for some good summer reads--and some friendly folks to discuss them with? The Alice's new summer book club kicks off July 29th with a discussion of Pulitzer Prize-winner Deborah Blum's "The Poison Squad," some fun conversation, a historical show-and-tell, and themed (unpoisoned) snacks! Copies are available to borrow (first come first served) from the Alice, and the CEFLS library system has a few; it is also available as an audiobook for those who have more time to listen. ABOUT THE POISON SQUAD: Formaldehyde made spoiled milk taste tolerable. The yellow coating of children’s candies often contained arsenic. Ketchup was a soup of “waste products from canners, like coal-tar colors or starch paste.” Thus was the status of the foods the US public ate during the late 1800s. In The Poison Squad, Pulitzer Prize-winner Deborah Blum tells the story of government chemist Dr. Harvey Wiley who, determined to banish these dangerous substances from dinner tables, took on the powerful food manufacturers and their allies. Following Wiley’s unusual experiments and tireless advocacy, the book charts the path of the forgotten man who laid the groundwork for U.S. consumer protection laws and ultimately the creation of the FDA. This event is free and open to all, but we would appreciate RSVPs at https://www.minermuseum.org/event-details/summer-reading-at-the-alice-the-poison-squad