LIBRARY NEWS:

¯ Sensory Story time Tuesday, September 26th from 10:30 am – 11:00 am, visit the Youngsville Public library for its monthly Sensory Story time program. This program uses various manipulatives, songs, repetition, themed stories and even some sign language to encourage participation of children both on and off the spectrum. Target ages developmentally are ages 3 – 8, but all are welcome to join. No registration is necessary. Just stop in and join the fun. Sensory Story time is the 4th Tuesday of each month from 10:30 am – 11:00 am.

¯ Free Job search help: Wednesday, August 23rd from 10:00 am – 11:00 am there will be free one-on-one assistance and walk-in Q & A offered at the Youngsville Public Library to anyone who would like help searching for a job, resume writing, help finding free job skills opportunities, or anyone who would like help meeting workshop/training requirements for unemployment benefits.

¯ Free Job Fair help: Wednesday, August 23rd from Noon – 1:00 pm Chris Hinchman, from PA CareerLink will be at the Youngsville Public Library offering Resume assistance, tips, and tricks during his free workshop: “Job Fair Prep: Do’s & Don’ts.” Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is appreciated to better meet your individual needs. Contact Chris at Christopher.Hinchman@nwpacarrerlink.org or 814-853-3942.

¯ Free SkillUP PA class: Wednesday, August 23rd from 11:00 am – Noon Chris Hinchman, from PA CareerLink, will be at the Youngsville Public Library to offer free assistance on how to access the “SkillUP PA” website and database. SkillUP PA is a PA sponsored resource that is free to every resident within Pennsylvania. This site offers free tools, training, resources, and support so that any Pennsylvanian resident who is thinking about a new career shift, would like to find a better living-wage job, and/or would like to increase their skill-set within their current job has access to a free database and free training options. There is even a section that links you to available jobs within PA. Walk-ins are welcome at this causal hour of Q & A, but pre-registration is appreciated. Contact Chris at Christopher.Hinchman@nwpacarrerlink.org or 814-853-3942.

¯ Have you “Been Carded? Next week is the final week of the countywide “Get Carded at Your Library” campaign. The goal is to encourage residents 5 and over throughout Warren County to stop by and visit one of the 5 independent libraries within Warren County that is nearest you. September is National Library Card month, so if you already have a card your information will be confirmed and your library card privileges will be renewed in the system. If you have an “older” green-border library card, you will be issued the newest library card that includes a keycard. You can also register for a new library card, just bring a photo ID with current address. Not sure if you still have a valid library card or lost your library card? No worries the circulation staff can reissue you a card and/or create an account for you.

It’s worth a visit to the Youngsville library because you will receive a free raffle ticket chance to win an Amazon Gift card worth $50. There will be four winners drawn. Winners will be notified the first week of October. Questions call Youngsville Library 814-563-7670, Mon & Wed 10 am – 6 pm, Tues 10 am – 3 pm, and Fri 11 am – 4 pm.

¯ Library Storytime: Tuesday, September 12th join Friend of the Library Diane Danielson for Youngsville Library’s monthly Story Time from 10:30 am – 11 am. Targeted ages are 3-5 years, but all are welcome. No registration required to participate. Join us for stories, songs, dancing, and fun activities. Story time is held the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

¯ Library acquisition: Between a rock and a hard place. Within the past year, the Youngsville Library Board had to make a very difficult decision: ensure and protect the ability to have permeant access to their current sewer line- that runs through property someone else owns- or hope that there will never be another water or sewer line issue ever again. Considering the fact that the library had to unexpectedly construct and completely reroute new sewer and water lines as recently as May 2019, the Library Board just didn’t feel confident with the “nothing bad will happen in the future option.” So even though it meant that the library would have to quickly liquidate a large chunk of the library’s very limited investment capital, there really was no other option but to try to bid for the purchase of the land that the sewer and water lines currently go through; especially since the property was directly next to the landlocked library.

