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Rules Changed for 2018 Writers Competition

The rules for the 29th annual Writers Competition at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library are changing. Creating entries will be simpler and entry fees have been eliminated.

The library is also partnering with Idaho Public Television to encourage young writers to participate in the PBS Kids Writers Contest.
“If a child creates an entry for the PBS Kids Writers Contest, that entry can also be submitted to our competition,” said David Townsend, library communications coordinator and the Writers Competition organizer. “To make this possible, it’s been necessary to modify our rules somewhat to bring the two activities into alignment.”
Townsend recommended that families who are interested in participating in both contests first create an entry complying with IPTV rules by going to www.idahoptv.org/writerscontest, where they can register online. To submit the entry in the library contest they will then need to fill out a registration form and create a title page for the Coeur d’Alene library competition.
Copies of the new rules and entry forms will be available at the library beginning Jan. 31 and will also be available online at the Writers Competition link at www.cdalibrary.org/events. A newly updated guide to creating an entry can also be found at this site.
Forms can also be requested by email to dtownsend@cdalibrary.org and can be requested by mail.
Entries need to be mailed or delivered to the library no later than Saturday, March 31.
The biggest change in the writers competition is the elimination of entry fees, which previously were $1 for entries in age groups 6-12, and $2 for entries in other age groups.
“For many years this has been the only library program that had a charge,” Townsend said, “and we decided that it was time for that to change.”
For 2018 the competition age groups have been changed to reflect grade levels for school-aged participants. The age groups are now Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and Adult – ages 19 and older. Homeschooling families can determine the age group that best suits their children.
Also beginning this year only one entry per participant will be accepted for the competition. Entries can be fiction or nonfiction up to 2,000 words and participants need only submit one clean copy along with their registration form.
“Up until 2016 participants had to send us five copies of their entries,” Townsend said. “Most of our judges are now receiving digital copies of the entries. This has greatly reduced our paper waste and postage costs.”
He said that the rules have also been simplified for how the entries are formatted – how they appear on paper.
“If you have been a little frustrated by the competition rules in the past, obtain a copy of the new rules,” he said. “I think you will be pleasantly surprised.”

Play Uses Lewis & Clark to Teach Several Lessons

Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater (CST) On the Road uses the story of Lewis and Clark to teach about history and the modern-day social challenges faced by students in a presentation coming to the library, Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
“Across the Divide” is the production written CST’s Artistic Director Jadd Davis and Director of Education Aimee Paxton, for the 2017-18 school year for presentation in regional schools, grades K-8. The production also features original music composed by Henry McNulty, resident music director at Spokane Civic Theatre and a regular performer and musician/music director for CST.
In the play, Lizzie’s class is assigned in pairs to create a presentation about Lewis and Clark’s flora and fauna discoveries. Unpopular Lizzie and her cool-kid bully Ava are assigned to work together and must overcome the obstacles of how different they are. Through Lizzie’s imagination, the characters of Lewis and Clark become real and help her address both the assignment and her social challenges.
Davis said “Across the Divide” addresses:
► Curriculum-based history of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
► Contemporary natural history.
► Issues of bullying and cyberbullying.
► The nature of friendship and family.
► The value of unplugging and getting outdoors.
CST on the Road was created 2015 as a curriculum-based “edutainment”-style touring theatre program. CST commissions and develops original musicals themed around local history and relevant issues to present in fully-staged, 100 percent portable productions. Requiring only a 15x15-foot footprint, the program can be presented in spaces as large as gymnasiums or as small as classrooms.
Davis said CST on the Road reached more than 12,000 students with the inaugural show “Living Through the Fire,” about the exploits of Edward Pulaski and the "Big Burn" of 1910 that was also presented at the library.
For more information contact education@cdasummertheatre.com or 208- 660-2958.

Find Romance at the Library

In honor of Valentine’s Day the library has a pair of activities for patrons with romance on their minds.
On Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m., join us for “Make-It: Valentine Roses,” as JD Smithson demonstrates how to make a bouquet of paper roses. The program, for older teens and adults, will begin in the library’s Make-It Lab at the south end of the main library and will spread into the Nelson Room for more work space.
As Valentine’s Day approaches the library will again display its “Blind Date With a Book.” The exhibit will feature books that are covered except for their library barcodes. Each book will have a description to entice the reader.
Take home and tear open the books that pique your interest. If the date doesn’t work out, bring it back and pick another.

