CdA library looking for good tales
Aspiring writers with a story to tell or ideas to share are invited to participate in the 17th annual Writers Competition at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The official entry form and rules will be available Jan. 31.
Participants can receive entry forms and rules by mail by sending a SASE to the library, 201 E. Harrison, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
The competition is for previously unpublished fiction and nonfiction prose of 2,000 words or less. Age groups are judged separately and include 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14, 15 to 18 and 19-plus. Entry fees are $1 per entry for ages 6 to 11 and $2 per entry for ages 12 and up. Entries for the youngest group, ages 6 to 8, can be handwritten, but must otherwise conform to the contest rules. Children’s illustrations are encouraged. Participants may submit multiple entries, but each entry must include an official entry form (the forms cannot be photocopied) and an entry fee. The deadline for entries is March 31.
Cash prizes, funded by a grant from the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club, are awarded in each category and age group at a ceremony hosted by the Friends of the Library in May. Prizes are $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 for third.
All entries, not just those that win, will be included in professionally bound volumes and added to the collection of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. For more information about the competition, call (208) 769-2315 or e-mail at dtown@cdalibrary.org
Birth Defects Prevention Month
Each year about 120,000 babies are born in the United States with birth defects – the leading cause of infant mortality. To increase awareness of this issue, the National Birth Defects Prevention Network has designated January as Birth Defects Prevention Month. This year the NBDPN will focus on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a leading cause of mental retardation and 100 percent preventable. Approximately one in 1,000 children in the United States is born each year with FAS, and there are estimates that as many as 10 times that many children are born with other prenatal alcohol-related conditions. For more information on birth defects or the NBDN, visit http://www.nbdpn.org/NBDPN
Bib big help at table
Although most restaurants work hard to keep their establishments clean and reputable, highchairs and tables are sometimes filthy and can be breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. To prevent infants and toddlers from coming into contact with microorganisms and chemicals that lurk on poorly-cleaned restaurant tabletops and highchairs, Classy Kid Inc. has created the Table Bib, a reusable protective placemat that covers both the eating area and the highchair arms. The reusable bib measures 26 inches by 16 inches and can be secured to almost any restaurant highchair using its Velcro-style tabs. After securing, it is then placed over the table to provide a clean eating or activity space for young children. Available in a variety of stylish patterns, the nonslip backing and large surface make an effective safeguard for dirty tables and highchair arms. The shape of the Table Bib forms a pocket between the table and child to catch food, crayons, etc., and creates a barrier to prevent wandering hands from picking gum off the underside of a table. Additionally, its large size makes it difficult for little hands to pull up the corners and therefore reduces unwanted messes. The suggested retail price for the Table Bib is $14.99. For more information, visit www.tablebib.com or call (800) 406-5010.
Class for little scrappers
Coeur d’Alene Public Library is offering a scrap booking class for teens ages 12 to 16 on the first Tuesday of each month, 4 p.m., at the library, 201 E. Harrison Ave. The class is free and participants need only bring the photos they want to work with. The next class is Feb. 1. Call (208) 769-2315 to register.