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.

Now that Bo, the Obama family's new puppy has settled in at the White House, the time is right to look back at some of the former residents of the presidential home. White House Pets takes a look at the more than 400 pets that have lived there over the course of 200 years. Produced by Animal Planet,  the DVD is  a fascinating look at the bears, parrots, dogs, and cats that have roamed the halls of one of the most famous homes in history.

Tuesday, April 21, 7-8 p.m. Looking for ways to save at the (water) pump and still maintain a lush lawn and landscape? Beth Rowley, Landscape Designer and owner of Landscape Beauty by Design, will offer practical, water-saving advice on mowing, fertilizing and watering your lawn.

Mark Fidrych was introduced to the Detroit area back in 1976.  He was energetic, unique, and talented.  Fans everywhere watched his antics on the field from talking to the ball to kneeling down and smoothing out the mound. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1976 and went on to spend his major league career with the Detroit Tigers. Remember Mark Fidrych in his book No Big Deal published in 1977. 

Did you know that CPL has over 50 magazines in a variety of languages? Take a look at this handy list to see what we have in international languages for a variety of formats. Or, come on in and take a look.

It’s about that time to get your lawn in shape. Here at CPL we have multiple items to choose from. Check out some of the various items we have for all of your Lawn and Garden needs.

One of my favorite types of books are suspense novels that quickly draw you in and keep you guessing until the very end. I always lose sleep whenever Nicci French comes out with a new book because I just can't seem to stop turning those pages! Check out her newest offering, Until It's Over.

Monday, April 20, 7-8 p.m. You will have the opportunity to question Paul Denski, owner of Canton Waste Recycling, about the improved recycling program and general recycling questions.

Have fun at the library during Spring Break! 
Spring Crafts: Children, ages 4-8, are invited to make some fun crafts to take home. 
Program Date: Tuesday, 4/14 from 10 - noon (No Registration Required)
Teen MarioKart Wii Tournament: Are you ready to race? Seventh through Twelfth graders can take to the track. Top three win prizes; food provided. All players must be there at 1 p.m. to compete.

Well, hockey fans, the time is drawing near. Regular season play for our Detroit Red Wings ends this Sunday night! Time does fly! However, buckle down, sports fans, as the playoffs are upon us. Enjoy these great books on the Stanley Cup while you wait on the edge of your seats for the playoffs to begin!

Every year the International Association of Culinary Professionals announces their picks for the best cookbooks of the year. The Art & Soul of Baking is just one of the award winners owned by CPL.

Taking Shakespeare's play King Lear from tragedy to comedy may seem like a tall order, but Christopher Moore does exactly that in his new book "Fool".  Told from the point of view of Lear's fool, Pocket, the book is bawdy good time.  But the narrator, Euan Morton, has a gift with creating unique voices for each character making the book standout in a way the paper version could not.  

Spring is here and I am getting out my Bonsai. The Library is a good source for books on how create and take care of these miniature trees. The Bonsai Workshop by Herb L. Gustafson has an excellant section on pruning. It not only describes how to do it but why and when.

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow; the urge to make everything fresh and clean is in the air. Check out CPL Housekeeping staff's eco-friendly hints to green up your clean up.

Green-up your cleanup by Jill Potvin Schoff — Keep odd socks for general dusting. Combine lemon juice or vinegar with water, boil in the microwave to help soften stuck on foods.

With a voice that was described as “the most beautiful in the world," Andrea Bocelli collection presents many of the artist's most memorable vocal performances. Tuscany's most exciting and beloved export since Luciano Pavarotti is a phenomenon with an astonishing 30 million CDs sold, two World Music Awards, best-selling albums, and wildly popular sellout concerts on nearly every continent. Bocelli was a best-selling pop artist in Europe and after his exposure through the PBS special, his success in the U.S. skyrocketed. The PBS production was slated to run only once, but due to its popularity it ran three times.

Mother Teresa (August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997), born Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun with Indian citizenship. Although she was born in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia today, Mother Teresa's family came from Shkoder, Albania her father was active in national politics and her mother was a devout Catholic. Mother Teresa has been quoted as saying: "By blood I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun.

Are you already missing ER? The long running medical drama ended its 15 year run last Thursday but it seems like only yesterday that George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle and Julianna Margulies first appeared on our TV screens. Once the most popular show on the tube, the series went on to win 22 Emmy Awards. Although the show's total viewers have declined in recent years, the final episode scored the biggest ratings for a series finale since Murder She Wrote in 1996.

I just finished reading Library Journal's recent first authors of the season reviews ('First Novels Forecast a Lush Spring'; 3/15/09) and CPL has six of the new mystery selections on our shelves for your reading enjoyment: Hangman Blind by Cassandra Clark, Posed for Murder by Meredith Cole, Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings

Recently I spent time in Savannah, GA, where, on a local hotel TV channel, I viewed John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  He described how he fell in love with Savannah and decided to live there for a while.  His book not only details the murder that took place at the historical Mercer house, but also depicts Savannah's history, beauty, and some of its idiosyncratic residents.  Upon returning home, I checked out the book and the mo