Graphite in our pencils, helium in our balloons, copper in our pennies—the elements are everywhere! National Chemistry Week 2009 celebrates the chemical building blocks of our universe in this year’s theme, “Chemistry—It’s Elemental!” The event also recognizes the 140th anniversary of Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev’s creation of the modern periodic table. National Chemistry Week is an annual, community-based event that unites local sections of the American Chemical Society with schools, businesses, and individuals who want to communicate the importance of chemistry to our quality of life. Tracy Halmi, senior lecturer in chemistry at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is the national chairwoman for the ACS subcommittee that was responsible for developing programming for National Chemistry Weeks 2006-2009. Locally, the Erie Section of ACS has joined with students and faculty from Penn State Behrend, Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Mercyhurst College, and University of Pittsburgh at Titusville to produce this year’s following free events: Monday, October 26 Halloween-themed chemistry demonstrations 6:30 p.m., Blasco Memorial Library, 160 E. Front St. Saturday, November 7 Hands-on chemistry activities 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Millcreek Mall Saturday, November 21 Hands-on chemistry activities 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum, 420 French St. **Free museum admission during event hours courtesy of the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation.** As part of the National Chemistry Week festivities, the American Chemical Society also is sponsoring a poster contest for children in grades K–12. Winners will be selected both at the sectional and national level in four age divisions. Age division poster winners at the Erie Section level will win a t-shirt and a classroom visit from a chemist for age-appropriate demonstrations. For more information about the poster contest or other National Chemistry Week activities, visit the Web site chemistry.bd.psu.edu/halmi/ncw. html, e-mail Halmi at tracy@psu.edu, or phone the Penn State Behrend School of Science at 814-898-6105.