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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 2010 More fun at www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH!

2010 CENSUS, WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER AND MORE!

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The Treats with Truman Winner for March!

Hey Kids! Be sure to ask your school when I am coming for a visit! I’ve got a great Activity Book for you!

Sponsored by:

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I received a GREAT letter from Samantha Disco and Erin Bleau from Rouses Point Elementary’s 3rd grade class! Boy they really enjoy class! Your Friend Truman Congratulations Mrs. Yelle

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Treats with Truman! Hey Kids!

Do you think your teacher is the best teacher ever? Well here’s your chance to tell everyone! Write me a one page essay about your teacher and why you think he or she is the greatest! Also include your full name your, I can’t teachers name and w ait to the name of your school read (no abbreviations please) I’ll choose one them! winner each month and bring treats to you and your classmates. And I’ll give your teacher a st! r is the Be really cool My Teache certificate, too!

Send your essays to: Kidsville News Attn: Treats with Truman PO Box 338 Elizabethtown, NY 12932

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MARCH 2010

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER Serving Clinton, Essex and Warren Counties PUBLISHER Gayle Alexander gayle@denpubs.com 518-873-6368 Ext. 207 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 Brian Gay Brian@denpubs.com 518-873-6368 Ext. 207 NATIONAL EDITOR Joy G. Kirkpatrick kvnews@kidsvillenews.com Kidsville News, Inc. Bill Bowman President For Sponsorship Opportunities Please Call: 518-873-6368 P.O. Box 338, 14 Hand Avenue, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Published Locally By Denton Publications, Inc. Copyright 2009 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.

Truman@ denpubs.com EMAIL ME, I LOVE MAIL!

Dear Kids, March means spring is on its way! Spring starts March 20, and boy am I ready for it. I like March. It’s a neat month with a lot going on. For instance, did you know that March is National Craft Month? And National Peanut Month? National Women’s History Month? Music in Our Schools Month? Yep, that, too! I love music. Participating in music class at school is one of the highlights of my week. This month, I talked to a professional singer and actress. She’s worked on Broadway in New York and was just in a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl! For fun and games all month, visit the Kidsville News! Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny. Look for new games and other changes to our Web site soon! Have a marvelous March! Your friend,

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Kidsville News!

It’s Time to Be Counted!

In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States. April 1 is National Census Day. The U.S. Census counts every person living in our country — in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and America Samoa. It is required by the Constitution to happen every 10 years and has since the first one in 1790. The Census form is only 10 questions and is designed to count every person living in the U.S., citizens and non-citizens. So, if your grandmother used to live in Italy but now lives in your house, she will be counted on the census form for your household. Your new baby sister will be counted, too. Even Uncle Joe who is staying at your house temporarily until he finds a new place to live will be counted on the form for your household. Everyone living in your house should be counted — but only people, not Fido and Fluffy! In addition to the form that is mailed out to each house, apartment and mobile home in the country, there are people called census takers that visit homes. If a form is not turned in from your residence, a census taker will visit to get the information in person. A census taker will wear an official government badge and will not enter your home. They only ask the questions that are on the official census form. Answers to the questions are kept confidential and cannot be used against you. They are only used to create statistics, such as the fact that 5.7 million children are living with a grandparent. So why is the census so important that it is required by the Constitution? The information that is gathered from the census is used to decide how much federal money ($400 billion!) goes to states for important services like hospitals, schools, roads and bridges and senior and emergency services. Learning how many children or elderly live in an area is an important part of that decision. Census information is also used to determine how many seats your state has in the House of Representatives. You’ll probably be learning more about the Census in school. The U.S. Census Bureaus has designed educational resources to help teachers and students undertand the importance of the census and of being counted. You can learn more about the census and play games at www.census. gov/schools/census_for_kids.

2009 winning poster entries from Hawaii (left) and Massachusetts (below).

Get SunWise with SHADE!

The 2010 SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest has begun! The winner of the national contest will receive a family trip to Disney World and a WeatherBug Weather Tracking Station for his/her school. And that’s in addition to great prizes you can win in state contests! The annual contest is a joint effort by the SHADE Foundation of America, WeatherBug Schools and the Environmental Protection Agency to teach children ways to protect their skin and eyes from excessive sun exposure. The contest due date is April 7, 2010, and starting this year, there will be two age categories for poster entries — kindergarten through third grade, and 4th through 8th grade. Winning posters will receive state and national prizes, with the overall national winner in the 4th-8th grade category receiving a family trip to Disney World and a WeatherBug Tracking Station for his/her school with lifetime access to WeatherBug Achieve. In 2009, state winners received digital cameras, plus their schools received Sun UV Stations to monitor real-time ultraviolet (UV) intensity levels. Students in both categories should submit hand-drawn posters on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper. Entries should be original and creative, show ways to prevent skin cancer and raise sun safety awareness and be attached to an ofﬁcial entry form found at http://www.shadefoundation.org/programs/ poster-contest. Once the state-winning posters are announced, YOU will have the chance to vote for your favorite poster online to decide the national winner!

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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?

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AR UND THE W RLD Spain

Fiesta de Las Fallas (the fires) is one of the most unique festivals in Spain. It started as a feast day for St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, and has evolved into a five-day celebration of fire. The festival takes place in Valencia, Spain, March 12-19. There are firecrackers in the morning, fireworks displays every afternoon, and parades with marching bands and ladies carrying flowers. The fiesta focuses on the creation and destruction of ninots — huge cardboard, wood and plaster statues that are extremely lifelike. The statues are placed at over 350 places in the city. On the 19th (La Crema), men with axes chop holes in the statues and stuff them with fireworks. On the stroke of midnight, all of the ninots are set on fire!

America

Spring forward! On March 14, DaylightSaving Time begins at 2 a.m. That means you need to set your clock ahead one hour. You’ll lose an hour of sleep, but we’ll have sunlight later in the day from spring to fall (more time to play!). One of the biggest reasons we change our clocks to Daylight-Saving Time (DST) is that it saves energy. Energy use and the demand for electricity for lighting our homes is directly connected to when we go to bed and when we get up.

India

On March 1, Holi, a spring Hindu festival, is celebrated in India. This is a day of fun, and people run through the streets and throw colored water and brightcolored powders on each other. They play Holi by throwing water balloons and smearing washable dyes on friends and family. They also build a huge bonﬁre the night before made of dried leaves and branches.

