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AR O UND THE W O RLD St. Patrick’s Day The Gathering Worldwide On March 17, people all over the United States will celebrate a traditional Irish holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. In places like Boston, New York City and Savannah, Ga., people turn out in huge numbers to enjoy this special day that has come to be a celebration of their Irish heritage. Events include parades, marathons, parties and much more. Most people dress in green, and just about everyone wears a shamrock. In Savannah, they dye the river green to pay tribute to the Irish families who settled the city. There’s an old saying that “everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” which indicates the hospitality for which the Irish are known. Céad Míle Fáilte! or in English, “A hundred thousand welcomes!”
While in America we will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on one day, in Ireland they are pulling out all of the stops, as the Irish host the biggest St. Patrick’s Day party in the world. “The Gathering Ireland 2013” will be held March 14-18, and will include the People’s Parade, dancing and more. The parade will pass by some of Ireland’s most historic landmarks including Trinity College and Dublin Castle. What’s special about this year’s event is they are asking more than 8,000 people from around the world to come to Ireland to participate in the parade!
Each year on March 22, people all over the world celebrate World Water Day. International World Water Day focuses the world’s attention on the importance of fresh water and asks that people do all they can to keep our water resources clean. The first World Water Day was celebrated on March 22, 1993, and was designated by the United Nations. Water is important for people, plants and animals. While people have invented ways to clean water, animals can’t, so it is very important to keep our waterways clean for the animals who depend on it and those who call it home.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE Across 1. Cat 6. Hat 7. Tuesday 9. Greeting that means “good day” 11. Miss Jones is a nice lady 15. Dog 17. The color red 18. The word for Mrs. 20. Cheese 22. Girl
Down 2. Man or boy 3. Lake 4. Pencil 5. Desk 7. How I say my name is je m’______ 8. Flower 10. It’s the word for I 12. Switzerland 13. The number two 14. Friend 16. Night 19. March 21. It’s the word for me
CROSSWORD ANSWER KEY chapeau [shah’poh] -- hat Bonjour [bawn’zjoor] -- hello ami [ah’mee] -- friend fille [fee] -- girl Madame [mah’dahm] - Mrs. mardi [mahr’dee] - Tuesday crayon [cray’awn] - pencil mademoiselle [mah’duh’mwah’zehl] - Miss homme [uhm] - man deux [duuh] - tao rouge [rooj] - red fromage [froh’mahj] - cheese
chat [shah] - cat chien [shee’uhn] - dog Je [zjuh] - I mars [mahrss] - March moi [mwah] - me bureau [bee’oo’roh] - desk m’appelle [mah’pehl] - {my} name is fleur [fluhr] - flower lac [lahk] - lake Suisse [sweess] - Switzerland nuit [nuh’oo’ee] - night
MARK E. THOMSON DDS • PC SPECIALIST IN ORTHODONTICS
Your smile is our specialty!
Dear Kidsville Kids: I’m really sad to tell you that this is our last issue of Kidsville News!. I have loved being a part of your lives these last seven years; seeing how much you have grown and watching as you have discovered a love of reading that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Dr. Thomson & Staff Sally, Don, Jamie B., Paula, Andrea, Lisa, Lori, Sue, Jamie C., Colleen
I know you are wondering why this is happening. It’s because the idea of having the community sponsor a free newspaper in the schools to help all of you just never really caught on. We were blessed with really great sponsors but there were just not enough of them to cover the costs. I do want to thank all of our wonderful sponsors who have helped us bring Kidsville News to you every month for all these years. I want you to promise me you will keep on reading! Read whatever interests you. I hope you and I will bump into each other in Kidsville again one day! Your Friend…FOREVER, Truman 20002
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AR O UND THE W O RLD NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER Serving Clinton and Essex Counties PUBLISHER Daniel Alexander dan@denpubs.com 518-873-6368 Ext. 206 GENERAL MANAGER Allen K. Dunham aldunham@denpubs.com 518-570-7248 TRUMAN ASSISTANT/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laurie Goff graphics@denpubs.com ILLUSTRATOR Cover & Truman • Dan Nelson MARKETING 518-873-6368 NATIONAL EDITOR Joy G. Kirkpatrick kvnews@kidsvillenews.com Kidsville News, Inc. Bill Bowman President For Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities Please Call: 518-873-6368 P.O. Box 338, 14 Hand Avenue, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Published Locally By Denton Publications, Inc. Copyright 2012 Kidsville News! Inc., All Rights Reserved. Truman is a service mark of Kidsville News! Inc. and the Kidsville News! logo is a registered trademark of Kidsville News! Inc. No part of this issue of Kidsville News! may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or the copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publisher will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Kidsville News! Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or other material. Children’s submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.
Hi, Kids! Do you have a favorite animal? The world is such a big and wonderful place that it can sometimes be hard to choose just one favorite. This issue of Kidsville News! is all about animals. From the Broadway production of The Lion King to the wild horses that roam the prairies and the coast, animals play an important role in the circle of life. They impact our world so much that humans even play games that mimic animals. Crab soccer is just one example of how people imitate creatures and have fun doing it. Sometimes what we do impacts an animal’s ability to survive. Animals who lose their habitat or the place they live sometimes become endangered. Check out what animals are endangered and make a Connection. Be sure to check out the “What’s It Like to Be…” section. I talked to a zookeeper and learned some interesting facts about what it’s like to care for the animals at a zoo. You might be surprised by some of the things a zookeeper does! Do you think you would like being a zookeeper? Your friend, Read on and find out!
