A International Giving Opportunity

Have you heard of LaptopGiving? This interesting program is offering to send an OX laptop to a developing nation when you purchase an OX laptop.

OLPC’s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 per year per child (compared to an average of $7,500 in the United States). By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children.

Another similiar giving opportunity is Heifer Project International. Heifer allows you to buy animals for communities who really need them. Imagine telling your mom you bought a Water Buffalo for a Filipino village in her name.

Come see your fundraising dollars at work!

Today, the renovation of the library windows begins! Thanks to everyone who has donated to our capital campaign for library renovation. The money to do this work came 100% from you. We hope to have the windows completed by Christmas. The library windows are being restored and the glass is being replaced with a low e, argon glass. The windows will also get insulated -- YAY!
We know that this part of our renovation will help the town save money on fuel oil this winter and for years to come and also help keep the look of our beautiful building in tact.

It's snowing!

So, I heard from a few people in Canaan and Orange that they have had snow already, but this is the first snow I've seen outside my window. With a potential trip to Manchester today and no snow tires on the car, I can say that it looks beautiful, but I am not ready!

I was just thinking about the word autumnal and how that is the sentiment usually matched to Thanksgiving celebrations, but more often than not, aren't our Thanksgivings wintery or crystalized? This is the first year that my husband and I will not be visiting family at Thanksgiving, time to start new traditions and all. Maybe our first new tradition will be to go sledding at the high school, or to build a snow fort.
My favorite family tradition is Christmas tree tagging, which in my family has always happened the day after Thanksgiving. That is the day, in my mind, even though there is no shopping involved, that starts the Christmas celebrations in my home.
Decorations won't go up for a while yet, but now is the time we start to think about what we can do to help our community locally and globally. Can we make gifts instead of buy them? Can we donated our gift money to someone who actually needs it?
Take time this week to not only be thankful for your family, but to think about what new traditions you can start to help make the holiday season better for everyone.

Reading Frenzy!

Do you know about our monthly reading contests for kids in grades K-4 and grades 5-8? It is called READING FRENZY!
Each month there is a list of five types of books that the kids must read. If the completed list is returned before the end of the month, they can choose a prize out of the READING FRENZY prize basket.

November's K-4 list:
Read a book with a turkey on the cover.
Read a story that has a frog in it.
Read about the Pilgrims.
Read a story about an owl.
Listen to an audio book.

November's 5-8 list:
Read a cookbook and tell us what you made.
Read a book about baseball.
Read a non-fiction book about Pilgrims.
Read about owls.
Listen to an audio book.
Books must have been checked out from Canaan Town Library, and each reading form must be verified by a parent.


Amazing shark photo
Copyright (c) [2007] Richard Ling Check out his photos at flickr.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rling/license