Whats Happening At The Kaslo Library?

In partnership with the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy as well as Libraries and Literacy BC, the Kaslo and District Public Library is thrilled to introduce a series of fall programs for youth. All programs at the library are free, whether participants are library members already or not. Annie Reynolds, Kaslos library services coordinator, began working with Victoria McAllister at JV Humphries School as well as with Barb Szuta from CBAL last spring to gather youth to form a Teen Advisory Group for the library. The group meets three to four times per year to offer input on how the library can best serve their age group. An eager group of students was surveyed in June about their library usage patterns as well as what programs or events they would love to see happen at the library. Sunday, November 4 the library will host a Monopoly Tournament from 10 am to 4 pm with a lunch break from 12 pm to 1 pm. Teams of four will play in the qualifying round in the morning and the winners of each game will go on to the finals round in the afternoon. There will be prizes for first, second and third place winners. Participants are asked to bring a lunch or plan to leave for lunch and come back in the afternoon. Snacks will be provided. Preregistration is required to make teams. On Sunday, December 2 from 1 pm to 7 pm Sci-fi lovers will have the chance to get nerdy with a Science Fiction Movie Marathon. Well set up a big screen, chairs and pillows, popcorn and pizza for three films. Films to be announced. Please preregister so we can get enough pizza! Ongoing programs continue this fall. Check out the Go Club on Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm beginners are welcome! Drop in at Dungeons & Dragons on the first Saturday of each month; next session is Saturday, November 3, 1 pm to 4 pm or Magic: The Gathering Club, which happen on Tuesdays from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. Drop by, bring a friend! Library use typically declines during the teen years. Our hope is that with continued funding support we can continue to plan programs that offer youth good reasons to come into the library. Besides borrowing great books, including newly released titles and lots of graphic novels, free library membership provides access to over 10,000 free downloadable e-books, audiobooks, online magazine subscriptions, membership also provides interlibrary loans from libraries throughout the province, free library membership to any library in the province, access to many online databases and encyclopedias as well as free wireless access and public computer stations. Imagine that, all of it free!

Inspirelifes Cancer Care Program

Dr. Teresa Clarke, lead physician, and Paul Paddon, program manager for InspireHealth BC, were in Nelson on October 1 to speak to an enthusiastic audience about Integrative Cancer Care. We dropped into a piece of heaven, was the opening comment from Dr. Clarke on her first visit to the Kootenays. InspireHealth offers evidenced-based research, and an integrative approach to cancer prevention and recurrence. The session was attended by many Kootenay people looking for answers to the cancer crisis in their lives.

Dr. Clarke shared with the audience her journey to InspireHealth and her realization that in her medical training very little time had been given to showing how to get well. Although not an oncologist, she has become a passionate advocate for people being involved in their own medical journey with cancer. InspireHealth has been in Vancouver since 1997 and has now expanded provincially with new centres in Victoria and Kelowna. New centres are planned to open in both Abbotsford and Kamloops and there is also InspireLIFE BC, the organizations virtual centre. Traditionally cancer is treated by chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Dr. Clarke sees the tumor as only a small part of who you are and that our aim is to support your immune system and improve the health of the body as a whole. At InspireHealth, people with a diagnosis of cancer are engaged in their own health care through a patient-centred approach that supports healthful nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and patient empowerment. InspireHealths programs are evidence-based, and apply leading-edge immune system research to optimize cancer healing and recovery. Some of the new research presented to the enthusiastic and curious audience showed that many simple changes can make a big difference in the prevention of cancer. Vitamin D, through getting out in the sun for 15 to 20 minutes a day or taking a supplement, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 57% and may positively affect the treatment outcomes for breast cancer. Group counseling or a support group allows breast cancer patients more ability to cope with stress. The intake of high dietary fibre, in particular from cereal foods, can decrease the risk of colon cancer. Twice weekly exercises, including both aerobic and strength training for as little as 1 hour each, can help improve the physical function and quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment. Paul Paddon explained the virtual centre outreach concept. It includes a two-day LIFE Program which will be in Nelson on Thursday, November 15 and Friday, November 16. Room is available for 20 cancer patients and their families to delve into the changes they can make in their journey with cancer. Drs. Teresa Clarke and Joseph Schnurr will be there to develop a full and individualized wellness plan with each patient. Stemming from the program, each patient will receive a 90-minute consultation with the doctors, assistance with decision-making about treatment, complete lifestyle review and recommendations, individual nutritional counseling, stress reduction practices, powerful shared learning programs, and the benefits of the InspireLIFE community, including ongoing classes in cooking, nutritional support, yoga, relaxation, vitamins and supplements. InspireHealths goal is simple to provide the best care possible for people living with cancer, and they will work with you, your family doctor and oncologist. Dr. Clarke concluded the evening session with a reference to the adage, Listen to your Grandma. Her advice included many ideas on what we now know is both sage advice and good practice in prevention of cancer or recurrence. Eat your veggies; take time to relax; have a cup of tea and in particular green tea, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants known; avoid bad fats; cut back on your salt intake; cook your own meals so you know what is in them; avoid foods where you cannot pronounce the name of the ingredients; do not use non-stick cookware; get your exercise at least 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise such as walking; get good, uninterrupted sleep in a dark room; sing, dance and laugh each day.
Pennywise K Oct. 30, 2012 PAGE 43