Learn how to tour Washington County

Find out about the many attractions and events available to you and your family in Washington County as Peters Township Public Library hosts “Share the Energy of Washington County” on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the library. Featured speaker will be Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. During his presentation, passes and tickets will be raffled off to various events in the county, but you must be present to win.

Kotula will discuss the importance of tourism on Washington County's economy, the county's tourism assets as well as discuss the recent management merger of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. Earlier this month, $238,200 in grants were awarded by the agency to various tourism destinations in the county. The agency has invested $1.8 million in tourism over the past 14 years.

Register to attend this free program online or call 724.941.9430.

Jeff M. Kotula serves as President of the 1100 member Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. In this capacity, he serves as both the Chamber President and as Directory of Economic Development for Washington County through a public/private partnership comprised of the Washington County Commissioners, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Washington Industrial Development Corporation (WIDC), and Washington County Industrial Development Authority (WCIDA). Jeff Kotula holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duquesne University and a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Beginner's Sewing Classes offered - no experience necessary!

Get started with the basics - students will learn how read a pattern, learn sewing terminology, and apply their newly learned techniques by making their very own pillowcase in just two easy sessions. Dates for the classes are Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Cost is $20 plus supplies. If you have a sewing machine you would like to use, please feel free to bring it to class. Otherwise, machines will be provided. See supply list when registering. Supplies will be needed for the first day of class. Any questions please email Rhonda Skiles at rhonda.skiles@gmail.com.

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS KICK-OFF PARTY

Join us for this year's summer reading program "Every Hero Has A Story"! Sign up in the Children's Department or come to our Kick-Off Party on Saturday, June 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We will b welcoming a special guest at 12:30 p.m. - John Lege, That Guy with the Birds, will be talking with us about "Saving Our Feathered Friends."

SIMPLE STEPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Join us as members of SCORE, a resource partner of the United States Small Business Administration, offer an outline of things to consider when starting a small business. At "Simple Steps for Starting Your Own Business" on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the library topics discussed will include the components of business ownership and non-profits, finding financing, understanding the different types of businesses, business plan basics, the myths and realities of entrepreneurship, taking the first steps, and assessing the profitability of your business idea.

SCORE is a nonprofit association staffed with a network of active and retired business men and women volunteers who are dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals. Read more about Pittsburgh SCORE .

Register for this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

DRAGON DANCE WORKSHOP

Join us on Saturday, February 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to learn how to perform an authentic Dragon Dance! The Dragon Dance is performed at Chinese New Year to drive off the monster Nain. No experience is necessary to participate in the workshop and no level of physical fitness is required. Participants will learn how to be a dragon dancer and also a musician using drums, gongs and cymbals. Costumes will also be provided.

John and Dorothy Tecklenburg spent 5 years in China and returned with a Chinese dragon as a memento. The dragon will be on display in the library's lobby during the month of February.

Register for this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY AND MORE!

Join us on Sunday, February 22 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for some fun Chinese New Year activities. Local residents Raymond Hsieh and Barbara Chen will demonstrate Chinese calligraphy by writing Chinese New Year messages on cards. Ms. Chen will also instruct on the correct pronunciation of the messages and help with the translation to English. Other activities as well!

Register for this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Anti-trafficking expert to speak at library on August 2

Human trafficking, which is also described as modern day slavery, is rapidly emerging as the 21st Century’s most prominent, pervasive, and complex human rights violation. Human trafficking is a $32 billion criminal industry affecting 27 million people worldwide and includes the recruitment, enslavement, and sale of children and adults for forced labor practices and sexual purposes.

The Peters Township Public Library and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh will welcome Hong Kong resident and international anti-trafficking expert Matt Friedman on Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Friedman’s topic will be Breaking the Links: A Campaign Against Human Trafficking. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Matt Friedman, an international traffic expert, has 23 years of experience as a counter-trafficking activist, fund-raiser, and program designer for raising awareness about human trafficking. Friedman served as Regional Project Manager for the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking from 2006 – 2012. He designed and managed both country and regional counter-trafficking programs in Asia, helped to establish a counter-trafficking regional training center, and participated in resource mobilization and production of two award-winning films on human trafficking. Friedman is frequently cited in the news media on issues related to human trafficking including CNN, BBC, SCMP (South China Morning Post), Economist, New York Times, Herald Tribune etc. and is frequently invited to speak at conferences around the world.

