These sessions are free to attend and no registration is required. May 3 (11:00am-12:30pm) Children Who Refuse to Visit after Separation: Alienated and Estranged Children This session discusses the reasons why children may refuse to spend time with a parent after separation. We will focus on parental alienation, which parents often argue about in court, and children's reasonable estrangement from a parent, how to tell the two apart, and what can be done when a child refuses to visit. May 10 (11:00am-12:30pm) Let's Talk About: Typical Speech and Language Development (2 to 5 years) Typical speech and language development for two to five year olds will be presented, as well as when and how to seek help. There are many misunderstandings of what 'typical' speech and language development looks like in preschool-aged children. We will set the record straight and discuss when to refer and how the 'wait and see' approach often may not be appropriate. May 24 (11:00am-12:30pm) Maximize Your Child's Potential: Parent-Child Connections & Healthy Brain Development This presentation is for parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 years. It is designed to educate participants about infant brain development, and how parent's behaviours could offer good secure attachment with their child. Participants will also gain a better understanding of what is required to raise children. May 31 (11:00am-12:30pm) Understanding and Managing Sexual Behaviours in Children This presentation will outline the continuum of sexualized behaviour in children to help distinguish between age-appropriate and problematic behaviours at various stages of development. We will also endeavor to explain the motivation or function of these behaviours in children, with particular consideration of broader contextual factors such as family and peer environments.
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Art Exhibition - Wheatland Society of Arts
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This library is excited to welcome members of the Wheatland Society of Arts (WSA) as our May and June art exhibitors! The WSA is a non-profit organization whose focus is to provide visual art, educational and skill building workshops to Wheatland County and surrounding area. For a full list of exhibitors and their biographies go to www.strathmorelibrary.ca/WSA. Interested in becoming a member of the WSA? There are number of advantages to becoming a member. Membership is not limited to professional artists and is open to anyone aspiring to develop their artistic ability. Membership cost is only $20 per year. To learn more about the WSA or to become a member check out their website at www.wheatlandarts.ca.
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The Strathmore Summer Reading Program is back this summer with the wacky theme of WILD! The library is a participant in the TD Summer Reading Club which is Canada's biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, all interests, and all abilities! Full program details will be released in May when we welcome two new Summer Reading Program Coordinators! Registration will open on June 11 at 10:00am. We look forward to spending another fun-filled summer with your children!
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Director's Corner - Rachel Dick Hughes
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This spring has flown by, and my leave is quickly approaching. I will deeply miss my role here at the library while I am away. Thank you all for your well-wishes and encouragement as my husband and I prepare to welcome our first little one. I do plan to return in a year’s time, and I look forward to seeing how the library continues to change and grow to meet the community’s needs while I am away. The library’s Plan of Service 2017-2019 is nearly complete. Once it has been finalized, we will share the goals and objectives we have set for the next 3 years. Thank you all for the input you provided through our open house, our online survey, and conversations at the library. Your participation in this process has been invaluable. The library board and staff appreciate how deeply you care about the library and its role in our community. On that note, I am delighted to introduce the library’s Interim Director. Betty Whalen (right) comes to us with vast experience in both urban and rural libraries. Most recently, she has completed a position in St John’s, Newfoundland. Betty comes very highly recommended with experience in programming, outreach, community partnerships, and management. I have complete confidence that under her direction, the library will continue to grow and become even stronger. Betty is looking forward to getting to know our community, so be sure to pop in to introduce yourself. I will leave you with a few book recommendations. The latest in Laurie King’s Mary Russell series just came out, and I think it might be one of her best yet. The Murder of Mary Russell delves into the surprising past of Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. This book kept me up well past my bedtime. I also recently enjoyed The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian. This is a murder mystery set in Italy in the 1950s, but the murderer’s motives stem back to the Second World War. If you prefer adventure to murder, you might try Everything Under the Sky by Matilde Asensi. Originally written in Spanish, this novel reminded me of the National Treasure movies. A widowed artist travels to China in the 1920s to deal with her late husband’s estate, only to be embroiled in a search for a mysterious buried treasure with an eclectic crew of companions, one step ahead of a dangerous band of thugs. You definitely need to suspend your disbelief with this novel and its wildly unlikely scenarios, but if you do, it can be a lot of fun. It has been a pleasure to serve as your library director for the past 3 years, and I look forward to returning next spring. In the meantime, happy reading!