Enjoy Cd’A Symphony Musicians at the Library

Representatives from the Coeur d’Alene Symphony will share their talents in a family program at the library Saturday, Feb. 10, at noon.
Members of the symphony orchestra play classical music just right for children. After the short program, children can get up close and personal with musicians to find out what it is like to play an instrument.
Winter reading programs continue through March 16 in the Seagraves Children’s Library.
The New Author Blackout BINGO game for children continues through Feb. 28. BINGO cards are available at the Checkout Desk in the children’s library. There are two age groups for the game.
For 8 to 12 year-olds, the game encourages them to read books by authors they have not read before. Participants will receive prizes and raffle tickets for a grand prize for completing rows or blacking out their BINGO cards with titles from authors they have not previously read.
There is also a card for participants who are age 7 and younger with similar prize opportunities. The younger readers are encouraged to try new authors, but are not required to do so to participate in the game.
The 3D Maker Club for 10 to 14 year-old patrons continues utilizing one of the library’s new 3D printers. The program meets Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m., in the Nelson Room at the southwest corner of the main library.
Registration is required to participate in 3D Club. Call or visit the library to sign up.
The program may lead some participants to compete as part of the library’s team at the upcoming Idaho FabSLAM 2018 in February.
Winter reading programs for kids, “Alphabet Soup,” also includes these free programs:
► Spanish Bilingual Storytime: Mondays, 11 a.m. Learn some Spanish through stories, activities, and crafts for ages 3-6.
► Book Babies Lapsit:  Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m., and Fridays, 10:30 a.m., for children ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
► Toddler Time Music & Motion: Tuesdays, 11 a.m., fun, songs, movement, and a story for 2-3 year olds.
► Lake City LEGO Club: Tuesdays, 4 p.m., at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on
Ramsey Road.
► Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., stories and a craft geared to ages 3-5.
► Code Club: Wednesday, 4 p.m., learn coding basics with robots and video games. For ages 7-12.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 4 p.m., free play with the library’s huge collection of LEGOs.  Generally for ages 5 -11.
► Stay & Play: Fridays, 11 a.m., after Book Babies, families can stay for fun and socializing.
Children under 6 visiting the libraries need to be supervised by an adult or a person who is at least 14 even during programs. Children ages 6-9 should be accompanied by someone who is at least 14 who will remain in the building.
For more information call 208-769-2315 Ext. 438 or e-mail Susan Thorpe, Youth Services Supervisor, at sthorpe@cdalibrary.org.

Teen Gaming Event Offers Pizza, Fun

Participants ages 12-18 are invited to attend the Teen Game Event Saturday, Feb. 10, at 4 p.m. in the Community Room at the library with pizza and friendly competition. There will be a Switch, so feel free to bring your own devices.
Library League of Legends is offered Fridays at 4 p.m. in the Shirley Parker Storyroom
C.R.A.S.H. (Cool Random After-School Hours) are Monday through Thursday, 4-6 p.m. Craft supplies, games, and other activities will be available in the library’s Teen Central area, and Young Adult Coordinator Talley Gaskins will be available to provide assistance and reference services.
For more information contact Gaskins at tgaskins@cdalibrary.org or call 208-769-2315, Ext. 469.

Poet, Radio Host to Share Program

Stephen Pitters

Presentation in Honor of Black History Month
Stephen Pitters, host of “Spokane Open Poetry” on the Thin Air Community Radio Station, 88.1/92.3 FM, will share personal memories, readings, songs in honor of Black History Month, Saturday, Feb. 24, 1-3 p.m., in the library Community Room.
His experiences include being the first black student to live on the all-white campus of Centenary College in Shreveport, La., in 1967.
“Some of these experiences were life-threatening and others life-illuminating for myself as well as for those who sought to establish friendships with me,” he said. “I wrote poems about some of these occurrences.”
He will read poems from some of his four titles, available on Amazon and Kindle:
“Bridges of Visions,” “Walks Through the Mind,” “Currencies of Life ..Enlisted Behaviors,” and, his most current, “Conversations on Altered Roadways,” the first, of a five -part series. He will also bring songs made from a few poems and visual art pieces that represent other poems.
Pitters holds masters degrees in Clinical Social Work from Simmons School of Social Work, Boston Mass., and the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. He has a Teaching Certificate from Gonzaga University. He taught stress and anger management, couples communication, parenting, and marketing.
Pitters has hosted the “Open Poetry Program” since 2004. He currently produces “Poetry Rising” on the Northside at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in the Northtown Mall in Spokane.

5-Month Appalachian Trail Trek Is Novel Destination

Shelley Hurtado summited Mt. Katahdin in Maine

as part of her trek on the Appalachian Trail in 2017.