“I can’t stress enough that the decision to purchase this parcel of land was not taken lightly at all,” stated Library Director, Kristy Wallace. “Although we have many library fundraisers throughout the year that fundraiser money is used to cover our annual operational expenses and is never intended for something of this magnitude. The only way the library could fund the purchase of the property was to quickly cash in some of our limited investment capital. Each year the library depended on the interest from that no-longer-there capital to help run the library and keep our doors open. So now, not only is the library ‘in the hole’ because we’ve lost investment money but the library has also lost future income from the capital’s interest. That being said, the bottom line though was that the library had to protect its ability to legally access its water and sewer lines for the long run – even if that means it hurts us financially in the short-term. “

“There are still a lot of headaches, additional costs, and ‘what do we do next’ scenarios to contend with in the meantime,” Wallace explained. “but it had to be done. Meanwhile, at least library patrons will now be able to immediately have extra parking spaces available to them in front of the library that extend all along Broad Street and T into Second Street. Parking spaces have always been an issue because we are pretty much landlocked by residential homes. Also while the library board ponders exactly what to do next, they have reached out to the YVFD and have invited volunteers from Yngs and the surrounding VFDepartments to use the property for various rescue drills and trainings. Having a location to freely carry out fire and rescue drills for these departments is a very important ‘pay it forward to the community’ decision. Currently the building that stands on the land is uninhabitable. It’s no exaggeration when I say that it has been a real ardent, learn-as-you-go situation we now find ourselves in. But rest assured that the library board’s goal has always been to try to be forward thinking and to be community minded – even if it means short-term financial strife for the library.”

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

¯ Lantern Tours: October 14th from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm the Drake Well Museum will be holding Historic Pithole City Living History Lantern Tours starting every 10 minutes from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Presale tickets only as there are limited tickets available for each timeslot. Purchase tickets online at www.drakewell.org or in person at Drake Well Museum Store. Tickets are $10 each.

Experience history as it comes to life. Visitors will walk the former streets of the legendary oil boomtown, meeting some of Pithole’s most famous historical figures along the way. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, wear weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a flashlight. Note: the tours cover steep hills and semi-rugged terrain. Please wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking. Tours are walk only; golf carts and other vehicles are not provided. Questions contact Drake Well Museum and Park at 814-827-2797.

¯ St. Luke Rummage Sale: St. Luke Church (420 North Main St., Yngs) will be holding its Annual Fall Rummage and Bake Sale on Thursday, October 5, through Saturday, October 7. Thursday and Friday hours are 9:00 am – 4 pm and Saturday 9 am – noon. Special $1.00 per bag deal is on Saturday only.

¯ Free Community meal: Wednesday, October 4th the Free weekly Community Meal program offered at the Youngsville Free Methodist Church (179 Davis Street) from 5:00 – 6:00 pm returns. Volunteers to help prepare/serve food and to help with kitchen clean-up are always appreciated. Please call the Church Office at 814-563-9009 if you’re interested in helping. You do not have to volunteer to help each week.

¯ Jakes Rocks Trail Fest: Friday, Sept 22 – Sun, Sept 24th the Jakes Rocks Trail Fest is taking place from 10 am – 5 pm. Discover ANFs exceptional mountain biking opportunities with guided rides, clinics, demonstrations, and vendors. Visit www.bikereg.com/jakes-rocks-trail-fest to learn more about events offered, costs, and shuttle options.

¯ Busti Apple Festival: Saturday, Sept 23 & Sunday, Sept 24 from Noon -5 pm is the Busti Apple Harvest Festival at Mill & Museum Grounds, Jamestown, NY (3443 Lawson Road).

¯ PA State Fishing Tournament: The PA State Championship Fishing Tournament at Tidioute is taking place this weekend. Saturday: (a) Kids Fishing Derby Ages 3 to 10 from 9 am -11 am, (b) Grounds open at noon, (c) Parade at 1 pm, (d) Craft Show from 9 am – 3 pm, (e) Qualifiers & Junior Angler at 8:30 pm. Sunday, 09/24/23: (a) Grounds open at noon, (b) Champion announced at 3 pm, (c) Closing ceremonies at 3:30 pm.

(f) Wilder’s National Forge Open House: Thursday, Sept 28 from 6 – 8 pm the Wilder Museum is having a special, free National Forge Open House event (51 Erie Avenue, Irvine). Please join us and explore the historic National Forge Exhibit Room. Share Kinzua stories with Kevin Sheldon and meet local author Marcia Kleinert. Learn about Civil War history from the Borland Observe oil history images displayed by Cathy Southwell. This event is free and open to the public. However, donations are greatly appreciated. For more information visit warrenhistory.org.