June 1, 2017 3:20 PM

RELAXING - Audiences enjoy some tunes during Music in the Park in this file shot. That popular event, along with the Community Market, start up June 7th for another terrific season of fun and variety for local residents. / photo submitted

BY MARK WEBER

Lacombe Express

On June 7th, two popular community events - the Community Market and Music in the Park - will be launching a brand new season for the summer.

The Community Market runs from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday evening until the end of August. And also on June 7th, join Flatiron Jazz for the first performance in the Music in the Park Program.

Wendy Buyer, market manager for the Community Market, confirmed the vendors are extremely excited to come back this year. What a beautiful way to break up the monotony of the mid-week blues, shopping at the friendly vendors, dinner at the delicious food trucks and a free live concert every week!

It was a few years ago that Guy Lapointe, with the City of Lacombe, approached Buyar with the idea of putting together a community market.

Buyar, with her extensive connections in the community, was the ideal choice to help with launching that initial event that has continued to be such a success. It was easy for me to coordinate all of those people together, she said.

Meanwhile, presented by the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation, Music in the Park offers an opportunity for residents of Lacombe and many summer visitors to enjoy an evening of entertainment and experience a wide range of musical styles.

Originally, Music in the Park was started by a friend of mine, Lann Lieurance, who was a musician here in Lacombe, and he wanted to be able to have a performance series that offered high quality music on a free basis to the people in the community, on a regular basis, explained Ellen Corea, a committee member for Music in the Park.

Its was so exciting because it was taking the project we were dealing with and really expanding it, she said of the combination of Music at the Park with the Community Market. We had visions of having this wonderful festival atmosphere. And I think the really neat part of it is that its turned out that way.

Really, the atmosphere downtown on a Wednesday night in the summer is unbelievable.

Music in the Park runs from June to August, every Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited to bring their lawn chairs and picnic blankets to the park, enjoy the beautiful weather, good friends and an evening of free entertainment.

The bands go rain or shine. There will be signs if it is moved to an inside venue.

The organizers are also very excited to offer something very special this year; a new performing venue - the Echo Stage. A dedication for the stage starts at 6:15 p.m. on June 7th, said Corea.

Located on the site where the performers have set up for the past two years, the new stage will offer shelter for the musicians and their equipment as well as an improved sight line for the audience, she said.

Were going to dedicate it to the memory of Lann Lieurance who started the program, said Corea.

Working from an initial idea, Peter Bouwsema from PJ Designs volunteered his time and talent to design a beautiful Post and Beam structure, she said.

Wayne Froese from Top Peg Timber Construction was then brought in to make the dream a reality.

Volunteers Chad Collins donated his time as general contractor on the project and with framer Ryan Fauria (Down Home Builders), built the floor.

The finishing touch was the electrical, installed by Sparks and Awl, giving the stage the power to keep the sound going.

For this project, the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation (LPACF) was pleased to have as their major partner Echo Energy who provided half the funding for the stage.

I think this project really demonstrates the power Echo Energy has to positively impact our community. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to helping realize new opportunities, said Echo Energy President Drayton Bussiere.

In addition LPACF received a greatly appreciated anonymous donation, a donation of materials for the floor from Castle Building Supplies and they fundraised for the rest of the funds, said Corea.

Meanwhile, Corea and Buyar are having a blast helping to arrange these highly anticipated, summer-long events for the community.

Im just loving the continuation of the project, said Corea. I think the support from the community has also been amazing. And I think that anything you can do to enhance your community is the gravy in your life.

Ive heard nothing but positive feedback.

Buyar agreed.

I get to be around positive people - I have a fantastic time and I get to play on Wednesdays, really, she added with a laugh.

Between Ellen and I, we have a really good relationship and we work really well together, added Buyar. It shows in how well Wednesdays run!

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Summer comes alive with Community Market and Music in the Park - Lacombe Express

There were no Downward Facing Dog poses. Instead, yoga instructor Michelle Ihry, owner of Healing Touch Yoga, instructed the dozen guests in her studio to get into their Downward Facing Kitty, as five cats and four kittens weaved between bended legs or took a break lying on the top of someones turquoise-colored mat.

In the corner of Ihrys studio on Wednesday were a couple of litter boxes and lattice balls with bells rolled across the floor as relaxing flute music played in the background.

Some of the felines would occasionally get into a playful scuffle hiss, swat or pounce causing the crowd to smile and momentarily break focus from their poses.

We giggled and laugh and we knew it was going to be like that, Ihry said. I have done yoga for a long time [six years], but this is the first time with cats and it's awesome. If you're a cat lover, this is the perfect way to relax.

Homeward Animal Shelter, formerly Humane Society Fargo-Moorhead, and Ihrys studio, located in the back of Healing Touch Chiropractic, 45 21st Ave. E. in West Fargo, teamed up to host meow-maste to attract clients and get exposure for adoptable pets, said Heather Klefstad, with Homeward.

