There are many reports of the Swine Flu (or H1N1) virus hitting areas of the United States this fall. Even with all this information, people still wonder how one can tell if they have H1N1 or another virus. This flu self-assessment from Emory University may help. For the best advice, be sure to call your doctor!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's been 25 years since the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization began promoting education and awareness for this disease. The library has a large collection of books regarding breast cancer including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. If you or a loved one are faced with breast cancer, be sure to talk to your doctor regarding reading recommendations.

As life spans increase and family structures change, Long-Term Care month promotes discussion of the variety of ways to plan for future long-term care and encourages everyone to make this planning part of their personal retirement plan.

First Step offers free advice to victims of domestic violence. In light of recent events in the community, it was time to invite First Step to share their expertise and helpful hands with the women of our community. If you are feeling alone, afraid, hopeless, First Step and speaker Judith Barr can help. Please join us on October 29th at 2pm in the Purple Room. No registration is needed.

This is National Adult Immunization Month.  The National Foundation for Infectous Diseases sites a multitude of reasons everyone should get a flu shot, but people over the age of 65 are particularly vulnerable.  Each year, on average, 36,000 people in the United States die from seasonal influenza complications. Greater than 90% of deaths occur in persons 65 years of age and older.  So call your health care provider and get that shot!

September is National Yoga Month. Yoga is known for its health benefits including both physical and mental fitness. Try it for free! Check out the coupon for one free week of yoga at a studio near you or check out yoga books and DVDs at the library.

The many health benefits of the vegan diet will be the subject of a program held October 20 at 7 p.m. at the library. Gaia Kile, a Family Nurse Practitioner working with natural and holistic approaches to health and disease, is the featured speaker. His talk will address the science behind some of the benefits and key factors for success through vegan nutrition. To register for this free program, visit www.cantonpl.org or call 734-397-0999.

A little friendly competition, a little friendly chat, a lot of fun. Join us on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month for a couple of hours of board games with other seasoned citizens. Remember Scrabble, Rummikub or any game of your choice? We'll set you up with others who would enjoy a round of the same and let the laughs begin. See you at 10 a.m. in the Purple Room on September 23rd.

Are you thinking of adopting a vegetarian diet? Many people have, but there are important facts to know to make sure you stay healthy and get all the nutrition you need on a restricted diet. How to Become Vegetarian: 5 Key Steps (& Famous Vegetarian Celebrities) offers information and lots of links for further research that you may find helpful if you're considering vegetarianism. Even if you're already veggie, there is a lot of good info here that you may not have seen before.

If you're hooked on television series like House or Scrubs, you may like these medical memoirs.

• Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik
• Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent
• Complications by Atul Gawande
• A Final Arc of Sky by Jennifer Culkin
• Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
• The Pact by Sampson Davis

The Michigan Helping Hand site helps Michigan citizens facing economic hardship find the services they need. You can find information about jobs and training, unemployment benefits, health care, family support and housing. CPL has also put together (along with other members of the Metro Net Library Consortium) a checklist to help those that are facing unemployment and feeling overwhelmed by the recession. Tough Times - Library Lifelines is a list of resources to help you: file for unemployment, find affordable health insurance, find a new job, keep your home, maintain and repair your credit plus find additional assistance.

There's been a buzz about raw foods diets lately with many people wondering about the safety and benefits of such a lifestyle. They also wonder how to go about starting one. Before beginning a raw foods diet, be sure to read up on the health benefits as well as the consequences of raw foods. You may also want to consult your doctor to see if this lifestyle is right for you. Try these books for more information:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw by Mark Reinfeld

The Green Foods Bible by David Sandoval

Everyday Raw by Matthew Kenney

The Michigan Attorney General's office has established an online resource center for Michigan's seniors at Senior Brigade. This website is a clearinghouse for helpful information on consumer protection, financial matters, health care issues and veterans' services. It provides links to a wide variety of state and federal programs to help make informed decisions that can benefit you and your family. A calendar of senior events around the state is also available. The website is maintained by Attorney General Mike Cox's office.

The Social Security office recently launched a national campaign "Retire Online. It's So Easy!" This campaign features a new online retirement application that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. The application is available online and can easily be completed at any of our library computers.

Is clutter affecting your life and your attitude? Maybe it's time to clear the cobwebs and get rid of the junk! In Throw Out Fifty Things, author Gail Blanke tells readers to clean out the clutter not only in their house but in their minds. Her inspiring book shows that holding onto useless things of the past are not only a waste of space but can also be an inhibition to a better life. Check it out and free up some space in your own life!

Men and women, 50 years and older, will compete in the Western Wayne Senior Olympics August 17 through August 21, 2009. A complete schedule of events is available at Canton Seniors Leisure Services.

It's the Firemen vs. the Police at the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive on Tuesday, August 18 from 11:00-5:00 at the Canton Township Administration Building. Donors select either service when they sign in, and the American Red Cross will donate $1 per donor to the U of M Burn Center. For an appointment, phone 734-394-5246, or drop in between 11:00AM and 4:45PM.

Confused about the debate over health care reform? President Obama has unveiled a new "Reality Check" site to help you get the facts on this very important issue. The site has fact sheets, videos, and links to related sites such as Health Reform.gov. It also allows users to receive updates via Twitter and Facebook.

A new study by Kaiser Permanente has discovered that there may be a link between high cholesterol and dementia. Are you concerned about your cholesterol levels? The library has many books regarding high cholesterol and diet. Check one out today!

Catch the podcast about 89 year old Rachel Veitch on Growing Bolder and her 1964 Mercury Caliente. She's the original owner, she's put over 550,000 miles on it traveling around the country, and as she points out, her car has lasted longer than her 3 marriages. Rachel puts a lot of TLC into the car: tune-ups on schedule and purchasing parts with life-time warranties. She's replaced 6 car batteries over the past 35 years at no cost. (Image: Google Images)