Roanoke Valley Family October 2019

October 2019 • Volume 8 • Issue 2

Habitat for Humanity Kroger partners with Habitat for Humanity to help local families!

! t a e r T r o k Tric e discover th

ur local tions in o ra b le e c rhood

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hbo best neig

Teen Vaping What you need to know Family/October 2019

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Building Communities... Together.

Now Open in Cave Spring 3232 Electric Road, Roanoke

leading off: publisher’s note October is one of our family’s favorite months. The beginning of the fall season brings cooler temperatures, playoff baseball (GO YANKEES!) and one of our favorite holidays - Halloween!

Halloween gives you and your kids the opportunity to play dress-up and become something creepy, spooky, clever or creative. Of course, it also means your kids will come home with a ton of candy. Even after they pay the parent tax (we take Reese’s), your kids are sure to be left with the motherlode of chocolate, gummies and other sugary sweets. Check out our article this month on page 54 about covers how you can limit your exposure to the sugars in candy that damage teeth.

We also have our first article in Spanish, El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Learn all about this holiday and what it means in the Latin culture.

Lastly, check out our list of all local Halloween happenings, like Trunk-or-Treats and haunted houses. We also have some info on the awesome and spooktakular Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion. Read all about what’s new in year nineteen of their event.

Most importantly, whatever you do this Halloween, have fun and be safe - and save us a Reese’s!

Anika, Andrea, Evelyn and Josh at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Proud Members of the Parenting Media Association since 2013! Learn more at www.parentmedia.org.

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C o n t a c t Us: P.O. Box 4484, Roanoke, VA 24015 540-251-1660 www.roanoke.family

Publishers

Josh & Andrea Eagan

josh@virginiafamily.com • Anika and Evelyn’s Parents

Creative Director Tracy Fisher

Read Our Other Publications

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Contributors

Kimberly Emory Susan Baldani • Georgianne Vecellio Rachel Levine • Jacqueline Moon • Grace Partin

Connect With Us /growingupinthevalley

tracy@virginiafamily.com • Charlotte and Evelyn’s Mom

Community Relations Director

We welcome reader comments, submissions, and the support of advertisers.

jeanne@virginiafamily.com • Parker and Connor’s Mom

We reserve the right to refuse or edit any materials submitted to us as we deem inappropriate for our audience. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with any submission to be returned. We do not accept responsibility for unsolicited materials.

Jeanne Lawrence

Editor

Jacqueline Moon

jackie@virginiafamily.com • Elijah’s Mom, and Luke and Blair’s Stepmom

Sales Assistants Ani & Evie Eagan sales@virginiafamily.com • Bauer and Chloe’s Owners

Webmaster

John Morris • COV Designs john@covdesigns.com

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Family/October 2019

Growing Up In the Valley and Growingupinthevalley.com are published by MoFat Publishing. Growing Up In the Valley is published monthly. The views and the opinions expressed by the writers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Growing Up In the Valley, its staff, or its contributors. While multiple businesses, schools, and organizations are represented in our pages, and magazines are often distributed to students according to the policies and procedures of each school district, this is not a publication coordinated or endorsed by any public or private school district, nor is it a publication with any religious or political objectives. As a mass media outlet, it is our oath and responsibility to communicate with due diligence, through our content, the plurality of views and opinions reflected in our audience of Central and Southwest Virginia. Readers are strongly encouraged to verify information with programs and businesses directly. Parents are urged to thoroughly research any decisions involving their children. Copyright 2019 by MoFat Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. All material, including artwork, advertisements, and editorials, may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

@roanokefamily

@rvfamilymag

/roanokevalleyfamily

Submit Your Ideas Share your story ideas with us by emailing jackie@virginiafamily.com

© Copyright 2019 Mofat Publishing

On the Cover Lulu Davis

Interactive Open House Preschool Middle School

Dominic Dyer

NOVEMBER 7 10 A.M.

CommunitySchool.net

Nhideira Jones

Lulu Davis is a 17-month-old half-Thai-American from Rocky Mount, VA. Lulu is an animal lover— especially when it comes to dogs! She’s also Miss Franklin County Agricultural Fair 2019.

Dominic Dyer is 20 months old, and he loves hats.

He can turn anything into a “hat.” He has a collection ranging from a cowboy hat to a toy shopping basket. His favorite hat is a Ziploc container!

Nhideira Jones is 19 months old. She has the gift of gab, and she likes to climb and explore. She also loves to put on her boogie shoes and dance! She is such a little firecracker!

Family/October 2019

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OCTOBER VIRGINIAFAMILY.COM

inside

29 | Super (Hero) Team

Our very own Eagans release their first book!

54 | Trick-or-Treat Teeth Local dentist gives advice on protecting your chompers during Halloween!

58 Get Their Hands Dirty

Discover the benefits of allowing your child to learn and play without electronics.

27 | Making a Splash at Mill Mountain Theatre A real parent’s review of Mill Mountain Theatre’s production of The Little Mermaid Jr.

38 | Lost at Snowshoe

Our teen writer recalls the time she was lost at Snowshoe mountain.

31 | Meet Your Neighbors

Learn more about the family behind the local coffee shop, Little Green Hive.

40 | Tiny People, Big Perception

How to help your toddler develop their emotional skills.

64 | Dancing Drawings Create a magical fun, science experiment

32 Habitat for Humanity

42 What You Need to Know About Vaping

Kroger partners with our local chapter to help families.

It’s the fastest growing drug habit among teens in our area.

20 Spooky Celebrations Find the local trunk-or-treats, haunted houses, and free holiday movies.

the

valley. around town / things to do / kids eat free

Family/October 2019

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the valley: around town

‘Noke in the News Sheriff’s Office Offers Child Safety Seat Installations The Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office is hosting free monthly child safety seat installations on the third Thursday of each month, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at two Roanoke County Fire & Rescue stations: October 17 – Station 7 (5342 Indian Grave Road) November 21 – Station 1 (150 Hershberger Road) December 19 – Station 7 (5342 Indian Grave Road) For more information and dates, view the schedule at roanokecountyva.gov/sheriff, contact the Sheriff’s Office at (540) 283-3107, or email Deputy Beheler at CBeheler@ roanokecountyva.gov. Advance registration is not required.

Roanoke City searches for a Police Chief In January, the current Roanoke City police chief will retire, and the City will be using the services of a search firm to locate a new chief. The city manager, Bob Cowell, will be making a survey available so anyone can highlight the characteristics and experiences he or she believes are most important for a police chief to have — and also welcomes calls (540-853-2333) or emails (bob.cowell@roanokeva. gov) with residents’ thoughts and preferences. Once an

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Family/October 2019

ample and diverse pool of candidates has been selected, Mr. Cowell will begin the interview process, using two interview panels to assist him in this effort. When he has arrived at who he believes to be the best candidate for the job, Mr. Cowell will host an open house to introduce the candidate to the community and give people the opportunity to meet and interact with the candidate.

VMGO by Valley Metro Real-time transit information at your fingertips is here! On September 23, Valley Metro rolled out Phase I of the new Real-time Transit Passenger Information service, VMGO, which provides real-time departure times for Smart Way, Smart Way Express, and Star Line Trolley via smartphone or computer, or by calling a dedicated landline number.

Phase II, targeted for summer 2021, will provide transit information for all Valley Metro services. You can download the VMGO app at the Google Play store (Android) or App Store (iOS). Digital LED displays with transit bus stop information will be installed at higher volume bus stops. Visit valleymetro. com or vmgoapp.com, or call 540982-2222, for more details.

The Roanoke Valley Violence Prevention Council’s “A Walk in Their Shoes” is an opportunity for you to help raise domestic violence awareness in our area. event on October 11 at noon at Holton Plaza (106 Franklin Road SE). The event will feature a domestic violence survivor and an honor and remembrance ceremony by the Salvation Army’s Turning Point. Names will be read of women, men, and children of the Roanoke Valley who lost their lives as

a result of senseless violence. After a moment of silence, everyone is invited to walk through downtown Roanoke as a symbol of our commitment to not be a silent witness to the violence happening in our community and to the people we love. The event will also include a resource fair for participants to learn about the services available in our community.

FREE to attend. Open to the public.

Wear purple!

Go Outside Today October is the month for the Anthem Go Outside Festival! From October 18-20, celebrate and learn more about outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and competitive races — with outfitter gear demos that let you try your hand at new physical pursuits like kayaking, biking, or rock climbing. There will be awesome live music performances and more than 15 local food trucks serving up tasty fare,which you can pair with craft beverages available on draft from Virginia breweries and cideries. By combining the things outdoor enthusiasts love at a beautiful outdoor setting, GO Fest is a celebration of everything outdoors. This isn’t your ordinary, sit-in-your seat kind of event — you’re encouraged to get involved!

Walk around, touch gear, try stuff out, and above all, have fun. GO Fest is held at Rivers Edge South Sports Complex.

