Westlake Porter Public Library’s September Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s September 2024 calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Instagram (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates.

Saturday, September 7 (10:30 a.m.-Noon) Medicare Ins & Outs – Do you need accurate, unbiased information about Medicare? Attend a program by OSHIIP, Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, to learn the “ins and outs” of Medicare. OSHIIP volunteer counselor, Jim Langan, will discuss your Medicare coverage options. Learn about Medicare benefits Part A, Part B, supplemental insurance policies, prescription drug coverage, and Medicare Advantage plans. Please register.

Saturdays, September 7 and 21 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) Academic Screening – Licensed school-based psychologists will host one-on-one academic testing assessments to screen for dyslexia, ADHD, language or auditory barriers, etc. Grades PreK-12. Space is very limited and screenings are only academic in nature. Your child will be given an assigned 30-minute screening time. Academic screenings are made possible through the Accelerated Learning Grant, funded by the ODE and facilitated by Making A Difference Consulting. Registration begins one week before each session.

Sunday, September 8 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – Open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! No registration required.

Monday, September 9 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Sensational September Craft Kit Pick Up – Celebrate holidays and other special days in September with some fun crafts. Space is limited. Registration begins August 31.

Mondays, September 9, 23 and 30 (3-5 p.m.) Teen Lounge – Need a place to hang after school? Come to WPPL’s Teen Lounge on Monday afternoons. Video games, board games, snacks and more! No registration necessary. Grades 7-12.

Monday, September 9 Pre-K: (10-10:30 a.m.) Grades 1-4: (4:30-5:15 p.m.) Yoga with Ms. Jen! – Calm your body, mind and spirit in this yoga class taught by Ms. Jen, certified yoga instructor! Wear comfy clothes and bring your own mat or towel. Registration begins August 31 for the Pre-K session and September 2 for the Grades K-4 session.

Monday, September 9 (6:30-8 p.m.) Introduction to Foundation Directory – Look for grants for your nonprofit? Candid’s David Holmes will show you how to use Foundation Directory, the most comprehensive prospect research tool for fundraisers, with over 239,000+ grantmaker profiles. Please register.

Tuesday, September 10 (11-11:45 a.m.) Adult Stories and Crafts – Adults with disabilities are invited to laugh, sing and listen to stories, along with a craft or a coloring page. Registration opens September 3.

Tuesday, September 10 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Garrett Graff – “Capturing the Human Drama Through History” – Join us online for this incredibly moving live streaming event with bestselling author of oral histories and award-winning journalist Garrett Graff. Please register.

Tuesday, September 10 (3:30-5:00 p.m.) Let’s Make Ice Cream! – Drop in and make your own ice cream by hand! Grades K-6, siblings welcome. This program is hosted outside in our Pavilion, please dress accordingly. No registration required.

Tuesday September 10 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – Join the WPPL Tuesday Evening Book Club in person or on Zoom to discuss “The Escape Artist” by Jonathan Freedland. The discussion will be held in person and on Zoom simultaneously. Please register. If you register for the Zoom option, you will receive a Zoom invitation and instructions by email.

Wednesday, September 11 (9 a.m.9 p.m.) 9/11 Remembrance – Visit Christina’s Corner in the Youth Services Department to decorate and add a star to commemorate those who lost their lives on 9/11. Supplies provided. All ages.

Wednesdays, September 11 and 25 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, September 14 and 21(10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Children are welcome to wear their pajamas and bring along a stuffed animal! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. No registration required.

Thursday, September 12 (10–11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Excel – Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins September 5.

Thursdays, September 12 and 26 (4-5 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – Join us in the Roblox Arcade! We have private servers set up for tweens in grades 4-6 to enjoy some of the most popular games. Please register.

Thursday, September 12 (6-7 p.m.) I Can Cook! – Learn basic cooking skills with simple recipes for kids with disabilities and their typical peers. Each session of I Can Cook! empowers young children with disabilities with important cooking skills. Cooking requires fine motor work and following directions and is always a sensory experience! Tasting or sampling is not required. Please call the Youth Services desk at 440-250-5471 if you have any concerns about allergens or other dietary issues. Some previous kitchen experience is great, but isn’t necessary. Ages 3-7. Registration begins September 5.

Thursday, September 12 (7-8:30 p.m.) From Cuffs to Courtroom – Judge William Vodrey, a Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas Judge, will discuss the criminal justice system and how it functions. He will look at what happens when someone is arrested, arraignment, and up through the trial and after. Please register.

Thursday, September 12 (7-8:30 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This group now meets the second Thursday of every month. This month’s title is “The Book of Everlasting Things” by Aanchal Malhotra. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please register.

Friday, September 13 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read it, Make it @ the Library – We will read one story then make a craft based on the story. Ages 4-7, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Saturdays, September 14, 21 and 28 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) Jr. Gamebot – Wanna make video games? Love building with LEGO® bricks? Learn how to create video games using Scratch. Then we’ll bring the action to life as we build and program LEGO® mini robots. Grades 2-5. Note: Program series continues in October. Registration begins one week before each session.

Saturday, September 14 (1-2 p.m.) Pokémon Fun – This will be a time to view and trade cards, do a craft (if desired), and play a Pokémon Bingo game. Feel free to bring your cards. Ages 6-11. No registration required.

Monday, September 16 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This club meets the third Monday of every month except June and December. This month’s title is “Confident Women” Tori Telfer. Please register.

