Stinger, Jason Chimera and Jody Shelley had busy Saturdays, making appearances all over Columbus on Dec. 3. Stinger and Jody Shelley were busy from 12-3 p.m., reading to children at the Gahanna Branch Library as part of the Blue Jackets Book Jackets program. Stinger then hitched a ride aboard the Blue Jackets Fanboni, and headed to the Columbus Zoo where he enjoyed an evening of skating with pal Jason Chimera.

Of course Stiner's evening was not over, as he met up with Rostislav Klesla, as the duo made an appearance at the OSU-Alabama-Huntsville hockey game on Saturday night.

The Blue Jackets Book Jackets is an incentive-based program that was created to encourage students in grades K-8 to spend their free time exercising their minds by reading. The goal is for students to spend a minimum of 800 minutes reading over a six-week period with Blue Jackets gifts and exclusive opportunities granted as a reward for all who complete the requirements.

Since introducing the Blue Jackets Book Jackets program in 2001, more than 7,500 Central Ohio students have read a cumulative 13 million minutes.

Meanwhile, Chimera and Stinger skated from about 5-6 p.m.  and signed autographs from 6-7 p. m. at the Columbus Zoo's Wildlights. Other details about Wildlights:

Ice Skating: Twirl on the ice while enjoying the holiday scenery. Ice-skating is free with zoo admission skate rental is $3 a pair Skate rental closes ½ hour prior to zoo closing Located next to Sokoni Gift Shop Closed the evenings of Nov. 24, Dec. 24 & 25

Santa Claus: Visit with Santa and have your photo taken with the jolly old elf. Pictures can be taken with Santa for only $11 or 3 for $25 Located on the Water's Edge Stage Through Dec. 23 only

Mrs. Claus' Kitchen: Decorate a holiday cookie with specially colored icing for $1.50 Milk and Hot Chocolate are also available for an additional charge. Through Dec. 23 only.

Reindeer: See the reindeer taking a break from their hard work in the North America My Barn exhibit.

Carolers: Local school choirs and carolers will display their talent for visitors select evenings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Entrance Plaza.

Carousel: Take an enchanting ride on a fully restored 1914 Mangels Illions carousel, located on Main Street near the Manatee Coast. Cost is $1.

Discovery Reef: Come in contact with the ocean's wildlife at the exciting hands-on Touchpool exhibit in the Discovery Reef Thursday through Sunday evenings. There will also be Diving Demonstrations Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.