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One in seven children won’t be ready to start kindergarten.*

Don’t let your child be the one.

For more information, contact: Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke sbgr@uwrv.org | (540) 283-2778 smartbeginningsroanoke.org

®

*The Annie E. Casey Foundation: KIDS COUNT Data Center.

(2010). PALS-K Scores.

the valley: Educator Educator of the Month

Mathis Seal

RVF: You’re a pretty young guy. Do you think your age helps you relate more to the students?

MS: It certainly doesn’t

Mathis Seal, algebra and geometry teacher at Madison Middle School in Roanoke, is the Grand Home Furnishings teacher of the month for Roanoke Valley Family Magazine!

We sat down to talk to him — check it out!

hurt. Relatability can be a huge factor in having the students engage with me and in turn, the curriculum. I feel myself having to work harder each year to keep up with what’s interesting to the kids as our age gap increases. That said, some of the best relationship builders in our building are our veteran teachers. I learn something new about the 11- to 14-year-old brain every year. Most students just want to know their teachers actually care about them. A teacher doesn’t have to be young to take a real, rooted interest in the lives of his or her students, and that’s nowhere better exemplified than at James Madison Middle School.

Roanoke Valley Family: Mr. Seal, your

RVF: Middle school has a reputation for

students and their parents rave about your teaching style. How long have you been in the classroom, and what made you decide to go into teaching?

Mr. Seal: I have been in the classroom

being a brutal few years, but you seem to enjoy teaching this age group. What is it that drew you to teach middle schoolers?

MS: I actually had a tough time deciding

for five years and have spent all of them at James Madison Middle School. I actually went to college to study actuarial science rather than teaching. In the summer of 2012, I was working in a cubicle as an intern for a large insurance company in Richmond and had a moment of clarity.

While setting and adjusting insurance premiums might have been a more lucrative career path, I didn’t find joy in my work. I come from a family of educators including past teachers, principals, and school board members, and they’ve always been some of the happiest people I’ve known. I changed my career path that summer and haven’t looked back.

between middle school and high school when I was first starting my teaching career.

I find that middle school students are much more open to suggestion and are more easily influenced by their teachers than their high school counterparts; however, I enjoy teaching the more challenging high school math curriculum as opposed to the middle school curriculum. I’m currently living the best of both worlds by teaching algebra 1 and geometry to seventh- and eighth-grade students. Teaching any level comes with its fair share of challenges, and I happen to enjoy meeting and overcoming the challenges associated with teaching middle school students.

RVF: What do you want your students to be able to do when they leave your classroom?

MS: My goal is that every student leaves

my class as a better thinker and problem solver than they once were. While I hope to inspire at least some students to follow a career in mathematics, I understand that many of my students’ passions will not involve algebra or geometry. For that reason, I try to cater my teaching style towards helping students become better thinkers rather than memorizers. I do my best to help them help themselves and become more self-sufficient learners. “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” - Plutarch

RVF: You have kids, right? Can you tell us a little about your family?

MS: My wife, Marina, and I have two

kids at home, Sophia and Luka. Marina is in her first year as an administrator at Monterey Elementary after teaching math for nine years. Sophia is in her second year of preschool and is starting to bring back homework. I already have a new appreciation for the homework process from the parent perspective. Luka is 5 months old and growing like a weed. He loves eating and sleeps through the night like a champion. We are extremely thankful for that latter fact.

RVF: What’s one thing your students would be surprised to know about you?

MS: The only “C” I ever received growing

up was in algebra 1, which is ironically now my premier subject as a teacher.

At the time, the subject bored me, and I never thought I would end up teaching it. Later that year, I got it together and scored perfectly on the SOL test. When I am teaching, I often think back on the trials and triumphs of that year in my childhood.

I want to be sure that I’m not stifling any of my own students’ abilities, so I try to make my lessons as engaging as possible to avoid repeating history.

is proud to sponsor the

TEACHER MONTH of the

The winning teacher receives a $100 gift card from Grand Home Furnishings!

www.grandhomefurnishings.com Valley View | Tanglewood | Christiansburg | Lynchburg Family/October 2019

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the Valley: things to do

OCTOBER

Fall into Autumn!

Check out our list of local trick-or-treat celebrations on page 20

The weather is finally turning crisp, the leaves are changing colors and the birds are flying south for the season. Fall is finally hitting the Roanoke area! We’ve curated the best

Barktoberfest

Oct 12 | Vinton War Memorial projectsupportcharity.org

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Family/October 2019

Family Talk Series

Oct 22| Grandin CoLab Roanoke.Family

local fall festivals, pumpkin patches, apple orchards and local holiday events just for you and your family.

Run for Donuts 5K Nov 2 | Salem svhservices.org

See our full list on page 14

Dr Pepper Day

Oct 24 | Downtown Roanoke downtownroanoke.org

Blue Ridge Folklife Festival

Oct 26 | Ferrum College blueridgeinstitute.org

10/1 - 10/6 The Glass Menagerie Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke Said to be one of the greatest plays in the 20th Century. This riveting drama is set in 1937s St. Louis and follows the fragile Wingfield family: Tom, an aspiring poet, his painfully shy sister Laura, and their mother Amanda, a faded southern belle. Dreams and reality collide in this play of exquisite beauty. millmountain.org

03 Thursday Home School Skate 10AM - 1PM | Firehouse Skate-n-Play Join the fun for home school skate days. This event is open to the public and will feature Christian music. firehousesk8.com

10/3 - 10/5 Salem Museum’s 21st Annual Ghost Walk 6PM - 8PM | East Hill Cementery, Salem Salem’s East Hill Cemetery comes alive after dark just once a year for the Salem Museum’s Ghost Walk! The living are invited to tour the historic graveyard and meet notable characters from Salem’s past. These walking tours through the cemetery are family-friendly, fun and informative, and not scary.

04 Friday Glen Cove Elementary Fall Festival 5:30 PM | Glen Cove Elementary

Petting zoo, photo booth, cotton candy, train ride, inflatables, silent auction and more!

Roanoke Go Outside Festival

Hollins Fall Festival 5:30PM-7:30PM | Hollins Library Join us for some food, games, fun and more for the whole family.

Rain or shine event.

Shuttle service will be available from Burlington Elementary School. yourlibrary.us

10/4 - 10/5 Homestead Creamery Farm Market Days 1PM-4PM | Homestead Creamery Farm Market, Wirtz Homestead Creamery and their farm market partners will be setting up market booths in front of the Farm Market to give customers a chance to connect with the farmers that stock our shelves and sample the products they sell.

10/4 - 10/6 The Velveteen Rabbit 10/4 - 7PM | 10/5 - 3PM 10/5 - 3PM | Roanoke Children’s Theatre The most modest toy in the nursery, The Velveteen Rabbit, longs to become “real.” Moving between the worlds of imagination and reality, this musical is sprinkled with songs and a beautiful storyline guaranteed to make our audiences laugh and cry.

The Go Outside Festival is an annual event to encourage healthy, active outside recreation. By combining the things outdoor enthusiasts love camping, music, gear, races, and demos- GO Fest is a celebration of everything outdoors. Watch pro BMX stunt shows, learn to fly fish, demo a mountain bike, test your balance on a slackline, try out some climbing shoes, learn some wilderness first aid, crawl into your tent, enjoy a craft beer or two, listen to killer music, then wake up the next morning and try something new. Ride a big wheel, learn how to fix your outdoor gear, enter the Wild Gear Chase, watch the lumberjack show, watch the ultimate air dogs, build a custom headlamp, chill out in an ENO hammock, play around of disc golf, enjoy a beer or two while listen to music, crawl into your tent, then wake up the next morning and try something new.

October 12-18| River’s Edge South | Free Admission for more information visit: roanokegofest.com

roanokechildrenstheatre.org

05 Saturday Hokie Bugfest 10AM-5PM | Squires Student Center at VT & Downtown Blacksburg An annual family-friendly festival dedicated to bugs, science, and why those things are important. hokiebugfest.org

Vinton Oktoberfest & Fall Festival 2019 10AM-4PM | Downtown Vinton Traditional German-style food, German music and of course, German-style beer alongside dozens of amazing vendors and exhibitors, games and more with the Vinton Fall Festival!

Meet Roanoke Valley Family Magazine at these events!

