Hey Kids!
Well, LB just got back from another fabulous adventure! And now, you can see all the fun he's having on the library's Flickr account! Thanks Miss Laurie for showing me how that program works! I'm getting to be quite a tech-savvy bear.
LB just got back from Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City! It sounds like such a neat hotel — there's a pool, and the Aerie Restaurant that has a revolving floor so you can see all the pretty scenery!
LB also got to see the Bay (too cold to go swimming) and climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes! Have you read the legend about those dunes? We have it here at CPL. You should check it out. But bring kleenex. It always makes me cry. I'm such a softie.
And then he "checked out" the Petoskey District Library. (Get it? Checked out? Just a little library humor.) That library's been around a long time! The original building was built way back in 1909 and funded by Andrew Carnegie. He's a rich guy from a long time ago that funded lots of libraries across the United States. Anyway, it's a very neat library. But no cool bears like Your's Truly! They did have a special exhibit on Lewis and Clark. Now there's some interesting history. And we have lots of information about those guys here at our library too!
So that's what LB's been up to. Of course, he wasn't home long! He left on Wednesday for another fun place! So keep watching and see where LB goes next. I'll give you one hint...It's Historical, and in a state named after a ruler of another country! Where do you think he's going? tell me your guesses! Let's see if you get it right!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Hey Kids!
Nope, that's not me in that picture! That's my Little Buddy, LB! He get's out more than I do. In fact, in this picture, he's all the way down in Texas! He went there with Miss Kristen a little while back. They did a lot of fun things! They went camping and went to the park, and, as you can tell, LB made some new friends! There's lots of fun things to do in Texas! You can visit the Alamo, pretend you're a cowboy, or eat chili! Did you know that this animal is the state animal of Texas? Did you know that we have a stuffed animal one here in the library? Are you curious to learn more about Texas? There are lots of book about it here in the library!
Man, LB is so lucky! Now that it is warm out, he has all kinds of adventures planned. I'm just staying home. But I'm okay with that because it's my favorite time of year...Summer Reading! I can't wait until you all start coming in to get your reading log! It's only 20 days away you know! Woohoo! I'm so excited! See you SOON!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Everyone has their own idea of the perfect getaway, whether it´s a romantic retreat, fun with the family, or a weekend away with friends. Now planning one to the magnificent state of Illinois is easy thanks to the following getaways that immerse you into a specific region of Illinois. Just pick the getaway that´s right for you and start packing.

The program "Exploritas" that had been scheduled from 7:00-8:00PM on May 27th 2010 had to be postponed at this time due to the ill health of the presenter.

Don't miss the Ann Arbor Book Festival, May 14-16, featuring poetry readings, Breakfast with the Authors, writers' conferences, and culminating with the Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair on Sunday, May 16.

On Tuesday April 20, 2010, MDOT will host an open house featuring the upcoming construction for the I-275 Metro Trail in Wayne County. This project, which is scheduled to start this spring, will reconstruct 7 miles of the bike path between Michigan Avenue and Edward Hines Drive. Attendees will be given the opportunity to review final designs changes before construction. For more information, including meeting time and location visit the MDOT website.

If you are new to the area, new to biking, or simply want to explore new routes, check out Washtenaw County Bike Rides: a Guide to Road Rides In and Around Ann Arbor by Joel D. Howell. All the routes are paved and start from Ann Arbor. The difficulty of the rides and areas that require caution are clearly noted. Route maps for Dixboro, Dexter-Chelsea, Gallup Park, Hell, Huron River Drive, Manchester, Waterloo and more are included. A perfect weekend outing for the motivated rider who loves a challenge!

Adventurer and author, Pam Flowers, returns to Michigan from her home in Alaska to share her latest adventure of dog sledding to the Magnetic North Pole. Pam will share two books that are the result of her travels:
Magnetic North: A Journey to the Magnetic North Pole and Douggie: The Playful Pup Who Became a Sled Dog Hero. Bring the entire family on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00PM in the Community Room. You really must meet this incredible, brave woman.

Hold me tight and tango me home : Maria Finn by Dominguez, Maria Finn — Maria Finn has written a memoir on how she cured her heartache of her husband leaving her by learning to dance the tango. A wedding in Buenos Aires has prompted her interest in learning this very complicated dance, however, she planned for her husband to accompany her on this journey. His departure to live with another woman has left her with the decision to learn alone.

Living abroad isn’t for everybody, but it just might be for you! It’s never too early to start collecting information that could change your life. Did you ever think of just picking up and moving to another country? Travel book publisher Moon has expanded their "Living Abroad", series. New volumes describe living in Panama, South Korea, Guatemala, China and Spain. Also the website "Living Abroad,"  offers free information, news and resources to help you on your way.

The geography of bliss: one grump's search for the happiest places in the world by Eric Weiner

A sense of the world: how a blind man became history's greatest traveler by Jason Roberts

West with the night by Beryl Markham

Hey Geography fans! Check out lizardpoint to find cool geography quizzes. Test your skills at locating states, countries, or capitals. See how many points you can rack up plus learn where some cool places are! Have fun!

Girldrive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism by Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein

This unassuming book is a fascinating peek into a roadtrip of two young women who travel across the United States with no other goal than to connect with other women. They met and spent time with women of varying ages and experiences and this book contains their thoughts, commentary and photographs. Local note: Aronowitz and Bernstein spent time in several Michigan cities: Detroit, Flint, and Ypsilanti.

As economic times cause us all to tighten our belts and close up our wallets, many families are turning to the idea of a "staycation" rather than a traditional vacation. But how do you make sure you have a fun, relaxing and fulfilling staycation at home? The Great American Staycation will show you how staying at home can be one of the best vacations of all. Whether it's a romantic staycation for a couple or one for a family with kids, this book will help you out with plenty of top tips.

A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on an Detroit-bound airliner. Following is a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) guidance for passengers on heightened security measures in place following this incidence.