Happy New Year!

From All of Us to All of You!
Thank you for sharing your family time with us today in a rousing welcome of New Year 2011! New Year's @ Noon sure was fun for our community's littlest party goers. Watch for a short video recap courtesy of the East Hampton-Portland Patch.

First Night Celebrations
If you have not already planned another family-friendly outing for later today, try First Night events in Hartford, Danbury, or Westport.

Cool Apps for Virtual Worlders
If you can't make it to Time's Square, you can live stream the ball drop to your iPhone, iPad or late model android. Also try Party Whistle a cute (but quite possibly annoying) iPhone app; free if you have an iTunes account. For non-drinkers, designated drivers, or people who don't like washing dishes, try IKEA's virtual toast app for the iPhone:



The Twelve Days of Christmas
For fun, since the 12 Days of Christmas are not officially over, we invite you to add your voice to a one-last-time chorus, courtesy of one of our favorite A Cappella groups, Straight No Chaser.

Gingerbread Fun

The House You Can Eat!
Creating a gingerbread house is fun and an ideal activity to share as a family. Suggested designs, supplies, equipment, tips, and resources from these titles make planning easy, at any time of year.

Lisa Turner Anderson’s No-Bake Gingerbread Houses for Kids offers a range of projects ranging from simple to sublime. Try the firehouse, the Swiss chalet, or the Caribbean bungalow, among others.

The Gingerbread Book, edited by Allen D. Bragdon, features homes for familiar residents : Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, etc. Recommended for more accomplished builders and those who love to 'consume' classic stories with their kids.

Joanna Farrow’s Gingerbread : Houses, Animals, and Decorations showcases trains, teddies, elephants, wreathes, and necklaces, as well as buildings.

The Gingerbread Architect: Recipes & Blueprints for 12 Classic American Homes by Susan Matheson and Lauren Chattman steps it up a notch... or two... or three. Each home design comes complete with a construction schedule, historical context, and descriptions of prominent architectural features. Great for families or groups looking to add another educational dimension to a gingerbread project.

Post by Bev Simmons

Where Do Movies Come From?

Survey Says? Books!

Between now and spring 2011, a number of great books will have been adapted and readied for viewing on the big or small screen. Read ahead of the film release dates for best experience since as we all know... the books are usually better.

Unknown

The film is based on the memory-bending thriller, Out of my Head, a 2003 novel by French author Didier van Cauwelaert. The movie stars Liam Neeson and is due for big screen release in February.

The Sunset Limited
Tommy Lee Jones directs the HBO film, based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy. The story has only two characters, played by Tommy Lee and Samuel L. Jackson. The film premieres February 11.

Any Human Heart
This PBS Masterpiece Classic entry is based on William Boyd's 2002 novel, in turn based on the journals of British writer/spy Logan Mountstuart.

Jane Eyre
This latest treatment of Charlotte Bronte's 1847 suspenseful romantic classic stars Mia Wasikowska as Jane. The movie's due out in March.

Miral
Artist Julian Schnabel directs this film about the Palestinian struggle, based on the novel by Rula Jebreal.

Mildred Pierce
Kate Winslet takes on the role that won diva Joan "No wire hangers, ever!" Crawford an Oscar in 1945. This five-part miniseries premieres on HBO in March. Should be interesting to see how Cain's 1941 novel, considered scandalous in its day, receives modern day treatment...




Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen's novel about a veterinary student who drops out of school to join the circus graced bestseller lists for close to two years and is still a local book club favorite. Due for big screen release in April, the movie sports a very interesting cast...

Game of Thrones
First in a series of epic fantasy books by George R.R. Martin, this huge HBO endeavor hits the small screen in April 2011. Plenty 'o buzz (and controversy) about how quickly the author has been churning out his prose.

This post is based on "Springtime Screen Time", an article that appeared in the December 13th issue of Publisher's Weekly

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

Santa-riffic Web Site for Kids
In addition to monitoring our skies and waterways for safety's sake, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) also tracks Santa's journey using up-to-the-minute status reports from its radar, satellites, and Santa cams. Here's a video recap of NORAD's 2009's tracking efforts...



