Chesapeake Family Life September 2019

FrEE | september 2019

Marble Madness, STEM Toys, and a STEAM Fair Preview

Annapolis Area Christian School • K–12th

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FALL OPEN HOUSE EVENTS LOWER SCHOOL :: ANNAPOLIS November 12, 2019, 9am

LOWER SCHOOL :: SEVERN November 14, 2019, 9am

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October 17, 2019, 9am

UPPER SCHOOL :: SEVERN

October 22, 2019, 9am

Please sign up to attend, at www.aacsonline.org/Visit

Four Locations in Anne Arundel County

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immersed in a

Active Learners

Christ-Centered Culture

Compassionate Neighbor, an Effective Communicator and a Responsible Steward

where being a

are just as important as

DOING YOUR BEST academically.

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September | ChesapeakeFamily.com

in this issue Family Fun

Features 12/ HEAD GAMES

What if you blinked and missed the fall that gave your child a concussion?

Here’s how to recognize concussion signs and symptoms, treat one and prevent them.

16/ HOMEWORK HELP Setting up good homework habits for students is important. Experts weigh in on the right time to study, how to study and how parents can best help their kids at different stages in their education.

20/ MARBLE MADNESS

Foster your kids’ STEM obsession with simple marble projects.

Stay Inspired 32/WHEN TO HIRE A FINANCIAL PLANNER

Whether you’re clueless about 529s or 401(k)s, or want help planning for life insurance or a will, a financial planner can set you on the right course.

22 ST E A M FA I R

M A R Y L A N D September 21, 11AM-3PM

16

DEPARTMENTS 05 / EDITOR'S LETTER

Back to school isn’t just for kids.

New & Notable 07 / Fun: The Dinos are Back at the Smithsonian!

09 / Education: Books for Back to School 09 / Fun: Atlantic Coast Gem & Mineral Show 10 / Education: Charting Careers

24 / GET OUT!

Events, activities and fun things to do this month

34 / EVENTS WORTH A BABYSITTER

Fun for grown-ups in September

Maryland STEAM Fair

11 / Lifestyle: STEAM Toys and Games

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READY, SET, SMILE. DENTAL CHECK-UPS $ 99

BRACES 25% OFF Vol. 29 No. 12 PUBLISHER Donna Jefferson ext. 212 djefferson@jecoannapolis.com EDITOR Ann Levelle ext 200 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Joyce Heid CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Adams Laura Boycourt Mary McCarthy Anita M. Meyers ART DIRECTOR Jenny Patrick C. ext. 202 artdirector@jecoannapolis.com AD DESIGN Jessica Kannegieser OFFICE MANAGER Claire Kovacs ext. 204 ADVERTISING Jen Jeffries ext. 226 jen@jecoannapolis.com Pam Beall ext. 226 pam@jecoannapolis.com PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY: Jefferson Communications, LLC 121 Cathedral Street, 3rd floor, Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-263-1641 Fax: 410-280-0255 These materials are neither sponsored by or endorsed by the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County and all other Maryland counties, the superintendents or the schools.

The acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement by Chesapeake Family Life of products or services. Advertisers are not given special consideration or placement in editorial content. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the policies or standards of this publication. Jefferson Communications assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertisements. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of Chesapeake Family Life, by any means without permission, is strictly prohibited. ©2017 Jefferson Communications, LLC.

Find us on Facebook & Twitter: Facebook.com/ChesapeakeFamilyMagazine Twitter: @ChesFamily ChesapeakeFamily.com

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The acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement

by Chesapeake Family of products or services. Advertisers are not given special consideration or placement in editorial content.

The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the policies or standards of this publication. Jefferson Communications assumes no financial

editor's letter

Online this month

STEAM Festival Updates SteamMaryland.com

I

Back to School for Everyone

t’s time to head back to school, but it’s not only our children who are going back; adults have their own back-to-school duties too. We have to make lunches, go to Back to School nights, arrange schedules and make sure our children are adjusting well to a new school year.

To help your whole family get back into the swing of things, we’ve got plenty in this issue to help put you into school mode. For the kids (and parents, really), there’s a great article on homework habits on page 16. In it you’ll find tips for good study habits for kids of all ages from top experts on the topic. On page 20, kids can keep their STEM fun going outside of school with cool marble games they can make at home.

For parents, who will need to look out for kids on the sports fields as well as at school, you’ll find our Head Games article on page 12 about concussions and how to spot them, treat them and prevent them. We’ve also got a great lineup of back-to-school books for parents

and kids on page 9, including one that has excellent practical advice for parents of new middle school students. Finally, while you’re planning your kids’ school year, you might want to take some time to organize your adult life as well with help from a financial planner. Former Chesapeake Family editor Mary McCarthy shares how and when these pros can be handy in your life on page 32.

Also, don’t forget our STEAM Festival on September 21. It’s going to be lots of fun, and you can read all about it on page 22. We hope to see you there!

Fall Fairs and Festivals ChesapeakeFamily.com/fall

Apple Picking and Pumpkin patches ChesapeakeFamily.com/fall

Ann Levelle, Editor Ann@jecoannapolis.com

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Salvation Army on Hilltop Lane. FREE Hispanic Heritage CelebrationSunday, September 15, 2 - 6 pm Outdoor Movie The LoraxSaturday, September 21, 4-6 pm La Loncheria - The Lunch Box! Latin American CookingSunday, September 22, 2-4 pm Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival - City Dock Saturday, September 28, 10 am - 7 pm

Ongoing Events:

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Babies & Toddlers Play Group: Discussion for adults while the babies play.

Mondays, 9:30-11 am.

Creek Critters: Nature Walk, Thursdays 10:30 am. All Ages Art & Story Time: Fridays 10:30 am. Ages 2-5 theccm.org | 410.990.1993 25 Silopanna Road | Annapolis,MD 21403 info@theccm.org

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Save the Date for Our Fall Open House!

Lower School: October 17 at 9 am Middle & Upper School: November 6 at 7pm

www.severnschool.com preschool-grade 12 Severna Park, MD

new & notable LIFESTYLE

TRENDS

EDUCATION

HEALTH

NEWS

The Dinos are Back!

D

uring a summer dominated by the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing you may have missed an equally intriguing look at part of our planet’s (and very likely your childhood’s), past: The David H. Koch Hall of (Dinosaur) Fossils—Deep Time at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Reopened on June 8, 2019 after a five-year, 125 million dollar renovation that was the largest in the museum’s history, the 31,000-square-foot hall features more than 700 specimens of dinosaurs, plants, animals, insects, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.

The day-trip-worthy exhibit is permanent and free, and as I learned while visiting it with my sister and dinosaur-loving three- and five-year-old nieces (who both gave the exhibit a 10/10), it’s awe-inspiring and engaging for eyes and brains of all ages.

The most eye-catching of these specimens is, inarguably, the Triceratops-eating “Nation’s T. rex,” one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever unearthed. It’s also impressive, big and bad fossilized peers include the woolly mammoth, diplodocus and

continued on page 8

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new & notable

INDIAN CREEK STUDENTS MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.

continued from page 7 stegosaurus. You also don’t want to miss the “Irish Elk,” a mounted fossil skeleton that’s been on view since 1872; the tylosaurus, a large marine reptile that was discovered with two additional fossils in its stomach; or the massive 52-foot megalodon model that hangs in the museum’s Atrium Café.

The Fossil Hall also contains a tremendous amount of diverse educational content. It tells a story of evolution that begins with the Earth’s distant past—3.7 billion years ago— and explains how both humans and natural events have brought us to its present and will define its uncertain future. According to the Smithsonian, the overarching message that this content seeks to convey is that all life and all ecosystems always have been and always will be in a state of interconnectedness and constant change. And while it’s unlikely that any visitor will read the roughly 75,000 total words that articulate this message, some of the most memorable displays that help deliver it include: •

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An interactive touch-screen demonstrating dinosaur-to-bird evolution.

The “Will you become a fossil?” game, which allows you to pick an organism and habitat, spin a wheel, and discover whether you’re eaten, eroded, or fossilized.

“Love. Protect. Act.” which shows how everyday activities and hobbies impact and change the environment.

A replica coal mine, where you’ll learn why coal and oil and gas are called “fossil fuels,” and the implications of their use.

The FossiLab, where you can watch volunteers extract actual fossils from earth and learn what they, and eventually we, learn by studying them.

Touchable bronze rabbit poop (not real) and freeze-dried mummified remains of a 28,000-year-old Alaskan bison (real).

The list could go on but, as with any great museum, there are too many cool things to see to name them all. Siobahn Starrs, an exhibition project manager, eloquently summed it up ahead of the Hall’s opening, “If you only have 30 minutes, you can find something awesome. If you have an hour, you’ll find even more.”

The Museum of Natural History is located at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Learn more at naturalhistory.si.edu.

—Steve Adams

new & notable | education

Back to School Books

H

eading back to school affects everyone in the family. Check out these new books to encourage learning for kids and parents!

How to Raise a Reader

Treasure Hunting at the Atlantic Coast Gem & Mineral Show

F

or years at 9 a.m. on the last Saturday of September, Bernie Emery has taken a long, slow walk through the exhibit hall at the Howard County Fairgrounds.

Vendors and volunteers bustle around him doing last minute set up and getting ready for the crowd that will descend upon them at the stroke of 10. “I’ve been doing this for a long time” Emery admits, “but it never fails to amaze me. There’s literally a treasure on every table.”

