Historic first family visiting Mentor Public Library

There have been 44 presidents of the United States.

And Mentor can claim the unique distinction of being one of those president’s hometowns, specifically President James A. Garfield.

While it would require a séance to summon President Garfield and his wife Lucretia for a conversation, children can enjoy the next best thing at 7 p.m. Feb. 5, Wednesday, at Mentor Public Library’s Main Branch.

The historical recreationists of We Made History will have a special program for kids. Deborah Weinkamer and Edward Haney—as Lucretia and James Garfield, respectively—will talk about what it was like to be a presidential family.

Kids can also ask the Garfields questions, make a presidential craft and take a photo with the first family of Mentor.

“Mentor is one of the few communities that can boast about having a president who lived there,” said Kim Sidorick, the manager of Mentor Public Library’s Children’s Services Department. “The Garfields also have a tie to the library. It was founded by their descendants.”

Mentor Public Library will also hold a presidential scavenger hunt in its Children’s Department starting Monday, Feb. 3.

Kids can search the library, looking for clues based on President Garfield’s life. Those who complete the scavenger hunt can pick up a small prize at the children’s services desk in the library’s Main Branch after the First Family program on Feb. 5.

Children who wish to sign up for the First Family program can do so by calling the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 221 or by registering on Mentor Library's website.

Author holding writing workshop for teens at Mentor Public Library

Rachele Alpine

Teens who like to write will have a special opportunity this Saturday, Feb. 1, at Mentor Public Library.

Rachele Alpine—the author of the Young Adult novel, Canary—will host a writers workshop especially for teens from 1 to 3 p.m. at the library’s Main Branch.

Everyone who registers for the workshop will also get a free copy of Canary. Alpine’s book tells the story of Kate Franklin, a teenage girl who is sexually assaulted by a popular student-athlete and then told by her father to keep it a secret.

We talked to Alpine in anticipation of her workshop.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I've always loved words. I can’t remember a time when I wasn't surrounded by books or telling stories to people. I have always been the type of person who wonders, “what if?” Writing allows me to explore that question and create worlds where I can answer it.

2. Why is the story of Canary special to you?

Canary actually started as a project I did in undergrad about 12 years ago. I was an education major, and we had to research a topic that was a problem in schools or among teenagers. I chose sexual harassment and assault.

Instead of presenting the findings in a standard research, my teacher had us create a multi-genre paper. This is a more creative way of sharing your work by using poetry, short stories, pictures, song lyrics, comments and other artistic elements.

One of the poems in my piece told that story about a girl who was afraid to speak up about what was going on in her school. It was this poem that stuck with me and I kept going back to year after year. It felt like a story that needed to be told.

When I sat down to write Canary, I went back to this poem as inspiration. The coolest thing is that the poem ended up in the final copy of the book.

3. What do you hope the teens who come to your writing workshop will get out of it? 

I want teens to leave the workshop full of new ideas, story starts, and an excitement for writing. We’ll be doing a variety of writing exercises to get their creative juice flowing and keep them writing well beyond the workshop.

I’m also looking forward to talking with them about publishing, everything that goes into getting your book onto the shelves, and answering any questions they might have about writing.

4. What is the best writing advice you ever received? 

The best advice I ever received was to read as much as I can (anything and everything because books are your best teachers) and to write every single day. It doesn't matter whether what you’re writing is good. You just want to get into the habit of creating new words each and every day.

5. Canary is, in part, about a young girl who is scared to tell her story? Why is it important that young people tell their stories--either through writing or other means? 

It is so important to get your story out and never have your voice silenced. No matter how hard it is, someone is going to listen. It’s through stories that people find understanding, strength and inspiration. We need to tell our stories because if we don’t, who will?

Teens can register for Alpine’s writing workshop by calling the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 215 or on the library’s website.

People can learn more about Alpine and her writing at www.rachelealpine.com.

Progressive's Charlene Long offers 10 tips for job hunters

Charlene Long, the Talent Acquisition Specialist for Progressive Insurance, kicked off our monthly Career Coffee Talks Thursday.

The talks are organized by Ohio Means Jobs Lake County and we host them at our Main Branch.

Long offered a lot of great advice for people who are working on their resume or preparing for a job interview.

While we can't recapitulate verbatim all her helpful suggestions, here are 10 of her best tips—five for resumes and five for job interviews.

Tips for resume writers

1. When drafting your resume, think about he company to which you're applying and the job that you want.

Don't write that your objective is to be a manager if you're not applying for a management position. (Likewise, if immediately being a manager is important to you, then maybe you shouldn't apply for that job.)

2. Don't feel the need to make a resume one page, but make sure everything on the resume is relevant.

Along those lines, what's relevant information for one potential job might be irrelevant for another.

3. Make sure your resume tells your story.

If you have gaps in employment, don't be shy about explaining them. (You don't have to get too specific. You can always say "personal reasons," Long said.)

Also, on a related note, you probably did more than you realize during your gaps in employment. If you volunteered or got any training, make sure to include that. It helps tell your story.

