Everyone is talking about the spotted lanternfly, and how many of them we are seeing on the trees on Conshohocken. We are hosting a presentation by a Montgomery County Park Ranger and a Penn State Master Watershed Steward so that we can learn more about how these insects will affect the area. Our presenter will discuss the expected impact on all of us as homeowners, famrers, gardeners and grocery buyers, and will give us tips on how we can fight back. This is not the first time our library has worked with the Green Conshy group to bring a program highlighting environmental awareness to our patrons. We have found it to be a valuable partnership, and look forward to working with them again in the future.

The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period for 2019 will be from October 15 to December 7. During this period each year, Medicare beneficiaries can join, switch or drop their Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage. Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans change the coverage and costs each year, so it is important to review your plan and compare it to others on the market that are available to Lancaster County residents. APPRISE, a free health insurance counseling program for Pennsylvanians with Medicare, will have counselors available during the entire Annual Open Enrollment Period. These unbiased and friendly counselors will help you understand your options in comparing Part D and Medicare Advantage plans at the following events in the community. This counseling is free. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, and you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan, please call Lancaster County Office of Aging, (717) 299-7979 or 1-800-801-3070. You can also email the agency at aging@co.lancaster.pa.us to schedule an appointment.

Madcap Mondays is a free, weekly program offered throughout the school year to students in grades 3-7. This year’s sessions are designed around the theme of being green and environmentally friendly. Each week, staff share information on environmental challenges and ways to get involved and make a positive impact on the environment and in our community. The information is provided in context with an upcycling activity where students take an everyday object and give it new life. Ideas for activities are found on Pinterest and other websites. For example, students brought in an old t-shirt and created a no-sew bag to use.

A program for students of our Adult Literacy Program to celebrate passing their American Citizenship test. During the event, the process of how to get citizenship is explained for those who are unaware/don’t have to take the test.

Our After School Program provides numerous opportunities for students of all ages. The program provides homework help, arts and Crafts, a host of stem and steam education and fun programs, projects and activities, not to mention lots of Fun. This year it celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards.

A Peer group for both parents and children. It’s designed to help parents with children struggling with social interaction, developmental delays and sensory weaknesses within the community. The program includes supervised fun for the kids, resources, counseling services and much more!!

The Wissahickon Middle School Library created a BreakoutEDU (https://www.breakoutedu.com/) for Constitution Day. We invited all classes to come and crack the code and save the Constitution. The BreakoutEDU platform is Social Literacy at its best, allowing students to work together to solve codes and open locks. This supports Civic Literacy because it enhances understand of the way our government works and the role the Constitution plays in government.

In partnership with Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., the library hosted a free discussion on social security and medicare. This event was targeted for adults. Attendees received an overview of the benefits and eligibility requirements for services.

Bibs n’ Books and Wee Reads are weekly storytimes for young children from ages 0-5 which develop early literacy skills through books, songs, and fingerplays/movement games.

Curiosity Club is a weekly STEM program for school-aged children in which they learn new scientific concepts while doing experiments or making crafts.

These events are free of charge.

New social group that is able to utilize books as part of a craft. Many ideas are from Pinterest and other craft sites.