The Af ter School Program That Kids Never Want To Leave Im a gine pick ing u p t he k id s a ft er w ork .A llt he hom ew ork is d one.T hey ha ve ha d a sna ck a nd ha d t im e t o pla y.You m a k e d inner a nd enjoy fa m ily t im e.A d rea m ? N ot a t T he F u n S pot !

Fu n Att ra ct io n s!

Camp Fun Spot Fun Facts... d nclud e i n o i t e& ort a T rans p Lak e G eorgools ! from s bury s ch Q ueen “Thanks for all of the great things that you do with the kids! This is the best daycare program we have ever had.” - S.D. (Campers Parent)

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How does climate change affect living things?

Lucky Shamrock

Help Truman ﬁnd the lucky four leaf clover.

MUSIC WORD FIND March is Music in Our Schools Month! See how many music-related words you can ﬁnd in this word search. BAND CHOIR CHORUS CONDUCTOR

J R F D Q Z S P E N C D X R M

B Z Q O C L R D N Z H O G A E

W F C S O A V Y U G O I R B J

Q X X O C S Y O T D I A O C J

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T V H T U A J V P E R D T A H

INSTRUMENT MUSIC NOTE PLAY

M C I R L X Q C X Y Y U C F F

S C O P S T C W J C D U U Z E

E H R E L C I S U M N G D D M

C E R K M N U Q G Q A A N Y M

Z D W N Z U O G G S B R O P K

PRACTICE SCHOOL SONG TUNE

I N S T R U M E N T E S C M R

K W F G A A Z E W F T V A W A

P R B N B G F O Y Q O H I I C

A O U O H C D A E F N F R X C

I K W S V E T Z P P K M F L F

Our planet is getting warmer. The air near Earth’ s surface is almost one and one-half degrees F warmer than it was 100 years ago. For the last 50 years, the Earth has been warming up twice as fast as in the 50 years before that. One and onehalf de grees may not seem like much. But, when the whole earth is warming, many kinds of living things are affected. Life is like a spider web. Every part connects to every other part. Here is an example. Herds of caribou live in cold, Arctic locations. Caribou hate mosquitoes. This polar bear’ s habitat is in Mosquitoes love danger. Due to global warming, every warm weather. In summer more of the Arctic ice melts. the past few years, That means the bear has fewer places warmer summers to rest as he swims around hunting for his have helped dinner. Credit: Dr. Kathy Crane, NOAA mosquito Arctic Research Office. populations to explode. The caribou have to spend a lot more energy swatting and running from the mosquitoes. The caribou get tired, but they still have to find enough food and prepare for the next long winter. Female caribou are especially troubled because it takes so much energy to give birth and raise their young. Hibernating animals also suffer. Bears are waking up too early from their long winter naps. They feel warm and think spring has come. But days may still be too short for the plants to start their spring growth. Therefore, the wideawake, hungry animals have a hard time finding something to eat. Many trees also suffer from climate change. Lack of rain and snow in the West leaves trees thirsty and stressed. The trees are more likely to become infected with pine beetles. These bugs bore into the trees and lay their eggs. Eventually, they kill the trees. When the forest is gone, birds and small mammals that lived there have to find new homes. Here are many other plants and animals struggling to adapt to the changing climate. Learn how you can help. Check out NASA’ s new Climate Kids web site, climate.nasa.gov/kids. Play “ Migration Concentration” and find out about other endangered animals. This article was written by Diane K. Fisher This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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MARCH 2010

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE... A PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER? March is Music in Our Schools Month and a perfect time to learn more about what it’s like to be a professional performer. I say “performer” because Autumn Hurlbert is not just a singer, but also a musician, a dancer and an actress. She has worked in 35 states and in many countries abroad. Now, she lives in New York City and has worked on Broadway and TV in New York, but she also works all over the country. She has worked for theaters throughout the U.S., participated in National Broadway Tours, worked on cruise ships and acted on TV shows and films in Los Angeles. She’s accomplished a lot, and it all started when she was in elementary school!

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a professional example, when I perform the music that I write, it is performer? usually in a casual concert setting, so I am just me. My HURLBERT: I was involved in my elementary, junior high and clothes, my makeup. But when I was in Legally Blonde on high Broadway, I had seven different wigs and costumes and school choirs and drama clubs, and I was also performing in colorful makeup! In some cases, your costumes and community and professional theaters when I wasn’t busy with makeup affect how you are able to sing and move... think school. I started learning to play the piano when I was about seven about trying to sing and dance as a giraffe in The Lion King! years old, and I also learned to play Performances are always high energy and the violin, flute, drums and guitar. I require 100% of your concentration and graduated from the University of dedication, so even if itís a two-hour show, it Northern Colorado for Musical Theater, can be exhausting. And sometimes you and I am always taking classes from perform multiple times a day. different teachers for voice, acting and TRUMAN: Whatís the hardest part of your job? movement here in NYC. To be a working HURLBERT: The hardest part about being a performer, it takes a LOT of determination performer is that you are never resting. You are and ambition all on YOUR OWN. Your “real constantly learning and challenging yourself job” is auditioning; your vacation is when you artistically and creatively, and you are always actually get a job, haha! You have to seek out striving to be better and better. There is a LOT of auditions with your own resources, and you competition, so you have to practice, practice, have to prepare on your own as well, with practice! the help of voice and acting coaches, TRUMAN: So, whatís the best part of your accompanists job? for learning music and dance teachers, HURLBERT: The best part about being a when you really need it. You have to be a performer is connecting with your audience. self-motivated person, and you have to get Have you ever listened to someone sing and very, very used to hearing the word “no.” felt goose bumps or felt like they were singing You have to have lots of faith and Autumn Hurlbert performs the “The Starspangled about your life or about something you have persistence! You also have to really love once felt? That is the great part about being an Banner” at a Mets game in New York. what you are doing. I am always listening artist. You bring people together by expressing to new and different kinds of music and am always learning new ways to emotions and feelings that everyone has, in a poetic and creative play and interpret music. way. I love the way singing and playing music make me feel, and TRUMAN: When and why did you first become interested in this I love that they bring joy to those hearing it, too! profession? TRUMAN: So far, what has been the highlight of your career? HURLBERT: I was a very outgoing, creative and boisterous child, and I HURLBERT: The highlight of my career this far has to be was always making up songs and performing for my family and friends. I achieving my goal of performing on Broadway. To get to perform knew by the time I got to high school that the one thing that made me at the Palace Theater, where 100s of famous singers and actors truly happy was performing, and I have always believed that art can have performed, was quite an honor. Also, getting to sing the change the way the world works. I knew that I wanted to go to college, National Anthem at a Mets pennant game! and when I found out that you could study singing and acting and TRUMAN: As a singer, what is your favorite song? dancing, it was done! That was what I was going to do with the rest of my HURLBERT: I could never name one song as my favorite, but my life! favorite musicians are The Beatles! TRUMAN: What do you do every day? What is a typical day like? TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are HURLBERT: The job of a performer seems very glamorous, but there is interested in being a professional performer? a lot of hard work involved! You need to be in great physical HURLBERT: I would tell anyone interested in being shape, so exercising and eating right are very important a performer to never stop learning! Never stop practicing and listening and experiencing. I and are, technically, part of your job because you have would encourage them to learn to play to be healthy. Itís pretty hard to perform with even a multiple instruments and to learn to play lots cold! Getting ready for a performance involves warming up your body and your voice with exercises of different kinds of music. The more well and stretches, and sometimes even focus exercises, rounded you are, the more fun it is! like meditation. Then come costumes and TRUMAN: That sounds like great advice! makeup.That could be anything from normal, everyday Thanks for sharing about your awesome job as dress to wild, out-of-this world fantasy attire! For a professional performer. And as they say, “Break a leg!” (but not really!).

