What's happening around the world?

Feb. 6 Waitangi Day--On this day New Zealand celebrates the signing (1840) of the Waitangi Treaty, its founding document. For more information, visit https://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/features/events/events_celebrating-waitangi-day_feature.cfm

Monthly Events

American Heart Month. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, which points out that heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. To keep your heart healthy, watch your weight, stop smoking, stay away from secondhand smoke, and control your cholesterol and blood pressure. For more information visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/31/presidential-proclamation-american-heart-month-2011

Black History Month. In 1976, the nation’s bicentennial, President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Explore the contributions that African-Americans have made to the history and cultural development of the United States. For more information visit https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/

Library Lovers’ Month. A month long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone to recognize the value of libraries and to work to ensure that the nation’s libraries will continue to serve everyone. Do yourself a favor and visit your local library, it is not like it used to be. Be sure to visit your local library or check the Internet to see what events are taking place at your library this month.

National Grapefruit Month. Grapefruit juice is naturally loaded with the antioxidant vitamin C, which boosts the immune system, as well as Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke. All this and they taste good too!

Weekly Events

Boy Scout Anniversary Week, Feb. 5-11. Modeled after Robert Baden-Powell’s Scouting movement in Britain, the Boy Scouts of America was introduced to the United States on Feb. 8, 1910, by Chicago publisher W.D. Boyce “to teach patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values.” For more information visit, https://bsa-la.org/index.php?page=anniversary-week

National School Counseling Week, Feb. 6-10. Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association to highlight the impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career, and to focus public attention on the important contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. For more information visit https://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=271

National Future Farmers of America Week, Feb. 18–25. The week of George Washington’s birthday was designated as National Future Farmers of America Week in 1947. FFA Week always runs from Saturday to Saturday, and is designed to educate the public about agriculture. For more information visit https://www.ffa.org/Pages/default.aspx#

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb. 26-March 3. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses. NEDAwareness Week seeks to recognize the pressures, attitudes, and behaviors that shape the disorder; prevent eating disorders and body image issues; reduce the stigma surrounding eating disorders; and improve access to treatment.

Daily Events

Groundhog Day, Feb. 2. If the groundhog sees his shadow, we’re in for six more weeks of winter.

World Cancer Day, Feb. 4. Each year on Feb. 4, the World Health Organization promotes ways to ease the global burden of cancer. WHO estimates that without intervention 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015.

Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Send your sweetheart some flowers. Go ahead ladies surprise your man with a strong flower, something like the big, bold colored gerbera.

PTA Founders Day, Feb 17. A reminder of the substantial role that the Parent Teacher Association plays in supporting parent involvement and working on behalf of all children and families.

National Women’s Heart Day, Feb. 21. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. The good news is that heart disease is preventable: Be sure to exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, and don’t smoke.

Leap Year Day, Feb. 29. Every four years, a day is added to February to keep the calendar in balance.