Emery is the Show Chairman for the Atlantic Coast Gem, Mineral Jewelry & Fossil Show, sponsored by the nonprofit Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore, and the tables around him are filled with cut gemstones, spectacular mineral specimens, fossils and one-of a kind handcrafted jewelry from all over the world.

The more than 100 members of the Guild are first and foremost, gem and mineral enthusiasts. Most are also involved in turning natural stones, or “rough” into jewels and jewelry, and the show is a way of sharing their interests with the general public.

Many of the Guild members got their first introduction to this glittering natural world as children at a similar show and all will tell you that one of the main purposes of the annual show is spark the interest of the kids who attend with their families.

Rock hounding can be a great hobby for bringing a family together. Even a simple outing to the park can become a treasure hunt. “Every person who’s ever done laundry for a family knows that most kids have an affinity for picking up interesting rocks.” A longtime Guild member notes. “I tell parents to encourage that. It’s an inexpensive, healthy hobby that will truly make them appreciate all the wonder and beauty of nature.”

In addition to rocks, showcases prepared by members feature their best gem specimens, and in the demonstration area club members show how they turn rocks into jewels. A skilled gem cutter has to have a steady hand, mathematical precision and a working knowledge of each stone’s particular qualities, but most of the demonstrators will let you try your own hand at roughly shaping and polishing a stone.

If you want pre-shaped gems, ready-made jewelry or specimens of natural stones, the vendor section features over 35 vendors from around the world selling everything from 60 pound plates of amethyst crystals to petrified dinosaur dung and tiny facetted gems.

Purchase a geode and one vendor will crack it open for you on the spot, revealing for the first time crystals that formed thousand of years ago.

At the Gem Mine, visitors comb through plates of gravel containing numerous tiny shards of real gemstones. Adults and kids alike create their own unique jewelry by filling small necklace bottles with their colorful finds. Other family-friendly activities include displays by natural history groups, dancing dinosaurs, and a free kid’s scavenger hunt where the prize is a souvenir grab bag of assorted crystals, fossils and polished stones, courtesy of the Gem Cutters Guild.

This year’s 55th Annual Gem Show takes place Saturday September 28 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday September 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Md. Admission is $6; kids 12 and under are free with an adult. gemcuttersguild.com —Anita M. Meyers

by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo We all know that reading to your little ones is important.

This book aims to up your kids’ reading game with helpful tips on fostering good reading habits for readers at all levels. While it touches on reading to infants and toddlers, the chapters on helping emerging, independent readers and middle grade readers foster a love of reading are poignant and helpful. Parents will also find tips on keeping teens interested in books and a wealth of wonderful book recommendations across a wide spectrum of themes.

Mindfulness for Students—Embracing now, looking to the future

by Natasha Kaufman Students, especially teens, are stressed out. This book lays out using mindfulness as a way to deal with stress in a way that’s easy to follow. The long introduction is particularly helpful in defining mindfulness and explaining the parts of the brain and how it reacts to stress.

The author then walks students through topics including breathing, switching off, tuning in, compassion and knowing yourself.

Middle School Matters

by Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC Middle school is a tough period for kids and parents.

Kids are facing a different world today, and this book does a great job at introducing parents to what middle school is like today for kids, combining current research with helpful tips for parents and includes advice from teenagers as well as professionals. Common sense advice on managing friendships, dealing with bullies and gossip, and growing up sexually healthy will help parents of middle schoolers be ready to handle middle school situations with confidence.

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new & notable | education Throughout the high school program, students receive continued individualized academic guidance, life skills workshops, and college and career counseling to help them navigate their paths towards graduation and beyond. “Through these mentoring relationships, our students learn about their strengths, set ambitious goals, and achieve them,” says Snell.

Through weekly sessions during Panther Hour at Annapolis High School, participants meet professionals from diverse backgrounds to learn about different career options. Rising high school junior D’Asia Jones says, “It was fun listening to amazing people talk about their lives and what they do for a living.”

High school participants also attend college visits and conduct service projects.

According to Charting Careers student Joniece Pitts, “The field trips to colleges and team bonding with others who participated in the program, and mentors,” were her favorite parts of the program.

Charting Careers—A New Annapolis Nonprofit Establishes Roots

F

or the last three years, retired physicist Thornell Jones and upcoming 6th grader Josiah have been meeting every Thursday afternoon after school to read books together, enjoy a healthy snack, and get to know each other. What started out as a relationship focused on building literacy skills has grown into a mentorship, and, as Josiah transitions into middle school, Jones will continue to be there to support him.

Jones and Josiah are a part of a new Annapolis nonprofit called Charting Careers, which began as an educational and mentoring program under the Box of Rain organization and became its own nonprofit in 2018. Charting Careers’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty in Annapolis by working individually with youth and their families, while also addressing the systemic issues leading to poverty and inequities in the first place.

This mission is particularly relevant in Anne Arundel County, where, according to the most recent “Poverty Amidst Plenty” report, the income gap continues to widen between rich and poor, the number of families living in poverty continues to increase, the achievement gap for African American and Latino youth continues to

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exist, and mental health needs are on the rise.

Discover Your Story Charting Careers students start as third graders who are identified as behind in reading and follows them through early adulthood. After graduating from the elementary-level individualized literacy program, Read to Succeed, students transition into the fifth- through seventhgrade program, Discover Your Story. There, they identify their strengths, explore their own stories and interests, and continue to develop the soft skills necessary for charting a successful career.

Create Your Story As eighth-graders, if not earlier, Charting Careers youth are officially matched with a mentor and begin the Create Your Story program.

“It is in bonds among our students, staff, and volunteers where the magic lives,” says Executive Director Erin Snell. “Our staff and volunteers grow from their relationships with the students and the students grow from the connections, care, and knowledge of the adults.”

Living Your Story Senior year of high school starts the final part of a student’s journey with Charting Careers. Staff and volunteers continue to collaborate with their high school graduates through 24 years of age.

To help students start living their story Charting Careers awarded more than $3,000 in scholarships during a celebration in May. The academic scholarships are made possible by the JoshuaOneNine Scholarship Fund, an agency endowment established with the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. The scholarship funds must go directly to college and/or career access, including college application costs, tuition, course fees, materials, or other incidental fees that are barriers to education or job obtainment.

Since so many Charting Careers students are the first in their family to attend college or a credentialing program, the Charting Careers community builds cultural capital that helps young adults navigate barriers as they arise (e.g., finding summer internships, understanding the importance of office hours, managing money).

With the lack of transportation and other barriers, many youth in Annapolis would not have the opportunity to have these types of experiences without the work of nonprofits like Charting Careers, but they cannot do it alone.

If you have an interest in tutoring or mentoring, volunteering, or would like to make a donation to Charting Careers, please visit chartingcareers.org.

new & notable | lifestyle Geodes STEAM Kit Discover crystal treasure when you break open these rocks to find amazing crystals inside! $21.

Don’t miss our STEAM Fair on Sept 21!

STEAM Kitchen Kit Over 30 fun interactive experiments.

Includes instructions for each activity. $24.99

STEAM Products Every Kid Will Love

T

here’s no secret that science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics can be fun using the right tools. What’s interesting is that all the fun you can have with STEAM can lead to a ton of

inspring careers in your child’s future and that these days there is an abundance of these educational toys to plant those seeds. We’ve made it easy for you and picked out some of our favorite STEAM projects.

Check them out and grab them through our website at ChesapeakeFamily.com/productswelove. — Jenny Cardoza

Lava Land This kit allows kids to learn about properties of light, immiscible fluids, acid base reactions & suspensions through fun lava lamp activities. $19.99

Electric Motors Catalyst, Robotics Stem Kit This intro to engineering kit is perfect for aspiring engineers & tinkerers! $59

Ecosystem Science Kit Grow your own plants in just 10 days with this complete aquatic ecosystem kit. $109

Visit us online to shop this page and see more parent-approved products at ChesapeakeFamily.com/ProductsWeLove SEPTEMBER 2019

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“ In 2014, an HEAD GAMES “ In 2014, an HEAD GAMES HEAD GAMES estimated estimated Knowing the signs and symptoms of

Knowing the signs and symptoms 812,000 Knowing the signs and symptoms of of concussions can be an important factor in concussions can important factor 812,000 children concussions can bebe anan important factor in in children ages getting a diagnosis quickly. getting a diagnosis quickly. ages 17 or getting a diagnosis quickly.

By Joyce Heid

younger were treated in U.S. emergency departments for concussion or traumatic brain injury.”

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By Joyce Heid

C

arolyn Thompson of Chestertown, Md. is a mom of a typical active six year old. This past February she signed up her son Finn for ice skating lessons in Easton as a fun diversion in the winter months.

Unfortunately the fun was short lived.

“He had just started to become more confident on the ice when suddenly his skates slipped right out from under him and he slammed his back and head against the ice,” Thompson shares. “He hit his head

17 or younger hard, but he was wearing a helmet. He were treated stood right back up after he fell, and

By Joyce Heid in U.S. he never lost consciousness.”

Initially Finn seemed fine. He emergency continued skating for about 30 minutes with no complaints. “It wasn’t departments until I took his helmet off,” Thompson says, “that he started to complain for concussion about it hurting his head, and his or traumatic eyes started blinking rapidly.” She thought his blinking was due to the brain injury windy conditions, but the next day his teachers sent a note home from (TBI)...” school about the blinking and she

became concerned that something might really be wrong.