This program is hosted by Peters Township Public Library and World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh with support for the 2014 International Program Series by McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764.

5th Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner

Celebrate the season’s bounty at the 5th Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner at the Peters Township Public Library on Friday, August 1 at 6:00 p.m. The free event is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club and Cooking Club and is open to the community.
Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share made with locally grown foods or some samples from their home gardens. Bring along your recipe to share with the group.

Registration is required to attend the potluck dinner. Email programs@ptlibrary.org or stop by the library’s circulation desk by Wednesday, July 30. For more information, email the GO Green Club at ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.

Civil War 150! programs coming this spring

As one of three sites in the United States to receive an additional Civil War 150! programming grant, the library will host two Civil War themed programs funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Civil War 150! is a collaboration between The Library of America and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

On Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Elaine Frantz Parsons will discuss Women in the Civil War. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

The Civil War reshaped cultural ideas of what it meant to be a woman. A small but influential group of northern women had launched a women's rights movement just a few years before the war's beginning: the war posed both challenges and opportunities for these reformers. Women’s rights advocates helped with the war effort, and used the war to make a case for further political, economic, and legal rights. The war disrupted traditional households, often allowing, or requiring, women to take on new roles. At the same time, the disruption of the war made many men and women, northern and southern, nostalgic for a return to traditional ways. Many freedpeople rushed to assume the domestic life that they had so long been denied. This talk explores the tensions between the reformist and traditionalist impulses.

Dr. Parsons is an Associate Professor of History at Duquesne University. Her work focuses on social movements and popular culture in the nineteenth-century United States, with a focus on the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Her first book Manhood Lost: Fallen Drunkards and Redeeming Women in the Nineteenth-Century United States (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002) explores the social meanings of saloon violence. She is currently completing a book about the Ku Klux Klan, Constructing the Ku Klux: The Ku Klux Klan and the Modernization of the Reconstruction-Era South. She is the recipient of a Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellowship for the study of violence in culture.

On Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Faith Barrett will discuss American Poetry and the Civil War. Dr. Barrett is an Associate Professor of English at Duquesne University. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

PTHS Literary Magazine Release Party on May 20

The library will host a release party for the Peters Township High School literary magazine, The Flame, on Tuesday, May 20 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

The event is being held to highlight the literary and artistic talents of the high school students. Included in the publication are original works of poetry and short stories as well as photographs and artwork by the students from all grade levels.

Light refreshments will be served, and copies of the 43-page magazine will be available to browse at the program. Copies will be available to checkout through the library at a later date.

New uses for everyday objects at Trash to Treasure

The library will host “Trash to Treasure” on Thursday, May 8 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. presented by Nancy Vejlstrup, Master Gardener and Exhibit Designer for Phipps Conservatory, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh.

Learn how to use everyday objects differently instead of putting them into the trash pile. Three unique pieces will be transformed into clever, creative planters, complete with green and blooming plants. Participants will receive handouts with ideas/suggestions along with photographs to help them get started on their own repurposed planters. Cost for the program is $10. Register to attend at the library circulation desk.

As part of “Trash to Treasure” program, Nancy has created a centerpiece from a birdcage which is on display in the library lobby. The piece will be raffled the evening of the program. Raffle tickets will be available for $5.00 per ticket or 4 tickets for $15.00. Each participant registering for the “Trash to Treasure” program will be given a free raffle ticket at the time of registration.

Learn to be a tourist in “The Burgh”

From National Geographic Traveler to Forbes.com, Pittsburgh has been named one of the best places in the world to visit. CBS This Morning recently touted Pittsburgh as one of the "six places you wouldn't think to visit, but should in 2014!"

The Peters Township Public Library welcomes Tinsy Labrie, Vice President of Marketing for VisitPITTSBURGH, on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. to provide insight on how to be a tourist in “The Burgh” at The Best Vacation…A Staycation in Your Own Neighborhood. In her presentation, Ms. Labrie will highlight historic sites like the Duquesne Incline, Fort Pitt Museum, Heinz History Center, along with family attractions including the Zoo, Science Center, National Aviary and more. You will learn about family fun, tours and sightseeing, outdoor adventure, museums, performing and visual arts and other activities. There will be giveaways at the program. Register to attend by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724-941-9430.

