Westlake Porter Public Library's early February calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s early February 2022 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.

Tuesday, Feb. 1 (7-8:45 p.m.) World at War Forum (Virtual) – The World at War Forum is a group of local people interested in the history of the first 50 years of the 20th century and the cataclysmic World Wars and associated events that helped shape our current world. The February program will be "Three Presidents Go to War." Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge William F.B. Vodrey will discuss presidents William McKinley, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, all of whom grappled with the responsibility of sending U.S. service members to war. Please register for Zoom instructions.

Wednesday, Feb. 2 (6:30-8 p.m.) Horror Film Club (Virtual) – Join us for another creepy classic! New members are welcome, but children under 13 must be with an adult. The February film will be virtual only – we will stream on Watch2Gether.com. The link will be posted at 6 p.m. the day of the program.

Wednesdays, Feb. 2 and 9 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Feb. 12 (10-10:30 a.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.

Thursday, Feb. 3 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Thursday, Feb. 3 (3:30-4:30 p.m.) Teen Craft: Handmade Jewelry – Need a Valentine’s Day gift for someone? Just want to learn the basics of handmade jewelry? Join us for this afterschool craft session. Please register.

Thursday, Feb. 3 (4-5 p.m.) Stories in Shadow – Watch Jacqueline Woodson’s book, "The Other Side," performed with shadow puppets, then learn how to make shadow puppets of your own to help tell your own stories. Grades 2-5. Please register.

Thursday, Feb. 3 (7-8 p.m.) Harry Potter Book Night (Virtual) – Join us on Zoom to enjoy games, crafts, contests and other wizarding activities. Supply kits will be available in the Youth Services Department beginning Jan. 27. Please register to reserve a kit (required to participate). All ages. Participants must provide a valid email address to receive Zoom instructions.

Friday, Feb. 4 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday: Animals in Winter – Join Mrs. K to explore the science of animals in winter! Do they hibernate, migrate or adapt? Ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Please register.

Saturday, Feb. 5 (10:30 a.m.-noon) Medicare Ins and Outs (Virtual) – Do you need accurate, unbiased information about Medicare? Attend a presentation via Zoom 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. Once registered you will receive an email containing Zoom instructions.

Saturday, Feb. 5 (11-11:30 a.m.) and Thursday, Feb. 10 (6:30-7 p.m.) Adapted Storytime (Virtual) – Join us for this storytime designed for children who may not be successful in a typical storytime. Content is geared toward ages 3-7 years. Registration begins one week before each session.

Saturday, Feb. 5 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator and then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Please register.

Saturday, Feb. 5 (4-5 p.m.) World Hijab Day Celebration – Join us for an informative program celebrating World Hijab Day presented by the Westside Cleveland Muslim Association (WCMA). World Hijab Day is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, held each year in over 140 countries. Come learn about the historical and cultural significance and purposes of the hijab; a Q&A session will follow the presentation. All ages. Please register.

Sunday, Feb. 6 (2-3 p.m.) Art Smarts – Explore works of a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own! Grades 3-6. Please register.

Monday, Feb. 7 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Valentine Fun Craft Kit Pick-Up – Get ready for Valentine’s Day with some fun crafts! Please register.

Monday, Feb. 7 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Little Learners Box – Join a community of lifelong learners; it’s never too early to start! A Little Learners Box contains a book for you to add to your home library and a few themed activities. Grades K-2. Please register.

Monday, Feb. 7 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Teen Craft Pick-Up – Teens in grades 7-12: Stop by the Youth Services Department to pick up a craft kit. Grades 7-12. Please register.

Monday, Feb. 7 (10-10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6. Please register.

Mondays, Feb. 7, 14 and 28 (3:30-5:30 p.m.) Teen Lounge – Need a place to hang out after school? Come to WPPL’s Teen Lounge for video games, board games and more! Grades 7-12.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 (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. Please register.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person & Virtual) – Join us to discuss "Rust: A Memoir of Steel & Grit" by Eliese Colette Goldbach. 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, Feb. 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland – Cleveland will host the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 20 for the first time in 25 years! It’s an event certainly worth celebrating! Join Cleveland sports history educator and enthusiast Gerry Nemeth for this exciting program. Please register.

Thursday, Feb. 10 (2-3:30 p.m. OR 6:30-8 p.m.) Flannel Heart Sachet – Create a scented sachet to freshen up a drawer or closet. Item will require hand-stitching. Registration begins Feb. 3. Sign up for one session only.

Thursday, Feb. 10 (3:30-4:30 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – Love Roblox? 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. Registration begins Feb. 3.

Friday, Feb. 11 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Valentine’s Day Earrings Pick-Up Kit – Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style by making a pair of beautiful red crystal hoop earrings. Pick up kits at the Drive-Up window. Registration begins Feb. 4.

Friday, Feb. 11 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 20 (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, Feb. 12 (10-11 a.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This discussion of "Friends and Strangers" by J. Courtney Sullivan was rescheduled from Jan. 13. Please register.

Saturday, Feb. 12 (2-3:30 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). Grades 3-5. Younger siblings are welcome and a simple stitching project will be available for them. Registration begins Feb. 5.

Monday, Feb. 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: Smart Home Devices (Virtual) – Learn about Amazon Echo, Google Home and Nest, plus other smart home devices in this Zoom meeting! Please register.

Tuesday, Feb. 15 (10-10:30 a.m.) Black History Month – Celebrate Black History Month with a fun and educational storytime! Learn about African-American trailblazers through books, songs and fingerplays. Please register.

Tuesday, Feb. 15 (7-8:30 p.m.) Author Visit with Lou Masterson – April 1975: the American war in Vietnam is rapidly approaching its end. However, the CIA has one final mission to accomplish – smuggling out the head of South Vietnamese intelligence. Please register.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 (9:30-9:55 a.m.) Stories and Signs – Enjoy interactive stories, songs and movement activities while learning a few words in sign language. Siblings are welcome! Ages birth-3. Registration begins Feb. 9.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. Please register.

Wednesdays, Feb. 16, March 16 and April 29 (7-8 p.m.) Women’s Financial Planning Series – Join us for this three-part series exploring financial planning topics for women. Presented by Connie Costanzo with Association of Financial Educators. This month’s topic is "Financial Planning Basics for Women." Please register.

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