Like many people, Thompson thought you needed to lose consciousness to have a concussion. When she took him to the pediatrician the next day, she learned otherwise, “She diagnosed him with a concussion right there. Motor tics are not a common symptom, but they can be caused by a concussion. I kept him home from school from that point, but his symptoms did worsen for a few days.” Finn developed slurred speech, his eyes would drift off into a vacant stare and it took him longer to wake up.

Finn is not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, In 2014, an estimated 812,000 children ages 17 or younger were treated in U.S. emergency departments for concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), whether alone or in combination with other injuries.

Often people are under the misconception that a concussion is not a traumatic brain injury. “Concussion is indeed a type of traumatic brain injury,” says Dr. Christina Johns, pediatrician and senior medical advisor for PM Pediatrics. “It is most often caused by a bump or blow to the head that causes a type of “shearing” effect on the brain where the brain moves rapidly back and forth, ultimately resulting in a temporary loss of normal brain function.

Especially when there are multiple, repeated head injuries like this, long term consequences can occur such as memory and attention difficulties as well as ongoing headaches.”

“Most of the time symptoms are seen immediately or within the first several hours after the impact,” Johns says. “Headache, nausea, sensitivity to light, not remembering the sequence of events prior to the injury are all common acute symptoms that can linger for days and for some much longer, but typically the symptoms are noted soon after the injury.”

Finn’s doctor told Thompson his brain needed time to heal, advising him to keep him off of all screens and away from bright lights, loud noises and strenuous activity. In addition, he had to refrain from all sports and play that

Finn and his dog Claddagh enjoying summer after recovering from a concussion last winter.

HEADS UP The CDC has developed the HEADS UP resource for parents who wish to become more informed about concussions, including how to recognize, respond to, and minimize the risk of concussion or other serious brain injury. at cdc.gov/headsup/ parents/index.html As part of the HEADS UP resource, the CDC has provided the following signs for parents to look for which may indicate a concussion: • Appears dazed or stunned • Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent • Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly

• Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes • Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall

The testing is used to assess an athlete’s balance and brain function, including memory, learning, concentration and problem solving. In addition, it can determine the presence of any concussion symptoms from previous injuries.

Results from baseline tests are used and compared to a similar exam conducted by a health care professional if an athlete has a suspected concussion during the season.

This allows healthcare providers to ascertain the extent of the brain injury, and determine when the athlete can safely return to school and sports. If it is not offered by your child’s school, your child’s healthcare provider may offer the testing.

HEADS UP also includes a full list of danger signs and symptoms warranting a call to 911. cdc.gov/headsup/basics/ concussion_danger_ signs.html

Baseline Concussion Testing

Many schools now require baseline concussion testing for student athletes. The testing is typically for athletes over the age of 10 and takes place prior to the start of practices.

Generally repeated every two years, testing may be more frequent if there is a history of concussion.

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might cause another head injury until all of his symptoms resolved. When he was ready to return to school, he was to be allowed breaks from class as needed, granted extra time to complete tasks, and his doctor even said no test taking until he was completely healed.

Johns says those who have sustained a concussion need to have a few days of rest and hydration. “This means no eye or brain strain and lots of fluids.

It’s very important to partner with a healthcare professional familiar with concussion treatment so that a tailored plan can be created for each individual.”

Previously, doctors followed a strict protocol insisting students refrain from school. However, similar to the directives Finn’s doctor prescribed, Johns says, “We no longer recommend that students are out of class for days and weeks, but rather encourage an earlier return to a light load in school and extremely light physical activity after a few days of rest with very slow increase under the guidance of a trained clinician. If symptoms return at any point in the process then it’s important to back off as it’s a sign that the body isn’t quite ready yet.”

Finn made a full recovery and his summer has been filled with swimming, biking, boating and jet skiing. His mother hopes others can learn from their experience, “Finn’s fall happened so quickly that if I had been peering down at my phone for even 30 seconds, I would have missed it and would not have put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. I wish I had known that concussions can happen to a child even if he is wearing a helmet, kids don’t have to show serious symptoms like loss of consciousness or vomiting to have a bad concussion, and that symptoms don’t always show up immediately.”

Thompson feels if she had been more educated about concussions, she would have gotten Finn medical attention quicker and he would have begun getting the necessary rest sooner.

“The faster a child receives medical attention and appropriate rest following a concussion, the greater their chances are for a speedy, full recovery.”

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ABINGDON/BEL AIR 3400 Box Hill Corporate Center Drive, Suite 120 Abingdon, MD 21009 410.569.4300

Y A D H BIRT

S E I T PAR LEVEL ON A VIP

COLUMBIA (410) 995-9009

10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 1615 • Columbia, MD 21044

50

$

VALUE

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EVERYDAY OFFER!

BIRTHDAY BONUS

FREE $20

DOUBLE ARCADE PLAY FOR ALL PARTY GUESTS

PACKAGES STARTING AT

1595

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IN ARCADE PLAY

WITH PURCHASE OF $20 IN ARCADE PLAY!

PER CHILD

Offer to be used on or before 10/30/19.

Must mention promo code LMSP20 at time of booking.

Excludes online bookings. Birthday party must be held by December 31, 2019, in order to redeem offer. Offer not valid on holidays or with any other offer or discount. Reservations required, 10 child minimum. Certain restrictions may apply.

This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or redeemed online. Free arcade play will be added to a FUNcard (as bonus value) or a game card (as credits) and is valid for arcade game play only. Cannot be used as cash or payment towards other activities, food, beverage, group events or refunded for cash (unless required by law). Valid at all Main Event locations. Offer expires 10/30/19.

*Laser Tag have a height requirement of 48” to play.

BDY20_PRT_ChesapeakeFamilyLife_7.25x9.75.indd 1

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P

op quiz! Growing up, what type of “homeworker” were you?

A) I did every assignment right away . . . no goofing off for me!

B) I made sure to unwind a bit at first, but I didn’t wait long to dive in.

C) I was pretty busy with sports, music, or having fun, but I eventually got the work done.

D) I waited until the last possible minute.

No matter how you answered, now that young minds are in your charge, it’s time to help them build a solid foundation of study skills and academic responsibility, and homework is a key opportunity to do just that.

The trouble is, how do you help your kids create healthy homework habits?

Should you insist on their doing it right after school, or let them have some down time first? Should you hover and “help” them complete every assignment or let them work through problems on their own? And when do you say “enough is enough,” and help them advocate for a lighter load from their teachers?

We’ve talked to a few homework and study skills experts to learn a bit more about homework to find out what students of all ages can do, and how parents can help them be efficient and confident learners at home.

How Much Homework?

Research suggests students should get about “ten minutes of homework each night for each grade,” says Dr. Harris Cooper, Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University. So, 10 minutes for 1st grade, 20 for 2nd, and so on.

Others say there’s really no right answer to how much time per day a student should be studying. Kathy McIntosh, founder of Capital Learners, a tutoring service in the greater metro D.C. area says homework is a complex issue, and the “right” amount varies by student. “Some students need to combine some type of enrichment as

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well as a continuation of what they’re learning in school,” she says. “Students, especially the little ones who are struggling in reading or math, should definitely have some type of homework or some skill that they’re working on at school to keep up with their skills.”

In addition to keeping up with skills learned during school hours, homework offers the opportunity to “teach responsibility and keep parents connected to what their young student is learning,” says Kaitlin Gaj, director of the Baltimore-based Total Tutoring Services. Though she agrees it is also important to allow students to have the time to play outside, participate in extracurricular activities and spend time with family.

Paul Rivas, founder of Smith Rivas Study Skills & Academic Coaching in Washington, D.C. agrees that students should seek balance and would prefer to see high schoolers spend two hours a day on homework Monday through Thursday, with three two-hour chunks over the weekends. “I feel strongly about time limits, particularly for high school students, most of whom are over-scheduled,” he says.

“It is impossible for a high school student to have a healthy life doing more than 14 hours per week of homework,” says Rivas. If you’re doing more than that, you’re not getting enough sleep, or you don’t have enough free time.”

Beat the Clock: When to Do Homework

One of the biggest homework questions of all is when a child should hit the books. Once again, it just depends on the individual student.

McIntosh says that for students who are involved with sports or extracurricular activities, study time is variable; it’s all about figuring out when a student is most productive. “It really depends on what works for the kid,” she says, “what time they feel like they’re most alert, and also the time that they’re allowed to do homework”

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(based on time constraints from extracurricular activities).

Gaj agrees. “Some students do well with coming straight home and immediately doing their homework while they are still in that ‘school frame of mind.’ Other families find that their children need to take a break and decompress before shifting into homework time. For these students, playing outside, having a snack or just having time to relax in their own home works well.”

For older students, when it comes to doing homework after dinner, Rivas recommends trying to avoid it, although it’s not always possible due to afterschool commitments. Ideally, students would get home, have a snack, clear their head and relax for a bit, then try to tackle it prior to the evening meal or within an hour before going to bed.

He also says high schoolers shouldn’t be cramming just before a big assessment. “If you have to study the night before the test, you’ve been living wrong.” Rivas is also adamant about getting enough Z’s. “There are no academic results that justify insufficient sleep,” he explains.

Good Homework Habits

The experts say establishing good learning habits at home is key for homework success, and setting a good example for students is at the top of the list.

