GivingTuesday is November 29

November 29 is GivingTuesday--  a global day of giving that

happens each year after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a time when Canadians, charities and businesses come together to celebrate giving and participate in activities that support charities and non-profits. There is no “right” way to participate as long as it supports generosity and giving. Donate, volunteer time, help a neighbour, or spread the word. GivingTuesday Canada was founded in 2013 by the GIV3 Foundation and CanadaHelps.

Here at AVRL, we are encouraging you to help us furnish two library projects. Our Berwick branch is set to open sometime in January. We still need to raise around $47,000 to fully furnish the library. In Bridgetown, the library expansion is nearly complete. We still need $2000 for furniture in the children’s area and the meeting room.

Both of these library projects have had amazing support. In Berwick there have been fundraisers that have been well attended by the community, local families have donated, and businesses, such as Kings Mutual Insurance, have stepped forward to donate. In Bridgetown, the annual Silent Auction brought in nearly $4000 towards the project. In each of these communities, the Friends of the Library have been instrumental in gathering community backing. There’s not enough space here to individually thank each and every one of you who have been helping our libraries, but please know that we are incredibly honoured to have your support.

So, when November 29 rolls around, and you want to help us finish these library projects, this is the time! We’ll even give you a tax receipt for donations of $10 or more. If you have bonds or securities you want to donate, we can do that too.

To donate, visit this page. Or you can donate on the GivingTuesday site; please leave us a message regarding which library project you want to support. If you send us a cheque, please print the form for the library you want to support. If you have any questions, please feel free to phone us at 902-665-2995 and we can help you!

Once upon a library...

This is an exciting year for the Bridgetown and Area Friends of the Library.  Not only are they celebrating the tenth year of their highly successful Silent Auction Fundraiser, they are now investing in an expansion of the Bridgetown and Area Library facility.

Grand opening of Bridgetown Library

The Friends of the Library was formed in 2002, its first mission being the relocation of the Library from the basement of Town Hall to its present location in the Revere Building on Queen Street.  The town granted permission for the library to occupy more than half of the Queen Street building and, thanks to many generous donations from local residents and businesses, and a wonderful bequest from Joyce Devenney, the overhaul of the derelict building began.  Bridgetown’s beautiful new library opened its doors in 2011.  It has been a vibrant and crucial community hub ever since. 

Volunteers put finishing touches on auction items

In the spring of 2015, with the commercial part of the Revere Building becoming available, the Friends conceived the idea of expanding the library into the vacant space.  Wholeheartedly endorsed by the Annapolis Valley Regional Library, the idea was approved verbally by Annapolis County in late fall 2015, and the plans were approved formally in July 2016.  All that remains is for the renovations to begin.

Plans are to open up the space to make a meeting room, and to move the children's area into the current meeting room. Any structural work requires money and, while proceeds from years of Silent Auctions will provide the funds for the initial renovations, the Friends of the Library also have a mandate to provide ongoing financial support for enhanced library programs, as well as various community causes.  To that end they need your support.

The Friends hope to make this year’s 10th anniversary Silent Auction, taking place as part of the Bridgetown Ciderfest festivities, a stellar occasion.  You can help make that happen: donate items to the Silent Auction.  From now until September 8, drop off quality new or nearly new items,  handcrafted items & art, gift certificates, and services to the Firefly Makery, 29 Queen Street, Bridgetown, Tues-Sat. 10 am to 4 pm.

Attend and Bid at the Silent Auction:  Bidding takes place Friday, September 9, from 2 pm to 8 pm and Saturday, September 10, from 10 am to 4 pm. Auction items will be posted on our Facebook page.

A financial donation can be made and will be gratefully received, at any time.  Donate ONLINE, or cheques can be made to Annapolis Valley Regional Library. You can print this form and mail it to:  Bridgetown and Area Library, 38 Queen St., PO Box 39, Bridgetown  NS  B0S 1C0.  A tax receipt will be issued for donations over $10.  For further information, contact Connie Jodrey at the Library or by calling 902-665-2758.  See you at the Auction!

This is a guest post from the Bridgetown and Area Friends of the Library. 

Day 9, 2015; CHOCOLATE-DIPPED ORANGE SHORTBREAD

These shortbread look so good!! Thanks Connie! Pop into the Bridgetown Library today and get one before they are all gone. You will find this recipe in Baking for Friends by Kathleen King.

Makes about 4 ½ dozen cookies

Shortbread
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour,
  plus, more for rolling and cutting out the dough
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ pound salted butter, at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
Grated zest of 1 orange
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1.      To make the shortbread, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer set on high speed until combined, about 1 minute.  Beat in the egg, followed by the orange zest, orange juice and vanilla.  With the mixer on low speed, mix in the flour mixture just until combined.

 

2.      Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a thick disk.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.  (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.  If it is too firm to roll out, let stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes to soften slightly.)

