The Youngsville Public Library has added another way for area residents to support the library with a downloadable “Raffle Request Form” as part of the annual Love Your Library Raffle fundraiser.

The request form means supporters don’t have to visit the library during business hours, find a board/friends member or visit either Simple Dicks or the Forester Restaurant.

“For this year’s raffle, we are facing some of the same COVID-related limitations that we experienced with our annual Library-Angel Tree fundraiser in December of 2020,” said Library Director Kristy Wallace. “Last year we created a mail-in donation form specific to the Library-Angel tree fundraiser that people could download from our website. We really received a positive response from the public — especially from patrons who are still trying to limit trips outside their homes for health reasons. Therefore we decided to create a special Raffle Request Form specifically for the Love Your Library raffle. The downloadable form is located on the homepage of our website YoungsvilleLibrary.org. All you have to do is print and complete the form and specify how many chances you would like for each of the eight themed options available. You can then mail the completed form along with the donation check directly to Youngsville Public Library. We will contact you , by phone, that we’ve received your request, like we did for the Angel Tree. We will also fill out the raffle chances you specified, on your behalf, and place them in the corresponding containers. This is our second largest fundraiser so it is very important to us each year.”

Winners will be contacted by phone on March 19, listed in the Times Observer, and on the library’s website. The eight themed choices are:

¯ “Bon Appe’tit,” – $25 Forester Restaurant, $25 Tops Markets, $25 Huey’s Place, $25 Sheetz;

¯ “Youngsville’s Finest,” — $20 Simple Dick’s, $30 Genuine Jerky, $30 Tammy’s Hairitage, $20 Station 61 Restaurant;

¯ “Keep on Scratching,” – $100 in Scratch off tickets;

¯ “Cold Cash,”– $100 Bill,

¯ “Fill ‘er up,” — $10 Sheetz gas card, $75 Kwik Fill cards, $20 West-end Keystone;

¯ “This and That” — $20 Ultimate Applebee’s card (valid at Applebee’s, Peek’n Peak, or Splash Lagoon), $50 Walmart card, $10 Sheetz, and $25 Kwik Fill;

¯ “Got ‘Ya Covered” — $100 Carter Lumber and Hardware gift card; and

¯ “Our Generation Doll and more” — 18-inch “Sienna” Our Generation doll, more than 20 hand-sewn doll outfits and doll-sized hand-made wooden chalkboard easel and school desk.

Youngsville Library business hours are Monday and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. The library is open to walk-ins, visitors do not need to make an appointment to use the services Youngsville Public Library offers. For more information, call the library at 563-7670 or visit YoungsvilleLibrary.org.

TAX FORMS AT LIBRARY

A limited supply of IRS 1040 and 1040SR forms and booklets are now available at the Youngsville Public Library. Those who need a specialty federal tax form or state or local forms, library staff will gladly assist and print forms for, though a 25 cent-per-page fee applies). The library also has a limited supply of Rent Rebate forms available for the public. Area residents can also print out thehir own forms from home using the library’s tax form links, located at YoungsvilleLibrary.org. To order forms and/or instruction booklets by phone call 1-800-829-3676 for federal tax forms and 1-888-728-2937 for state tax forms. Local forms should be mailed directly tofilelrs but there is a link to a downloadable form on the library’s homepage as well. Youngsville Library hours are Monday and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 814-563-7670 with questions.

MODIFIED VITA SERVICES

Although COVID restrictions have resulted in not allowing members of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to meet with seniors in person this year, VITA has created a modified system to assist as many seniors as possible with their taxes. Persons interested in utilizing VITA’s free tax assistance program for seniors must complete a 2020 Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet, similar to the one used each year, provide all the normal documents required on the intake form, include a copy of the filer’s driver’s license or ID, a copy of the filer’s Social Security Number and anyone’s SSN being claimed on the taxx returns, and a voided check for those who want tax return proceeds electronically. All information is then to be sealed in a special envelope with the filer’s name and phone number. The sealed envelope is to be returned to the Allegheny Senior Center 42 Center Street, Warren, open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m. For more information, call 817-723-3237. Taxes will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis and volunteers will be contacting filers by phone if they have any questions or need further documentation.

“We realize that having the necessary VITA forms at our library will eliminate the need for patrons to drive to Warren twice: once to get the blank forms and then again to turn in their completed forms,” Wallace said. “This is just another way that we try to look out for residents in our area and to continue to offer outreach services whenever we can.”

YMCA SPRING CRAFT SHOW

The YMCA will be holding its seventh annual craft and vendor show on March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All CDC recommendations and guidelines must be followed during this event. All persons entering the Warren County Y for this event must wear a mask, wash hands thoroughly, practice social distancing and limit contact time with other person. All proceeds from this event benefit the Y’s early learning center.

Home-based businesses and craft vendors from all around our area will showcase their products and hand-crafted items and displays. Crafter/vendor spaces are available, with registration needed by Friday. Vendors are asked to donate one item toward the Chinese auction. For event registration visit warrenymca.org/youth-and-family-specialty-programs or email Amy@warrenymca.org.

LEAP FOR LOVE FUNDRAISER

Gather sponsors, come on down and show support for Love INC of Warren County by taking the plunge into the February waters of the Brokenstraw Creek on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 11:30 a.m. The cost to leap is $10 per person. Registration for Leap for Love will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the front lobby of the Youngsville Free Methodist Church. Leapers will then be directed to the pavilion site where the event will take place. The church restrooms will be available for use after the event. Don’t forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes.

Those who aren’t going to take the plunge can sponsor a leaper and cheer them on from the sidelines. Spectators may bring camping chairs and blankets to sit around a fire and watch.

New this year there will be a chili cook-off afterwards at the Youngsville Free Methodist Church gymnasium, 179 Davis St. starting at noon. Cook up a pot of chili and bring it to share. The chili cook-off contest will be directly following Leap for Love with food, judges and prizes. The cost is $5 at the door, which includes chili tasting, salad, roll, dessert, and beverages. Additional “People’s Choice” tickets are $1 each.

There is no cost to enter the chili contest. Contestants mst bring their crockpot or roaster of chili hot and ready to serve. Outlets will be available. Contest will be for first, second and third places as well as People’s Choice. Pre-register a chili entry by Thursday. Bring chili for entry to the church gymnasium by 11:30 a.m. Winners must be present. Leap for Love, Sponsor a Leaper and Chili Cook-off registration forms are available at the Youngsville Public Library, open Monday and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m., or on YoungsvilleLibrary.org.

A bake sale will also be held during this event and organizers are looking for baked goods. To donate, call Stella Walton at 814-563-4038 or text 814-663-1248.