10/17 - Ann Arbor Family by Adams Street Publishing Co.

FREE OCTOBER 2017

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Parents talk homework

How much is too much?

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Get schooled

Learn about your options in the Open House Guide

Trick or treat? Halloween Happenings that offer both

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• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

Volume 22 • Issue 10 October 2017

[special features]

OPEN HOUSE GUIDE Tricks, treats, and everything in between

departments community snapshots

what’s briefly happening

A Lesson on Options Learn about local schools in the Open House Guide

Onlinein October

exceptional families 8

When Kids Reject Sports:

tween the lines 9

Enough is Enough Parents talk homework

October Giveaway

Keeping Kids Active When They Avoid Team Sports

ask the expert 10

By Sarah Lyons

calendar 21 — compiled by Lo Rowry

marketplace 23

commentary

An Exchanged Life 10

Two teens, two locations

A friendship sparked by an exchange program — by Emily Qalandarova

parent profile 16 Music for Kids

Randly Kaplan plays for the whole family — by Heidi Alene Harris

healthy kids 17

Nursing in Public

Mastering the art of sneaking a meal — by Christa Melnyk Hines

food fight 20

Hot Dogs and Honduran Cuisine Finding both at Antonio’s Coney Island — by Katy M. Clark

13 Not-Too-Scary Halloween Movies The Whole Family Can Enjoy Together

By Christina Katz

[Always online]

Make sure your child has an exciting, fun break by using our Summer Camp Guide to find the perfect place to jump, play and meet friends before school starts.

FIND LIKE AND FOL LOW US

Blogs by local moms, for local moms, are at your fingertips. Relatable and hilarious reads online.

Pacific Baby estimates that about 90% of baby feeding items today are made from petroleum-based plastics that are horrible for your baby’s health, and wreak havoc on our environment— taking up to 1,000 years to degrade and choking our oceans and landfills. Skip the hazards and try out three items from the world’s largest range of wholesome and eco-friendly baby feeding items. This giveaway includes the awardwinning, safe, and durable Natural Bamboo Feeding Spoons, a Hot-Tot Insulated Bottle, and a GroGrow Everyday Baby Bottle.

facebook.com/annarborfamily pinterest.com/annarborfamily twitter.com/annarborfamily

annarborfamily.com Join us and our 600+ followers for laughs, updates & parenting discussions.

Enter online at annarborfamily.com

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

Adams Street Publishing Co.

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An inside look at what we’re loving for parents this month

Do you love or loathe pumpkin spice? Publisher/Editor in Chief

Collette Jacobs (cjacobs@toledoparent.com) team psl.

Co-publisher/Chief Financial Officer Mark I. Jacobs (mjacobs@toledoparent.com) loathe.

Farmer chic

There’s something about autumn that makes us want to head to a farm with our little ones and pet chickens, pick apples and enjoy the crisp weather and warm sunshine. So, we couldn’t be more excited to tell you that The Little Seedling has cloth diaper covers from Thirsties in a new, farmer chic print: Country Harvest. We know this baby and children’s boutique knows what they’re doing when it comes to keeping kids happy (and dry)— when they opened fourteen years ago, cloth diapers were their signature item! Shop these super-cute, pliable, breathable, ultra-comfortable and waterproof cloth diaper covers that are perfect for cider sippin’ and apple pickin’. Thirsties Duo Wraps in Country Harvest are available online, or in store, for $14.99, with two sizes available (0-9 months and 9-36+ months). The Little Seedling, 2121 W. Stadium Blvd., 734-418-2392. thelittleseedling.com

Fantastic coloring

Kids are natural explorers, so we were pretty excited to find a coloring book that will satisfy their astronomically sized sense of adventure. Help your children explore space and time with the Surveyors of Space Coloring Book from Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, or online at onwardrobots.com Inside, discover stores and coloring pages featuring fantastic planets. Written by Ms. Koska's Third-Grade Class at Maybury Elementary in Detroit, this book is full of out-of-this-world inspiration. All proceeds directly benefit the free student programs offered at 826michigan, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for students aged 6 to 18. $7. Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, 115 E. Liberty St., 734-761-3463. onwardrobots.com

Yes, she did.

Being a little girl isn’t always easy. Especially at the beginning of a new school year— full of new faces and new rules— staying strong and speaking out can be intimidating. Give your mini-feminist a history lesson in American women who fought to be heard, with Chelsea Clinton’s new book, She Persisted. Featuring 13 stories of inspirational women, like Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, and Helen Keller, who never took “no” for an answer, this kind of picture book is the confidence boost women of all ages can benefit from. Available at My Urban Toddler, in store or online, for $17.99. My Urban Toddler at Arbor Hills, 3010 Washtenaw Ave. Suite 107. 734-585-0788. myurbantoddler.com

KIDS HOROSCOPE September 22 October 23 By Kimmie Rose

Your Libra child likes their life to have balance and they are natural peacemakers. This month they will be unusually quiet and detached. It’s important as a parent to know that your child isn’t depressed or sad, but that they are spending some time alone getting to know their own likes and dislikes. Because your little Libra holds the scales of balance it is important to honor their need for silence but to also give them a way to communicate, without tipping the scales off balance. Put up a chalk or whiteboard and leave a notebook so that kids and parents can communicate through words and pictures! This will allow your Libra, quietly contemplating within themselves, a way of letting you know their needs or how they feel. Keep the board up after the month is done. You will find they love to express themselves this way.

Editorial

Assignment Editor Laura Eliason

(editor@annarborfamily.com) LOVE! Calendar Lo Rowry (calendar@annarborfamily.com) Love. Associate Editor Athena Cocoves (athena@adamsstreetpublishing.com) love enough that i assume everyone who says otherwise is lying. Staff Writer Jeff Klima (jklima@adamsstreetpublishing.com) My wife loves it. does that count? Calendar Mara Kalinoski (calendar@adamsstreetpublishing.com) ONLY IN BAKED GOODS. Contributing Writers Katy M. Clark, Aimee Grant Eldon, Carolyn Jabs, Christa Melnyk Hines, Heidi Alene Harris, Donna Iadipaolo, April Huard, Emily Qalandarova, Christina Katz and Sarah Lyons.

Art/Production

Production Manager Imani Lateef (imani@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Love. Senior Designer Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Pie and Bread only...NOT COFFEE! Graphic Design loathe more than love. Kelli Miller (kmiller@adamsstreetpublishing.com) LOVE all things pumpkin.

Advertising

Sales Coordinator Jenny Leach (sales@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Love! Especially Pumpkin Choc chip cookies!! Sales/ Classifieds Catherine Bohr (classifieds@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Proud to say i’ve never had a PSL.

Administration

Accounting Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@toledoparent.com) LOVE!

Distribution Anne Harrington (distribution@adamsstreetpublishing.com) LOVE IT!

Digital Advertising/General Info

For advertising and general information, call 419-244-9859 or fax 419-244-9871. E-mail ads to adsin@adamsstreetpublishing.com. Deadline for advertising copy 2 p.m. Friday before publication. Toledo Area Parent subscriptions are available by mail for $30 per year at Adams Street Publishing, 1120 Adams St., Toledo, Ohio 43604. One copy free per person per week; extra copies $1 each. Persons taking copies for any reason other than personal use are subject to prosecution.

Tech Manager Saul Jacobs (saul@adamsstreetpublishing.com) Loathe. Web Guru Ashley Boardman (digitalmedia@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I worked in a coffee shop for five years. I’m over PSL’s and all things pumpkin.

Letters to the editor must be limited to 300 words, are subject to editing, and should include the writer’s full name and phone number. Any letter submitted to the editor or publisher may be printed at the publisher’s discretion in issues subsequent to its receipt. Entire contents © 2017 by Adams Street Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission of the publisher. Also publishers of:

sudeepstudio.com

Audited by

On the cover Chole, 4, Ann Arbor

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

Compiled by Athena Cocoves

Ann Arbor mom’s forced goodbye

Lourdes Salazar Bautista lived in Ann Arbor for 20 years, but the mother of three U.S. citizens was detained in July by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement). Despite rallies, community support, and Ann Arbor City Council voting unanimously to approve a resolution asking the federal government for a stay of deportation, Salazar Bautista was forced to go back to Mexico. The deportation of the single mother with no criminal record left a 13-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl without a parent or legal guardian. Salazar Bautista’s eldest daughter, a 19-year-old, sophomore at Michigan State University, is now responsible for the children. In 2010, Bautista’s husband was deported. To help support Lourdes and her family, visit youcaring.com/lourdessalazar-885526.

Learning naturally

Preschool is an opportunity for young children to learn how to learn. Want to make sure your child is ready and excited for kindergarten and elementary school? The newly-opened Elements Preschool for Natural Learning makes sure children ages 2 to 5 learn naturally. The play-based natural learning center enhances imagination, curiosity and excitement about the world through a special curriculum designed to immerse children in the natural world. Children explore, observe and learn math and science, arts, creative expression, language and literacy through unique methods designed to help young students become more self-aware, confident and responsible. Full and half day options are available and the school is open year round, 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. For more information and to learn how to enroll, see online. 5141 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor. 734-272-9724. Elementspreschoolmi.com

Increased area cancer care

Play safe

For most kids, playgrounds are an exciting place to run, jump, and climb. But what about children, and adults, with disabilities? Monkey bars, climbing structures, tall slides, and other typical playgrounds structures aren’t accessible to all. In December 2016, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor gave Ann Arbor City Council $450,000 to use toward building a $1.1 million universal-access playground (UAP) at Gallup Park. Last month, the UAP opened, providing a safe and inclusive place for every child. The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (CIL) provided input for the design, which includes a water/sand play area, a sensory garden, adaptive swings and unitary surfacing, which allows an easy transition from the sidewalk to play areas. Trees provide shade for children and families who want to get out of the heat and direct sunshine. The park has been carefully designed to exceed the minimum accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Rd., a2gov.org

In 1993, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor opened the area’s first comprehensive cancer center, the Robert H. and Judy Dow Alexander Cancer Center. Last month, the hospital broke ground on a new $24 million Cancer Center. The 66,000-square-foot facility will be able to serve the hospital’s growing number of patient, using the latest medical technologies, researchdriven treatments, and revolutionized clinical and support services. “This new state-of-the-art facility will help cancer patients and their families by combining the very best in prevention, screening, research, treatment and support all in one location,” said Dave Brooks, president, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston hospitals. Patient care will continue on St. Joe’s Ann Arbor campus during construction. Infusion, exam rooms, staff offices and research will relocate in September to the Michigan Orthopedic Center (5315 Elliott Dr.) and Reichert Health Building (5333 McAuley Dr.). Radiation Oncology will remain in its current location in the existing Cancer Center during construction. Completion of the new Center is set for November 2019. 6

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

Sava on the farm

At 23-years-old, Sava Lelcaj Farah opened her first restaurant— the wildly successful Sava’s, a farm-to-table restaurant with unique and delicious American cuisine. As Farah grew up, her businesses, SavCo Hospitality and Tavolina Catering & Events, did too. She opened the Spanish restaurant and tapas bar, Aventura, in 2013. Now, Farah plans for her next venture— a full-service, Napa-inspired restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor event space on a 6.5-acre property in Superior Township, just east of Ann Arbor, at 5400 Plymouth Rd., the former location of The Lord Fox and Roger’s Monk. The facility will undergo considerable renovation with an opening slated for next spring.