Family/October 2019

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the Valley: things to do chuckecheese.com

Fall Festivals Jeter Farm Fall Family Festival & Country Store Saturdays 9AM - 6PM Sunday Noon - 6PM Sinkland Pumpkin Festival Fridays 4PM-8PM Saturdays 10AM-5PM Sunday Noon-5PM Layman Family Farms Fall Festival Saturdays 10AM-7PM Sundays 11AM-7PM Hollins Library Fall Festival Oct 4, 5:30PM-7:30PM Glen Cove Elementary Fall Festival October 4, 5:30 PM Vinton Oktoberfest & Fall Festival 2019 Oct 5,10AM-4PM Salem YMCA Fall Festival Oct 15, 6PM - 8PM

Melrose Fall Festival 11AM-2PM | Melrose Branch Library in Roanoke For a day of live music, food, free pumpkins, books, food, kids activities and more! roanokeva.gov/libraries

10/5 - 10/9 Fall Book Sale South County Library It’s that time again! Help support the library and shop our huge semi-annual book sale! Book sale is during the normal operating hours of the library. Browse thousands of books, dvds, audiobooks, children’s books, and more!

06 Sunday Sensory Sensitive Sundays 9AM-11AM | Chuck E Cheese’s in Roanoke For children with autism and other special needs there will be reduced lighting and noise, food and games and trained staff on hand.

10/11 - 10/13 Craftsmen’s Fall Classic Art & Craft Festival Berglund Center, Roanoke Hundreds of artists and craftsmen gather together! Enjoy aisles FULL of handcrafted treasures including pottery, jewelry, fine art, home decor, clothing, furniture, glasswork, specialty food and so much more. Your admission is FREE with a food donation to Feeding America Southwest Virginia!

A shopping experience like no other - don’t miss it!

12 Saturday Barktoberfest 11AM-4PM | Vinton War Memorial Guests will enjoy outdoor vendors, music, food trucks, dog/owner costume contests, demonstrations, speakers, and numerous chances to adopt your next best friend.Come and bring your family and your pets for a fun filled event! projectsupportcharity.org

Salem Half Marathon 7:30AM-12:00PM | Main Street, Salem The run will start and finish on Main Street with all your friends and family cheering you on as you come down the home stretch. With the help of Blue Ridge Racing, this is the only Half Marathon & 8K put on in Salem. salemhalfmarathon.com Roanoke Heart Walk 9AM-Noon | River’s Edge Park South Features a 1 and 4 mile course, live music, wellness expo and kid’s activities. It’s a fun way to invest in your health and that of future generations, while honoring those who have been impacted by heart disease, stroke and congenital heart defects. roanokeheartwalk.org 2019 Radford Highlanders Festival 9 AM - 4 PM | Radford University The Radford Highlanders Festival returns to the

Sinatra and Friends October 18 • 7:30 PM Salem Civic Center

Mozart & Strauss Celebration November 16 • 7:30 PM November 17 • 3:00 PM Shaftman Performance Hall

tickets and information at rso.com

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Family/October 2019

Radford University campus and brings together Scottish Highland Games, Celtic music, massed pipe and drum band performance, Scottish clan march, sheepherding demonstrations, craft and food vendors and family friendly entertainment for festival lovers of all ages.

Enjoy an open-air extravaganza featuring artists, vendors, craftspeople and community organizations. Start holiday shopping early or treat yourself to something special from one of the many vendors with a diverse and interesting set of clothing, accessories, jewelry and crafts. There is no place more beautiful than Southwest Virginia in autumn and the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a beautiful back-drop for the fall festival.

540-831-6255 Sensory Friendly Screening: The Addams Family Halloween 10 AM | Paragon Theaters, Blacksburg Lights are up, sound is down and you are totally free to move around. Get ready to

snap your fingers! The first family of Halloween, the Addams Family, is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, the Addams Family redefines what it means to be a good neighbor. Paragon Theaters offers sensory friendly screenings every month.

540-750-4588

13 Sunday Brian Horne Memorial Skate 6PM - 8PM | Firehouse Skate-n-Play Owner and founder Brian Horne went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 1st, 2019. Please join all as they All Skate Forward in memory of Brian to keep his skating dream alive.

Firehousesk8.com

15 Tuesday Movies and Popcorn 6:00 PM | Hollins Library Join Hollins Library each month for a fun movie and

Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross November 12 • 7:30 PM

popcorn! Call the library at 540-561-8024 or visit our website for movie details. yourlibrary.us

demos all in a beautiful outdoor setting – GO Fest is a celebration of everything outdoors. roanokegofest.com

Fall Festival 6PM - 8PM | Salem Family YMCA

19 Saturday

Bring the family out for an evening of fun! Your family will enjoy crafts, games, a petting zoo, an outdoor movie, a glow-in-the-dark pumpkin patch, face painting, a hayride and much more!

10/18 10/20 Go Outside Festival River’s Edge Sports South Complex, Roanoke Outdoor activities abound at the GO Outside Festival.

Three days packed wtih nearly 125 outdoor activities and events! By combining the things outdoor enthusiasts love - camping, music, gear, races, and

Fall Vendor & Craft Fair 8AM - 2PM | Northside High School Come get some early shopping done and support the Northside choir!

There will be food trucks present!

Breakfast with the Animals 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Mill Mountain Zoo Join Mill Mountain Zoo for a light breakfast buffet and meet one of the zoo’s education outreach animals.

Followed by a special chat with zookeepers as you get amazed with more fun and educational facts about our animal residents. An intimate experience to

Date Night Ideas

Jefferson Center

Cirque du Soleil - Axel November 14-17 Berglund Center

Family/October 2019

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the Valley: things to do learn more about various animals’ diets, behavior and personalities.

Plus, there will be a child-focused activity.

Guests will Eat with the Endangered. Cost $11-$18 mmzoo.org

S D I K B U L C SEVEN TICKETS BOJANGLES KIDS MEALS* KIDS CLUB BAG

$35

ORDER ONLINE OR BY PHONE

WWW.RAILYARDDAWGS.COM

540-266-7343 16

Family/October 2019

Kids-Made Market 10 AM - 1 PM | 3716 Colonial Ave. Roanoke A farmer’s market run by local kids. Selling their own creations such as art, food, jewelry, gardening, music, sewing, toys, knitting, flowers, or any creative creation.

All ages welcome! More info email: mwyoung76@ gmail.com March of Dimes March for Babies 9AM-12:00PM | Salem Civic Center Walk A 3.2 mile walk to help raise money to expand programs and educate medical professionals to make sure that mamas and babies get the best possible care. There will be food and music as well as prizes following the walk for all Champion fundraisers. Join or create a team today!

Southview Preschool Fall Festival 9AM-2PM | Southview United Methodist Church, Roanoke You won’t want to miss this 5th Annual Festival.

There will be children’s games, local crafts and vendors, food, door prizes and a HUGE silent auction!

Goodnight Moon, the Magical Musical 11AM-7:30PM | Hollins University Based on the children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown, Hollins class of 1932. The tradition returns to Hollins so every generation can enjoy the delight of Goodnight Moon on stage!

22 Tuesday

Family Talk Series - Help Save The Next Girl 6PM-7:30PM | Grandin CoLab Come and listen to Gil Harrington discuss their family’s redemptive journey from tragedy to wholeness, learn more about the work that HSTNG does to respond to, and to prevent predatory violence, and learn safety tips to share with your children - elementary to college age - to stay safe. Door prizes, snacks, some great conversation and FREE childcare.

Roanoke.Family Roanoke Valley SPCA SPAYghetti 11AM-7:30PM | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Roanoke For every six meals sold, an adopted animal

leaves the Roanoke Valley SPCA spayed/ neutered to go to their forever homes. Enjoy a delicious spaghetti meal while curbing the overpopulation of unwanted pets. A win-win deal for everyone!

24 Thursday Dr Pepper Day 11AM-2PM | Market Square, Downtown Roanoke “Drink a Bite to Eat at 10, 2 and 4” was a legendary slogan used for decades to remind Dr Pepper fans to enjoy their favorite pick me up at three intervals during the day when research showed human energy to lag. Now Roanoke is celebrating “10-24” as “Dr Pepper Day” with a free product, free T-shirts and other goodies while supplies last! Join us as the City of Roanoke proclaims 10-24 as Dr Pepper Day in Roanoke.

Family Movie Night 6:00 PM | South County Library Free Movie Night at the Library

10/19 - 10/20 Romeo and Juliet Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke William Shakespeare’s classic tale of Romeo and Juliet is re-envisioned

The Pay-What-You-Can performances will include the distribution of free books to students, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy. millmountain.org

25 Friday Grandin Chillage 6PM - 9PM | 1514 Grandin Road SW Family and dog friendly event. Live band, craft beer, food truck, ice cream truck and games for kids.

Run for Donuts 5K November 2, Salem

in an imaginative and theatrical adaptation on the Waldron Stage. This production will feature student performers, designers, and technicians.

Annual Traditions start at Layman Family Farms!

Stargazing Programs wtih a National Park Service Ranger 7PM-8PM | Explore Park Milepost 115 Astronomy enthusiast Michael Overacker will

join Explore Park National Park Service ranger for an interactive star watching experience. explorepark.org Friday Family Fun Night 6PM-8PM | Green Ridge Recreation Center Bring the whole family for a night of inflatables, face painting, corn hole and other activities! roanokecountyparks.com Spider-Man: Far From Home 2 PM & 6 PM | Whitman Theater, VWCC, Roanoke Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, SpiderMan must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever. Rated PG-13.