VisitPITTSBURGH is the official tourism promotion agency for Allegheny County. Labrie has been promoting and packaging Pittsburgh as a leisure travel destination for 15 years.

Artist Robert Qualters to discuss his life and paintings

Iconic Pittsburgh artist Robert Qualters will visit the Peters Township Public Library on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Qualters will talk about his life as an artist, especially in light of the current retrospective of his unique work at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, which runs through April 20. The exhibit was curated by Vicky A. Clark, who also wrote the new book featured in his discussion: Robert Qualters: Autobiographical Mythologies. Registration is requested to attend this event by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430. A book signing will follow the program and light refreshments will be served.

Qualters, who celebrated his 80th birthday in March, has a style familiar to many Pittsburghers. His paintings feature our local landscapes, neighborhoods, and amusement parks in bold colors annotated with text around the borders of the work. He has had more than 30 solo shows in galleries and museums in the region, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, and has created more than two dozen public murals and site-specific installations, including commissions from Mercy Hospital, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Three Rivers Arts Festival, and Oxford Development. He has also created more than a dozen murals with Pittsburgh high school students.

Qualters holds a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts, and an MFA from Syracuse University. He has taught painting at the State University of New York, Oswego; University of Pittsburgh; Carlow College; Slippery Rock State University; Indiana University of PA; West Virginia University; and Carnegie Mellon University. He has also been artist-in-residence at the Pittsburgh High School for Creative and Performing Arts.

The ABC’s of Selling Online

Would you like to sell your product online, but aren’t sure how to begin? Take the first step by attending the ABC’s of Selling Online on Wednesday, March 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Peters Township Public Library. This free program is for business owners with specific products and services in mind as well as for individuals interested in selling online. To attend email programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Presented by Robert Stein, Director of Information Technology for the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at University of Pittsburgh, The ABC’s of Selling Online is not a technical program. Rather it is a business program with practical information on entering the world of e-commerce. Proper preparation before taking the plunge into e-commerce can make the difference between success and failure. While many companies have moved into online sales, thousands of Web sites shut down each year due to a lack of planning or poor planning. Topics covered will include determining what kind of online business to start, tools for building a Web site, selecting payment processing methods, and optimizing your Web site on search engines.

Robert Stein is a nationally renowned innovator and advisor in the technology industry. He founded Active Network, Inc. (activewin.com), an Internet portal providing Microsoft news, and has developed an extensive knowledge of operating and information systems. A recipient of Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional Award, for which the company selects only 1000 IT experts worldwide, Stein is experienced in improving project management, assessing costs, and creating enterprise-wide integrated information systems. He holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in information systems from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

This program is offered to the community by the Peters Township Public Library, University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center, and Peters Township Chamber of Commerce. It is a PA Forward/Pennsylvania Libraries Financial Literacy program initiative - helping persons learn skills to improve their financial literacy.

Write On Kids contest on Saturday, March 1

Is your child a great, little story teller with drawings proudly displayed in your home? Share his/her talents in the 5th annual PBS Write On Kids writing contest on Saturday, March 1 from 11:00 am to 12 noon at the Peters Township Public Library.

The Children’s Department is partnering with WQED-TV to host this event, which encourages students in grades K-3 to write and illustrate their own original masterpiece for the chance to win some great prizes compliments of WQED-TV. During the program, children will write a story, make revisions, create illustrations and prepare to submit them to the Write On Kids completion.

Registration requested to attend this program. Register by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org, call 724.941.9430, or visit the Children’s Department. For more information about the Write On Kids contest, visit writeonkids.org.

GO Green Club hosts “Green Wednesdays” film series

The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club will kick off a new “Green Wednesdays” Film Series at the library on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. with a free screening of Carbon Nation, a feature length documentary about climate change solutions.

The club will host screenings of environmentally-focused films at 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of March, April, May and June in the Reading Room on the second floor of the library. Light organic refreshments will be served. Registration is requested to attend any of the screenings by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Scheduled films include:

Carbon Nation (2011) on Wednesday, March 5. Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don't buy it at all, this compelling and relevant film illustrates how SOLUTIONS to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues.

Trashed-No Place for Waste (2012) on Wednesday, April 2. With the participation of Jeremy Irons, the film looks at the risks to the food chain and the environment through pollution of our air, land and sea by waste.

