Do you know anything about your family history?  For example, many families have  descendants that came to America through Ellis Island in New York. April 17 is "Ellis Island Family History Day." More immigrants were processed on this day in 1907, than any other day in history. The statue of liberty was the first glimpse of America for millions of immigrants. Ellis island has a unique and interesting history as America's immigration station with a lot of family history to offer.

The artist known to many as the "Painter of Light" passed away Friday at the age of 54. Thomas Kinkade, famous for his light-infused paintings of countrysides and cottages, was one of the most popular artists in America. It is estimated that one out of every 20 homes in the United States contains a print or painting of Kinkade's. In addition to creating over 1,000 unique works of art, Kinkade also became a NYT bestselling author. The movie The Christmas Cottage offers a semiautobiographical look at his younger years.

SEMCOG seeks public comment on projects proposed for 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is a list of roadway and transit projects selected as priorities for funding by cities, county road commissions, transit agencies, and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The public comment period officially began on March 27, 2012 and will end with Executive Committee action on April 27, 2012.

Handmade garden projects: step-by-step instructions for creative garden features, containers, lighting & more by Lorene Edwards Forkner — Would you like to give your garden a little something extra? By reusing materials and with a little DIY effort, you can add depth and interest to your garden. This book has it all, from pathways to structures to furniture to containers to storage and more. Check out the author's blog for lots more info and inspiration.

Who was St. Patrick? What do I do for party decorations for St. Patrick's Day? What is the history of St. Patrick's Day? What recipes can I cook for a St Patrick's Day party? Check out our books, DVDs and more to learn how to celebrate this Irish American holiday. For a brief biography of St. Patrick, read the History.com article and view the videos on informative St. Patrick's Day topics.

The Great Michigan Read 2011-2012 is drawing to a close. This year's selection has inspired displays and discussions across the states in public libraries and schools. The author, Kevin Boyle, received his undergraduate degree from University of Detroit-Mercy and his doctorate from University of Michigan. He is presently teaching at Ohio State University. Arc of Justice won the National Book Award in 2004 and was named Michigan Notable Book in 2005.

No matter where you are in your life span, you need a life plan. The American Psychological Association Committee on Aging put together a useful brochure to assist in developing an effective plan to secure a healthy, happy, and financially sound old age. Their brochure, Life Plan For The Life Span, begins by checking your attitude and understanding about your aging process by asking important questions.

Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me, designed by Sesame Street, is a fun, educational site with tips and tools to help kids keep their teeth clean and looking great. It's never too early to learn that a healthy mouth leads to an overall healthy body! In addition to printable activity sheets, this website features fun videos, games, and songs all about dental health.

Craving guidance to grow your startup? Check out TechTown's upcoming educational workshops designed for entrepreneurs who are hungry to learn:

• 2/28 Intro to Market Research
• 3/14 & 3/21 Invention Development
• 3/20 Sales Essentials
• 3/27 Lunch & Learn with Lawyers
• 4/14-6/16 Operation JumpStart: First Step (Fee based)

If you're like 10% of CPL website visitors, you came here in Google Chrome. Chrome is a fast, secure, easy-to-use web browser — and the improved CPL extension is just one more reason to use it.

Books at CPL

As you browse the web, the extension finds books mentioned on each site. For instance, if you're shopping for a book on Amazon, a subtle notification will appear with a direct link to the book in our catalog. This feature stays out of your way (it disappears automatically after 15 seconds) and respects your privacy.

Search Quickly

When you want to search the CPL Catalog, just type "cpl" into the omnibox. This temporarily switches the search engine to the Catalog, and provides title suggestions as you type. If one of the suggestions is the book you want, just arrow down to it and press Enter or click on the result.

Get the Extension

If you'd like to know when the books you find are available at your library, and if you'd like an easier way to search our Catalog, you can
install the free extension at Chrome Web Store
[web developers: cpl-chrome-ext is available on GitHub]

Have you ever made a terrarium? They're all the rage lately and they're so easy to make. Check out this tutorial for terrarium ornaments, and take a look at some of the resources we have here at the library:

Terrarium craft: create 50 magical, miniature worlds by Amy Bryant Aiello & Kate Bryant; photography by Kate Baldwin

The new terrarium: creating beautiful displays for plants and nature by Tovah Martin and Kindra Clineff

Moms and Dads can learn a lot from other parents in the ever growing parenting blogs. On one site, Geek Dad, parents blog about their experiences raising kids in the digital age. Technology, family friendly projects and pop culture are topics that are covered. Cool Mom Picks is another site that gives parents tips on clothes, gifts, and books, to name a few.

Valentine's Day is coming up and it's a great time to share your creativity and love for your family. Create your own valentine card for those you love or make a yummy treat with your parents. Special creations are a great way to say "I Love You." Don't forget to check out some books on love at the library too.

You are invited to TechTown's Open House on Tuesday, February 7 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Register at the TechTown site or call 313-879-5250.

If you have an idea for a new product or business or need help developing your idea, tour TechTown's facilities, learn how they can help you, or chat with TechTown's entrepenuer of the month at their this monthly open house.

The 13th Annual Love is Murder Conference for Mystery writers and readers will be held in Chicago at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel Friday, February 3 through Sunday, February 5. The conference offers author chats, opportunities to meet with publishers and/or agents, and writer's workshops. Entertainment in the evening includes a performance by Those Were The Days Radio Players.

Artistic license by Julie A. Hyzy — Ms Hyzy is the conference's Guest of Honor.

The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid — Fans of Val McDermid's Dr. Tony Hill should be interested in her recent article Methods and Madness in Mystery Readers Journal Winter 2011-2012 issue. Apparently Tony Hill, Clinical Psychologist and profiler came to Ms. McDermid as a fully developed character with his own agenda.

If you, or someone you know, is having problems with Medicare/Medicaid applications or questions about coverage, trained MMAP Counselors are available to answer your questions and assist you with your application. By calling 800-803-7174, individuals will be routed to their local MMAP office. The Senior Alliance, serving older adults living in Western Wayne County, is your resource for information and help. Their phone number is 734-722-2830 or 800-815-1112 (Southeast Michigan only).

The American Library Association has joined the National Institutes of Health promoting Go4Life. Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help individuals fit exercise and physical activity into their daily life.

Older & wiser workout [videodisc]: for active older adults by with Sue Grant; produced by FitFlix Productions

Lilias! yoga: your guide to enhancing body, mind, and spirit in midlife and beyond by Lilias Folas

Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. It begins on December 21st this year and ends on the 29th. One candle on the menorah is lit each day to celebrate the miracle of a one day's supply of candle oil lasting through eight days. For more on Hanukkah, see these sources in our collection. For a brief overview, see this holiday website.

The Obama administration proposed regulations on Thursday, December 15 to give the nation’s nearly two million home care workers minimum wage and overtime protections. Those workers have long been exempted from coverage. According to the federal government, six million of the 40 million Americans older than 65 now need some form of daily assistance to live outside a nursing home. That number, government officials say, is expected to double to 12 million by 2030.