WHAT’S NEWS IN KEYSTONE OAKS
DORMONT BOROUGH
LOOKING FOR
RESIDENT FEEDBACK
THE NEW LOVE
FOR LIBRARIES
Last year, the Borough of Dormont
began a strategic planning process based
on residents’ feedback and professional
analysis. In 2019, it is trying to perfect
the communication system following
strategic plan recommendations. The
borough is aiming to build a more inclusive
and friendly community for its diverse
residents. Specifically, to do more things
through infrastructure construction, social
media improvement, activities addition,
cooperation with local NGOs, staff training
and interpretation service for some groups
who have low accessibility.
At present, the Borough of Dormont
is asking residents for some ideas and
opinions to set up a more complete
language access plan. The questionnaire
is voluntary, and individual responses will
remain private.
Residents are asked to complete the
survey, which will only take 10 minutes, at
www.boro.dormont.pa.us/lap. Paper copies
are also available at the borough offices and
Dormont Public Library.
IT’S BEGINNING TO
LOOK A LOT LIKE
CHRISTMAS AT
TREE OF LIFE OPEN
BIBLE CHURCH
Three years ago, members at Tree of Life
Open Bible Church in Brookline decided
to host a special Christmas holiday event,
where members of the church decorated
trees, each with a different theme, and the
trees were displayed in the sanctuary. The
church allowed viewing by the public for 10
hours over two days and, to add to the fun,
had an internal competition to see which
tree was the favorite of all the visitors. In the
first year, there were 25 different trees.
The 3rd annual event is scheduled and
registrations are already underway. This
year’s dates are Thursday and Friday, Dec.
5 and 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7,
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec.
8, from 1 to 6 p.m. Tree of Life plans to
8
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
Marilyn Jenkins, Executive Director, Allegheny
County Library Association
have 100 trees this year during the four-day
event.
Visit the church that Sunday morning
or evening for its usual worship services in
the midst of the trees. Invite your friends
and family to visit and vote for their favorite
trees. Admission is free. Prizes for the Best
Traditional Tree, the Most Creative Tree
and the Overall Favorite/People’s Choice
will be awarded the following Sunday
morning during the regular church service.
Families, individuals, businesses and
nonprofit organizations can all be a part of
the event. Just pick a theme and decorate
a tree to match that theme. Leaders can
use this opportunity to bring families or
employees together and make ornaments.
There will be other family-friendly
activities including refreshments, caroling
and live Christmas music, crafts, holiday
photo booth, pictures with Santa and
more. The church would love to have a live
nativity and petting zoo as donations are
made available. A program book is given to
each visitor, which contains descriptions of
the trees.
Commit to sponsor a tree and register
now to be included in the early promotions.
Advertising space is also available in the
program book. Visit GodLovesBrookline.
com, and look for “Festival of Trees” under
the “Events” tab for more information and
other ways you can help support this event.
icmags.com
Now more than ever, residents are
discovering a new love for Allegheny
County’s community libraries and their
invaluable programs and services. This
new love was evident in another successful
“Love Your Library” campaign during the
month of September.
This annual collaboration between the
Allegheny County Library Association
(ACLA) and Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh (CLP) supports the mission of
learning and growing through community
libraries. The campaign was enhanced by
the Jack Buncher Foundation, which has
provided prorated matching funds of up to
$150,000 each year. These funds are used
to secure essential library services, improve
facilities and offer educational programs for
children and adults.
Offering free technology workshops,
small business centers and 24/7 virtual
access to eBooks and digital materials,
libraries are transforming communities. No
longer just places for books, libraries are
viewed as anchors, centers for academic
life and research, and cherished spaces.
Allegheny County has a network of
libraries with 73 locations, providing
books, resources and a range of experiences
and opportunities for all members of our
community.
Children and young parents can access
kindergarten readiness and curriculum
support classes, while teens can learn
to become creators and experimenters.
Adults benefit from an array of specialized
programs, including parenting and caregiver
education, workforce development,