Kidsville News! 08-01-09

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER • AUGUST 2009 More fun at www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

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

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If you care about education and literacy and would like to help support Kidsville News, please call 518-873-6368

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MARK E. THOMSON DDS, PC SPECIALIST IN ORTHODONTICS Your children’s eye sight is everything.

They do a lot of reading, writing and using the computer.

Make sure they are seeing what they need to!

561-3380 Your Smile Is Our Specialty!

Call for your appointment today!

The Eye Care Team:

D r. Th o m s o n & Staff

Kjell Dahlen, M.D., Benjamin Vilbert, M.D. John King, M.D., Phil Dafler, M.D., Frederick Shaw, M.D., Stanley Hatch, O.D., David Kirkpatrick, O.D., Richard Erenstone, O.D., Bradley Catton, O.D., Douglas Franz, O.D., Robert Raut, M.D., Robert Johnson, M.D. Locations:

Sally, Don, Jamie, Paula, Andrea, Lisa, Lori, Teresa

450 Margaret St., Plattsburgh, 566-2020 / 14861 State Rte. 30, Malone, 483-0065 51 Woodruff St., Saranac Lake, 891-8412 / 96 Nash St., Lake Placid, 523-2020

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AUGUST 2009

Caring for the most important people in the world…

…your children Pediatric of Dentistry s ll a F s n e l G 8-9966 (518) 79

ani, DDS

Farzad S

Dr. Sani Accepting New Patients!

Did you know?

• 1st dental visit is recommended by 1st birthday • If your local water supply does not contain fluoride, you should speak with your dentist or pediatrician about the possibility of a fluoride supplement • Your child should be assisted with brushing and flossing at least one time daily until over the age of eight • Snacking or drinking juice or soda frequently can raise your child’s risk of tooth decay

… caring for the most important people in the world, your children. At Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls our doctor and staff are dedicated to helping assist you in making your child’s smile a happy and healthy one. We specialize in pediatric dentistry in an environment where your child feels safe and comfortable.

We participate with many insurances including GHI. We offer a wide variety of comfort options: laughing gas, mild sedatives, general anesthesia

Directions to: 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls • (518) 798-9966 From South: 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 the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts will be on your right. 88 Broad Street will be 11⁄2 blocks on your right. We are a 2 story brick building.

From North: Take I-87 South to Exit 18. Make a left off exit onto Main Street. At 5th traffic signal there will be a fork in the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts will be on your right. 88 Broad Street will be 11⁄2 blocks on your right. We are a 2 story brick building.

Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls Saturday appointments available!

798-9966 • Fax: 798-0616 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls www.pediatricdentistryofglensfalls.com 34105

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AUGUST 2009

Dear Kids, 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 DIRECTOR Gayle Alexander gayle@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.

Email Me,

August is here, and for many of you this is your I love Mail!!! last month of summer vacation before returning Truman@denpubs.com to school. I always like to get in one more fun adventure before school starts. This summer, I went white-water rafting! You can read all about rafting in Come Out & Play. And, you can also read about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

I have to admit that my inspiration for wanting to have some fun on the river came from a book I’ve been reading. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by Mark Twain is a classic novel about a boy and his adventures along the Mississippi River. I hope you enjoy learning more about the author and the river in this edition!

Checkout outthe the calendar some back-to-school And for more fun, Check calendar forfor some back-to-school tips. tips.

And for more fun visit my visit myat Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com!

Website www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny!

Have August!

Havean anawesome awesome August!

Yourfriend, friend, Your

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Kidsville News!

©

Summer Reading & River Adventures Summer is a time for having fun with friends, being outside and exploring. One famous author created novels on just this subject.

Mark Twain created The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has been called “the Great American Novel.”

He was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in November of 1835. But he is best known by his pen name, Mark Twain. Twain grew up in Hannibal, Huckleberry Finn, as Missouri, a port depicted by E. W. Kemble in town on the the original 1884 edition of Mississippi River. the book.

This town is the

inspiration for St. Petersburg, the fictional town engraved printing plates and a scrapbook with selfin The Adventures of Tom adhesive pages.

Sawyer and Adventures of Mark Twain has been called “the Huckleberry Finn. father of American literature” and was a At the age of 12, after travel writer. He wrote for many newshis father died, Mark Twain papers about his experiences in the “wild became a printer’s apprenWest” as well as a trip to Hawaii on a tice. When he was just 15, steam ship. He also wrote several books he began working as a that included his experiences on the typesetter and wrote Mississippi River. articles and did sketches for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a newspaper that his brother about a young boy around 12 years old owned. In addition to his named Tom Sawyer. Tom lives with his career as a printer and jourAunt Polly, half-brother Sid and cousin nalist, he spent several years Mary. His best friends are Huckleberry as a steamboat pilot on the Finn and Joe Harper. Their summer is Mississippi River. full of adventure: running away to an Mark Twain also loved island to become pirates, hunting for science and inventions. He buried treasure in a haunted house and Tom Sawyer as illustrated in The lost a lot of money investing getting lost in a cave.

Adventures of Tom Sawyer by in new inventions. He also Mark Twain’s famous novels with Mark Twain, 1st edition, 1876 invented some things of his his mischievous characters have been own, including a new type made into plays, musicals, movies, aniof steam engine; the kaolatype, a machine which mated films, cartoons and even operas!

