State Rep. Joe Hohenstein last Friday afternoon presented a citation to Richmond Library branch manager Amy Thatcher in recognition of Pollinator Week.
Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St., has a beehive in one of its interior walls, along with two beehives outside, all of which Thatcher manages.
Hives are established by a queen bee.
Pollinator Week was observed June 17-23 in Pennsylvania.
At Richmond Library, the indoor beehive is enclosed and structured in such a way that the bees are able to go outside to collect pollen from flowers and return to the hive to produce honey, which has many beneficial uses.
“It’s a natural anti-bacterial,” Hohenstein said.
Thatcher explained that, when the library was closed to the public during the pandemic, she was assisted by horticulturist and Port Richmond resident Julie Bare and friends and colleagues in creating a pollinator garden on the Mercer Street side of the library.
“Our bees have to work less to forage. They don’t have to expend as much energy,” Thatcher said. “They’re quite happy.”
As for the indoor hive, it is surrounded by books on bees and everything about them.
“It’s interactive and a different way for kids to learn,” Hohenstein said.
Other beekeepers earning Pollinator Week House of Representatives citations from Hohenstein were Marie Wilkus, Audrius Palionis, Donald Shump Jr., Ferat Ferko and Kinetic Design Development. ••