The AARP Driver Safety Program
The AARP Driver Safety Program will be held on Monday, August 25, at Westchester Public Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, in the Thomas Library Bertha Wood meeting room. The class will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost for the program is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non AARP members. Registration is necessary. Visit www.aarp.org/drive or call Instructor Jeanette Pike at 219-949-6307 for more information or to register.
The Driver Safety Program is designed for drivers 50+, but all ages are welcome. Attendees will learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate vehicles more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. Learn how to manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time.
After completing the course, attendees will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion that may be presented to their insurance agents for a possible reduction in insurance premiums.
Tutoring Program to Resume this Fall
Westchester Public Library will resume its reading tutoring service for children preschool age through grade 12 who are seeking assistance in improving reading scores or reading levels/skills this fall. Individuals interested in volunteering as a reading tutor may fill out an application. Applications are available at the circulation desks at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, and Hageman Library, 100 Francis Street, Porter. Fill out the application and turn it in at one of the desks.
Registration as a volunteer tutor or student will begin at Word Girl on Friday, August 15 in the Children’s Department, Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, at 6:30 pm. Tutoring sessions will begin in September.
Volunteer Reading Tutors will be responsible for one-on-one reading tutoring of children during assigned hours at the library. They will cater to the individual needs of each student, aid students in achieving their reading goals by helping them develop reading skills and confidence, and will help foster a love of reading and enhanced self-esteem in each student through patience and encouragement. Tutors must have an honest desire to help students achieve their reading goals and must possess patience and a positive attitude. It is preferred that they have previous reading tutoring experience or other experience working with/teaching children. Individuals who possess or who are pursuing a degree in elementary education or a similar field are encouraged to apply, as well as retired educators.
All volunteers are required to pass a background check.
For more information, call Thomas Library at 926-7696 or Hageman Library at 926-9080.
Children’s Summer Reading Program Finished
Five hundred sixty nine children age 2 through grade 5 signed up for Neighbors of the World, Westchester Public Library’s 2014 summer reading program. Each participant received a reading record passport in which to record books read. Tickets were turned in for weekly prize drawings.
Mystic Drumz kicked off the program with “Legend of Marshmallow Island.” Each week children enjoyed Friday Adventures, learning a bit about the different countries “visited” during the program.
As part of the journey this year, Curious George joined the fun by visiting different area restaurants. Thanks go out to George’s Gyro Spot, Taste of India, Santiago’s, Happy Wok, Third Coast Spice Café, and Popolano’s for hosting the Curious George poster for Summer Excursions participants to find.
The finale celebrated Mexico with a Family Fiesta at Thomas Centennial Park. Special thanks to Molly Bea’s Ingredients, the Indiana Writers’ Consortium, Lakeshore Public Television, and the many excellent library volunteers for making this event a success. The capstone to the celebration was the Mexican folk dancing performed by the students of the Ballet Folklorico de Gloria Dei.
Regular children’s programs will resume in September at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton (926-7696) and Hageman Library, 100 Francis Street, Porter (926-9080).
Mad About Mysteries presents regional mysteries
Mad About Mysteries will continue at the Westchester Township History Museum, 700 W. Porter Avenue, Chesterton, on Wednesday, August 13. A repeat presentation will be held on Saturday, August 16. Both sessions will take place at 2 pm. Refreshments will be served.
Join Joan Costello for the first of a series which will highlight regional mysteries – regional meaning setting and/or author location. Costello, museum registrar and mystery buff, will present mysteries and authors of the Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire area.
Authors will include Connie Archer, Sofie Ryan, Lorna Barrett, Sarah Graves, Kaitlyn Dunnett, and more.
The museum is a free cultural and educational service of Westchester Public Library and is open to the public Wednesday-Saturday from 1-5 pm or by appointment. For more information please call the museum at 983-9715.
Back-to-School Night with WordGirl at Thomas Library
WordGirl is coming to Westchester Public Library in a program co-sponsored with Lakeshore TV on Friday, August 15 at 6:30 pm. Children are invited to join the fun in the Children’s Department at Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton.
Meet WordGirl and have your picture taken with her; receive a printed copy right away. Spin the word-spinner and act out the word. Add a leaf to the back-to-school tree. Make a craft. Attendees may watch episodes of WordGirl as they participate in other activities. Enjoy a piece of cake, too!
Parents are invited to take the opportunity during the program to sign up their child for the library’s one-on-one tutoring program for the school year.
For more information or to register, contact the Children’s Department at Thomas Library, 926-7696.
Sunday Matinee at Thomas Library to screen The Railway Man
Sunday Matinee will take place at the Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, at 1:30 pm on Sunday, August 17, with a showing of The Railway Man. Westchester Public Library films are free of charge and open to the public.
In The Railway Man, Eric Lomax was one of thousands of Allied prisoners of war forced to work on the construction of the Thai/Burma railway during WW2. His experiences, after the secret radio he built to bring news and hope to his colleagues was discovered, left him traumatized and shut off from the world.
Years later, he met Patti, a beautiful woman, on a train and fell in love. Patti was determined to rid Eric of his demons. Discovering that the young Japanese officer who haunted her husband was still alive, she faced a terrible decision. Should Eric be given a chance to confront his tormentor? Would she stand by him, whatever he did?
The Railway Man is rated R for disturbing prisoner of war violence and has a running time of 116 minutes.
For more information, call the Audio-Visual Department at 926-7696.