The Mighty Mississippi Big River, Old Blue and Moon River. The Mississippi River has been called many names. Many songs have been written about it, and Mark Twain’s most famous book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was set on the Mississippi River. It’s not the longest river in the United States, but it probably is the most famous!

The river got its name from the old Ojibwe word, “misi-ziibi.” Misi-ziibi means “great river.” It is over 2300 miles long and is the second-longest river in the United States. The longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River. Together, they make up the longest river system in North America.

The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in Clearwater County, Minnesota. It ends in the Gulf of Mexico on the coast of Louisiana. Along the way, it runs through

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Minnesota; forms part of the borders of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, and finally runs through Louisiana, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

Following are some interesting facts on the Mighty Mississippi River: • Forty per cent of North America’s ducks, geese, swans and wading-bird species rely on the Mississippi River as a migration corridor.

• Two hundred forty-one fish species inhabit the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

• The river and its tributaries supply drinking water for more than 18 million people in the central U.S. • There are 29 locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River.

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.

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AUGUST 2009

Beaver

Many rivers have a system of locks and dams to keep the river water at a certain level. But did you know that there’s an animal that builds dams, too? The beaver is an amphibious rodent that lives in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. They build dams out of branches, rocks and mud to make small ponds where they can build their home or “lodge.” Beavers cut trees and shrubs into Kingdom: Animalia smaller pieces and drag them to the lodge.

Phylum: Chordata They also store edible branches underwater Class: Mammalia anchored in mud. Then they will have them Order: Rodentia to eat during the winter.

Beavers are mostly nocturnal. They are Family: Castoridae the largest rodents in North America and Genus: Castor usually weigh between 35 and 66 pounds.

They have short legs and a wide stout body.

Of course, to cut all that wood, they have very powerful teeth. Their huge incisor teeth have an orange outer enamel containing iron, which makes them very strong. Beavers have special characteristics that help with their amphibious lifestyle. They have folds of skin that close the nostrils to keep water out of their nose. A special eyelid-like membrane, called a nictitating membrane, protects their eyes. They have lips that close behind their incisor teeth to keep water out of their mouth and lungs, but still allow them to use their teeth underwater to cut and carry branches. The beaver’s hind feet are large and webbed for swimming. Even their flat paddle-shaped tail has a special use in the water. When danger is near, the beaver flaps its tail on the water to make a loud slapping sound to alert the other beavers.

Sources: Encyclopaedia Brittanica Online; Wikipedia.

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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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Spain

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Spain sure has unusual celebrations! In the city of Bunol, the world’s biggest food fight is held on August 26. Over 35,000 people gather to throw 240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other for two hours! The Tomato Festival starts each year with a contest where competitors race up a greased pole to reach a ham at the top. Then trucks come in with tomatoes and dump them on the village streets! The tradition supposedly began in 1945 when a fight between two young people expanded to the vegetable stand nearby, and they started throwing tomatoes at each other.

Italy

Vesuvius Day is on August 24. This is the anniversay of the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum. In the mid-18th century, excavation of Pompeii began. Many artifacts and art objects were recovered during excavations under many different archaeologists. Vesuvius is still considered an active volcano.

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August 15 is the 95th anniversary of the official opening of the Panama Canal. After 10 years of construction, the Panama Canal opened in 1914.

The canal is a 50-mile waterway which connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. A crane boat made the first passage through the canal on Jan. 7, 1914. The first ocean steamer passed through on August 3, 1914. The project was originally begun by the French in 1881, but it was not successful, and thousands of workers died during construction.

The United States began work in 1904.

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AUGUST 2009

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE... A RAFT GUIDE? I’ve been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn this summer. Playing by and in the river sure sounds fun, so I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Matthew Leonard is a raft guide and trip leader for High Mountain Expeditions in Banner Elk, NC. They give guided rafting trips down rivers in Tennessee and North Carolina. High Mountain Expeditions is a family-owned business, so Matt grew up on the river, and he’s been a rafting guide for the past six summers. He was glad to talk with me about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a raft guide?

TRUMAN: Are you ever scared on a rafting trip?

MATT: To become a raft guide for our company, working on the Watauga River, you must be highly certified in first aid, CPR and white-water safety. Keeping everyone safe on the river, while still having fun, is of upmost importance.

MATT: There have been times when I have been scared on a rafting trip. White-water rafting is a thrilling experience, but in certain situations, the water can be dangerous. It is important to always be alert and aware of how the water is flowing through the river. Every river is different, so it is important to take every trip, regardless of your experience, seriously.

TRUMAN: When, and why, did you first become interested in this profession?

MATT: Ever since my first rafting trip when I was six years old, I have always loved rafting; soon after my first experience, it became my dream to spend my college summers as a raft guide for High Mountain on the Watauga River. Working on the river makes for a fun day. I am able to meet new people and guide down the raging waters all day. I also get to work with my brother and sister, and they have taught me a lot about being a rafting guide, as they are much more experienced than I am. To this day, I cannot think of a better way to spend a summer break than on a river.

TRUMAN: What do you do if your boat flips over?

