Throughout January, Lower Macungie Library will feature the artwork of Judy Leichssenring.

Leichssenring started painting with watercolors in 1998 while living in California. She has taken community college, adult education and the Baum School of Art classes. She now works with acrylics and oils in her landscapes and still life paintings.

There will be a bedtime booktime for children ages 2 to 8 years 7:25 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Come in your pajamas to hear some bedtime stories.

The library book club will meet 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4 to discuss "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt at the community center.

AARP Taxaide counselors will offer free tax help for taxpayers with low to moderate income with special attention to 60 years and older 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays Feb. 5 through April 9 at the library. Appointments are preferred and must be made in person with a Taxaide volunteer. For more information, call AARP at 1-888-227-7669.

The Center for Vision Loss will present "Vision Loss is NOT a Normal Part of Aging" 10:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 7 at the library. Following the informational program, a free vision screening will be offered. The snow date is Feb. 28. Registration is required.

The event "Cherries, Chocolate and Jazz" will be held 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the library. Appetizers, desserts and beverages will be provided with music by the Kutztown University Jazz Quartet. Tickets are on sale at the library and are available through Feb. 14. Tickets will not be available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Lower Macungie Library.

Collection of donations for the spring 2015 book sale continue at the Lower Macungie Library. Donations should be brought to the donations counter to the left of the information desk. Acceptable donations include gently used books, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks on CD.

There will be a "Get in the Game" event 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 24. All ages are welcome to come play board games. Advance registration is requested.

Preschool storytimes are ongoing. School age programs are held on Monday evenings. Check the library for the schedule.

Adult computer classes including Microsoft Word, Excel, Intro to the Web and social networking are offered monthly. The schedule is available at the library.

Class size is limited and registration is required for the above events.

For more information on these classes or storytimes, call the library at 610-966-6864 or visit the library website www.lowermaclib.org.

The next Friends of the Library meeting will be 10 a.m. Feb. 21. The Friends have resumed sorting books in preparation for the spring book sale 8:30 a.m. Thursdays. Sorting will not take place Jan. 22 because the community center will be closed.

Lower Macungie Township will hold a Miller-Keystone Blood Drive 4 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Lower Macungie Township Community Center. To schedule an appointment, call 610-966-6924.

Concordia Lutheran Church will hold its fourth annual chili cook-off event Jan. 25 in the fellowship hall. Chili must be dropped off by 1:30 p.m. Voting will be held 3:15 p.m. Cooks and tasters are needed; the public is welcome. Following the cook-off there will be a talent show 3:30 p.m. and a newlywed game in the church sanctuary. For more information, call the church office at 610-965-3265.

Concordia Lutheran Preschool will host a spaghetti dinner 4 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The preschool and church are located on Brookside Road. Call the preschool at 610-965-3265 for reservations.

The Emmaus High School Drama Department will present Disney's "Mary Poppins: the Musical" 7 p.m. March 18, 19, 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. March 21 and 22. There will be a Gold Card preview performance 6 p.m. March 17; reservations are required for the preview show. Online ticket sales have started. The website is www.eastpennsd.org/ehs; a link is available on the homepage.

Tickets also are available at the high school main office 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session beginning Feb. 5. Telephone orders will not be taken through the main office.

The Lower Macungie Senior Citizens Club meets noon Jan. 20 and Feb. 3 at the community center. After a business meeting, members play bingo or card games.

The township is offering discounted ski tickets for Bear Creek, Big Boulder/Jack Frost, Blue Mountain and Camelback. Order forms are available at the community center.

The Lower Macungie Township Community Center offers a number of activities including Walkercise, yoga, pilates, Tai Chi and Power House Fitness. Winter classes include Kindermusik, kids' art classes, adult drawing and watercolor classes, Latin Dance, Feng Shui, Minecraft, Mommy/ Daddy and Me Soccer, Calling All Superheroes and Toddlers and Tutus.

Some classes are held at the Wescosville Recreation Center and the Hills at Lockridge Community Center. For more information, contact the Lower Macungie Community Center 610-966-6924.

Family Open Gym time is 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays for ages infant through 10 years with a parent. Proof of residency is required.

Yard waste drop-off site winter hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The site is closed Tuesday and Thursday. Be prepared to show your photo I.D. as proof of residency.

While we were on vacation in Maine last summer, we did some souvenir shopping. One store had a bin of polished rocks to purchase by the small sackful. We all wandered around looking at the merchandise; Ben focused on the polished rocks, painstakingly sorting through the bin. The next thing I knew, he had taken two stones over to the cashier and asked how much they cost. The cashier told him that they weren't sold individually but he could pick a whole bag for around $3. Ben said, "But I looked through the whole bin and these are the only two I wanted." I was curious to see how this negotiation would work out so I continued browsing and watching. Apparently Ben's power of persuasion won out because a few minutes later he had a bag containing two polished stones and a little plastic moose.

The next township column will be published Feb. 18; copy deadline is Feb. 12.