It is rare that we get the opportunity to learn from a meditation master, but on Thursday, June 2 at 7:00PM, we will have that opportunity. Swami Satya Niranjan, popularily known as respected Bagmarji, and Om Johari will discuss the healthy, psychological and spiritual benefits of laughter. While using laughter as an example of meditation, the pair will show how and why to meditate, to show gratitude and be happy all the time.
No registration is needed.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Thinking about becoming a nurse? The American Nurses Association website is a useful resource. Canton Public Library has study guides for student nurses studying for the NCLEX-RN exam. Graduate nurses may find Resumes for Nursing Careers helpful. Thank a nurse in honor of Nurses week!

Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this program has been canceled.

The Doctor is In! Please join us on Wednesday, May 11 from 7:00-8:00PM in the Purple Room for a special presentation, Conquering Your Pain the Holistic Way, by Livonia's own "Dr. Phil," Dr. Philip Hoehn, DC, CCSP. Learn how chiropractic care can provide a healthy and natural approach to relieving pain from sports injuries and other ailments.

It doesn't feel warm enough, but Ozone Action season started May 1. Consider carpooling and using transit for cleaner air and the fuel savings.

Since 1963, May has been declared Older Americans Month by the Agency on Aging. The theme of this year's celebration — Older Americans: Connecting the Community — pays homage to the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities. It also highlights the many ways technology is helping older Americans live longer, healthier and more engaged lives.

Spring into action this weekend with the Bunny Hop. Don't know what the Bunny Hop is? Check out some of these fun cd's and put on your dancing paws, I mean shoes.

Disney's more dancin' tunes [sound recording]

Family fun songs [sound recording]

A very veggie Easter [sound recording]

Animal groove [sound recording] words & music by James Coffey

Thousands of Medicare beneficiaries will receive an invitation in May to be part of a special study looking at the impact of age-related changes on functional ability. The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) will be seeking some 9,000 people aged 65 and older to participate in this long-term study, funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health. NHATS will examine how the daily lives of older adults change as they age. Participants will be randomly chosen from across the country.

For the first time in 27 years, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease dementia have been revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages of the disease have been characterized to reflect a deeper understanding of the disorder. The National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer’s Association Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease outline some new approaches for clinicians and provide scientists with more advanced guidelines for moving forward with research on diagnosis and treatments.
(Photo credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images/elibrary)

The Center for Michigan is providing opportunities for citizens to speak out.  "Talk Back to Lansing" forums are scheduled in Wixom (April 20), Grand Rapids (April 25) and Lansing (April 27).  Register today.

Let your voice help shape Michigan's 2012 Budget.

A little bit of stress is not bad at all. It helps you to keep your focus on work and perform better. Problems arise when you are unable to keep stress level under your control. Too much stress will affect your performance as a professional. It may ruin your personal relationships. Above all, it will take a toll on your health. To avoid any such consequences, coping with stress at work or home is very important.

When people hear the words "long-term care," they often think only of nursing homes, but long-term care includes much more. Personal care, home health care, transportation services and adult day care are all long-term care services, and they can be critical to an older person's health care. Find information on the range of long-term care services available and suggestions about planning for future needs on NIHSeniorHealth, the health and wellness website for older adults from the National Institute on Aging.

You've seen him at the Canton Farmer's Market with his delicious honey — now come meet Bob the Bee Guy on Wednesday, April 20, 7:00-8:30PM. You will learn about beekeeping and the environmental concerns about bee health in his presentation. There is no registration required for this adult program.

Learn about the benefits of vegetarian eating from Paul Krause, VP of VegMichigan on Monday, April 18, 7:00-8:30PM in his presentation Vegetarian Eating. Paul will talk about how to promote health, peace and the planet through a plant-based diet. Also (newly added to the program!) Susan Kline, author of "From the Earth with Love" will discuss transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle. There is no registration required for this adult program.

We're celebrating Earth Day all week (April 18-22) and want you to join us! There will be events for adults, teens, tweens and children, including:

• Everything Green — Monday, April 18, 11:00-11:45AM (children, 1st through 3rd grade)
• Vegetarian Eating — Monday, April 18, 7:00-8:30PM (adult)
• Scrapbox Fun! — Tuesday, April 19, 1:00-3:00PM (all ages)
• Green Gardening — Tuesday, April 19, 7:00-8:30PM (adult)
• Recycled Crafts — Wednesday, April 20, 2:00-3:00PM (all ages)
• Bob the Bee Guy — Wednesday, April 20, 7:00-8:30PM (adult)
• Craig Perdue, Naturalist — Thursday, April 21, 3:00-4:30PM (all ages)

There are multiple benefits to good nutrition. Good nutrition is essential for the maintenance and health of you and your body. It is known that good nutrition can provide mental health relief, promote sleep, and increases energy. Good nutrition also provides the body with the nutrients it needs to fight of disease and germs. Great books to help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle are:

The low GI diet revolution: the definitive science-based weight loss plan by Jennie Brand-Miller, Kaye Foster-Powell

Looking to get out of the rat race? Striving for less? Check out these books for great minimalist tips:

Philosophy of Simplicity

Enough already!: clearing mental clutter to become the best you by Peter Walsh

Simplexity: why simple things become complex (and how complex things can be made simple) by Jeffrey Kluger

Canton Public Library's Optelec viewer provides magnification, color and contrast support, and other benefits for visual accessibility. In this video, Elaine shows us how to use the viewer to reader a book.

You can find the Optelec machine between the fireplace are and the fiction books, not far from the Web Express computer stations.

Appetite for reduction: 125 fast & filling low-fat vegan recipes by Isa Chandra Moskowitz — Are you trying to lose weight? Looking for a healthy way to do so? Don't be put off by the word 'vegan' in the title here — you don't have to adopt a fully vegan lifestyle to take advantage of some of the benefits. Even eating vegan now and then can help you to reduce your weight and improve your health. This book contains tips, recipes, and more info about eating vegan and eating healthy.

National Organ Donor Day is February 14, 2011. Celebrate Valentine's Day by giving the ultimate gift of love by signing up to become an organ and tissue donor. In the time it takes you to order flowers or buy a box of chocolates, you can register and become an organ donor.

Become an organ donor at Donate Life.

Did you know that there are many really easy to grow veggies that are super-nutritious? Some of them are even extremely tasty, like the sweet peas (from my garden) pictured here. You may find yourself eating them right off the vine! Check out this Top Ten list and start planning your garden for this summer.

Homegrown vegetables, fruits, and herbs: a bountiful, healthful garden for lean times by Jim Wilson; photography by Walter Chandoha