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Plant Exchange & Book Sale
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Mark your calendars as June is looking to be a busy month! Saturday, June 4 (10am-1pm) we will be hosting our Annual Plant Exchange. This year we are partnering with the Strathmore Garden Club to run this event. Looking for a new perennial for that flowerbed? How about some new plants for the home? You'll find it all at the library! Go to www.strathmorelibrary.ca/plantexchange for full details. The library book sale will run on Friday, June 17 (12pm-7pm) and Saturday, June 18 (10am-5pm). Be sure to pop by and see us at the Get To Know Your Neighbour Festival on Saturday, June 18 as well!
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Celebrate Your Child - 4-5 year old fair
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5 for Life is hosting their 3rd Annual children's festival called "Celebrate Your Child!" on Saturday, May 28 (9:30am-1:30am) at the Brentwood Elementary School. It is a FREE event for all 4 and 5 year olds accompanied by their parents (or caregivers). 5 for Life is an Early Childhood Development Coalition for the Strathmore and Wheatland County Area. They are a group of dedicated volunteers who became aware of the fact that children in our area are experiencing difficulty in various developmental domains. They believe that community engagement in the early years has the best return on the total investment of a child's life. They also believe we ALL have a role to play to ensure all children have the experiences they need for the best possible start in their life.
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Couponing Through the Tough Times - Part 2 by Carmen Erison
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In January I talked about several ways to save you money. The app, Checkout 51, remains my favourite coupon app and helps me save those precious dollars every time I go to the grocery store. In my short time couponing I’ve come across a few great tricks that can make your couponing experience a profitable one. Manufacturer coupons can be a great way to save a few bucks on your favourite product. Rarely do I make a grocery list without checking to see if I can find a coupon to get the best price possible. These coupons can be tricky and leave many customers thinking that they cannot use them. When using manufacturer coupons, the wording is what matters, not the picture. For example, “When you buy ANY Gain Fireworks product,” means any size & scent variety, not simply the image on the coupon. Always read your coupons carefully, because there can be savings that you may be missing. Coupons are one of the best ways to save money; however, most people find that they simply don’t want to spend the time sitting at their kitchen table searching for the best deals of the week. You’re in luck! There are some great coupon matchup sites and groups that will help you clear the murky waters of the extreme couponing ocean. The best site that I have come across is Simply Frugal Coupon Matchups. This site posts weekly coupon matchups to your favourite stores such as Walmart, Safeway/Sobeys, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Superstore. The administrator of the site is currently on hiatus, but plans to return in the near future. Keep watching this site for updates, as it is definitely worth it. Canadian Free Stuff provides a variety of savings options. Not only can you find the latest and greatest coupons for groceries and merchandise, but it is an all-in-one resource for free samples, contests, giveaways, and shopping deals just for Canada! Join their Canada Grocery Match Up Facebook Group to join other extreme couponers who will help find you the best coupon matchups. Everyone loves to save money. With rising costs of groceries, couponing has become a daily ritual in many households. Let me leave you today with one of my proudest couponing moments this year. Rexall was selling Tide Laundry Detergent on sale for $4.99 a bottle. I used a $1.00 manufacturer coupon for instant savings at the cash register and then redeemed an additional $3.00 on my Checkout 51 app. In the end, I only paid $0.99 for that bottle of Tide! With savings like that I can’t help but smile. Need help navigating through your coupon quest? Next time you are in the library simply pop in to say hello and I’d be glad to guide your way to savings. Happy couponing!
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