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Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus: Subgenus: Species:
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Perissodactyla Equidae Equus Equus E. Ferus
Wild Horses of Corolla
Hundreds of years ago, before America was even a country, the great powers of the world — England and Spain — were in a race to see who could claim this new continent. Both countries left a major mark on the culture and development of America, and in particular on the wildlife that calls our country home. If you ever visit the State of North Carolina, you should take the time to visit the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks are a series of islands that run along the northern coast of the state. If you want to see the legacy of the Spanish explorers, the perfect place to visit is the little town of Corolla. Corolla is home to an amazing breed of horses called Banker Horses. These horses are not native to the island. Instead, they are descendants of horses that were brought to the islands by Spanish explorers and some are survivors of shipwrecks on the sandbars of the islands. The wild horses that inhabit Corolla have been traced by the Spanish Mustang Registry following a visit by the organization in 1982. In June, 1982, members of the Spanish Mustang Registry came to the Outer Banks to take a look at the horses that are much beloved along the coast and in the state. During their visit to the beaches and marshes of Corolla, they were able to observe the last known remaining bands of Banker Horses still existing in their natural state — as they have for the past 500 years — in Currituck County on the Outer Banks. History tells us that Spanish explorers attempted to colonize the area in the 1500s, bringing with them Spanish Barb and Arabian horses. One colony, d’Allyon’s, is believed to be on the Outer Banks. Troubles with the native Indians and with getting supplies to the colony caused it to fail. The Spanish sailed off to their thriving colonies in Florida, leaving behind all of their livestock, including horses that survived the wreckage of ship that was bringing supplies to the colony. Left on their own, the horses adapted to their new environment and produced a band of wild horses that roamed the barrier islands. Today, the wild horses that live on Ocracoke and Corolla carry the distinguishing features of Spanish-type horses. One striking similarity to the Arabian ancestry is the number of vertebra (one less than most breeds) which occurs in the Banker Horse Breed. Their even temperament, endurance, size, and the startling beauty prove that they are descendants of the once numerous herds of Spanish stock which ran free along the sandy islands of the North Carolina coast. The Spanish Mustang Registry is satisfied that the Banker Horses, in particular the Corolla strain, have a direct line to the 16th century horses imported by the Spanish. Another unique trait of these horses is that they can live on the sandy islands, which is not a normal habitat for horses. The horses in the Outer Banks survive on sea grass for their food and water. Sometimes they also drink from little streams when it rains, but the majority of their water is obtained from sea grass. History reports that when the horses were moved from the island, they often died quickly because they could not survive on what other horses eat.
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The beautiful horses of Corolla are now protected, and while you can walk the beach and see them, it is illegal to try and feed them or pet them. For more information, visit www.corollawildhorses.com/facts-and-history.
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Connections Putting a Spotlight on Endangered Animals For many people, there is no greater friend than our pet dog or cat. But many in the world do not hold animals in high regard. When an animals habitat is destroyed, their water source polluted and their hunting grounds taken away, animals are in danger of becoming extinct. Today there are more than 5,000 species of officially endangered or threatened animals and birds on our planet. Below is a list of some of the animals that are on the Endangered Species List:
woods bison exist in conservation herds Status: Near-Endangered Species. Note: Bison kept in commercial herds are not included in these numbers. Trends: The bison was hunted to near-extinction in the 19th century before conservation measures were put into place. It’s NearEndangered status is based on the fact that the species’ survival requires management of bison (aka buffalo) herds.
Status: Vulnerable Species Trends: Decreasing due to habitat loss Chimpanzees Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Population: Between 150,000 and 250,000. Status: Endangered Species Trends: Declining Rapidly due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Chimps are used for food in Africa. An estimated 1 million to 2 million chimps lived in African forests a century ago.
Bears : Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Population: 20,000 to 25,000 Status: Threatened Species Trends: Very likely declining due to habitat loss brought on by climate-change-induced melting of Arctic sea ice and shelf ice.
Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Population: Between 30,000 and 50,000. Status: Endangered Species. Trends: Declining due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Condors California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Population: 130 Status: Critically Endangered Species Trend: Increasing due to captive breeding programs
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Population: 1,000 to 2,000 in the wild Status: Endangered Species Trends: Still decreasing due to habitat loss Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) Population: More than 500 in the U.S. Lower 48, most in the greater Yellowstone National Park region Status: Threatened Species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act Trends: Increasing. At its low point several decades ago, the grizzly population was down to 140. ESA protections were removed from grizzlies in 2008, but restored in 2009 following a lawsuit by conservation organizations.
Camels Wild Bactrian (two-humped) Camel (Camelus ferus) Population: 600 in China; 350 in Mongolia Status: Critically Endangered Species Trends: Declining due to illegal hunting for food. In the mid-1980s, the Mongolian population was above 600.