Detroit flavors filling Kerrytown

Phillis Engelbert and Joel Panozzo, the vegan restaurateurs behind The Lunch Room, have opened a fourth venture, Detroit Street Filling Station, in Kerrytown at 300 Detroit St., in the former Argiero’s space. Serving a seasonally-changing menu of international vegan fare made with fresh, local produce, the Detroit Street Filling Station offers outdoor seating, lunch, dinner and drinks. Reservations are available for parties of 2-4 people. 10am-10pm, Tuesday-Saturday. 10am-3pm, Sunday brunch. 734-224-2161. thelunchrooma2.com

SPECIAL Needs Issue Date: Nov. 1st, Reserve By Oct. 15th RESERVE SPACE NOW!! Call 734.668.4044 or Email Sales@AdamsStreetPublishing.com

Satisfy your thirst

When you only have sugary-drinks, sodas, and other unhealthy beverages available, it can start to feel like healthy drinks are experiencing a dry-spell. Want to satisfy your thirst? DROUGHT, a cold-pressed raw juice company based in Royal Oak, has opened their sixth location in Ann Arbor at 204 E. Washington St., near Arbor Brewing Company. Founded by four sisters seven years ago, the company is now the leading certified USDA organic juice brand in the Midwest and first-to-market in Michigan. 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday. 9am-6pm, Saturday. 11am-6pm, Sunday. 734-531-6065. Droughtjuice.com

Bagged by the recession

Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern has shut down its Ann Arbor restaurant, as well as its locations in Woodhaven and Brighton. The Ann Arbor restaurant opened in 2008. Twelve other locations remain in Michigan.

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

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The Life of a Child Life Specialist Positivity and comfort in scary situations By Emily Qalandarova

Working as a Child Life Specialist in the Radiation Oncology clinic at the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital, Kristan Freitag’s goal is to help patients and families cope with the hospital setting, how to get through procedures in the least threatening way and provide opportunities for children to still be children, even though they are in the hospital and have uncertainties, fears, and confusion.

Preparation is the first step

When it comes to preparing kids for procedures and treatment, “a lot of it is medical play, to learn, and give them an opportunity to become more familiar with treatment, equipment, and practice procedures, so treatment is less scary,”

says Freitag. Preparation is helpful to minimize fear and anxiety, provide clarification, improve cooperation, and promote long-term coping with medical challenges. Child Life Specialists employ procedure preparation, medical play, coping methods and plans, support, and distraction techniques, tailored to each patient, to prepare patients for the “what” and “why”. They do this by explaining, modeling, or with demonstrations helping children become more comfortable with a procedure.

Developing a coping plan

Once a child is ready for treatment, Freitag works to develop a coping plan, which may involve choosing music and audio books to listen to during treatments,

or colors and designs for brain radiation masks. “Once they have their routine set up and know what their music will be, have their mask, a blanket, et cetera, I focus on providing opportunities for play and positive experiences, support for siblings to still feel connected, and helping parents come up with ideas and plans.” The clinic, for both adults and children, also helps adult patients and their children, so the child knows where mom or dad is coming every day, and introducing the child to the parent’s medical team.

everyone has the best outcomes following treatment. Seeing families going through heartbreaks can be very challenging.” In those trying times, her team comes together for support, debriefing, and coping. When families are going through these incredibly scary times, “it is such an honor to provide support and smiles. It is a very special career and I cannot imagine doing anything else.”

A Child Life Specialist at heart

Freitag acknowledged that her work is certainly not all play. “There are definitely days that are harder. I meet a lot of amazing children and families, but not

Proven value of Child Life Specialists In 2011, Freitag started tracking patient and staff satisfaction rates and amount of sedation used. With sedation, children face: n

Fasting before procedures

Enduring recovery periods

Feeling sick

Great stress

After 6 months, through Child Life techniques, sedation rates dropped from 40% to 4%.

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

tween the lines

advice for parents with children 10-16

Effective mental health practices are brought to school

Elizabeth Koschmann PhD is one of the founders of the TRAILS program.

By Donna Iadipaolo

The new Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, based on a novel about teen suicide, has raised tacknowledged awareness of teen mental health to the level of national discussion. Everyday pressures and mental health concerns are a challenge for teens; but how can parents and adults help? The locally developed TRAILS Program (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is designed to bring effective mental health practices to youth where they spend much of their time— in schools.

Training professionals to intervene

Elizabeth Koschmann, PhD, is Assistant Research Scientist with the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry and one of the founders of the TRAILS program, described how in 2013 staff at an Ann Arbor high school approached the University of Michigan Depression Center as they were seeing a number of students with mental health concerns, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. Koschmann met with counselors, school psychologists, social workers, and others to gather information. Koschmann then wrote a pilot grant proposal to the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research to be implemented at Skyline and Pioneer High Schools. “Skyline, Pioneer, Pathways, and Community have all been involved in the past,” said Koschmann, “and are now serving their students independently. We have now shifted our training for the time being to coach development in order to bring the program to scale statewide.”

Photo credit: Will Del Rosario.

TRAILS Program Creates Helpful Paths TRAILS consists of a one-day seminar training school professionals in evidencebased mental health practices followed by 3-4 months of coaching available at the school. The focus of the training is on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. Koschmann said it is important to consider that the part of the brain that helps control impulsivity is developing during the adolescent years. This makes CBT and mindfulness strategies particularly helpful for young people to cultivate skills that delay gratification, tighten selfawareness, and become more attuned to why they are making certain decisions.

TRAILS is making an impact

According to Koschmann, students are impacted in a number of direct ways such as participating in CBT/Mindfulness groups, gaining access to evidencebased practices, completing assessment measures in conjunction with their skills, group participation that documents improvement/deterioration of symptoms, receiving assistance with referrals/recommendations for community-based treatment. Students are also impacted indirectly, according to Koschmann, as their school professionals are better prepared to provide them with evidence-based services, their school culture is shifted to be more aware of mental illnesses and associated symptoms, and their peers are receiving earlier/more effective treatment. Koschmann explains that the feedback received from the program has been “overwhelmingly enthusiastic.”

Andrew Nalepa School Psychologist at Skyline High School and TRAILS co-founder Elizabeth Koschmann PhD during a student CBT and Mindfulness group. “Professionals tell us that they are overwhelmed by student needs and students are presenting with very serious mental health concerns: depression, anxiety, exposure to trauma, homelessness, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, sexual assault, all kinds of difficulties,” said Koschmann.

Red flags for parents

Parents and families can be involved as well. “I don’t think parents have to be frightened if their kids are moody or irritable, or go through times of withdrawal, or want to spend time in their rooms, that is actually normal,” said Koschmann. “But when it interferes with daily functioning, or goals that the kid has, or activities and responsibilities important to

long-term goals, that is cause for concern. If kids stop being able to attend class, stop being able to socialize, struggle with basic self-care and hygiene, stop with physical activity or exercise—those are some of the bigger red flags.” As a whole, parents, families, teachers, counselors, and school staff need to work together to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for each and every kid and TRAILS offers a unique opportunity for that kind of collaboration. For more information regarding TRAILS, please visit www.trailstowellness.org or contact project coordinator Jennifer Vichich at jvichich@med.umich.edu.

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

An Exchanged Life

Ask the Expert

How two teens from across the globe became lifelong friends

Photo Credit: Emily Qalandarova

By Emily Qalandarova

Dr. Benjamin Wurtzel, DDS, Dr. Lindsey Wurtzel, DDS, and their father, Donald Wurtzel, DDS.

All in the Family Something to smile about By Athena Cocoves

When your child’s baby teeth start falling out, you might be tempted to start talking about the tooth fairy, but there’s someone more important to introduce them to— the dentist. While strange instruments, loud sounds, white gloves, lab coats, and a new face poking their mouth can trouble a toddler, promoting excellent oral hygiene habits at a young age is crucial for keeping teeth healthy. Are you unsure about when your child is ready to take their first trip to the dentist? It might be earlier than you think. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to prevent problems, a child should visit the dentist at the eruption of their first teeth, or no later than the first birthday,” Dr. Lindsey Wurtzel, of Wurtzel Family Dentistry, told us. Wondering what else you don’t know? We took our questions to Dr. Lindsey for a crash course in pediatric dentistry 101. Why are you passionate about dentistry? Building relationships, helping people, and changing people’s lives make dentistry truly a special profession. My love of dentistry started with my father’s passion for the profession, who has practiced dentistry for over 30 years in the Ann Arbor area. As the practice evolved and grew, so have the families we treat. We love the fact that we are a family practice and see three generations of many local families. What are the biggest concerns I should have about my child’s dental health? Tooth decay and cavities, although preventable, are always a concern for all children. As a society, we have to continue to evaluate healthy diets and snacks, educate parents on proper oral hygiene and encourage regular dental visits. A checkup every six months is recommended in order to prevent cavities or other dental problems; however frequency is often determined by the condition of a child’s oral health. 10

How can I teach my child to practice proper oral hygiene? Making sure your child has a wellbalanced diet, that includes all the food groups and a limited serving of sugars and starches, is very important. After the eruption of the first teeth, I encourage parents to use any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head. While independent brushing and flossing is variable per child, having an oral care routine with an adult allows the child to participate in the process. When your child is old enough, try to make flossing fun by allowing children to participate. Are thumbsucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child’s teeth? Thumb and pacifier-sucking habits only become a problem is the habit continues for too long of a period. Most children are able to stop the habit on their own, while some require additional intervention. What should I do if my child has a toothache? It is important to contact your dentist or pediatric dentist if your child is complaining of any tooth pain. Infections in children can be a very serious problem and should be addressed as soon as possible. What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth? Depending on the sport, a sports guard or mouth guard is encouraged for safety of a child’s teeth and to help prevent concussions or head injuries. If they lose a permanent tooth, it is truly a dental emergency and a dentist should be contacted immediately. Locate the tooth and do not clean the surface. If you feel comfortable reinsert the tooth into the socket. If not, it’s important to place the teeth in a dental solution medium, or milk until the dentist is able to see the patient.

