Tax Preparation Volunteers Needed

A message shared by the United Way of Allegheny County on behalf of the Money In Your Pocket Coalition:

Are you looking for a volunteer experience where you can make an immediate and measureable difference in someone’s life? 

The United Way of Allegheny County and the Money In Your Pocket Coalition need your help this tax season to provide free tax preparation assistance for low-income individuals and families in Allegheny County. 

Last year, more than 125 students, professionals, and retirees dedicated over 4,000 hours to Allegheny County’s free tax campaign.  Volunteers prepared 4,486 tax returns and helped return $7.8 million in tax refunds back to local residents, including $3.1 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. 

For the clients we serve, these tax refunds helped put food on the table, pay off debt, make rent or mortgage payments, and pay for heat and electricity during Pittsburgh’s winter months. Learn more about the free tax campaign at http://www.pghfreetaxes.org. 

Am I eligible to become a volunteer tax preparer? 

If you have experience doing your own tax returns (or just want to learn), we need you!  Tax preparation volunteers have basic computer skills, enjoy working with others, and successfully complete two days of tax training and IRS certification (provided by the MIYP Coalition free of charge). 

Time commitment:

Your short-term time commitment is 3 or more hours per week from January-April.  Scheduling is easy, and includes daytime, evening, or weekend hours.  

Training:

You choose one of the following tax training weekends:

January 8^th and 9^th from 9 am to 5 pm

January 15^th and 16^th from 9 am to 5 pm

January 22^nd and 23^rd from 9 am to 5 pm

 Free Tax Site Locations:

 South Side

 Monroeville

 Downtown

 East Liberty

 Lawrenceville

 North Side

We hope you will join us for the 2011 tax season, and ask that you:

• Fill out and save the attached volunteer application form

• Email it back to us as an attachment at freetaxes@uwac.org

• Or print it out and fax it to us at 412.456.6893

When we receive your application, we’ll register you for training and forward your application to your chosen site.  You will receive a confirmation email within one business day.  Please return your completed application by December 31, 2010.  If you have questions or need more information, email us at freetaxes@uwac.org or call 412.456.6785.    

Please pass this message along to your contacts and networks! The Money In Your Pocket Coalition includes Just Harvest, Family Resources, Goodwill of Southwestern PA, United Cerebral Palsy, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, and the United Way of Allegheny County.

Carnegie Museum of Art | André Kertész: On Reading ($2 Off)

The Carnegie Museum of Art will be featuring the exhibition, André Kertész: On Reading, beginning October 23, 2010 running through February 13, 2011.  Receive $2 off admission by presenting a library card from any Allegheny County library. 

André Kertész: On Reading includes photographs from the 1920s to 1970s that examine the power of reading as a universal pleasure and illustrate Kertész’s ability to capture the poetry and choreography of life in public and private moments.  Balanced between geometric composition and playful observation, these glimpses of everyday people and places show how Kertész forever changed the course of photographic art. This is the first exhibition of Kertész’s photographs to be shown in Pittsburgh.  Read the full press release.

Local mystery author Kathleen George to visit Lauri Ann West Memorial Library

Come to the Lauri Ann West Memorial Library to meet local mystery author Kathleen George this Thursday at 7 pm. The library will host a reception and book talk beginning at 7 pm on Thursday, October 7 with acclaimed mystery writer Kathleen George.  Kathleen George lives in Pittsburgh where she is a professor of theatre at the University of Pittsburgh. Her latest novel The Odds was nominated for an Edgar award for best novel of the year by the Mystery Writers of America. She is also the author of the acclaimed novels: Taken, Fallen, and After Image, the short story collection The Man in the Buick, scholarly theatrical books and articles, and many short stories.  Many of her books use Pittsburgh locations in their plots.  Please invite any book discussion groups in your area.

Lauri Ann West Memorial Library

1220 Powers Run Rd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15238

412-828-9520

Collaborative Summer Reading Program

Shared by Commonwealth Libraries in the Compendium Extra:

Become a member of the Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSLP) to have access to an early literacy component, rules of use for the graphics and logos, Public Service Announcements (PSA), and information on serving children with disabilities.