American Bison Bison Population: 19,000 plains bison and 11,000
Cheetah Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Population: Between 7,000 and 10,000
Elephants Asian Elephant (Elephus maximus) Population: 40,000 to 50,000 Status: Endangered Species Trends: Decreasing due to habitat loss and illegal hunting African Elephant (Loxodonta africanus) Population: Between 470,000 and 690,000 Status: Near-Threatened Species Trends: A recent upsurge in poaching has threatened the population. African elephants are also threatened by habitat loss. . Information taken from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
IN THEATERS h
CHILDREN’S DVDs Life of Pi Available March 12 Life of Pi follows a survival story about an Indian boy named Pi. Born into a Hindu family, the teenaged Pi experiments with different religions — Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Pi’s life changes when his dad decides to move the family zoo to Canada. A big storm turns over the Japanese ship containing Pi’s family and their zoo animals in the middle of the ocean. Pi miraculously escapes on a lifeboat where a wounded zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger vie for precious space. Soon the boat’s only passengers are Pi and the tiger — named Richard Parker. For 227 days, Pi manages to stay alive in the remote conditions with the ferocious tiger as his only friend. Life of Pi is a wild adventure movie for the whole family. It is full of thrills and chills. Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout and some scary action. 127 mins. (20th Century Fox)
Rise of the Guardians Available March 12 Based on William Joyce’s book series for children, Rise of the Guardians is an animated movie full of fantastic creatures on a mission to bring joy to kids. The Sandman, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and even Santa Claus himself are all part of the team whose mission is to protect the children of the world. Naturally, there is a bad guy who wants to spread darkness and fear — they call him Boogeyman “Pitch” Black. Pitch wants to take over the world. The Man in the Moon sends Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine) to join the Guardians, but the rest of the team don’t see how he can help them defeat Pitch. One thing’s for certain: The Guardians can protect the kids of the world only if kids believe in them. As if children needed any more reason to believe in their favorite sleepy-time heroes, Rise of the Guardians is a super-fun reminder. Rated PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action. 97 mins. (DreamWorks Animation)
Oz The Great and Powerful March 8 Have you ever wondered how the Wizard of Oz became, well you know, a wizard? I’ll give you a hint; he had to defeat a wicked witch. In this Disney fantasy, Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a small-time circus magician who gets swept up in a tornado that takes him out of Kansas and drops him off in the Land of Oz. Oscar thinks he has hit the jackpot. But there are hurdles to the fame and fortune that Oscar fantasizes about. Three witches — Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) — see through Oscar’s wizard disguise. The Land of Oz is in trouble. Does Oscar have what it takes to live up to his promise as a wizard, when in fact he is really just a lowly magician? The same director who made the first three Spider-Man movies directs this exciting fantasy adventure. Rated PG for sequences of action and scary images and brief mild language. 127 mins. (Walt Disney Pictures)
Primary Care Keene • Lake Placid • Tupper Lake
Hospital Care Lake Placid • Saranac Lake
Long-Term Care
From Up on Poppy Hill March 15 Winner of the Japan Academy Prize for Animation, From Up on Poppy Hill is a romantic hand-drawn animated movie from the same Japanese studio that created such children’s classics as Ponyo and The Secret World of Arrietty. The story is set on the coast of Yokohama in 1963. Umi (voiced by Sarah Bolger) and Shun (voiced by Anton Yelchin) team up to help save their high school’s clubhouse from being destroyed. Meanwhile, the country is preparing to host the 1964 Olympics. If you’ve never seen an animated movie from the gifted artists at Japan’s famous Studio Ghibli production company, you’re in for a real treat. If you have already seen a movie like Spirited Away, then you have a pretty good idea about the kind of experience you’re in for. Kids that like to draw will be inspired by the great artwork they’ll see in From Up on Poppy Hill. Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some incidental smoking images. 91 mins. (GKIDS)
Adirondack Health is the new name for Adirondack Medical Center and their family of comprehensive services and locations throughout the Tri-Lakes region.
Mercy Living Center • Uihlein Living Center
Employment Opportunities www.AdirondackHealth.org • 518-891-4141
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March 2013
Come Out and Play... COME OUT Crab Soccer Crab Soccer AND PLAY Soccer is a popular game all over the world. That’s why it comes as no surprise to find games that are similar to soccer. It is fun to play, and it is easy to make variations that suit different purposes. One game that many kids play in gym at school that is a lot like soccer is crab soccer. Crab soccer is a game that people of all ages can play, inside or outside. The best place to play crab soccer is in a gymnasium or in a large grassy area outside, like a soccer field. Most of the rules of the game are similar to those of soccer, but there are a few differences, and they are what make it interesting. Like soccer, there should be two teams. Each team should have one goalie and a goal marked on opposite sides of the field. For this version of the game there is no set number of how many people should be on a team, but it should be more than two people and less than 10. The point of the game is for players to kick the ball into the other team’s goal. It is best to use a large soft ball for this game, but a regular soccer ball would work. The first team to score 15 goals wins. The most important thing about this game is the way the players move around. Players should lie on their backs and then lift themselves off the ground using their hands and feet so they crawl like a crab with their bellies to the sky. Players still use their feet to kick the ball, but only the goalie is allowed to stand up, and as in regular soccer, only the goalies can touch the ball with their hands. Sometimes, especially at school, instead of crawling with only their hands and feet, players can sit on a little scooter and use their hands and feet to push themselves around the field. Just as in regular soccer, at least two players, called defenders, guard the goal, and a few people should work hard to score goals. These players are called strikers. Teams should also have players who stay in the middle and work both as defenders and strikers. These players are called mid-fielders. There is no set number for how many players should be in each position, but more people should be playing as mid-fielders and strikers than as defenders, and each team should have only one goalie. Crab soccer is a great way to exercise all parts of the body in a fun and competitive way. Moving around like a crab works both the arms and the legs because both are used to support the player’s entire body. It is also a great way to have a fun with friends and play outside. People of all ages can play crab soccer, and it is an easy way to do something healthy. Not much equipment is needed to play this game either. All the players need is a ball, a field and something to mark the two goals.
In America, shamrocks, or four-leaf clovers, are thought to be lucky, but many people look at shamrocks in different ways. In the late 1700s, the shamrock symbol was used by Irish soldiers who rebelled against England. The symbol was then associated with rebellion, and to avoid being tagged a rebel, many Irish people wore a red and green cross instead. The word shamrock originated from the Irish word “seamrog,” which means “summer plant.” In ancient times, the Druids thought of the shamrock, which lived in the highest altitudes, as a sign of life. They considered shamrocks a symbol of motherhood and joy and often used them in their rituals.