Annika Hockman (L), 16, host sister, with Christine Devriel (R), 17, exchange student from Germany. The two lived and learned together for an entire school year. From Zetel, Germany, a town slightly larger than Ann Arbor, but with 90 percent less population, Christine Devriel spent the 2016-2017 school year as an exchange student with Youth For Understanding. She and her host sister, Annika Hockman, had many more similarities than their cultural backgrounds would lead on, and it was clear they developed a bond that will hold long after the exchange program ends. I asked them to chat about what they have learned from each other, as well as about themselves in this past year.

Why an exchange program and what similarities or differences stood out? Christine: I have studied English since third grade and had an exchange student from America in my school, who said this country was great. In Germany, I live with my parents and a dog. Here, I live with Annika and her grandmother, and three dogs. I noticed in America, “How are you?” is used more in passing. In Germany, we really want to know how someone is. Also, I was told the American school system was very easy, but I disagree. There are so many points added and taken off of assignments, it gets very complicated. Our daily schedules are different, too. In Germany, we rotate through 12 subjects in a week and stay with the same group of 30 students in each class, for nearly the entire schooling career. Annika: We never hosted before, but

I had friends who were exchange students and I have been thinking about going abroad. My grandmother and I applied and it happened really fast!

Dentist at Wurtzel Family Dentistry 4554 Washtenaw Ave., 734-971-2675. theannarbordentist.com

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

What did you do for fun this year? Annika: We went to Disney and

Universal, Frankenmuth, museums in Detroit, and will go to The Henry Ford before Christine leaves.

Christine: We are both involved in the 4-H Puppy Patrol Club.

Annika: I am the president of the Club and I also enjoy horseback riding, showing my dogs, and hope to start volunteering with a therapeutic horseback riding program. Christine: In Germany, I train dogs

to rescue people from emergency situations. I also dance in the “Musik und Showband Grabstede”, which is similar to a marching band’s color guard, but involves some cheerleading.

What have you learned from the program or from each other? Christine: I recommend participat-

ing in an exchange program. You will not get the opportunity again. I have been able to see the world with different eyes, see different styles, characters, and accept people without judgment. When I go home, I will still have three years of school, then plan to go to college and study insurance and money management and get a high-level job at a bank.

Annika: I enjoyed having Christine

this year and doing so many activities together. I really want to go somewhere. I am interested in Europe or Japan. I was born in Japan and our Latin class went to Greece and Italy. After I graduate, I would like to either go into animal science or international law.

Parents Make Their Voices Heard on Homework

“My homework philosophy: I believe learning should be fun and excite the student,” said Dorairaj. “Or at least, they should move towards things they are passionate about, maybe guided toward topics they would otherwise not have discovered on their own, but discover through other processes and remain open to learning new things.

What is the right amount? By Donna Iadipaolo

To practice skill or demonstrate knowledge

According to Dawn Linden, executive director of elementary education for AAPS, for students in grades K-3 homework assignments that last 10 to 15 minutes a night, in addition to daily reading, are appropriate. Linden added that there are particular functions for homework. “The primary function is to practice skills or demonstrate knowledge of what has been learned. It is not intended to introduce new material,” described Linden. “Homework also serves as a parent

Caroline Sutton listening to her daughter Isabel read out loud for her homework reading assignment. Some parents share homework horror stories, such as their kindergartener coming home with packets of worksheets to agonize over for hours at night. Many parents question whether any homework should be given in the early elementary grades, K-3, at all. Others raise concern about the kind of homework their children should be given. Along with varied options and experiences, there are varied philosophies.

No homework is the best homework

Jenny Turner, a fourth grade teacher in Saline, has had two children go through K-3 grades in the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS). Turner said she was generally satisfied with the amount of homework her children were given in the early elementary years but still questions the necessity of homework generally. “I don’t think young children should have homework,” said Turner. “Maybe in middle school they could start to get homework, but in elementary school it is not appropriate. Children need to be children. They will never be the age they are again. They should be playing and doing other things after school.” Turner added that she does not see much positive outcomes to homework. “As a teacher, there is no benefit for me to give homework,” said Turner. “I can’t know how much help the student is getting at home or if they did the work on their own. Some kids struggle and then homework becomes a battle for the child and the parent. Being frustrated at home is not going to help the student. I believe children should read and, maybe practice math facts at home, but that would be it. For some, it may be counterproductive to give homework.”

Creative, open-ended homework ideas

Caroline Sutton has four children who have attended elementary school, one who is currently in fourth grade, and noted how homework has changed through the years within the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Overall, Sutton is happy with the creative homework her children have received. “Both of my younger children have had teachers from K-3 who put a strong emphasis on reading and writing,” said Sutton. “In kindergarten there was a book cart rolled in every day and this was the mainstay of homework– taking a different book home each day to read with or to a parent and talk about. We adored this.” Sutton said in first grade a wonderful teacher they had would send them home with stuffed animals as optional “extra homework” to write an adventure story about the animal that students could then read to the class. “In general, I am noticing many different types of open-ended projects that allow the children to be creative and practice skills that can’t be developed via a worksheet, and which also allow for parental guidance but don’t mandate it,” added Sutton.

engagement tool. Homework gives parents a chance to engage with their children, showing them the importance of school and learning. It also provides them with information about what children are learning and allows for conversation and enrichment to occur at home.” “We cannot stress enough the importance of reading at home every night,” said Linden. “Reading with your child is one critical element that leads to success in school and beyond. A recent study found that one in six children who are not reading proficiently in third grade do not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than that for proficient readers.” While there are varied perspectives from parents about homework, Linden recommends that parents who have concerns about the kind or amount of homework assigned should contact their child’s teacher immediately.

TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER TO ENTER CONTESTS AND GET THE “SCOOP” ON WHAT’S HAPPEINING AROUND ANN ARBOR AND WASHTENAW COUNTY. annarborfamily.com

Learning should be fun

Katherine Dorairaj has two children, one of whom attended in the Chelsea School District. She thinks the amount of homework that her older child received while in grades K-3 was generally fair. “Honestly, grades K-3 were just fine in the homework arena. Maybe 10 minutes one to three times a week; this was not a problem,” said Dorairaj. However, she believes that learning material in general should motivate students.

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

Apple Daze in Dexter 10am-5pm on Saturday, October 7 Monument Park, Dexter Free Celebrate one of Michigan’s favorite fruits at this annual event in downtown Dexter. The fun includes a pie eating contest, car show, craft vendors, music, games, and more. Smoke and Ale Fall Festival 5pm on Friday, October 13 7pm on Saturday, October 14 Chelsea Community Fairgrounds 20501 W. Old US Highway 12 chelseamich.com/smoke-ale $5 per person The third-annual BBQ cook-off contest will include food vendors, a beer barn, and live music. Kids will enjoy face-painting, gaga ball, and a cornhill tournament just for them! Monster Smash 12pm-3pm on Saturday, October 14 Rolling Hills County Park 7660 Stony Creek Rd., Ypsilanti ewashtenaw.org $6 per person, $22 family of 4, $25 family of 5, $3 per additional person Hayrides, crafts, carnival games, and cider and donuts will be available to families and kids of all ages. Don’t forget to dress up your pet for the pet costume contest! Trick or Treat on the Trail at Hudson Mills Metropark 4pm on Saturday, October 14 Hudson Mills Activity Center 8801 N. Territorial Rd., Dexter 734-426-8211, metroparks.com $5 per person Want some non-scary Halloween fun? Visit and trick-or-treat with characters and “wildlife” on the nature trail and then enjoy cider, donuts, and crafts in the Activity Center. A Metroparks vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark and is $35 annually for regular admission, $21 annually for seniors or $10 daily.

Fall fun for the entire family By April Huard

There’s nothing quite like fall in Michigan. Beautiful colors, crisp air, and perfect temperatures provide the ideal backdrop for dozens of family-friendly events and festivals. Whether you’re looking for great food, hayrides, or opportunities to put on a costume and trick or treat, this list has something for everyone.

n i k p m u P s e h c t a P

Pumpkins Patches Alber Orchard 13011 Bethel Church Rd., Manchester 734-428-9310, alberorchard.com Search the field for the perfect pumpkin and then spend some time in the free straw maze and play area and watch the cider being made on a vintage cider press. Hayrides and a corn maze available at an additional cost. Wasem Fruit Farm 6580 Judd Rd., Milan 734-482-2342, wasemfruitfarm.com Pick your own pumpkin at this familyowned farm. Be sure to enjoy their homemade donuts and cider while you’re there.

Wells Pumpkin Farm 3801 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor 734-662-7933 Choose the perfect pumpkin or gourd from a wide variety of sizes that are already picked and waiting for you. Cash only. Wiards Orchard 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti 734-390-9211, wiards.com This you-pick pumpkin patch also boasts a cider mill, a country store and an apple orchard. Wing Farms 5335 Dexter Rd., Ann Arbor 734-761-7578, wingfarms.com Take a free hayride to the pumpkin patch and then play in the super hay bale area. Gourds and fall decor are also available.

Trick or Treat on the River 12-5pm on Sunday, October 15 Gallup Livery 3000 Fuller Rd. A2gov.org $18 per boat Paddle around Gallup Pond in a canoe or kayak, take in the beautiful fall colors, and collect Halloween candy. Keep your eye out for creatures, swamp monsters, and pirates! Come in costume if you want and bring a bag for your candy. The livery will provide life jackets. No preregistration required.