MATT: If the raft were to flip over, as guides, we would simply flip the raft back over. Raft guides are trained to make the best of these sticky situations! As a guest on the boat, you would want to make sure you are in river float position, lying on your back with your toes and head out of the water. Either your guide or another guide will get to you almost instantly.

Above: Rafting on the Watauga River. Left: Matt Leonard (far right) with his father, sister and twin brother.

TRUMAN: What do you do? What’s a typical day on the job?

MATT: As a raft guide for High Mountain Expeditions, we follow a strict schedule of fun! We start our mornings by making sure all the rafts are blown up.

After loading the rafts onto the trailer, we count out the paddles to make sure we have one for every guest. After the equipment is ready, we make sure lunch is packed and in the gear truck. The gear truck is driven by my twin brother, Chris. The gear truck leaves before anyone else and gets to the river to make sure everything is prepared for the clients.

When they begin arriving, we make sure everyone receives a PFD, also known as a life jacket, so they can be safe on the river. Next, we load High Mountain’s big red bus and head to Elizabethton, TN, where the fun really begins. On the bus, I try to entertain the guests by making them laugh, telling jokes and sometimes acting silly. I do great impressions of people. I get to make funny faces a lot. It rocks! Before we get into the rafts, we have a picnic lunch, where the excitement of going rafting is really built up! Once lunch is over and paddles are handed out to everyone, I give a very important safety talk. It’s extremely important for me to make sure everyone who will be rafting knows how to be safe on the river and what to do in an emergency. This is one of my most critical duties as a guide and trip leader, other than making sure everyone has a great time, that is! After all that, it is finally time to get into the rafts and start paddling down the river. I make sure all the rafts stay together and are not separated throughout the day. But once on the river, it is my job to make sure we go through all the rapids, have water fights, get wet and most importantly, have a great time!

The Adventures of Spirit the horse

TRUMAN: What’s the wildest river that you have ever been on?

MATT: The wildest river I have ever been on is the Gauley River in West Virginia. It is one of the most popular advanced rivers in the country. The Upper Gauley has class five rapids throughout its 10-mile stretch! The raging white water is quite exciting and challenging. I hope to continue to raft many different rivers to gain more experience so I can become the best raft guide that I can!

TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job?

MATT: The hardest part of my job is to make sure everything throughout the day is run smoothly. If my job is not done correctly, it could result in the entire trip suffering the consequences. It is especially important to work together with my fellow raft guides and help each other when needed.

TRUMAN: What’s the best part of your job?

MATT: The best part of my job is doing what I love. What could be better than spending a summer outside on the river?

TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession?

MATT: If you are interested in being a white-water rafting guide, you simply just need to know how to have fun on the water, and all the safety precautions too!

TRUMAN: Thanks for talking to Kidsville News! My rafting trip down the Watauga was great! You really do have a terrific job.

It is a dark day for my wife and I are 100 years old. My wife’s and my prime days are over. Just before my wife and I died our sons were kidnapped and taken from us by my old friend. They had their first loves. Their first loves were taken by the Calvery so my wife and I along with my herd went looking for them.

We found them, but they were heavily guarded. We had a big fight. We won! My wife, my sons, my herd and I headed home. Here my wife and I are laying on our deathbeds. Bye my old friends, my herd and my enemies.

By Caleb Blaise

AUGUST 2009

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Chapter 4 of 4

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Hunting for Other Earths

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Our solar system has eight planets. However, planets elsewhere are a dime a dozen.

Planets outside our solar system are called “extra-solar planets” or “exoplanets.” And the universe is crawling with them!

Astronomers have detected many exoplanets without actually seeing them. Most of these planets have been huge — as big as Jupiter and bigger. Some orbit so close to their stars they would be way too hot for life.

Of course, huge planets are easier to detect than smaller, Earthsized ones. So there could be millions of smaller planets right here in our own Milky Way Galaxy that we haven’t yet been able to see.

Finding an Earth-like planet that might have life would be very exciting. If a planet is too close to its star, it This is an artist’s idea of how some exoplanets will be too might look. Planets too close to their sun will hot. If it is probably be too hot for life, and planets too far away too far away might be too cold. Astronomers would love to find from its star, some exoplanets with lots of land and water right in it will be too the “Goldilocks Zone.” cold. We are pretty sure it will be have to be rocky, like Earth, rather than a big gas ball, like Jupiter and Saturn. And if it has life, it probably needs a lot of water, like Earth.

Now, thanks to the Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have seen quite a few exoplanets directly. The Spitzer Space Telescope detects an invisible kind of light called infrared light. Compared to stars, planets are very cool and dim. But planets do glow in infrared light.

To see cold exoplanets, Spitzer must be very cold itself. Since it began its mission in 2003, Spitzer has been chilled by a tank of super-cold liquid helium. As expected, the liquid helium has finally run out. The telescope is still mighty cold, though, and more than cold enough to keep studying exoplanets. Maybe it will be able to study planets that could have life!

Unscramble slider puzzles of beautiful images from the Spitzer Space Telescope at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spitzer/ slyder.

This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

AUGUST 2009

KNIGHT AUTOMOTIVE 383 ROUTE 3 • PLATTSBURGH • 563-2000

Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!

River Word Find

Find the words below that relate to rivers.

Can you help Truman find his way to the river bank?