Yoga is good for the mind and body and cats are good for the soul, so its a perfect match, all-in-one, Klefstad said, adding that all the cats at meow-maste are looking for forever homes and can be found online or at the shelterin Fargo, 1201 28th Ave. N.

Ihry approached Klefstad about collaborating for cat yoga after hearing from a friend in Florida who signed up for a similar session down there. Interest in bringing this exercise trend to the F-M area was immediate. In recent years, yoga with cats or goats have become all the health rage, with classes coming to cities like San Francisco and Des Moines.

Cat yoga in West Fargo was a big hit, the organizers said, and there was even a wait list for Wednesday nights sessions. So they definitely plan on hosting more classes in the future.

Time spent with a cat is never wasted. Namaste, Ihry said at the close of the first session.

Tiffany Johnson, Ihrys daughter and owner of Healing Touch Chiropractic, said overall events like this help build a community.

There are going to be some people who come for yoga and the cats are a bonus, or people who love cats and they havent been to yoga before, Johnson said.

Tasha Ullrich, of Fargo, who participated in Wednesdays class said, I came for the cats.

How do you even explain that to someone? she said when asked to describe her first meow-maste experience. Ullrich wouldnt let go of a string toy the entire yoga session. I was kind of a kitty hog, Im not going to lie, she said jokingly.

It was so relaxing, said her friend Callie Bowen. Cats and yoga are such a fun combination.

Meow-maste sessions are $13, or $10 with the purchase of an $80 punch card. All proceeds are donated to Homeward Animal Shelter.

For more information on Meow-maste Yoga with Cats, visit: http://www.htchiro.com/yoga.

To see adoptable pets at Homeward Animal Shelter, visit: http://www.homewardonline.org.

Read more:

Meow-maste: Animal shelter and yoga studio team up to heal - INFORUM

May 31, 2017 UM Professor Amishi Jha asks in a recent study if college football players can be trained to be mentally tough and resilient. The research reveals that mindfulness training but not relaxation training, improves college athletes' attention. Practice and adherence are key. Credit: University of Miami

By the end of each academic semester, most college students struggle with a drop in attention spans and increased stress, especially student-athletes. Athletes know dedicated practice and physical training lead to excellence. Much less is known about mental training to deal with the psychological pressures of competitive athletics. One form of mental training, involving mindfulness, trains participants to focus attention on the present moment and observe one's thoughts and feelings without emotional reactivity.

A recent University of Miami study conducted in the laboratory of neuroscientist Amishi Jha, associate professor in the UM College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychology, asks if college football players can be trained to be mentally tough and resilient. The research paper titled, "'We Are Talking About Practice': the Influence of Mindfulness vs. Relaxation Training on Athletes' Attention and Well-Being over High-Demand Intervals," was recently published online in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. Jha's lab collaborated with mindfulness expert Scott Rogers, Miami Law professor and director of the Mindfulness in Law Program.

"Our research suggests that the mind, like the body, needs regular mental exercise to keep it cognitively and emotionally fit. What struck us about these results is that both relaxation and mindfulness helped well-being, but only mindfulness training benefitted players' attentionsomething student athletes need both on and off the field," said Jha.

Jha's research team found that greater practice and program adherence in a mindfulness training program, but not a matched relaxation training program, leads to more stable attention and fewer attentional lapses in football players.

The study's first author, UM psychology Ph.D. candidate Joshua Rooks, knows first-hand how demanding the life of a football player can be. Rooks, a former college football player who practiced mindfulness during his time as a tight end for the Northwestern University Wildcats, joined Jha's lab in 2012.

In the current study, Rooks monitored the attention and emotional well-being of student-athletes on the UM football team over four weeks, during which Rogers delivered two matched training programs to player subgroups. One group of 56 players received mindfulness training (MT), while the other group made up of 44 players received relaxation training (RT). The players in the MT group participated in breathing exercises, body scans and mindful awareness sessions, while the RT group did relaxation exercises, place-guided imagery and listened to relaxing music. Players' attention was measured using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), a test designed to promote mind wandering and measure attentional performance lapses. Their emotional well-being was measured by questionnaires about their mood, anxiety and depression levels.

The four weeks of this project occurred during their pre-season training when players faced intensive demands, both academically and physically. Prior research found that during times of high demand, such as the academic semester and military pre-deployment training, students and soldiers experience degraded attention and emotional well-being. In this study, football players' attention and emotional well-being degraded from the beginning to the end of the four weeks. Yet high adherence to the MT program, but not the RT program, protected athletes' sustained attention. The study also found that greater engagement in both MT and RT protected against a decline in well-being and pointed to practice as the key to benefitting from MT program.

Professional sports teams have long used relaxation training with players. Recently, some teams have also introduced mindfulness training. High performance psychology coach, Michael Gervais, who serves as an advisor to Jha's lab for their work, has achieved success by offering mindfulness to pro-athletes, such as the Seattle Seahawks.