Special Events: Saturdays 10am-7pm Sundays 11am-7pm October 19, 23 & 26 Night time Corn Maze

September 21 8th Annual Scout Day September 22 Grandparents Day

September 28 Teacher Appreciation Day

September 29 Military & Hometown Hero Appreciation Day October 5 Super Hero Day October 6 Pink Pumpkin Day October 19,23 & 26 Night time Corn Maze October 27 Candy-in-the-Corn Day

Admission includes the corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch and other farm fun courtyard activities! As wel as three (3) pumpkin tokens to be used at the Corn Cannon, Cow Train, Pumpkin Blaster, Bee Line Mini-Zipline, or Juping Pillow.

the Valley: things to do 26 Saturday Beginner Mountain Biking for Parents and Kids 1PM-4 PM | Morningside Park, Roanoke This class encourages parents and kids to learn the bike skills to be able to hit the trails together. Riders will leave with not only new useful skills but also knowing more about the area’s beginner friendly trails, features and local resources. playroanoke.org 46th Annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival 10AM-5PM | Blue Ridge Institue & Museum at Ferrum College Authentic regional folk music, craftspeople, draft horse and dog handlers, car builders, tractor restorers, country cooks, moonshine tale tellers and much more!

Big Lick Coffee Fest 9AM-2PM | Berglund Center, Roanoke Celebrating craft coffee - featuring coffee roasters and tastings, artisans, treats, brunch items, kids corner, vendors, music and more! Proceeds benefit RAM House.

Fall Family Festival 4PM-7PM | Rainbow Forest Baptist Church, Troutville Bounce houses, a petting zoo, rock wall, hayride, and many food trucks!

Spooky Sprint 5K Race 9 AM | Wasena Park, Roanoke Run or walk this family and pet friendly event where costumes are encouraged.

A panel of local celebrities will judge our costume contest! Awards are given to the top 3 male and female runners in each age group, as well as the top 3 overall winners, a prize also goes to the team with the most runners. Our afterparty can’t be beat- craft beer and great food and music make for the perfect post-run relaxation!

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Family/October 2019

November 2 Run for Donuts 5k 8:30AM-10AM | Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem WHO DOESN’T LOVE DONUTS?!? All participants will get to pick out a yummy donut to munch on at the finish line - and those running the 5K will have munchkins to munch on at different spots along the course route.

Eating donuts is not required, however, it will be A LOT of fun if you do!

November 6 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 7:30 PM | Berglund Performing Arts Theatre Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts

in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Tickets start at $42.

November 12 Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross 7:30 PM | Jefferson Center, Roanoke It’s a magical night out - a special concert event for Ruben fans and millions of Luther Vandross fans who long for his music - who now have a show that comes very close to the feeling of his memorable concerts it’s a vocal tribute to his remarkable talent. No other voice comes closer to him than Ruben Studdard - the remarkable singer who was hailed as the “Next Luther” during his American Idol run, and was nominated for a Grammy for singing “Superstar.” rubensingsluther.com

November 14-17 Cirque Du Soleil - Axel Berglund Center Coliseum, Roanoke Follow AXEL and his dynamic group of friends whose passion for live music and graphic arts come to life in a new electrifying experience fusing world-class ice skating with breathtaking acrobatics. Discover this young artist as he falls for the fascinating Lei in a high-speed chase for love and self-realization. Tickets start at $44

SALEM KIDS FUN RUN – OCT 12!

1-MILE & 2-MILE COURSES Exclusive ADHD Exercise Class Forming Now! • Heart rate monitors track and project heart rate thresholds shown to be most optimal for the ADHD brain • Safe, fun, and therapeutic exercise—even for kids who aren’t into sports • One-of-a-kind, research-based treatment of ADHD symptoms

Only 6 spots available! Register today! roanokeadhd.com/lostboys/ Gabriel@roanokeADHD.com

Two-mile race starts at 8:05 a.m., One-mile races starts at 8:10 a.m.

Register now at www.salemhalfmarathon.com!

the Valley: things to do

Spooky Celebrations Scare Quest

Hocus Pocus - Movie Night

Night Ziplines & New Frights Survive the tale and make your escape! Select your scare level by choosing from three different narratives. A ghostly guide will lead you on an interactive adventure including a ghost story.

Then strap a headlamp on your helmet and enjoy Treetop Quest obstacle/zipline challenge course at night. Each experience includes time on our giant blacklight spider web. Registration required.

Be sure to bring your own blankets to snuggle up in and lawn chairs to kick your feet up, as you sit back and relax during one magical Movie Night at Haley Toyota Field! Donations are being collected for Northside Student - Eli Klepper.

10/17-10/18, 10/20, & 10/24-27 at Explore Park in Roanoke

Community High offers…

• • • • • • • •

Small class sizes Highly qualified faculty Individualized attention College preparatory environment Unique, student-driven liberal arts curriculum Diverse arts offerings Affordable tuition and needbased financial aid Strong, close-knit community …and much more!

Schedule a visit today!

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Trick-or-Treating at Ballpark

As part of our Classic Film Series, enjoy a free screening of the film Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Come see the black-and-white 3D monster horror film from UniversalInternational.

Have fun trick-or-treating with community businesses at the ballpark!

Come dressed in your costume costume contest, inflatables, and free hot dog to the first 500 people.

10/12 | 10AM - Noon | Grandin Theatre, Roanoke

Enjoy a relaxing date night including music from Appalachian Soul, cold beer from Beale’s Brewery and food from the 2DYE4QUE food truck.

Family/October 2019

10/25 | 6PM-9PM | Salem Farmers Market

Kids will be entertained for 2-1/2 hours of STEM/STEAM activities, pizza, and drink. Registration required.

10/4 | 6PM-8:30PM | Inquisitive Brains, Roanoke

10/12 | 5PM- 8PM | Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke

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Pumpkin Fest

Come take a walk through Chefs vs.

Surgeons Jack O’ Lantern patch and vote for your favorite pumpkin. There will also be carnival games, inflatables (tickets needed), pumpkin give-away, costume contest, and a pumpkin auction. Food trucks and beer truck on site. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics.

Parent’s Night Out STEAM Camp: Investigating Pumpkins

Brew at the Zoo

Community High School of Arts & Academics 302 Campbell Avenue SE Roanoke, VA 24013 info@communityhigh.net (540) 345-1688 www.communityhigh.net

10/19 | 6:30PM-10PM | Salem Memorial Ballpark

Halloween Fest

10/19 | 12PM-3PM | Prestige Gymnastics Academy, Troutville Free community event offers a safe place for fun, snacks, bounce houses, trunk or treat, games, prizes, face painting, and of course, our kids’ costume contest!!!

10/26 | 4PM-6PM | Salem Memorial Ballpark

Zoo Boo

10/26 | 11AM-4PM | Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke From trick-or-treating, to costume contests, to performances and “spooktacular” art activities, Zoo Boo is a fun-filled day for the whole family! Plus, you get to enjoy it all in the beautiful outdoor setting of Mill Mountain Zoo. Even better, all of these activities are FREE with Zoo admission!

Roanoke Valley Cars & Candy

10/26 | 8AM -11AM | Virginia Western Community College Whether you have a “Monster” truck,

a “rat” rod, a vehicle that makes people “howl,” or a ride that is just plain “ghoul,” we want you to bring it out. Decorate your car in some spooky gear and both kids and adults are encouraged to come out in costume!

Show is a cruise-in style meet so it is free and you may come and go as you please!

Trunk-or-Treat & Fall Fest

10/26 | 4PM-7PM | New Hope Christian Church, Roanoke Trunk-or-treat, live music, food trucks, train rides, inflatables, chili and a chili cook off. Fun for the whole family!

Trick or Treating in Vinton

10/31 | 3PM -5:30PM | Downtown Vinton Downtown businesses as well as area businesses join in on the fun and hand out candy to our little treaters.

Trunk-or-Treat in Garden City

10/31 | 5:30PM-7PM | Garden City Baptist Church

parking lot! Lots of trunks to get your treats from!

Trunk-or-Treat Ninja Night

10/26 | 5:30 PM-7PM | Super Kicks Karate You walk car to car and load up your bag with candy, THEN pass that bag to Mom or Dad so you canlearn a couple karate moves. Then you can go into our Ninja Maze guarded by REAL NINJAS.

Backwoods of Terror

10/25-26 | Claytor Lake State Park You will have only two nights to experience one of the areas most unique and affordable haunted attractions. Take a stroll through our backwoods of terror trail and then see if you’ll make it through the haunted house alive.

We’re open for all ages and offer a “no scare” entry option. Haunt admission is only $5.00 per person.