3.      Position the oven racks in the top third and centre of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
 
4.      Working with 1 disk at a time, briefly knead the dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth.  Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick.  Dip a 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter or another shape of a similar size in flour and cut out cookies, cutting them as close together as possible to avoid excess scraps.  Arrange the rounds about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.  Gather up the dough scraps and gently knead together, and cut out more cookies.  If the dough becomes too soft to roll out, refrigerate until chilled.  Refrigerate any remaining dough while you bake the first batch.
 

5.      Bake, rotating the positions of the sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking, until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges and bottoms, about 20 minutes.  The cookie tops will not brown, but do not under bake them, or they lack flavour.  Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes.  Transfer to wire cooling racks and let cool completely.  Repeat with the remaining cough, on cooled baking sheets.
 
6.      To dip the cookies, line baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats.  Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe medium bowl.  Heat the chocolate on Medium (50% power), stirring at 30-second intervals, until fully melted.  Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate has cooled to 89 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.  Place the bowl in another bowl of hot tap water to keep it warm enough for dipping, being careful not to splash water into the melted chocolate.
 
7.      One at a time, dip one half of each cookie into the chocolate.  Drag the bottom of the cookie across the rim of the bowl to remove excess chocolate, and place the cookie on the baking sheet.  If the chocolate cools and thickens, warm in the microwave for 15 seconds at Medium.  Let the cookies stand until the chocolate sets and they can be easily lifted from the baking sheet, about 1 hour.

Don't forget-- you too can Enter to win a gift card. Show us YOUR cookies!

 

End of Life Discussion

This week we have a guest blogger. Thanks to Phyllis Nixon for writing this, and to Dr. John Ross for  his talk in Bridgetown. 

An interesting presentation of ‘how to talk about death and mortality as a natural function’ took place at the Bridgetown and Area Library on October 18, 2015.  Dr. John Ross, Emergency Medicine Professor at Dalhousie University presided, sharing his views about end-of-life options.  The roomful of inquisitive attendees, asking questions and providing their own outlook, set the tone of the evening’s discussion.

Dr. Ross stated his opinion that death represents the ending of ‘life’s circle’; that death and mortality are natural functions.  He reminded us that hospice and palliative care are available in Nova Scotia to offer dignity and acceptance in death, peace, and easing of pain.  Talking about our death and mortality with our children or friends is good for us and is less injurious than keeping these feelings inside.

Dr. Ross mentioned that ‘Death Cafes’ are becoming more familiar.  These are places where concerned people can meet together and talk about death and dying.  He thinks that these places can be better termed as ‘Sharing Circles’, and they can help us to care for each other and be of assistance to those who need it.

Questions arising from the discussion

DNR – Do Not Resuscitate.  This request should be witnessed by two people.  Make sure you talk to your family or a friend about your death wishes and let these people know where you keep this information as this request is usually carried out in a medical emergency situation.

Power of Attorney.  This document can include a legal acknowledgement of your request to `not resuscitate` and any other end-of life-options agreed upon.

Doctor Assisted Death.  This HIGHLY controversial proposal is expected to become formal legislation in 2016.  A few scenarios were generally discussed, such as:

• What happens if a doctor refuses a request for assisted death due to religious or ethical objections?
• What are the requirements for assisted death?
• Should a person with dementia be eligible to request assisted death?  

As yet, official conditions and restrictions have not yet been laid out and clarified, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons has not put out their attempt at defining or responding to the issues.  

Neuroplasticity.  This term refers to changes in the neural pathway synapses of the brain due to changes in behaviour, the environment, the neural processes of thinking and emotions, as well as changes resulting from body injury.  The concept of neuroplasticity has replaced the formerly held position that the brain is a psychologically static organ, and explores how the brain changes in the course of a lifetime, thereby negating the idea that our brain is static and unchangeable.  Dr. Ross said that the brain continues to grow and our muscle mass maintains itself with exercise, keeping the muscles active as we age, giving us a quality of life for a longer period of time.

Dr. Ross:  `Words of Wisdom`

• Make sure you discuss your death wishes with your family or friends, and state exactly what you want.  This is very important.
• Make use of hospice and palliative care in your area.  These offer help to die with dignity, a sense of peace, easing of pain and the acceptance of death as part of the life cycle.
• Educate yourself and others.  Most people don`t know enough about their own bodies and therefore we should take more responsibility to learn more about our physical self.  Do your own research to increase this knowledge.

• Get rid of the word elderly`.  Knock off the `ly`at the end of this word and you are left with elder`, a word signifying a collective wisdom which can be shared and engaged by living fully, being productive, and having a sense of purpose.

• If you were told you had a year left to live, name what you would like to do with that time allotted to you.  Then ask yourself this question: Why not do them now.

• Recommended reading about the subject of death and dying:  Being Mortal by Atul Gawande.