BANKS CURRENT DAM LAKES

Y S A K I D A M O S L L V N J

R R W D J I N K Y A L L B X V

H A A M D U A Q K O B A U I R

LOCKS PORT RAPIDS RESERVOIR

J J P T D V M E C S B F L E Z

Y R B I U C S K X K P R D R N

ANSWER: CEILINGFAN

AUGUST 2009

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Z G L B D B S R D C P E V R R

B Q U X K S I P Q O C T M T I

U S W N I B K R O R T A Q A R

V W B B G A E U T R K W I U T

R E S E R V O I R R T V K G H

RIVER ROCKS TRIBUTARY WATERFALL

G H K R S T N E R R U C N J S

T Q Y I K D Y L K A U L E L B

Q P L V N K J O N X Z H S C H

T T Q E A N G B N J A O H X D

F M B R B P O O G X A N W Y G

ANSWER: THE EYES

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Lindsay Brown • Age 10 4th Grade • Pe ru chool

• Age 5 Rebecca Wells ru Primary Pe • en art erg Kind • 3rd Grade Delilah Moroe arren School W Age 9 • North

Benjamin Thatcher • Age 7 • 2nd Grade • Queensbury Elementary

n Kolby Anderso ade Age 6 • 1st Gr hool Queensbury Sc

Dylan Guay • Age 7 1st Grade • Mo oers Elementary

Tamdin Dorjee 1st Grade • Peru School

AUGUST 2009

ge 7 Valley • A Mathew La • CHES de ra G 2nd

Maddie Markey 3rd Grade mentary Warrensburg Ele

Eric LaDue, Jr. • 5th Grade Cumberlandhead Elementary

Kevin Moore • 6th Grade • CC RS

SEND YOUR EVENTS TO KIDSVILLECALENDAR@DENPUBS.COM

AUGUST 2009

AUGUST SUNDAY FREE FAMILY FUN COOKOUT

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Artifact Inquiry • Time: 11:00am 1-877-ECHOFUN

Saturday, Aug. 15 from noon to 3 p.m.

East MorrisonvilleNational Park,Anthem BullisDay Road, Plattsburgh.

Dr. Seuss' Special

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

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3

Columbus Set Sail on his 1st Voyage In 1492.

First Lincoln Penny Issued In 1909.

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

9

Betty Boop Created in 1930.

Smokey Bear’s Birthday, 1944

Dino Tracks National 1-877-ECHOFUN, Watermelon Day 12:00 pm Everyday

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Herbert Hoover Born in 1874, in West Branch, Iowa.

3PM Brown Art Studio &

4

Birthday of Louis Armstrong, 1900

TIP: Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder.

Always use both straps on your backpack.

11

Play in the Sand Day

S'Mores Day TIP: Before the first day of school know your bus number and times for pick-up and drop-off.

16

National Tell a Joke Day

Benefit for World Roller Awareness Coaster Day Children’s Museum • 3 pm Roller coaster International patented in Concert 1898.

Adirondack Community

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1st Photograph of Earth From the Moon DISCOVERY DAY: Taken by Thomas Chambers Lunar Orbiter Tour/Create Art in 1966.

1-3 p.m.

HerryArt Monster's Louis P. Brown Studio Sesame The HydeBirthday Collection, Character.

Glens Street Falls-NY National Toasted Marshmallow Day

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

FREE:

Hot Dogs, chips, Willy Wonka Junior and water.

March 5th @ 7p,

17th & 31st Schroon Lake Public Wizard

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17 TIP: Practice your new routine (earlier waking and bed times) one week before school starts.

24 31

In 1932, Amelia Earhart flew across the U.S.

National Waffle Day

of Oz StoryTime Premiered with aIn Twist 1939.

1-877-ECHOFUN TIP: Be sure eat Tuesdays alltomonth breakfast you long atto11give a.m.

energy and brain power for the school day

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National Banana Split Day

Big Change Roundup

March 8th @ 2p Museum Children Fun Vermont Aug.2-7 Super World Awareness Children’s 24-28 benefit: @ Charles R. Wood Theater 1-877-ECHOFUN. Children Announcing For Children’s Mon. -Fri. Hospital WACM’s 2009 CULTURE VULTURE camp Glens Falls-NY ring 11:00 am Ente ONE WEEK LEFT!!!

8:4 5 am - 4 pm Call for Tickets WILD & WONDERFUL: World Animals Grades 3-6

5

YOUNG & FUN Lake Placid Center for the Arts Dan Duggan

6

Green Up 10:30 a.m. • FREE

First Woman Swims the English Channel, 1926 Wiggle Your Toes Day

Neil Armstrong Born in Ohio in 1930.

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YOUNG & FUN

LakeARTFUL Placid Center for the Arts AFTERNOONS Pendragon Theatre 1:30PM-4:30PM

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International Left-Hander's Day

Lake Placid Center for the Arts

MCT’s Workshop Chameleon 9:00 a.m.

Snuffleupagus's Birthday Sesame Street Character.

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SALUTE TO ARTS DAY

Lake Placid Center for the Arts

9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. • FREE

National Dog Day

TIP: Find a friend or neighbor that you can walk to school or the bus stop with.

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National Creamsicle Day

Youth Art Month National

Mustard Day

Whimsical First WorldSaturday Story Hour August.

