CONSTRUCTION DISRUPTION Mt. Lebanon Public Library will soon have a great new space for public programs, computer labs and work spaces, at the expense of a little bit of temporary dislocation and flying dust.
A small multipurpose room, a storage room, and part of the adjacent teen area will be remodeled into one large room that can be split into two smaller spaces.
Patrons can use the new space for everything from arts and crafts/DIY to tech programs to yoga. Plans include small group instruction in computers, coding and robotics, food science and fiber arts and a quiet computer lab.
“We plan to offer a full slate of technology programs for all ages, something we previously haven’t had the space or time to do to the extent we would like,” says library director Robyn Vittek.
During construction, which is expected to last through the end of the year, a portion of the teen section will be walled off. The library will relocate the teen café and several laptops downstairs to Meeting Room A. Some tables, chairs and popular young adult books will remain in the vicinity of the current teen area for quiet reading and studying.
CHEERS! The Howard Hanna Mt. Lebanon Office is hosting Cheers for Children, a fundraiser benefiting the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund, from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, November 21, at the SpringHill Suites Hotel on Washington Road. Tickets cost $25 and cover the entrance fee, food, soft drinks, beer, wine, and entertainment. Silent auction, more than 40 raffle baskets, door prize and a 50/50 raffle.
To purchase a ticket, contact the chairperson, Mary Ellen Donato, at maryellendonato@howardhanna.com [1] or call 412-561-7400. You can also purchase a ticket online [2].
BUDGET TALKS The manager’s recommended budget for 2020 will be available for public review on November 1. You can read paper copies at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library and at the customer service center in the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building during business hours, 8:30 to 5, and read the budget online [3]. The Mt. Lebanon Commission will hold a budget workshop from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 12, prior to its regularly scheduled meeting, and will conduct a public hearing at the commission meeting later that night.
Commissioners will present two more budget workshops, beginning at 6 p.m., Monday, November 25 and Thursday, December 5. The final public hearing will be at the Tuesday, December 10, commission meeting, at which time the commission will vote on adopting the 2020 budget.
Department heads work with the finance department to shape their lists of needs and wants for the upcoming year. Once all the items are compiled into a list of service levels, the municipal manager ranks each one in order of importance, and funds as many as can be afforded with the municipality’s available revenue. If you cannot attend any of the meetings but have a comment, you can email the commission at commission@mtlebanon.org [4]. You can also view the meetings on the municipal website, www.mtlebanon.org [5].
TREE TALK Dr. Cynthia Morton is the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy, 2 p.m., Saturday, November 2, at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Morton, a botanist and researcher who teaches at Chatham University, will speak about the importance of tree genetics.
The meeting is free and open to the public.