"This is the type of research that moves the needle from theory to application. The hallmarks of elite performance within the most hostile environments are the ability to be tough minded, adjust to unpredictable demands, and to properly attend to the task at hand," said Gervais.

In addition to its potential to help athletes' attention and well-being, mindfulness training has been examined in soldiers during their high-demand pre-deployment training intervals. Prior studies have found that these intervals deplete attention and degrade emotional well-being.

"Research like this is very important as the Army explores mindfulness training as a possible enabler to Soldier readiness," said Major General Walter E. Piatt, Commanding General for the 10th Mountain Division, and an advisory committee member of the Mindfulness Based Attention and Training (MBAT) Project in Jha's lab.

Explore further: Canes Football teams up with University of Miami neuroscientist for 'Cane Brain Project'

More information: Joshua D. Rooks et al. "We Are Talking About Practice": the Influence of Mindfulness vs. Relaxation Training on Athletes' Attention and Well-Being over High-Demand Intervals, Journal of Cognitive Enhancement (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s41465-017-0016-5

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Building mental toughness off the fieldit's all about practice - Medical Xpress

Voici leau claire!

Legend has it that was the phrase exclaimed by early French explorers upon discovering Eau Claires clear waters. If immersing yourself in the Eau Claire or Chippewa rivers isnt enough to get you to visit the small city nestled at the confluence of the two, maybe youll want to immerse yourself in their music scene instead: namely, the Eaux Claires Music Festival.

Eaux Claires is the musical lovechild of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner of The National. The bar has been set pretty highfrom two back-to-back years of great music and great turnouts. Troix is shaping up to live up to the hype, however, with Chance the Rapper returning and other great acts like Paul Simon, Wilco and Sylvan Esso. (Get the full lineup.)

A weekend getaway to this simultaneously outdoorsy and musically-rich city (only an hour-and-a-half drive from the twin cities) is always a good idea. Its an even better idea when theres a festival involved.Experience the milieu of a citythat feels like its both a purely Wisconsin getaway and a destination with some truly great cultural perks.

While many will embrace the outdoor experience in totality and pitch a tent on the festival campgrounds, others will choose the comfort of a warm bed. This year, warm-bed-optershave a quaint new lodging option: Oxbow Hotel. (The hotel is already booked for festival weekend, but keep it in mind for future getaways if you werent lucky enough to snag a room during Eaux Claires.) This boutique hotel is yet another vision brought to life by Vernon, along with several other local movers and shakers. Enjoy the woodsy feel, and rent a bike or kayak to get your adventure going. When youre back in your room, play some vinyl on your personal record player.

Take a tour of at the Leinenkugel Breweryin neighboring Chippewa Falls. The brewery, founded in 1867 by Jacob Leinenkugel, with its brick-building campus is fun to wander. After youre fully educated on beer brewing and all things Leinenkugel related, sample your favorites in the Leinie Lodge.

Or if wine is more your speed, then try Autumn Harvest Winery and Orchard. This relaxing spot opened more than a decade ago, making it the first winery in the Chippewa Valley. Taste some samples, or purchase a glass or bottle to enjoy on the patio.

Explore UW Eau Claire,a lovely, walkable campus of more than 300 acres on the banks of the Chippewa River. Celebrate the Blugolds and pretend youre in college all over again.

Get outside and get onto the Chippewa River State Trail. Walk, run, bike (and even cross-country ski and snowmobile in the winter). Find the trailhead in Phoenix Park downtown. Thirty miles later, find yourself in the city of Durand.

June 1 marks the start of farmers market season in Eau Claire, so be sure to wander through the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market and stock up on blueberries, honey, cheese and other locally-grown and locally-made favorites.

Try The French Press for your caffeine fix, Milwaukee Burger Company for a burger and cheese curds, The Classic Garage for throwback diner fare or the Bijou Bistro if youre feeling fancy.

The folks at Visit Eau Claire even have fun daily to-dos if you decide to make it a four-day weekend. (And, see their suggestionslast year for filling any down time yoga or cribbage, anyone?)

Thursday Night:Sounds Like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park

Thursday Night:(sold out)OxbeauxConcert and Pre-Party

Friday Night:Eau Claire Express Northwoods League baseball game

Saturday:Leinenkugels Family Reunion event

Sunday:FATFAR river floating event

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Heading to the Eaux Claires Music Festival? Here's Your Guide to Eau Claire - Milwaukee Magazine

Each week, SCENE will publish a Q&A with a proprietor of a live-music venue. This week we tracked down Ben Grossman, owner of Hop Nation Brewing Co., which has become an increasingly popular venue for music. Here are our Qs and his As.

SCENE: How often do you have live music, what kind of music do you typically have, and how much are average tickets or cover charges?

Grossman: We have live music about four times a month. Anywhere between Thursday and Saturday. But sometimes we have a cool act come in when theyre traveling through. Music is usually originals from small groups, like two to four folks, usually unplugged. No tickets, no cover almost 99 percent of the time.