Young students “learn best from repetitive, modeled behavior,” says McIntosh. Parents should show kids what it means to settle in and turn their attentions to their work. She says this includes turning off the television, taking away distractions, and setting ground rules.

Although they may not have much in the way of nightly homework, McIntosh stresses the importance of reading for younger students. “Even if there’s no homework given, definitely read 20 minutes a day with kids,” she says, citing research that shows the impact reading can have on a child’s

vocabulary development and knowledge of the world.

Limiting distractions is big in Rivas’s book, too. “If you can see your phone, even if it’s turned off, it is distracting you,” he says. Rivas also thinks older students should take breaks, whether or not they think they need them. Powering through is not a good idea, he says, and don’t stay up super late. “The demands of a high school schedule make it impossible to be a night owl.”

A final tenant, and probably the most important, of Rivas’s studying philosophy is going over the material just after learning it. Reviewing what was learned in class on the same day or at least over the weekend will allow a student to better retain the information and help homework go faster and avoid cramming for tests.

Parents can help students develop good learning habits by encouraging and modeling the right kind of homework behaviors and being a motivator, says Duke’s Dr. Cooper. “Homework provides a great opportunity for you to tell your child how important school is. Be positive about homework. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.”

He also explains that letting children see parents in the learning zone is also important. “Be a role model. When your child does homework, don’t sit and watch TV. If your child is reading, you read, too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook. Help your child see that the skills they are practicing are related to things you do as an adult,” Cooper explains.

What if my child is struggling with what seems like too much homework?

If a student is experiencing anxiety with a homework overload, it often has to do with other factors, says McIntosh— perhaps they don’t have enough time carved out to work, they’re struggling in the classroom, or maybe a learning disorder is underlying. “If it does come to a point where the kids are extremely

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SET UP A STUDY SPACE Students need an organized space to do their work. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework and that the needed materials (paper, pencils, dictionary) are available.

Students should study in an area that’s free of noise, distractions and interruptions.

Alternatively, kids might like to rotate their work space, and study in different areas of the house. Learn to be flexible, because your tests won’t be administered in a comfortable room at home.

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stressed out, then it’s something that needs to be addressed with the teachers to see if it can be modified,” she says.

Some teachers may be willing to adjust the amount of homework a student is required to complete. For example, says McIntosh, a math teacher could bump down the number of problems from 30 to 15 so the student can have the opportunity to show full understanding and not get stressed. “The quality is more important than the quantity.”

“If it gets to be a battle,” she says of middle and high school homework, it’s time to reach out to a tutor or a therapist to determine the best approach.

If an elementary student appears to have too much homework, “I would reach out to the student’s teacher to share my concern and discuss why the assignments are taking so long,” says Gaj. “Sometimes there is a disconnect between what teachers perceive as only taking 15 minutes but what really takes 45 minutes to complete.”

For older students who are struggling, Gaj recommends taking a look at where and how the child is doing their work to make sure there

SEPTEMBER 2019

aren’t distractions. “If I have done that and determined that the student is really just given an unreasonable amount of homework,” she says, “then I would encourage them to reach out to their teacher to share their concern.”

Parental Involvement

When is a helping hand justified? The experts say a gradual progression of independence is just the ticket. For young children, it’s okay for parents to hold a student’s hand through the early days of homework, then begin taking steps back and assisting if help is needed. “The ultimate goal is for kids to be independent learners,” McIntosh says.

For older students, parents can continue to offer support but should eventually be ready to step back.

“As they get into middle school,” says Gaj, “parents can assist their children in mapping out bigger and more long term projects and help them to develop good time management skills. In high school, parents can continue to provide a quiet study space and support, but let the student take the reins and have the responsibility to complete the assignments on their own.”

e v o L n i Fallwith your mile!

S 2019

LIFE IS BETTER WITH A SMILE

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Marble Madness Start your school year with fun marble STEM projects.

BY ANN LEVELLE

S

cience, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) will likely be high on your children’s curricula this year. Whether you have a child who embraces all things STEM or one who can’t stand any of it, you can create some really cool things at home to play with that use STEM concepts but don’t feel like educational endeavors.

My girls and I took a rainy day recently to have some fun with marbles. One piece of 20- by 30inch foam board ($2 at Michaels) lent itself to making marble mazes and a Newton’s Cradle. We also bought a bag of marbles and a package of wooden dowels, totaling about $10. Everything else—straws, glue, Popsicle sticks, string, and rubber bands— we had at home.

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family fun

MEDIUM

EASY

PHOTO BY TEAMELECTRONETIC.WORDPRESS.COM

HARD

PINBALL GAME

NEWTON’S CRADLE

MARBLE MAZE

Materials:

Materials:

Materials:

• Foam board • popsicle sticks • glue gun

• marker • paper towel tube

The pinball game is the most difficult of the marble games we made. It would be great for kids ages 10 to 12.

Using a 10- by 20-inch piece of foam board, we glued borders around the outside of the board using foam board strips. Then we glued a parallel strip down to form the marble chute that starts the game. We then stapled a rubber band on the outsides of the chute and set a marker cap inside it with the marble on the other end of the cap to form a plunger to shoot the marble.

Once we got the plunger working properly, we added obstacles to the game. Using a paper towel tube, we cut half circles and glued those to the pinball board, assigning points to each half-circle cup. Instead of trying to engineer flippers, we chose to give each player turns to try to accumulate the most points. (Picture above is a good example of how to make a game with flippers.)

You could easily add more obstacles like tunnels, ramps, bumps or holes to make the game more difficult.

The best part of these marble games was that we already had most of the materials, and it was fun to create them using whatever we had on hand.

• Foam board • popsicle sticks • 5 marbles

• glue gun • dowels • string

The Newton’s Cradle is a little more complicated than the maze. We created our “cradle” structure by gluing wooden dowels into the foam board, then gluing popsicle sticks to the tops of the dowels, creating two horizontal surfaces. Then we glued dowels across to create the rods from which the marbles would hang. Creating the “cradle” was the easy part, and the structure could easily be created with Tinker toys, LEGOs or other materials you have around the house.

Hanging the marbles proved more difficult. We used some neon string from a bracelet making kit that had a little give, but wasn’t too stretchy, which worked well. First we measured the strings, then using the glue gun, attached marbles to the strings at their midpoint. Then we tied the strings around the dowels.

Adjusting the strings so that the marbles hang at the same height and in a straight line is tough, but after a lot of tinkering, we got them straight enough that the marbles clacked appropriately!

• Foam board • Straws

• marble • glue

This was a quick and easy project and the kids had a lot of fun laying out the mazes. They were also happy that they only needed to wait till the glue was dry to play with them. To start, cut two 10by 10-inch squares of foam board. Then we glued straws around the borders of the squares. Finally, we laid out the maze with sections of straws and glued them down. As soon as the glue was dry the kids could play with the maze.

This super simple project gave the kids a good challenge as they mapped out their own mazes. It could also be made with LEGOS or other building toys, and could be made more difficult by building a drop-in at the beginning of the maze, or adding obstacles in the maze like tunnels or holes.

OTHER MARBLE GAME IDEAS • Marble Roller Coaster • Marble Plinko • Marble Skee Ball • Marble Run

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FREE EVENT

the steam fair is here Think Future

C

hesapeake Family Life’s STEAM Fair will take place on September 21! This year’s fair will be held at Pip Moyer

Learn more about STEM at Severn School: www.severnschool.com/stem

Recreation Center in Annapolis from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival will feature an interactive, fun and entertaining group of activities, and displays and demonstrations for all ages celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM), the cornerstones of future jobs.

www.severnschool.com • preschool-grade 12 • Severna Park, MD

All ages are welcome to attend and there will be loads of activities so that everyone will be entertained and informed. You don’t have to have professional expertise to enjoy the STEAM Fair.

Each exhibitor will have hands-on activities and experiments as well as professionals available to answer your questions. This is an event where attendees get to participate and do the fun stuff that goes on in a STEAM career.

Find all the details at SteamMaryland.com

Innovative Thinking is 2.5 years — Grade 12 keyschool.org 22 SEPTEMBER 2019 CFL chesapeakefamily.com STEAM Ad - September |2019 3.5 X 4.75 - 1/4 PAGE

Rediscover Baltimore & Maryland Stories At One Of The Greater Baltimore History Alliance’s Museums & Historic Sites baltimoremuseums.org

Just a few of the STEAM Activities that will be featured at STEAM Fair

S

T

e

a

M

Labbe Family Orthodontics

Chesapeake Family Life

St. Anne’s School of Annapolis

Key School

Mathnasium

Egg Drop Challenge Participants will design and build an apparatus that will protect an egg from breaking as it free falls from approximately 12 feet. We will have a variety of materials available to anyone who would like to participate.

However, we encourage you to make our contraption ahead of time and bring it with you to the STEAM Fair.

This way, you can test your design and have a better chance of getting your name in the drawing for the grand prize! labbefamilyortho.com/wp-content/ uploads/2019/08/EggDrop-Rules-8-7-19.pdf

Paper Airplane Challenge Make a master paper airplane and test out its flying properties over a marked runway.

Build your own sail car and test it to see how far it will travel

Design and 3D print cookie cutters. Budding engineers will learn about 3D printing and computer modeling and even try their hand with a simple modeling program to design a cookie cutter!

Sharpen your skills with brain teasers and math games. Students will participate in math games that rely on critical thinking, problem solving, and math skills.

