2nd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner

A celebration of locally grown foods will take place at the library on Friday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the 2nd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner. The event is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club and Cooking Club.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share made with locally grown or produced foods or some samples of the bounty from their home gardens. During the dinner, Liz Kanche from American HealthCare Group will discuss “Eating Locally in Western Pennsylvania.” American HealthCare Group has sponsored the Farm to Table Conference in Pittsburgh for the past 5 years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified a 16% increase in the number of operating farmers markets from 2009 to 2010. "Seeing such continued strong growth in the number of U.S. farmers markets indicates that regional food systems can provide great economic, social and health benefits to communities across the country," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Farmers markets provide fresh, local products to communities across the country while offering economic opportunities for many producers of all sizes." Pennsylvania ranks in the top ten states with the most farmers markets.

Register online to attend the potluck dinner or at the library’s circulation desk by Monday, August 1, 2011.

AARP Driver Safety Program at the library

Senior citizens can brush up on their driving skills this summer and possibly qualify for a discount on their insurance rates by completing the AARP Driver Safety Program to be offered in two Saturday sessions at the Peters Township Public Library. The eight-hour course will be taught in two four-hour sessions on Saturday, August 13 and Saturday, August 20 from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The programs are being offered on Saturdays for the convenience of individuals who work during the week or have other scheduling conflicts.

AARP Driver safety courses help drivers stay current on latest driving information and safe driving strategies. This course is designed to educate participants about how best to reduce traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injuries; update drivers’ knowledge about relevant laws; and provide safe driving strategies to compensate for age-related changes that affect one’s driving ability. Some of the topics to be covered include overall fitness and driving, challenges of city vs. rural driving, tips for highway driving, understanding a vehicle’s safety features and new vehicle technology, handling aggressive drivers, changing lanes, driving at intersections, and maintaining proper distances.

You may register for this course online through the AARP website or in person at the Peters Township Public Library circulation desk. Cost for the course is $14.00, check made payable to AARP. You may pay by credit card when registering through the AARP web site. AARP members receive a $2.00 discount and pay $12.00.

Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania offer discounts for insured clients 55 or older that have completed the AARP Driver Safety Program. It is recommended you consult your insurance company for their discount policy. Although the AARP driving course is geared toward drivers 50 and older, it can be taken by licensed drivers of all ages, and there are no tests.