Reducing the effects of consumer culture

LEWISBURG — “I Want! I Want! I Want!: Building Good Consumers” is the title of a workshop being presented by Penn State Cooperative Extension. All early childhood practitioners and interested parents can participate in the workshop 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Union County Government Building, 155 North Fifteenth St.

Other area workshops will be at 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 13, at the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Columbia County at 702 Sawmill Road, Suite 102, Bloomsburg; or Jan. 14, 2009, at the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Northumberland County at 443 Plum Creek Road, Sunbury.

According to Vicki Lewis, Penn State Cooperative Extension family living educator, “Adults often unknowingly aid advertisers, who reap payoffs in billions of dollars of annual spending by child consumers. This workshop will examine advertising and consumer culture and offer ways to reduce its negative effects on young children.”

According to Mary Mahoney-Ferster, Community Engagement Coordinator, “Children are constantly bombarded by TV and the Internet with advertising for high-sugar, high-fat foods, toys and clothing. The ads are cleverly created to make sure children will want to own whatever is being sold.”

Seating is limited. Please call the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Union County at 966-8194 or visit the PA Keys Web site and register online at www.pakeys.org. Visit the Better Kid Care Web site at www.betterkidcare.psu.edu.

The workshop is developed and funded through cooperative efforts of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, a joint office of the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare, and the Pennsylvania State University, Better Kid Care Program.

Dog biscuits for sale

LAURELTON — Orders are being taken now for W.E.L.-made dog biscuits to benefit the West End Library. As they have been doing for several years, library trustees and other volunteers will bake the special treats as a fundraiser to support the library’s programs and services. The dog biscuits, which are available in small, medium, and large sizes, are packaged in 8-ounce bags for $3.50 per bag. They contain no trans-fats.

Orders will be accepted through Dec. 15 for the biscuits, which may be picked up at the library between Dec. 8 and Dec. 22. The library will not have a booth at Mifflinburg’s Christkindl Market this year. Visit the West End Library at 45 Ball Park Road in Laurelton or call 922-4773, 922-1342, or 922-4397 to order.

The West End Library is open from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday and Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The library will be closed for Thanksgiving.