Switch (2012) on Wednesday, May 7. Every energy resource — fossil, nuclear and renewable — is undergoing profound changes. And overall, we're gradually shifting from coal and oil to the energies of tomorrow. But rather than advocate for how it should happen, Switch travels the world to discover how it most likely will happen.

Chasing Ice (2012) on Wednesday, June 4. Chasing Ice is the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of climate change. Using time-lapse cameras, his videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate.

The library’s GO Green Club’s mission is to provide the community with educational resources through programs, library materials, and volunteer activities to help create a more environmentally- friendly and responsible lifestyle. For more information about the film series or the club, email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.

National Security Challenges in 2014 and Beyond

The Peters Township Public Library in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh presents "National Security Challenges in 2014 and Beyond" on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the library. The program will feature panelists from the U.S. Army War College Eisenhower Series College Program.

Register to attend this free program online, visit the circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430.

The nature of national security has become increasingly more complicated in 2014 and includes issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to the influence of culture on conflict. Senior Officers representing the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps will brief the audience on a variety of national security issues including the growth of nuclear weapons, the influence of religious issues and conflicts on joint operations, the responsibility to protect doctrine and the challenge it poses to upholding sovereignty, the future of the United States’ position in the Middle East, and the war against Al Quada. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764 is generously providing support for the 2014 International Program Series.

Finding Healh Care through the Health Insurance Marketplace

Hear key facts about the new health insurance options at Finding Health Care through the Health Insurance Marketplace on Tuesday, January 21 from 7-8:00 p.m. or Thursday, February 20 from 7-8:00 p.m. at the Peters Township Public Library. Register online to attend either the January 21 session or the February 20 session. You may also register at the circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Christina Livingston, Outreach & Enrollment Specialist, Cornerstone Care, Washington, PA, will present information to better enable you to find a quality health insurance plan that meets your needs and budget. A variety of topics to help you navigate the Health Exchange will be discussed including: “What Determines Health Insurance Premiums”, “What Qualifies Individuals and Families for Advanced Premium Tax Cuts, and Cost Sharing Reductions”. Ms. Livingston will also explain the differences between the 5 plan categories available – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic – and how a geographic area impacts the plans. Information about penalties for non-compliance will also be explained. Following the program, Livingston will remain to answer questions and arrange for individual appointments at Cornerstone Care for those who request a private consult.

Cornerstone Care is a non- profit Community Health Center and one of the Certified Appointment Counselors ready to help Pennsylvania Libraries reach out to their patrons and their communities to apply for health insurance on the www.healthcare.gov website.

Peters Township Public Library, along with other libraries statewide, is powering Pennsylvania’s future by helping persons improve their health literacy and manage their own and their family’s well-being, empowered to be effective partners with their healthcare providers, and live longer, more productive lives.

Free FAFSA Completion Workshop offered

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Peters Township Public library will offer a free FAFSA Completion Session on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the library. This workshop, for college-bound seniors and their parents, offers help in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by providing an overview of each step of the form.

Preregistration is required for this program. Register online, visit the library's circulation desk, or call 724-941-9430.

The deadline for submitting the FAFSA to determine eligibility for a need-based Pennsylvania State Grant is May 1 for renewal applicants or first-time applicants entering a degree program or a college transferable program. The deadline for first-time students entering programs of study at community colleges, business, trade or technical schools, and hospital schools of nursing is August 1. Families should be aware of FAFSA filing deadlines for all schools being considered and meet the earliest one. The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for almost all forms of need-based financial assistance, including the Pennsylvania State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, many scholarships, work-study programs, many school-based awards, and low-cost federal student loans.

Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Test at the library

Results of the 2010 census shows an increase in immigrants residing in the Washington County area. Many may wish to become U.S. citizens and need help preparing to take the U.S. Citizenship Test. Part of becoming a U.S. citizen is passing the naturalization test, in which up to 10 questions from a list of 100 will be asked – at least 6 must be answered correctly to pass the test.

The Peters Township Public Library will offer a session on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. to help prepare for the test and increase confidence when entering the naturalization interview. Register to attend online or call 724.941.9430.

Advantages to becoming a U.S. citizen include the right to vote, the chance to reunite families, and the ability to protect children’s rights to remain in the United States.