540-643-2500

October 19 - 26 Waldron Stage Shakespeare’s most famous play of love, family feuds, and inevitable tragedy takes on a new life with local youth performers.

One-Hour Version

All Tickets: Pay What You Can Donation Only Available At The Door

Come and join the fun in the church

December 4 - 22 Trinkle MainStage Share this heartwarming story with a cast that mixes national talent with your local favorites in Roanoke’s most beloved musical.

Get Your Tickets: 540-342-5740 millmountain.org

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the valley: kids eat free

can Re a l A me r i or N i nj a Wa r r i Op e n !

C o u rse N o w

Kids Eat Free cheap or

Every Day

launchingpadsalem.com 1300 Intervale Drive Salem VA 24153

540-404-9235

fdc 22

Family/October 2019

Monday

• The Green Goat All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult 802 Wiley Dr. SW, Roanoke (540) 904-6091

• Mama Maria’s 11 AM - 2 PM • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult W. Main St., Salem (540) 389-2848

• Country Cookin’ 4 PM - Close • 10 & under, 2 children per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke (540) 774-0199

• Golden Corral All Day • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult 1441 Towne Square Blvd., Roanoke (540) 563-8826

• Famous Anthony’s 3 PM - Close • 1 child per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke, Salem, & Vinton (540) 362-1400

• Denny’s 4 PM - 10 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations Roanoke & Salem (540) 389-5074

IHop 4PM-10PM • 12 & Under All Locations

• Buffalo Wild Wings 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations (540) 725-9464

• Macado’s 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, $1 child meal per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke & Salem (540) 776-9884

• Shoney’s All Day • 4 & under, free kids meal with adult entree purchase. Drink not included 2673 Lee Highway, Troutville (540) 992-6400

• El Rio Mexican Grill All Day • 10 & under, 1 child per paid adult 4208 Electric Rd., Roanoke (540) 685-4343 • Firehouse Subs All Day • 11 & under, 2 children per paid adult combo,dine in Blacksburg (540) 961-0371

Tuesday

• McAlister’s Deli 5 PM - Close • 2 children per paid adult 2063 Colonial Ave., Roanoke (540) 204-4407 • Town Center Tap House All Day • 12 & under, 2 children per paid adult

90 Town Center St., Daleville (540) 591-9991 • Firehouse Subs All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult Colonial Ave, Town Square & Salem only (540) 345-3131 • Pizza Hut 5 PM - Close • 10 & under, free buffet per paid adult 1016 Hershberger Rd., Roanoke (540) 362-3834 • Ruby Tuesday 5 PM - Close • 11 & under, 1 child per paid adult Electric Rd., Roanoke (540) 265-9301 • K&W All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult Hershberger Rd. Roanoke (540) 563-4977

Wednesday • Dogwood 4 PM - Close • 10 & under, per paid adult 106 E. Lee Ave., Vinton (540) 343-6549 • The Quarter All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult 19 Salem Ave., Roanoke (540) 342-2990

Thursday • CiCi’s Pizza All Day • 10 & under .99 cents child buffet per adult buffet Roanoke (540) 344-7711 • The Roanoker 4:30 PM - Close • 10 & under, 2 children per paid adult 2522 Colonial Ave., Roanoke (540) 344-7746

• Jerry’s Family Restaurant 4 PM - Close • 6 & under, 1 child per adult meal purchase 1340 E. Washington Ave., Vinton (540) 343-4400

Friday See Everyday Deals!

Saturday • Tokyo Express 11 AM - 3 PM • 4 & under free buffet per paid adult 1940 W Main St., Salem (540) 389-6303

• Firehouse Subs All Day • 12 and Under 1 free per paid adult Keagy Road, Roanoke 540-204-4471 • Rodeo Grande All Day • 12 and Under 1 free per paid adult Valley View, Roanoke 540-206-2296 • Lew’s Restaurant SW All Day • 12 and Under 2 free per paid adult Walnut Avenue, Roanoke 540-682-5925

• Famous Anthony’s 12 PM - Close • 1 child per adult meal All Locations Roanoke, Salem, Vinton (540) 362-1400

Sunday • Pizza Den 5 PM - 8:30 PM • 10 & under free buffet per paid adult buffet and drink purchase Salem (540) 389-1111

Trampolines

& More!

Basketball Dodgeball Jousting Pit Fidget Ladder Airbag Pit Launch Tower Arcade with prizes Bumper cars Flight Training Wall NEW! American Ninja Warrior Course Snack Bar 5 Party Rooms

• Local Roots 5 PM -7 PM • 5 & under eat for free, discount for ages 5-7 per paid adult 1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke (540) 206-2610 • T.G.I.Fridays All Day • 12 & under 1 with paying adult 4869 Valley View Blvd., Roanoke (540) 362-1475 • Jimmy V’s Restaurant All Day • 4 & under kids meal only $2.50 3403 Brandon Ave., Roanoke (540) 345-7311 • Moe’s Southwestern Grill All Day • 1 free per paid adult All Roanoke & Blacksburg locations

Roanoke Valley Family Magazine publishes these deals for informational purposes only. A Listing here does not guarantee a discount at any of the mentioned restaurants.

Promotions often change without notice and we recommend calling the restaurant to confirm any discount before arrival.

Family/October 2019

23

PRESS PLAY Join a youth program at the YMCA this fall.

Five locations, over 40 programs to choose from.

WWW.YMCAVBR.ORG

the valley: reviews

Restroom Reviews: Valley View Mall

by Georgianne Vecellio There is a double sink and an automatic towel dispenser, and the trash can is near the door if you are squeamish about door handles.

Barnes and Noble’s restroom was fairly well maintained and an appropriate size for their normal traffic. When they have a children’s story time, though, it might get a little crowded and you might have to wait for an empty stall.

I

was out at Valley View running errands, and wouldn’t you know it, needed to find a restroom. Since I was in Barnes and Noble, I ducked in their restroom before heading into the rest of the mall.

Barnes and Noble’s restrooms are out of the way, back in the corner past the gift items, greeting cards, and journals. The women’s room has three stalls, one of which is handicap accessible and has its own trash can.

All three stalls were clean and had no foul odors. The stalls have seat-cover dispensers, which is great, except that two of them were empty. All of the stalls have feminine hygiene product disposals as well, although the middle stall’s was dislodged on one side and hanging crookedly. (Ugh, that’s not something you want to accidentally dump!)

That got me thinking about other restrooms inside Valley View—Barnes and Noble is my go-to, because it is regularly clean, neat and odor free, not to mention that it is also in a safe area. If it is too crowded, or closed, or if you are in another store, what are your options?

On the lower level, head past the food court and toward Sears to find the main mall rest room on this level. It has a doorless entry, so you can get in fast. This is well-maintained, clean, well-lit restroom! There are seven stalls, two of which are accessible.

This restroom also features a large mirror to entertain your kiddos or for a quick check, plus a vending machine on the wall that has useful items like ibuprofen, feminine hygiene, and lip balm.

I figured there had to be a main restroom on the upper level, but I didn’t remember where it was, and stubbornly thought I could find it by wandering around. I ended up asking the sales associate in the linen department of J.C. Penney for help

finding it. She was not aware of any mall restrooms on the upper level, and instead directed me to the restroom on her level of J.C. Penney. I followed her directions and ended up wandering through most of the store before I found it. J.C. Penney’s restrooms are by their in-store pick up department, which seems inconvenient. The women’s restroom was adequate: three stalls including one handicap accessible, clean, and well-stocked. It is, however, in a less-trafficked part of the store. I was the only person in the restroom, and when I exited, I used the customer pick up counter to jot down some notes, and there wasn’t anyone there, not even any employees. If you feel at all uncomfortable, avoid this restroom and use one where there are more people around. I can think of one advantage to this restroom, though: if you find yourself in need when you are driving by the mall, go in the in-store pickup door at J.C. Penney, and you will be right by the restrooms.

Curious and a little frustrated, I consulted the mall directory to find their upstairs restroom. It is tucked away down a small hallway just to the right of the mall entrance to J.C. Penney. It is similar to the one downstairs, but with only one accessible stall and no vending machine. It was clean, odor-free, and well-stocked and has a water fountain—a better option than the one in J.C. Penney.

Barnes and Noble’s and both mall restrooms receive 4.5 toilet paper rolls, while JCP’s receives 3 toilet paper rolls.

Family/October 2019

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the valley: authors

Six Questions with

M.H. Bradford

No Lion About It: This Local Author is Paws-itively Awesome!

Wild Styles: Cats of the Mill Mountain Zoo is your third published children’s book, and it follows the original Wild Styles. What inspired you to start writing about the animals at Mill Mountain Zoo? I originally contacted the Mill Mountain Zoo to see if they were interested in carrying Wild Styles, my second publication. While they loved the book and the overall message, they asked if it were possible for my illustrator and me to do a book catered to their animals — and, more specifically, their big cats — but keep the same message. Of course I said yes! I couldn’t pass up that opportunity!

