Monday, August 03, 2009

New Books at HPL See our new items in an Excel format. 3:32:36 PM     News from "Master the Art of Reading Summer Reading Program During the 7th week of the program, 37 people read 98 books, for a total of 174 people reading 968 books. We gave prizes to 5 people this week. Winners and prizes will be announced at a later date. Muskegon Reads! author title Aleres, Rochelle Stranger in my arms Anderson, Catherine Comanche Heart Bagwell, Stella Cowboy to the rescue Bain, Donald Panning for murder Barnard, Robert Corpse in a gilded cage Blake, Jennifer Gallant Match Bradley, Shelley Strip Search Bragg, Rick Ava's Man Brashares, Ann Sisterhood of the traveling pants Bretton, Barbara Girls of Summer Brown, Rita Mae Cat's Eyewitness Brown, Rita Mae Claws and Effect Browne, Sylvia End of Days Buchanan, Patrick Day of reckoning Chandler, Steve 1001 ways to motivate others Chevalier, Tracy Falling Angels Cochran, Molly Forever King Coulter, Catherine Knock Out Daley, Brian Han Solo Adventures Davis, Alan Fantastic Four: The End Dekker, Ted Kiss Delinsky, Barbara Family Tree Delinsky, Barbara Secret Between us Evanovich, Janet Plum spooky Feehan, Christine Murder Game Fletcher, donna Bewitching Twin Foster, Lori Simon Says Frank, J. Suzanne Reflections in the Nile Girard, Dara Body chemistry Girard, Dara Gentleman's offer Girard, Dara Power Play Girard, Dara Round the clock Gladwell, Malcolm Tipping Point Grant, Tracy Beneath a silent moon Hamilton, Laurell Cravings Hamilton, Steve Hunting Wind Hamilton, Steve North of nowhere Hamilton, Steve Stolen Season Harrison, Lisi Alicia Harrison, Lisi Dylan Harrison, Lisi Massie Haymon, S. T. Ritual Murder Hemphill, Paul Lovesick Blues Herrera, Juan Crash Boom Love Hill, Napoleon Think and grow rich Hill, Sandra Night before Christmas Jackson, Neta Where do I go Jenkins, Carol Black Titan Johansen, Iris Deadlock Joyce, Brenda Dark Victory King, Stephen Stand Kingsbury, Karen Sunset Krentz, Jayne Ann White Lies Kurland, Michael Sherlock Holmes: the hidden years Lackey, Mercedes Exile's Honor Lackey, Mercedes Exile's Valor Langan, Paul Bully Lasky, Kathryn Pageant Laurens, Stephanie Edge of Desire Lescroart, John Motive Mayle, Peter Year in Provence McDaniel, Lurlene Always and Forever McGraw, Robin Inside my heart Meyer, Stephenie Breaking Dawn Miller, Linda Lael Montana Creeds: Dylan Miller, Linda Lael Montana Creeds: Tyler Monsoe, Lucy Watch over me Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Achingly Alice Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Alice Alone Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Intensely Alice O'Connell, Carol Bone by Bone Palmer, Catherine Stranger in the night Patterson, James Jester Patterson, James Kiss the Girls Picoult, Jodi Change of heart Picoult, Jodi Handle with Care Porter, Katherine Collected stories of Katherine Anne Porter Quick, Amanda Third Circle Robin, Andy Saving Face Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Scott, Devon Obsessed See, Lisa Shanghai Girls Silverberg, Robert Majipoor Chronicles Silverberg, Robert Valentine's Pontifex Slott, Dan Arkham Asylum: Living Hell Smith, Alexander McCall Morality for beautiful girls Sparks, Kerrelyn Forbidden nights with a vampire Sparks, Kerrelyn Vamps and the city Spindler, Erica Copycat Spindler, Erica Last Known Victim Steel, Danielle Matters of the heart Steinbeck, John East of Eden Swanson, Julie Going for the record Ulinich, Anya Petropolis Walker, Alice By the light of my father's smile Willingham, Bill 1001 nights of snowfall Woods, Sherryl Inn at Eagle Point Zane Succulent Chocolate Flava II table producing by T2T 2:39:42 PM     News from Master The Art of Reading Summer Reading program During week 6, 57 people read 168 books. For the summer so far 172 people read 870 books. We drew 4 names this week to win prizes: Kristy Crocker won a gift certificate to Alpha-Omega Antiques, Katie Maniates won a gift certificate to Alpha-Omega Antiques, Jancy Brozaslo won a Cruise on the Port City Princess, and Kathryn Atherton won a gift certificate to McDonald’s Candies. Congratulations to the prize winners and thanks to our sponsors! Muskegon Reads! author title Aird, Catherine Amendment of life Aird, Catherine Hole in one Anderson, Susan Bending the rules Andrews, Donna Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon Andrews, Donna Revenge of the wrought iron flamingos Andrews, Donna You’ve got murder Angelou, Maya Letters to my daughter Armstrong, Kelley Summoning Axelrod, Karen Watch it made in the USA Baker, Kage Life of the world to come Barnes, Kim Country called home Barr, Mike Tales of the green lantern corps Beaton, M. C. Death of a dreamer Beaton, M. C. Death of a maid Billingsley, ReShonda Let the church say Amen Bland, Eleanor Fatal Remains Bland, Eleanor Whispers in the dark Bland, Eleanor Windy city dying Breem, Wallace Legate's Daughter Bridge, Andrew Hope's Boy Brust, Steven Five hundred years after Brust, Steven Gypsy Buchan, Elizabeth Revenge of the middle-aged woman Buchan, Elizabeth Sammy's House Bunn, T. Davis Elixir Bunn, T. Davis Great Divide Bunn, T. Davis Winner take all Cannell, Dorothy She shoots to conquer Card, Orson Scott First meetings Carr, Robyn Temptation Ridge Carter, Cynthia Africana Woman Chivers, Susan Planting for Color Clark, Mary Higgins Just take my heart Connelly, Michael Echo Park Connelly, Michael Lincoln Lawyer Connelly, Michael Narrows Cook, Robin Chromosome 6 Cook, Robin Godplayer Cooney, Caroline Whatever happened to Janie? Crais, Robert Forgotten Man Crais, Robert L A Requiem Crais, Robert Last Detective Crais, Robert Sunset Express Cussler, Clive Black Wind Dain, Claudia Courtesan's Wager Dee, Ed Bronx Angel Dee, Ed Con Man's Daughter Dekker, Ted Black Dekker, Ted Boneman's Daughter Dekker, Ted Red Dekker, Ted Thunder Heaven Dekker, Ted White Detrick, Alan Macro photography Deutsch, Staci Dragonball evolution Donnelly, Jennifer Northern Light Edelman, Marion Sea is so wide and my boat is so small Ennis, Garth Ghost Rider Evanovich, Janet Fearless Fourteen Fast, Howard Immigrants Fielding, Joy Puppet Follett, Ken Hornet Flight Ford, Clyde Precious Cargo Friedman, George Next 100 years Gaffney, Elizabeth Metropolis Gardner, Lisa Neighbor Geist, Bill Way off the Road Gentry, Curt Killer Mountains George, Elizabeth Great Deliverance Gibran, Kahlil Prophet Gladwell, Malcolm Outliers Gopnik, Adam Angels and Ages Gore, Kristin Sammy's Hill Grabenstein, Chris Tilt a Whirl Grabenstein, Chris Whack a mole Griot, Urban Capital City Griot, Urban One Crazy Night Grisham, John Broker Hale, Shannon River Secret Hall, Barbara Music Teacher Hamilton, Laurell Incubus Dreams Hanniganm, Katherine Ida B Harris, Charlaine All together dead Harris, Charlaine From dead to worse Harris, E. Lynn Invisible Life Harris, E. Lynn Invisible Life Harrison, Lisi Bratfest at Tiffany's Harrison, Lisi Bratfest at Tiffany's Harrison, Lisi Dial l for loser Harrison, Lisi It's not easy being mean Harrison, Lisi It's not easy being mean Harrison, Lisi Sealed with a diss Hooper, Kay Blood sins Hosseini, Khaled Thousand splendid suns Iagnemma, Karl Expeditions Idliby, Ranya Faith Club Jackson, Neta Yada yada prayer group gets real Joe,Yolanda He say she say Joyce, Jennifer Small Bites Kellerman, Faye Prism Koontz, Dean Hideaway Koontz, Dean The taking Korman, Gordon Schooled Lawhead, Stephen Iron Lance Lawrence, Daisy Lady from Savannah LeClaire, Anne Listening below the noise Lee, Mabel Cripple Creek Leon, Donna About Face Levine, Suzanne My feet are killing me Levy, Marc Just like heaven Lucado, Max Every day deserves a chance Lucado, Max It's not about me Lutz, John Darker than night Macomber, Debbie Twenty wishes Maitz, Sandra When I am an old woman I will wear purple Martensson, Kerstin It's Easy to sew Lingerie Mazzucchelli, David Asterious Polyp McGarrity, Michael Dead or Alive McMurtry, Larry When the light goes McPherson, James Tried by war Mosley, Walter Cinnamon Kiss Mowry, Jess Six out of seven Myer, Stephenie Twilight Myron, Vicki Dewey: the small town cat who touched the world Navia, Luis Socrates Neider, Charles Complete short stories of R. L. Stevenson no author Baby and Child O'Connor, Sandra Lazy B Oke, Janette Nana's Gift Pagels, Elaine Beyond Belief Palmer, Catherine Stranger in the night Palmer, Michael Second Opinion Paretsky, Sara Guardian Angel Paretsky, Sara Indemnity only Paretsky, Sara Total Recall Patterson, James 7th Heaven Peart, Jane Ransomed Bride Peart, Jane Valiant Bride Peretti, Frank Piercing the darkness Picoult, Jodi Vanishing Acts Preston, Douglas Cemetery Dance Quinn, Spencer Dog on it Randisi, Robert Hey there Rice, Luanne Geometry of sisters Roberts, Nora Haunted in Death