MARCH 2010

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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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Story Time with Truman Petey’s Secret Power

Chapter Six — Petey’s Secret Power

A Quality Serials Story By Mary Maden Illustrated by Tana Brinnand Last Time: Petey starts to doubt if he is creative. He goes to Frannie Fox for help. She explains what creative means and tells Petey to use his imagination. Then Honey Bee tells him that he needs inspiration. Petey searches high and low but can’t find inspiration. As he travels through the dark forest, a strange voice calls out to him. Who or what could be out there in the shadows? Petey didn’t know who or what was hiding in the deep shadows of the forest. He had to summon all his courage to confront the mysterious voice again. “What do you want?” Petey asked. “Who’s there?” “Who! Who!” the voice answered. “That’s not funny!” Petey cried. “I wasn’t being funny,” the voice said. “I’m an owl. I always say ‘who!’” “Oh!” Petey said. “My name’s Wise Owl,” the owl introduced himself. “Nice to meet you, sir,” Petey replied. “I’m Petey Squirrel.” “What are you doing out so late, Petey?” Wise Owl asked. “It’s a long story,” Petey sighed. “I have time,” Wise Owl said. Petey told the owl everything. “So, you see, if I can find inspiration, then I will be able to think of something creative to do for the Big Forest Creative Arts Festival contest,” Petey explained. “But, I can’t find inspiration. I looked in a hollow tree and under every rock. I even looked at the top of the tallest tree. I can’t find inspiration anywhere!” “Petey,” the wise owl counseled, “inspiration can be found in different places or different things, not in just one place. The source of inspiration is individual to each one of us. You have to find what it is that inspires you.” “I just can’t find my inspiration,” Petey said, sighing a big sigh. “I’m never going to be creative. I might as well forget about the contest!” “If you think you can’t, then you are right –– you can’t!” Wise Owl replied. “If you believe in yourself, well then, you can do things that you never dreamed of!” “I can?” the little squirrel cried in disbelief. “Most definitely,” the owl replied. Petey closed his eyes and tried to believe in himself. He tried, but he just didn’t feel it. “It’s no use!” Petey said, frustrated. “I give up. I guess I’ll be the only one not entering the contest!” The owl smiled a little smile of amusement. “It isn’t that easy or that fast,” Wise Owl chuckled. “I have something that will help you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone about it.” “I promise!” Petey said. “Close your eyes and hold out your right paw,” the wise old owl told Petey. Petey did exactly what Wise Owl said. The owl placed something in the little squirrel’s paw.

“Now, open your eyes,” Wise Owl instructed. Petey opened his eyes. In his paw, was a small, perfect acorn! “It’s — it’s — why it’s just an acorn!” the little squirrel chattered. “It’s not an ordinary acorn,” the owl explained. “It is a special acorn. It has a secret power. As long as you have it, you can do anything you set your mind to.” “Wow!” Petey cried with delight. “Now, I can find my inspiration and do something really creative for the contest.” “If that’s what you want to do, you can do it,” Wise Owl stated. “Thank you, Mr. Owl!” Petey said. “You’re welcome, my boy,” the old owl said, then added, “You should be getting home now. It’s late.” “Goodbye,” Petey said as he left. “Thanks again!” Clutching the special acorn tightly in his paw, Petey headed home. As he scampered along, the little squirrel felt like he was walking on air! His heart felt as light as his feet. Petey whistled a happy little tune while he walked. Petey was just about to climb up to his treetop nest, when his pesky little cousin spotted him. “Hi, Petey!” a little gray squirrel called out. “Oh, hi, Santos,” Petey said. “What do you have there?” Santos asked. “Nothing,” Petey replied, trying unsuccessfully to hide the acorn. “That looks like a tasty acorn,” Santos observed. “Umm,” Petey muttered. “I could use a bedtime snack,” Santos hinted. “Uh, huh,” Petey mumbled. “May I have some?” Santos asked. “No,” Petey replied. “How selfish!” Santos said. “It isn’t very nice of you not to share.” “I’m not being selfish,” Petey replied. “This acorn isn’t for eating.” “Why?” Santos asked. “It just isn’t, that’s all,” Petey responded. “It looks good enough to eat,” Santos argued. “Well, it’s not for eating,” Petey insisted. Petey couldn’t tell Santos the real reason he couldn’t eat it. He promised the owl that he wouldn’t tell anyone about the acorn’s secret power. “I’m going to bed,” Petey said, yawning. “I have to get up early.” “Why?” Santos asked. “Tomorrow’s the big contest. I don’t want to be late.” Petey explained. “Goodnight, Santos.” “Good night,” Santos said. Petey climbed the tree and snuggled down into his cozy nest. “I can’t wait to show the other animals how creative I am!” he said to no one in particular. “With my secret power, I’m sure to win first prize!” Petey fell into a blissful sleep, unaware of the shock that would await him the next day!

Next Time: The Switch A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this eight-chapter story is available on the Kidsville News! Web site at www.KidsvilleNews.com. Copyright 2009 by Mary Maden. All rights reserved. Mary Maden is an award-winning author. Visit her on the Web at www.marymaden.com.