Trick or Treating Tuesday, October 31 Ann Arbor 5-8pm Chelsea 5:30-7:30pm Dexter 5:30-7:30pm Milan 6-8pm Saline 6-8pm Ypsilanti - until dusk, no set time Boo Bash 6-8pm on Friday, October 20 Saline Rec Center 1866 Woodland Dr. salinerec.com $11 per person Spend a spooky evening doing crafts, playing games, and dancing to music with a live DJ. There’s a trick or treat trail, so wear your costume. Celebrate with a balloon drop at the end of the night. This event sells out each year, so register early. Save $2 if you register by October 6. Animal Haunts 6-8pm on Saturday, October 21 Leslie Science and Nature Center 1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor 734-997-1553, lesliesnc.org $10 per person or $35 per family Hike through Black Pond Woods and meet plants and animals native to Michigan. The fall fun includes a hay jump, harvest crafts, stories, costumes, and more. Preregistration is required. Hallow Harvest 12-4pm on Sunday, October 22 Cobblestone Farm 2781 Packard Rd. 734-794-7120, cobblestonefarm.org $2 adult, $1 child, $1.50 Sr., $5 family, 3 and under free Beautiful Cobblestone Farmhouse will be decorated for Halloween. Children can enjoy a scavenger hunt and games while learning about 19th century Halloween customs.

Come have a BLAST in our corn maze! September 23rd - November 4th

Fri 5-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm For more information visit: blastcornmaze.com 12

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

Corn Box Concessions Hay Rides Cow Train Pumpkin Patch And Much More!

13 Not-Too-Scary Movies Looking for some not-too-scary Halloween movies that the whole family can enjoy tomorrow? Christina Katz penned this list—go online to annarborfamily.com to read the details on her selections.

7. Pinocchio (Rated G, ages 8 and up) 1940

1. The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (Not Rated, For ages 4 and up) 1966

8. ET (Rated PG, ages 8 and up) 1982

2. Sleeping Beauty (Not Rated, ages 5 and up) 1959

9. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (Rated PG, ages 9 and up) 2001

3. Beauty and the Beast (Rated G, ages 6 and up) 1991 4. Escape to Witch Mountain (Rated G, ages 7 and up) 1975 5. Shrek (Rated PG, ages 7 and up) 2001 6. The Wizard of Oz (Not rated, ages 8 and up) 1939

Halloween Hootenanny 4-7pm on Thursday, October 26 Zingerman’s Delicatessen 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor 734-663-3354, zingermansdeli.com $8 per child, parents attend free Kids can have fun with pumpkin drawing, cookie decorating, and face painting while enjoying fall snacks. Costumes are encouraged but not necessary. Preregistration is required. Halloween Downtown/ Ypsi Glow 5:30-9pm on Friday, October 27 Library Park Plaza, Ypsilanti 734-482-4110, ypsilibrary.org Free First, visit the Boo!Mobile, collect candy, and enjoy fun giveaways. Afterward, walk to North Washington St. for music, glowing costumes and luminaries. Halloween at the A2 Market 11am-1pm on Saturday, October 28 Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market 315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255, a2gov.org FREE Celebrate the fall harvest season! Children can wear costumes to the market and participate in face painting, pumpkin decorating and games. Fall Festival at Domino’s Farms 11am-2pm on Sunday, October 29 The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms 3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor 734-998-0182, pettingfarm.com $6 per person In addition to the regular attractions at the Petting Farm, children can enjoy a costume parade, games, snacks, and crafts. Hayrides are available for an additional charge.

10. The Corpse Bride (Rated PG, ages 9 and up) 2005 11. Star Wars (Rated PG, ages 9 and up) 1977

12. Ghostbusters (Rated PG, ages 10 and up) 1984

*OCT 21, 2017 229 N Sheldon Plymouth, MI

13. Beetlejuice (Rated PG, ages 10 and up) 1988 Spooky Species 5pm on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 The Creature Conservancy 4950 Ann Arbor Saline Rd. 734-929-9324, thecreatureconservancy.org $15 per person and a food donation for the animals Families with kids aged six and older can join some spooky animals for the annual Halloween party. Learn about bats, vultures, ravens, spiders, snakes, and more during the interactive, hands-on program. Cider and donuts will also be served. Preregistration is required.

(Must be in attendance to win)

OCT 22, 2017 Rochester College 800 West Avon Rochester Hills, MI For more information please call 313.278.4601

*OCT 28, 2017 METRO EHS Saline Center 7025 E Michigan Saline, MI *OCT 29, 2017 METRO EHS Dearborn Hts. 17200 Outer Dr W Dearborn Hts, MI

$5 in Advance $10 At the Door

*US Born Books will be joining us on these evenings!

Owned & Operated by Dearborn Speech and Sensory

Blast Corn Maze September 23-November 4 5-10pm on Fridays, 11am-10pm on Saturdays, and 11am-8pm on Sundays 6175 Daly Rd., Dexter blastcornmaze.com $8 per adult, $5 per child, 4 and under FREE Test your maze skills in a 10-acre field of corn with short, medium, and full corn mazes. Children will also enjoy playing in the corn box and on the mountain of straw. Don’t miss the duck races, pedal cars, corn cannon and cow train! Wiard’s Country Fair Every Wednesday-Sunday September 29-October 29 10am-6pm on weekdays, 11am-6pm on weekends 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti, 734-390-9211, wiards.com $13.75 per person weekdays, $17.75 per person weekends, 2 and under free Opportunities for fall fun are seemingly endless at the Country Fair. There’s a petting zoo, mini golf, a variety of playgrounds, wagon rides, and much more. Food vendors are available as well as fresh donuts and cider. On the weekends, pony rides, an apple cannon and paintball are available for an additional cost. Parking is free.

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

OPEN HOUSE GUIDE

Part One

Choosing a school for your child is no easy task. Feel confident in your decision by scheduling a tour or attending an open house at one of these fantastic Ann Arbor-area schools. Meet teachers, see the school, and learn about the best educational options so you can find the best fit for your child.

Daycroft Montessori School

Pre-primary Campus: Preschool & Kindergarten 100 Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor. 734-930-0333. daycroft.org Open House Tours: 9am or 10am, Tuesdays. October 3, November 7, December 5, January 16. Elementary Campus: Grades K-8 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor. 734-662-3335. daycroft.org Open House Tours: 9am or 10am, Thursdays. October 5, November 9; December 7, January 18.

Your child will thrive at one of Ann Arbor’s top private schools, Daycroft Montessori. Focused on individuality, Daycroft personalizes your child’s learning so they can reach their best potential. Daycroft provides a warm, nurturing and culturally diverse environment that is sure to enhance your child’s learning. Children are encouraged to develop at their own pace and work individually with teachers to gain a lifelong love of learning. See Daycroft classrooms in action during monthly Open House tours. Call 734.930.0333 or email admissions@daycroft.org to register or arrange a personal tour of the school. To see the full schedule for the 2017-18 school year, visit daycroft.org/ admissions/tour.php.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School 2270 E. Stadium Blvd., 734-821-2200. stfrancisa2.com/school Open House: 1:30-4pm. Sunday, January 28.

For over 60 years, St. Francis of Assisi has been providing educational, social and spiritual goals for children. Your child’s journey through education and spirituality begins at St. Francis of Assisi, where each student is valued and respected as a unique individual. Serving pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, St. Francis of Assisi seeks to prepare children in mind and spirit during the most formative and vulnerable time of their lives so that they can live lives full of hope, joy and peace, no matter what challenges they meet. Come see their faithful education during an open house on Sunday, January 28 from 1:30-4pm.

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

Kensington Woods 9501 Pettys Rd., 517-545-0828 kwoods.org Open House: 6-8pm. Tuesday, January 9.

Kensington Woods is a small, personal, tuition-free, college-prep 6-12th grade public charter school that values engaging curriculum and caring faculty. The school’s mission is to prepare each student for success in college, career, and life through an engaging, challenging and innovative educational program that is student-centered and promotes character and values. They create an engaging, challenging, and relevant learning environment for students by exploring content through a focus on subject area integration and 21st century skills. Classes are small so students can get the attention they need and emphasis is placed on building character. Kensington Woods believes strongly that all students are capable of succeeding in school, and they embed a mindset of success within the day to day curriculum as well as through special programs, such as their advisory program.

St. Paul Lutheran School - Ann Arbor 495 Earhart Rd., 734-665-0604. stpaulannarbor.org

Open House: 9am-1pm. Friday, November 3.

St. Paul School Ann Arbor invites your family to join us for our fall Open House on Friday, November 3, from 9am-1pm. Preschool, elementary school, and middle school families can tour our beautiful campus, meet our caring teachers, and see our classrooms in action. Light refreshments will be served. St. Paul Ann Arbor is a preschool through 8th grade Christian school that educates, equips and encourages students for tomorrow and eternity. Our students participate in extraordinary learning opportunities in a loving environment. Come explore the educational excellence at St. Paul. We want your family to become part of our family!

Head of the Class Local educators at the top of their field

Issue Date: JAN. 1st, Reserve By DEC. 15th RESERVE SPACE NOW!! Call 734.668.4044 or Email Sales@AdamsStreetPublishing.com www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

photo credit Rachel Carter-White

Kids love Randy Kaplan’s unique style of comedic storytelling.

Children’s Music That Parents Will Love

Local Children’s Musician, Randy Kaplan, Appeals to Children and Parents By Heidi Alene Harris

Any parents out there who love listening to music with their children, but are sick of the traditional “wheels on the bus” and “abc” songs? Randy Kaplan is a unique children’s musician because although his songs are written for children, adults alike enjoy the music. His comedic storytelling lyrics combined with American Roots make for interesting songs people of all ages enjoy. Kaplan explained how his music appeals to both parents and children, “When I do parodies of songs, adults get it on all levels because they know the original. But the kids don’t have to. They enjoy the goofy song as is.” Kaplan has had numerous number one hits on SiriusXM Radio’s channel,“Kids Place Live!”, and you may listened to him on Putumayo’s American Playground and Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti compilations. Kaplan attended University of Michigan in College, he was born in Brooklyn, New York, and has lived all over the country- including California where he completed his undergraduate degree at U.C.L.A. His family moved to Michigan in 2015 from California to be in closer proximity to family. Kaplan is in awe of Michigan’s natural beauty and enjoys exploring and discovering new places and towns in Michigan with his family.