Are these educational books, fictional stories, or something else entirely?

My books are a little of everything but I guess they’d be classified as fiction.

Moon, Gorgeous Moon, a classical-style nursery rhyme, is an imaginative journey of the moon, so its intention is to strike wonder

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Family/October 2019

in the minds of children and adults alike. Wild Styles has two objectives: to educate on the importance of the preservation of species and to remind us that we are all amazing in our own, unique way. Wild Styles: Cats of the Mill Mountain Zoo is a fun rendition of Wild Styles and includes neat facts on the animals themselves.

You have a young son; does being a dad give you a different perspective on children’s literature?

FOR SURE! Like it says in the “about me” section in the back of all of my books, Sam’s wonder and imagination is the inspiration for all of my work. Pillow and blanket forts are dark caves with bears and wolves, bath time is a journey to the deepest sea with glowing fishes, and our backyard is an expedition to the Serengeti to observe lions and elephants.

Did you always want to be a children’s author?

When Sam was born,

my employer was going through an acquisition, and ultimately my wife and I made the decision for me to become a stay-at-home father. I wanted to make the most of the downtime that I had to be creative and inventive, and create something that would last forever for my family. And what better avenue to take with a new baby than a children’s book author! I am also a musician, so rhyme and meter come naturally for me. So, yeah — totally random!

What was your favorite book as a child? And what’s your favorite children’s book now?

Oh man; this is easy! My favorite as a kid was Fox Eyes, by Margaret Wise Brown. My mom said that I would quote the book word for word and my eyes would be the size of a 50-cent piece while we read it...14 times...in one night. Dada,

by Jimmy Fallon, is one of our current obsessions. It truly makes us laugh, and Sam enjoys telling us what all the animals “say.”

Which of the animals at Mill Mountain Zoo do you like the most?

There are so many amazing animals that we have at our very own Mill Mountain Zoo, but I’d have to say that Bali the snow leopard would have to be my favorite. Up until recently, scientists had little information about the snow leopard in its natural habitat. They’re majestic, elusive, and just downright beautiful! And we have one right here in our hometown!

You can find Wild Styles: Cats of the Mill Mountain Zoo at the Mill Mountain Zoo gift shop and Amazon!

the valley: reviews

Making a Splash at the Mill Mountain Theatre

by Kim Emory Going to Center in the Square is always fun and exciting- there is so much to see and do there. For the young and the young at heart, there is Kids Square, the Pinball Museum, and the STARCADE. If you’re looking to learn, there’s the science museum, the museum of African American culture, and free to the public, several aquariums located in the atrium.

However, the hidden gem of Center in the Square as discovered by this Roanoker is the Mill Mountain Theatre.

It has been over a decade since I’ve been to a show in this theatre, so when my daughter and I entered I found it to be spacious, yet cozy.

There wasn’t a bad seat or view to be had.

As the curtain went up we were dazzled by amazing sets and backgrounds, especially as scenes went from under the sea to the human world a number of times. While there’s no way to recreate movie magic on the stage, I was impressed by the details and imaginative use of the stage for much of the scenery.

The costumes were also very colorful, fun, and creative. Some younger cast members were dressed as various sea creatures such as snails, seahorses, and stingrays as part of the ensemble and were done with everyday clothing with a few extra touches, such as custom made tails, shells, and claws.

During one song, a jellyfish ensemble performed with clear umbrellas

decorated with tentacles. The mermaids all had very creative tails with the fin attached to their wrist with a band that still allowed them to move freely around the stage, and Ursula’s dress, wig, and makeup was simply- and appropriately- bewitching.

The story was the familiar tale from the beloved Disney classic- any five year old girl would have recognized it and been able to recite most of the lines and sing along with the castalong with a few additions such as a lineup of princesses for Eric to choose from to wed and more presence from Ariel’s sisters, as well as a few additional songs to accompany these new features. The most impressive part for this audience member was the

Family/October 2019

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the valley: reviews cast itself. The cover of the playbill boasts “This production showcases the phenomenal Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory Youth Talent” and boy they weren’t exaggerating! Every actor or actress who graced the stage was eighteen or under, and in true community theatre style featured kids from at least five different areas in our valley. They were amazingly talented and fun to watch, and kept the attention of the whole audience, including younger, squirmier show goers as well.

By far the most impressive part of the production was that it went off without a hitch, yet was performed by kids.

Having not been to a Mill Mountain Theatre performance in some time, I was also glad to see that the cast comes to the lobby afterwards for a meet and greet with proud family members and adoring, anonymous fans alike.

I was thoroughly impressed by this show. It was extremely professional and well done, yet fun and entertaining, and great for young audience members to introduce them to theatre. I am already looking forward to bringing my kids to future shows, as they have announced their 2020 season just a few weeks ago.

My daughter, who came dressed in her Ariel costume, was excited to meet the actress playing Ariel. She was so warm and welcoming to all, and exclaimed when she saw her “You’re Ariel too!”

She and the rest of the cast grinned for pictures with audience members as requested, and were so humble and thankful for all the kind words given about the performance.

The really neat thing about Mill Mountain Theatre is that they have something for everyone. There are shows aimed for kids, as well as those more suited for adult audiences, and then some the whole family can see together.

I thoroughly enjoy the theatre and love being able to expose my kids to it as well- The Little Mermaid Junior was a great experience for us and I look forward to attending more shows here in the future (before another decade goes by)!

NOW AVAILABLE

Upcycled Gifts • Chocolate Paper • Imaginations Toys

From Local Father and Daughter Author and Illustrator Josh and Anika Eagan Ninja and Luche race against time to save a stuffed animal for a neighborhood kid. But that’s not the hardest part of their day.

They need to protect their real identities from three people who see them everyday - their grandmother and parents!

Will they be able to rescue the stuffed animal and keep their superhero identities safe?

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Family/October 2019

the valley: authors family magazine, and Ani goes to a supersmall liberal arts high school downtown.

She’s an artist, and he’s an entrepreneur, and they both love good stories.

So it was only natural that they found their way to authoring/illustrating a children’s book. The Adventures of Ninja and Luche: The Great Piggy Rescue hit shelves September 24.

The inspiration for this innovative duo’s debut is as cool as the story itself.

Here’s the background: When Anika was 8 years old, she found a ninja mask floating around her house and put it on. Instantly (in her adorable little 8-year-old brain), she was transformed into a superhero. In true sibling fashion, her younger sister Evelyn decided she also needed to have a superhero mask, so she asked her mom to make her a lucha libre mask. Random? Yeah. But you have kids.

You get it.

Super (Hero) Pair

by Jacqueline Moon

A dad-daughter combo can make the most epic team — especially when it comes to telling a story about superheroes. Josh and Anika Eagan live in the lively, green city of Roanoke, Virginia. Josh heads up the area monthly

So began the real-life alter-egos Ninja and Luche. Their main deal was pulling pranks — think Home Alone, but without the fire and hot irons.

“We did this one prank where we took a cereal box and put a balloon filled with shaving cream inside it. Then we decorated it like a cake.” That was a gift for their dad on his birthday; unsuspecting, he cut into it, and it exploded all over him.

Fast-forward to now — the girls don’t get into costume so much anymore (although they do still play the occasional prank).

It occurred to Josh that those masked “heroes” Anika and Evelyn created when they were little would be make perfect characters for a kids’ book.

So in the book, the characters Monica (who is uncannily like Anika) and Stevie (who happens to be a lot like little sis Evie) are regular kids by day, but superheroes by . . . well, other parts of the day, because they sleep at night.

They’re kids.

When the adults aren’t watching, Monica and Stevie become NINJA AND LUCHE, taking matters into their own hands to help people around town.

(While they still retain the “actual” Ninja and Luche silliness, these characters are more about being stealthy helpers than about pulling pranks on people — though the shaving-cream cake does make an appearance in the story.)

We don’t want to give too much away, but the tale involves finding an abducted stuffed animal and returning it to its owner. It also involves a considerable amount of nacho cheese.

When Josh pitched the idea to Ani, she was totally on board to be the illustrator.

She wanted to create a distinct style for this story, something different from the way she usually drew. “For this,” said Ani, “I did it all in ProCreate instead of on paper. I wanted it to look silly and cute, so I drew the characters more simplistically than I normally would, less detailed.”

As it often goes with the creative process, The Adventures of Ninja and Luche wasn’t an overnight production.

More than a year passed between the initial concept and the glossy, finished book. And the dad-daughter team is psyched about how it’s turned out.

Be one of the first to get your hands on a copy (physical or digital), and let us know what you think!

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the valley: non-profit

by:Jacqueline Moon

Roanoke Valley Family Talk Series:

Help Save the Next Girl On Tuesday, October 22, the founder of the national nonprofit Help Save the Next Girl will be hosting our Family Talk — this might be our best one yet!