Visit NORAD's Santa Tracker site for details, cute games, and free (but hefty) Google earth plugin you can also use to track Santa on December 24th.

Also try Google's Send a Call from Santa to send a personalized message from the 'big guy' to anyone you know who'd love to hear from him. The free service prefers Google voice but many other options are available.

If you'd like Santa to send a personalized video to a family member, pal, or loved one, do not miss Portable North Pole. Very, very cool...

We ♥ LEGO® Art and Science

Escher's
"Relativity"
in LEGO®
←
Courtesy of
andrewlipson.com

If you aren't (yet) ready to channel Escher with your Legos or don't have plans to commission Lego Artist Nathan Sawaya to sculpt a life-size replica of yourself ...


... you'll get 'there' using your own ideas.

Lego Books and Games
Lego fans on the younger side of Lego creativity may enjoy the following books:
Lego Star Wars : the Visual Dictionary
Cool Cars & Trucks by Sean Kenney
Cool Robots by Sean Kenney
First Lego League : the Unofficial Guide by James Floyd Kelly & Jonathan Daudelin
Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide by Allan Bedford

For PlayStation® (PS3™ flavor) fans, try the Lego Indiana Jones video games. Both are rated E, for everyone, but are generally recommended for ages 10+.

Psst... Have You Heard of FIRST LEGO® League?
Word has it that the East Hampton Rotary Club will be working to offer weekly programs for Lego enthusiasts in grades 4-8; the program series is set to begin in January 2011. The long term intention is to build an East Hampton First Lego League (FLL) team, ready to enter a team-built robot in Fall 2011's Connecticut FLL competition.

More to come on this exciting program series!

All trademarks, servicemarks, and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

Ashton Place...

in·cor·ri·gi·ble

[in-kawr-i-juh-buhl, -kor-] -adjective

1. unruly

This dictionary definition fits the orphan children of the mysterious Ashton Place perfectly! Fortunately, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess...

If you wouldn't mind reading about three children raised by wolves, try The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood. The second book in the series is due for release in February of 2011.

Other Books About Orphans

The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Aram's Choice by Marsha Skrypuch

Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

For Older Readers

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

Monstrumologist series by Richard Yancey

Foundling's Tale series by D.M. Cornish

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer

Get Into the Holiday Spirit!

Oh! Oh! Oh!
Whether you are baking, partying, or singing we can help you out! Take a look at our great holiday cookbooks, join us for fun holiday festivities, or watch our holiday fingerplay video to learn new holiday favorites with your little ones.

Holiday Cooking (Some of Our Favorites)
Classic Christmas Cooking by Martha Day
Christmas with Paula Deen by Paula Deen
Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook
Christmas Cookies by Lisa Zwirn
The Hadassah Jewish Holiday Cookbook by Joan Michel
Party Vegan by Robin Robertson

Holiday Books for Kids
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
Fancy Nancy's Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor
Baby's First Christmas by Tomie DePaola
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
This is the Dreidel by Abby Levine
Horrible Harry and the Holidaze by Suzy Kline

Holiday Films
Click here for a browsable list of holiday films.

Holiday Programs
Pre-School Holiday Party
Holiday Concert (Adults)

Holiday Songs and Motion

Biography and Memoir Roundup

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen." ~ Mark Twain

Here's a short list of biographies and memoirs that garnered plenty of attention from critics and more importantly, local readers. Several are older so we're thinking you may have missed a great read along the way...

Autobiography of Mark Twain
One hundred years after his death, Twain still sells. For more information, check out the book's companion web site : Mark Twain Project Online.

Life by Keith Richards
The party stories take a back seat to Richards' descriptions of how the Rolling Stones made musical history. Also enjoy music CDs plus Criterion Collection film Gimme Shelter or Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light.

Drinking : a Love Story by Caroline Knapp
Read Knapp's 1996 memoir along with Gail Caldwell's Let's Take the Long Way Home (2010).

Composed by Rosanne Cash
A book by a musician who's much more than the daughter of country legend, Johnny.

Breaking Night : My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray
The author describes her journey from a fifteen-year-old living on the streets to her acceptance into Harvard.