Trippin’ Round the Mitten

Kaplan has been a musician since he was just a child and played music his whole life- even through his college years as he attended University of Michigan. Yet, he found his true niche when he started working at Beansprouts Preschool in

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

Park Slope, New York as a music teacher. Kaplan explained that once he started working with children, he was amazed at how natural he felt when he created music with children for the first time. Since then, he has produced six “Not-Just-for Kids” albums with his latest, Trippin’ Round the Mitten that was inspired after he moved to the suburbs of Detroit. Kaplan is a parent himself, so he gets the desire for parents to want to find music that both parents and children can enjoy. The current album is influenced not only by folk, rock, blues, ragtime, bluegrass, Broadway (his typical musical genres), but he also combined rap, hip-hop, and pop into the tracks. The song, Trippin’ Round the Mitten, includes places Kaplan visited while touring through Michigan, including a shout out to Ann Arbor. This c.d. is also unique because it includes two songs written by his wife, Julie May, and one by his five-year old son, Ryland.

Randy Kaplan Live

Looking for an opportunity to take the kiddos to hear Kaplan live? Kaplan continues to tour in Michigan while he obtains his Masters Degree in Education. Kaplan is working on getting his tour dates set for the fall. Check out Kaplan’s website, www.randykaplan.com where you can check out his latest shows (under the TOUR section), listen to portions of his albums, and purchase his c.d.’s. Rumor has it that after you attend one of Kaplan’s shows, your family will have a new favorite family musician.

healthy kids Meals On The Go

Mastering the Art of Nursing in Public By Christa Melnyk Hines

“There are many breastfeeding covers that vary in complexity from the type of fabric, slings and other customizations. Find one that works for you,” Josephine says, who recommends www.babywearinginternational.com. Know where to go. Ask other nursing moms where they breastfeed when they’re out and about. Patronize area businesses and family attractions friendly toward nursing mothers. Look for quiet spots to feed your baby, like clean dressing rooms in department stores and booths or corner tables in restaurants that offer some privacy. But avoid bathKeep track of rooms, Stark says. baby’s eating “Babies should not habits, sleep have to eat in a restand more with room-adults never free breastfeeding do.” apps: You can also seek My Medela iBreastfeed shelter in your car or Baby Nursing/ ask a friend or family member to help Breastfeeding “shield” you while you Baby Feeding Log breastfeed, Josephine Eat Sleep: Simple says.

Experts agree that breastfeeding supports the healthy development of your baby, your overall wellbeing and establishes a lasting bond with your little one. And breastfeeding is also conveniently portable. But if you’re like many new moms, embarrassment and a fear of judgment may make you nervous about nursing in public. “Feeding baby on the go is very doable and takes just a little know-how and practice to get the hang of it,” says lactation consultant Marji Stark, BAEd, IBCLC.

Here’s how: Start slow. Give your-

self time to adjust to new motherhood and your baby’s feeding habits. Plan to keep your outings short, nurse your infant before you leave home and again before you get out of the car. “Practice at home in front of the mirror,” says Kelly Josephine, RN, IBCLC. And for your first few outings, choose “a low-stress environment such as a park.”

Plan

Baby Tracking

ahead. As you get more comfortable with breastfeeding and predicting when your baby will want to eat, you’ll feel less anxiety when you head out. Wear clothing that makes nursing easy. Many moms opt for nursing tops or tanks with an over-shirt. Light scarves or blankets can also provide coverage. Pack an extra shirt in case of leaks or spills.

Reach out for support. “New

mothers need to be around new mothers,” Stark says. Most area hospitals offer weekly educational meet-ups for nursing mothers where they can find encouragement and support from other moms. “Mothers who attend a breastfeeding support group gain confidence, are more comfortable nursing in public and tend to nurse longer than mothers who do not,” she says.

Free Bonus Edit!

To find additional support, check out your local La Leche League, Facebook groups like Mom2Mom Global for military families or Breast, Bottle and Beyond, and consult with your pediatrician for a referral to a lactation consultant. “Once you’ve found your breastfeeding bravado, look for opportunities to encourage mothers coming along behind you. A smile and a thumbs up to a mother nursing on a park bench or at the table next to you goes a long way,” Stark says.

Know the law. When you know

your rights, you’ll feel more confident with your choices. Forty-nine states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands allow moms to breastfeed in any public or private location. (Other than exempting nursing moms from jury duty, Idaho is the only state with no laws that protect moms who nurse in public.) For more information about breastfeeding state laws, including federal laws for working mothers who nurse, check out the National Conference of State Legislatures, http://www.ncsl.org/research/ health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx.

Holiday Gift Guide Issue Date: Dec.1st Reserve By Nov. 15th

Did You Know? n Breastfeed even if you’re sick. Your body makes antibodies that get passed along to your baby through your breast milk helping to boost your infant’s immune system. n Breastfeeding can save a family more than $1,200 to $1,500 in formula-related expenses in the first year alone. n Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in moms.

Source: WomensHealth.gov

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines resides with her husband and their two children. Christa is the author of Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying Social Life.

The Holidays are quickly approaching... Make your list, check it twice, be a part of the guide that shows our readers where to get the best gifts of the season

RESERVE SPACE NOW!! Call 734.668.4044 or Email Sales@AdamsStreetPublishing.com www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

Where Are They? What to consider before using GPS to track your kid By Carolyn Jabs

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Sooner or later, most parents lose a kid— usually for only a few minutes. Even if it’s brief, the experience is heartstopping. And it’s given rise to a whole new industry— GPS tracking for kids. Some parents turn to GPS because the world seems scarier than it was when they were kids. Others want an electronic yenta who can keep an eye on children (and their caregivers) when parents can’t be there. Still others want a better way to supervise and enforce family rules about safety. For those who really can’t take care of themselves— very young children, kids with disabilities, even pets or elders with dementia— tracking devices may provide peace of mind. For children, that can be a problem. Experts point out that tracking devices can encourage both passivity and a false sense of security in children as well as parents. As parents find themselves counting on surveillance, they may be less intentional about helping kids anticipate and avoid risks. Instead of learning what they need to know to navigate confidently and safely in a risky world, kids depend on the panic button that summons Mom. Before utilizing GPS technology, consider these questions: What does it do? Some trackers, such as Trax, do nothing but show location. They can be attached to children, elders, pets or even a laptop that tends to wander off. Many units resemble watches or function like flip phones. What’s the technology? Tracking units that use GPS depend on satellites and some provide coverage pretty much anywhere on the planet. Other devices use the cellphone network so they won’t work if the child wanders out of range. Still, other devices like My Buddy Tag use Bluetooth technology. Their reach is limited, though that may be just fine if you’re trying to keep tabs on a child in the backyard or your local park. What does it monitor? At the very least a tracking device should pinpoint a child’s location. Some send a signal at intervals; others allow continuous tracking though that may drain the battery. Many units make it possible to set

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

up safety zones or geofences and send an alert if the child goes beyond those boundaries. Is it complicated? For very young children, simplicity is a virtue. Tinitell, for example, is a band with a button. If a child pushes the button, the device calls preprogrammed numbers until someone picks up. Check the app as well as the device. If it has lots of features, be sure customer support is readily available. How long is the battery life? Even the best tracker won’t work if the battery is dead. Find out how long the battery lasts, how it has to be charged and whether there’s a low battery alert. Is the device secure? If you have to sign in to get information about your child’s location, it’s possible for other people to sign in, too. What precautions has the company taken to prevent hacking? What kind of alerts will you get if there is a security breach? What kind of communication is possible? Some units have a big panic button a child can press. Some allow one-way communication. Will your child wear it? Trackers such as HereO feature bright colors that may appeal to a pre-schooler and be decidedly uncool in elementary school. Check bands to be sure they are flexible and won’t cause irritation. And think about how big the device is in relation to your child. Multi-feature devices may be too bulky for little wrists. How much does it cost? Tracking devices range from $40 to $200. Many devices also require a monthly service contract that can cost from $4 to $40 per month. Before signing with a new service, check your existing cell phone provider to see if they offer a better deal on a device. Some kids may benefit from additional supervision, but parents must keep their eyes on the ultimate goal— raising children who are responsible and confident enough to make their own decisions about staying safe in a complicated world. That, of course, can be done without a tracking unit.

made in

Ann Arbor’s Warmilu Warms Babies and Saves Lives

Craft of the Month

By Aimee Grant Eldon

Halloween Yarn Garland By Raegan Nelson

Michigan native and Warmilu CEO Grace Hsia describes herself as an “accidental entrepreneur.” As a college student, she imagined herself working at a national lab or John Deere, but her course in materials science engineering at the University of Michigan inspired her to imagine a career solving real world problems. “From day one, we didn’t start off thinking we’d be a global medical device company. We just knew we wanted to spread warmth to help babies,” said Hsia. Warmilu is a non-electric, warming device company that uses their US-patented heat technology to power warming pack solutions for adult pain management and comfort in heated stadium seats, but Warmilu’s flagship product is the IncuBlanket, designed to warm premature infants in resource-scarce hospitals. Hsia’s inspiration came from talking to over 100 doctors and nurses who shared a staggering statistic – each year over one million infants die due to hypothermia and hypothermia related causes. While some hospitals experience electricity outages that cut off power to incubators, others are forced, due to resource scarcity, to crowd from three to six infants into an incubator designed for one. The IncuBlanket is inexpensive when compared to traditional incubators and it does not require electricity to work. As Hsia said, “It’s advanced technology making a difference.”

Incubating a Tech Company in Ann Arbor

After being impressed with the Warmilu’s ability to stay warm for so long, even eliciting doctors to comment that Warmilu’s blanket works like “magic.” While six years of tireless research, development, and testing isn’t magic, being rooted in Ann Arbor with the right team of women, access to mentors at both the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor SPARK, and the right resources is pretty magical.

Need an inexpensive, no-sew project to dress up your mantel? This craft found on Growing Up Gable Blog is made with very few supplies and is easy enough for tweens to make all by themselves. Since the finished product costs less than a dollar, these garlands are a perfect holiday drop off to friends and neighbors. What a fun and easy way to add a little extra personality to your décor. Warmilu got its start in Ann Arbor, where its all-woman production team manufactures its products with the raw materials from start to finish. Hsia remarked, “We were able to have mentors who could see that passion, see that drive, and move us forward. Having mentors who could see where we were going was amazing and assist with milestones like clinical trials, first sales, and continued business model development.” Additionally, conducting clinical trials in Ann Arbor was affordable. “The folk in the Midwest have a sense of giving back and helping a generation of entrepreneurs and scientists. There’s a medical device expertise in Michigan you don’t see it elsewhere in the country.”

