Only Three More Sessions Remain For Tax Assistance!

AARP is back again this year to offer tax assistance for senior and low income taxpayers.

The remaining Wednesday dates are as follows:

March 30

April 6 & 13

On each of the scheduled days, the doors will open to begin tax assistance at 9 am. First come, first served - no appointments. Once they have reached 25 seeking assistance, the doors will shut and no further taxpayers can be helped that day. AARP membership is not required for this assistance.

Documents and Helpful Information that you will need to provide:

• A copy of your 2014 Income Tax Return
• All income documents for 2015 (W2 - 1099 - Retirement - Pensions - Social Security - Unemployment - etc). NEW FOR THIS TAX YEAR - forms 1095-A, -B or -C on Health Coverage
• 2015 Mortgage statement showing interest and property taxes paid
• All Social Security Cards (Taxpayers & Dependents)
• Driver’s license or other valid picture ID.

New Cozy Mysteries from M.C. Beaton and Miranda James

     We love cozy mysteries here at the library (and I love them in particular). They usually don't have a lot of violence and they tend to be quick, easy reads. Two of our newest are: Death of a Nurse: a Hamish MacBeth mystery by M. C. Beaton and No Cats Allowed: a Cat in the Stacks mystery by Miranda James.

     In Death of a Nurse, tall, lanky, ginger-haired police sergeant Hamish MacBeth is in a bit of a funk. His constable, Dick Fraser, has left him to open a bakery with his girlfriend. This has left Hamish all alone to patrol his highland district. Hamish goes to Sutherland to welcome the owner of a recently restored hunting lodge, James Harrison. The old man, however, treats the policeman quite rudely and Hamish has a mind to tell him off. Harrison's beautiful private nurse, Gloria Dainty, steps in before Hamish can open his mouth and apologizes for her employer's behavior. Hamish decides to ask her out on a whim and she says agrees to have dinner with him. On the evening they are supposed to meet, Hamish waits at the restaurant...and waits. Gloria never shows up and Hamish is left sullen and wondering why. He gets his answer four days later when Gloria's body washes ashore on a beach near Braikie. It is going to take all of his charm, wit, and wisdom to find out who killed the pretty nurse, but Hamish will have to move fast or the killer may decide to strike again.

     It is springtime in Athena, Mississippi, but the employees of the university's library can't seem to enjoy the beauty that is in bloom. Their new interim director, Oscar Reilly, has decided that they need to cut some fat; so he sets his sights on cutting the archive and rare book collection. Reilly's unfriendly and caustic behavior has raised the hackles of Charlie Harris' friend and co-worker, Melba--whom Reilly wants to replace with someone younger. Not even Diesel--Charlie's lovable feline companion--is immune from the new director's ire. Reilly claims he is allergic to cats and is determined that Diesel not come with Charlie to the archives anymore. This is the last straw for Charlie, who decides to look into taking a leave of absence. Before he can get the paperwork together, Oscar Reilly's body is discovered in the library and a threatening e-mail settles suspicion squarely on Melba. Charlie knows for certain that Melba is no murderer, so he and Diesel set about trying to solve the case. They begin with the shady stranger that has been lurking around the library ever since Reilly took over. Will they catch the killer before poor Melba is found guilty of something she didn't do?

Figuratively Speaking - A New Series in the Children's Department

In 'Figuratively Speaking, a new series of books for our Children's Department, children can explore different figures of speech and how to tell one kind from another.
Each of the four books gives a definition of the different styles plus numerous examples from different sources such as poems, fables, speeches, and other works.  They also encourage readers to try their hand at making their own.

Geared for the interest of third to sixth graders, this set of four books breaks down and explains these sometimes difficult to understand parts of the English language.

Relationships and Other Life Advice

     Two new books in our dating and self-improvement sections may appeal to the fans of self-help books.

     First is 121 First Dates: How to Succeed at Online Dating, Falling in Love, and Live Happily Ever After (Really!) written by Wendy Newman. Professional dating and relationship educator Newman says there are three things she has learned for sure: There is one special someone for each of us. You will probably meet a lot of "nos" before you find your "yes." And you can't let this fact scare you off, because you could miss out on some amazing experiences! Newman chronicles her often hilarious, always heartfelt, and occasionally mortifying 121 first dates she went on before finding her perfect match. She made every imaginable dating mistake out there--so you don't have to. She busts dating myths, answers some long-sought-after questions, and examines the pitfalls that could make you lose your mind and swear-off dating altogether. She also offers a plethora of the best tips for navigating the online dating scene. Newman's dating pitfalls and triumphs serve to illustrate her advice and will certainly inspire anyone ready to step-out and find just the right person for a happily-ever-after.

     Kelsey Miller had done it all: crash dieting, healthy dieting, and expensive nutritionist-prescribed "eating plans," but nothing was working. In Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got a Life, she chronicles how she realized, at the age of 29, that no diet was going to transform her body or her life. Armed with this knowledge as well as the help of an intuitive eating coach and fitness professionals, she learned how to eat based on her body's natural instincts and how to exercise for her health without obsessing over the number of calories burned. With each healthy step, Miller had to learn to contend with the painful memories from her past. For anyone who has wrestled with a distorted body image, food issues, or family traumas, this book is definitely for you. It is also for anyone who has tried and failed and "felt like a big, fat loser." So, basically, all of us...
     While both of these books tend to be geared toward women, I think guys could pick up some good advice as well. We all feel the jitters of a first date and we all feel less than perfect about our bodies and eating habits every now and then.

200 Suggestions for Reading

Ever want a suggestion on something good to read?  Author and librarian Gina Sheridan offers you 200 titles to choose from in her new book, Check These Out.

