Don't waste your winter

Don't let a little snow scare you.

We know. It’s cold outside. Very cold.

Your driveway needs shoveling, the doors of your car are sealed shut, and you haven’t been able to feel the tips of your fingers since November.

But winter in Lake County isn’t just some inconvenience between fall and spring. It’s an opportunity—a chance to see something new or something familiar in a different light.

So here are five ways to make the most of this time of year.

1. Go for a hike. Lake County is replete with gorgeous parks. And while they may be a little chillier in January, they are no less beautiful. Are you trying to exercise more this New Year? Knock out two birds with one stone and go hiking. In fact, you can get a free pedometer or water bottle for your hike if you show your Mentor Library card at the Mentor Parks & Recreation Office this month.
2. Expand your taste palate. Whether its comfort food at Melt, fine dining at Skye, something crafty at Little Mountain Brewery or dessert at the Confectionary Cupboard, Lake County has hundreds of restaurants, eateries, wineries and more to tantalize you. We’re getting into the act too. Starting February, we’re launching our Tasty Tuesdays program. Each month, we’ll show you the variety of flavors you can get from a single food. It’s like a book club for your mouth. And we’re starting with chocolate!
3. Learn something new. Even if the weather has you trapped inside, that’s no excuse to stare at the walls until your brain cells atrophy. Take a photography class with Gale Courses. Learn Spanish with Transparent Language. Watch a documentary on Hoopla. (What those three suggestions have in common: You can do them all from home and they’re all free with a Mentor Library card.)
4. Update your music collection. You know all of those Best of 2014 music lists that are filled with artists and albums you’ve never heard of? Use them as a roadmap to explore something new. Listen to an artist from a genre that you usually ignore or check out that album from that band you used to love. But music’s expensive, you say. Not if you stream it for free from Hoopla or Freegal, which you can do if you have a Mentor Library card. You can even check out a CD or two, if you’re feeling old-fashioned.
5. Check some books off of your To-Read list. I even know a place that can help with that.

10 Tips for Healthy Weight Maintenance with Dr. Morris

Dr. Misty Morris visited Mentor Library Tuesday to suggest ways people can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Eat right and exercise. We know.

Everybody knows how to stay healthy. It's just so hard to do sometimes.

That's why we regress on our New Year's Resolutions. It's not that we don't know better. It's just broccoli-and-5 am-calisthenics fatigue sets in, and a cheeseburger catches us in a moment of weakness. And so do the fries. And a shake. And maybe some mozzarella sticks.

To that end, Dr. Misty Morris visited the library Tuesday to recommend 10 ways we can get and stay healthy this year.

1. What are you eating? You can exercise as much as you want. If you don't eat healthy, then you won't see the results you want. Lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and remember to shake up the menu sometimes so you don't get bored.
2. What are you drinking? And it's not just food either. You'd be surprised how many calories can fit in a smoothie, a milkshake, a can of soda or a beer. Liquid nutrition is still nutritious and liquid junk is still junk.
3. 70/30. You don't need to be perfect. All asparagus and no play makes Jack freak out at 2 a.m. and eat a dozen soft tacos. Keep it proportional. If 70 percent of your calories are nutritious, then that 30 percent won't undo you. (Though you'd be better off with an 80/20 or even 90/10 split, but the point is that 100/0 never lasts long.)
4. No plan is a plan to fail. Plan out your meals. If you're thinking, "I'll come up with lunch on the fly," you're going to eat what's convenient and not what's healthy. Also, know when and how you're going to exercise. If you think you'll just fit in in later, you won't.
5. Have fun with motivation. Don't be afraid to reward yourself. Give yourself goals and, when you reach them, treat yourself. (But don't keep treating yourself. If every day was Mardi Gras, we'd all be sick by Palm Sunday.)
6. Let's get physical. Yes, exercise is important. No, exercise doesn't need to be running marathons in the snow. Get active—go for walks, try out an exercise DVD, check out a gym or the YMCA. (Your first visit is free with your Mentor Library card.) Don't feel the need to do everything at once. Start where you are, but try to move for at least 20 minutes a day.
7. Get some sleep. While sleep requirements differ from person to person, a healthy adult needs between seven and 9 1/2 hours a day. If you don't get enough, it hurts your metabolism, your focus, your attitude—everything.
8. The first thing you need to change is your mind. It doesn't help if you're never satisfied. If you want to lose 30 pounds, you can still be proud of yourself for losing five. You need to look in the mirror and be happy with yourself during each step of the process.
9. Get your friends involved. You're going to run into doldrums—that day you don't feel like getting off the couch. When that happens, lean on your friends. Instead of calling your friends to go out and eat, why not go snowshoeing or hiking? It won't feel like a chore with your friends in tow.
10. What's your motivation? You clicked on this story for a reason. Why do you want to be healthier? So you can fit into that old dress (or suit)? So you can be there for your family as you get older? So you can lift your groceries without wheezing? Keep that motivation in mind when you're working out or eating those carrot sticks. Ultimately, that reason will help you stay the course.

