Meditation for Beginners will be offered at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Betts Branch Library. Distractibility interferes with our ability to listen, to focus, to respond and to feel fully alive. The 45 minutes meditation workshop will include instruction in simple meditation techniques, including breath, posture and basic principles of awareness. Judy Fancher, a meditation practitioner for 16 years, is the instructor. This program is supported by the
Zen Center of Syracuse. Please register in advance; call 435-1940.

Syracuse Inner City Rotary will host a breakfast and chat with Dessa Bergen-Cico, Ph.D., CHES, CAS Fulbright Scholar, starting at 7 a.m. Jan. 18, at PEACE Inc. Southside Family Resource Center, 136 Dr. Martin Luther King West (formerly W. Castle Street). Attendees will hear from guest speaker Bergen-Cico who was recently selected as one of this year's 100 Rotary International Peace Fellows worldwide. She's a "local girl" from the Near Westside who will study in Thailand next summer. Free parking available, and breakfast is free for first-time visitors.

Bored with television? Come learn about free audiobooks, dramas and radio plays available online and for loan at your library. For all ages and persons with print disabilities.

The Teen Advisory Board helps plan programs and makes the Central Library a great place for teens. New members are always welcome. For ages 12 to 18. No registration necessary.

This month’s book selection is "The Testing" by Joelle Charbonneau. Sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, she is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing. Teen Book Club open to ages 12 to 18. Please register online for this event at www.onlib.org/events/calendar or call 435-1900.

Family Movie Night will screen the newly released film “The Secret Life of Pets” starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, at Beauchamp Branch Library. Free popcorn will be provided while you watch. All ages welcome.

Celebrate your pet with two great new movies:, "Secret Life of Pets (noon) and "Nine Lives" (2 p.m.) screening on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Funding your education requires careful planning, persistence and knowing how and where to look for funding. Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher/VP at Cappex.com and nationally recognized financial aid expert, covers searching for scholarships, writing winning essays, acing the scholarship interview and more in this one hour webinar. Following the program, a librarian will be available for questions and assistance in beginning a scholarship search. Call 435-1900 to register.

Want to start making music in GarageBand? Join the Central Library for a beginner session covering the basics of recording, producing and mixing. For ages 12 and up. Register in person or online at www.onlib.org/events/calendar.

The Syracuse Housing Authority and Norstar Development USA, L.P. will hold two public meetings related to the construction of the Freedom Commons affordable
housing development located at 450 Burt St. At the meetings, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, and again 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, upcoming bid packages will be discussed and questions will be answered. The meetings will be held at the South Side Innovation Center, 2610 S. Salina St.

SHA is encouraging local companies, New York State Certified MBE/WBE and Section 3 firms and individuals to attend either of these two meetings to learn about upcoming employment and construction bid opportunities. Freedom Commons involves the new construction of building that will include 54 new affordable housing units, supportive service space and temporary shelter space. The project will be financed through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and NYS financing sources. It is anticipated construction will commence in Spring 2017; with individual bid packages released in February for general trades, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and fire protection.

New York State Certified MBE/WBE and Section 3 Business participation is strongly encouraged, as this project is committed to meeting New York State and the Syracuse Housing Authority’s MBE/WBE and Section 3 Workforce and Business goals. Potential bidders are advised that by submitting a signed bid proposal they are agreeing and committing to the MBE/WBE, Section 3 and EEO requirements, which are a part of this project. The project is tax exempt.

For additional information, call Norstar Project Manager Benjamin Hughes at (313) 749-7692 ext. 105.