Music and lots of talent on library's outdoor stage

Wantage — The extreme heat of this past weekend didn’t keep the entertainment away from the stage of the Sussex-Wantage Library Outdoor Stage. The Library Friends hosted an Open Air Showcase on Friday night that not only welcomed local favorites, The Wolves and Elephant Hands, but also surprised the crowd with the talents of many newcomers including Steve Gough and Sean Farrelly of Jefferson. Local voice coach and Hamburg resident Elisa Girlando brought a crew of up and coming talent including Meghan Johnson, 17, Lauren Murphy, 17, and Meg Moren, 18, all of Sparta. Nine-year-old Izabella Nowicki of Lafayette brought the crowd to its feet with her rendition of an Adele and Christina Perri song. On Saturday night, members of the Highland Stage gave a sneak preview of their upcoming musical 'Hairspray’ to a dedicated crowd of followers.