Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s October calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Twitter (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates.
Saturdays, Oct. 1, 8, 22 and 29 (10:30-11 a.m.) and Wednesdays, Oct. 5 and 12 (7-7:30 p.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! For families with children ages 2-6. Siblings are welcome. Registration begins one week before each session.
Saturdays, Oct. 1 and 29 (1-2 p.m.) Pokémon Fun! – Join Miss Rachel for 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. Registration begins one week before each session.
Saturday, Oct. 1 (2-3:30 p.m.) Growing, Harvesting, Preserving and Cooking with Herbs – Learn how simple and pleasurable it is to grow, harvest, preserve and cook with herbs. Food samples and recipes provided. Registration begins Sept. 24.
Monday, Oct. 3 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Teen Craft Pick-Up – A take-home craft kit for teens in grades 7-12. This month’s craft is a bubble tea kit. Registration begins Sept. 26.
Monday, Oct. 3 (7-8 p.m.) Top Scams Targeting Consumers – A representative from the Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland will discuss the latest scams and fraud in the area, how to recognize red flags and how to report scams. Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 (10-11:30 a.m.) Computer Basics & Introduction to Northstar – Learn how to turn on a computer, use a mouse, go online, and access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins Sept. 27.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club: Life Cycle of a Pumpkin – How does a pumpkin grow and change? Come explore the life cycle of a pumpkin with hands-on experiments and activities. Grades 1-2. Registration begins Sept. 27.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 (7-8:15 p.m.) VOICES Book Club – Join WPPL staff for a book discussion with a focus on diverse authors and titles that depict various experiences, identities and intersectionality. Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 (7-8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: 147th Regiment in the Pacific – Bob Pence will tell us all about the 147th Regiment of the Ohio National Guard, which fought in the Pacific from Guadalcanal through to Okinawa alongside the U.S. Marines. Please register.
Wednesday, Oct. 5 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Horror Film Club – Join us for another creepy classic from the Vault! New members are welcome, but children under 13 must be with an adult. Please register.
Thursday, Oct. 6 (10-11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Word and Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of Microsoft Word and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins Sept. 29.
Thursday, Oct. 6 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile
Thursday, Oct. 6 (4-4:45 p.m.) Ready, Set, Kindergarten! – Children ages 4 and 5 are invited to rotate through skill stations in preparation for making the leap into Kindergarten. Registration begins Sept. 29.
Thursdays, Oct. 6 and 20 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) Adapted Storytime – Join us for this storytime designed for children who may not be successful in a typical storytime. Content is geared toward ages 3-7. Registration begins one week before each session.
Friday, Oct. 7 (9:30-10 a.m.) My First Autumn – Celebrate your baby’s first autumn with a simple “thumb-kin patch” craft. For babies 0-18 months with a caregiver. Registration begins Sept. 30.
Saturday, Oct. 8 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) ACT Practice Test – Want to get in some practice before taking the ACT? Sylvan Learning will be at the library to simulate the exact environment for taking it. Bring your own calculator and a #2 pencil. A results session will take place on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Please register.
Sunday, Oct. 9 (2-4 p.m.) Hand Sewing for Literacy – Learn basic sewing skills and create a sewn project while listening to a story with sewing as its central theme. Hand sewing helps kids develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, self-confidence, patience and focus – skills used in reading and writing. Caregivers are encouraged to stay for the program to learn the sewing techniques and assist their child(ren). Younger siblings are welcome and a simple stitching project will be available for them. Grades Kindergarten-2. Registration begins Oct. 2.
Tuesday, Oct. 11 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Moonlight Lantern Festival Supply Pick-Up – Reserve the supplies your family needs to join in the third annual Moonlight Lantern Festival! Supplies will enable you to create your own lantern at home. Completed lanterns must be returned to Youth Services by Oct. 17 to be included. All ages. Registration begins Oct. 4.
Tuesdays, Oct. 11 and 25 (4:30-6 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by the Youth Services Department to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a therapy dog. Sign-up begins at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 11 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – Join us to discuss “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle. The discussion will be held in person and on Zoom simultaneously. Please register. If you register for the Zoom option you will receive an invitation and instructions by email.
Wednesday, Oct. 12 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Trivia Night @ Porter: LGBT History Month Edition – Test your knowledge of all things related to LGBTQ+ pop culture and history! Play live on Zoom from home with family and friends or by yourself. Please register to receive a Zoom invitation.
Thursdays, Oct. 13 and 27 (3:30-4:30 p.m.) Roblox Arcade – We have some private servers set up for Tweens in grades 4-6 to hang out with their friends and enjoy some of the most popular games via Zoom. Join us in person on online. Registration begins Oct. 6.
Thursday, Oct. 13 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Dr. Aziz Gazipura – Join us online for a conversation with the bestselling author as he discusses his book “Not Nice.” Dr. Gazipura is one of the world’s leading experts on social confidence. Streamed live. Please register.
Thursday, Oct. 13 (6-8:30 p.m.) HeartSaver CPR/AED – Get certified for adult, child, and infant CPR and AED. Class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Visit uhems.org/event-search to register. Email account required. Participants under the age of 14 must have a parent or legal guardian in class. If any questions, contact the instructors at
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.