Just Kids : from Brooklyn to the Chelsea Hotel : a Life of Art and Friendship by Patti Smith
This one won the 2010 National Book Award in the nonfiction category. Also give a listen to the author's CD, Horses, which is often included on lists of best all-time rock albums.

Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden
A sometimes irreverent memoir by the great-great-great granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Unbroken : a World War II Airman's Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Another can't put it down book by the author who gave us 2001's Seabiscuit. Meet Louie Zamperini, now in his 90's, and expect to be changed. Listen to an author interview, courtesy of NPR.

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
The latest from the tough talking professional eater.

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz
Cultural/historical analysis from a Princeton professor and serious Dylan fan.

Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg
A literary agent squanders success in favor of a two month crack binge. Pairs nicely with Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors.

At Home in the World by Joyce Maynard
More a mother-daughter story than anything else, the author also writes about her relationship with reclusive literary icon, J.D. Salinger.

I'm Down by Mishna Wolff
Wolff grew up in a poor black neighborhood with her single father, a white man who truly believed he was black. Humorous, poignant, and offbeat.

Decision Points by George W. Bush
The former president offers a candid journey through the defining decisions of his life and presidency.

Born Round: A Story of Family, Food and a Ferocious Appetite by Frank Bruni
Bruni, restaurant critic for The New York Times, describes his struggles with food. Hilarious and compelling.

The Things They Handed Down

Lessons from Grandma & Grandpa
Author Erin Bried, a senior staff writer at SELF magazine, offers up a delightful and very practical pair of life skill guides: How to Sew a Button and How to Build a Fire. Respectively, the titles were born from sage advice given by grandmas and grandpas who lived through the Great Depression.

Bried's books also match up nicely to Andrea J. Buchanan's Daring Book for Girls and Conn & Hal Iggulden's Dangerous Book for Boys, both published in 2007.

Stretching further into the land of life skills, you might also like to peruse the Foxfire Books. Published mainly in the 1970's and 1980's, the books cover a wide range of topics, many to do with traditional stories, crafts, trades, tools, and music.

Bond...

James Bond...
The Secret History of MI6, 1909-1949 by Keith Jeffery tells the authorized story of the oldest foreign intelligence service and its role in shaping European and world history. The book also reveals the identity of the man who inspired Ian Fleming's books about master spy, James Bond : Commander Wilfred Dunderdale (photo, above).

If you're interested in the history of espionage, if not the emergence of modern day spying techniques, this is one heck of a book. Previously untold stories of disguises, forgeries, invisible ink, cryptography -- and Dunderdale's attraction to beautiful women and fast cars -- are revealed, along with the identities of other MI6 operatives whose names may surprise you.

Click here to view a video about the book, courtesy of The Telegraph, a daily British newspaper published in London.

Related Reading
Defend the Realm : The Authorized History of MI5 by Christopher Andrew
The Man Who Saved Britain : A Personal Journey into the Disturbing World of James Bond by Simon Winder

Just for Fun
Always a treat, the 007 films are mainly based on books by Bond's creator and Dunderdale's pal, Ian Fleming, or by John Gardner, who revived the series in the 1980's.

News from the Front : Project X
Bestselling thriller writer, Jeffrey Deaver, is now working on Project X, a Bond revival novel due out in May 2011.

Old Secrets, Buried Treasure, Mystical Pirates... Oh, My!

Meet Misty Gordon
Kim Kennedy's book, Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates, has all the best elements of a fun read: a hint of mythology, a teaspoon of mystery, a dollop of history, a smidgen of scary, and a pinch of science fiction!

The novel follows Misty as she gets caught up in a puzzle plot while assisting her father, an estate and antiques dealer. In the truckload of things, Misty stumbles upon a pair of extraordinary glasses and a special diary which help her solve a mystery that will keep you guessing and rooting for Misty to save the day! A sequel seems in order...

