Explore and Discover

The Great American Eclipse of 2017

Posted on August 17, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Nathaniel Youmans Shortly after 10am on Monday, August 21, 2017, a terrific spectacle of light and darkness will leave millions of people suspended in awe. It has happened before (most recently through the Pacific Northwest states back in 1979), but on this morning many will witness the first total solar eclipse since 1918 to […]

Save a life: Ask FAST questions when you spot a stroke

Posted on August 15, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Debbie Rhodes I woke up wandering into my living room thinking why wasn’t I at work? My husband looked at me strangely and in a very uneasy tone asked, “How many children do you have?” I replied, “Why are you asking me such a stupid question?” It turned out he had a very good […]

Sharing your harvest’s bounty at library produce swaps

Posted on August 8, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley My eyes are bigger than my freezer and pantry. Every year, I plant a little garden, only to be overwhelmed when everything starts to ripen at once. My family starts to groan and say, “No more… beans, tomatoes, squash” and so on. Each spring, I underestimate just how much produce will come […]

On Tyranny: A reading list

Posted on August 1, 2017 at 6:00 am

By David Wyatt “Lesson 9: Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.” For obvious reasons, this may have been one […]

My journey in downsizing & killing the clutter

Posted on July 25, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker Call it what you want—downsizing, minimalism, a trending fad, or decluttering—it is a state of mind that seems to be crossing the generations. Lifestyle websites catering to Millennials promote experience over things. Baby boomers and Gen X are inheriting housefuls of lifetime collections into their already full houses. TV shows l […]

Love on the open road: Motorcycle club romances to fire up your summer

Posted on July 18, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Stefani Miller Rev your engine with these steamy, fast-paced motorcycle club romance series. They are perfect for a seasoned romance reader who is looking for the next guilty pleasure read or someone new to romance who likes books both steamy and action packed. These men may be outlaws, but you won’t mind it when […]

She screams loudest: Women’s dystopian tales

Posted on June 27, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Susan Goertz For me, there is no question that dystopian author Philip K. Dick was a visionary. And interestingly, the physical appearance of his female characters tends to have a direct correlation to their level of intelligence (I’ll let you discover which way the correlation falls out). Reading his novels and stories for a […]

Bubbling beakers: Q&A with Kelli Crawford of Mobius Science Center

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Erin Dodge In my experience, if you tell kids that they get to go see a science show, the response might be worthy of a shoulder shrug (not true for all kids, of course). I get it. The words “science show” may not be very inspiring to a lot of kids. Now, if I […]

Enraptured by raptors: West Valley Outdoor Learning Center

Posted on June 14, 2017 at 6:00 am

Guest Blog By Kim Brinkmann “I had no idea this place even existed!” This phrase is commonly expressed by first-time guests of the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center. The Outdoor Learning Center is tucked back in a corner on the grounds of Pasadena Park Elementary School, hidden among the towering cottonwoods, cedars, and aspens. It […]

KERNEL at the Fairwood Farmers’ Market: making nutrition and exercise fun and delicious

Posted on June 6, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson My family loves to go to farmers’ markets. We love fresh, local produce, and we find it’s even more appealing when you are face to face with the people who grew it. Of course, farmers’ markets have a lot more than just produce—artisan foods, fresh meat, crafts, and brews—something for everyone. Last […]