Upcoming Classes and Events to Make You Well & Wise!
May 18-25, Various Times and Branches. Calling All Volunteers. Helping others is good for you! Make reading fun for kids and earn service learning hours. Volunteers assist HCLS instructors with the summer reading club and other tasks. To register for this orientation session, submit a volunteer application to the teen instructor at the branch where you would like to volunteer. Accepted applicants will be contacted to confirm registration. Contact the specific Branch for the training session you are interested in to register. May 19,...
read moreDo You Know Where Your Grandparents/Parents/Elderly Neighbors Are?
Just as we thought. Don’t feel bad; you are not the only one who hasn’t been thinking too much about the older people in your life. In fact, we’re more than halfway through the month of May and we’ve heard nary a mention of the fact that it is Older Americans Month. That’s right, since 1963 there’s been a month dedicated to showing our nation’s commitment to recognizing the contributions and achievements of older Americans.” Pretty cool, huh? And this year’s theme is “Never Too Old To...
read moreNew Study Shows Simple Task at Six Months of Age May Predict Risk of Autism
Kennedy Krieger reports that an early screening for motor development might be an indicator for autism spectrum disorder. “A new prospective study of six-month-old infants at high genetic risk for autism identified weak head and neck control as a red flag for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and language and/or social developmental delays. Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute concluded that a simple “pull-to-sit” task could be added to existing developmental screenings at pediatric well visits to improve early detection...
read moreNearly 1 in 5 Children are Obese
… And Healthy Howard County is No Exception On Monday morning in the Howard County Pediatric emergency room, my first patient is a 15 year old girl with high blood pressure who has pain in her knees when she walks; she weighs 230 pounds. The next patient is a 10 year old boy who weighs 180 pounds having an asthma attack. A little later I see a 13 year old boy who weighs over 260 pounds: he has skipped 40 days of school this year and refuses to go today because he is being picked on. These are all nice children who live in Howard...
read moreHaving a Positive Mother Figure Will Make You Stronger (If It Doesn’t Kill You or Her)
There’s tons of information out there on how our parents screw us up. Entire schools of psychology and sociology focus on the damage parents can do. But, on the heels of Mother’s Day, we decided it might be nice to focus on some of the benefits of having a positive maternal figure. Let’s start with a very obvious benefit. A parent’s #1 job is to keep a child safe and help her/him survive to adulthood and, hopefully, become a contributing member to society. This actually requires a lot more thought and effort than...
read moreAn Enchanted Day for the Opening of the Library’s Enchanted Garden!
Check out the photos of the opening of the Enchanted Garden! It was a beautiful day! The Enchanted Garden is a quarter-acre parcel adjacent to the Children’s area, the Enchanted Garden’s primary focus will be as a teaching garden. The demonstration gardening area of the garden will feature a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers planted in raised beds. Come visit our Stir Fry Garden, Peter Rabbit Patch, Multisensory Garden, Herbal Apothecary Garden, and Pizza Garden to see what we have planted. Children are more interested in...
read moreUpcoming Classes and Events to Make You Well &Wise!
May 10-12. Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival. Turf Valley’s annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is perfect for young children and those young at heart. Family activities, handmade crafts and live entertainment. Don’t miss the nightly Balloon Glow at dusk! On Saturday May 12, the Balloon Festival will culminate with the launching of the balloons at 6:30 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public. May 10, 6:00- 7:00 p.m. Howard County General Hospital Presents: Advanced Directives. Review what advance...
read moreFitness Fun
by Matthew Hall Summer is approaching, and that usually means people start to make every last ditch effort they can to get into shape before having to bust out their swimwear. While this article is not about a miracle diet or a new fat-melting, vibrating belt, I am hoping to expose you to fun and challenging ways you can exercise outdoors. The most expensive option costs, at most, as much as 2 months of a gym membership (though most are much less), and all are very durable and versatile pieces of equipment. Battling Ropes have gained...
read moreTake a Walk
Walking is a wonderful thing to do. Whether you are walking for work, fitness or relaxation, walking is a great mode of free transportation. The benefits of walking are numerous and touch many aspects of our lives. Walking improves the health of the environment by using less fuel and reducing air pollutants. According to the Centers for Disease Control, walking on a regular basis can aid in weight management, help strengthen the heart, reduce risks for some types of cancer, help with depression and significantly reduce one’s chances of...
read moreWear & Tear of Your Shoulder: No Gain, Just Pain
by Uma Srikumaran, M.D. The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body and provides an incredible range of motion that we often take for granted on a day-to-day basis. Although we don’t walk on our shoulders, this joint is susceptible to wear and tear just like hips and knees. In the shoulder, wear and tear most frequently refers to thinning or loss of the cartilage lining of the joint (arthritis) or tears of the rotator cuff tendon. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help lift and rotate your...
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