Roberts, Nora Northern Lights Ross, JoAnn Breakpoint Rule, Anne If you really loved me Sakey, Marcus Blade itself Sanchez, Alex Bait See, Lisa Snow Flower and the secret fan Small, Beatrice Distant tomorrow Sontag, Sherry Blind man's bluff Spindler, Erica Break Neck Spindler, Erica Killer takes all Steel, Danielle Family Album Steel, Danielle Good woman Steel, Danielle One day at a time Steel, Danielle Toxic Bachelors Stephens, Deborah This is not the life I ordered Stolarz, Laurie Deadly little Secret Styles, T. Black and ugly Tyree, Omar Last Street Novel Van Ryn, Cerak Mistaken Identity Watson, Jan Troublesome creek Watson, Jan Willow springs Whitney, Phyllis Singing Stories Whitney, Phyllis Woman without a past Wick, Lori Pursuit Wick, Lori Visitor Yankoski, Mike Under the overpass Young, William Shack Zane Honey Flava table producing by T2T 11:14:58 AM     Book Reviews from Master The Art of Reading Participants Corpse in a Gilded Cage by Robert Barnard: Most enjoyable English novel. Jail bird becomes an Earl-would have liked to have this mystery have just one follow up myster! Gallant Match by Jennifer Blake: Hard book to get into. Story moved very slowly along and didn't get exciting until after 200 pages. I was bored with this book. Ava's Man by Rick Bragg: This recorded book is about a man and the simple life he led, his habits, his view of things and his family. It was about a man who lived his family and worked to support them. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares: An easy, funny, ligth read perfect for a teenager to relate to. Brashares is able to weave a tale with not only romantic stories, but also friendship. Day of Reckoning by Patrick Buchanan: Very informative. We better be on the lookout. Must listen! 1001 ways to motivate others by Steve Chandler: Good! Good ideas for self help! Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier: This is a great novel set in the time of the women's suffrage movement. The underlying story of the friendship of two girls-who met when their respective families were on outings to the family grave plots is both interesting and quite sad. Murder Game by Christine Feehan: If you haven't read a Christine Feeehan book you are missing out! Lots of excitement, adventure, and romance. She is a must read on anyone's list. This book doesn't disappoint! Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell: Gladwell suggests there are 3 different groups of people that are essential in causing a social epidemic. He thoroughly explains a number of examples and lays out the concept of "6 degrees". Massie by Lisi Harrison: It was great. CrashBoomLove by Jua Felipe Herrera: This book is different because it is a novel in verse. It is descriptive to the point where you can imagine you are there. It is about a Mexican boy going through high school. 11:01:11 AM     Michigan's Unemployment Skyrocketing; Benefits Run Out After 79 Weeks. With unemployment in Michigan skyrocketing - June's rate was 15.2 percent, the highest since May 1983 - nearly 100,000 people are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits in the state between May of this year and January 2010, state officials say. And human services officials are wondering how the state will be able to handle the added strain on an already stressed public assistance system. "We are very concerned about the large number of people who will be losing benefits over the next several months, and we are particularly concerned about the strength of the safety net that exists for these folks," said Sharon Parks, president and CEO of the Michigan League of Human Services, an advocacy group for low-income people. Because of the state's rising unemployment rate, the state Department of Human Services in May began tracking the numbers of jobless persons who will exhaust their unemployment benefits. Nearly 600,000 new claims have been filed for unemployment benefits in Michigan since December, officials say. Demand increases Partly due to rising numbers of those exhausting their benefits, state officials say they have seen an increased demand for services statewide. For instance, the Department of Human Services set a new record in May with 700,000 households receiving food assistance from the state - a rise of 36 percent since 2006. To meet the rising need, the state agency is in the process of