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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2010)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, February 4, 2010 Between the Bookends By Susan Cackler, Library Assistant Banks Public Library The Washington Country Co- operative Library Services win- ter newsletter is showing up in patron mailboxes this week. Browse the newsletter to find out what’s going on in libraries throughout the county. Most events are open to the public, even if you don’t usually go to that library. Do you have a youngster who needs something to do on Wednesday morning? Story time at the library could be the answer to what to do. Our reader, Miss Cathy, picks weekly stories around a monthly theme and shares these stories with the children in an entertaining, engaging way. This month, Miss Cathy’s theme is books with bug names, but the books won’t all be buggy. Join us for Preschool Story Time on Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. in the community room of the library. Story Time is designed for children aged three to six, but younger sib- lings are welcome. February’s themes are the follow- ing: February 3: Bed Bugs February 10: Love Bugs February 17: Crawly Bugs February 24: Don’t Bug Me! The Friends of the Banks Public Library Annual Plant Book Garden and Art Sale is coming in a few short months. Mark your calendars for Friday and Sat- urday, May 7 and 8 and plan to buy a present for Mother’s Day at the sale. As it was last year, the sale will be held at Schlegel Hall, allowing for a huge sale and comfortable, indoor browsing. Join us for craft night and enjoy some lively conver- sation while you work on your favorite craft. Come and meet some new friends or visit with old ones while us- ing the library’s work space and enjoying some light snacks. Join the Friends of the Banks Public Library on Wednesday, February 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the community room. If the weather is snowy or icy, be sure to call the li- brary at 503 324-1382, before you come, to make sure we’re open. Remember, most items can be renewed over the phone or via the internet. If you are unable to return items on time because of weather conditions, be sure to let the library know. The Friends of the Banks Public Library can always use your support. You can make a tax deductible dona- tion, become a member, or volunteer. Money that the Friends raise helps the library purchase Cultural Pass- es, upgrade equipment and purchase books and movies. Also, we take donations of books that are in good condition. On the shelf: Miss Harper Can Do It, by Jane Berentson, is a de- but novel about a 24-year-old elementary school teacher named Annie Harper, who is left behind in Tacoma when her boyfriend is shipped overseas. She begins a memoir to deal with the emotions of his ab- sence. She imagines a touching tale of life on the home front, but instead finds her life filling with friends, volunteer work and even a pet chicken. She is conflict- ed about a long-distance relationship and about the ideological underpinnings of a war that’s exerting such a force on her life. The tale is told with humor through the ever-changing vehicle of Annie’s memoir and puts a new face on those “who also serve.” Cat Striking Back, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. In this mystery series, the PI is a cat named Joe Grey, but the victim is human. In this installment, Joe Grey is minding his own business when he comes across evi- dence of a murder, but no body. He and his friends fol- low the killer’s trail and discover that more murder is planned. As they set out to alert the law, they discover the perfect way to thwart the killer—through that per- son’s unnatural but powerful fear of cats. The Walk-In by Gary Berntsen and Ralph Pezzullo. Berntsen served over 20 years in the CIA, operating in the Middle East and Latin America. He has teamed up with Pezzullo, a former journalist, for this novel and also for Jawbreaker. This thriller features a diabolical plot, a lone operative and a huge threat. When an Iran- ian intelligence operative claims to have explosive in- formation, counterterrorism officer Matt Freed is dis- patched to interview him and learns of an attack that could kill millions. With only two weeks before the sup- posed attacks, Freed’s superiors reluctantly prepare, but Freed follows his own instincts. He finds himself branded as a renegade, but he may be the only one who can stop the attack. Container Gardening, from the editors and contrib- utors of Fine Gardening. This book contains over 250 design ideas for containers that are much more than just a pot of petunias. It covers how best to mix and match plants, pots for all seasons, how to group pots for different effects and how to select the right contain- er, as well as much more. So if you only have a small space to garden or if you only feel up to tackling a small space, check this book out for inspiration. Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. Hours: Mon., Fri., Sat., 11 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m. Phone: (503) 324-1382 for information Internet: www.wccls.org Browse library resources, reserve or renew materials online. Call for information. What to expect at your puppy or kitten’s first veterinary visits A good start in life is critical for your pet, and your veterinar- ian plays a vital role. “Puppies and kittens have different nutritional require- ments than adult animals, a greater sensitivity to drugs, and an increased susceptibility to diseases and parasites, so it’s important that they are exam- ined by a veterinarian during their first weeks of life.” says Rob Shimek, DVM, president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and owner of Hoff- man Veterinary Clinic, Salem. Here’s what to expect from your puppy or kitten’s first visits to the veterinarian: • Physical Examination. Your veterinarian should perform a complete health check, includ- ing detection of diseases and congenital abnormalities. • Parasite Control. Start a program for detection, elimina- tion and prevention of intestinal parasites, fleas and heart- worms. • Spay or Neuter Proce- dures. Your veterinarian can counsel you on and perform spay or neuter procedures. This procedure will help avoid potential medical and behav- ioral problems, and combat pet overpopulation. It is recom- mended that pets be altered before they reach sexual matu- rity, which is between seven and nine months of age. • Vaccinations. Your veteri- narian can counsel you on the dangers of various diseases that can be prevented with rou- tine vaccinations. Some of these diseases, such as canine parvovirus, can be highly con- tagious and sometimes fatal to young pets. Your veterinarian will discuss which of these dis- eases are prevalent in your area and make recommenda- tions for appropriate immuniza- tions. Rabies vaccination is re- quired by Oregon law for all dogs; Multnomah County re- quires the vaccination for cats as well. • Identification. All pets should have some sort of iden- tification, whether it is a collar and a tag with your name and address on it, or a microchip implanted under the skin. These help to ensure your pet will find its way home if it should become lost. • Behavior Counseling. The most frequent reason a pet is returned or otherwise surren- dered to a shelter is due to be- havioral problems. These prob- lems can become so severe they necessitate euthanasia of the pet. Your veterinarian can counsel you on basic training and behavioral issues. This will See Veterinary on page 11