Pair this book with some related non-fiction titles:

Greek Mythology
The Adventures of Hercules by I.M. Richardson
Adventures of Greek Heroes by Mollie McClean
Greek Myths by Jacqueline Morley, among others

Pirates
Pirates by Rachael Hanel
Pirateology by Ian Andrew
Pirates and Treasure by Saviour Pirotta
Pirates by Will and Mary Pope Osborne

Post by Kathleen Sands

Village LIONS Belltown Winter Wonderland Fundraiser

A Beautiful Sight
Thanks to the East Hampton Village Lions Club, our main reading room is adorned with a spectacular assortment of holiday decorations created and donated by local residents, organizations, and businesses. The collection includes about 30 eye-catching wonders; e.g., wreaths, table-top trees, door-hangers, photographs, and other unique holiday craft items.

Silent Auction
All items will be on display through Saturday, December 4. Browse the collection, place your bids, then mark your calendars and join the Village Lions in the library Community Room on Sunday, December 5 for a gala reception and auction results. Details to follow.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
This inventive Belltown Winter Wonderland Fundraiser celebrates our community's creative spirit. It also offers an easy way to spend your dollars locally, with assurance that your dollars will stay in our community. All funds raised from the auction will go to the East Hampton Fuel Bank.

Amy and David

Sedaris, That Is...
Depending on how your funny bone works, here's the lastest from Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris.

Unconventional hostess, Amy Sedaris, offers Simple Times : Crafts for Poor People, after I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence (2006).

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk : a Modest Bestiary is the latest by David Sedaris. Click for other print and audio book format titles, also by same author.

The Skinny On...

Quicky Advice in an Internet Age

Jim Randel, a 25-year real estate entrepreneur, moved into the publishing world in 2009. Since then, he has released 10 books (his publishing company is based in Westport, CT) and all of them share a lead-in title : "The Skinny On..."

Randel's titles are of the self-help variety and the advice given/stories told are conveyed using short prose and stick people drawings. Your library owns four titles in "The Skinny On" series, all of which have caught their fair share of buzz, both decidedly very pro and very con.

Randel was recently interviewed on WTNH's Good Morning CT program and offered very interesting commentary about how people read.

"The Ugly Truth" @ Fribrary Time

"Wimpy Kid" Party at the Library

A Fribrary Time special edition was held on Tuesday, November 9. We celebrated the release of The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney and the celebration was anything but ugly! We all had fun welcoming the latest installment of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by playing trivia and word games, character guessing games, and of course, our version of the infamous Cheese Touch game. (Nooooooo!)

If you haven't started the series or haven't yet read your way to book five, here's a list of the titles in order:

(1) Diary of a Wimpy Kid (book and book to film)

(2) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

(3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

(4) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

You can also Wimp Yourself online...

Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans might also enjoy:

Dear Max by Sally Grindley
Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
The Adventures of Ook and Gluk by George Beard
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer Holm

About Fribrary Time

If you missed this event, try another in our series of Fribrary programs (after school on Fridays) open to 4th and 5th graders. Registration for 2011 programs (January-June) begins next month. We hope to see you there!

Post by Kathleen Sands

Non-Fiction Page Turners

Mix and Match

Recently added titles include memoirs, 'sciencey' specials, exposés, history reads, and a spiritual title or two.

Decision Points by George W. Bush

In this long-awaited memoir, our former president offers a candid journey through the defining decisions of his life and presidency. Expect must-read, bestseller status tout suite.

Chasing the Sun : the Epic Story of the Star That Gives Us Life by Richard Cohen
The author, formerly a publisher, takes us around the world to illuminate our cultural relationship with the sun. Click here for an overview of the book by NPR's Science Correspondent, Robert Krulwich.

Matt Taibbi's Griftopia serves up no-holds-barred explanations of what led up to 2008's financial crisis and the bubbles that came before. Taibbi is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone.

C Street by Jeff Sharlet (see also 2008's The Family) explores life in the 'C Street House,' a Washington, D.C., Christian fellowship home shared by a number of conservative politicians.

In The Difficulty of Being Good Gurcharan Das asks and answers the questions 'Why and how should we be good?' within the framework of a 2,000 year-old Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata, which includes the better-known Bhagavad Gita.

Former CIGNA PR specialist, Wendell Potter, offers an insider perspective on the American health care system in Deadly Spin. Also try 2009's broader title, The Healing of America, by T.R. Reid.

UFO's often go together with conspiracy theories. Try Leslie Kean's UFO title or Flying Saucers & Science by Stanton T. Friedman.

