We will be opening late the 9th, due to County directors' meeting in Guthrie Center. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Join us for Story Time every Monday at 10 a.m. in the Menlo Library!

Menlo Public Library Hours
Monday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am-12:00pm,  2:00pm – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Thursday CLOSED
Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday CLOSED

​Media Release-Immediate Release            March 1, 2021
 
 
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices County!!  For Early Childhood
Partnerships 4 Families, Early Childhood Iowa Area- Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties
Cindy Duhrkopf, Area Director  p4fchildren@gmail.com or 712-790-7437
 
Partnerships 4 Families is partnering with IDPH and other early childhood providers in Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties to promote the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! initiative to families with young children in our four county area. 
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! is part of the Healthiest State Initiative and has resources for Early Care & Education to promote 5 fruits and vegetables a day, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 or more hours of activity a day and 0 sugary drinks.  Communities, businesses, schools and individuals across Iowa have promoted the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! it is also a nationally recognized and evidence based prevention framework to promote healthy habits.
Partnerships 4 Families the Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) area for Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties worked with Iowa Department of Public Health and many local early childhood programs to fill a 5-2-1-0 bag with information and items for parents to increase the physical activity and healthy eating of their young children.  Local early childhood providers also included information about their services and other initiatives focused on young children. 
Bags were recently delivered to early childhood programs, child care centers and registered child care providers in the four county ECI area for direct distribution to children two-three years of age.  Bags are also available at local libraries where families with children ages two or three can stop by and pick up a bag. Families must live in one of the four counties served by Partnerships 4 Families.
On March 31st at 5:00 a live drawing will take place on the Partnerships 4 Families Facebook page for 10 baskets filled with more fun activities and a $20 gift certificate to a local grocery store for the purchase of fruits and vegetables.  Information is provided in the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! bags for information on how to sign up.
Partnerships 4 Families encourages healthy behaviors and wants “All Children beginning at Birth to be Healthy and Successful.” Find out more about Partnerships 4 Families at partnerships4families.org and Early Childhood Iowa at earlychildhood.iowa.gov

Amanda Nourse was live on Facebook from the Menlo Library on Saturday 8/8/20. Below are some of Amanda’s tips for boosting the immune system and staying healthy. To view the full video you can go to the Menlo, Iowa Our Hometown page and click on the video from 8/8/20. Below is a very brief Q&A sheet.
 
Amanda’s background: Bachelors in Exercise Science, Certified Trainer through the ACE and NASM, Certified Nutrition Specialist, and Medical Exercise Specialist with 13 years of experience in fitness as well as health coaching experience.
 
Q1)We have heard a lot about social distancing and masks during Covid-19 but is there anything else we can be doing to stay healthy? 
 
A1-Water, the recommended amount is ½ your body weight in ounces of water a day. Coffee only counts for ½ of your water intake.  
A2-Sleep, 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended for adults. You are three times more likely to get sick with less than 7.
A3-Exercise, when you get done with a workout your immune system receives a boost. Recommended amount is 150 minutes a week of activity but even as little as 10 minutes a day can make a difference.
A4-Nutrition, fuel your body with proper nutrients, including fruits as vegetables as well as 70 grams of protein a day to maintain your immune system, possibly a protein shake. Amanda feels Multi vitamins are important. Avoid added sugar and processed foods.
A5-Try to Limit stress, it increases cortisol which affects our immune response.
A6-Outdoors, your body produces vitamin D naturally when you are exposed to sun. Vitamin D helps with the immune system and calcium and Phosphorus absorption.
 
Q2)You speak about health having no age limits. Can you talk about that especially for those over 50. 
A1-It has been scientifically proven that as long as we are alive our cells in our bodies are capable of change.
A2-Our body actually starts to change at 30 but you can still lose weight over 50.
A3-Exercise is the antidote to aging for your body and for your mind.
 
Q3)How do we keep the children and teens healthy and happy? 
A1-Socialization is important even if through an electronic device.
A2-Remember they are smaller versions of adults.
A3-Required sleep for an elementary child is 10-11 hours of sleep and teens 8.5-9 hours of sleep.
A4-Balanced meals, it is proven that children test better when eating better.
A5-Wright Pharmacy provides multivitamins for ages 4-12 free of charge.
A6-Being outdoors is important.
 
Q4)Some of us ate a lot of “comfort” foods during the past few months. What is the best way to get back on the right track? 
A1-Have grace with yourself but be willing to make that change.
A2-This is a good time of year to start before the holidays. It takes 21 days to make something a habit.
A3-Start with your biggest concern.
A4-It’s easier to add a habit then taking away a habit. Maybe add movement, increase water intake, get more sleep or protein.
A5-You have the power to change. Genetics only controls 20% of our health. 

The Menlo Public Library will host a Virtual Story time every Wednesday, beginning March 25th at 10:00 a.m., via Video Chat on Facebook Messenger. If you have not already given this a try, please message me on Facebook Messenger, or call me at the Menlo Library, 641-524-4201, if you are interested in joining the group. 

KHANACADEMY.ORG. Free online courses, lessons & Practice. A resource to keep everyone learning. I have spoken with teachers in New York, Colorado and Iowa and they all recommend Khan and even currently use it. 
Julie O'Brien, Director
​Menlo Public Library

United Way and the ISU Extension Office has a free, trusted, professionally curated information and human services referral service that helps Iowans find the help they need 24/7/365. 
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To access the 211 service, users may simply dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211, use  online chat system to interact with a live person, or visit our website at 211iowa.org or use the 211 Iowa App to access the complete database of services available on their own.