Whether a student is trying to solve a Magic Plus, win a round of Blink, or conquer a tangram, fun - and math - will be had by all. Parents can use these activities to “math” with their children at home.

+ Build your own LEGO Pinewood Derby car, then race it against other builders. Kids can add weights, learn how to reduce drag and engineer it better to win in exciting four-car races throughout the day.

Anne Arundel County Public Library Experimenting with wind tunnels

Weems Creek Nursery School

Magic milk science experiment! This amazes kids every time and it is super easy to do. With just a few household supplies you will have a blast with magic milk!

Jacob Gardner Supply Company

Is disappearing ink real?

Find out for yourself!

Pretend to be a secret agent by writing a message in invisible ink!

Plus meet more STEAM exhibitors including Severn School and Greater Baltimore History Alliance! Keep up with who’s coming at SteamMaryland.com

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calendar | september

get out TONS OF FUN THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

E

vents are subject to change; check websites before heading out. For even more events visit chesapeakefamily.com/calendar.

Ongoing

Family Movies on the Potomac

Sundays. Catch “The Lego Movie 2,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz,” and “Despicable Me 3” on the Plaza screen in September. Bring chairs. Free.

6 p.m. National Harbor. nationalharbor.com

Tales & Tails

Join Irvine Nature Center every Friday at 10 a.m. for FREE storytime. Hear a story, sing songs, and meet an animal friend. All ages welcome! Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills. explorenature.org

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Sept. 1–Oct. 20, Saturdays and Sundays. 25-acre English village with craft and specialty shops, food and beverage emporiums, games, attractions, jousting and more. $8–$160. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. rennfest.com

1 Sunday

Pops in the Park

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra presents this free annual Labor Day Weekend concert. An exciting program of music that will hype the upcoming Masterworks Series titled “Beethoven Discovers America” to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. 5:30 p.m. with a rain date of Monday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis. annapolissymphony.org/events/ pops-in-the-park

Weekend Walk-in Art Class

Make your own mini version of artist Andrew Logan’s Cosmic Galaxy Egg sculpture with a special clay-like material and sparkly bits! All ages. $5 for class. Museum admission: adults, $15.95; children, $9.95; ages 6 and younger free.

1–4 p.m. American Visionary art Museum, Baltimore. avam.org

First Sunday Arts Festival

Vendors, food, live music and crafts. Free. 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. Calvert Street and West Street, Annapolis. firstsundayarts.com

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival

Lighthouse Challenge September 21–22 Plan your weekend around trying to visit all 11 lighthouses (and bonus light ship) in the tour. At each lighthouse you’ll receive tours and have fun with activities. Visit all to earn a special souvenir. Free. 8 a.m.–6 p.m. cheslights.org/maryland-lighthousechallenge

Through Sept. 2. Amusement rides, carnival games, live bands, entertainment, food, sports, parade, used book sale, Labor Day parade and more. Free.

Hours vary daily. Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt. greenbeltlaborday.com

National Hard Crab Derby

Through Sept. 2. Crab-themed festival featuring crab races, crab cooking and picking contests, carnival rides, crafts, live entertainment, beauty

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

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calendar | september pageants, a parade and fireworks. Prices vary by event. Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield. nationalhardcrabderby.com

Maryland State Fair

Through Sept. 2. There’s no better way to end a summer than at the State Fair, where you’ll find delicious fair food, lots of entertainment, rides, livestock, concerts and games. $10. Children 11 and under free. Rides and concerts require fee. Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. marylandstatefair.com

LEGOLand Tour

Aug. 30–Sept. 2. LEGO building activities, visits from LEGOLAND New York characters, and much more plus find out everything you need to know about the ultimate LEGO theme park destination, which opens in 2020. Free. 8 a.m.–8 p.m. National Harbor. legoland.com

Grandparents Weekend

Sept. 1–2. All grandparents accompanied by a child get free hayrides. Come with your children and grandchildren and see the Enchanted Forest attractions you remember and visit the Fairy Forest, too. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Clark’s Elioak Farm, Ellicott City. clarklandfarm.com.

Disney’s “Aladdin”

1–7. Discover a whole new world at Disney’s “Aladdin”, the hit Broadway musical flying into the Opera House at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. $49–$119. 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C.. kennedy-center.org

5 Thursday

Prince George’s County Fair

Sept. 5–8. Race cars, games, contests, and more. $5–$6. Sunday FREE Entry for Military Personnel and immediate family members. Hours vary by day. Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro. countyfair.org

First Thursday Concert

Enjoy live music on the Canton waterfront. No outside alcohol or glass containers. Free. 5:30 p.m.

Canton Waterfront park, Baltimore. wtmd.org

Saturday, September 7–Sunday, September 22

The Kennedy Center is expanding, and to celebrate the opening its new indoor-outdoor campus area designed for interactive arts of all kinds, called the REACH, it is hosting a 16-day celebration of all things arts with performances by amazing singers, artists, and dancers, as well as workshops, master classes, and film screenings. There will be more than 1,000 artists, 500 events and themed days. The festival is free, though you’ll need a timed-entry pass to get onto the campus. Passes and a detailed schedule of events are available online at Kennedy-Center.org/REACH or by phone at 202-467-4600.

Here are some of the big highlights (get your passes early)!

Sat. Sept. 7

Sat. Sept. 14

What other way to kick off the amazing Reach Opening Festival than with a parade! The Kennedy Center gathers artists from far-flung corners of the artistic landscape together with young people to walk, march, and dance into the future in this parade.

Hip Hop Block Party—All-day event showcasing De La Soul, Arrested Development, Kokayi, and emcee Ill Camille. Performances, film screening, workshops and more.

Sun. Sept. 15

Mon. Sept. 9

Step into new worlds in the Virtual Reality Lounge, where you can put on an Oculus headset that brings to life colorful adventures near, far, and beyond imagination in three dimensions!

Tues. Sept. 10

6 Friday

Madonnari Arts Festival

Sept. 6–8. Street painting, art, food, music and more. Free. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Little Italy Baltimore. littleitalymadonnari.com

First Free Friday

The Reach Opening Festival

Featuring a performance by Navy Band Country Current. The museum and the Drum Point Lighthouse are open to the public, plus 30-minute cruises on the Wm. B. Tennison. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic supper, and dancing shoes! Free. 5–8 p.m. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. calvertmarinemuseum.com

Watch Raiz Campos (Amazon/Brazil) create a graffiti painting on a large natural fiber mat depicting the lifestyle of the Indigenous population of the Amazon.

Thur. Sept. 12

Elevate your mad rapping skills to pure magic in a Rap Improv Workshop led by Freestyle Love Supreme Academy. Learn basic theories of Hip Hop, spoken word, beatboxing, confidence, momentum, listening, and ultimately joy!

Family Day—Mo Willems Mo-a-Palooza Live!, Story Pirates, Infinite Monsters and a performance by Washington Performint Arts’s Children of the Gospel Choir.

Fri. Sept. 20

Spotlight on Comedy—The Second City presents alumni Rachel Dratch and Jon Glaser, plus workshops, improve Jams and standup showcases with Patton Oswalt and Judah Friedlander.

Sat. Sept. 21

National Dance Day—Celebrate dance with host Debbie Allen. Also see New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck and her new documentary, Ballet Now. Take Part in the National Dance Day routine, and public dance classes of all genfres.

For a complete list of scheduled events or to rsvp your free passes visit Kennedy-Center.org/REACH.

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

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calendar | september

SEPTEMBER 8

yoga at the zoo

10 Tuesday

Sea Squirts: Animal Camouflage

Sept. 10, 12 and 18. Discover the museum through music, stories, and special activities. Free drop-in program for children 18 months to three years and their caregivers. Free. 10:15 a.m. An 11 a.m. session is offered if the 10 a.m. fills up. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. calvertmarinemuseum.com

Public Garden Tour

10, 18. Guided tour of William Paca’s enchanting 2-acre English pleasure garden. $6–$10.

10–11 a.m. William Paca House & Garden, Annapolis. annapolis.org

11 Wednesday Animals have been a core element of yoga poses for centuries. From downward dog to cow, to lizard, cat and more, wildlife has a deep tie to this ancient practice. Practice your yoga in a fun setting, then go visit the animals. $5–$25. 8–10 a.m. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Baltimore. marylandzoo.org

Anne Arundel County Fair

Sept. 11–15. Food, crafts, contests, games, animals and rides. $10, children 9 and under free. Wed., 4–10 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri., 4–11 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. aacountyfair.org

Maryland Horse & Pony Show

Sept. 11–15. This premier equestrian event provides the perfect chance for participants to show indoors.

Free. The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro. showplacearena.com

7 Saturday

Agents of Discovery Team Adventure

Come play Agents of Discovery and be the first team to complete all the challenges! There will be new game questions and special surprises along the way.

Download the game for free at most any app stores.

Ages 6–12, registration required. 10–11 a.m.

Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel. fws.gov/refuge/ Patuxent/visit/PublicPrograms.html

live music. $10–$120. Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis. mdseafoodfestival.com

Reach Festival

7–22. This two-week festival at the Kennedy Center features nearly 500 events for the whole family. See highlight, page 25.