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UFirst FCU offers Kid’s Programs
Burghy’s Kids Club ages 0-12, Teen Cardinal Club ages 13-17, College Survival Kit ages 18-22
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The Science of Space Art By Diane K. Fisher You may have seen colorful, eye-popping space images in books or on NASA websites. There are beautiful spiral galaxies that shine in pinks and blues, glowing green and yellow clouds with great white-tipped columns or the radiant leftovers of exploded stars that may look like an eye or a spider. Many of these images were made by capturing light that is not even visible to humans. We see only a very tiny portion of the huge range of light that is all around us. There are far more “colors” we cannot see than colors we can see. Some telescopes can sense infrared light. The Spitzer Space Telescope is one of these. Infrared light has too little energy for your eyes to notice it. But very cool material, like space gas, glows in infrared light. Another kind of telescope senses ultraviolet light. This kind of light has too much energy for your eyes to respond. Hot objects like newly forming stars glow in ultraviolet light. So, if these telescopes see “invisible” light, how can our eyes even see the images they make? Where do those beautiful pinks and blues and yellows come from? Do scientists “colorize” them or give them fake colors? No! If someone speaks to you in a language you do not understand, you need someone else to translate the message into your language. In the same way, you need to have the colors of the space images translated into something you can see. Scientists process these “invisible” space images so we can see them. The new colors also help the scientists tease out all sorts of information the light can reveal. For example, a good job of translating colors can reveal the temperature differences between stars, dust and gas in the images. The colors can also be made to show fine details that would otherwise be hard to see. Download a new Spitzer poster of the center of the Milky Way. On the back is a more complete and colorfully illustrated explanation of the “art of space imagery.” Go to http://spaceplace.nasa. gov/posters/#milky-way. This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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by Barbara Gilmour As Tanner, Nicole, Rudy, Carmen, Stephen and Truman the Dragon arrived for their “Cool Kind Kid” class, Ms. Gilmour was putting papers together. The kids all greeted her and asked what she was doing. She greeted them in return and explained, “A while ago, I found some helpful tips for spreading kindness. They came from the Stop Violence Coalition. I got permission to use these tips and want to share them with you.” Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is the creator and Nicole was excited and waving her developer of the “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character hand. “First, I want to tell you about Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the awardour hearts for the “Love One winning “Cool Kind Kid” Audio CD. She also writes the Children’s Manners Blog, offering tips for teaching your Another” project from last time. We children manners and social skills. were allowed to make the hearts and www.CoolKindKid.com. put them around the whole school. © Cool Kind Kid The kids all loved them. Everyone was talking about them and wanting to be kinder.” The other kids all shared about the heart project at their schools. They were a big success. Ms. Gilmour replied, “That’s great news. Now let’s talk about these tips for how to be kinder. The first one is take time to listen. What does that mean?” she asked. Rudy said, “If we talk all the time, no one will want to be our friend.” Carmen added, “Friends listen to a friend’s problem, and they don’t talk about it with others.” Stephen said, “People will think I’m kind if I listen to them.” Everyone agreed listening was a good way to show kindness. “The next one is give praise when earned,” continued Ms. Gilmour. “What do you think about that?” Tanner was first to speak. “When someone scores a goal, high-five them.” Nicole added, “I think it’s kind when my parents or sister tell me I did a good job on a test.” Truman thought about this. “I think it’s kind to give praise to someone who is being kind.” Ms. Gilmour commented, “That’s a good one, but we don’t want to be kind just to get praise.” The kids understood that. “This is a hard one to do sometimes,” said Ms. Gilmour. “Forgive someone who hurts you.” Rudy said, “You’re right. That is hard, like forgiving my brothers when they tease me, but we love each other, so I do it.” Truman bent down and hugged Rudy. “You are doing the right and kind thing.” “Sometimes it’s hard to forgive friends,” shared Carmen. “Like when someone posts mean stuff on the Internet. The kind thing is to forgive.” Ms. Gilmour added, “Kindness means forgive, forget and be friends again. This next one goes with forgiving,” continued Ms. Gilmour. “Apologize for something you’ve done.” Stephen spoke up. “Sometimes we have to do that first and not wait for the other person to apologize.” Tanner laughed. “After I apologize, I think we are okay and friends again.” Everyone agreed. “The last one for today is give hugs,” shared Ms. Gilmour. Everyone jumped up and began hugging each other. “We won’t have time today for the rest of the tips. Between now and our next class, let’s practice the tips for kindness we talked about today.” *Paraphrased with permission from: Stop Violence Coalition
March 2013
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE...