For those who aren’t familiar, Help Save the Next Girl was formed by Gil and Dan Harrington in honor of their daughter, Morgan Dana Harrington.

Morgan was a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who was abducted and murdered in October 2009.

To honor Morgan’s life and to work to keep other young women and girls from falling victim to the same fate, the Harringtons created a movement that seeks to sensitize young women and girls to predatory danger. The foundation fosters mutual respect

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Family/October 2019

and camaraderie with young men, and is committed to being an active, imaginative presence on campuses, in clubs, and in violence prevention forums across the country.

This time of year is perfect for sending out the message of Help Save the Next Girl loud and clear, because the fall sees the highest instances of violence against young women on college campuses. The reason for this, according to Gil, is that everything is still new: students’ core groups of friends haven’t yet gelled, new students are away from constant adult supervision for the first time, and, being new to campus, they don’t know where the safe places are yet. The

problem is compounded by the fact that predators are very aware of these things and know to take advantage of them.

As for younger girls, Help Save the Next Girl strives to layer the safety training early on — for instance, when at the playground or other public places, stay together to stay safe.

And Help Save the Next Girl doesn’t only have a message for girls and young women. “We need males to be heroes too,” Gil explained. “Our message to boys and young men is to keep yourself and your peers safe.”

Come to the Colab at 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, for an interactive presentation and Q&A with Gil Harrington. We’ll have giveaways, door prizes, snacks, and free childcare available. See you then!

the valley: business honchos of two thriving coffee shops is, in Sharon’s words, “like constantly shoveling in a snowstorm,” the Ponces find the work rewarding. “People come in first thing in the morning. We’re some people’s first stop, and maybe they’re already having a bad day,” Sharon explained. “I just want to find a way to be the reason someone smiles — it can change the whole rest of the day. It really doesn’t take much more than a smile.”

The main pros of being the owners of Little Green Hive: More time together as a family, said Sharon, and all the amazing people she gets to meet. The big con: There’s not an easy way to take a vacation when you’re the ones who run the place.

Meet Your Neighbors

Sharon and Leo Ponce by:Jacqueline Moon Sharon and Leo Ponce have been the owners of the local coffee shop Little Green Hive (at two locations in Roanoke) for a little over three years now. While the husband-wife duo had never had experience in the coffee shop world before then, they had the will to learn and the enthusiasm to grow the business.

They started with one shop — downtown in the 16 West Marketplace building. A year and a half later, when the reign of Grandin Village’s Cups Coffee & Tea was over, the Ponces opened a second Little Green Hive location there.

The shops are a family affair if there ever was one. If you’ve ever stopped into the Grandin location, you’ve likely seen one of Sharon and Leo’s teenagers helping out. Their 15-year-old, Gabriel, and 14-year-old Liliana chip in after school or on weekends, as their school schedules allow. Eleven-year-old Lucas, the Ponce’s youngest, is sometimes there too, doing homework or keeping his mom company.

“Buying Little Green Hive has changed the way I view people,” Sharon said.

Her prior work experience was in fastfood management, and attitudes in that industry, she said, were often less positive than those she’s found owning a local coffee shop. “Working in fast food, you’re surrounded by negativity, and it can become how you see the world. I’ve grown a lot in the past three years. I’ve met people who are good just to be good.”

Making the jump to buy the business wasn’t simple, and neither has the work been since then. But to the Ponces, it’s all been worth it. Sharon knew this route was destiny for her when she stepped into the downtown location and inhaled. The smell of coffee reminded her of her dad.

“My dad was a truck driver,” she said, “and in the mornings, we’d go to Dunkin’ Donuts and get coffee.

Dad would bribe me with it to get my schoolwork done.” Those were precious memories, especially since Sharon’s father had passed away less than a year before she’d begun considering purchasing the shop.

And even though being the head

Just like most of us with families and jobs, the Ponces lead busy lives. But when they’re not working or hauling kids to extracurricular activities, the family loves having dinner together (an occurrence that used to be a rarity but now gets to happen almost daily), watching movies together, or — on more energetic days — having a blast at Thunder Valley.

Next time you’re downtown or in Grandin Village, grab a coffee, tea, or smoothie at Little Green Hive and say hello to Sharon and Leo. Roanoke is lucky to have such great neighbors!

Visit Your Neighbors at Little Green Hive!

Downtown Roanoke 16 Church Ave SW Roanoke VA 540-400-7890 M – F • 7 am – 5 pm Saturday • 8 am – 2 pm Grandin Village 1402 Grandin Rd SW Roanoke, VA (540) 512-9725 M – F • 7 am – 7 pm Saturday • 7 am – 6 pm Sunday • 8 am – 6 pm Family/October 2019

31

HABITAT FOR W 32

hat if there was a way for a family to become homeowners? In the Roanoke Valley, there

Family/October 2019

is. Habitat for Humanity and Kroger partnered to provide local homeowners with “Happy Homes, Full Fridges.”

Allison McGee, corporate affairs

manager for Kroger Mid-Atlantic, held an event at Lakeside Kroger last month in which Kroger gave homeowners a $100 gift card they could use to

R HUMANITY

by Takoda Poindexter

fill their fridge. McGee and Kroger wanted the people in our community to be able to flourish and provide for their families. This is their first year

partnering with Habitat for Humanity.

McGee put things in perspective regarding families in poverty, whose children may not get to eat every day,

saying that with “nourishment, they do better in every single aspect in their life.� A basic need can provide so much life for growing children.

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Habitat for Humanity executive director Karen Mason and homeowner Curtis Saunders are feeling the love of the Happy Homes, Full Fridges campaign

Food is one aspect of a good environment for growing children, but where they live and their living environment are also pivotal needs for them. Habitat for Humanity believes “homeownership is a crucial foundation for helping underserved families find a path out of poverty.”

There are certain requirements, rules, and regulations these families must undergo to get their houses built.

“Homeownership is a crucial foundation for helping underserved families find a path out of poverty.”

Karen Mason, executive director for Habitat for Humanity, explained the requirements of what families have to do for homeownership. Habitat provides an affordable mortgage payment, but how can people take out loans or finance through banks without

credit? Mason explained that Habitat “is the bank, the construction manager, real estate company, and all of this wrapped into one.”

There are three basic criteria, she continued.

The first is need.

Families have to demonstrate the need for decent, affordable housing. Habitat goes out to do a home assessment, checking the housing the individual lives in to see what the conditions are. Once this criterion is met, the next is to be willing to partner with Habitat to pay for the affordable mortgage.

With this commitment, prospective homeowners must complete workshops as well as help build their own house.

Homeowners have to take classes to have the financial literacy to stay on top of their payments and to really build equity in their homes. The last requirement is income to afford the mortgage.

An example of a mortgage payment Mason gave was of a family who met all requirements, even helping to build their new home, whose mortgage was cut in half to about $435. This low payment gives families more opportunities to put their money into clothing, essential needs, or even back into their savings.

Building the homes takes the work of people in the community along with the homeowners and partnerships with other businesses for materials. Habitat also renovates and buys out vacant structures.

Homeownership leads to an increase in “graduation rates, children’s good health, and net family wealth” and a decrease in “children’s behavioral problems, asthma, and even reliance on government assistance.”

Habitat is always looking for partnerships to help the community.

Mason also noted that research shows there is a strong correlation between access to healthy food and decent affordable homeownership, which leads to much better health and state of mind.

Talking to the homeowners themselves helps provide a better picture of what families go through in this process, enlightening us and giving hope that others who are in the same situations can apply for homeownership too.

Mercia McLean, who has been a homeowner since 2012, put tons of sweat and diligence into her house.

She still maintains the same job she’s had for several years, establishing stability. When asked if she felt it was better to own or rent, McLean didn’t hesitate, saying she would rather own because it would be much harder to keep paying the rent, which was higher than what she pays now for her mortgage.

Another homeowner, Curtis Saunders, described her experience of becoming a homeowner, saying so much of the credit was due to Karen Mason of Habitat. Mason supported Saunders in her endeavor to make it through the process because she and others were “generous and real people” trying to help. Saunders has been a homeowner in the same house for 18 years, having worked hard to keep it. Her experience has been life changing, from the time she learned how to build the house.

Saunders did quite a lot of painting in her house, but the best thing she learned throughout her experience was to “try to treat everyone how they want to be treated, not the way they treat me.”

Habitat’s partnership with Kroger has begun to change our community with zero hunger, zero waste, and homeownership — a crucial cornerstone to help families grow.

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growing

up.

toddlers

/

kids

/

teens

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growing up

Lost on Showshoe I

f you have ever been skiing, you’ll probably know of the massive ski resorts that you can attend during the winter season. One of these resorts is Snowshoe, located in West Virginia, which is a very popular skiing destination. Snowshoe is quite a large place, and even just around the slopes, one can easily get lost very quickly. It’s hard enough trying to navigate the slopes when

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everything looks the same during the chilly seasons, but imagine the area in the springtime. It shouldn’t be that hard to find your way back to civilization when everything’s green, right?