8 Sunday

Living History Cruise

Sail back into World War II aboard a national treasure, The SS John W. Brown, as carries you back into wartime with living history interpreters, flyovers by wartime aircraft and live music. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Cruise Maryland Terminal, Baltimore. ssjohnwbrown.org

Discover Jug Bay Wetlands

7, 14, 21. Join a Jug Bay Naturalist for a free guided tour of the wetland boardwalk to discover the wonderful and unique plants and animals found here at the Sanctuary. Free. 1–1:45 p.m. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian. jugbay.org

Dinosaur Park Open House

7, 21. Check out the Dinosaur Park on the first and third Saturday of every month. Noon–4 p.m.

Dinosaur Park, Laurel. mncppc.org

Police Pace

Family friendly 5K race or 1 mile fun run/walk.

Proceeds going to benefit families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. Displays of police equipment, motorcycles, and K9s, face painting, and balloon animals. $19–$40 to participate; spectators free. 8:30 a.m. Centennial Park, Ellicott City. policepace.com

Creepy Crawlers Preschool Program

Sept. 9–10. Beautiful, Beneficial Bees: Buzz, Buzz, Buzz! Discover why these insects are so important to our food supply, and learn about their special waggle dance. For ages 2–5. Storytime, hiking, crafts, and live animals. Registration required. $3; non-members $5. 10–11:15 a.m. Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Grasonville. bayrestoration.org

Yoga at the Zoo

Maryland Seafood Festival

Sept. 7–8. Cooking classes, crab derby, crab soup cook-off, eating and cooking contests, and tons of

See details above.

Outdoor Movie: Top Gun

Art in Public Places Commission Annapolis presents a free outdoor movie night event at Susan Campbell Park/City Dock. Pre-movie entertainment, plus food, refreshments and popcorn during the movie available. Bring a blanket and/or chairs. Free.

6 p.m. Movie starts at dusk. Facebook.com

13 Friday

The Great Frederick Fair

Sept. 13–21. Competitive exhibits, including livestock, home arts, farm and garden and 4-H/FFA. Rides, games, activities and food. Fri. $5, $8 Sat–Sun. Children 10 and under free. Parking pass $10. Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick. thegreatfrederickfair.com

14 Saturday

Teddy Bear Clinic

Bring your favorite stuffed friend and explore the Teddy Bear Clinic at the National Museum of Health and Medicine with activities and crafts designed to highlight the body, physical fitness and healthy habits. Recommended for children in PreK–2nd grade. Free. 9:30–11:30 a.m. medicalmuseum.mil

Indigenous Heritage Day

Explore and celebrate Indian lifeways and culture.

Learn skills, try crafts, watch demonstrations, and gain a new appreciation for the people that called this land home before Maryland was founded. $10

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

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SEPTEMBER 2019

calendar | september for adults, $6 for students ages 6–18, ages 5 and under free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Historic St. Mary’s City. hsmcdigshistory.org

Taste the Beaches Festival

A coming together of restaurants, breweries, beverage shops, and craft experts, live music and kids zone. Free. Noon–5 p.m. Kellam’s Field, Chesapeake Beach. chesapeake-beach.md.us

Fossil Field Experience

Learn where to find fossils, how to identify them, what they can tell us about the past and more.

Ages 8 and older. Registration required. $20. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. calvertmarinemuseum.com

Maintaining Berry Healthy Smiles! ∙ Pediatric Dentistry from infancy through adolescent ∙ Hospital Dentistry ∙ Sedation Dentistry ∙ Nitrous Oxide ∙ Laser Dentistry Berry’s Children Dental L.L.C ∙ Orthodontics (Braces)

www.berrychildrendental.com

4449 Mitchellville Road | Bowie, MD 20716 | 301 383-0959

Goshen Farm Fall Open House

Tour the historic farmhouse, play games, and enjoy music and farm fun. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Goshen Farm, Annapolis. goshenfarm.org

A Taste of St. Mary’s

Sample specialties from local restaurants and chefs, enjoy children’s activities, a car show, entertainment, food and drinks. Free. 1–5:30 p.m. Leonardtown Square, Leonardtown. visitstmarysmd.com

15 Sunday FutureFest

This family-friendly festival celebrates creativity and innovation in the STEM world by exposing kids to hands-on maker learning, robotics and engineering, as well as a cultural Crossroads celebration and Innovation expo. Noon–5 p.m. Free. Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring. kid-museum.org/futurefest

The Backyard Bash

This community event begins with a 5k and includes family fun events such as bounce houses, food trucks, a touch-a-truck activity and more. Free. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Atholton SDA Church, 6520 Martin Rd, Columbia. atholton.org

Lakefront Concert Columbia Jazz Band

This annual jazz concert at the lakefront. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages permitted.

Free. 3–5 p.m. Downtown Columbia Lakefront. columbiaassociation.org

Kindergarten and Preschool Classes (Ages 2-5)

18 Wednesday

Creepy Crawlers Gardening

This month’s theme: The Seasonal Garden. Replant the spent beds with Fall produce, make a mini scarecrow for your mini garden. Registration required, For ages 2-5. $7.50; non-members $10.

10–11:15 a.m. Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Grasonville. bayrestoration.org

Homeschool Days

St. Margaret’s Day School

Students learn what the life of an American enslaved family was like, who lived and labored at Sotterley

• MAEOE Green Certified School • STEM Program • Weekly Specials

• Financial Aid • Before & After Care •

• A Nut-Free School • MD EXCELS rated Level 5 • Summer Camps

Some availability left in our Fall classes, call for more information.

1605 Pleasant Plains Rd. • Annapolis, MD 410.757.2333 • www.StMargaretsDaySchool.org Our students are accepted without regard to sex, race, religion or national background.

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

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calendar | september

SEPTEMBER 21

STEAM FAIR MARYLAND

Pollinator Festival

Discover the wonder of the annual 3,000 mile migration of the Monarch Butterfly and the role bees play in your local environment. Plus games for kids, nature walks, and monarch tagging. Milkweed seeds will be available while supplies last. 10 a.m–2 p.m.

Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel. fws.gov

Pigtown Festival

The 18th Annual Pigtown Festival features live music, food trucks, craft beer, arts and crafts, Kids Zone and live pig races! Free. Noon–7 p.m. 700–900 blocks of Washington Blvd. off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Baltimore. pigtownmainstreet.org/18th-annualpigtown-festival

Smithsonian Museum Day Chesapeake Family Life’s very own STEAM Fair will have fun activities for the whole family, including a LEGO pinewood derby, a paper airplane contest, egg drop contest and a whole lot more [see details on page 22–23]. Free. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Pip Moyer Recreation Center, Annapolis. steammaryland.com

Plantation during the Civil War Era by participating in hands-on activities at Historic Sotterley’s original slave quarter and outbuildings. $5. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood. sotterley.org

19 Thursday Sunfest

Sept. 19–22. Live music, kids activities, food and more. Free entry, tickets required for most shows.

Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Inlet Lot, Boardwalk, Ocean City. ococean.com/sunfest

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

20–21. This rodeo celebrates black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to building the west.

BPIR also serves as a cultural event and opportunity for families to enjoy and embrace the cowboy culture, while being educated and entertained with reenactments, history highlights, and western adventure. For Kids Sake Rodeo Sept. 20, 10 a.m.

Championship rodeo Sat. Sept. 21 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. $21–$26. The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro. billpickettrodeo.com

21 Saturday

St. Mary’s County Fair

Sept. 19–22. Livestock, home arts, carnival and more. $1–$5. Thurs. 3–9 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown. smcfair.somd.com

20 Friday

$2 Family Fun Night

Explore the new SkyClimber at Port Discovery and check out the new playspace for just $2.

4–8 p.m. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore. portdiscovery.org

DC Climate Strike

Organizations are gathering to demand immediate action to stymie the climate crisis and to advocate for clean air, clean water, and a survivable future.

Starting at the front gates of the White House, marching to the Capitol Building. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. brightest.io

STEAM Fair Maryland See details above.

Dogfest

Family walk, games, food, demonstrations, obstacle course, games, crafts, and face painting. $10; ages 12 and under, free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Baltimore Humane Society. dogfest.org

Groovefest: Blues, Brews & Bbq

Soul, funk, jazz, and blues music and food. Plus kids activities and arts and crafts vendors. Free.

5–10 p.m. Poplar and Race streets, Cambridge. downtowncambridge.org

Easton Airport Day

Jet-pull contest, flyovers, plane rides and more.

Free. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Easton Airport, Easton. eastonairportday.com

Free admission to participating museums and educational centers including BMI, Goddard Visitor Center, B&O Railroad Museum and more. Check website for a list of participating museums. Free. smithsonianmag.com

Family Workshop: Lego and Build

Celebrate the engineering feats of skyscrapers and design buildings that you think should be added to our nation’s capital. $25; adults do not need to purchase a separate ticket. 2–4 p.m. National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. go.nbm.org

ZooFiesta

See animal demonstrations and learn about animals native to Latin America, meet zoo experts and more.

Free. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. National Zoo, Washington, D.C. nationalzoo.si.edu

Artsfest

Sept. 21–22. Shop for artwork from local and regional artists, enjoy live music by more than 35 artists, and enjoy the Zany Zone and patio play area. Plus food and drinks, and street performers. $7. Members and children 11 and under free.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons. annmariegarden.org

Lighthouse Challenge See details on page 24.

22 Sunday

Public Hayrides

Gather the family for a 20-minute hayride through the grounds of Watkins Regional Park to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Free. 1–3 p.m. Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro. pgparks.com

Together in Teal Run/Walk

5K run or 3K fun run. Post race activities to follow.