Friday, Oct. 14 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday: The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin – How does a pumpkin grow and change? Come and explore the life cycle of a pumpkin with hands-on experiments and activities. Ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins Oct. 7.
Saturday, Oct. 15 (10:30-11:15 a.m.) Cleveland Magic and Balloons Adapted Storytime – Experience magic and balloon artistry in an inclusive environment that is understanding and empathetic. This program is inclusive and is for those with disabilities and typical peers. Ages 3-7. Registration begins Oct. 8.
Saturday, Oct. 15 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator and then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Registration begins Oct. 8.
Monday, Oct. 17 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Monster Mash Craft Kit Pick-Up – Have fun creating some not-so-scary creature crafts with this month’s kit. Registration begins Oct. 10.
Monday, Oct. 17 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Tween Craft Pick-Up – A take-home craft kit for grades 4-6. Registration begins Oct. 10.
Monday, Oct. 17 (10-10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6. Registration begins Oct. 10.
Monday, Oct. 17 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: Transfer Memories to Digital – Learn what you can use in-library or check out from WPPL’s Non-Traditional Materials Collection to transfer your VHS tapes to DVD, cassettes to MP3, records to MP3, and more! Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (9:30-9:55 a.m.) Stories and Signs – Enjoy an interactive storytime while learning a few words in sign language! Ages 0-3, siblings welcome. Registration begins Oct. 11.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (7-8 p.m.) Young Adult Book Club – Those unable to attend in person can join us simultaneously via Zoom as we discuss “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs. Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Zain E. Asher – Join us online for a conversation with CNN anchor Zain E. Asher, as she discusses her moving and inspiring memoir “Where the Children Take Us.” Streamed live. Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (7:30-8 p.m.) Moonlight Lantern Festival Storytime – Before heading to the Artwalk, join us in a storytime and learn about the Moon Festival, a tradition celebrated in Chinese culture. Also called the Mid-Autumn Festival, it dates back over 3,000 years. Registration begins Oct. 11.
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (8-9 p.m.) Moonlight Lantern Festival – Experience the 3rd annual festival on the ArtWalk. Lanterns will remain lit until dawn and will be accessible from the library building until 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is “The Hour of the Witch” by Chris Bohjalian. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. Please register.
Thursday, Oct. 20 (4-5 p.m.) Breakout! Zombie Laboratory – This breakout challenge is going to test your ability to work together. Solve all the clues and save the world from the zombie apocalypse! For grades 7-12. Registration begins Oct. 13.
Friday, Oct. 21 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 30 (2-3 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Then bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. No registration required, but room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.
Saturday, Oct. 22 (2-4 p.m.) Read With a Witch – Drop in and ask to read with the “witch” in Youth Services. For children birth through age 6 with a caregiver.
Sunday, Oct. 23 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – An open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! No registration required but room capacity is limited. First come, first served.
Monday, Oct. 24 (4:30-5:30 p.m.) Westlake PTA Reflections Creation Session – Work on your Reflections Art Competition piece during this creation session. Art supplies will be available. Grades K-12. Registration begins Oct. 17.
Monday, Oct. 24 (2-3:30 p.m.) 3D Printing Orientation – In order to use the library’s 3D printer, you’ll need to take this orientation first. Learn library policies about using it, how to download a 3D-printable object, and how to prepare it for a great print. Registration begins Oct. 17.
Tuesday, Oct. 25 (10-11:30 a.m.) Internet and Email Basics with Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of the internet, using email, and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins Oct. 18.
Tuesday, Oct. 25 (7-8:30 p.m.) Phil Bova: Throwing Back the Chair – Local legend and Westlake resident Phil Bova joins us to discuss his book “Throwing Back the Chair.” Bova was a Big 10 basketball referee for 30 years and officiated March Madness for a staggering 20 straight years. Book signing included in his program. Please register.
Tuesday, Oct. 25 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Kate Quinn – Join us online for a captivating conversation with historical fiction writer Kate Quinn, as she discusses her newest release, “The Diamond Eye,” and her other works. Streamed live. Please register.
Wednesday, Oct. 26 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Discovery Box (Sign-Up) – For teens in grades 7-12. Register for WPPL’s personalized subscription box service by Oct. 26 and pick up your Discovery Box on Nov. 2.
Wednesday, Oct. 26 (7-8 p.m.) Monsters are Universal: Silver Screams in Hollywood’s Golden Age – Join us for a night of thrills and chills and old-school monsters, presented by Mark Dawidziak and Sara Showman. Please register.
Wednesday, Oct. 26 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Autumn Edition – Join us for an hour of creative writing prompts to inspire you to start and keep writing. This meeting will focus on autumn-inspired writing prompts Please register.
Friday, Oct. 28 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read It, Make It @ the Library – Make a craft based on a story that is read aloud. Grades PreK-1, siblings are welcome. Registration begins Oct. 21.
Sunday, Oct. 30 (3-4:30 p.m.) Tri-C Ghost Hunters: Insights into the Unknown – Take a trip into the world of ghosts, spirits and hauntings with speaker, author and investigator Greg Feketik. Please register.
To register for any of the programs, please visit westlakelibrary.org/events.
Elaine Willis is the Public Relations Associate at Westlake Porter Public Library.
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