S: What do you believe is the value of live music, both to you as a business and to your customers or audience?

G: I was a musician playing through college on scholarship so I believe that music is a part of an enriched life. To my business, it brings in like-minded folks. And with the brewerys atmosphere, I try to accentuate a relaxing, enjoyable time or a good get-your-groove-on feeling to kick off peoples weekends.

S: Whats the best show youve ever hosted and why?

G: Razzvio. The musicians were awesome people. The show and the looping they did were seamless. How often do you run into a rocker-looking musician who cranks it out on an electric violin? I also really enjoy the Yakima Folklife Festival in general. It is such a vibrant and great time of year for the community as we have so many talented musicians rolling through town.

S: What kind of energy and atmosphere can a guest expect on a night youre having live music? Will there be dancing? Rapt listening? Or a laid-back social environment in which the music is mostly in the background?

G: I hate to be a generalist, but most of the time it is comfort listening with a little raptness here and there sometimes topped with a smattering of dancing. We save most of the dancing for the great outdoors during our bigger shows.

S: What plans do you have for the future regarding live music?

G: Live music and entertainment not normally available in Yakima will continue to be Hop Nations focus going into the future. I believe it is important to keep all sorts of different experiences alive so that we dont forget any one part of what makes our community great. The arts, in all its silhouettes, are especially important to preserve both in history and contemporary constructs. We will continue to host live music so long as we are here.

Excerpt from:

Venue Q&A: Hop Nation Brewing Co. - Yakima Herald-Republic

SANFORD - Goodall Library, located at 952 Main Street, will kick off its summer reading program for adults and young adults this Monday, June 5.

To participate, please sign up at the library's front desk.

The theme for this summer's program is "Build a Better World." The program will focus not just onreading, but on building, creating, and reaching out into the community. Therewill be opportunities to win some great prizes along the way.

Also,"Color Your World," the library's summer reading program for children ages 13 and younger, starts this Monday.Registration is free, and the program is non-competitive.All reading levels and abilities arewelcome to join. Children can read whatever they want, whenever they want.

For more information, please call the library at 324-4714.

GOODALL LIBRARY

Goodall Library is located at 952 Main Street and can be reached at 324-4714. Visit the library online at http://www.lbgoodall.org.

Kennebunk therapist and author Kingsley Gallup will discuss some tips for personalchange and growth when she reads from her book,"Project Personal Freedom,"at Goodall Library on Tuesday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m. "Project Personal Freedom" is a daily guidebook of inspirational and instructionaltips to help those who feel trapped by circumstances, belief systems or emotionsto access a stronger sense of personal freedom. Gallup wrote this book for a wideaudience from people dealing with occasional stress to those who suffer chronicconditions, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.Gallup, MA, LPC, NCC, DCC, is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certifiedcounselor, distance-credentialed counselor and certified mediator.Light refreshments will be served at the event.For more information about Kingsley Gallup, visit online at http://www.personalfreedominstitute.com.

Goodall Library will host aneedle felting classwith DanielleBonney on Thursday, June 8, at 12:30 p.m. Bonney is a local wool sculptor whomakes birds and other animals out of sheep wool through a technique called "needle felting."Her work can be seen online at her Etsy Shop at http://www.esty.com/shop/wildthingsmaine and, locally,at Restless Threads in Kennebunk and Hurlbutt's in Kennebunkport. her work also is displayed at Presidio Park inSan Fransisco and Bea and Laurel Gallery in Wisconsin. Participants in her class will learn howto make a felted hummingbird to take home. Registration is required and limited to 14participants. You may register by calling 324-4714 or by stopping by the library.

Goodall Library will continue itsMeditation Seriesin June.Whether youre a beginner or looking to deepen your practice, head to the library for this series, led by Cindy Simon, M.A., NCC, RMT.Relieve anxiety, anger and depression by learning to live in the present moment.Enjoy deep stillness and quiet and rid your mind of negative chatter. Live withmore acceptance, letting go, happiness, and gratitude.Class will be held on Monday, June 19, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Coloring Calm, Goodall Librarys coloring workshop,will continue on Monday, June 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library'sCommunity Room. Coloring sheets and supplies will be provided (or you canbring your own). Color in a relaxing group setting with music and refreshmentsprovided. Adult coloring, a focused and meditative activity, has been shown tohave many positive benefits, mental and physical.

Romp & Rhyme: Baby & Toddler Timeis held at Goodall Library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. This program, for children ages 3 and younger, lasts 30 minutes and is filled with music, movement, fun, rhymes and books.

Creative Chaos Story Time For Pre-schoolersis offered at Goodall Library for children ages 3 through 6 on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. This 45-minute program involves stories, crafts, fun and an occasional surprise.

Goodall Library offersfree passesto the Portland Museum of Art, Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Stop in and start enjoying the benefits of becoming a member of the library.

SPRINGVALE PUBLIC

Springvale Public Library is located at 443 Main Street. For more information, call 324-4624, send an email to spl@springvalelibrary.org, or visit online at http://www.springvalelibrary.org.