ZOOKEEPER I really love animals. I think working with animals would be one of the best jobs in the world! This month, I visited the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro, N.C., and met a zookeeper. Sara Monson has been at the zoo for six years and works with polar bears, sea lions, seals and the arctic fox. Did you know that polar bears in the wild fill up on food whenever it is around and then fast (don’t eat) for a while when food is not so plentiful? At the zoo, Aquila (a 1,000-pound polar bear) eats about 20 pounds of food a day! Keep reading to learn all about Sara’s fascinating job. Truman: What does it take to become a zookeeper? Monson: For most zoos, it takes a four-year college degree in biology, zoology, psychology, marine biology or animal behavior. Some zoos will take a two-year associate degree. I have a bachelor of science in biology and psychology. And most times, you have to do internships. Depending on the species you want to work with, you may have to do multiple internships — like to work with marine animals, which is a very sought-after job. Any animal experience is helpful — volunteering at an animal shelter, working in pet store, working at an animal rehab center. A lot of times you have to start out as a temporary keeper and work your way up. There are also special skills that you need to have, depending on what area of the zoo in which you work. For instance, in the Rocky Coast Mammals section of the zoo where I work, we have to be scuba certified because we have to clean all the pools regularly. Truman: When, and why, did you first become interested in this profession? Monson: Always as a child I was interested in animals, but I never thought it was a career you could actually do. I was really interested in marine mammals. My first year of college, I was going for teaching. But then I decided to find out more about working with marine mammals. I figured out what I needed to do, talked to my advisor at Central Michigan University, talked to different zookeepers and decided to pursue it as a career. Truman: What do you do every day? Describe a typical day on the job. Monson: A typical day starts out with food preparation for the animals, especially for the seals; we have a lot of fish that we sort through. We weigh it out, make sure that the fish are perfect. We do a lot of cleaning — the back areas that the animals are in at night, the inside areas for polar bears — and we have to clean the exhibit area. There’s a lot of scooping poop and putting out toys for the day. Toys are called “enrichment.” And enrichment is a big part of the day — it includes not just
GANIENKEH WHOLISTIC HEALTH CENTER
for us to talk to the public and educate the public on their natural behavior and any conservation issues. A lot of people who go into zoo keeping say they are not “a people person,” but that’s a huge part of the job. In this section, we do a lot of special events for climate-change awareness. Polar bears are the biggest species where a visual outcome is obvious with climate change. Truman: What’s the hardest part of your job? Monson: The hardest part is when an animal dies, or gets sick or hurt. We are their primary caregivers, so we have to be very aware of those things. You get attached to the animals because you are with them more than your own pets.
Truman: What’s the best part of your job? Monson: My favorite part is training the animals. It’s always a challenge, and it keeps you on your toes. Every animal is different, so that adds to the challenge. We are constantly training new behaviors. It is really cool when an animal gets it and you see that light bulb go off in its head, especially when you’ve been working on a behavior for a long time and they finally get it. My second favorite part is interacting with the public. I enjoy talking with the public about these animals. Truman: What is one accomplishment in your career of which you are most proud? Monson: I was selected to go to Polar Bears International Leadership Camp in Churchill, Manitoba. This past October, I got to go with a group of other zookeepers and educators to observe polar bears in the wild and learn about climate change and the effects on the polar bears. Truman: What is your favorite hobby or thing to do when you are not working? Monson: I have a 2.5-year-old that takes up a lot of my time, but I love to read. I also have my own pets, two cats and a dog, at home. Truman: What is your favorite animal? Monson: The dolphin is my favorite animal, but don’t tell the polar bears and seals. Here at the zoo, I have a lot of fun with Ronan and Paco, 5-and-a-half-year-old harbor seals. They are unique individuals. Ronan is pretty laid back, and he’s easy to train. Paco is the dominant one, but he’s also more sensitive. Truman: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession? Monson: Start early. As soon as you can start volunteering with animals, do that. Don’t give up. It’s a difficult field to get into, but if you do the schooling and internships and work hard at it, it will pay off. Truman: Wow! Thank you so much for showing me the zoo and telling me all about your job. It sounds awesome! Editor’s Note: You can learn more about the N.C. Zoo at www.N.C.zoo.org. The Zoo’s polar bears are on vacation right now while the polar bear exhibit undergoes a $7.8 million renovation and expansion. The exhibit renovations are expected to be complete in late 2013 and will provide the N.C. Zoo with some of the best polar bear facilities in American zoos.
March 2013
78265
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518-566-9388 P lattsb u rg h , N Y
75 Beekman Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518-561-2000 www.cvph.org 32009
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toys, but music playing, scents around the exhibit and playing with the animals at the viewing windows. We do lots of different things to stimulate them and give them the opportunity to interact. Since they are not in the wild, we have to keep their brains stimulated. We train at least three times a day, so that’s a big part of our day as well. We train for a variety of reasons. A lot is for medical care. We want to do as much as possible with the animal voluntarily doing it — like getting their teeth brushed, eye drops, getting vaccinations, etc. We have to train them to get on a scale, to move from one area to the next area, and we also train just for fun, especially for the seals. We teach them behaviors that are good mental stimulation, to demonstrate to the public the abilities the seals have, and it can be exercise for them, too. We have the most freedom to train seals, and they enjoy the most variety of training. We also do a lot of paperwork. We have to track everything, from diets to what they do during the day, and also things like their weight and how they interact with the enrichment. Every time we are feeding the seals, we will answer questions from the public. We are the voices for the animals, so it’s important
Happy Birthday Wishes to: to: Wishes Robert S.................Lewis.......................3/4 Bobby C..........Elizabethtown................3/5 Reagan L..................Jay.........................3/7 Destiny R..............Malone....................3/14 Ireland P............Plattsburgh................3/16 Preston S..........Lake Placid................3/19 Izabella G..........Lake Placid................3/20 Cali G...............Elizabethtown..............3/20 Brianna G...............Lewis.....................3/25
Congratulations to Preston!!! Who won the $25.00 Gift Certificate from Your Friend
Conservation o Tips Just for Kids r n e r
Taking care of our environment is a very important job. Here are some tips about how you can make a difference. •Make a map of your neighborhood or school and use it to identify areas where litter is a problem. Where are the areas? Are they near busy roads, businesses or places where people gather? •Make a list of things that could be done to stop litter. It can include things like placing more trash cans and recycling bins around the school or neighborhood or making posters or flyers to educate people about how harmful littering can be to the environment and community. •Look around your community and check with organizations like a forest service or conservation district office. Ask if they offer free tree seedlings and/or plants to plant in parks or other public areas. Perhaps they come to schools and community centers to talk with people about protecting forests. •Ask your teacher if your school can make a small model of a sanitary landfill. Your class can fill it with items from home. Use the model to predict what will happen to each item before it is buried. Before the school year ends, dig up the site and see what actually happened. Check with the city’s public works department or a local landfill to see if they will help you with the model and talk with your class about how landfills impact your community. From www.keepamericabeautiful.org
Our Local Artists Keegan Smith Age 8, Grade 3 Morrisonville School
Parker Manor Age 5, Grade: Kindergarten Northern Adirondack
GREAT
ARTWORK
KIDS!!!