In 1988 we started as a small oil company in the Malone area. In 2010 we have expanded our service area by opening an environmentally friendly facility in Plattsburgh, allowing us to serve customers in Clinton and Essex counties. We don’t just deliver fuel, but also provide service, and sell boilers, stoves, and furnaces. 20585

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Red, White & True Mysteries Eighteen-year-old Mary Godwin Created a Monster

While this column usually reveals the “littleknown stories behind wellknown inventions,” we occasionally go off on a tangent, like the story about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that ra n a few months ago. Whether the story is about inventions or about other creations, we like to include an educational aspect to each story. So feel free to share this column with the kids. Today’ s story is not about an invention or an inventor, but rather an 18-year-old girl whose creation is known the world over. As usual, there is more to the story than what you learned in school. And as always, there is a story behind the story. That’ s where we begin with the story of 18-yearold Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. While you might not recognize her name, you’ ve heard about her creation – that is, unless you live in a cave. Or, in this case, a laboratory. Mary was born in 1797 in London, England, the first and only child of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Her mother was an author while her father was a philosopher. Mary followed in her mother’ s footsteps and became an author. Mary’ s mother died 10 days after Mary was born, and she was raised by a stepmother whom she did not like. Ironically, the stepmother also was named Mary (actually, it was Mary Jane). I wonder if she referred to her stepmother as “ the evil stepmonster.” You’ ll know what I mean when you reach the end of this story. When Mary was just 18 years old, she created a fictional character whom she named Victor. Then Victor created a character who became world-famous and has been the subject of a number of horror movies. In the film versions of this story, the monster was

often mistakenly referred to by Victor’ s last name. In 1931, Boris Karloff became the first actor to portray the monster in a movie. While he was known as a monster, he started out in life as gentle creature who just wanted to be loved and accepted. A monster who was eight feet tall with yellowish skin and scary eyes, to be exact, but a gentle creature who just wanted to be loved and accepted nonetheless. Awww, what a sweet monster, you say. Which he was at the beginning, until he learned evil from a society that shunned him. What monster did Mary’ s character (Victor) create? Mary never officially gave the monster a name in her novel, which was first published in 1818, when Mary was only 21. Instead, she referred to him as “my hideous pregeny.” She did, however, once refer to him as “Adam” when she was telling her story Then who was Victor, the man in Mary’ s story who created the monster? Victor Frankenstein! As in Frankenstein’ s monster. If you didn’ t recognize the name Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, it’ s probably because she went by her married name of Mary Shelley. Her fictional story of Frankenstein’ s monster (which is why I wonder if she referred to her stepmother as her stepmonster) was probably the world’ s first science fiction story. And why were there electrodes attached to the neck of Frankenstein’ s monster? Mary Shelley created the story of Frankenstein’ s monster at a time when experiments in electricity were taking place, in the early 1800s. It would be another 60 years before Thomas Edison would use electricity to power his incandescent light bulbs. But you knew that all along, didn’ t you? © 2009 Paul Niemann. This story is part of the Red, White & True Mysteries series by Author Paul Niemann. For more information, please visit www.InventionMysteries.com.

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Jace Filion Age 8, 3rd Grade Northern Adirondack

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

Jae-Lynn Casper ade Age 10, 5th Gr Salmon River

… Roses are red blue…. Violets are te poetry, I like to wri ? How about you m, Send me a poe your home, about you or be ld cou It not or Believe it icate to tif cer t a gif You could win s, r pens and pad s, Get out you dad r you and ms Ask your mo ry, hur poem in a rry, Write your your dog Mu n be about It could eve

MARCH 2010

original poem Please send your

3 w inners To be anno unced in the May issue

Isaiah Bell Age 9 1/2, 3rd Grade Home Schooled

to Truman at

Poetry Contest P.O. Box 338 N.Y. 12932 Elizabethtown

ite Destiny Cronkr Age 10, 5h Grade ry Mooers Elementa

in fast, So get them last! ’t want to be You sure don il 15 Deadline Apr

MARCH SUNDAY

MONDAY

MARCH 2010

National Pig Day

Peanut Butter Lover's Day

TUESDAY

Dr. Seuss born, 1904

Share a Smile Day

Working Women's Day

Read Across America Day

WEDNESDAY

National Anthem Day Inventor Alexander Graham Bell born, 1847

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

Abolitionist Harriet Tubman Day

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

First meeting of Congress, 1789

Johnny Appleseed Day

6 Girl Scout Day

Fidelis Care Radio Disney Family Fun Night *See below for details

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Daylight Savings Time Begins

Children's Poetry Day

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day

National Goof Off Day

National Teen-Agers Day

National Sing-Out Day

Single Parents' Day

United Nations World Water Day

Palm Sunday

Coca-Cola was Invented

16 23 30

4th President James Madison born, 1751

Toast Day

Doctor's Day

Alaska Purchased

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Pencil with Eraser Patented

Rubber Band Invented

First Walk in Space

SATURDAY

Iditarod Race Begins Oreo Cookies FOR SALE! Sold for the 1st time in 1912.

Good Samaritan Day Uranus Discovered in 1781

1st Day of Spring

St. Patrick's Day

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Pancakes First Made

First Map of the US Published

Make up Your own Holiday Day

*FIDELIS CARE - Radio Disney Family Fun Nite Glens Falls Family YMCA, 600 Glen Street, Glens Falls MARCH 12, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m. ENJOY THIS FREE EVENT offering dancing, music, prizes and games for all ages