Accolades and Future Growth

Looking back, Hsia has many accomplishments to be proud of: Warmilu has won scores of awards, Hsia was named to Forbes 30 under 30, and the company has flourished in her beloved town of Ann Arbor. However, Hsia is most proud of the impact Warmilu’s blanket has made on the lives of infants and the positive feedback she gets from doctors around the globe. “I’m so excited to be saving babies and spreading the warmth to others.” Looking forward, Warmilu is currently applying for FDA approval for adult warming for post-operative procedures. Currently, blankets from a warming oven at a hospital hold heat for only 20-30 minutes, while Warmilu’s product lasts for 3-8 hours—a game changer when surgeries last for several hours and patient’s pain and discomfort can last for days during the inpatient hospital stay.

Supplies:

Orange yarn Black yarn White yarn Twine Fishing line (optional for hanging) Dining chair (mine was 14 inches but larger works fine too) Green pipe cleaners (three total) Black pipe cleaners (six total) Scissors

Instructions: Spider (makes 3):  Wrap the black yarn around your chair 75100 times. The pompom will be thicker the more times you wrap the yarn. Slide the yarn off the chair.  Cut three 12-inch pieces of black yarn. Start by double knotting one of these pieces around the center of the chunk of yarn, then double knot the other two 12-inch pieces closer to the looped ends. The goal is to have an equal amount of yarn on each side of the knots.  Cut the looped ends.  Cut the large chunk of yarn equal distance between the center knot and side knots. While holding on to the tails (12-inch pieces of yarn), trim and shape your spider.  Cut two pipe cleaners in half to make four pieces. With the long tail facing up, lay your pipe cleaners down and tightly tie to the spider.  Shape the pipe cleaners to resemble legs.  Trim the tail if you plan to use fishing line to hang, or leave the tail long if you plan to create loops instead.

Pumpkin (makes 3):  Follow steps 1-3 for the spider, but use orange yarn and wrap around the chair about 150 times.  After you trim your pumpkin, attach a stem. Lay a green pipe cleaner across the tail and secure it with a knot.  Fold and shape the pipe cleaner to create a stem and vines. Ghost (makes 3):  Wrap the white yarn around the chair around 150 times. Slide the yarn off.  Cut one end of the looped yarn so you have one long bunch. Cut that chunk into thirds.  Cut six, 12-inch pieces of white yarn. Set three aside.  Tie one piece of yarn around the center of each chunk. Keep the long tail separate if you want to hang the finished ghost with yarn; otherwise, mix it in.  Fold the bunch down the center and smooth.  Tie the remaining yarn near the folded end to make a head.  Shape and trim the ghost.

To hang: You can easily use the yarn tails to create loops to string over the twine or tie loops of fishing line to the tops of the pompoms. Loosely arrange across the twine.

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

A Tale of Two Cuisines From Coney dogs to Central American fare at Antonio’s

Antonio’s Coney Island

By Katy M. Clark

2896 Washtenaw Avenue Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Phone: (734) 905-7321 Hours: Mon 9am-4pm; Tue-Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 8am-9pm; Sun 8am-7pm Find Antonio’s Coney Island Ypsilanti on Facebook and Yelp

In an unassuming strip mall on Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti sits Antonio’s Coney Island. Equally inconspicuous are the tables you see once inside, reminiscent of most diners across America. Antonio’s Coney Island is no ordinary diner, though. That’s because in addition to Coney dogs, burgers and fries they serve Central American cuisine as well. My family of four picked a table in the back room one Sunday morning as the three tables in the front room were occupied. The atmosphere at Antonio’s is casual and relaxed, energized by the Latin American music playing overhead.

From pancakes to enchiladas

Antonio’s has two menus. The Coney Island menu offers standard breakfast items like omelettes and lunch selections such as sandwiches and salads. The Central American menu, though, is anything but typical, offering authentic Honduran and Guatemalan food. How about a stuffed plantain deepfried and filled with red beans and cream? Or steamed yucca root topped with Honduran cabbage slaw, pork rinds and special sauce? Maybe an entire Tilapia fish with fried green bananas and tortillas is more your style.

Presented by

1919 S Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Creamy Pumpkin Sage Soup Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients: 5 cups Lucky’s Private Label canned pumpkin 1 Tbsp. coconut oil ¾ cup shallots, diced 3 garlic cloves, chopped 4 cups Lucky’s Private Label vegetable broth 1 Tbsp. fresh sage, chopped Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté coconut oil and shallots for 4-5 minutes until tender. 2. Stir in garlic and cook an additional minute. 3. Stir in pumpkin, vegetable broth, sage, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer covered for 15 minutes. 4. In a blender, and working in batches of no more 2 cups, purée soup. 5. Return soup to the pot, and heat through. 6. Season with additional sea salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with sage. 20

I picked the Special Platter with grilled steak and onions, one egg, red beans, avocado, fried plantains, Honduran cabbage slaw, cream and corn tortillas ($10.99). My husband chose the Huevos Rancheros ($7.95) and a bowl of Seafood soup ($6.50), a specialty only served on Sundays. We both added dark Honduran coffee plus an order of chips and guacamole to start ($5.99). My son, 14, picked the California burger with bacon, avocado and cheese plus a side of fries ($8). He added a Jarritos Mexican soda. My daughter, 10, did not fancy anything from the kids’ menus only offering Coney Island choices. Instead, she selected the Typical Platter ($7.50) with scrambled eggs, bacon, red beans, avocado, fried plantains, cream and corn tortillas. She added horchata to drink, a sweet beverage made with rice and cinnamon.

Different is good

We barely had time to finish our chips, crisp and salty, with creamy guacamole before the main meal arrived and filled our table. My husband’s Huevos Rancheros and Seafood soup took up most of the room. “I guess he’s having the buffet,” quipped my daughter. The soup was lukewarm, but a quick trip to the microwave heated it nicely. It was creamy with coconut milk and full of shrimp, mussels, crab, yucca and even octopus. His eggs were served with tostadas, avocado, rice and an agreeable mole sauce. My steak had a pleasant grilled taste, although, as might be expected for the price, it was not the choicest cut. The Honduran slaw was bright, the beans and cream flavorful. I enjoyed loading them and avocado into the corn tortillas. The fried plantains were sweet and doughy. My son demolished his burger with no complaints. My daughter gobbled up her eggs, liked the beans, and passed me her avocado and plantains. All of us were too

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

The Short Course 1. Kid-friendly: Yes

2. To avoid wait: Try lunch or dinner to avoid the brunch crowd on weekends 3. Noise level: Moderate

4. Bathroom amenities: “There’s no changing table, but it’s a nice bathroom,” said my 10-year-old. 5. High chairs? Yes

6. Got milk? Yes, plus apple juice, orange juice, pop, horchata, jamaica and tamarindo. 7. Kids’ menu? For the Coney Island cuisine only 8. Anything healthy for kids? Look for fresh fruit and stay away from fried items. 9. Food allergy concerns? Speak with your server. They can cook food separately and help identify ingredients.

stuffed to try dessert, advertised as homemade carrot cake or flan.

Bottom Line

Sometimes you want a burger and fries. Other times you want pescado frito with Honduran cabbage slaw. At Antonio’s Coney Island, you can have both, and that type of variety is perfect for pleasing the appetites of both children and adults.

{ October

2017 }

All calendar events are subject to change, cancellation and limited size. Calling ahead for confirmation is recommended.

1 SUNDAY Activity Remix - At the Museum, they are constantly developing new activities… and they want your help! Be the first to pilot activities, help find new twists on some classic programs, and give your ideas about future events. Get your creative juices flowing, learn some science, and help create the Museum of your dreams! Time: Noon-4pm. Location: Legacy Gallery. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. 220 E Ann St. 734-995-5439. aahom.org 2017 Quilt Show - Visit the Ypsilanti Historical Museum and view a wide array of quilts in different styles and from different time periods. This exhibition is perfect for everyone from avid quilter to quilt appreciator! Donations are appreciated. One lucky donor will win the quilt raffle, winning the ‘Our Friend’s Garden’ quilt graciously created and donated by the Western Wayne County Quilting Guild. 2pm. Ypsilanti Historical Museum. 220 N. Huron St, Ypsilanti. FREE

2 MONDAY Parenting Through Separation and Divorce Workshops - Separation and divorce are difficult to handle in general when kids are in the mix, it becomes that much more complex. This University Center for the Child and Family (UCCF) workshop can help participants navigate the choppy waters of parenting while separating/ divorcing and deliver practical advice in a collaborative, caring environment. This helps parents understand their children’s needs during the transition and offers specific suggestions for creating the most beneficial post-divorce parenting relationships. 7pm. Mary A. Rackham Institute (MARI). 500 East Washington Street. FREE

3 TUESDAY Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What to Do - The series is inclusive of parents/caretakers of teens, teens, other family members, people who work with teens/families, and anyone interested for any reason. Parents and teens often attend together. Part two of the series includes separate break-out sessions for adults to learn ways to effectively help when adolescent alcohol/other drug use is suspected, and for teens to explore the personal effects of substance use. Also on Tuesday, October 10. 7:30pm. Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center. 5305 Elliot Drive, Ypsilanti. 734-485-8725. Dawnfarm.org. FREE

4 WEDNESDAY Intro to Stress Management - This presentation provides an introductory overview of stress management techniques that can be used in daily life. Participants will practice specific stress management techniques in the class and will be encouraged to select some of these techniques for active implementation in their personal and professional lives. The format is informal, practical and interactive. 10am. LS&A Building - Conference Room 2001. University of Michigan. events.umich.edu

Digital Graphic Novels - Inspired by John Lewis’s recent visit or the March trilogy and want to create your own graphic novel? With guidance from graphic designer Jermaine Dickerson, who will be on hand to share his expertise in layout and character creation, use apps and digital tools to turn your ideas into a digital graphic novel. There will be information on hand if you’d like to share a copy of your ideas about with your legislators. Ages 10-18. 6:30pm. Ypsilanti District Library. 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. FREE

6 FRIDAY Bookmaking Workshop with Rolando Estévez - Learn how to make your own handmade book with book artist Rolando Estévez. Supplies will be provided as well as bilingual texts, or you can bring a text of your own to work with. Estévez is a Cuban visual artist and poet renowned for his spectacular artist books. A native of the city of Matanzas, where he lives and works and teaches art, he is also known for his achievements in drawing, painting, installations, performance, and stage design. 3pm. Hatcher Graduate Library. 913 S University Ave. lib.umich.edu. FREE