4. Keep your resume free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Spelling and grammar gaffes upset some people more than others. Some folks will ignore them if they think a person is, otherwise,a strong candidate. But for some people, it's an automatic disqualification.

Err on the safe side and don't make any spelling errors.

5. To write a cover or not to write a cover letter?

Long acknowledged that cover letters don't always get read. However, depending on circumstances, they can also be a difference maker.

"When we do read them, we depend on them to learn your motivation for the job.

Tips for job interviewees

6. If you put in time to prepare, you'll be much better off.

Research the company beforehand. No what questions you want to ask, which brings us to our next point.

7. Ask questions.

Ask about the culture of the company. Ask about the expectations of the job. (Don't ask about salary yet. Save that for when they make a job offer.)

You're interviewing them too.

Also, bring a pen and pad to the interview.

You don't have to record everything they say, but you should at least jot down the answers they provide to your questions.

8. When the interviewers ask you a question, answer with a specific example.

For example, if they ask how you dealt with an angry customer, don't say, "I would do that a lot." Say "I did..."

9. If you're on a phone interview, focus on the interview.

Long had some horror stories.

"You hear the flush," she said.

10. Thank the interviewer afterward.

It's OK to thank them via email.

The next Career Coffee talk is Feb. 20 at Mentor Public Library's Main Branch. the speaker will be from Lake Health. You can register for it here.

Progressive offering advice to job seekers at Mentor Public Library

Did you resolve to find a better job this year or are you trapped in what seems like an endless job hunt?

Either way, we want to help.

We've partnered with Ohio Means Jobs Lake County to host a series of monthly career coffee talks at our Main Branch.

The talks are designed to help people get the tools they need to help them find the career they want.

The first talk will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23; and the speaker will be Charlene Long, the Talent Acquisition Specialist for Progressive Insurance.

She’ll offer advice on what companies like Progressive are looking for in prospective employees.

This talk is also free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. Just come in, get some coffee and hear some advice that just might change your life.

Studio MPL kids practice their inking

Last time the Studio MPL kids got together, they made a bit of a mess. (That's what happens when you channel Jackson Pollock.)

This Monday, our art club for kids practiced their inking and penwork; so the work was cleaner but no less impressive.

Don't believe me? Check out the photos:

Don't be distracted by the fuzzy purple hood or the green sequin bow. Gavyn's doing some precise inkwork.

Kaylee concentrates on her inking.

Caleb confers with Ms. Judy.

Studio MPL is open to any child from first through fifth grade. Next month's session will be Feb. 17at our Main Branch. You can register for it here.

For more photos from our Studio MPL session, check out our Facebook page. For more information on programs and events for children, teens and adults at Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

The Return of Paws to Read

It's been three months since we posted any photos from Paws to Read, our monthly program that pairs young readers with trained therapy dogs.

If your child can read independently but doesn't like to do it in front of other people, you might try signing them up for Paws to Read. (Especially if your son or daughter is also a dog lover.)

The next session is slated for Feb. 19 at our Main Branch and registration for it begins on Feb. 5.

Registration fills up quickly, so contact the children's department at Mentor Public Library soon if you think you child could benefit from Paws to Read.

There is often a waiting list for the program once registration begins.

Cara reads "How do Dinosaurs Go to School?" to Kody.

Haylee rests her head while Ella reads to her.

Nick scratches Caesar's belly as he reads.

Taylor reads "Pete the Cat" to Hannah.

For more information on Paws to Read and other children’s programs at Mentor Public Library call (440) 255-8811 ext. 221 or log on to www.mentorpl.org.

And for more photos from our most recent Paws to Read session, visit our Facebook page.

7 Tips for Setting & Sticking to a Healthy New Year's Resolution

Cori Kitaura of the Lake County General Health District visited the library Wednesday to talk about some of the ways people can stick to their New Year's resolutions to be healthier.

Some people want to lose weight. Others want to eat better. Some just want to feel fitter.

Either way, Kitaura offered seven tips (via Cleveland Foodbank) that can help. Those tips are:

1. Make a specific goal. Don't just say you want to exercise more. Specify how many days a week you're going to exercise and for how long.

2. Phrase your goals positively. Don't say, "I want to eat less junk food." Say that you want to eat more fruits and vegetables.

3. Write your goals down. Then put them in a place where you can't ignore them: your wallet, your bed stand, as the background on your computer.

4. Be reasonable with yourself. It's good to have big goals, but make sure you give yourself small goals on the way to your big ones. Don't try to do everything at once. All you'll do is overwhelm yourself.

5. Tell your friends about your goals. This (like Tip #3) is another way to keep yourself accountable. Also, the more people you tell, the more support you will have.

6. Forgive yourself if you make a slip-up. You can miss one workout or eat one chocolate bar and the world won't collapse. Lifestyle changes take time.

7. Quality over quantity. Just set one or two goals and focus on them. If you stretch yourself too thin, you'll stress yourself out and that might do more harm than good.

Here's a weekly meal planner that may help you with your resolutions.

The LCGHD will return to our Main Branch on Feb. 5 to talk about heart healthy diets. As always, the talk is free and open to the public. You can register for it here.

For more information on events and programs at Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.