10 am in Meet the Author & Illustrator Respect for Parents' Day Crafts & Book Signing too!

Sport's Day Champlain Valley Transportation World WideMuseum Web Plattsburgh NY Anniversary, 1990 Reg 518-324-6666

8

Dollar Day The US dollar

was created Whimsical World Story Hour 10 am Meet the in 1786.

Author & Illustrator Crafts & Book Signing too!

Thomas Edison received Champlain Valley a patent for theMuseum mimeoTransportation Plattsburgh NY graph machine in 1876.

Reg 518-324-6666

15

International Homeless Animals Day

National Relaxation Day

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National Aviation Day Orville Wright Born in 1871.

Sea Serpent Day

Japan Surrendered in World War II, 1945.

The kids Wizard of Oz 6-12 10:30 a.m.chaperone • FREE with adult Louis P. Brown Art Studio Middle Children's Day The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls-NY

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7

SATURDAY

1

Irish•American Heritage Month

March 6th @ 7p, your coins in for the Pint-Sized Science The cookout will include from several government community agencies.

Birthday:representativesGet March and 7th @ 2p

BACK TO SCHOOL - For those of you that are Art,heading back Reading & to school at the end or August or in September, this FREE calendar includes a few TIPS to get you ready for Film school!!

American Family Day First Sunday in August.

WEDNESDAY

Newspaper in Education Week, March 2-6

National Radio Day Mosquito Day

Vitus Bering discovered Alaska in 1741.

27

Get Excited About School Starting!

It will be great to see all of your friends!

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TIP: Make sure your after-school arrangements are in place. Register for after-school programs.

22

Be An Angel Day GEOLOGY

Little League Baseball World Series Begins

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DREAM DAY Martin Luther King Jr. gave the 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963.

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First female newspaper editor, Ann Franklin’s Birthday, 1762.

First Scout Camp Opened In 1934.

Speedy Gonzales Debuted in 1953.

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At the Movies Bandslam (In Theaters: August 14) Actors Aly Michalka (Phil of the Future) and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) team up with Gaelan Connell (Chocolat), Scott Porter (Speed Racer) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends) in a musicfilled picture about a rock band competition for kids. Up-and-coming songstress Charlotte (Aly Michalka) gets local newcomer Will (Gaelan Connell) to manage her new rock band so she can outshine her ex-boyfriend’s group at the upcoming “Bandslam” competition, where musical acts of assorted musical backgrounds will test their skills. Pure teenybopper bubblegum fun from start to finish, Bandslam is all about kids finding their musical voice before an audience of their peers. Rated PG. 111 mins. (Summit Entertainment) It Might Get Loud (In Theaters: August 14) August is music month at the movies for kids, and although it might take a while to come to a theater near you, It Might Get Loud is the kind of music documentary that parents can enjoy just as much as their children. Davis Guggenheim (the director of An Inconvenient Truth) brings together rock music legends Jimmy Page (guitarist for Led Zepplin), U2’s The Edge, and The White Stripes’ guitarist Jack Black for a behind-the-scenes look at how these great musicians communicate with each other and create the music together. Impromptu jam sessions and walks down memory lane reveal each guitarist’s childlike passion for playing his instrument and their intense inspiration from different musical influences. You’re never too young, or too old, to enjoy watching master guitar players practicing their craft and taking the time to explain their creative process.

Rated PG (for mild thematic elements, brief language and smoking. (Sony Pictures Classics)

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Shorts (In Theaters: August 21) Director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids) returns to making kids’ movies with a sci-fi-fantasy picture set in the suburban community of Black Falls, where the appearance of a Rainbow Rock that falls from the sky empowers locals with supernatural powers. For 11-year-old Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett), school life is “survival of the coolest” until a Rainbow Rock hits him on the head and makes his every wish come true. Of course, there are alien forces at work, so little green aliens are part of the plot. Things get out of control when the head of an evil local corporation called Black Box gets ahold of the rock and asks for things better left alone. Only Toe and his friends can save their community from a danger that isn’t so “alien” after all. Rated PG for mild action and some rude humor. (Warner Brothers Pictures) Movies on DVD The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season Soak up hours of hilarious Simpsons’ episodes like “Treehouse of Horror XI,” “Insane Clown Poppy” and “Homer vs. Dignity” until your sides hurt from laughing in yet another year’s worth of comedy from television’s longest-running animated show. Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Homer, Marge and all of the gang from Springfield are here, along with loads of extras like commentary tracks, deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, StoryBoard comparisons, Easter Eggs and a sketch gallery. Not even Bugs Bunny or the Road Runner have anything on the Simpsons for stirring up laughs that make watching DVDs almost as much fun as eating ice cream.

The Simpsons’ Twelfth Season isn’t really a movie, but there aren’t too many kids’ DVD movies this month. Besides, the Simpsons episodes will last a lot longer than any old movie. Not Rated. (Twentieth Century Fox) 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.

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Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!

Can you help Truman find his way to the river bank?