Funds raised support ovarian cancer research. $15–$45. 7 a.m.–noon. Westfield Annapolis Mall. runwalk.ovarian.org/annapolis

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

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calendar | september 24 Tuesday

Artworks Studio

Community Night

Enjoy the BMI after hours during this special event for Baltimore City residents featuring kids’ activities, music and treats from local vendors. Free. 4–7 p.m.

Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore. thebmi.org

27 Friday

Movie Under the Stars: Mutiny on the Bounty The fun starts two hours before the outdoor movie with live music, movie themed food from Grumps, ice cream from Bruster’s, and a beer and wine garden. Movie starts at dusk. Free. Eastport Library, Annapolis. sofoannapolis.com

Leagues, Camps and Sports for Kids and Adults of all Ages!

After School · ArtNastics

Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Baseball and More!

Homeschool Classes

We also host birthday parties, child development classes, and all types of events and corporate outings.

Parent Child Art

Birthday pARTies Summer Camps

Sign up for our School's Out Camp & Winter Futsal League

Annapolis, Arnold & Severna Park

Exit 10 Off I-97, in Millersville

28 Saturday

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival

More than 80 arts and crafts, food, education and community vendors, plus live music, and a children’s activity tent. Free. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis. kuntakinte.org

artworksstudio.info

www.benfieldsc.com 410-987-5100

410-271-3343

DOCKSIDERS GYMNASTICS

Fort McHenry Field Day

Give a day for the Bay as you join the Aquarium Conservation Team for a field day at the Fort McHenry wetland. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. National Aquarium, Baltimore. aqua.org

The Best Upside Down Fun Around!

Thomas Point Lighthouse Tours

Atlantic Coast Gem, Mineral, Jewelry & Fossil Show

28–29. Let the kids can examine rocks, minerals and gems up close, smash their own geodes, and dig for treasure. See more on page 9. $6, kids under 12 are free. Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Howard County Fairgrounds. gemcuttersguild.com

Oktoberfest

This annual fun street fair features German (and other) food, drinks arts and craft vendors, oompah band, and kid’s activities. Free. Noon–5 p.m.

Annapolis and giddings streets, in West Annapolis. visitannapolis.org

Annual Annapolis Italian Festival

Italian food, drinks, live music and more. Free.

10 a.m.–6 p.m. 620 Ridgely Ave., Annapolis. facebook.com/events/410470846175950

Get ready to twist, shake, rattle, and role as Rocknoceros gets the family on their feet dancing to upbeat tunes. Free. 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Capitol Cider House, Washington, D.C. capitolciderhouse.com

• Open Gym

• Classes for 18 mos. & up • Competitive Girl’s and Boy’s Teams

• Adult Open Gym • Field Trips • Home School Groups

• Birthday Parties

Excellence by Choice 216 Najoles Road , Millersville, MD 21108 410-987-8780 · docksidersgymnastics.com

Ballet Theatre of Maryland

29 Sunday

Rocknoceros

Ask us about:

The Snow Queen

Maryland’s Premier Professional Ballet Company

2019 | 20 SEASON www.balletmaryland.org

Take a 30-minute boat ride to and from the lighthouse, and a one-hour interior tour. $80. 9 a.m., noon. Annapolis Maritime Museum. amaritime.org

The Nutcracker Swan Lake Innovations

Annapolis, MD

Go to ChesapeakeFamily.com/Calendar for more events!

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Fruit fun

Taking the family apple picking is a perfect family day trip!

A

pple crop seasons vary but are generally September through October in Maryland. To pick an apple, roll the fruit upwards off the branch and give it a

twist. Apples ripen from the outside of the tree towards the center, so the apples on the outside branches will be the ripest. Once picked, they stop ripening.

BALTIMORE COUNTY

CARROLL COUNTY

HOWARD COUNTY

Kingsbury’s Orchard

Shaw’s Orchard

Baugher’s Orchard

Larriland Farm

19415 Peachtree Rd, Dickerson

5594 Norrisville Road, White

1015 Baugher Rd, Westminster

2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine.

301-972-8755

Hall. 410-692-2429

410-857-0111 baughers.com

301-854-6110 or

kingsburysorchard.com

shaworchards.com

410-442-2605

CECIL COUNTY

pickyourown.com

Lewis Orchards 18901 Peach Tree Rd, Dickerson

Weber’s Cider

Milburn Orchards

Mill Farm

1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton

KENT COUNTY

301-349-4101

2526 Proctor Lane, Baltimore

410-398-1349

Lockbriar Farm

lewisorchardfarmmarket.com

410-668-4488

milburnorchards.com

10051 Worton Rd Chestertown

weberscidermillfarm.com

410-778-9112

FREDERICK COUNTY

lockbriarfarms.com

QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY

CAROLINE COUNTY

Gaver Farm

Blades Orchard

5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

135 Eastern Lane Stevensville

4822 Preston Road,

301-865-3515

Butler’s Orchard

410-643-1650

Federalsburg. 410-829-0334

gaverfarm.com

22222 Davis Mill Rd,

facebook.com/kentfortfarm

bladesorchard.com

Kent Fort Farm

Germantown Rock Hill Orchard

301-428-0444

White Marsh Orchard

First Fruits Orchard

28600 Ridge Rd, Mount Airy

butlersorchard.com

515 White Marsh Road,

8416 Harmony Road, Denton

240-207-3732

410-310-3906

rockhillorchard.com

facebook.com/First-FruitsOrchard-111623418870346

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Centreville Homestead Farm

410-739-8649

15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville

whitemarshorchard.com

HARFORD COUNTY

301-977-3761

Lohr’s Orchard

homestead-farm.net

For more family-friendly fall

3212 Snake Lane. Churchville

activities visit us online at

410-836-2783 lohrsorchard.com

ChesapeakeFamily.com.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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DATE NI G HT & MORE

stay inspired Four rea$ons to Hire a Financial planner Managing long-term finances in a changing economic landscape.

BY MARY MCCARTHY

N

o matter how old we are,

a little research, time, and when possible the

establishing a budget, estate

having financial security for

help of a financial planner.

planning, succession planning for a

our families and ourselves

“For those who reach out for help, we

business—you name it,” he says.

is important. Parents want

think there’s a lot of value a good planner

“Everyone is different, so I feel strongly that

long-term security themselves

can add to a relationship,” says Greg

having a passionate advisor in your corner

and for their children’s future, and work

Ostrowski, certified financial planner at

can help drive better long-term outcomes.”

hard to do it. From getting finances together

Scarborough Capital Management.

for college savings, life insurance, will and

“Investment strategy and wealth building is

types of financial savings and how

estate planning, 401(k) and retirement

just one piece of the puzzle, but there’s also

financial planners can help navigate the

savings and everything in between, you can

life! Funding college, adequate insurance,

waters to provide smooth sailing for

set your family up for financial success with

mitigating taxes, paying down debt,

money matters.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Let’s take a look at four different

stay inspired Giving it the Old College Savings Try

choice. Often in the plans, even if you put in $10 a

College savings can seem like an overwhelming

paycheck, the amount is doubled by the employer.

process to parents in early stages as they look

Where else can you double your money every

ahead to the future or their child’s education, but

week? So, start your engine with $10, and make

the earlier the process is started, the less money

that plan start to grow.”

needed monthly to save on future costs. A 529

“For those just starting out,” says Ostrowski,

plan is a college savings plan that offers tax- and

“It’s critical to take ownership of your future.

financial-aid benefits and can be used to save and

Warren Buffett once said: ‘Someone is sitting

invest for K–12 tuition in addition to college costs.

in the shade today because someone planted

Fidelity Bank undertook a College Savings

a tree a long time ago.’ When it comes to

Indicator Study that showed the average 2017

your money and your future, being diligent and

college graduate who took out loans graduated

purposeful can pay off in the long run.”

with a little more than $39,000 in student loan debt. The study recommends these steps in

Having the Will to Plan

preparing for college savings:

Preparing a will is a daunting prospect, especially

•

Start saving early. Money invested in a 529

for young parents. No one wants to think about it,

plan can increase tax-free and be taken out

but should the worst happen, being prepared with

tax-free for educational expenses at accredited

even the simplest of wills will be a huge step in

institutions.

taking care of your family after you’re gone.

•

Treat college savings like a monthly bill. Try to

and then continue assisting with estate planning

over time.

with decisions and documents concerning holding

Talk to kids early about expectations around

your property in a living trust, making health care

their contributions to college expenses. It’s

directives, setting up financial powers of attorney,

only fair to involve kids directly in all financial

naming beneficiaries for bank accounts and

discussions that involve their future.

property, and making arrangements for end of life.

“Today’s parents have learned from their own

Check out freewill.com for online help with will

experiences paying for college and managing

planning. Or head to your financial planner for

student loan debt,” says Melissa Ridolfi, vice

more in-depth help.

president of retirement and college leadership at

Finding a financial planner could be critical

A financial planner can help you set up a will,

increase the amount you put toward it •

FIND HELP

to helping you plan your family’s financial future and save you money in the long run. Here are some tips: • Check with your CPA. He or she may know of local financial planners you can contact; personal

Fidelity. “These parents clearly value the importance

Taking Care of Your Life . . . Insurance

of a college degree and likely want to help shield

Life insurance is one expense that can be especially

their children from a heavy student debt burden

tough to navigate. If you’re not sure of how much

after college,”

coverage you need, there are online calculators

recommendations are always good.