Story timesare held at Springvale Public Library for children ages 3 through 6 every Monday at 10 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time, for children under the age of 3, is held at the library on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

PARSONS MEMORIAL

Parsons Memorial Library is located at 27 Saco Road in Alfred. It can be reached at 324-2001 or alflib@roadrunner.com. Hours are from 3 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

E-Booksare available at the Parsons Memorial Library.The library has three Kindle e-readers with a total of 22 titles on each. Contact the library for the full list.

Parsons Memorial Library hosts aLego Clubfor children ages 4 through 12 on Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. The Legos are supplied. Donations of additional Legos would be appreciated.

The Friends of Parsons Memorial Library are having anongoing book salein the Reading Room. Hardcovers cost $2; paperbacks, $1. You can fill a PML tote bag with books for $12. All proceeds support the librarys programs.

Preschool Story Timesare held at the library with Miss Karen on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

TheGames Clubmeets at Parsons Memorial Library on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.

Parsons Memorial Library tote bagsare now available for $8 apiece. Proceeds go toward expanding library collections.

Discount passesto the Portland Childrens Museum are available at the library year round.

ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Acton Public Library is located at 35 H Road in Acton and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and third Saturdays of the month.

Acton Public Library will hold its annualBook, Bake & Plant Saleon Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon.Please consider donating your divided perennials, rooted house plants or extra seedlings to help the sale.The library also is taking book donations for the sale. For the library's book donation policy, please visit online at http://www.acton.lib.me.us.The sale will be held at 35 H Road in Acton.For more information, please call 636-2781.

Acton Public Library is now offering aStory & Activity Hourfrom 10 to 11 a.m. on Fridays with two volunteers leading the fun. Parents and caregivers and their children, ages preschool and younger, are welcome to attend and listen to a story, participate in finger-play and movement activities and make light crafts. The library will also have "community celebrities" lined-up to attend once a month and share their talents.

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Goodall Library's summer reading program starts Monday - Foster's Daily Democrat

Visit South Jersey 2:14 p.m. ET May 31, 2017

Devon Perry of Visit South Jersey describes how to spend the perfect day in Camden County. Shannon Eblen/ Staff photographer

Sharrott Wine & Music Festival takes place this weekend in Hammonton.(Photo: Sharrott Winery)

Sharrott Winery Wine & Music Festival. June 3 & 4, noon to5 p.m., Sharrott Winery, Hammonton. Sharrott Winery's biggest event of the year featuring non-stop live music, local food and craft vendors and of course some of the best wines in New Jersey! There will be eight wineries sampling over a hundred local wines. Entertainment for the weekend will consist of The Matt Noffsinger Band on Saturday and Shortly Long with the Jersey Horns on Sunday. Fabulous Food Trucks will be on site for you to purchase a delicious meal or snack. Enjoy Top Shelf Mobile Cuisine, Mannino's Cannoli Express and many more! Be sure to purchase your ticket before they sell out! For more information, visit sharrottwinery.com/event/wine-music-festival-3

Like Visit South Jersey on Facebook this week for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Sharrott Winery Wine and Music Festival.

More: Join a New Jersey wine club to be in the know

LIVE! From the Vineyard Stage. Saturday, June 3 | 7 to 9 p.m., Auburn Road Vineyard, Pilesgrove. LIVE! From the Vineyard Stage on Saturday Nights. In addition to Auburn Road's partnership with their friends at Woodstown Music, Auburn Road is bringing you performers and performances from all around the area, as well as, outside the region. This weeks featured music is Hot Dog Cannon. For more information, visit http://www.auburnroadvineyards.com/the-enoteca-2/the-vineyard-stage-live/the-vineyard-stage/

Saturdays on the Crushpad. Saturday, June 3 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Rio Grande. It's been a long hard week, and now it's finally time to relax.Escape to Hawk Haven for an afternoon of wine, gourmet snacks, and live music by Dom Grosso from 2 to 5 p.m.Kick back, relax, and enjoy the vineyard views paired with musical performances by local singer-songwriters. Saturdays on the Crushpad is every Saturday from spring to fall with no cover charge. For more information, visit http://hawkhavenvineyard.com/events/saturday-on-the-crushpad/

Specialty Cocktails, Wine, Martinis & Tapas. Saturday. June 4 | 1 to 5 p.m., Tomasello Winery, Hammonton. On Saturday, June 3rd, stop by the Palmaris Room at Tomasello Winery in Hammonton, anytime from 1 to 5 p.m. Try the Tomasello Almond Joy Martini, and other specialty cocktails which will be available for purchase along with beer, wine, light fare and Tapas. Bring your friends and family for a casual, relaxing Saturday afternoon Happy Hour at Tomasello Winery. For more information, visit http://www.tomasellowinery.com

Skirmish on the Highway takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indian King Tavern Museum, Haddonfield.(Photo: King Tavern Museum)