River Word Find BANKS CURRENT DAM LAKES LOCKS PORT RAPIDS RESERVOIR RIVER ROCKS TRIBUTARY WATERFALL

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Y S A K I D A M O S L L V N J

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H A A M D U A Q K O B A U I R

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F M B R B P O O G X A N W Y G

AUGUST 2009

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Port Henry - 546-3008 • Tri-Lakes - 891-5567 • Malone - 483-9366

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Supported by:

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Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties

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This story page sponsored by:

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Red, White & True Mysteries Actor Known for His Distinctive Voice Overcame Stuttering James was born in 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, to Robert and Ruth Jones. The couple split up before James was born, and James wouldn’t meet his father until he was 25 years old.

When James was five, he went to live with his maternal grandparents on their farm near Dublin, Michigan. The move, though, was so traumatic for James that it caused him to stutter. All through grade school and into high school, James had such a serious stuttering problem that he didn’t talk with anyone outside of his family, and his conversations with them were minimal. At school, he was basically a mute.

His grandparents weren’t able to solve his problem, but one day in high school, a teacher named Donald Crouch helped him overcome his stuttering. Knowing that James had a talent for writing, Mr. Crouch gave an assignment for each student to write a poem. James wrote his poem about the fruit that the government had distributed to local families in an effort to ease the burden caused by a shortage during World War II. He titled his poem, “Ode to Grapefruit.”

Now, we all enjoy a nice piece of grapefruit now and then, but it’s not something that would usually inspire us to write a poem about it. Well, citrus fruit was pretty rare during the wintertime in Michigan during World War II, and, apparently, it was worth writing about.

The teacher pretended that he didn’t think James could have written the poem himself, so he asked him to prove it by reciting it aloud in class — by heart. Normally, James would not have been able to do this because of his stuttering problem, but since he had memorized the words in the poem, he was able to recite the poem in front of the whole class flawlessly.

The class discovered at that point what everyone else knows today — that James has an excellent voice. To paraphrase a slogan from the E.F. Hutton ads: When James speaks, people listen, because his deep bass voice is that distinctive.

James went on to receive his degree from the University of Michigan; then he served in the military and later became an actor.

It was his love of speech that fueled his passion for acting because for eight years he basically could not speak.

James’ first major acting role was that of boxer Jack Johnson in The Great White Hope in 1969, a role which earned James a Tony award. Ironically, James’ father was a boxer before becoming an actor. You probably recognize some of his lines in some of his other work: “NO, I AM YOUR FATHER.” This line was from the 1977 Star Wars movie, in which James provides the voice of Darth Vader. By the way, in case you’ve ever wondered what the name “Darth Vader” means, here’s the answer: In 2005 George Lucas explained that Darth is a contraction of “Dark Lord of the Sith,” while Vader is a variation of the word “father” (the Dutch word for father is vader). So Darth Vader translates into Dark Father.

And on TV, you’ve probably heard this line at least a hundred times …

“THIS…IS CNN.” As a result of these three words, James has become known as the voice of CNN. He was also in Dr. Strangelove, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October and The Lion King, among many other movies. He was also the first celebrity to appear on Sesame Street, in 1969.

James Jones uses his middle name, just like his father, Robert Earl Jones. And like his father, James’ middle name is Earl.

As in James Earl Jones. 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.

Jokes..

What has 18 legs and catches flies?

A baseball team!

What did the stamp say to the envelope?

Stick with me & we’ll go places!

Meet Truman’s Friend

Roo the Reader She likes to talk to K-1 kids about reading!

Roo gives away free books!

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties

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ited Affi red li a te

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin works with people who want to learn to read. Our primary mission is to help adults who need to upgrade literacy skills, learn English as a Second Language, or work on their GEDs. Literacy Volunteers provides free instruction by trained volunteers to these adults to help them acquire self-esteem and achieve aims in the areas of education, family, employment, and the community.

During summer, read a book in your favorite nature spot. Crack open a field guide! Learn about nature and the environment by reading! Raise your GREEN IQ!

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AUGUST 2009

COME OUT AND PLAY!

White-water Rafting: Not Just Another Float Down the River The characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn from Mark Twain’s classic stories spent many hours lazily floating down the Mighty Mississippi on their homemade log raft. Today’s exciting and challenging sport of white-water rafting offers another way to “run the river” while going faster and getting wet — on purpose!

White-water rafting has become very popular since the 1970s, but instead of a log raft like Tom and Huck’s, rafters use a very strong and durable inflatable boat of rubberized or vinyl material to travel down a river. These boats range in size from 11 to 20 feet long and six to eight feet wide and usually hold between four and 12 people. Each person on a raft has a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) or life jacket, a helmet and an oar to help steer.

Most rafters wear shoes and clothes that they don’t mind getting wet and that dry quickly, and any equipment like watches, phones or cameras should be waterproof or carried in a waterproof container or bag. Knowing how to swim is always a good idea when playing near — or on — the water!

Rivers are classified according to how much rapids or “white

water” they have, from Class 1, which is a river with very small areas of rough water requiring little steering and skill level, to Class 6 rapids full of waves, rocks and waterfalls. Class 6 rapids are very dangerous, even for the experts.

Unless you are an experienced whitewater rafter, you will want to raft with white-water outfitters and raft guides, professionals who take groups of rafters on guided trips down the river.