The book is divided into fifteen chapters that break down the types of books.  There are even chapters on audio books and young adult fiction.  Each chapter gives you a selection of books with the author, when it was written and a brief description along with why the author enjoyed it.  The audio book chapter even tells you whose voice is reading the book.

So next time you feel stumped on what you'd like to read next, pick up this book for some great ideas.

Tax Assistance for Senior and Low Income Taxpayers Available from AARP

AARP will be back again beginning in February this year to offer tax assistance for senior and low income taxpayers.

The schedule is every Wednesday as follows:

February 3, 10, 17 & 24

March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

April 6 & 13

On each of the scheduled days, the doors will open to begin tax assistance at 9 am. First come, first served - no appointments. Once the number of people that can be helped by the end of preparation time is reached, the doors will shut. AARP membership is not required for this assistance.

Documents and Helpful Information that you will need to provide:

• A copy of your 2014 Income Tax Return
• All income documents for 2015 (W2 - 1099 - Retirement - Pensions - Social Security - Unemployment - etc). NEW FOR THIS TAX YEAR - forms 1095-A, -B or -C on Health Coverage
• 2015 Mortgage statement showing interest and property taxes paid
• All Social Security Cards (Taxpayers & Dependents)
• Driver’s license or other valid picture ID.

Newest from Author Ann Cleeves

     The newest addition to the Vera Stanhope series of murder mysteries by Ann Cleeves is called Harbour Street.
     The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is in full swing in Newcastle. Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter Jessie find themselves swept along in a raucous crowd and onto the Metro, but, when the train has to be stopped due to poor weather conditions, Jessie notices that one lady hasn't disembarked. Her name is Margaret Krukowski and she has been fatally stabbed.
     Joe's gov'ner, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene to take charge of the case. She stands on the platform at the station and surveys the surroundings. She can feel in her bones that this is going to be a complex and unusual case. Truth be told, Vera is glad for the distraction from all of the holiday revelry.
     A few days later, another woman from Margaret Krukowski's neighborhood is murdered and Vera knows that to solve both cases, she is going to have to figure out why Margaret was so worried in the weeks leading up to her death. She knows there is a link somewhere, but the residents of Harbour Street are reluctant to speak to the police. They are hell-bent on closing ranks to keep outsiders from intruding into their lives. Retracing Margaret's final movements may be the only way to piece together what deep dark secrets the neighbors on this street are keeping. At what point, though, do silent witnesses become complicit in the crime itself?
     This riveting British police procedural uses sharp prose and an eye for forensic detail to tell the age old story of how keeping secrets can be deadly.  

Remember, if you enjoy the Vera Stanhope character, the library also has several seasons of the television drama Vera starring Brenda Blethyn as the detective inspector herself.
   

New Series to Read in the Children's Department!

We have added several new series to our Children's Easy Reader collection.  Here are a few :

First, we have a set of six books on Farm Animals.  Three are by Kathryn Clay : Farm Dogs, Goats, and Chickens.  The other three are by Sheri Doyle : Cows, Horses, and Pigs.

The next series is on Backyard Birds.  The four book set contains Cardinals, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, and Robins.  All are written by Lisa Amstutz.

A four book series on owls by Melissa Hill is also new.  The titles are Barn Owls, Burrowing Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Snowy Owls.

Finally, for train lovers, we have a set called All Aboard written by Nikki Bruno Clapper.  The set contains these four titles : City Trains, Freight Trains, High-Speed Trains, and Passenger Trains.




These and many more are waiting for you - come check out our selection today!

A New Hobby for the New Year!

    Thinking of taking up a new hobby for 2016? Why not try an oldie, but a goodie--Crochet! We have two new crochet books that may interest you.

     First, is the "Beginner's Guide to Crochet: 20 Crochet Projects for Beginners" by Sarah Shrimpton. This book is a comprehensive guide that contains all the basic crochet stitches and techniques to get you started. Each stitch is explained in clear detail with easy-to-follow diagrams and projects that utilize the skill you are trying to master. Later patterns in the book combine several techniques and stitches to help you develop skill and accomplish more complicated designs. You'll learn to make everything from a simple dishcloth to the granny blanket, from an amigurumi teddy bear to other 'extreme' crochet creations. The twenty projects in this book are designed to step you up gradually and help you be more confident in crafting your crochet creation.

     The second book that is available is "Great New Ways with Granny Squares" from Search Press and written by Rosa P. This book is divided into the four seasons with each season encompassing several projects under each heading. The beginning of the book provides a basic course in crochet, as well as many beautiful color photos of the author's designs. Each project is starred as quick and easy, easy, average, requires some practice, and more challenging/requires more time. The twenty projects include a bracelet, pencil case, and phone case, as well as the traditional shawl, throw, and tablecloth. All of these designs begin with...you guessed it, the granny squares!

     Try one of these or any of the other crochet, knitting, and other fibercraft books that we have available here at the library. Even if you don't stick with it, you can at least say you gave it a shot! Happy Crafting!

Start the New Year with a Smile!

The irrepressible Dick Van Dyke turns 90 with style and gives his own advice about growing older in his new autobiography, 'Keep Moving'.

Told at the age of forty that he had severe arthritis and could expect to be using a walker or a wheelchair within seven years, Dick Van Dyke stood up in the examination room and started to dance.  And he hasn't stopped moving since.

It's a book full of show business memories, personal reflections and a very upbeat philosophy with the motto that there is no such thing as 'age appropriate'.

Begin 2016 with a laugh, a smile and, as Dick Van Dyke says, keep moving.