Have you heard about the 50 States Project?  Throughout the upcoming year 50 photographers, one for each of the 50 States, will photograph the State where they live. Every two months each photographer will be sent an assignment by e-mail, they then have two months to produce one image in response. The images must represent both their style and the State in which they live. January's assignment was People and photos from around the country can now be seen online.

If you are considering a new addition to your family, the library is a great place to start. We have many books available to help you select a pet for your family. The Animal Planet Pet Care series has books on dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, fish and even bugs as pets!

Join journalist Greg Melville and his college buddy Iggy as they set out to be the first people to drive from Vermont to California in a "french fry car" - a beat-up 1985 Mercedes diesel station wagon powered on vegetable oil collected from restaurant grease dumpsters along the way.  Greasy Rider : Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future is the story of two adventurers determined to take on the last great driving challenge and join our nation's fight against petroleum addiction.

Just in time for Earth Day, the first release from the Disneynature series opens today.

Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep through the night? If so, you're not alone. In fact, more than 25% of adults have had symptoms of insomnia at some time, and less than 10% have chronic insomnia. There are many remedies to help you get a good night's sleep and feel refreshed during the day. Explore our collection of materials on insomnia. You can also learn about other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Sweet dreams!

Archaeologists working near Alexandria, Egypt have found three chambers buried beneath a temple that may prove to hold the remains of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. Researchers believe that there is growing evidence that the queen's body was carried to the temple after her suicide so that she could be buried with Antony. The discovery was made with the use of underground radar.

Sun-Proof your skin.  Spring is here. Before summer heats up, protect yourself and your skin with sunscreen. Remember your sunglasses and hat! For more tips check Sun Protection for Life.

Fresh, delicious, homemade bread that is easy to make. Sounds too good to be true, but that's the claim for Kneadlessly Simple, a book on order at CPL. I'm eagerly awaiting my chance at the copy, and as soon as I've tried out a recipe or two, I'll report back and let you know if the recipes really work as promised.

Edsel, the only child of Henry Ford I & Clara Bryant, married Eleanor Clay in 1916. The Fords began building their dream home in 1926 at Gaukler Pointe in Grosse Pointe Shores, a fashionable new suburb on Detroit's eastern boundary. The family moved in at Christmas 1929. Built along the shores of Lake St. Clair, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is an impressive yet unpretentious home featuring exquisite architecture by Albert Kahn and landscape design by Jens Jensen.

Saturday, April 25, 10am - 2p.m.To wrap up Earth Week the library is joining up with Canton Leisure Services to help clean up the Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail. Teens and adults are invited to join the effort. Meet at the trail head at Morton Taylor Rd. north of Michigan Avenue anytime between 10 and 2 pm to help with the efforts. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing, shoes and bring work gloves. Please bring your own reusable water bottle. If you would like you can bring/donate contractor garbage bags. Clean up will take place rain or shine unless there is severe weather. For more information call Canton Leisure Service at 394-5460.

On Monday, April 20th, the nation marks the 10th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Ten years ago teenagers and fellow students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, walked into their high school killing 13 people and wounding 23 others before turning their guns on themselves. It is the 4th deadliest school shooting in U. S. history and sparked a fierce debate on gun control laws and school violence.

Don't miss the annual scrapbook convention at the Rock Financial Center May 7-9. This popular event features classes and many exhibits. For more information see the MegaMeet website.

'Jazz: a primarily American musical art form which originated in the early 20th century'.  Trying to define jazz beyond this becomes more difficult as the very nature of jazz is innovation. The musician, the instrument, the mood all impact what notes are played/heard.   Someone once said of jazz 'you'll know it when you hear it.'   Detroit's celebrating and a calendar of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) celebrations is available at Key of G.  For more information about JAM checkout The Smithsonian's webpage.

J. R. Moehringer's The Tender Bar sets an extremely high bar (pun intended) for memoirs.

There have been many studies on brain fitness in the news lately, largely because Baby Boomers and other age groups are interested in keeping their memories and mental accuracy intact into their older years.  This latest study, featured in PsychCentral states that expensive gimmicks and vitamins don't work.&nbs

Got some eco-friendly ideas you'd like to share? Write them on our community "Green Board" in the lobby during Earth Week (April 18-25). Then check out some of our "green" Earth Week programming, or get some environment-friendly tips from the Brightboard digital signs behind Checkout and in the Children's Library.

Celebrate Earth Week by getting outdoors with family and friends.  Visit The Nature Conservancy web site to find nature trails near you, get outdoor tips, and share your photos.

Great adult authors have recognized that teen readers are more alive than ever; they know a hot trend when they see it. Celebrate Support Teen Literature Day by grabbing a teen book by an adult author. There are so many to choose from: Walter Mosley's 47, Michael Chabon's Summerland.

Wednesday, April 22, 7-8:30 p.m. Learn how to enrich your soil and reduce waste through easy, inexpensive composting methods.

Have you ever noticed the current state of the world and wondered...WHY?  Visit Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonist Index for a different view of today's events.