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.

In this online storytime, Miss Sandra and Miss Katie tell stories and sing songs all about monkeys.

December 8 is National Brownie Day and one of my favorite bloggers, Janet Randolph of Dying for Chocolate, has rounded up dozens of recipes for brownies. (Photo: Ghirardelli: Gluten-Free Brownies)

Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has also been named the American League's Most Valuable Player for 2011. He is the first starting pitcher to win MVP since 1986 when Roger Clemens took the honor. Only six other pitchers in MLB history have won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP honors in the same year: the Dodger's Sandy Koufax in 1963, St. Louis' Bob Gibson and Detroit's Denny McLain in 1968, Oakland's Vida Blue in 1971, Milwaukee's Rollie Fingers in 1981 and Detroit's Willie Hernandez in 1984.

In this online storytime, Miss Michelle tells us the story of the three billy goats gruff and reads a poem about five penguins.

On November 9, CPL hosted a Diwali Celebration program that featured traditional and contemporary Indian music, dance, food, and more — all centered around the festival of lights. If you couldn't make it that night, check out the video above and pictures below to get up to speed:

Lists, lists, and more lists. As 2011 draws to an end everyone seems to be creating "Best of" lists. For readers of all ages and tastes, holiday gift suggestions:

• Amazon's Best Books of 2011
• Kirkus Magazine
• Publisher's Weekly
• American Library Association/Notable Children's Books 2011

National Public Radio (NPR) posted an interactive map, searchable by zip code and/or city, that allows you to find out who has been emitting hazardous chemicals into the air. The map lists more than 17,000 facilities nationwide. The color-coded dots and scores of one to five smoke stacks are based on an EPA method of assessing potential health risks. You can zoom into your neighborhood by clicking on the map or use the search box in the upper right hand corner to find your area of interest. You can even look at the full EPA reports on selected facilities.
[Photo courtesy of AP Images]

Recently the Michigan Secretary of State announced expanded online services. ExpressSos.com allows residents to renew or replace standard state driver's licenses and ID cards, change their address when they move order multiple copies of vehicle registrations and titles.

Michigan Humanities Council, in conjunction with Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion, has selected nine host sites for the Great Michigan Read traveling exhibit: We Don’t Want Them. The exhibit places the events documented in Kevin Boyle's Arc of Justice in a broader context of policies and practices that limited where some could live, thus impacting their past and present quality of life. We Don't Want Them opened in Flint and will travel around the state to the following cities:

• November: Three Rivers Public Library
• December: Davenport University, Grand Rapids
• January: Peter White Public Library, Marquette
• February: Detroit Science Center (Pending re-opening of the Detroit Science Center)
• March:
  • Interlochen Center for the Arts
  • Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City
  • Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City
• April: Castle Museum of Saginaw History
• May: Old Mill Museum, Dundee
• June: Artworks, Big Rapids

For many older adults the holidays can be highly stressful, confusing, or even depressing if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into account. Senior Living offers 10 Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays and make the holidays more joyful for the whole family.