These outfitters and guides know how to “read” the river and how to move the raft through rapids safely. They will provide you with everything you need, including equipment, meals, interesting information about the area and most importantly, safety presentations and skills. While white-water rafting has certain risks, including rapids, rocks, fallen trees and strong currents, by following essential safety precautions, you and these rafting experts can help ensure a safe, exciting natural water ride better than anything you’ll find in an amusement park!

Gee Thanks!

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.

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties

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

Smith House Health Care Center 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.

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PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART How Much Does That Puppy Really Cost?

As parents, we’ve all heard the age-old question our kids yell out at some point: “Mom, Dad, can we have a puppy, PLEASE?” Then comes, “I’ll take care of it, I’ll walk it, and I’ll even bathe it.” In their minds, the puppy will bring joy and endless play, and while this is true, there are additional responsibilities we can teach that come along with having a puppy.

Tip: Involve your child in the everyday care of the puppy, the good (joyful play time), the bad (chewing on Mom’s favorite shoe) and the ugly (cleaning up the “oops poop” in the house). This involvement gives them a well-rounded understanding that having a puppy requires time, patience, responsibility and money.

Activities: Be sure to involve your child in everyday care of the puppy.

Daily walks with the new puppy are required.

Be sure to set a time that your little one walks the dog, whether it’s right after school or right after dinner.

Train the puppy not to “go” in the house, jump on the couch or chew up shoes in the house.

Let’s not forget “Fido” needs to be fed! Be sure to set a feeding schedule and stick to it.

Take the puppy to the veterinarian for shots to prevent disease.

Explain what that means to your child so he will have a greater appreciation for “Fido” and his health and well-being.

Benefit/Key Takeaway: Sometimes the things we buy come with additional responsibility and costs.

Next Month: “The 4 Money Buckets” Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money in households across America between parents and their kids. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids. To register your child to win a share of stock in our monthly stock giveaway, please visit our Web site at www.BornToSave.org.

August is Children’s Vision and Learning Month. Vision problems can interfere with reading and learning.

The first U.S. census was on August 1, 1790, showing 3,939,326 citizens in 16 states and the Ohio Territory. The census is taken every 10 years and the next one

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takes place in 2010.

National Inventors’ Month is in August. Do you have a favorite invention or inventor?

Learn more about it during August. Or spend some time exploring the creative depths of your mind and come up with your own invention!

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AUGUST 2009

PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PEOPLE

This page is brought to you by

307 West Bay Plaza, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 • Tel: 518.566.6061 • www.westaff.com

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A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

BOOKSHELF Wild River

Marley Goes to School

Author/Illustrator: P.J. Petersen Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Age Range: 9 to 12 From the Publisher: It’s Ryan versus the river in a race against time to save his brother’s life.

When 12-year-old Ryan reluctantly agrees to join his experienced older brother Tanner on a camping trip, he could never have dreamed this would turn into the most frightening day of his life. Ryan’s no good at sports or outdoor stuff. He’d rather be home playing video games. But Tanner says it’s an easy trip. They’ll kayak down the Boulder River, catch fish and roast marshmallows. But the river is higher than usual, and the kayaking is scary. Tanner isn’t worried. But soon after, he’s badly hurt in a kayaking accident, leaving Ryan alone and afraid he can’t save his brother’s life. He’s only faced danger in video games. What good are games now when Ryan faces a real-life battle?

The Bugville Critters Compete in the Big Spelling Bee

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Age Range: 4 to 8 From the Publisher: It’s the first day of school, and Cassie is all set to go. So is her dog, Marley!

Although he’s told to stay, Marley digs a tunnel out of the backyard and sniffs his way to school. As he roams the halls looking for Cassie, he finds trouble instead. From wolfing down hot dogs in the cafeteria to setting free a bunch of mice in science class, Marley won’t stop until he locates his best friend.

This loveable and rowdy dog may not be much of an academic, but he’s full of school spirit! Packed with action and hilarious Marley bad-boy antics, this follow-up to the bestselling Bad Dog, Marley! and A Very Marley Christmas will leave readers howling for more. Awooo!

Just Grace Goes Green

Author: Robert Stanek Publisher: Reagent Press Books for Young Readers Publication Date: August 2009 Age Range: 4 to 8 From the Publisher: Robert Stanek, the highly acclaimed author of more than 75 books for young people and adults, including Journey Beyond the Beyond and The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches, has selected an irresistible combination for this age group — loveable critters and exciting reading adventures. In this story, Lass and her friends Sarah, Buster and Barry compete in the B. Havior School Annual Spelling Bee. When Lass gets a big case of stage fright, her family and friends work together to help her through it. The wonderfully crafted story is paired with energetic illustrations and playful examples that help children discover the world around them and the joy of reading.

AUGUST 2009

Author/Illustrator: John Grogan, Richard Cowdrey (Illustrator)

Author/Illustrator: Charise Mericle Harper Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Age Range: 6 to 9 From the Publisher: Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet? Or at the very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed animal back?

Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi’s older cousin Gwen is coming to stay with Mimi, and Miss Lois’s class is GOING GREEN! For their “green” project, Grace and Mimi aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles. But a far more important issue is that Gwen has taken a strong liking to Mimi’s favorite stuffed toy, Willoughby. Just Grace uses her empathy superpower to figure out ways to make her best friend feel better, and she makes a difference for the environment, too.

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...