Upcoming Summer Reading Themes and Slogans

2011
General Theme: World Cultures
Slogans:
Children's Program: One World, Many Stories
Teen Program: You are Here
Adult Program: Novel Destinations

2012
General theme: Nighttime
Slogans:
Children's: Dream Big, Read
Teen: Seize the Night
Adult: Between the Covers

2013
General Theme: Underground

Local Author Debuts Novel "In Search of Mercy"

Local author Michael Ayoob’s debut novel, "In Search of Mercy," has won the PWA/St. Martin's Press Best First Private Eye Novel competition last year and will be released on October 12. Check out the book’s website at: www.insearchofmercy.com.

Michael will be available beginning in November for local library visits after his Halloween launch party at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont.  Michael is interested in visiting libraries throughout the county for readings, sitting in on book discussion groups, and fund raising projects during this time of economic crunch for libraries.

If you would like to schedule an author visit, contact Michael Ayoob at michael@michaelayoob.com. 

Get Crafty @ Your Library

ALA news recently noted the popularity of do-it-yourself projects and crafting.  Libraries are a great resource for DIY and crafting books programs and books. Many local libraries hold regular DIY and crafting programs.  Here's just a few:

• Knitting clubs at the Moon Township Public Library and Whitehall Public Library,  
• Sewing classes and knitting club at the William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills, 
• Knit Lit at the Northern Tier Regional Library, 
• Crocheting classes at the Wilkinsburg Public Library, 
• Circle of Stitchers and scrap book club at the Plum Borough Community Library 
• Creative Memories scrap booking club at the Hampton Community Library.

Read the ALA article.

Author Events | American Libraries Magazine

Thanks to Suzy Ruskin at the Moon Township Public Library for sharing this link which she thought was a great programming resource:

Author Events | American Libraries Magazine
Source: americanlibrariesmagazine.org

Three Rivers Storytelling Festival @ Northland Public Library

Check out the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival this week at the Northland Public Library! KDKA featured a story about the festival today. Click here to see the video.

For more information visit the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival's website.

Address Confidentiality Program

The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) and provides an important service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

The program has two basic parts. First, the ACP provides a substitute address for victims who have moved to a new location unknown to their perpetrator. The second part of the program provides participants with a free first-class confidential mail forwarding service.

The ACP is not for everyone. A victim service professional from a domestic violence, sexual assault or a victim service program can help determine if ACP is right for a victim as part of their safety plan.

For assistance call 800.563.6399 (TDD 877.349.1064) or visit www.paacp.state.pa.us.

Mind, Body, Spirit Programs | Libraries Collaborate

Upper St. Clair Township and South Park Township Libraries are offering a year of joint complimentary Mind, Body, Spirit programming.

The programming has been designed to introduce patrons to newly developed Mind, Body, Sprit collections at both libraries. The collection has been made possible by a LSTA grant the libraries received this year.

The next program in this series is: "Save Your Brain" a book by Clinical Neuropsychologist and adjunct professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and local author Paul D. Nussbaum, Ph.D., this Thursday, July 22 at 7:00pm at South Park Library.

He will discuss how to ward of memory loss, improve brain performance, and increase mental fitness by implementing a brain healthy lifestyle TODAY! It's never too late--or too early--to start. For questions call Donna Neiport at the South Park Township Library, 412-833-5585, or Upper St. Clair Township Library, 412-835-5540.

July--Brain Functioning
July 12 at 7:00pm @ Upper St. Clair Township Library
Brain Fitness Exercises
Shirley Fisher

July 22 at 7:00pm
Save Your Brain @ South Park Township Library
Dr. Paul Nussbaum

August--Harmony Within
August 2 at 7:00pm @ Upper St. Clair Township Library
Why Western Medicine is Not Working
Mesa Creative Arts & Healing Center

August 16 at 6:30pm @ South Park Township Library
Intro. to Holistic & Nat. Healing
Mesa Creative Arts & Healing Ctr.

September--Inner Strength
Sept. 16 at 7:00pm @ Upper St. Clair Township Library
Tai Chi
Dr. Ted Cibic

Sept. 1 at 7:00pm @ South Park Township Library
QiGong
Dr. Ted Cibic

October--Healing Harvest
October 21 at 7:00pm @ Upper St. Clair Township Library
Whole Foods
Mark Staley

October 7 at 7:00pm @ South Park Township Library
Trax Farms
Lisa Whitaker

November--Tea Ceremonies
November 15 at 2:00pm @ Upper St. Clair Township Library
Japanese Tea Ceremony
Yoko Motoyama

November 10 at 1:00pm @ South Park Township Library
Indian Tea Ceremony
Saroj Bahl

Award Applications Due July 23, 2010

The applications for the 2010 Marietta Y. King and Alberta Walden Still Diversity Award for public service to older adults in a diverse community is due July 23, 2010. Additionally, the award applications for the 2010 AARP Award to recognize and promote library service for older adults in Pennsylvania public libraries are due on July 23, 2010.