Civil War
April 12, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War. As we approach the Sesquicentennial Commemoration, we recommend two new titles about the North-South conflict's pre-history and a unique title about Civil War spies.

Driven West : Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War by A.J. Langguth
Manifest Destinies : America's Westward Expansion and the Road to the Civil War by Steven E. Woodworth
Stealing Secrets : How a Few Daring Women Changed the Fate of the Civil War by H. Donald Winkler. Pair this one with 2002's They Fought Like Demons by DeAnne Blanton & Lauren M. Cook.

Back to the Land

Back to Nature Potpourri

If you are interested in how others have approached homesteading as a contemporary choice, try Novella Carpenter's Farm City (urban Oakland CA), Living on an Acre (a 1978 USDA handbook updated and edited by Chester, CT's Christine Woodside), or Manny Howard's mainly memoir, My Dirt Empire (Brooklyn, NY). As a trio, these books offer a range of viewpoints about what it takes to grow or raise your groceries.

On the wild food cookbook front, Connie Green's The Wild Table adds to recent title list of books about edible wild plants.

Though the title choice is provocative, James Wong, an ethnobotanist, weighs in by describing natural remedies for a number of everyday ailments. The book is based on a BBC show of same name and received mention by NPR's All Things Considered. Add this one to a recent list of alt-med titles.

Settled in the Wild by Susan Hand Shetterly explores Maine's natural history. If you have Maine state interest, roots -- or are just looking for wonderful reads -- please do explore 1940-1950 vintage gem titles by Louise Dickinson Rich. For Connecticut natural history buffs and day trippers, try The Road to Discovery Guides.

Veterans Day : Honoring All Who Served

November 11
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. November 11 was at first a marker date in history : a World War I armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918. Click here to read more about the early origins and later history of Veterans Day.

Library of Congress : Veterans History Project
Veterans Day is so much more than a day off from school or work. If you are on the 'net' on November 11 or before, we encourage you to take time to visit the Library of Congress online.

The LOC's Veterans History Project "makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war." Visit the Experiencing War page to access first-hand accounts from those who served.

In Observance
The library will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We'll be adding info about local and regional Veterans Day events shortly.

Who's Who?

Biographical Reads You Might Enjoy

Memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies always pepper the many reading lists you (and we) consult when looking for an up close and personal read. Here are but a few of the latest you might like to add to your reading list.

Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice

This (less about politics) memoir by our former Secretary of State has caught major buzz in magazines and on the TV talk show circuit. Add this one to must-read bestsellers by the "formers" : Tony Blair (former British Prime Minister), Nelson Mandela (South African statesman and former political prisoner), and Jimmy Carter (former President).

Composed by Rosanne Cash

Firstborn daugther to country music legend Johnny Cash tells her story straight up. On the tune side, we highly recommend Rosanne's 2009 tribute title The List.

Other recent titles by or about contemporary musicians : Dave Mustaine, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith. Smith's book is a 2010 National Book Award finalist, in the non-fiction category.

Washington by Ron Chernow & First Family by Joseph J. Ellis

For Founding Fathers and their families fans, try the above. Catch companion stories about the former and latter titles on NPR.

Growing Up Laughing by Marlo Thomas

A fun read from the star of the 1960s TV show That Girl, or creator of Free to Be... You and Me, or fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Other celebrity reads (several fairly weighty, some light as air) John Ritter, Sal Mineo, Liz & Dick, and Warren, among others.

Operation Dark Heart by Anthony Shaffer

Shaffer delivers an exciting, eyewitness account of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan using the military's most cutting-edge espionage tactics. Pair this one with T. H. Bagley's excellent Spy Wars (2007) or Larry Devlin's Chief of Station, Congo (2007).

Original Gangster by Frank Lucas
The above is all about the Harlem crime boss whose life inspired the 2007 film American Gangster. For another true crime fix, try Douglas Starr's The Killer of Little Shepherds about French serial killer Joseph Vacher and early criminologist Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne.

Grant Wood by R. Tripp Evans

In this major new biography of America's most acclaimed, and misunderstood, regionalist painter, Grant Wood, who painted American Gothic, is revealed to have been anything but plain, or simple.