hiring 200 temporary workers to handle the extra applications, and it's developing an online application for food assistance so that people don't have to go to county offices to apply, said Gisgie Davila Gendreau, spokesperson for the agency. "We have seen an overall increase in the number of people coming to us for help, and we're looking for different ways to meet that need," she said. Parks said many of those exhausting unemployment benefits likely will not qualify for cash assistance from the state. To qualify, a family of three must earn less than $814 a month. Currently, unemployment benefits are capped at about $387 a week. "When this (unemployment) income goes away, these people have large obligations," Parks said. "We're concerned about foreclosures, evictions, utility shutoffs." The state is experiencing rising levels of jobless people exhausting these benefits, even though the duration of those benefits have expanded dramatically. Traditionally, Michigan jobless persons are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits a year. But the state and federal government has implemented a number of extensions, beginning last summer, that now offer up to 79 weeks of unemployment benefits. New measures In May, the House passed legislation that would extend benefits for an extra 26 weeks for those enrolled in a state-approved jobs training program, and also allow part-time employees to apply for benefits; for the first two years, the state would receive $138.9 million to fund the program. The legislation has stalled in the GOP-controlled Senate, where Republicans have questioned whether unemployment taxes would rise for businesses once the federal funding runs out. "With the nature of the problems that these families and the workers are going to face, if we have an opportunity to extend their benefits and expand their training, I can't see why we wouldn't (accept the federal funding)," said Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi, D-Ishpeming. Prusi said he also experienced the pain of unemployment, when he was laid off as an iron ore mine worker in 1981 in Marquette County. Supporting a wife and two young children, he exhausted his unemployment benefits after 65 weeks, and then went without income for another month before landing a job with a painting contractor. "I've got firsthand knowledge, and it's not pretty," Prusi said. "It was very tough. I didn't know what I was going to do. Everybody in the county was looking for a job." Smith-Schepperley said her unemployment has been a tough, humbling experience that has taught her to appreciate life more. Even though she has a new job, she still worries about the future, including how her 15-year-old sons will pay for college. "I'm scared," she said. "I had a huge retirement and a $200,000 house. Now I have nothing. What's going to happen when I get old?" Help is available Utility shutoff • Under its Pennies for Power program, the Lansing Board of Water & Light offers one-time utility shut-off protection for customers who can't make their utility bill payments. For more information, contact the utility at 702-6000. • Consumers Energy offers a shut-off protection plan to help senior citizens and low-income families avoid loss of utilities due to non-payment. For more information on that program and others, visit http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm . Food assistance • Food is available for needy families from a number of food banks and pantries in mid-Michigan. For instance, the Ingham County Food Bank offers families up to six days worth of non-perishable groceries once in a 30-day period. The food bank can be reached at 887-4357. Mortgage help • The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a nationwide network of community organizations with offices in Lansing, helps families avoid foreclosure by advocating on their behalf to negotiate affordable mortgage payments. The services are free. For more information, visit https://secure.acornhousinghelp.org . For the full article, see Scott Davis, "Many near end of jobless benefits; Safety nets will be tested as thousands exhaust state aid", Lansing State Journal, August 2, 2009. [Red Tape Blog] 10:35:22 AM

© Copyright 2009 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 9/1/2009; 11:46:50 AM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien