Running for Fun and Fitness: Prevent Pain and Injury

Equally informative for those who are recreational/fitness runners or those who want to start running but have questions about proper technique, this program by Tony Zuloaga, PT, MS, OCS, on Tuesday, August 24 from 7-8:30 p.m. will discuss important running elements, including: proper flexibility, appropriate shoes, better body mechanics, how to increase strength, and helpful exercises. Reasons for pain during or after running will also be covered. Mr. Zuloaga is an orthopedically certified physical therapist and has been in practice for 30 years. Register for this program online, at the library's circulation desk, or call 724-941-9430.

Home Canning Basics at the Library

Learn the art of home canning at the Peters Township Public Library on Saturday, August 14 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The workshop will teach how to effectively preserve foods to make the most of summer’s bounty.

Even with all the technological advances in the last fifty years, home canning is one of the safest and most reliable methods of preserving food, if done properly. “Home Canning Basics” will be taught by Loretta O’Brien, who has been canning for 33 years, and Angie Phares, Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club President and Master Gardening candidate.

Register for this free program online, at the library’s circulation desk, or call 724-941-9430.

Native Southwestern PA Plants in the Garden

One of the hottest new trends in gardening and landscaping is the use of native plants. Tonight the library is offering a free program on this topic by Candy S. DeBerry, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at Washington & Jefferson College.

Hosting by the PTPL GO Green Club, "Native Plants in the Garden and Landscape" will explain how growing native plants can reduce maintenance and water usage, saving time and money; reduce air, water, and noise pollution; increase biodiversity and create wildlife habitat; and increase property values. This workshop will introduce you to beautiful and landscape-friendly trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and perennials, all native to Southwest Pennsylvania. Register at the library's circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Two-part Couponing 101 series

Learn how to trim your monthly grocery bills, get items for free, and much more at “Couponing 101” a new series being hosted by the Peters Township Public Library on two consecutive Saturdays, August 7 and August 14 from 10 - 11:30 a.m.

The two sessions will explain coupon basics such as where to find the best coupons, how to organize your coupons and to use the weekly circulars to your best advantage. Find out how to read a coupon, what to do with expired coupons, and get your children, spouse, family and friends involved in the process. Each participant will receive a coupon packet to help start a coupon collection.

These classes will be offered by local coupon” experts” Cindi Johnson, Randy Piscatelli, and Lori Lautar, who will share the strategies and tips they have learning during their several years of couponing. Ms. Johnson initiated and maintains the “Coupon Swap” box at the library and has been an avid couponer for 40 years. Mr. Piscatelli has donated over $32,000 in food to various agencies that he has gotten for free through clipping coupons. He believes families can cut their food bills by 50 to 75% easily. Ms. Lautar regularly saves at least 50% on her grocery bills with coupons, and plans to share her knowledge about “coupon stacking” - combining more than one discount when purchasing an item.

To attend these free sessions, please register at the library circulation desk, call 724-941-9430, or email the library. Depending on the interest level at these sessions, the library is considering starting a couponing club for patrons to swap coupons, share web sites with coupon offers, and learn to save money on all their purchases.

Visit the Library Booth at Community Day!

The Peters Township Public Library will once again be participating in Peters Township Community Day on Saturday, June 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Peterswood Park. (There is no rain date.) The Library's booth will be #110, located next to the large playground at the top of the hill.

We will be featuring information and activities for all ages! Children will have bandanas to decorate and carnival games, and the popular Sno-Cone machine will be back for an encore performance! For teens, there will be sand art key-chains and the opportunity to play Wii Sports Resort on a portable TV. The Reference Department staff and volunteers will be providing instruction on accessing Mango Languages - Language Learning Online Resource, available for free for library patrons. Members of the library's "GO Green" Club will be offering a recycling display and will be available to speak with visitors about the club's activities and projects.You can also purchase raffle tickets for a framed, signed (11 signatures) Pittsburgh Penguins jersey -- the winner will be chosen on July 6, and tickets ($2.00 each) are available at the library's circulation desk and will also be available at the Library's booth.

Stop by our booth and learn about everything we have to offer to you and your whole family!

Start off your summer by learning a new language!

Did you know your library has a fun, fast and easy language learning program called Mango Languages? The best part it is free for Peters Township Public Library patrons, and you can access it anywhere the internet is available with your library card.

Mango is the easiest and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Mango is available in two versions:

Mango Basic:
Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. You can view all the supported Mango Basic languages and ESL courses here.

Mango Complete:
Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

To learn more about Mango and get a short preview of what the program has to offer, you can visit the company's website. Even better, you can visit the library's link to Mango and get started on the courses themselves!

Dad's Day Out @ the Library!

To honor and celebrate Father’s Day 2010, the Peters Township Public Library will offer a day-long event for fathers and their children at the library on Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Dad’s Day Out” is a special day to celebrate all things about dad. Events planned include a comedy dads’ movie marathon, father-son-daughter storytime, duct tape craft projects, and a Fathers vs. Kids Wii Tournament. There will also be an “Ugly Tie Contest”, so patrons are encouraged to wear their most hideous tie to win a prize! During the event, dads can also learn about the many resources available at the library to make their lives easier – free WiFi, study rooms, Consumer Reports online, Mango Languages and more. Refreshments will be available. Fathers and their children are encouraged to stop in at any time throughout the day.

Raffle tickets will be sold to win a framed, autographed Pittsburgh Penguins sweatshirt, which will be on display. Players who signed the shirt include: Matt Cooke, Sydney Crosby, Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Godard, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Sergei Gonchar, Jay McKee, Marc Andre Fleury, Craig Adams, and Jordon Staal. Tickets are $2 each and are currently available in the Children’s Department, the Young Adult Department and the circulation desk. The drawing for the shirt will be held on Tuesday, July 6. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the library, and you need not be present at the drawing to win.

To attend the “Dad’s Day Out” program, please call the Children's Department at 724.941.9430 or email the library.