An Introduction to Yoga with Awaken Yoga

You don't need to be able to do a handstand or reach your leg behind your head to try yoga.

If you can sit in a chair and breathe, then you can start to derive the benefits of yoga. And what do those benefits include? Everything from reduced stress and boosted immunity to weight loss and stronger muscles.

Cathy Picozzi from Awaken Yoga in Mentor visited our Main Branch Monday to talk about the history of yoga, its current popularity, its health benefits, and she also taught some simple poses even the newest of beginners could do.

If your curiosity is piqued, you can learn more by taking a class at Awaken Yoga. It can help if your New Year's Resolution is to lose weight or reduce stress.

Also, Awaken Yoga is one of our Core Card partners. So you can save money on classes, as well. If you pay for a 5-class package with Awaken Yoga, you get the sixth class for free—just because you have a Mentor Library card.

5 ways Mentor Library can help you keep your New Year's Resolution

Only eight percent of people stick to their New Year's Resolutions.

That's pretty harrowing.

But we at Mentor Public Library are ready to help you lose weight, save money, find a better job or attain whatever goal you have set for yourself in 2015.

1. Lose weight & be healthier

This is the most popular resolution, so let's start here.

If you want to lose weight or just generally be more fit, we have books on eating better, cookbooks with healthy recipes and exercise DVDs you can borrow.

Your Mentor Public Library Core Card also lets you try out local gyms, karate and studios for free, including Lake County YMCA, Mentor Heisley Racquetball and Fitness Club, Karate Institute, Family Karate and Spotlight Dance Studio. (Here's a list of all the discounts you get around town—just for having a library card.) Get out there and see what works for you.

We also have a pair of programs scheduled for January, specifically designed to help you get healthy.

On Monday, Jan. 5, Awaken Yoga is offering a free introduction to yoga at our Main Branch. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress, build strength and (when paired with a healthy diet) lose weight. This class is designed to accommodate people of all health and skill levels. You can register for it here. By the way, Awaken Yoga is also of our Core Card partners.

Then, on Jan. 13, Dr. Misty Morris of Morris Chiropractic will offer 10 steps to help people lose weight this year.


2. Find a better career

This year, we're teaming with experts from Ohio Means Jobs for a series of programs designed to help you jump-start your career. In January, we'll talk about how to build a winning résumé; in February, we're hosting a computer class specifically for job seekers; and, in March, we'll offer advice on how to ace job interviews.

This is in addition to the computer classes on how to use Facebook, Microsoft Word, Publisher and email we have slated for this February.

3. Learn something new

There are hundreds of thousands of ways to learn something new. Literally every item in our collection could potentially teach you something you didn't already know.

Beyond that, you can check out Gale Courses for hundreds of online classes. (You may remember the service by its former name, Learn4Life.)

Gale Courses has classes on everything from music to technology to accounting, many of which are taught by college professors. And they're all free with a Mentor Public Library card.

If you specifically want to learn a new language, try Transparent Language. Its online classes offers a simple, intuitive way to learn the basics of more than 80 different languages—pretty much any language you can think of, everything from Albanian to Zulu.

4. Save money and get your finances in order

We have more than 200,000 books, movies and CDs in our collection, and that's not even counting our digital services that let you read eBooks and stream music, movies and audiobooks anywhere and at anytime. (And that includes several books on how to best manage your money.)

Every time you borrow something from us, that's money you saved. That can add up to a lot of savings over the span of a year.

Also, our Core Card helps you save money with businesses and organizations all around Lake County.

5. Spend more time with your family

We offer a menagerie of story times for families, and they're starting a new session on Jan. 5.

But there are a lot of ways to use library resources to spend more time with your family. Borrow a stack of DVDs and start a family movie night.

And, while our story times are a lot of fun, there’s no substitute for reading to your child.

So we hope to see you soon. Whatever your resolution is, I'm sure we have a book, video or program that can help. Don't be shy. Just come up to the reference desk and ask for recommendations!

Get a free introduction to yoga at Mentor Library

Get a free introduction to yoga on Monday, Jan. 5, at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

What's your New Year's resolution?

To lose weight? Be healthier? Reduce your stress? Try something new?

We can get you started with all of that in a single step.

Have you ever tried yoga? At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, Mentor Library is hosting a free introduction to yoga at its Main Branch. You can register for it here.

The professionals from Awaken Yoga in Mentor will talk about the history of yoga, its current popularity, its health benefits, and also teach some simple poses even the newest of beginners can do. This class is for all skill levels, including those interested in "chair yoga."

One note: You'll want to wear comfortable clothing, because we will be moving around during the exercises.

Yoga has been linked to everything from reduced stress and boosted immunity to weight loss and stronger muscles.