What exciting, creative, Best Practices programs has your library presented in the past year for the older adults in your community? Wouldn’t you like to share your innovative program with other libraries in Pennsylvania?

Email the award application to me at ckoenig@state.pa.us

Remember the award presentations will be given at the PaLA Annual Conference in Lancaster in October.

Thank you to Claudia Koenig of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries for sharing this reminder.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon

It’s okay to stay up all night reading!!!

Joseph-Beth Booksellers has teamed up with ACLA, Beginning with Books, and Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council for a FUNdraiser this August in the form of a 24 Hour Read-A-Thon! Complete with prizes, food, guest readers and lots and lots of reading! This event is open to all ages. Readers do not need to attend the full 24 hours to participate.

The reading starts on Friday, August 13th at 4pm

For a complete list of rules and a registration packet contact crickert@josephbeth.com or
call Joseph-Beth Booksellers at (412) 381-3600 and ask for Chris.

Click here for a teaser flyer to use in promotion.
More information is also posted on the Youth Services wiki.

2010 Fall Education & Research Conference

Its that time again, for the 2010 Fall Educaiton & Research Conference, mark your calendars for October 25, 8:45 AM - 4:15 PM at the Four Poit Sheraton in Mars. Speakers will present information on past and current research. Registration Fee for professionals is $75 and $25 for Family Cargivers, which includes a complementary breakfast and lunch.

The speakers for this years conference include William H. Theis, Ph. D., the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Alzheimer’s Association National Office who will speak on the 'Promising Projects in Research' and the 'Latest Developments to Treatment & Cure'. Joseph Maroon, M.D., Vice Chairman and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine will present information on 'How to Live Longer and Healthier'. Perkins Eastman Architect will discuss how to 'Create Residential Care Environment that Promote Healing and Comfort for Residents'. Dana Dudra-Biel of St. John’s Specialty Care will present a 'Demonstration of Brain Fitness System by Dakim. Beth Kuenzi of Marian Manor will provide information on 'Rocking Chair Therapy'. Lastly, Vincentian Collaborative System will discuss the PARO Study.

Who should attend:
Professional staff and family caregivers
6.0 CEUs pending approval: NHA., PCHA
6.5 CEUs pending approval: Social Work ($10.00 fee)
Nursing CEUs (as stated in section 21.132, 133 & 134 Rules & Regs.)

If interested in becoming a sponsor please contact Lois Lutz at lois.lutz@alz.org

Dementia Trainings 2010

"Making Connections & Understanding Wandering"
Program Length: 4 Hours
Price: $80 per person
Date: June 24, 2010
When: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Presbyterian Senior Care, 835 S. Main St, Washington , PA 15301

"Reducing Risk of Falls & Promoting Restraint-Free Care"
Program Length: 4 Hours
Price:$80 per person
When: 8:30 AM -12:30 PM
Date: June 14, 2010
Location: (Lawrence) Villa Maria Community Center, 2015 Evergreen Drive, Villa Maria, PA 16155
Date: July 27, 2010
Location: Easter Seals, 252 Railroad St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Date: August 26, 2010
Location: Presbyterian Senior Care, 835 S. Main St, Washington, PA 15301

"End of Life"
Program Length: 3 hours
Price: $75 per person
When: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Date: September 8, 2010
Location: (Lawrence) Shenango Presbyterian Senior, 238 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16142
Date: September 28, 2010
Location: Woodhaven Care Center, 2400 McGinley Rd., Monroeville, PA 15146
Date: October 28, 2010
Location: Presbyterian Senior Care, 835 S. Main St, Washington , PA 15301

"Learning to Lead"
Program Length: 3 hours
Price: $75 per person
When: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Date: November 10, 2010
Location: (Lawrence) Shenango Presbyterian Senior, 238 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16142

Thank you to Lois Lutz of the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania Chapter for sharing this information.

Wise Walk and One Book One Community

If you love the Wise Walk program, than Venture Outdoors has taken it to a whole other level, with the introduction of Nature Wise Walks in conjunction with the One Book One Community selection for 2010 A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Throughout the summer Venture Outdoors will host a monthly nature inspired Wise Walks which will take walkers through the woods and parks around the area. Wise Walk members are encouraged to join in on the fun as well as non-members. A small fee is required to participate, $5 for members and Wise Walkers $8 for non-members. Each hike will start with a reading from the book, and continue with a leisurely stroll around a local park, while learning its natural and social history.

