News

Getting Through the Holidays Gluten-Free

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While visiting a local farm last summer, Melanie Jaskulski’s 5-year-old daughter noticed a little girl wearing the same gluten-free alert bracelet as she was and ran to talk to her.  The elated look on her daughter’s face of meeting someone “just like her” made Melanie realize she needed to do something to bring gluten-free kids together. After doing some research, she discovered Generation GF, a national organization, and she decided to start a local chapter in this area.

To help families have a fun, gluten-free holiday season, the library is collaborating with Generation GF to host Getting through the Holidays Gluten-Free on Saturday, December 10 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Register online to attend this free, family-friendly event or call 724.941.9430 #1.

Featured speakers include:

  • Amy Macklin, RDN, one of the leading private practice Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists in the United States who specializes in helping families and individuals to live, learn, master, and even enjoy the gluten-free lifestyle. She is the author of Growing Up Gluten Free: A Lifestyle Guide For Raising Your Gluten-Free Child. A book signing will follow the program.
  • Meredith Hartladge, a Nutrition Consultant currently completing her Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition. She will be sharing recipes and samples of quick, easy snacks for gluten-free children and tips for entertaining gluten-free guests over the holidays.
  • Melanie Jaskulski, the founder of Generation GF Pittsburgh.

Generation GF, a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), is designed to build confidence in kids, teens, and young adults, and help develop them into the future leaders of our gluten-free community. Their goal is to provide safe environments where kids do not have to worry about what they are going to eat and can just enjoy the fun that comes with being a kid. More information is available at https://www.gluten.org/.

Attic find leads retired teacher to write book

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Registration is required for this program. There is limited seating available at this time. Please call 724.941.9430 #1 to inquire if any seats are available.

While cleaning out his parent’s attic, Carleton Young discovered an enormous collection of letters written during the Civil War by two soldiers. After spending about five years transcribing the letters with the help of friends, the retired history teacher compiled their stories into the book Voices from the Attic: The Williamstown Boys in the Civil War.

Young will visit the Peters Township Public Library on Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. to talk about the book and his efforts to retrace the steps of the two brothers based on their letters home as they fought in the Civil War. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Young’s book tells the story of two brothers who witnessed and made history by fighting in the Peninsula Campaign, then at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Cedar Creek. They preserved that history through their surprisingly detailed and insightful letters, rediscovered after 150 years in his parent’s attic.

 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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The Peters Township Public Library invites you to participate in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program in partnership with author/illustrator Jackie Urbanovic.

This free program encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before he or she starts kindergarten. We will help you achieve your goal and celebrate you and your child every step of the way! The concept is simple, yet the rewards are priceless. Visit the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten web site for more information about the program.

Stop by the Youth Services Desk to register your little reader, pick up the first log sheet, and start reading!

Halloween fun @ the library

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This week the children in our Tiny Tunes Music and Toddler Tales programs had an impromptu parade in the lobby for our patrons and library staff to enjoy – such cute costumes!

The library has two more programs lined up this week to kick-off your Halloween celebrations:

A Teen Halloween Party will be held in the Teen Room on Thursday, October 27 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for grades 6 and up. We’ll have games, contests, treats and more – make sure to wear a costume!

A Halloween Haunts Storytime for children of all ages with an adult will be offered on Thursday, October 27 from 6:30 to 7:15 pm in the Multi-purpose Room. Register at the Youth Services Desk if you plan to attend.

Peters Township hours for Trick or Treating will be on Monday, October 31 from 6 to 8:00 p.m. For a safe and happy Halloween, read these tips from the CDC.

Great Halloween Costume Swap wrap up

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Nearly 100 costumes were collected and swapped at this year’s Great Halloween Costume Swap last Saturday, October 8 at the library.

After collecting donated costumes for two days prior to the event, the Go Green Club volunteers organized the costumes by size on tables in the Multi-purpose Room. Families waited patiently for the swap to open at 9 a.m. and were given numbered tickets to enter the room. When a family’s number was called, they entered the swap and began their search for the perfect costumes.

The crowd of over 60 persons was a mix of first-timers and veterans who had participated in the swap for the three prior years. Both children and adults left the library that morning with gently-used costumes that were new to them. The GO Green Club hosts the event to encourage the community to swap their slightly used costumes to save resources, packaging, transportation costs, and money.

Costumes and accessories that remained after the swap were donated to the South Hills Interfaith Movement which provides food, clothing and services to people in need in Pittsburgh’s southern suburban neighborhoods. The Go Green Club plans to host the next Great Halloween Costume Swap in October 2017. For more information about the club, email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.

Get an overview on completing the FAFSA®

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In partnership with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Peters Township Public Library will offer a free FAFSA Completion Overview on Monday, November 7 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 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.

Registration is required for this program. Register online or call 724-941-9430 #1.

Important changes have gone into effect beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA®:

  • You’ll be able to submit your 2017-2018 FAFSA® as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling you to complete and submit a FAFSA® as early as October 1 every year.
  • You’ll use earlier income and tax information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA®, students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. On the 2017–18 FAFSA® you will report your 2015 income and tax information, rather than your 2016 income and tax information.