Skirmish on the Highway, Saturday, June 3 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Indian King Tavern Museum, Haddonfield. The British are coming to Haddonfield! Starting at 10 a.m., members of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment (Continentals) will start walking from Indian King Tavern and members of the 1st regiment (Loyalists) will make their way through the village of Haddonfield. At 1 p.m., both regiments will meet on Kings Highway in front of the Tavern Museum where the skirmish will begin. After the smoke clears, meet members of both regiments at Indian River Tavern to learn more about the lives of Revolutionary War soldiers. Also visit the Museum's backyard for some fun activities and shopping. For more information, visit http://www.indiankingfriends.org

More: Have a blast this summer without leaving South Jersey

Appel Farm Music & Wine Festival. June 3, 3 - 8 PM | June 4, noon to 5 p.m.,Appel Farm, Elmer. Appel Farm and Bank of America has expanded this event into a special two-day experience that brings together regional artists, musicians, wineries and craft beer by Flying Fish Brewery. The festival's performance line-up includes Hotsy Totsy, Christopher Davis-Shannon, JUTUAN, Swing THAT Cat, Deidre Finnegan and Dave Cohen, Greg Jones Project, and Joe Crookston. Headlining Sundays performances is David Uosikkinens In The Pocket featuring members of The Hooters, The As, The Soul Survivors, Smash Palace, Ben Arnold, Jeffrey Gaines and more. Guests can sample wine from regional Vintage Atlantic Wineries, shop at Culinary Grove and Crafts Faire, grab a bite to eat from one of the on-site food trucks or enjoy a micro-brew. Guests are invited to camp overnight or stay in a group cabin and enjoy a bonfire, s'mores and a private concert. For more information, visit http://www.appelfarm.org/music-wine-festival

New Jersey Renaissance Faire. June 3 & 4 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Liberty Lake, Bordentown. The New Jersey Renaissance Faire, now in its 8th season, is the largest gathering of performers, artists, artisan merchants, and eccentric patrons in New Jersey! On Liberty Lake patrons can enjoy eight hours of entertainment on seven stages, including sword fighting, music, circus performers, comedy, fire eating and jousting between actual knights.Merchants sell beautiful, handcrafted items and clothing, including a blacksmith and world-class glassblower. With food like giant pickles and turkey legs, patrons will have a day they will never forget at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. Can't make it this weekend? No worries, the Renaissance Faire will be back for June 10 and 11. For more information, visitnjrenfaire.com

Burlington County Annual Earth Fair. Sunday, June 4 | 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Historic Smithville Park, Eastampton. Burlington County's Annual Earth Fair returns each year to Historic Smithville Park featuring vendors, entertainment for all ages, and kids activities with an environmental twist. This family event focuses on ways to protect and enjoy our environment. Children's activities will include trash sculpting, paper making, storytelling, face painting and much more. There will also be Green vendors, artists, crafters, activity providers and performers that have a earth-friendly theme. For more information, visit http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/573/Annual-Festivals

Gloucester County Water Fest. Sunday, June 4 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Scotland Run Park, Clayton. The 19th Annual Water Fest is Gloucester County's largest environmental fair featuring "Wild World of Animals,'' kids activities exhibits, crafts, food, music, canoeing, kayaking and more. The event is free and held rain or shine. For more information, visit http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov

Taste of South Jersey. Monday, June 5 | 6 to 9 p.m., Battleship New Jersey, Camden Waterfront. For the second year in a row Taste of South Jersey brings us a detectable night out on the fantail of the Battleship New Jersey.This year visitors will sample delicacies from more than 16 restaurants from throughout South Jersey. The types of foods offered will range from soup to salad to entree to dessert and at the end you can vote for your favorites. There will also be a cash bar available. For more information, visitwww.camdencountychamber.com/calendar-of-events/#id=10236&wid=501&cid=1173

On-the-Town Food Tours offer an edible journey through downtowns in New Jersey.(Photo: On-the-Town Food Tours)

A Taste of Collingswood. Saturday, June 10 | 1 to 4 p.m., downtown Collingswood. Collingswood's Haddon Avenue has main street charm and is lined with arestaurant row. The tour starts with Indian appetizers, then you'll have an opportunity to sample a variety of Argentinian-style empanadas, authentic handcrafted Mexican dishes, and a unique tasting experience of olive oils and vinegar from around the world. The day will close with savory snacks of gourmet popcorn and artisan chocolate treats. For more information, visit http://www.onthetownfoodtours.com

For more events, check out VisitSouthJersey.com

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June starts with a bang with 11 SJ events - Cherry Hill Courier Post

Babies. Just the word can make you smile. And that baby smell (the other one) its more relaxing than a visit to the Dalai Lama. But what goes on inside those little, developing brains can be puzzling.

