It's in the news: This weekend the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks! What does that mean? If you like seeing "shooting stars," this is your weekend. It's a shower that won't get you wet (or pelt you with space rocks, for that matter).

Go outside after 10:00 PM at a dark location. Look up (generally towards the east) and watch. If you are sharp-eyed and have good sky conditions you could see upwards of 60 meteors per hour when the Perseid shower reaches its peak! If you watch long enough you may even be treated to a "fireball" or two -- especially brilliant meteors -- flaring as they disintegrate in Earth's upper atmosphere.

The shower reaches its peak overnight Sunday, August 12 and into the wee hours of Monday. Weather forecasters are saying we can expect cloudy skies overnight Sunday. Don't despair!

The show is already going on nightly. So stay up late Saturday night, when clear skies are expected, and into Sunday morning to enjoy the show! You won't see as many meteors Saturday night as you would at the peak of the event, but you can't see 'em at all through clouds!

A patio lounge chair and a light cover will make it easy to lay back, look up, and comfortably count the "falling stars" while you enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

For more details visit Science@NASA.

Egads! It's almost that time of year again!

Yes, folks, Westlake City Schools will reopen their doors on Tuesday, August 28. And shortly thereafter, students will be descending on the library, arms piled high with texts and papers and gadgets galore.

Those first few assignments are always a breeze, aren't they? And then, about three weeks into the semester, reality checks in with killer assignments, papers due yesterday, and vocabulary words that would make the Oxford English Dictionary weep with frustration.

"There's nothin' to do!"

If that's heard around your house, it's time to check out a website filled with tons of places to see and events. You can choose the geographic area of interest, so whether or not you're in town, you can find some great things to do! Sign up for a free online newsletter if you'd like updates on area happenings.

Go City Kids

Do audiobooks really count as "reading?"

Typically, audiobooks have been reserved for children who struggle with reading on some level, and they have not been used as often with average or gifted readers. Audiobooks can benefit all children! The goal for readers is to think critically about the content of the book, to use their imaginations, and to have fun. Kids can be introduced to books above their reading level, new genres, and new vocabulary with audiobooks. Audiobooks also provide great read-aloud models and create "storytelling" experiences most kids are not exposed to these days.