Monday, February 5, 2018

9:30 – 10:30 WRITERS AND READERS

The Raven, the Wolf, and the Deep, Dark Wood

Speaker: Kelly Barnhill, Award-winning Author, Teacher, Mom, Terrible Gardener, and Pie Maker

On a cold crisp morning in January, 2017, Barnhill faced a deep dark wood (of sorts) when the American Library Association phoned her stating that she had been awarded the Newberry Medal, an award given to the author of that year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Barnhill will discuss how magic, fantasy, fairy tale elements, and wonder make their way into her novels that hold children’s hands as they journey into the deep dark woods.

10:45 – 11:45 HEALTH

What Every Minnesotan Should Know About Lyme Disease

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Maloney, Founder and President,
Partnership for Tickborne Diseases Education

This presentation covers basic information regarding Lyme disease and its diagnosis and treatment. Because Lyme disease is spread by infected blacklegged (deer) ticks, these ticks are described in detail. Information will be given on disease prevention and the multiple, easy steps that can be taken to avoid becoming infected with Lyme disease.

11:45 – 12:00 ANNOUNCEMENTS
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCHEON

1:15 – 2:15 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Tools for Critical Analysis of Health Care News

Speaker: Gary Schwitzer, Publisher, HealthNewsReview.org; Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Every week seems to bring new research results on health or medical issues, often at odds with prior results. Is it contradictory or just confusing? Our speaker publishes an on-line review of health news that can help us understand the scope and purpose of health studies, detect commercialism, and develop other critical thinking skills to use in evaluating health information.