There are two walks scheduled for:
Monday June 7th at Riverview Park from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday July 5th at South Park from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
more walks to follow...

Register by visiting www.ventureoutdoors.org or calling 412-255-0564

Attention Caregivers!

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation, in partnership with the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, has launched an innovative initiative for caregivers of older adults in Allegheny County called Caregiver Champions.

It is a volunteered powered, grassroots effort to reduce the stress of caregiving through learning circles where experts share vital information about coping strategies, tools and resources in our community.

Please take a minute to visit our website at www.caregiverchampions.org and forward it to others who may benefit from our program or who may be interested in leading a group.

Thank you to Pamela Vingle of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation for providing this information.

2011 National Veterans Wheelchair Games

The National Vererans Wheelchair Games are coming to Pittsburgh next summer, August 1-6 , 2011. Fundraising has already begun for this event sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare system.

To learn more about this event, please visit www.pittsburgh.va.gov/NVWG.asp

The 2011 National Veterans Wheelchair Games presents a country and blues bash featuring:

• The Charlie Daniels Band - June 4, 2010 Trib Total Media Amphitheater at Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pa. Get your tickets today! All proceeds support the 2011 National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburgh

Ticketmaster.com 1-800-745-3000
General Admission: $28-$38 Gold Circle: $75

One Book One Community 2010

As many may have already heard there is a county wide initiative taking place in Allegheny county throughout the months of April and May. One Book One Community strives to get everyone in the community involved in reading and discussing a single book. This year's selection is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson which chronicles the author's adventures on the Appalachian trial along with a companion. The books is hysterical at times while also holding true to the foundations of the Appalachian trail and the core experiences of every hiker. As the main theme of the book is nature, resources and events have been complied for Allegheny county allowing members of the community to enjoy all that is offered. Events include walks in nature, 'Greening' your living space, book discussions, and so much more. This year's selection is all the more important for Pittsburghers and Allegheny county as World Environment Day 2010 will be hosted by Pittsburgh advocating for the improved health of our Earth. If you have not already read this years selection, please join in on the discussion connecting the county page by page.

For information about the book and its author, events taking place in your area, resources available in Allegheny county, and much more please visit the One Book One Community website.

1 Week Until the DEADLINE!!!

Read About It!

Application Now Available Online
Postmark Deadline: SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010

Apply for Read About It! — a FREE book discussion series of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The packaged series features five programs that appeal to popular interests in literature: American Life Stories, Books on Screen (new book list), Detecting Women, Facts in Fiction: the Civil War Era and Pennsylvania Writers.

Application & Questions
Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2010. To complete an application, visit http://www.pahumanities.org/resources/read.php.

For additional questions, please contact Read About It! Coordinator Jennifer Miller at jmiller@pahumanities.org or (800) 462.0442 ext. 110.

Benefits of Book Discussion
Read About It! exposes readers across Pennsylvania to the reading and discussion of literature. The programs are open to all who love to read; no prerequisites or special knowledge is required to join a discussion group. In addition, your participants will receive their own copy of the featured books. Participants also get the opportunity to discuss literature with an expert humanities scholar. See what Pennsylvania libraries have said about the program:

“This is a special type of program for our size library. We don’t normally have the budget to accommodate a guest commentator on such great books, or the ability to give all the participants a free copy of the titles to keep. It draws new interest from readers about our library in the hopes that they’ll become steady visitors.” – Cindy D’Agostino, Dormont Public Library

See earlier post for more information on Read About It! 4/9/2010

Social Security Presentations

FREE library event opportunity for older adults that has the promise of being educational for patrons as well as library staff. Social Security can provide speakers for a meeting, luncheon or staff training FREE of charge.
However, Social Security requests that 10 individuals sign up for each session. Each hosting library is asked to request advance reservations in advertisement of the program.

Speakers can include the following in the presentation:
Social Security Online
The Importance of Social Security to Women
Social Security: It's More Than Just Retirement!
The Future of Social Security
Disability: Social Security and SSI
Disability Work Incentives
Understanding the Benefits

To arrange a speaker for your group or organization contact:
Dan Majewski, Public Affairs Specialist
412-644-6332 Ext. 3036
Dan.majewski@ssa.gov