Luckily, we know from brain scans and observational studies just how much, right from the start, infants are tuned in and reacting to the events and people around them. And we know what provides the nutrients a youngun needs to develop his or her full intellectual and emotional potential. The short menu is LARIS + L: love, attention, responsiveness, interaction, stimulation and then more love. If you, Mom and Dad, provide those nutrients, it makes all the difference.

Frequent, affectionate interaction, with touch, eye contact, lots and lots of words and songs, is essential. Children learn social behaviors, language, facts and ideas from love and human interaction. Studies show that they DO NOT learn as well from TVs, digital games or electronic programs even if those are delivering information specifically designed for infants and children.

One notable study 20 years ago found that children who are spoken to a lot from the get-go with complex sentences, explanations of whats around them and interactive questions even before they seem to understand, end up with higher IQs at age 3 and better school performance at age 9. And subsequent research reinforces that its hearing words from another person not a TV, video or audio tape that offers learning opportunities and the intellectual stimulation needed to thrive.

In fact, a new study presented this month at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting looked at 894 children ages 6 months to 2 years and found that 20 percent of them were spending at least 28 minutes a day playing with a handheld digital device. And for every 30-minute increase in handheld screen time, the kids had a 49 percent increased risk of expressive speech delay! So put your cellphone in your pocket or bag, not your kids hands! Then talk to your child as you wheel him or her in a stroller or ride in the car. Point out your surroundings. Interact.

Other essentials for nurturing your infants brain development include good nutrition and a routine of sufficient sleep.

As your child switches from breast milk (exclusive during the first 6 months, then complemented with solids up to 12-24 months) or formula to solid foods, you want to make sure he or she gets a full range of nutrients essential for cognitive development. Nutrients (especially choline, folic acid, zinc, iron and special fats like omega-3 DHA) actually can modify gene structure and expression, effecting brain growth and development. To make sure your infant and toddler gets those building blocks, a varied diet rich in vegetables, healthy oils such as extra-virgin olive oil, fiber from grains and cereals, and proteins from antibiotic- and hormone-free meats and salmon will do the trick.

A calm routine of sufficient sleep also allows the brain to develop as it should. Newborns sleep about 10.5 to 18 hours a day, with irregular wake times lasting one to three hours. Up to 12 months, babies need nine to 12 hours at night. They also take 30 minute to two-hour naps up to four times daily. Toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep every 24 hours, with decreasing naptimes. When kids are deprived of necessary sleep, some studies indicate that it stunts neurodevelopment, is linked to hyperactivity and reduces school performance.

So envelop your child with affectionate words and touch; talk, sing, play soothing music; and read to your child, even as a young infant. Eliminate digital devices from cribs, strollers and little hands! Make sure to provide sufficient nutrition and establish a healthy sleep routine. These steps not only provide a secure emotional base, but help brain development at every stage and age during your childs formative first years.

The You Docs' column runs in Wednesday's Extra.

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The You Docs: Baby brain boosters - Roanoke Times

On June 28 at 6:30 p.m., the Jackson Library will host a workshop from Ocean County SCORE that is designed to educate entrepreneurs and help small businesses start, grow and succeed. The program is for adults. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400; option 4.

The documentary Destinys Bridge will be shown at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 434 Aldrich Road, Howell, at 1 p.m. June 10. The screening is free and open to the public. Destinys Bridge focuses on a former tent city in the woods of Lakewood which served as a home to people who did not have a permanent residence. Refreshments provided by Thrivent Financial Group.

A multi-family community yard sale will be held at Jensens Deep Run community center on June 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rain or shine. All are welcome. The entrance is on Route 537, a short distance east of the Route 537 and Route 539 intersection, Cream Ridge. Turn at Longview Trail, proceed to stop sign, community center is on the right (20 Longview Trail, Cream Ridge, Plumsted Township).

The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey invites members of the public to its June dinner meeting on June 8 at 7 p.m. at Frankie Feds, 831 Route 33, Freehold Township. The restaurant is BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.

DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, will host its annual flea market and bake sale on June 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend. There will be a food concession with breakfast and lunch items. Interested vendors may call Sue at 732-928-0352 to reserve table space ($10). Details: debowsumc.org

A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held on June 13 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake, at 11 a.m. Monmouth County Surrogate Rosemarie Peters will discuss wills and the Surrogates Office. The associations annual philanthropic award will be presented. Members are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the food bank and school supplies for Bridges at the Shore. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732 995-7754. New members are always welcome.

The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will sponsor a member and family picnic at Oak Tree Lodge, Wall Township, on June 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food, entertainment, games and activities. The cost is $5 for members; non-member guests, $35. Children under 5 are free. Guests age 5 to 11 are $15 per person. Details: Sue, 732 995-7754.

On June 5 at 6 p.m., the Jackson Library will host Martin Mosho as he discusses Unsung Heroines The Role of Women in the American Civil War. Mosho will discuss womens roles as volunteers, nurses, spies and combatants. The program is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, on June 11. Cost of the trip is $34 which includes bus transportation, sandwich, chips and beverage on the bus, $25 back in slot play from the casino and gratuity for the driver. Bus leaves at noon and returns at 9 p.m. Proceeds benefit local organizations. For reservations, call Tom Barchie, 732-207-4029 or 732-849-6309.