Brenna Mulvaney Age 8, Grade 3 Beekmantown Elementary
Carter Gooley Age 10, Grade 5 Rouses Point Elementary
Kylee LaBarge Age 9, Grade 3 Peru Intermediate
Victoria Wells Age 8, Grade 3 Morrisonville School
Brenna Mulvaney Age 8, Grade 3 Beekmantown School
Olivia Davis Age 7, Grade 2 Saranac School
Neraeh Seabron Age 8, Grade 3 Beekmantown Elementary
Jenna Collins Age 8, Grade 3 Chazy Central
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March 2013
Hi! I’m Digger Mole and I work for NYCO Minerals. Did you know that our mineral, called “Wollastonite”, is shipped all around the world?
2013
M arch March SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
The Regional Spelling Bee will be held at Moriah Central School on Friday, March 1st at 6 p.m.
3 4 5
6 7
National Anthem Day
National Cereal Day
Oreo Cookies FOR SALE! Sold for the 1st time in 1912.
FRIDAY
1
National Pig Day
Peanut Butter Lover’s Day Share a Smile Day
8
Working Women’s Day
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SATURDAY
2
Dr. Seuss born, 1904
Read Across America Day
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Girl Scout Day
Daylight Savings Time Begins
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
Johnny Appleseed Day
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24 31 March 2013
1st Day of Spring
First Walk in Space (1965)
Children’s Poetry Day
National Sing-Out Day
Toast Day
National TeenAgers Day
25 26 27 28 29 30 Passover Begins at Sundown
Make up Your own Holiday Day
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Doctor’s Day
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Adirondack for Kids is a foundation established by the Adirondack Family of businesses to offer grants to nonprofit organizations supporting youth activities in the areas where Adirondack operates.
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Kyle Hamblin
Local Artists from
Katy Biddiscombe
Oliver W. Winch Middle School’s Sixth Grade
Payton Howard
Hailey Delsignore
Katelyn Woodnuff
Nicholas Brennan
Morgan French
Jason Hockford
Rhiannon Durlnin
Taylor Park
Moriah Hutter Mariah Baxter
Noah Johnson, Age 11
Kylie Bollman Lyndsay Clarke
Abigail Glans Savannah Willsey
Lexy Christon
Abby Fuller
Titus Mountain Family Ski Center in Malone offers equipment to rent - skis, snowboards, blades, lessons, a tubing hill, and fun for the whole family. Come see us and te C o me C e le b ra maybe you can ski with yo u r Birthday with T it u s Teddy!! Titus Teddy!! 75286
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March 2013
Exploring Nature!
Butterfly Life Cycle Number the stages in the life cycle of the swallowtail
4IFSJ "NTFM t XXX FYQMPSJOHOBUVSF PSH Find the 10 things hidden in the mouse life cycle.
Life Cycle Hidden Picture
Math-A-Muse
by Evelyn B. Christensen, Ed.D.
Coin Caper
Life Cycle Order: 2, 54, 1, 3, 6, 54,
1
What 5 U.S. coins are worth 81¢? Find 2 Solutions. bullfrog
Name the Baby Animal and %SBX B -JOF UP *UT "EVMU 'PSN
2 monarch butterfly
1 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 2 ____ ____ ____ ____
mouse
3 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
3
4 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 4
bald eagle
5 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ SLQNLH PRXVH IDZQ GHHU FDWHUSLOODU EXWWHUĂ \ WDGSROH EXOOIURJ HDJOHW HDJOH
5 deer
More puzzles are available at www.evelynchristensen.com. Exploringnature.org is an award-winning resource that
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inspires learning about science, conservation and the
books and online resources. Explore outside today!
March 2013
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PUZZLEVILLE! By Jan Buckner Walker
The Original Crossword Puzzle for Kids and Their Favorite Adults
™
The across clues are for kids and the down clues are for grown-ups!
Kids Across 1. When this beautiful bird spreads its feathers, you can see spots on its plumes that are shaped like eyes 6. A semicolon is a comma with a dot _____ it 7. A tall jungle animal with large brown spots 10. Your belly button's place 12. Sharpen your mind (and your pencil): What state's name causes you to have to dot the most "I"s when you write it? 15. A spring holiday event when some find speckled eggs for their baskets: Easter egg ___ 17. A cheetah is a spotted one 18. A little dot on your skin that has been there since
Lots and Lots of Spots and Dots you were born 19. If you use Morse code to send spy messages to your friends, you know that the letter A is a dot followed by a ____ 20. Spotted animals in the wild that sometimes sound like they are laughing
had a dog named Freckles 5. Brits enjoy a spot of it now and then 8. Decorative dot: Location of a bindi on a Hindu woman 9. Dotted tiles in a matching game 11. Early office workers known for their dot Parents Down matrix technology 1. Vintage video fun: 13. Seeing red and smiling: Atari's groundbreaking Event for which red dots 2-D, single-player table typically signal further tennis game markdowns 2. Dry ________ take their 14. Wocka, wocka: '80s best shot at removing arcade lover's dotspots gobbling obsession 3. Flurry of falling bits of 16. Freckled and famous: paper over a celebration Ms. Watson, who was 4. Nickname of the Hermione in the "Harry Kennedy brother who Potter" series
™
This Week’s Solution
kris@kapd.com
KAPD ebooks now available on www.kapd.com
1/20/13
© 2013 KAPD, LLC
Happy WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?