Come join us on Jan. 5 to see what yoga can do for you.

Also, Awaken Yoga is one of our Core Card partners. So if you enjoy your introduction to yoga, it's easier to stick with it. If you pay for a 5-class package with Awaken Yoga, you get the sixth class for free—just because you have a Mentor Library card.

So jump-start your New Year's Resolution, and join us at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 for your introduction to yoga.

Welcome to our newest Core Card partner

Brightwood Animal Hospital is our newest partner in the Core Card program.

You want to talk about value? Let's talk about the value of your Mentor Library card.

It gives you access to more than 200.000 books, movies and albums. And it also provides you with 24-hour access to our digital services, so you can download music, listen to audiobooks, stream video or read eBooks even when our branches are closed.

But, wait, there's more!

We've partnered with more than a dozen local businesses and organizations who provide you with discounts, just for having a Mentor Library card, as part of our Core Card program.

You can save money at everywhere from Awaken Yoga to Gallery One Art Gallery to Mentor Heisley Racquetball and Fitness Club. And now we've added our newest partner, Brightwood Animal Hospital.

Now, anyone with a Mentor Library card can save $5 on their first express grooming with Brightwood's groomer Chris White. Your pet will look prettier, you'll save money, and all you need is a library card.

Peruse the list of all of our Core Card partners and see how you can get more out of your library card.

Because, at Mentor Library, we want you to check out books, movies, music and your community.

Your Mentor Public Library Card can now do more than ever…

You likely already know that you can check out books, movies, music and video games with your Mentor Public Library CORE Card. After all, that’s what most library cards do. You might even be aware of all the different digital services to which your card gives you access.

But we at Mentor Public Library wanted to do more. Yes, we want you to check out books and movies. We want you to use your card to stream indie films and download music you love, but we also want you to use your library card to check out your community around you.

After all, we’re fortunate to live in a wonderful community. But even the most plugged in person might not know everything about Mentor or Lake County.

For example, did you know there’s a business in Mentor that can teach you to be a pilot? Did you know there’s an art gallery that attracts world-class artists to Center Street?

You probably know about Lakeland Community College. You might have even taken classes there but are not be aware of all the concerts, exhibitions and shows it hosts.

You probably aren’t aware of all the different wonderful ways this community helps us stay in shape:fitness clubs, karate dojos, dance studios, yoga and more.

Our community is a lot like a well-stocked bookshelf or movie collection. You don’t know everything in it; but, if you start looking, there’s a good chance you’ll find something that you love.

That’s why we’re launching our CORE Card partnership, which begins April 13 in conjunction with National Library Week.

So how does the CORE Card help you check out your community? (By the way, the CORE Card is just another name for you Mentor Public Library card. You don’t have to get another card if you already have one.)

We’ve partnered with 12 businesses and nonprofits (with more to come) to offer MPL cardholders a discount as a way to encourage our patrons to check out their organizations. In other words, you get a discount at all these awesome places—just for having a library card!

Furthermore, all of our inaugural 12 partners in the CORE Card reinforce the library’s goals of stimulating the imagination and encouraging lifelong learning.

So check them out. Your CORE Card discount might be the incentive you need to first visit them, but you’ll stick around for all the awesome things they do.

Without further ado, our CORE Card partners are:

• Lakeland Community College. MPL cardholders will now pay the student rate for all of its civic performances. 
• Lake County YMCA. Cardholders get a 1-time, 1-day free family guest pass at any branch. Additionally, if the family signs up for a membership that day, they get a 20 percent discount on their sign-up fee.
• Lake Humane Society. Cardholders receive 25 percent off any item in the pet shop. 
• Mentor Heisley Racquetball and Fitness Club. MPL cardholders get a 1-day free guest pass. 
• City of Mentor Parks and Recreation, who is offering different seasonal discounts. In April, cardholders can purchase 2014 pool passes at 2010 rates. In May, June and July, MPL cardholders get $1 off nine holes and $2 off 18 holes of golf at Black Brook Golf Course. 
• Gallery One Art Gallery. MPL cardholders get $25 off any purchase of more than $100 of either fine art or custom framing. 
• Vector Aviation. Cardholders receive a 10-percent discount on their first flight lesson. (That doesn’t include discovery flights.) 
• Karate Institute. MPL cardholders get their first class free. 
• Family Karate. MPL cardholders get their first class free.
• Awaken Yoga. MPL cardholders who buy a 5-class package get a sixth class for free. 
• Spotlight Dance Studio. MPL cardholders get their first class free.
• Mentor Skateland. Cardholders receive a discount to skate during afternoon sessions and will only pay $3 for admission instead of $4.50. 

This is just the beginning. We hope to add more partners in the near future and to give you more ways to check out your community.

If your business or organization is interested in participating in the CORE Card program, call the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 213.

Thanks to all of our partners who made this exciting program possible. You make Lake County a better place to work, live and learn.