7 SATURDAY Wildlife and Us - In urban life, we coexist with many different animals. Begin to understand the lives of various common local wild animals to distinguish when animals need human assistance, when animals are independent, and what to do in uncommon and potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife. Presented by Humane Society of Huron Valley staff. 10:30am. Ypsilanti District Library. 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. Story Time with Linda - Story Time is for kids ages 6 and under, and features Linda Zimmer reading fun and seasonal books in the comfortable children’s section. 11am. Bookbound Bookstore. 1729 Plymouth Rd. 734-369-4345. FREE

Five decades of pioneer history

Take your kids back in time this October during Pioneer Day at the Waterloo Area Historical Society’s Farm Museum and the Dewey School Museum. Held on the second Saturday of October for the past five decades, this annual celebration of late 19th century farm life offers families tours of the Farm Museum and Dewey School, live music, and demonstrations of crafts, trades, and traditional cooking methods. With horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, and outdoor games, think this is a great way to learn about history. $5/adults. $2/ children ages 5-12. Free/children ages 5 and younger. Noon-5pm. Sunday, October 8. Waterloo Farm Museum, 13493 Waterloo Munith Rd., Grass Lake, MI. 517-596-2254. Waterloofarmmuseum.org

9 MONDAY Stroller Strides, Community Class Every 2nd Monday of the month there is a Community/Bring a Friend class for any mamas and their little ones to come out and join a free class. Stroller Strides is designed to give mothers the “Strength for Motherhood!” Stroller Strides Ann Arbor is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes intervals of cardio, strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller and the environment. 9am. Briarwood Mall, in front of SEARS. 100 Briarwood Circle. Annarbor.fit4mom.com. FREE

Art Heals Exhibition - “Art Heals” is a multi-media art exhibit featuring the work of psychologists and therapists, organized by Miriam Kirscht, LMSW. Thomas Rosenbaum, Molly Indura and Matruka Sherman are among the artists featured. Art heals in several ways and promotes creativity, the human ability to see beyond the ordinary and make something new out of painful experience. This will take place during the month of October in the Reichert Health Building on the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital campus in Ann Arbor. 10am. Reichert Health Building, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Campus. 5333 McAuley Drive. FREE

Bring your appetite to this Culinay Extravaganza

8 SUNDAY Harvest Festival - Join the University of Michigan Sustainable Food Program (UMSFP) for the 6th annual Harvest Festival! Enjoy delicious eats while listening to great music, participating in fun food related activities, and touring the Campus Farm and Food Forest. This free communitybuilding event will give you an opportunity to engage with the many student groups dedicated to strengthening our local food system. 1pm. University Of Michigan Campus Farm. 1800 N Dixboro Rd. FREE Walk to End Alzheimer’s Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease! 10:30am. Washtenaw Community College. 4800 E Huron River Dr. 734-973-3300. Act.alz.org FREE

Ann Arbor Marriot Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest November 6, 2017 5:30pm

signaturechefs.org/annarbor

www.annarborfamily.com • October 2017 •

Contact: Enna Oliva Whitted Senior Development Manager, March of Dimes ewhitted@marchofdimes.org 734.418.7736

Saturday, 10.14 CARDBOARD CHALLENGE 2017 Children and families are invited to the 2017 Ann Arbor Art Center’s Cardboard Challenge: Halloween Costumes & Props! This is a drop-in, free, all ages event that challenges participants to use cardboard to create anything from a gargantuan monster costume to Thor’s hammer, to a set of magnificent fairy wings using cardboard and the support of Art Center teaching artists.10am. Ann Arbor Art Center. 117 W Liberty St. 734-994-8004. Annarborartcenter.org. FREE

Saturday, 10.28 Sugar Skulls and Jolly Rancher Roses - Celebrate Día de Muertos by decorating a sugar skull with gel frosting and learning about the meaning of this tradition. Also learn how to transform Jolly Rancher candies into a beautiful rose on a lollipop stick. Supplies are limited to the first 25 participants. 2pm. Ypsilanti District Library. 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti.

12 THURSDAY DONA Postpartum Doula Workshop This 30-hour training, spread over 4 days, prepares you to create your own postpartum doula business offering excellent, skilled, in-home support services to families with newborns. Topics include: breastfeeding, babywearing, Postpartum Depression, infant care and baby calming techniques, and how doulas can help with multiples. 8:30am. $595. Center for the Childbearing Year. 722 Brooks Street. center4cby.com Matcha Workshop with Arbor Teas Join Arbor Teas as they dive into the wonderful world of matcha! Matcha, the powdered green tea hailing from Japan, has taken off in popularity due to its health benefits and vibrant green color. In this class, participants will learn about the history, tradition and health properties of matcha. 7pm. $30. Arbor Teas. 1342 N. Main St. Suite 1. arborteas.com

14 SATURDAY Play Date - Join for a morning of educational fun at the launch of TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten, the latest service for little ones. Sign up to receive text messages that will prepare your little one for school success, then stay and play at our music, sensory, and pretend play learning stations. Community experts will be on hand to answer questions. 10:30am. Ypsilanti District Library. 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti.

Sunday, 10.15 Make Your Own Bird or Bat House Do you want some birdies to nest in your yard next spring, or bats to eat the mosquitoes? In this handson session, Capt. Jeff Porter will help you build a house for either birds or bats, using pre-cut, recycled wood. Limited to 20 houses, so sign up early and specify the kind of house you want to make. Cost: $10/wren, $12/bluebird, $16/bat. 2-3:30pm. Waterloo Recreation Area, Gerald Eddy Discovery Center, 17030 Bush Rd., Chelsea. Advance registration required at 734-475-3170. michigan.gov U-M Youth Wheelchair Basketball Clinic - The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is hosting a wheelchair basketball clinic that is open to the public. 1pm. Peace Lutheran Church. 8260 Jackson Rd. 734-424-0899. FREE

16 MONDAY Doula Share Circle - Facilitated by Toni Auker, Martha Baum and Patty Brennan. The group intends to create a safe space for doulas to come together, learn and share. Make new friends! Client and doula confidentiality will be carefully respected in our sharing circle. 7pm. Center for the Childbearing Year. 722 Brooks Streeet. FREE

17 TUESDAY Dancing for Birth, Six-Week Series Dancing For Birth classes teach a “language of movement” inspired by world dance forms like Belly dance, African dance and Latin dance. The 90-minute weekly classes fuse dance fitness with birth preparation. Women often come to class for fun and fitness and gain more than they expected! 6:30pm. $127. Center for the Childbearing Year. 722 Brooks Street. center4cby.com

19 THURSDAY Ready for Birth, Condensed Class This interactive, hands-on class is designed to accommodate the schedules of busy first-time parents. Perfect for couples seeking a Refresher Class as well. You’ll review the process of labor and birth. Emphasis is

placed on natural approaches to pain management, support techniques and comfort measures (how partners can help), and tips for smoothing your recovery in the early weeks postpartum. 6:30pm. $175. Center for the Childbearing Year. 722 Brooks Street. center4cby.com

20 FRIDAY Community Cats Training Class - If you’ve decided you want to be an advocate for feral cats, HSHV would love to have you attend this class. In this class, you will learn why HSHV believes that Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) helps reduce the number of free roaming cats, lowers stray intake and euthanasia and creates better, less hostile environments for our community cats.1pm. Humane Society of Huron Valley. 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. hshv.org. FREE Compassionate Feast - Join the Humane Society of Huron Valley for their 12th annual Compassionate Feast fundraiser! You’ll meet other animal-lovers like you; enjoy music, cocktails, food and entertainment; and celebrate all you’ve helped HSHV do and continue to do for animals in our community. All but $30 of the ticket price is tax-deductible and goes to help care for the injured, abused and homeless animals in our community! 6:30pm. $150$250. Michigan Student Union. 530 S. State St. hshv.org Pumpkins, Lanterns & Leaves: Family Program - Grab your creepiest costumes and get ready for a night of family-friendly Halloween fun, including a pumpkin trail, storytime, pumpkin painting, and a make-your-own lantern craft. Refreshments provided. 6-8pm. $12.50/ nonmembers; $10/Matthaei-Nichols members. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd., 734-647-7600. Check Facebook for details.

21 SATURDAY Dexter Community Education Craft and Vendor Show - With over 80 juried crafters and direct sales vendors, there’s a little something for everyone. Perfect onestop shopping event for all your holiday shopping. Dexter Food and Nutrition will be on site to offer a variety of breakfast and lunch options. The Dexter Touchdown Club will have a raffle with wonderful merchandise from all of our fabulous vendors. Free face painting for the kiddos.10am-4pm. $3. Creekside Intermediate School. 2615 Baker Rd, Dexter. Holiday Decorating Tips Seminar Holidays are just around the corner. Start planning now. Learn about this season’s hottest colors and decorating trends.10am. English Gardens. 155 N. Maple Rd. 248891-0708. FREE Make It & Take It Workshop: Seasonal Miniature Garden - Create a seasonal miniature garden to take home and enjoy. Instructors will supply everything you need to create your whimsical garden. Plants, container and accessories may vary. 11:30am. $24.99. English Gardens. 155 N. Maple Rd. 248-891-0708. englishgardens.com

24 TUESDAY Moms Demand Action monthly meeting - Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a non-partisan grassroots movement to mobilize moms, families, and everyday Americans to advo-

• October 2017 • www.annarborfamily.com

cate for stronger gun laws. They are a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. 7pm. Riverside Arts Center. 76 N Huron St, Ypsilanti. 734-480-2787. Momsdemandaction.org. FREE Hillary Clinton - Hillary Clinton is stopping at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor on Oct. 24 as she tours the country this fall to promote her memoir “What Happened.” Clinton will appear in various cities in the U.S. for an event called “Hillary Clinton Live,” in which she’ll “connect with audiences with a story that’s personal, raw, detailed and surprisingly funny,”. 7:30pm. $76 - $395. Hill Auditorium. 825 North University Avenue. (734) 764-2538.