The Jim Hall Memorial Homeless Vets Motorcycle Run and BBQ/Picnic will be held at noon June 24 at Jackson Elks Lodge No. 2744, 1059 East Veterans Highway, Jackson. Tickets are $25. Registration for the ride starts at 9 a.m. and the ride kicks off at 10 a.m. Food, beverages, entertainment by the Mangos and vendors. Proceeds of the day benefit homeless veterans. Details: joelamo90@gmail.com

The Monmouth County Park System is seeking vendors for its Eco-Elephant Family Flea Market to be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 17 at the Dorbrook Recreation Area, Route 537, Colts Neck. Individuals, businesses, nonprofits and crafters are welcome. Vendors must provide their own table and merchandise. Cost: $30 per space. Reserve a space at http://www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Details: Al Weaver, 732-542-1642, ext. 31.

A program on the Art of Meditation for Beginners will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 6. The program is for adults. Participants will learn about different techniques of meditation that may work best for them. Program led by Shazia Zaman. Wear comfortable clothes. No experience required. The program is free and walk-ins are welcome. Details: 732-928-4400.

The film Under One Sky: Arab Women in North America Talk About the Hijab will be shown at the Jackson Library at 7 p.m. June 12. The film is for adults. Arab women living in North America explain the ideologies behind the hijab (veil). Followed by Q&A with Mariam Jalabi, director, Syrian National Coalition, United Nations. The program is free and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host the seventh annual Verity Academy Piano Recital from 2-4 p.m. June 17. Classical music will be performed by students of the Verity Academy. All ages welcome. Registration required. To register, call 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

The Jackson Library will host a Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. July 31. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood. All blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID. Visit http://www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.

A coloring for adults program will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 20. Rediscover the joys of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshment and relaxing music. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration is open now. Details: 732-928-4400.

Adults 18 and over can create their own rainbow clay necklace at 2 p.m. June 22 at the Jackson Library. Supplies provided. Seating is limited. Registration required. Registration opens June 9. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host an Adventure in Art workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 10. The workshop includes hands-on instruction by artist Nancy Bonta Voitko. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration opens May 8. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Upper Freehold-Allentown Municipal Alliance will host Bike Night 2017 on June 7. All makes and models of bikes are welcome. American and metric bikes will be present. A car show will be held on June 28. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Both events will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Roost at the Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Upper Freehold Township. Door prizes, judging, awards, music, food and beverages. Vendor opportunities are available. There is no entry fee, but donations for the alliance are accepted. Details:609-758-7738, ext. 230.

The Jackson Librarys knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.

New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.

St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email St AloysiusGonzagaGroup@gmail.com.

Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@newspapermediagroup.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.

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Tri-Town News Datebook, May 31 - centraljersey.com

Published time: 30 May, 2017 21:09 Edited time: 31 May, 2017 11:42

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh, said that the Muslim preachers who have been recently approving singing and listening to music by worshipers were being insubordinate, local media report.

Abdul Aziz Al ash-Sheikh said that such "recalcitrant" preachers went against their own convictions, by changing their stance after decades of banning music.

The Grand Mufti also criticized preachers who used fictional stories in their sermons and in advising their flock.

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We have the book of God (the Koran), its enough and there is no need for such fairy tales, he said, as cited by Okaz daily.

According to the Grand Mufti, the Muslim faith strictly forbids such things as listening to music and singing.

However, some Saudi preachers have been recently insisting that the ban on music in Islam was questionable.

Last year, the imam of Quba Mosque in Madinah, Sheikh Saleh Al-Maghamsi, said that Saudi Arabia where concerts have been outlawed for decades was in bad need of novelty and modernization.

As for music, three Muslim scholars have said different things,Maghamsi who believes that only singing, but not music, should be banned was cited by Arab News.

The Saudi General Entertainment Authority has been pushing for relaxing the strict Sharia rules in the country.

In his interview with Reuters in April, the Authoritys head, Ahmed al-Khatib, said that Riyadh could be transformed 99 percent to look like London or New York.

In March, live music has made its comeback to the Saudi capital with renowned Arab singers, Rashed al-Majed and Mohammed Abdu, performing in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the 1980s.

The entertainment authoritys primary goal was the reintroduction of cinemas across Saudi Arabia, Khatib said.

READ MORE: Saudi Arabia's first Comic Con penalized for 'violation'

However, Khatib said that the entertainment reforms will only be implemented if the population desires them.

READ MORE: 'Dont open doors to evil': Top Saudi cleric calls concerts & cinemas a 'depravity'

Abdul Aziz Al ash-Sheikh, who heads the opposition to the move, has previously warned that cinemas will bring rotten and atheistic movies to the country.

Read more:

Top Saudi cleric slams preachers who approve music & singing - RT