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AR T GALLERY Juan Gris and Synthetic Cubism using geometric shapes to create abstract portraits. However, while many Juan Gris was a Spanish painter and sculptor. A member of the Cubist movement, he lived in France Cubists used only dark colors, like grey and brown, Juan painted in vibrant, for most of his life, working alongside joyful colors, which made his work stand out from the crowd. As his style evolved, other things set him apart from the Pablo Picasso and other notable Cubists as well. Soon, Juan’s style had changed into a new artists. form of Cubism known as synthetic Cubism. In synthetic Originally named José Victoriano Cubism, artists used pieces of newspaper, cloth and other Gonzalez, Juan was the thirteenth collage materials to create texture in their paintings. It was of 14 children born to a wealthy the first time that collage became a part of fine arts, and Juan papermaker and his wife in Madrid, was at the forefront of the movement. Spain, on March 23, 1887. Interested By the 1920s, Juan’s career was in full swing. He held in art as a child, Juan began studying exhibits across Europe in 1923, 1924 and 1925 and was mechanical drawing at the Escuela also asked to lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris. In addition to de Artes y Manufacturas (or School painting, Juan dabbled in other areas of the arts. Beginning in of Arts and Manufacturing) when 1924, he started designing sets and costumes for the famous he was 15. As a teenager, he contribballet company, Ballet Russes (The Russian Ballet). However, uted cartoons and other drawings just as his career was taking off, his health began to fail. He to Spanish newspapers and started suffered from asthma and started having frequent bouts of studying painting with a well-known Juan Gris’ Portrait of Picasso, bronchitis. He quickly grew sicker and sicker, eventually local artist, José Maria Carbonero. 1912, The Art Institute of Chicago. dying on May 11, 1927, at the age of 40. Although he did not In 1902, Juan moved to Paris, France. Because he left enjoy a long career, Juan made enough of a mark on the art world that modern Spain before serving a mandatory tour of duty in the Spanish Army, he was critics often ponder what he would have achieved if he’d lived longer. barred from returning to his home country and quickly made France his new Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works home. Once established there, he became friends with Henri Matisse, Pablo as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and Picasso and other artists. In his early years in Paris, he earned a living by drawother education-related companies. Sources: “Art: Clear & Cold,” Time Magazine, ing illustrations for several magazines and journals. Soon, however, he began http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,811921,00.html, Juan Gris: The painting seriously. He also adopted the name we now know him by, Juan Gris. Complete Works, http://www.juangris.org/biography.html, Juan Gris on Wikipedia, When Juan started painting professionally, he adopted the Cubist style— http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan Gris.

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MARCH 2010

MEANS COME OUT COME OUT AND PLAY! BASKETBALL AND PLAY!March Madness Means Basketball The calendar says March, and that means its time for the NCAA March Madness basketball championship. It takes a lot of practive to become a great basketball player. If you are into basketball, here are some tips from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (www.ncaa.org) on how you can improve your game! 40 Free Throws What to do: Shoot 40 free throws in a row. You don’t need to make every one; just try your best. Keep track of how many you make and try to beat that number the next time out. If you can’t shoot from the regulation 15-foot free-throw line, just stand as close as you need to and eventually work your way back. Remember kids: Practice Makes Perfect! Dribbling for Five Minutes What to do: Dribble a basketball for ﬁve minutes without letting it stop. You can use your left hand, right hand or alternate between the two. Start by standing still, and then walk or run as you dribble. As you get better you, can challenge yourself by dribbling between your legs or behind your back. This isn’t required though; just keep the ball moving. Defensive Slide Drill What to do: You can perform this drill with a partner or by yourself. Start by getting yourself in a defensive stance. While keeping your back straight and your butt out a little bit, bend your knees to get your body a little bit lower. Don’t lean forward too much, and keep your hands out at waist level to try and swipe the ball. From your defensive stance, slide your feet across ﬁrst to the

left about 5-8 steps, then to the right 5-8 more steps. It is important not to cross your feet. When you move left, bring your right foot to your left foot; then move your left foot out to the left, without crossing your feet. Try doing this drill from left to right 10-15 times. If you have a partner, have your partner mirror you while dribbling a ball, and don’t let him get around you. 1-on-1 What to do: 1-on-1 basketball is great when there aren’t enough people available for a regular basketball game. Get a friend and a basketball, and head out to the court. Youll only need a half-court to play. Shoot free throws to determine who gets the ball first. The person who gets the ball first then takes the ball out at the top of the key. Be sure to check the ball before you start by bouncing the ball in to the defender while saying check. The defender then catches the ball, and once he or she is ready, bounces it back to the offensive player, and the ball is in play. The offensive player should try to make the basket, while the defensive player should try to defend the basket. All the normal rules of basketball apply, so remember not to travel, double-dribble or foul your friend. Once a basket is made, give the other player the ball for her shot at a basket. Dont forget to check the ball back in. Try playing a game to 7 or 11, with each shot you make counting for one point. The first person to 7 or 11 wins. Have fun! Tips and games provided by NCAA Kids, www.ncaa.org. Image: www. metrocreativeconnection.com.

A few weeks ago I stopped by to visit my friends at Mountain Lake PBS at One Sesame Street in Plattsburgh, NY. I learned about the cool things that Mountain Lake does to help kids like us learn. Not only do they offer the best kids programs all day long like Arthur, Curious George and WordGirl but they also have my favorite show Dragon Tales. Did you know that kids all over Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties as well as Vermont and Canada participated in over 30 literacy workshops last year where Mountain Lake distributed over 1,500 free books? They also offer a free on-line resource call Kid’s Island where we can go with our parents to play literacy games based on the concepts we learn when watching the daytime shows Martha Speaks, WordWorld, Super Why, Sesame Street and The Electric Company. I was interested to learn that Mountain Lake PBS also tells our regions stories. This year they produced Dead Reckoning-Champlain in America about Samuel D. Champlain the man that Lake Champlain was named after and The Forgotten War about the French and Indian War that was fought before the Revolutionary War. Both of these great productions have educational websites where we can go to chart our learning on these subjects. I can’t wait to check that out! At Mountain Lake PBS they are so nice they even provide free videos to our schools to help us all learn. Finally I learned that there is a fun contest to enter called The PBS Kids Go Writing Contest. It runs until March 19th and lets young kids like me practice my creative writing skills by letting me tell my story in both words and pictures. All in all I really enjoyed my day at Mountain Lake PBS. I hope I can go back to visit again really soon!

Your Friend,

MARCH 2010

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Hey Kids,

June 18 - June 19, 2010 from 7:00 pm - 7:00 am at the Clinton County Fair Grounds. The teams walk the track all night to help raise money for cancer education and research. This event is for the whole family!! There are lots of great activities going on such as balloon animal making, clowns, face painting and much more. Mark your calendars! The American Cancer Society will be holding a Community Garage Sale at Our Lady of Victory Preschool on April 24th. You can donate or check out what’s been donated.