25 WEDNESDAY Halloween Cupcake Class - In this class, you will create cupcakes themed for Halloween. You will make a one-eyed monster, a skeleton, a black cat, Jack Skellington, a cauldron and a bat cupcake. You will make 2 cupcakes of each design for a total of 12 cupcakes. All supplies are provided for this class. 5:30pm. $50. The Baker’s Nook. 901 W Michigan Ave. 734-429-1320. thebakersnook.com Share and Care Cancer Support Group - Support group for adults with cancer and their family and support people. Individuals can join at any time during or after treatment. 5:30pm. 775 S. Main Street, Chelsea. Chelseamich.com. FREE

27 FRIDAY Halloween Downtown/Ypsi Glow Enjoy Halloween Downtown festivities in the Library Plaza and parking lot. Visit the Boo!Mobile, get candy, giveaways and other fun. Halloween fun provided by the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti and Ypsi Real. Afterward stroll down to North Washington Street to enjoy the radiance of Ypsi GLOW! Music, dancing, glowing luminaries, clothing, activities, and displays will light up your evening! 5:30pm. Ypsilanti District Library. 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. FREE The Emoji Movie - Visit the magical land inside your phone, Textopolis, and meet Gene, an emoji with a lot of emotions that wants to break the mold. These morning movies are free for Frequent Moviegoers Members at Goodrich Quality Theaters. Runs from October 27-29. Free/ FMG Rewards members, $1/nonmembers. Various locations, check online for participating movie theaters. goodrichqualitytheaters.com

28 SATURDAY Parents’ Night Out - Pop, Fizz, BANG! - It’s a night out for grown-ups while the kids enjoy an exciting evening at LSNC. Practice the scientific method, sing silly songs, and make stuff explode during a fun-filled night. Bring your own lab coat or borrow one of ours. Parents’ Night Out includes dinner as well a snack. Families are welcome to send their child with a dinner from home. Activities will be outside as much as possible, so please come dressed for the weather! 5pm. $25 - $30. Leslie Science and Nature Center. 1831 Traver Rd. 734-997-1553. lesliesnc.org Halloween Bash - Put on your Halloween garb, and enjoy as the gymnasium is transformed into a Halloween haven! Get ready for some tricks, some treats and everything in between. Don’t miss out on a festive night of family fun and prizes

- and to top the night off, an amazing balloon drop! 6:30pm. $6. Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center. 2960 Washtenaw Ave. 734-971-6355. ewashtenaw.org

29 SUNDAY Family Halloween Party - Wear your costume and trick-or-treat at the Museum! Discover special stations and displays full of hands-on activities, live animals, and more! The party is free-no reservations or tickets necessary. The party is suitable for all ages. Don’t forget to bring your goody bag! 12pm. Alexander G. Ruthven Museum. 1109 Geddes Ave. 734-764-0480. Events.umich.edu. FREE Halloween at the Market! - Happy Halloween! Join in on October 29th during the Saturday market for trick or treating, games, activities, and more! Bring the whole family and don’t forget your costumes! 12pm. Ann Arbor Farmers Market. 315 Detroit St. 734-794-6255. FREE Muttster Mash Bash - Get in the Halloween mood with games, crafts, trickor-treating, pictures and meet-and-greets with the animals, and a lot more spookiness and fun. Costumes are encouraged but not required; please be considerate of the animals and avoid flashing lights, loud sounds, and weapons or large props. Preregistration required. 6-8pm. $10/admission ages 1 and over. Humane Society of

Huron Valley, 3100 Cherry Hill Rd., 734-662-5585. hshv.org

31 TUESDAY Halloween Trick or Treating in Chelsea - The recommended time for Halloween trick or treating in the City of Chelsea is from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Happy Halloween! Please note: Trick or treating is not a city event. In case of inclement weather, parents are encouraged to use their best judgement as to whether to allow children to trick or treat. 5:30pm. Chelsea. Chelseamich.com. FREE Halloween Candy Safety Checks Stop by the Candy Safety Check on Halloween Night. Pittsfield Township Public Safety will be onsite to check and make sure that each bag of goodies is safe! 6:30pm. McDonald’s. 4775 Washtenaw Avenue. FREE Halloween Treat Parade - It’s the 17th annual Treat Parade in downtown Ann Arbor! Area merchants welcome your little costumed characters to the neighborhood with greets and treats from 11AM5PM. Black and orange balloons will fly from participating businesses. Stop by the Ann Arbor District Library at 343 S. Fifth Ave. for a Halloween Party that includes stories, puppets and trick-or-treats. 11am. Main Street Area. 300 S. Main Street. Mainstreetannarbor.org FREE

ONGOING EVENTS Weekends

Night Terrors The acres of Wiard’s Orchards are truly haunted! The history of these lands has lived in haunted houses of Michigan lore for centuries. Courageous souls who have dared to set foot on the haunted grounds of this old orchard say they can still hear the howling sounds of the night. Michigan’s Premier Haunted Thrill Park is not just another haunted house! 7:30pm. $18 - $54. Wiard’s Orchard. 5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti. 734-390-9212. hauntedhousemichigan.com

Saturdays

Cultivate’s Weekly Tutoring Math & Physics tutoring for students of all levels (elementary-grad school). No need to pre-register to attend. Arrive anytime between 10 AM-12 PM, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to learn. Tutors are community educators who volunteer their time on Saturday mornings.10am. Cultivate Coffee & TapHouse. 307 N River St, Ypsilanti. 734-249-8993. FREE Family Yoga Ages 3-10 years and parents. Uplifting and supportive, this class provides gentle yet profound techniques to help build strength, flexibility and body awareness. Through mindfulness and self-acceptance, discover ways to de-stress from the pressures and expectations of daily life. Each class offers active asana (poses), balance work, breath work (pranayama) and relaxation.9:30am. $20. Peachy Fitness. 2385 S. Huron Parkway. 734-6810477. peachyfitness.com

Saturdays & Wednesdays

Bushel Basket Farmers Market The Chelsea Farmers Market (Saturdays from 8am til 1pm) and Bushel Basket Farmers Market (Wednesdays 2-6pm) bring farm fresh, local food and artisan

products to the Chelsea community. The farmers markets offer local, seasonal vegetables and fruits, meat and poultry, eggs, honey, maple syrup, coffee, a wide variety of breads and bakery items, herbs, nuts, along with prepared artisan foods. Organic and naturally-grown offerings available. 2pm. CSB Lot. 1010 S Main St, Chelsea. chelseamich.com

Sundays

Adult & Child CPR/AED & First Aid At the successful completion of class, a link will be emailed to you so you can print your own certification. You will be certified by the American Red Cross. 8am. Central Campus Recreation Building. 401 Washtenaw Avenue. Rm 3064. 734-647-2708

Wednesdays

Islam 101 MCA was founded in 1972 by a group of dedicated Muslims for the specific purpose of practicing, propagating and preserving Islam and Islamic heritage and to serve the needs of Muslims, be they, religious, social, cultural or educational. In this weekly class, learn more about Islamic beliefs and practices. All ages and denominations welcome. 7pm. The Islamic Center of Ann Arbor. 2301 Plymouth Road. 734-665-6772. Mca-a2.org. FREE

Thursdays

Little Paws Storytime - If you have a toddler who loves animals, come have a paws-itively fun time with us at HSHV! Designed for children ages 2 to 5, our story time programs include animal-themed stories, fingerplays, crafts and the opportunity to meet some of our adoptable animals! No preregistration needed. Every Thursday. 10:30am. $5. Humane Society of Huron Valley. 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. hshv.org

marketplace ADVERTISING IN MARKETPLACE Free Classifieds: Individuals may receive one

free 20-word ad per month (products offered in ads must sell for under $100). Each additional word 40 cents, payment must accompany ad. Free ads run one month and are reserved for private-parties use, noncommercial concerns and free services. Ads MUST be typed or neatly printed and MAILED, E-MAILED, or DROPPED OFF to Ann Arbor Family Press. Classifieds by the15th of the month prior to publication.

Line Classifieds: Only $20 per month for 20

words or less. Each additional word is 40 cents each and any artwork will be $5 extra. Display Classifieds: Display classifieds with a box may be purchased for $25 per column inch. Photos are accepted with ads for an additional $5 per photo.

services Massage: Walk-in Appointments Available. Come in stressed leave refreshed. Free Parking. Make some time for yourself! RelaxStation. 734-623-1951

FOR SALE Safe Step Walk-In Tub Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 1-800-906-3115 for $750 Off Massage Therapist: Currently hiring therapists to work at RelaxStation in downtown Ann Arbor to accommodate our already established clientele. Free parking, flexible hours, great team! 734-623-1951 Give Hope. Become a Foster Parent. Attend a free training today to learn more! For more information: www.judsoncenter.org or 313-255-8272.

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Deadlines: Ad copy must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

Payment: Payment must be received before an ad can

be placed. We accept checks, cash, money orders and credit cards (Visa/Mastercard).

Mail or drop off:

Ann Arbor Family Press Classifieds, 3003 Washtenaw Blvd., Ann Arbor. Phone: 734-668-4044 E-Mail: classifieds@adamsstreetpublishing.com Refunds: Sorry, NO REFUNDS given. Misprints: Credit toward future ads.

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services

ARE YOUR CHILDREN INTERESTED IN ASTRONOMY? Do they like observing the moon, planets and stars? GO TO www.YoungAstronomer.org

Homeward Bound Rescue League

ANNOUNCEMENTS

I am a sweet and playful girl. I only weigh 12 lbs. I am a little nervous around other dogs at first, but I do warm up to them after a while. No small children for me. I tend to guard my food from other animals, but if you feed me in a separate room, this is no big deal. I love treats, am housebroken, and would like a fenced-in yard so that I can run around and play. Please send in your application today so that I can meet you.

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BINDI: 2 Yrs, Female, Chihuahua Mix

WILLOW: 9 yrs, Female, Dilute Calico

A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-800880-1686 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1-800-208-6915 to start your application today! Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-800-254-4073 Promo Code CDC201625

Guess what? I am ready for my forever home. My mouth was really bothering me, but thanks to Homeward Bound’s supporters and friends, I was able to have the dental surgery I needed. Now, I want to go a home where someone can feed me yummy canned food and give me lots of attention! I feel so much better now. I am a sweet girl who wants to be your new furry family member. I love to cuddle! I can’t wait to go home with you!

Looking for Foster Families! To apply for one of our adoptable pets, please fill out an application Email us for more info

hbrlmi.org P.O. Box 87591 If you cannot adopt, please consider Canton, MI 48187 making a donation online to help homewardboundmi@yahoo.com out our furry friends!