The Third Annual One Book One Community reading event will begin at the North Plains Public Library on Saturday, January 30, 2010. This year’s book selection is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, founder of Pennies for Peace, the Central Asia Institute, and builder of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. During the kickoff event, more than eighty copies of the book will be distributed free of charge on a first come, first serve basis. Registered participants will receive a special gift and learn about scheduled February events, inspired by Dr. Greg’s book. There will also be a sampling of Central Asian cuisine and music.

Introduction to Three Cups of Tea and Greg Mortenson
North Plains Public Library
Monday February 1
7pm

A discussion and video introduction of Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, and his mission of building schools for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Children’s Three Cups of Tea Program
North Plains Public Library
Saturday February 6
1pm

School age children are invited to the library to attend a children’s program featuring stories and activities. There will be a short video to kickoff our own Pennies for Peace campaign. For more detailed information about Pennies for Peace, please view the www.penniesforpeace.org website.

Professor Zia Yamayee
St. Edward’s Catholic Church
Tuesday February 9
7pm

Professor Zia Yamayee, Dean of the School of Engineering at University of Portland, will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 PM at the library as part of the third annual ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY Program.

Professor Yamayee was born and educated in Afghanistan, receiving his engineering degree from Kabul University. He won a scholarship to attend graduate school in the United States and earned his Masters and PHD at Purdue University.He returned to Kabul and was appointed head of three departments. Shortly after the Soviet Union’s overthrow of the Afghanistan government he was invited to Germany to read one of his papers. Eventually he was granted immigration to the US where he has been involved in many aspects of engineering both in industry and education since 1978.

He is known for his charisma and this will be evident as he tells of his experiences living in both Afghanistan and America. His story is most interesting and is well suited to the theme of Three Cups of Tea
Refreshments will be served.

St. Edward’s Catholic Church
31235 NW Wascoe
North Plains, OR 97133

Pakistani Bhangra Dance Performance
Jessie Mays Community Center
Saturday February 20
4:00-6:00pm

Students of teacher Sushmita Modi, of Bollywood Movez, a local Hillsboro dance studio, performs a Pakistani Bhangra dance. An all-ages event with demonstrations and audience participation. Refreshments and Central Asian foods will be served.

Jessie Mays Community Center
30975 Hillcrest St.
North Plains, OR 97133

Portland Mountain Rescue
North Plains Public Library
Monday February 22
7pm

Emily Pollard, of Portland Mountain Rescue, will discuss mountain safety, local current events and rescues on our own mountains and how mountaineering relates to Three Cups of Tea. Refreshments will be served.

Three Cups of Tea Book Discussion
North Plains Public Library
Wednesday February 24
7pm

Discussion of this year’s ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY reading selection, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. Refreshments will be served.

Salma Ahmed
The Islamic Society of Greater Portland
North Plains Public Library
Sunday February 28
2pm

Salma Ahmed is president of the Islamic Society of Greater Portland, a non-profit organization aiming to foster cordial relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims. Ms. Ahmed is very active in community outreach. In addition to being the President of the Islamic Society of Greater Portland she is also a founding Board Member of Bilal Mosque Association and the Muslim Women’s Guild. She has served on the Advisory Board Muslim Educational Trust and is an active member of Interfaith Council of Greater Portland. She is a member of the Human Rights Council of Washington County, the Multicultural Council FBI, FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Council member for Racial Profiling[under Mayor Tom Potter and chaired by Chief Rosie Sizer], Vision Action Network and Interfaith Action Network of Washington County.

Ms. Ahmed will be speaking about the book, Three Cups of Tea, and its impact on humanity, how education can help fight terrorism, how one man, Greg Mortenson, has made a difference for the good. Refreshments will be served.

Don’t miss the Pajama Storytime at the North Plains Public Library on Wednesday December 30th at 10:30am.

We will be reading stories about teddy bears and other furry friends. We also be singing, playing games and doing crafts. Be sure to wear your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal!

Teens entering grade 7-12: there’s still room in the workshop from 3:00 - 6:00 that day, but time is running out. Come in to the library or call today to sign up.

July 31: Teens can still sign up for the Comedy Workshop with the Brainwaves Improvisational Comedy group to be held at the Jessie Mays Community Hall from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

July 31: All are welcome to the comedy improv performance that follows the workshop at 6:15 p.m. in the Jessie Mays Community Hall.

Ever dream of doing stand-up comedy? How about improv? Then you want to be at the Jessie Mays Community Hall on Friday, July 31. The brilliantly funny folks from Brainwaves will be here to show YOU how to do improv! They will work with you from 3:00-6:00 that afternoon, then you will show us all what you’ve learned in a performance open to the public at 6:15.

YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THIS! Space is limited, so please come to the Library to sign up. And if you sign up, please come! This is an awesome opportunity, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible can take advantage of it. Please don’t take up someone’s spot if you don’t think you’ll be able to make it.

Only those teens who have attended the workshop from 3:00-6:00 will be allowed to perform. You must be entering grade 7-12 to be considered a teen. While you’re here signing up for this workshop, pick up a reading log and get prizes for reading! It’s free!

Join us for these free programs too - they’ll be at the Jessie Mays Community Hall, 30975 NW Hillcrest St.:

I Love to Read Magic Show with Jay Frasier
Tuesday, June 23 at 11 a.m.

Music in Action with Richard Glauber
Friday, July 10 at 1 p.m.

Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show
Friday, July 17 at 1 p.m.

Curt Carlyle - A Cutting Edge Juggling Show
Friday, July 24 at 1 p.m.

Brochures listing activities at all Washington County Libraries are available at the check-out desk or look online.

Practice taking the GED, US Citizenship, ASVAB, SAT and many civil service tests online. Take courses on writing resumes and preparing for interviews. Get started at the link above by creating your own individual username and password so you can save and track your progress. When you take an online test you’ll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

Small donations may either be deposited at the Jessie Mays Community Hall (30975 NW Hillcrest Street, North Plains) in the drop-box at the south end of the building or may be brought in to the North Plains Public Library during open hours.

Please call the North Plains Public Library at 503-647-5051 to make arrangements for delivery of larger donations.

Volunteers will also be available to receive donations on Thursday, August 6th at Jessie Mays Community Hall from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sorry, no encyclopedias, textbooks or National Geographic magazines will be accepted.

Our book sale will be at the annual North Plains Elephant Garlic Festival, Friday-Sunday, August 7-9. You will find us inside the Jessie Mays Community Hall in North Plains.