• If you are seeking additional financial help, consider a

that can determine amounts based on your income.

Saving for a Retiring Future A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by

ten times their salary in life insurance in order to

an employer that lets workers save/invest a piece

help take care of their beneficiaries. Websites like

of their paycheck before taxes are taken out. Taxes

financialmentor.com, nerdwallet.com and forbes.

aren’t paid until the money is withdrawn from the

com have great articles on how to navigate the

account. Many families might worry they don’t

waters of finding good life insurance policies.

have enough money to even think about retirement

everything in your power to at least save enough

Graves, of Richard C. Graves, CPA and Associates.

to get your company’s 401(k) match if they provide

trained in 72 areas of financial expertise and must accrue thousands of experience hours prior to certification.

Visit letsmakeaplan.org for info on how to find a Certified

one. Be as judicious as possible with debt. Don’t

“Whether that amount is going to estate planning,

use your investment accounts or retirement accounts

college savings or retirement or is split 3 ways,

as a piggy bank. Engage with advisors or platforms

something is being done.” But, he says, “Until you

on your terms—those that you can best relate to

start, you can’t move your plan.”

or engage with. Don’t manage long-term money

Often employers will match contributions to

Planner (CFP). CFPs are

“Save early, save often,” says Ostrowski. “Do

planning, but it doesn’t take a lot, says Richard “$10 a week is better than none,” says Graves.

Certified Financial

A general rule is that individuals want to have

Financial Planner.

• The Financial Planner Association (FPA) also has assistance and more

with a short-term point of view. Not to sound too

your 401(k), yet Graves says people don’t always

much like a parent on all this, but I’ve never heard

take advantage of that money. “That is a wrong

anyone say ‘boy, I wish I didn’t save so much.’”

SEPTEMBER 2019

information available on their website at plannersearch.org

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SEPTEMBER

Events worth hiring a babysitter Big Apple with food provided by local restaurants and entertainment by Maryland Hall’s Resident Companies. $200. 6–10 p.m. Maryland Hall, Annapolis. marylandhall.org/artsalive

SEPT 12 | Women of Apollo

7 Saturday

Amps & Ales Festival Kick back with a day of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, plus games, rides, food trucks, live music, and artisan vendors. $10–$75. 1–7 p.m.

Maryland Live Casino, Hanover.

8 Sunday CrowFest

This farm and vineyard festival features live music, grape stomping, vineyard tours and hayrides. $16; $10 for designated driver. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Crow Vineyard & Winery, Kennedyville. crowvineyard.com

11 Wednesday

Anchors Away Sunset Cruise Enjoy a fun and relaxing evening sailing down the Severn in support of Wellness House’s services to the community and families affected by cancer. Featuring a Chesapeake style oyster bar, wine and beer, a silent auction, and live music. $150. 6:30–9:30 p.m. Leaves from City Dock, Annapolis. annapoliswellnesshouse.org

12 Thursday

Chestertown Jazz Festival Sept. 12–14. This jazz and blues extravaganza features performances, events and celebrations.

Various locations, Chestertown. kentcounty.com

Zoo Uncorked Raise money for the National Zoo with unlimited

Ongoing

4 Wednesday

Catch “Mean Girls,” “Black Panther,” “Venom,”

4, 11, 18. West Street closes and is filled with

and “Creed II,” in September on the Plaza screen;

cafe tables reminiscent of the open air cafes in

bring chairs. Thursdays through September. Free.

Paris and the piazzas of Rome. Live music, special

Women of Apollo

7 p.m. National Harbor. nationalharbor.com

art exhibits and canopy lights. Free, to dine varies.

Meet three women who ascended through

Reservations at participating restaurants strongly

glass ceilings during the Apollo program to

recommended. 6 p.m. West Street, Annapolis.

commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo

dinnerunderthestars.org

missions to the Moon: Aerospace engineer JoAnn

Date Night Movies on the Potomac

Inner Harbor Kayak Tours Sundays. Join Baltimore City Recreation & Parks and the Healthy Harbor Initiative for an Inner Harbor Kayaking Tour! Ages 13 and up. Tours are offered every Sunday, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. $20–$30. Maryland Science Center, Water Taxi Landing, Baltimore. eventbrite.com

Dinner Under the Stars

6 Friday Arts Alive!

Celebrate Maryland Hall’s 40th anniversary at this annual fundraising event. The “A Night in New York City” theme will transport guests to the

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SEPTEMBER 2019

wine tastings, live music and entertainment, and animal encounters. 6–9 p.m. $70. National Zoo, Washington, D.C. nationalzoo.si.edu

Hardin Morgan, who worked in Launch Control; Engineer and “computer” Frances “Poppy” Northcutt, who worked in Mission Control; and Medical researcher Dr. Carolyn Leach Huntoon.

Free, tickets required. 8–9 p.m. National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. airandspace. si.edu/events/women-apollo

2019 Best of Annapolis Award

13 Friday Jitney

Through Oct. 20. This is the dramatic story of a Pittsburgh jitney station, a symbol of stability, struggles against an oppressive lack of opportunity

• Ages 6 weeks – 5 years old • Loving & Nurturing Environment • Approved MSDE Curriculum • Spanish & Sign Language • Call to schedule a Tour

and unnerving neighborhood gentrification that threatens the way they live and work. $66–$82.

Arena Stage, Washington, D.C. arenastage.org

Arsenic and Old Lace Through Oct. 5. The Brewster family is a once-elite American bloodline that has now descended into homicidal insanity. Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic and the most ostensibly normal of his clan, is forced to cover up for his sadistic kin while being torn

190 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Suite 190 Annapolis, MD

between family loyalty and his desire to marry the woman he loves. The Colonial Players, Annapolis.

410-974-6700

thecolonialplayers.org

14 Saturday

Boatyard Beach Bash Members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefers band will entertain in an intimate setting with the backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay. Dinner included. $85.

5:30–10 p.m. Annapolis Maritime Museum. amaritime.org

Baltimore Seafood Festival Chow down on crabcakes, crab soup, shrimp salad, local oysters, and of course, Maryland blue crabs. Brought to you by Baltimore’s favorite restaurants. Plus drinks, live music, cooking demos, and an area for families with toys, games, and face painting. $15–$99; kids 6 and under free.

Noon–7 p.m. Canton Waterfront Park, Baltimore. baltimoreseafoodfest.com

19 Thursday

Mermaids Kiss Oyster Fest This gala fundraiser features unlimited drink and food tastings, live music, silent auction, oysters and auctions, all to raise money for the Oyster Recovery Partnership. $95. 6–9 p.m. Baltimore Museum of Industry. mermaidskiss.org

20 Friday

Run Now Wine Later This 5k and wine tasting event will be followed by a wine tasting from the vendors of the NEX, games, food trucks and fantastic door prizes. $15. 5–7:30 p.m. Navy Exchange, Annapolis. navymwrannapolis.com

21 Saturday

Downtown Hyattsville Arts & Ales Festival Enjoy more than 100 exhibiting artists & artisans,

Baycountrylc.com

22 Sunday The Big Dill

pickles: fried pickles, pickles on a stick, pickle chips, pickle ice cream and more. Plus, live music, drinks and fun events like ax throwing. Noon–6 p.m.

PowerPlant Live, Baltimore. powerplantlive.com

26 Thursday

Taste of the Chesapeake Enjoy unique food, drinks, live raffles, silent auction and music to raise money for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Tickets start at $125. 6–9 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Annapolis. allianceforthebay.org

Blazers. Bourbon. Cigars.

Guys, spend the evening networking with fellow businessmen and community leaders. Enjoy bourbon, whiskey, and other fine liquor tastings, along with cigars, food from the area’s top chefs, and an array of vendors. $100. 6–9 p.m. William Paca House

Ages 2 - PreK • Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum • Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks • Small, Caring Environment • Foreign Language Programs 867 Buttonwood Trail Crownsville, MD

543 Old Stage Road Glen Burnie, MD

License# 130684

License# 160256

410-923-3192

410-768-4526

Bright-Beginning.com

and Garden, Annapolis. annapolis.org

28 Saturday Twist & Stout

Sample fine wines, beer, and food truck cuisine while enjoying live music, and vendors.

Noon–6 p.m. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis. twistandstout.org

Crafty Bastards DC Arts & Crafts Festival 28–29. This arts and crafts fair is the go-to destination for discovering unique, ethically sourced goods from independent artists and visionaries.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. Akridge Lot at Buzzard Point, Washington, D.C. eventbrite.com

local breweries, food trucks, vendors, and live

For even more date night ideas visit us online at

entertainment. Downtown Hyattsville. Free.

ChesapeakeFamily.com.

Noon–6 p.m. hyattsvilleartsfestival.com

Two Convenient Locations!

This pickle-themed festival will celebrate all things

■ Childcare - age 2+ ■ Nursery School - age 3+ ■ Pre-K - age 4+ ■ Kindergarten - Full Day - age 5+ ■ Before & After Care - up to age 7 ■ Talented & Gifted Programs Pre-K Scholarships Available For Low Income Families on Food Stamps or Below 300% FPG

380 Jumpers Hole Rd. Severna Park, MD

410-544-2476 SEPTEMBER 2019

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chesapeakefamily.com

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Inspire BiG ideas in your kids.

September 21, 2019 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pip Moyer Recreation Center

Today’s Fun, Tomorrow’s Future Sponsored by

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steammaryland.com

SEPTEMBER 2019