A world with

less cancer is a world with more

birthdays. For more information visit www.relayforlife.org/plattspurghny

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Tiger

On February 14, 2010, the Chinese lunar calendar began the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is the largest of all cats. There are nine subspecies of tiger. Of those, three types are extinct, and the other six are endangered. The World Wildlife Fund reports that there could be as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild. The organization has launched a campaign to help save the tiger from extinction: Tx2: Double or Nothing. The World Wildlife Fund’s goal is to double the number of wild tigers by the next Year of the Tiger in 2022. Tigers are very adaptable and can live Kingdom: Animalia in forests, grrasslands or tropical mangrove Phylum: Chordata swamps. They make their dens in caves, tree Class: Mammalia trunks and thick grasses. In the wild, most tigers live in Asia, from India to China and Order: Carnivora Indonesia. Family: Felidae Tigers are nocturnal animals, so they hunt Genus: Panthera at night. They use their sight and hearing to stalk their prey. Because they are carnivores, Species: Panthera tigris tigers eat meat. They usually prey on largerand medium-sized animals like deer and wild boar. They even eat water buffalo, crocodiles and pythons. Because of their hunting strategy of biting the throat and holding onto the prey with their very powerful legs, Indian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) two-month-old cub. the tiger can kill animals that are much larger than itself. Even when they are as Photo Copyright: © Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon young as 11 months old, young tigers are capable of hunting and killing prey. No two tigers are alike! The stripes of a tiger are different from one animal to another. They can even be different from one side of the body to another. Tigers have strong powerful bodies and legs and can jump over 30 feet in one horizontal leap! Sources: Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org; World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org. Photo: above right, World Wildlife Fund; above left, www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

Gee Thanks! Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls (518) 798-9966 Farzad Sani, DDS

We would like to thank all of our Kidsville News! in Education Program Sponsors for helping to provide Kidsville News! to Northern NY schools and all area children K-5.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties 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. 21860

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MARCH 2010

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PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART As the dismal economy shrinks the job force, parents across the country are faced with the intimidating task of explaining financial troubles to their children. The economic meltdown has raised the unemployment pool in the United States to more than 7.2 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As these numbers continue to increase, more parents will have to explain fewer nights out, smaller allowances and other cuts to the family budget to their children. While the initial discussion can be frightening, experts say that avoiding these conversations with your children is a mistake. “Keeping kids in the dark about something so serious as a job layoff is a huge mistake. Hearing such an immensely personal family problem from anyone other than you could well break down the trust between you and your child,” says Dr. Michele Borba, child expert and member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Family PLUS Advisory Committee, a comprehensive family support strategy sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Corporation. So, how can parents start a conversation about a recent layoff? Borba, who also authored “The Big Book of Parenting Solutions,” offers a few tips to help parents and kids discuss financial problems: * Prepare what you want to say. Doing so will help you feel more comfortable and less tense, which will make your news sound less scary to your kids. * Describe the potential impact on your family. Most kids’ prime concern is how this personally affects them. So, be honest and clear about any foreseeable changes. For instance: Dining out less. Not going to movies. More bag lunches. Less allowance. * Explain your plan for new employment. Kids don’t need a lengthy discussion, so just briefly explain that you’re seeking a new job and that it may take awhile. Knowing that you have a “plan” (even if you have no idea what to do) helps kids feel secure. * Involve your kids so they feel they are part of the solution. Ask them for ideas to help your family reduce costs. For instance, mention that turning off the lights will conserve energy. Then ask them for other suggestions. * Keep the discussion going. A one-time talk won’t be enough for your children to absorb what is happening, so let them know that they can ask questions at anytime. Find more tips for parents on a variety of topics on the Family PLUS Web site at http://familyplus.bgca.org. Article courtesy of NewsUSA.

MARCH 2010

JOKES • JOKES • JOKES • JOKES 1. What time is it when ten elephants are chasing you?

2. What do you call a muddy sparrow? 3. What state wears glasses?

Joke Answers on page 16

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4. Why was the teacher annoyed with the duck? PAGE 15

A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

BOOKSHELF Hot Rod Hamster Author/Illustrator: Cynthia Lord, Derek Anderson (Illustrator)

ﬁrst century. And worse, he’s angered a few of them: Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy has just 10 days to ﬁnd and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Age Range: 2-8 Old car, new car, shiny painted blue car Rust car, clean car, itty-bitty green car.

Leprechaun in Late Winter (Magic Tree House Series, #43)

Which would YOU Choose? Newbery Honor-author Cynthia Lord creates a clever rhyming book anbout a tiny hamster who wants to enter a hot rod race. Of course, his car has to be just right. To ﬁnd the perfect car that will take him to the ﬁnish line, he enlists the help of some mice friends and a junkyard car dealer dog (complete with studded collar!). There are so many choices to make to get the car in top shape — and the reader gets to help choose! Blazing, gleaming, sizzling adjectives abound. The wonderful illustrations by Derek Anderson bring the characters to life and add to the energy of this rhyming book. —JK

Author: Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Age Range: 7 to 12 From the Publisher: Jack and Annie are on their third mission to ﬁnd (and inspire!) creative people to bring happiness to others through the arts (Mozart and Louis Armstrong so far). Set in Ireland, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life — she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride.

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Series #1)

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything

Author/Illustrator: Rick Riordan Publisher: Hyperion

Send It!

P.O. Box 338 Elizabethtown, NY 12932

Hint: Send your work in color and on unlined paper!

Hey Kids! Truman wants your original artwork, letters, poems, and stories! He may want to print them in an upcoming issue of Kidsville News! or put them up on the website. Just have your parents fill out this form and send it along with your work. Name

Age Grade

Phone#

Address City

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Your Signature (This is your own work) Parent’s Signature (Permission)

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Author: Bill Bryson Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Age Music Range: 9Word to 12 Find March is Music in Our Schools Month! See how many Lucky Shamrock music-related you can ﬁnd inOne this word From thewords Publisher: ofsearch. the world’s Help Truman ﬁnd the lucky four leaf clover. BAND PRACTICE most belovedINSTRUMENT and bestselling writers CHOIR MUSIC SCHOOL CHORUS NOTE SONG takes his ultimate journey — into CONDUCTOR PLAY TUNE theJ most B W Q intriguing T M S E C Zand I K intractable P A I R Z F X V C C H E D N W R O K questions that science seeks to answer. F Q C X H I O R R W S F B U W I DhiO SbiO T R PbE KkN hT G N Of S hi

Age Range: 9 to 12 From the Publisher: Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school, again. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But

School

Answer Corner

Zip

? Q Z S P E N C D X R M

C L R D N Z H O G A E

? ? ?

O A V Y U G O I R B J

C S Y O T D I A O C J

U A J V P E R D T A H

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L C I S U M N G D D M

M N U Q G Q A A N Y M

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R U M E N T E S C M R

A A Z E W F T V A W A

B G F O Y Q O H I I C

H C D A E F N F R X C

V E T Z P P K M F L F

JOKES ANSWERS 1. 10 after 1 2. A dirty birdy 3. Mississippi has four eyes 4. Because he wouldn't quit quackin' jokes!