Monday, September 16 (2-3 p.m.) Medicare/Medigap Presentation – This program will give you the helpful guidance you need to navigate your Medicare Supplement options using the Weiss Financial Ratings Online Supplement Insurance Buyers’ Guide available through the library. Please register.

Monday, September 16 (7-8 p.m.) Tax Planning for Retirement – Learn how tax planning changes through the four stages of retirement, and the critical tax questions you must answer BEFORE retiring. Presented by Dave Herwerden of WestPoint Wealth Management, LLC. Please register.

Tuesday, September 17 (4-5 p.m.) Teen Creative Writing – Do you have a desire to be creative? Join us for an hour of writing prompts designed to make your creativity blossom! All experience levels welcome. Grades 7-12. Please register.

Tuesday, September 17 (6-8 p.m.) Wine Cork Centerpiece or Trivet and Earrings – Create a fall centerpiece and pair of earrings using wine corks. All supplies and tools included. This program is for ages 16 and older. Registration begins September 10.

Tuesday, September 17 (6-8:30 p.m.) Heartsaver CPR/AED – Get certified for adult, child and infant CPR and AED. Class led by certified instructors from UD St. John Medical Center, Email account required. Please register.

Tuesday, September 17 (6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) Spanish Language Social Hour – Meet other fluent Spanish speakers for informal conversation. Light  refreshments provided. Enjoy self-directed conversation and camaraderie. Those attending should be comfortable holding a conversation in the language. Caregivers are welcome to bring their children and can participate in conversation while supervising their child(ren).  Please register.

Tuesday, September 17 (6:30-8 p.m.) Sewing for Beginners – Makerspace staff will guide you through a beginners sewing craft with the sewing machines in the Makerspace.  Registration begins September 10.

Wednesday, September 18 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – The Wednesday Book Group meets the third Wednesday of each month. This month’s title is “Remember” by Lisa Genova. No registration required.

Wednesday, September 18 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Nate Klump, PhD, “An Expansive Mind in a Distracted World” (Virtual) – Explore pathways back to open-minded living with bestselling author and philosopher Nate Klemp. Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesday, September 18 (7-8:30 p.m.) The Long and Winding Phone – For years, journalist Helen Marketti has conducted interviews with famous musicians and television personalities. Join us as she shares some of her most memorable interviews! Copies of Marketti’s new book will also be available for purchase after the program! Please register.

Saturday, September 21 (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Jewelry Making – Tweens and Teen – join us for an end of summer earring and bracelet program. Make a stylish piece of jewelry for you or someone else! Please register.

Saturday, September 21 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Liane Moriarty, “A Deep Dive in Character Development” – Join us online for a chat with the mega-bestselling author about her newest novel, a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at the endless struggle to maintain certainty in an uncertain world. Please register.

Sunday, September 22 (2-4 p.m.) Stories in Shadow – Learn about the art of shadow puppetry, watch a performance, and make your own shadow puppets to take home. Please register each child individually. Grades 3-5. Registration begins September 15.

Monday, September 23 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Teen Craft Pick Up Book Magnet – Register online then stop by Youth Services for a craft kit. This kit gives you the supplies to make a Banned Books Locker Magnet. Kits are available for pick up through Monday, September 30, unless other arrangements are made. Grades 7-12. Registration begins September 16.

Monday, September 23 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Tween Craft Kit – Register beginning September 16, then stop by Youth Services starting at 9 a.m. for a Tween craft kit! For tweens in grades 5-7.

Tuesday, September 24 (11 a.m.-Noon) QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer Three Steps Anyone Can Learn to Help Prevent Suicide – September is Suicide Prevention Month. Learn how to recognize someone at risk for suicide, how to intervene with those at risk, and how to refer them to the appropriate resource. Presented by LifeAct. Registration begins August 24.

Tuesday, September 24 (7–8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Beauty of Autumn Edition – Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! Age 16 and up welcome. Please register.

Friday, September 27 (4–4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday – Dinosaur Discovery: Let’s explore the world of dinosaurs, from fossils and eggs to carnivores and herbivores. For ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins September 20.

Saturday, September 28 (1:30-2:30 p.m.) Kids in the Kitchen – Children with disabilities will learn important cooking skills while making 1 or 2 recipes. Tasting is not required. Please call the Youth Services desk at 440-250-5471 if you have any concerns about allergens or other dietary issues. Some previous kitchen experience is great but isn’t necessary. Typical peers or siblings welcome. Ages 8-12. Registration begins September 21.

Saturday, September 28 (2-4 p.m.) Make It, Take It! – Stop by Youth Services to complete a featured craft. While supplies last. PreK-Grade 2. No registration required.

Saturday, September 28 (3–4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Registration begins September 21.

Saturday, September 28 (3-5 p.m.) Women in History: Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Women in History presents the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg attended Harvard Law School. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 she went on to serve until her death in 2020. Registration begins August 26.

Sunday, September 29 (2-3 p.m.) Art Smarts – Learn about a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own. Grades 4-6. Registration begins September 22.

Sunday, September 29 (2-3 p.m.) All Abilities Playdate – An open playtime for children of all abilities ages 2-7 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! Developmentally appropriate toys and a sensory station will be provided for open, imaginative, nonjudgmental play. No registration required.

Monday, September 30 (10–10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6. No registration required.

Monday, September 30 (6-8 p.m.) Nutrition for a Vegan/Vegetarian Diet – Learn from Dr. Carolyn Smilor, N.D. the proper nutrition, vitamins and herbs required for a healthy lifestyle. This class is for those 16 years of age or older. Registration begins August 23.

To register for any of the programs, please visit westlakelibrary.org/events.