TV Turn-off Week! Signups start today @ Salem Public Library

Image by herzogbr via FlickrTV TURNOFF WEEK!

Once again, Salem Public Library is challenging area youth to give up TV and other screens for a week in order to earn a berth at the annual Great Library Camp-In.

The Library’s “No TV/Screen Week” is scheduled for Saturday, January 21-Friday, January 27. Children ages birth -18 are encouraged to make and keep a pledge to turn off their TV and other non-homework screens, filling their time instead with other activities – including reading. Pledges can be made online or at either library location beginning January 3, 2012.

Those who succeed in keeping the pledge are then invited, accompanied by a favorite adult, to enjoy the
“Rock ‘n’ Rhythm” Great Library Camp-In, 6:30 p.m. Friday, January 27 through 8 a.m. Saturday, January 28 top two floors of the Central Library, 585 Liberty St. SE.

Youth Services staff and volunteers will entertain campers and their families with crafts and activities, such as musical chairs, “Name That Tune” Jeopardy, creating one-of-a-kind musical instruments, face painting, and more from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

At 8 p.m., everyone will gather in the Loucks Auditorium for a snack and special performance by Eric Ode, storyteller and musician.

Lights out is at 10 p.m. and campers are served a light breakfast snack in the morning.

Pledges must be returned to the Library by Saturday, January 21 in order to come to the Camp-In. Reservations for the Camp-In are accepted beginning Tuesday, January 24 at the Youth Services Reference Desk in person, online, or by phone at 503-588-6088.

Great Stuff: Ex-cons run airport apiary

Two things Salem has in abundance:  released prisoners needing better skills for productive living and wasted, idle land at an airport.  Add the world's desperate need to restore pollinator populations, a dash of creativity and willingness to try something new and we could have something great!  Definitely an idea to steal!

 

The sweet smell of success is in the air at O'Hare International Airport with an unusual collaboration aimed at giving honeybees and their keepers a second chance.

Twenty-three beehives were installed on a vacant piece of property on the airport's east side this spring.

Tending to the hives are carefully screened former convicts enrolled with the nonprofit North Lawndale Employment Network.

The idea is “to create jobs for people who have a difficult time finding them,” said Brenda Palms Barber, executive director of NLEN and CEO of Sweet Beginnings. “There's a stigma and fear about hiring people who've served time in prison.”

Out of this problem grew Sweet Beginnings, an urban honey enterprise that employs people who have served time. Some work as beekeepers, others as landscapers or food processors.

“Bees don't distinguish between weeds and flowers,” Palms Barber said. “They see it all as a source of food and turn whatever they draw from into something sweet and good. That's what we do with these men and women. There is good in them as well.” . . .