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March 2013
Life Flight- Here to Help the North Country Living here in the North Country has its advantages and its drawbacks. volunteer their time. A lot of people don’t realize Life Flight is FREE. That’s right, there is We all know the advantages; clean air, rugged, beautiful views around no charge to get the person to the hospital, or even take them from one hospital to every corner and friendly people. The advantage of our beautiful rugged another hospital that is better able to help them. mountains is also our biggest drawback when it comes to getting someone Their funding comes from private donations and from the United Way. (This is the needed emergency care. That’s where the volunteers of Life Flight come in. Life GIVE part of Give, Advocate, Volunteer). Flight is a helicopter that transports critically ill people to the Ms Connors said “Life Flight is a free service, if you think you might need us... launch hospitals that can help them. us. What’s the worse that can happen? You call and say you don’t need us.” A few weeks ago I met a very interesting person, Mary Jane I really learned so much about Life Flight I hope you did too. So the Connors the Executive Director of Life Flight. She told me next time you see the helicopter in the air or landing at a the history of Life Flight and all about the program. hospital you can tell everyone what you learned. (that’s The helicopter is amazing, there are five of them around the state, the Advocate part). You can remind everyone that when we LIVE UNITED we can transporting people just like ours does. On the tail you can see help lots of people in lots of different ways. the letters N9SP but when they are talking to the hospital or the tower they are “1H9” the H is for helicopter. The one that is here Your Friend, in our region is a twin engine Belfour 30 with skids. The skids are those ski like feet on the bottom. Ms. Connors told me that this is the just like the helicopter the Governor of New York flies in except his has wheels instead of skids. Ms. Connors also told me that the helicopter needs to be serviced every 25 hours of flight time. That is a big deal because they have to take it to Albany. It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes from Lake Clear to get to Albany by air. Then they come right back with a different helicopter to have here in case Life Flight and there is a need. When N9SP is ready to come back they fly the “loaner” back and bring the Crew at a stop at regular one home. Look at the map can you find Lake Clear? Before 1987 if someone needed to be airlifted to a hospital there was a group of local medical Elizabethtown volunteers who flew on military helicopters. But when the airbase closed in Plattsburgh those Community military helicopters were no longer here. Hospital Seeing the need, a group of people talked to our then State Senator, Ronald Stafford, to see if there was something that could be brought to the North Country to help when someone needed to get to a hospital in a hurry. Senator Stafford went to the State Legislature for help and in the fall of 1989 we got our Life Flight helicopter. Life Flight is based out of the airport in Lake Clear. The site was chosen for two reasons; First, it is centrally located to the service area, that means it’s kind of in the middle and can get to an emergency fast. Second, the location chosen had to have jet fuel available so the helicopter could refuel. The area that our Life Flight helicopter covers is huge. It runs from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain and all the way south to Lake George. Look at the map, do you live in the service area? A lot of people think that Life Flight mainly carries people who have been hurt in accidents. Ms. Connors said that most of the people Life Fight transports have actually had a problem with their heart. She said that they also help a lot of kids just like us who have gotten sick or hurt and need to quickly get to the doctors who can help them. She told me that in 2010 Life Flight performed 184 flights. Whether they are called to the scene or to a hospital, every flight has trained medical staff and equipment onboard to help the person get the help they need. Most of the medical staff
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ParentTown is sponsored by your locally owned
McDonalds 20018
You want the very
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Happy Meals Help kids McDonald’s donates a penny per Happy Meal and Mighty Kids meal sold to Ronald McDonald House Charities
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DEMARS BLVD 569 LAKE FLOWER AVE, RT 9 N & 74 RT 9 EXIT 23 SARANAC LAKE, NY 12983 TUPPER LAKE, NY 12986 TICONDEROGA, NY 12883 WARRENSBURG, NY 12885 (518) 359-7133 (518) 891-2566 (518)585-771 8 (518)623-3323 20019
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March 2013
H ealthy Healthy
earts & H Hearts B odies Bodies
KIDSVILLE KITCHEN
20 Seconds to a Healthier You
Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!
Wow it’s March already! Have you avoided the flu so far this season? The Centers for Disease Control says you can still get it and March is prime time! The best way to avoid catching the flu or a cold is to WASH YOUR HANDS!
Here’s how to do a good job and make every hand washing count! * Wet your hands with warm water and apply soap to your hands. * Rub your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds, covering all the surfaces of your hands and giving added attention under and around your fingernails and surfaces where jewelry is worn. * Rinse your hands completely with warm water. * Dry your hands carefully with a disposable towel. * Use the towel to turn off the faucet and open the door if you are in a public or school restroom.
* Avoid sharing objects such as utensils, cups, and bottles. That means with Mom and Dad too! * Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands afterwards. If there’s no time to grab a tissue then cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper arm, not your hands. * Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs from entering your body.
Learn more...Test your knowledge... The Scrub Club Visit The Scrub Club, at www.scrubclub.org it’s a really fun interactive website that offers free materials to help teach us about the benefits of hand washing to fight germs and prevent illness. The site has cool educational materials, music, games and cartoon “Webisodes.” I spent some time out there and it was loads of fun! Maybe you would like to go on the site as a class. Ask your teacher.