The Last Boy by Jane Leavy
Drawing on more than five hundred interviews with loved ones and fellow baseball players, the author crafts a deeply personal biography of Mickey Mantle, weaving her own memories of the major league slugger with an authoritative account of his life on and off the field.

Click here for a selection of other recent books about baseball and its players.

Scary Stories for Halloween...

Don't Read Them in the Dark!
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall has arrived in time for Halloween. This story, by May Downing Hahn, follows young Florence as she leaves her orphanage to go live with her great uncle in his mansion outside of London. However, when she arrives she meets the ghost of Sophia, an evil and spoiled child while among the living. Sophia wants Florence to help her as she cooks up grand schemes, despite her cold and sickly ghost status.

Hahn paints a descriptive picture of the old, haunted mansion and wait staff who would have helped run the household in historic England. To make sure you feel a little spooked, she makes sure the ghost has a keen interest in revenge....at all costs.

Check out these other spooky tales to get you in the Halloween "spirit":
All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz
The Battlefield Ghost by Margery Cuyler
Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright
The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret

For older, middle grade readers looking for a seasonal tale or two, try:
Darkest Powers Series by Kelley Armstrong
The Empty Mirror by James Lincoln Collier
Ghost Girl by Tonya Hurley
The Light by D.J. MacHale, author of the Pendragon Series
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series by Heather Brewer
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

As always, we encourage parents to participate in their child's reading choices.

The Good Life in High Water

Surf's Up
Susan Casey's new book The Wave is a fast and enjoyable read especially if your fantasy dreams include living on a tropical isle under a surfboard and watching waves until you are completely stoked. Although the book purports to be about oceans on the rise and environmentally altered waves of enormous proportions (a mountain top could become beachfront), it's really about Laird Hamilton and his worldwide surfing adventures.

Pair this book with fluffy films about surfing, including Lords of Dogtown (surfboards to skateboards), Blue Crush (teen surfer girl) and for kids, Surf's Up (surfing penguins).

And if, by chance, you don't know who Laird Hamilton is, give a look...

Post by Phil Carr

Spreading the Clean Energy Word

'Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge'

East Hampton, along with 13 other Connecticut towns and nine partners, was chosen to participate in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge. The Challenge is funded by a $4.1M grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will help our town build off/forward our participation in the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program.

For a detailed description of Neighbor to Neighbor, click here. Click here to retrieve a volunteer member list for East Hampton's Clean Energy Task Force. Click here to read an in-the-news article published by HTNP.

Student Conservation Association

Partners to the Challenge include interns from the Student Conservation Association. Locally, you will have the pleasure of meeting the following youth interns, who will be looking to you to help them navigate and meet our community as a way to spread the clean energy word far and wide...

Pictured Left to Right : David Mayer, Kayla DeCarr, Jenna Zelenetz, Katelyn Hope

Conventional and Complementary Care

Choose Your Resource, Check It Twice
Books and online resources about conventional, complementary and alternative therapies abound. We here provide a very short list of consumer health titles that may be of interest, among other library-owned titles about the topics.

We recommend that you evaluate safety information, source credibility, and scientific documentation included in any medical title and address questions regarding your own health to your physician.

Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies offers common sense information about everyday health issues. Also try the Clinic's complementary primers about alternative medicine and diet.

Finding the Right Treatment: Modern and Alternative Medicine is a handbook that provides analysis and description of conventional and alternative medicine, the effectiveness of their treatments and therapies, and their strengths and weaknesses.

The Best Alternative Medicine is authored by Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, a clinical professor of medicine and senior research scholar at the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention.

Maximum Healing is authored by Dr. H. Robert Silverstein, cardiologist and Medical Director of Hartford Hospital's Preventive Medicine Center. His book discusses combining conventional and holistic medical approaches to improve our immune systems.

The most current edition of PDR for Herbal Medicines offers information on over 600 common botanicals.

Surf's Up

MedlinePlus

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Ask Dr. Weil (Contains some commercial content)
Health & Wellness Resource Center (click "...and much more")
Office of Dietary Supplements

Photo above by Honou, via Flickr, under the Creative Commons License