ECUADOR?

It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located.

Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Get out your globe, and find longitude 77º W and latitude 2º S to locate Ecuador, a country that celebrates its independence day in August. Ecuador is located in western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator and between Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. The country also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

They are located about 600 miles from the mainland.

Ecuador is located on the equator, from which it takes it name. The equator is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface equal distance from the North Pole and South Pole. It divides the Earth into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.

Equador has three main geographic regions. The coastal region, la costa, is low-lying land along the Pacific coastline. The mountainous highlands area, la sierra, is in the center of the country, running north to south. This area includes the Andes mountain range and Mount Chimborazo, the highest point on Earth. The Amazon rainforest region is known as la amazonia or el oriente (the east). It makes up half of the country's area, but is very sparsely populated. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago (chain) of volcanic islands.

Equador is one of 18 "megadiverse" countries. This means that it has the majority of the Earth's species located there. Over 1,600 bird species and 25,000 species of plants live in Ecuador. There are many species that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which means they The Galapagos Islands are found nowhere else in the world. These species were studied by Charles Darwin and contributed to his theory of evolution.

Sources: “Ecuador,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency; Wikipedia.

NEVER ALLOW SWIMMING IN RAINY WEATHER OR IN THUNDERSTORMS. The National Lightning Safety Institute recommends the following swimming pool safety procedures: • Designate a responsible person as the weather safety lookout. That person should keep an eye on the weather. Use a “weather radio” or the Weather Channel or other TV program to obtain good localized advanced weather information.

TEACH THIS SAFETY SLOGAN: • When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine its’ rough distance and speed. This technique “If you can see it, flee it; measures the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = if you can hear it, clear it.”

2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. People should be directed to safe shelter nearby.

The distance from Strike A to Strike B to Strike C can be some 5-8 miles away. And it can • Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard. strike much farther away. Why take a chance with lightning?

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AUGUST 2009

Smith House Health Care Center

39 Farrell Road Willsboro, NY 12996 • (518) 963-4275

Healthy Healthy L P O OT Y S A F EF O R T I P SE N T S PAR

Hearts Hearts & Bodies Bodies

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT POOL SIDE SAFETY RULES • Always, always, always supervise your child. Never leave an infant, toddler or preschooler alone while in or near a pool. Some parents who know this rule forget it when the doorbell or telephone rings- this is precisely the moment that many child drownings occur. Remember that it takes less than 30 seconds for a child to drown.

• When your pool is not in use, put toys and flotation devices away, because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water. Keep the pool grounds free of toys, tricycles, wagons and debris when not being used they can also entice young children into the area.

• Keep the pool grounds well lighted at night.

• Always close and latch the gate when coming and going onto the pool grounds. Never, never, never prop the gate open!

• Keep the essential rescue items near the pool at all times (i.e. life preserver, buoy and shepherd’s hook).

• Take a CPR course and stay up-to-date on rescue techniques so you will always be prepared to save a young life.

• Never let your child swim alone, even when they are older.

• Restrict diving to the diving board and only into the deep end of the pool. At least eight feet of water is necessary for safe diving.

• Don’t allow running on the pool grounds.

• Don’t allow roughhousing (i.e. dunking, pushing or wrestling) on the pool grounds.

• Instruct baby-sitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.

• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.

• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

• Do not consider young children “drown proof” because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.

• Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.

• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.

• Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.

• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.

Only you can prevent a drowning. Watch your child closely at all times!

Make sure doors leading to the pool area are closed and locked. Young children can slip away and into the pool in less than one minute.

Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.

SEE SAFETY TIPS FOR RAINY WEATHER SWIMMING ON PAGE 18

Ask about our sliding fee program for the uninsured.

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KIDSVILLE KITCHEN Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

A New Twist on Meat Loaf Jennifer Bushman, author of “The Kitchen Coach” cookbook series, recommends making weeknight cooking a pleasure rather than a chore. A few of her ideas for dinner-tainment include: • Spread a blanket in the living room and treat the family to an at-home dinner picnic. Prepare simple sandwiches or wraps. Or, when parents and kids are on-the-run between soccer practice and music lessons, spread out the sandwich fixin’s so the family can make their own grab ’n’ go dinner.

• Celebrate a night-in with the family with a new twist on a comfort food favorite. Prepare a perfectly-seasoned Pizza Meat Loaf in no time. Set up the couch and chairs in your family living room to create a “home theatre” and enjoy pizza meat loaf, while watching your favorite family flicks.

PIZZA MEAT LOAF WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix* • 2 pounds ground beef • 1-1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs or 3/4 cup • plain dry bread crumbs • 2 eggs • 1 small green bell pepper, chopped (optional) • 1/4 cup water • 1 cup Ragú Old World Style Pasta Sauce or other brand • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces) HOW TO MAKE IT (makes 8 servings): • Preheat oven to 350°F.

• Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup pasta sauce and 1/2 cup cheese in large bowl.

• Shape into loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan.

• Top with remaining sauce. Bake 50 minutes.

• Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. *Also terrific with Lipton Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion or Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix. .

For delicious recipes, affordable meal ideas and a family fun booklet, go to www.MakingLifeBetter.com. All materials courtesy of Unilever Brands.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The Commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.

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 AUGUST 2009

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