Shelley Hurtado’s backpacking trek on the Appalachian Trail will be the Novel Destinations program at the library Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m.
The mother of two and a wife of 23 years, Hurtado is a commercial and residential Realtor in Coeur d’Alene.
“I grew up along the coast in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Northern California and often went camping with my family any time we could get away,” she said.
Graduating from the University of California San Diego in 1988, she lived in San Diego until relocating with her husband to Coeur d’Alene in 2000.
“In January 2016, I decided to do something truly epic to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday in June, 2017. I chose to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail heading northbound from Georgia to Maine,” Hurtado said. “I have never done anything like this in my life!”
After a lot of research and accumulating gear, she began her adventure on March 1, 2017.  Five months later she had hiked through 14 states and nearly 2,200 miles to summit Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. She completed the through-hike on July 30, 2017.
Novel Destinations is sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation to provide area residents the opportunity to share their photos and stories from trips around the world. Anyone with a program to share is encouraged to contact the Library Foundation at 208-769-2380 or by email at  cdalibraryfoundation@gmail.com.

Third Annual Seed Swap Feb. 3

The third annual Seed Swap will be hosted by the library Saturday, Feb. 3, 1-3 p.m. in the library Community Room.
The swap is offered in partnership with The Inland Northwest Food Network and True To Seed: Seed Lending Library.
A seed swap is where growers bring their extra seeds – home-saved or purchased – to share with others and to take home seeds from others for spring planting.
No seeds to swap? Come anyway, and consider making a donation to help cover costs and help the seed program grow.
For more information about guidelines and what to expect contact Char Beach at the library or visit: www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

‘The Help’ is February Title for Beyond the Book

The Beyond the Book Club is reading “The Help,” the 2009 novel by American author Kathryn Stockett and will discuss it and work in watercolors Tuesdays, Feb. 6 and 20, at 11:30 a.m.
The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Miss., and told primarily from the first-person perspectives of three women: African American maids Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a newly graduated writer.
Painting materials and refreshments are provided.

Workshop Helps You Organize Your Finances

“Organize Your Finances” is the STCU workshop scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14 at noon, in the library Gozzer Room.
The free program will include a light meal for participants.
The workshop will cover understanding the benefits of getting organized, developing an efficient bill-paying system, what records to keep and for how long, and what to have handy in the event of a natural disaster.
To participate register online at www.stcu.org/workshops or call 855-753-0317.
The next STCU workshop will be “Introduction to Social Security” on March 14 at noon.

Library Offers Creative Activities for Adults

The Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club is offered the first and third Tuesday of the month, Feb. 6 and 20, at 2:30 p.m. in the Jameson Room.
All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Bring yarn, needles, and patterns. Refreshments provided.
Coffee and Coloring for adults meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month, Feb. 13 and 27, at 10 a.m. Drawing materials and refreshments are provided, or bring your own.

Pageturners Reading ‘The Memory of Old Jack’

The Pageturners Library Book Club is reading “The Memory of Old Jack” by Wendell Berry and will discuss the book on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 10:15 a.m. led by scholar Ron McFarland.
The book club is participating in a new series as part of the Let’s Talk About It (LTAI) program with books provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries.
All of the titles in these series are also being made available through the Talking Book Service.
The upcoming titles, their discussion dates, and the Talking Book numbers include:
► “Women of Brewster Place” by Gloria Naylor  – March 28, DB025314.
► “Crossing to Safety” – April 25, DB09441.
► “Empire Falls” – May 23, DB052601.
The print copies of the books will be available at the Research and Information Desk. Discussions are open to any adult reader. Talking Book Service users can reserve their books for the series by calling 800-458-3271. To see if you qualify for Talking Books, contact Barbara Brambila-Smith, outreach coordinator for the library, at 208-769-2316 or by email at bbrambila@cdalibrary.org.

Inland Northwest Milestones Looks at Mission

“The Sacred Heart Mission,” the oldest building in Idaho and its role in the history of the region’s first people, the Coeur d’Alenes, will be presented as the next Inland Northwest Milestones program Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the library
Hosted by the library in partnership with the Museum of North Idaho, the monthly series is presented by regional historian Robert Singletary, program and marketing director for the museum.
The next program in the series will be “Lewis & Clark in Idaho” on March 22.

Food For Thought Reading ‘Gaining Ground’ for March

The Food for Thought Book Club is reading “Gaining Ground: a Story of Farmers Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm” by Forrest Pritchard and will discuss it Wednesday, March 13, at 6 p.m. in the Gozzer Room.
One fateful day in 1996, after discovering that five freight cars' worth of glittering corn have reaped a tiny profit of $18.16, young Forrest Pritchard vows to save his family's farm. What ensues--through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters--is a crash course in sustainable agriculture.
Held in partnership with the Inland Northwest Food Network, discussions are open to anyone interested in the science, cultivation, and preparation of food. For more information visit: www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

Libraries Closed for Presidents Day

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library and the Lake City Public Library will be closed Monday, Feb. 19.
When the libraries are closed many services are available through the website, www.cdalibrary.org. Patrons can access their library records and place holds; download e-books through the OverDrive system and free music from Freegal; and utilize numerous online resources through the library databases.
Most online resources do require a user name and password. Obtain these before you need them by calling or visiting the library during open hours.