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? ? ?

? ?

MARCH 2010

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At the Movies Diary of a Wimpy Kid (In theaters March 19) Zachary Gordon plays precocious middle school kid Greg Heffley who keeps a diary of his daily humiliations, triumphs, and goofy shenanigans. Still small in size, Greg is eagerly waiting for a growth spurt and making plans to be rich and famous if he can escape from the annoying kids around him. The same filmmaker that made Hotel for Dogs (Thor Freudenthal) directed this children’s comedy that shows how a little determination can go a long way. There are a lot of talented child actors in this light-hearted kids’ movie. (20th Century Fox) No MPAA rating at press time. Hubble 3D (In theaters March 19) NASA and Warner Brothers Pictures teamed up to take audiences on a ride to outer space along with seven astronauts aboard the space ship Atlantis. On their mission, the crew attempts to save the endangered Hubble Telescope that has provided us with thousands of pictures of galaxies far, far away. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, and delivered in crystal-clear IMAX® 3D, Hubble 3D is the kind of exciting nature film that you’ll want to see more than once. For anyone who loves astronomy and gazing up at the stars, this very special documentary will be a great eye-opening experience. Captivating colorful visions of galaxies make up some of the interesting visual elements of a movie that will take your breath away. (Warner Bros. Pictures) No MPAA rating at press time.

o the t g n i d Accor s Book of es Guinn ecords, the R f World number o st highe found on a s leave r is 14! clove

MARCH 2010

The Secret of Kells (In theaters March 5) This animated children’s movie follows 12-year-old Brendan (voiced by Evan McGuire) in a mystical medieval, world threatened by Viking soldiers. Brendan’s life changes when a monk called Brother Aidan teaches him the art of illumination. Soon, Brendan takes his new skills beyond the abbey walls of his home to a lush enchanted forest. There, he meets a clever fairy named Aisling who goes along with him on his quest. Celtic mythology plays a big part in this fantasy adventure movie that deals with themes of death, war and religion. Brendan Gleeson performs the voice of Abbot Cellach. No MPAA rating at press time. (GKIDS) Movies on DVD Astro Boy (March 16) Scientist Dr. Tenma (voiced by Nicolas Cage) makes a robot son who may be the only hope for the futuristic paradise world called Metro City. Created in the image of his late son Toby, Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) runs on something called “blue core energy.” Sadly, Toby doesn’t live up to Dr. Tenma’s expectations, and he disowns the flying robot boy and leaves him to fend for himself. Astro Boy must go on a journey of self discovery on what’s left of Earth before he can return to Metro City, where its evil president (voiced by Donald Sutherland) is out to steal Astro Boy’s blue core energy source. The film is based on the popular Japanese manga and TV series created by Ozamu Tezuka. Rated PG for some action and brief mild language. (Disney) Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world,” has been a film critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.

One estimate suggests tat there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

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Legend says that each le af of the clove r m e a ns somthing: t he first leaf is for hope, the se cond leaf fo r faith, the th ird for love and the fourth f or luck.

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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE Music in Our Schools: What It Means For Your Child March has been officially designated Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. MIOSM began as a single statewide celebration in 1973, and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, then a week, and then in 1985 to become a month long celebration of school music. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. Music is recognized, on paper, as a core academic subject, but with actual testing in only a narrow range of subjects, music is usually one of the first programs to be cut. But what does music education — or the lack of — mean for your child? At an event by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Harris Interactive released an independent poll which shows a positive association of music with lifelong educational attainment and higher income. Nearly nine in ten people (88 percent) with post graduate degrees participated in music education. Further, 83 percent of those with incomes higher than $150,000 or more participated in music. “Research confirms that music education at an early age greatly increases the likelihood that a child will grow up to seek higher education and ultimately earn a higher salary.” said Dr. John Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. “While music clearly corresponds to higher performing students and adults, student access to music education had dropped about 20 percent in recent years, thanks in large part to the constraints of the No Child Left Behind Act.” School systems across the country face tightening budgets which often results in cuts to arts and music education programs. Respondents of the Harris Poll cite skills they learned in music as helping them in their careers today. Seventy-two percent of adults with music education agree that it equips people to be better team players in their career and nearly six in ten agree that music education has influenced their creative problem solving skills. Many also agree music education provides a disciplined approach to

problem solving, a sense of organization and prepares someone to manage the tasks of their job more successfully. An earlier Harris study shows significantly higher graduation and attendance rates in schools with music programs (90.2 percent compared to 72.9 percent and 93.3 percent compared to 84.9 percent, respectively). Other studies show the value of music programs to our future generations: • Students in top quality music programs scored 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in math on standardized tests mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act (University of Kansas) • In 2006, SAT takers with coursework in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 43 points higher on the math portion (The College Board, Profile of College-Bound Seniors National Report for 2006) “If you want to be a CEO, college president or even a rock star, the message from this survey is: take music,” Mahlmann added. “As with reading, writing and arithmetic, music should be a core academic focus because it is so vital to a well rounded education and will pay dividends later in life, no matter the career path taken.” “Parents, educators, state legislatures and the Congress need to take these studies seriously. This relationship between music education and better performance in life is not accidental. How are we supposed to continue as a creative society without exposing our students to the arts? Rock and Roll shapes our culture and is the great equalizer among people of different racial, social and economic backgrounds. It belongs in the schools!” said musician, actor and music education activist Steven Van Zandt. “Obviously, music is a big part of my life and I’ve had remarkable experiences as part of the music industry. That is why I am now combining my life’s work and my passion for music education. The Harris Poll and other studies like it document the fact that you don’t have to be a rock star to benefit from music education. Music benefits everyone in all walks of life.” For more information on Music In OurSchools Month, music education or what you can do to support music in your child’s school, visit www.menc.org. Source: MENC: The National Association for Music Education, www.menc. org; Harris Interactive; Photo credit: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

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KIDSVILLE KITCHEN Yummy & Fun Things to Create with Peanut Butter

Poison Prevention

What is a poison?

Mr. Yuk was created by the Pittsburgh Poison Center at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1971. The goal was to create an eye-catching symbol that would alert children to harmful substances and create awareness for the 24hour emergency hotline at the poison control center. Several symbols were tested, but it was the neon green Mr. Yuk that children loathed most, with one child labeling him “yucky.” Mr. Yuk was created to replace the common skull and crossbones symbol previously used to identify poisons after research indicated that it had little meaning to children who equate the symbol with exciting things like pirates and adventure.

