Speaker to share strategies for parents of disabled children

Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is hosting a session on “Parenting for Different Needs: Supporting Children With Physical or Intellectual Disabilities” from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4.

Raising a family member with special medical needs can require extra work and care, especially if they will never be independent and need housing, medical and transportation assistance.

Michael Wholihan will discuss his family’s experience and address strategies and preparations that primary caregivers can provide for their loved ones as they transition into adulthood.

Staff from the children’s and teen departments will be available to provide care and activities for those who have a loved one who can’t stay home alone.

Registration is required.

To register, visit northlandlibrary.org, stop by the Ask a Librarian desk or call 412-366-8100, ext. 113.

Learn about chickens

Northland is hosting a fun and feathered evening, Meet the Chickens, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the library.

Local Girl Scouts will share a story, lead a chicken-themed coloring activity and introduce patrons to some very special guests — real chickens.

The free, family-friendly program will include hands-on activities.

People can get an up-close look at some chickens, learn about their care, habits and personalities — and have an opportunity to pet the safely contained chickens.

Registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome.

The visit is part of the Urban Eggs project, a Girl Scout initiative focused on educating volunteers of West View Urban Farm and the community about how easy it is to care for chickens as a sustainable food source.

The chickens eventually will live at the farm. Their eggs will be donated to a local food pantry to help address food insecurity. Their manure will be composted and used to nourish the farm’s fruit and vegetable beds, whose harvests also will be donated to support local families in need.

Notice to patrons

Beginning in January, the Northland-sponsored Bookmobile stop at Marshall Elementary School, 5135 Wexford Run Road, will be biweekly — from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. every other Friday — instead of weekly. A schedule is expected to be available by Dec. 1. The change is a cost-cutting measure, with a savings to the library of about $5,800. For questions, call the Allegheny County Library Association’s Mobile Library Services at 412-321-1853.

For the Thankgsiving holiday, the Northland Public Library will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, and will remain closed through Sunday, Nov. 30.

Northland’s regular operating hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Visit northlandlibrary.org for a full calendar of events, activities and ongoing groups and to register for programs.

To contact the library, call 412-366-8100 or email northland@northlandlibrary.org.

Programs for adults

• Speed Puzzling Event: 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 23

Test your puzzle skills at our first ever speed puzzling event. Compete on your own in our 300-piece puzzle competition or as a team of two in the 500-piece competition. Prizes will be awarded to the first- and second-place finishers in each competition. Registration is required and must be done at the Ask a Librarian desk on the upper level. The cost is $5 for the solo competition and $10 for the team competition.

• Cookbook Club: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1

Home cooks of all skill levels are welcome as we explore dishes from various cookbooks. Each month has a theme, and participants can make a dish to bring and share with the club while we discuss the recipes and cooking process. December’s theme is Appetizers. No registration is required. If you have questions or are interested in joining, email summersk@northlandlibrary.org.

• Documentary Viewing — “Swan Song”: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8

Join us for an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s leading ballet companies as it mounts a new production of Swan Lake. The 2023 Canadian documentary film weaves together intimate scenes of the creative process and the dancers’ personal lives. Snacks will be provided. Registration is required.

• Deck the Halls — Holiday Craft Night: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11

Join us for an evening of holiday cheer and simple, fun crafts for gift-giving. There will be stations for different crafts to try, a hot chocolate bar and treats. Registration is required.

• Northland Radio Hour — “A Christmas Carol”: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15

The Northland Radio Hour cast will present the classic tale by Charles Dickens. You can watch us recording in person in the library or online via Zoom. Registration is required. A Zoom link will be emailed a week before the program.

• Movie Matinee: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 17

For this month’s presentation, we travel both hot and cold, showcasing Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula and Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada. We’ll tour many of Qatar’s ultramodern buildings in the capital, Doha. For sports, we’ll learn about falconry as well as dune bashing in the desert as well as, surprise, kayaking. As for Lake Tahoe, we’ll enjoy a skiing adventure down Squaw Mountain, hike in the National Forest and kayak on the lake. In nearby Reno, we’ll explore the art scene and climb the world’s largest artificial rock-climbing wall, which is 164 feet tall. No registration is required.

• Cozy Crafternoon: 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 29

Grab a coffee and enjoy some time working on your personal projects while chatting with other crafters. Whether you are finishing a holiday gift or destressing with a personal project, bring your supplies and work on your knitting, crocheting, stitching or other projects. Registration is required.

Programs for young people

• Teen Writing Group: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3

Teens 13 to 18 who enjoy creative writing are invited to meet other students with similar interests the first Wednesday of every month. There will be writing games, group writing exercises and interesting prompts. Bring your notebook or laptop: There will be plenty of unstructured time to start a new project or continue working on an old one, as well as opportunities to share your work if you wish. No registration is required. For questions, contact Kim Pierson at piersonk@northlandlibrary.org.

• Middle School Writing Group: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3

This version of the Teen Writing Group is geared toward middle schoolers who enjoy creative writing. No registration is required. For questions, contact Kim Pierson at piersonk@northlandlibrary.org.

• Teen Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. first Thursday of each month, Dec. 4

Teens 12 to 18 can stop by for a mystery activity. No registration is required. Note: If no more than one participant is in the room at 15 minutes past the program start time, the program will be canceled.

• Fandom Fun: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. second Thursday of each month, Dec. 4

This new program for youths 12 to 18 will include an activity related to one of their favorite fandoms. December’s theme is “Stranger Things.” No registration is required.

• Animal Crossing Club: 4 to 5 p.m. third Tuesday of each month, Dec. 16

Good afternoon, Mayor! Villagers ages 10 to 16 are welcome to join in the collaboratively building of Northland’s island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Switch. Participants can bring their own Switches to show off their own islands, but no experience with the game is necessary to participate. No registration is required.

• Crafting With Ms. Kim: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 18

Children 3 and older are welcome to drop by any time to create a 15-minute craft. Registration is required. Note: There will be no session on Nov. 27 because the library will be closed for Thanksgiving.

• STEAM for Kids: 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 20

Children 6 to 11 can join us for some STEAM fun with a hands-on activity. Registration is required.

• Coin Collecting for Kids and Teens: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 30

Curious about coins? Members of the North Hills Coin Club will provide students from kindergarten through 12th grade with the knowledge and tools needed to get started in this fascinating hobby. If you have attended previous programs, bring your coin folders with you. Registration is required.

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