Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 27, 2026 ~ Everett Public Libraries Calendar of Events ~ March 30–April 4 The Everett Public Libraries’ Annual Poetry Contest is back and now open to all ages. This year we are encouraging a poetic theme: 250 Years of Independence! This contest is open to all Everett residents with an Everett Public Libraries card. Submit an original poem by the April 17 deadline and you could win a prize, courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Everett. The Winners’ Recital and Awards Ceremony on April 28 will be a celebration for the books! Parlin Adult and Teens Parlin Book Group: Parlin Meeting Room and Zoom, Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m.; discuss Eric Puchner’s “Dream State” at the Parlin Library — recommended for ages 18 and up. Gaming Club: Parlin YA Room, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. Join us for board games and video games at the library! Bring your own or play what we have here — for ages 12 and up. Yarn Club: Parlin Fireplace Room, Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. Come chit-chat and stitch! Bring your crocheting, knitting or any other yarn craft and sit and socialize with other members of the crafting community — recommended for ages 14-109! Parlin Children’s April is National Poetry Month. Stop by either branch this month for fun and creative ways to express yourself through poetry. See website for more information. Grab n Go Crafts: Stop by the Parlin Children’s Room every Monday for a Grab and Go craft, a self-directed arts and crafts program for children ages Sa Sa a join Mrs. McAuliff e for a reading of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” a story about the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit. Bring your basket for an egg hunt in the courtyard after the story. Shute Adult and Teens Ready Player One Games: three to eight. Crafts can be taken home or crafted with a friend or caregiver at our children’s tables. No registration required, while supplies last. Lego Club: Parlin Children’s Room, Mondays from 3-5 p.m. Come to the Children’s Room after school on Mondays for some free Lego-building fun. Open to all ages; children under six years old must be accompanied by an adult; no registration required. Storytime and Sing-along with Karen: Parlin Children’s Room, Wednesday, April 1, at 11 a.m. Join us for a fun-fi lled morning of singing and storytelling with Karen! Suggested ages: newborn to six. Drama Class: Parlin Children’s Room, Wednesday, April 1, at 3 p.m. Do you have a drama queen or king at home? Drama Class in the Parlin Children’s Department is the perfect opportunity for your child to put those acting skills to use with our drama coach! Suggested ages 6-14. Storytime Adventures with Mrs. McAuliffe: Parlin Children’s Room, Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 a.m.; join Children’s Librarian Mrs. McAuliffe for our enchanting Story Time! You will be whisked away on magical adventures through the pages of your favorite books. Bring a friend or make a new one in our circle of friends. Peter Rabbit Story Time Adventure: Parlin Children’s Room, Friday, April 3, at 11 a.m.; Shute Meeting Room, April 1 at 2:30 p.m. Level up your Wednesdays with our ultimate gaming hangout! No registration required; recommended for ages 11 and up. Artisan’s Circle: Shute Meeting Room, Thursday, April 2, at 5:30 p.m. Join Artisan’s Circle, a creative open studio with a relaxed, welcoming space for artists and crafters of all levels to work, connect and get inspired! Open to ages 18 and up — no registration required. Shute Children’s Blackout Poetry: Stop by Shute Memorial Library Children’s Department throughout the month of April. Put your imagination to the test with Blackout Poetry! Can you fi nd a poem in someone else’s words? Recommended for ages sixplus. Children under eight may need extra guidance. Storytime at the Shute: Children’s Room, Mondays at 10 a.m. and Tuesdays at 12 p.m. What’s better than a good story? Sharing it with friends! Join Miss Val at the Shute Library for Fairytale Fun! Master Builders: Lego Freeplay: Shute Children’s Room, Thursdays from 3-5 p.m.; freeplay session with Legos and other building blocks. Bring a buddy, or make a new one, as you explore your imagination brick by brick! We provide the space and the materials to let your vision take shape. What will you create? Say y Senior enior Sen by Jim Miller Is Your Aging Parent Safe at Home? Dear Savvy Senior, After watching the coverage of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, I’m worried about my own elderly mother who lives alone in another state. I want to make sure she’s safe without being intrusive. Are there simple, aff ordable ways to check in on her from afar? --Concerned Son Dear Concerned, You’re not alone. High-profi le cases like this often heighten fears, especially for adult children whose parents live alone and may be vulnerable. The good news is there are several free or low-cost ways to stay connected and gain peace of mind without infringing on your mother’s independence. Here are some nice options to consider. Check-In App If your mother uses a smartphone, a simple solution is Snug (snugsafe.com), a free app that checks in daily to confi rm she’s OK. It’s used by tens of thousands of older adults who live alone and want their loved ones alerted quickly if something goes wrong. Here’s how it works: After downloading the app, your mother selects a daily checkin time. Snug sends several reminders leading up to that time, prompting her to confi rm she’s OK by tapping a large green button on her screen. If she doesn’t check in within 10 minutes after her scheduled time, the app automatically notifi es her emergency contacts and shares her last known location so help can be sent promptly. For added peace of mind, Snug also offers a Dispatch Plan ($20 per month or $200 per year) that includes multiple daily check-ins. If she misses one, Snug will call her directly to see if she’s OK. If there’s still no response, they can request an in-person wellness check by local authorities, who will visit her home to make sure she’s safe. The app works with both iPhone and Android devices. Check-In Calls If your mother doesn’t use a smartphone, a daily check-in call program can provide similar reassurance. Many police or sheriff’s departments nationwide off er telephone reassurance programs, often free of charge. Typically, an automated system calls at a set time each day. If she answers, all is well. If she doesn’t pick up after repeated attempts, or the call goes to voicemail, her emergency contact is notifi ed. If that contact can’t be reached, backup contacts are called. As a last resort, local police or emergency services may be dispatched to her home. To see if this service is available in your mother’s community, call her local police department’s nonemergency number or the Area Agency on Aging at 800-677-1116. If no local program exists, private companies like CareCall or Confi rmOK off er similar services for a monthly fee. Technology Aids You might also consider simple home technology to enhance her safety. Monitored medical alert systems are among the most common – wearable “help buttons,” some with fall detection, that allow her to call for help 24/7 while immediately notifying you. These typically cost around $1 per day. Other options include motion or contact sensors placed around the home to track daily routines and alert you to unusual activity, or a small security camera with night vision, motion detection and twoway audio that allows you to check in visually and even speak directly with her. Basic sensors and cameras can cost under $35, though they require Wi-Fi and do raise privacy considerations, so it’s important to discuss them with your mother beforehand. While no solution can eliminate every risk, these tools can provide meaningful peace of mind, for both you and your mother, while preserving her independence. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nr ior
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