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• As a family or class you can place hand-washing reminders at eye level to remind everyone to become consistent hand washers. • If we are all careful not to spread our cold and flu germs we will be ready to have lots of fun on Easter break!
Your Friend,
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Get the Picture People Fact
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* Walking tacos – Layer taco meat, tomatoes, lettuce and shredded cheese in individual serving-sized bags of corn chips. Top them off with sour cream, guacamole or salsa, and then eat them with a fork, right out of the bag. * Baked mac and cheese bites – Spoon your favorite baked macaroni and cheese recipe into mini-muffin tins and bake. * Kebabs – Alternate chunks of ham, grapes and cheese cut into shapes with a small cookie cutter. * String cheese dippers – Roll string cheese in breadcrumbs and bake. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping. * Mini quesadillas – Sandwich cheese, shredded chicken and salsa in between two tortillas. Bake until cheese has melted. Slice into triangles with a pizza cutter, and serve with salsa and sour cream. You can also try the Pizza Bagel Snacks. They use Borden Cheese, which is made by a cooperative that is 100 percent farmer-owned. This means that for every product purchased, 100 percent of its proceeds go back to hard-working American dairy farmers and their families. Source: www.FriendsOfElsie.com.
Answer Corner What’s the Difference?
y
Whether it’s kids hanging out with friends after school or you watching the game with neighbors, there are plenty of reasons to have kid-friendly snacks that grown-ups will enjoy, too. One way to keep everybody happy is to bring cheese into the mix. Cheese is versatile and nutritious and can add zest to snacks and family-friendly dishes. And with a broad array of appetizing flavors, such as Gouda, Provolone and Pepper Jack available from Borden® Cheese, the options are boundless. Here are a few cheesy snack ideas that you and the kids will enjoy making as much as you enjoy eating.
Other things we can all do to prevent the spread of germs:
If you think you are rushing when you wash your hands sing a short song to yourself. A song like “Row Row Row Your Boat,” or the “Happy Birthday”song, will ensure you wash for at least 20 seconds.
Kid-friendly Snack the Whole Family Will Love
(Over,Down,Direction) ACCRUE(15,4,S) BASKETBALL(1,7,E) BUNNY(5,8,W) DAYLIGHTSAVINGS(15,3,W) EASTER(15,10,NW) EASTERBASKET(12,1,W) INTEREST(1,5,E) LEPRECHAUN(1,6,E) MARCHMADNESS(13,4,W) PRECIPITATION(13,10,W) SPRING(9,9,NE) UFIRST(6,2,W)
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Pizza Bagel Snacks 2 bagels, halved 1/3 cup pasta sauce 1 cup Borden Mozzarella Part-Skim Regular Shredded Cheese Toppings of your choice Preheat oven to 350˚F. Halve two bagels and top them with the pasta sauce, cheese and toppings of your choice. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Suggestions for toppings are thin slices of hot dogs, sliced ham or any lunch meat, pepperoni, browned hamburger, mushrooms, diced green peppers, chopped onions and black olive slices. Be creative with toppings that your family likes.
“I really like my new Pediatrician, Dr. Celotti. He really knows how to care for North Country Kids. That’s because he used to be one!”
Accepting new patients. Call for an appointment.
Elizabethtown Community Health Center 66 Park Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 518-873-6896 • www.ech.org 20008
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GEE THANKS! Clinton, Essex, Franklin
LIBRARY SYSTEM
Cultural Connections:
The Lion King
For 15 years, Disney has been bringing the wild and beautiful world of the African Serengeti to the stage with The Lion King. During performances, lions roam, elephants lumber and hyenas laugh across the stage, so close that they can nearly be touched. The story of The Lion King is a classic story about a youngster becoming an adult and accepting his destiny. The main character is a young lion cub named Simba. His father is named Mufasa, and he is the king of the land. Mufasa teaches Simba all about being king and the delicate balance of life and death in nature called “the circle of life.� Not everything is happy on Pride Rock, which is like the castle where the lions live. Mufasa has an evil brother named Scar who wants to be king. Scar and the evil hyenas work together to make Scar the king of Pride Rock by killing Mufasa and blaming it on Simba. Simba feels so badly that he runs away into the jungle. In the jungle, Simba becomes friends with Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog. Simba grows up with this funny couple and decides not to worry about anything anymore. Years later, Simba meets a beautiful lioness named Nala. She is an old friend from his
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Our mission is to create a fun, engaging, educational newspaper and web site for all elementary age children, their parents & teachers, that encourages reading as a lifelong habit and promotes literacy & education. When it comes to literacy & child development, if we are to help develop a child’s habits, truly affect the way they think and act, to help develop their minds, we must start at a young age. We hope that you will consider partnering with us too! Together we can take childhood learning to the next level and have a positive impact on our community and our future leaders.
childhood at Pride Rock. Nala tells Simba about the terrible things happening at Pride Rock, and Simba has to return home and fight Scar so that he can take his place as the true king. It is hard for Simba to realize that he has to be king, but he knows that his father lives on within him, and being king is his destiny. The human actors are able to portray such huge and life-like animals through their costumes. The costumes have giant masks and bright colors and also act as puppets that the actors can control while they dance and sing. The puppet costumes are important because they make it look as though all the different animals are really dancing and singing and are not just painted people. The stilts and large masks that the dancers and actors use also make them closer to the actual size of the animals they are pretending to be. This is different from so many other Broadway productions because usually actors just wear clothes and makeup to look like the animals they are pretending to be. A classic and inspiring story as well as amazing costumes and actors make The Lion King an amazing play to watch.
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March 2013