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Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

& Bodies

Mr. Yuk means No! The scowling green face of Mr. Yuk is easily recognized by children and parents around the world as a warning for poisonous substances that should be avoided. The National Poison Center and other poison centers across the United States and in other parts of the world distribute Mr. Yuk stickers for parents to put on poisonous products and all telephones in the home. On it is the phone number for the national poison control hotline in case of a question or poisoning emergency. History:

uninsured.

• A poison is something that makes you sick or hurts you if you eat, drink, touch or smell it. • Poisons can be S O L I D. Solid poisons can be chunky and chewy like pills, batteries, plants and berries. • Poisons can be LIQUID. Liquid poisons can be creamy, blobby or like water. They can be any color. Some liquid poisons are floor cleaners, antifreeze for the car, cough syrup (if you take too much) and lamp oil. • Poisons can be SPRAYS. They can be in a spray can or bottle. The spray can get in your eyes, or it can get in your lungs if you breathe it. Some kinds of spray poisons are furniture polish and bug spray. • Poisons can be INVISIBLE. You can’t see it, smell it or touch it. Invisible poison can be found almost anywhere that something is burning. It can be mixed in with smoke or can come out of the back of a car or bus when the engine is running.

What does a poison look like? A poison can come in pretty colors. It can come in many shapes and sizes. A poison can smell good. It also can taste good. A poison can even look like something good to eat or drink.

How can you get poisoned? You can get poisoned by eating, drinking, touching or smelling something that can make you sick or hurt you. Some things, like medicine, can make you sick if you take the wrong kind or if you take too much. Always ask a grown- up before you take any medicine. Never put anything in your mouth if you are not sure if it is safe to eat. Ask a grownup first!

Where are poisons found? Poisons are everywhere. They can be found in your garage, in your kitchen, in your bathroom or in any room in your home. They can even be found in Grandma’s purse! Poisons can be found outside, like some plants, berries and mushrooms.

What can you do if someone gets poisoned? If you think you got into a poison, tell a grown-up right away! They will call the Poison Center. The poison center will tell them how to help you. If you think your mom or dad, or your brother or sister, or even your friend got into a poison, you can call the poison center too. Tell a grown-up to make sure you have the number of the poison center, 1- 800- 222- 1222, on or near the telephones in your house. Ask them to show you where to find the number. You also can call 911 for help.

How can you stay safe from poison? • If you don’t know what something is, do not put it in your mouth. Always ask a grown-up first. • Never take medicine unless a grown-up gives it to you. • Some plants and berries are poisonous. Always ask a grown-up before you put them in your mouth. • Always let grown-ups use spray cans and bottles. You should not touch or play with them! • Stay away from things used to clean your house, clothes or car.

March is National Peanut Month! Peanut butter sandwiches are a favorite of lots of kids, but there is more to do with peanut butter than just put it on bread. And peanut butter — and peanuts — can be good for you as part of a balnced diet. With seven grams per serving, peanuts have more protein than any other nut. Protein provides long-lasting energy — just what you need to keep going throughout the day. Peanuts and peanut butter contribute more than 30 nutrients and phytonutrients and can be part of a balanced diet that promotes good health. Try these fun ideas with peanut butter.

DAZZLING CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER DIP WHAT YOU NEED: • 1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter • 1 teaspoon chocolate or colored sprinkles • 4 cups fresh fruit and vegetables cut in “dip-able” shapes (carrots sticks, sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, sliced apples and pears.)

HOW TO MAKE IT: • In a standing mixer bowl, mix yogurt and chocolate syrup on medium speed until well blended. • In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the peanut butter at 70% power for about 1 minute or until melted; stir half-way through. Pour peanut butter into chocolate yogurt mixture and mix until smooth. • For each serving, spoon 3 tablespoons dip into a small serving cup and sprinkle with sprinkles. Serve with one cup of fresh fruit and/or vegetables. Makes 4 servings (each serving = 3 tablespoons dip and 1 cup fruit/veggies). Note: This dip may also be served with pretzels or spread on graham crackers. Nutrients per serving: Calories, 194 (38% from fat); Fat, 9g (saturated 2g, monounsaturated 4g, polyunsaturated 2g); Protein, 6g; Carbohydrates, 26g; Fiber, 4g; Cholesterol, 2mg; Calcium, 64mg. Peanut Butter Honey Play Dough Makes about 1 pound • 1 cup peanut butter • 3 cups powdered sugar • 1/3 cup honey • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract • Food coloring, optional Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix thoroughly until “dough” begins to come together. Do not over mix. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to dough and mix; add additional food coloring if needed to reach preferred color. Store dough or shapes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Courtesy of Family Features, National Peanut Board and National Honey Board.

When a kiss and a bandaid aren’t enough…

24-HOUR EMERGENCY CARE 75 Park Street P.O. Box 277 Elizabethtown, NY 12932 873-6377 www.ech.org

The Heart of Your Community MARCH 2010

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Caring for the most important people in the world…

your children! Did you know?

• 1st dental visit is recommended around the 1st birthday • If your local water supply does not contain (51 S D D ani, fluoride, you should speak Farzad S with your dentist or pediatrician about the possibility of a fluoride … caring for the most supplement important people in the world, • Your child should be your children. At Pediatric assisted with brushing and Dentistry of Glens Falls our doctor and staff are dedicated flossing at least one time until over the age of to helping assist you in making daily eight your child’s smile a happy and healthy one. We specialize in • Snacking or drinking juice or soda frequently can pediatric dentistry in an raise your child’s risk of environment where your child tooth decay feels safe and comfortable.

Pediatric of Dentistry s ll Glens Fa8) 798-9966

Directions to: 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls • (518) 798-9966 From North: From South: Take I-87 South to Exit 18. Make a left off exit onto Take I-87 North to Exit 18. Make a right off exit onto Main Street. At 4th traffic signal there will be a fork in Main Street. At 5th traffic signal there will be a fork in will be on the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts will be on the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts 1 your right. 88 Broad Street will be 11⁄2 blocks on your your right. 88 Broad Street will be 1 ⁄2 blocks on your right. We are a 2 story brick building. right. We are a 2 story brick building. We participate with many insurances including GHI. We offer a wide variety of comfort options: laughing gas, mild sedatives, general anesthesia

Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls 798-9966 • Fax: 798-0616 • 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls www.pediatricdentistryofglensfalls.com

Dr. Sani Accepting New Patients!

Saturday ts en appointmle! availab

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MARCH 2010