It all started when my father ordered a pair of hiking boots on sale last year. He said that it was a total steal, and he began waiting happily

for his new boots. Apparently, they were from a popular brand, and were normally quite pricey. When the boots arrived, however, they seemed to be a little small. At the time, my dad was hopeful that it was just his feet that were swollen, and decided to wear them on a hike that we went on with some friends later that month.

During the hike at Snowshoe, our planned route took us around a large lake. The lake had two paths, one that was faster to the right, and one that took you through a forest and was a bit longer on the left. I was situation between the group, our friends and my little sister in front of me, and my mother and father behind me.

Eventually, my father started complaining of foot pain, causing my parents to slack behind. On them, they had a bottle of water and a small bag of snacks.

turned around and began to walk back through the forest to find my parents.

When I got to the fork in the trail, I was dismayed that I couldn’t find any trace of them. So I went back and sat on a boulder for a bit. I went through my bag, counted my snacks and found my rain jacket and began calculating my own rations. Keep in mind, I was absolutely panicking and thinking the most absurd thoughts.

I began considering every possible outcome of the situation and began thinking of the book I read in seventh grade about a kid who lives off the mountain for a solid year. More and more hikers passed me on the boulder, and I asked each one if they’d seen my parents. All responded with “no” and kept on going.

we do learn from our mistakes

I had my own snack bag, but I didn’t have any water and soon my little sister ahead of me ran out of water.

The forest was cool and flat, so it wasn’t anything to be worried about at the time. Eventually, I began to notice that the group ahead of me was far ahead, and my parents were gone. I walked a few more feet until I began to worry. My tongue soon began to feel dry,and I wanted nothing more to hang out with my parents and get some water. So, I

Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that my parents were probably murdered somewhere and I began the trek to find civilization.

However, once I went back through the forest, our friends found me.

They had told me that they were happy that they had found me, and were worried about me. It was at this point that I began crying even more.

Since Snowshoe doesn’t have cell reception, they talked on walkietalkies about my whereabouts and called off the police. Once I got back to the rest of the party, I was rightfully lectured about my bad decision making and hugged. As you could have guessed, my parents went the opposite way around the lake because of the unbearable pain that the hiking boots caused.

This story illustrates one of the many reasons why I absolutely shatter underneath any kind of pressure. Had I kept my head during the situation, I would’ve most likely continued on my way from the start. Though we do learn from our mistakes, I would not recommend trying this stunt ever again. It’s safe to say that from then on, my parents took extra care to keep me close during hikes.

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growing up: toddlers

Tiny People, Big Perspective Why the Moral Development of Toddlers Matters for All of Us

by Amy Webb

Research on moral development in toddlers offers us amazing insight into how perceptive young children really are and what it means for our social interactions.

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W

e, as parents, all want to encourage the moral development of our children.

From a young age, we teach our children to help other people and share their toys. Of course, for very young children, this is often a challenge because they simply lack the cognitive development to be able to understand events from another person’s perspective. Developing this skill is a key aspect of toddler development.

In child psychology, this skill of understanding another person’s perspective is called Theory of Mind.

(If you’ve never seen the experiment used to “test” this skill, search it up on YouTube — it’s quite fun to watch.)

Although moral development in toddlers is still in its earliest stages, research is showing us that they do have more understanding than we might expect. This research reveals that toddlers as young as 3 years old are quite developed and discriminating in their understanding of others’ intentions and their desire to help (or not help) other people.

A recent study in Germany considered toddlers’ understanding of others’ intentions and their subsequent helpful actions towards them. Here’s what they did: Children watched several scenarios where adult actors played various roles: helpfulness (taping together a drawing torn by someone else), harmfulness (purposely tearing another person’s drawing), intention to harm (trying to tear another’s drawing but not succeeding), and accidental harmfulness (accidentally tearing another person’s drawing).

The children then interacted with the adults in playing a game. The children’s helpfulness toward the adults was gauged by whether or not they gave the adult a missing game piece.

As you might expect, children were helpful to those adults who showed helpfulness in the prior scenario and were not helpful to those adults who were harmful (tearing the drawing).

More interestingly, however, was the fact that children were also helpful to those adults who were only accidentally harmful. The children also showed less helpfulness to those adults who had the intention to be harmful in the previous scenario (trying but not succeeding to tear the drawing).

This clearly implies that children as young as 3 can not only differentiate between helpful and harmful actions, but can also distinguish others’ intentions. This may not seem like a big milestone on the surface, but when you think about it, understanding someone else’s intentions is a very important skill as a human being.

Why is Moral Development Important?

Social interaction is one of the main ways we as humans advance our civilization. Working and cooperating with others is not only a good moral skill, it is crucial to our survival at the most basic level. We don’t often think of this in our high-tech society, but working with other people is a basic part of our existence. One key aspect of working with other people is understanding their intentions toward us and others.

Humans’ social interaction can be very complex and subtle. It’s amazing that children as young as 3 can understand this complex world and be very savvy about who has good and bad intentions.

The Beginnings of Empathy Although it’s true that toddlers have to reach a certain level of cognitive development in order to understand the perspectives and feelings of others, there are things we can do to

help foster these skills.

Don’t be afraid to discuss emotions.

In generations past, many parents shied away from discussions of “touchy-feely” topics like emotions.

Today, we know that the more we discuss how others may be feeling, the more our kids are likely to gain that crucial skill of empathy.

Set limits on behavior, not emotions. The distinction

between setting boundaries on behavior and punishing emotions is sometimes a subtle one but is a hallmark of positive parenting.

Positive parenting focuses on limiting harmful behavior (e.g., hitting, calling names) but allowing for emotional expression (e.g., crying, sadness). These two things often become a tangled mess in the heat of the moment, but the more we can guide and teach our kids to cope with big emotions in healthy ways, the better their emotional skills will become.

On a side note, this is important for us parents to understand, as well. Our toddlers are adept at understanding our actions. If they think we have good intentions toward them (which hopefully all parents do!), they will be more likely to comply with our requests, too.

Amy Webb is a self-described “child development research nerd.” She, her husband, and their two boys, age 6 and 10, live near Denver, Colorado.

Find more of her writing on her blog at thoughtfulparent.com. Also, check out the online version of this article on our website, virginiafamily.com, for links to the research Amy cites.

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growing up: teens

What Parents Need to Know About

by: Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

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W

hile most parents have heard about vaping, many are unsure about the answers to basic questions, like how many kids actually do it and whether or not it’s something they should be concerned about. For that reason, I’ve prepared a brief fact sheet based on the latest scientific research that answers the most common questions parents ask themselves.

Who Twenty percent (one in five) of all high school students vape regularly. For middle school students, that number is five percent (one in 20). Those figures have increased dramatically over the past few years. In 2011, only 1.5 percent of high school students and less than one percent of middle school students vaped regularly. Put differently: more and more kids are starting to vape, and they are doing so at an alarmingly younger age.

What Kids prefer flavored vaping liquids containing either nicotine or marijuana.

The most popular vaping product by far, JUUL, contains a lot of nicotine.

Each JUULpod has as much nicotine as one full pack of regular cigarettes.

Kids are especially attracted to vaping liquids that taste like alcoholic drinks, chocolate, fruit, menthol, and sweets.

When and Where In a word, everywhere and any time they can get away with it.

They do it at school — in bathrooms, in hallways, even during class. Many kids admit to exhaling the vapor into their shirts or doing it when the teacher isn’t looking. They also do it at parties where they try each other’s vaping devices and liquids. They host socalled “cloud competitions” where they demonstrate and video each other’s vaping tricks, like blowing vapor rings or creating funnels of vapor that look like tornadoes, and then upload videos to social media, especially YouTube.

Why The top three reasons kids vape are because it’s cool, they’re bored, and they think it’s completely safe.

When asked why they vape, most kids say they do it because it’s considered cool among their friends. They enjoy entertaining their friends with tricks and watching other kids perform tricks on social media. They also do it to escape from boredom; they do it when they can’t come up with anything better to

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growing up: teens do, just like constantly and mindlessly fidgeting with their phones and checking their texts and social media.

Finally, they think it’s harmless and very different from smoking cancercausing regular cigarettes. More than 70 percent of middle and high school students have seen online and print advertising making that claim.

What Effect Contrary to what kids believe, all vaping devices and liquids are bad for their health, especially those that contain nicotine, like JUUL. Nicotine is highly addictive and negatively impacts kids’ ability to focus and learn. It also affects their mood and impulse control. Vaping increases

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kids’ heart rate and blood pressure, causes the same kind of lung irritation as regular cigarettes, and can lead to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Kids who vape are four times more likely than those who don’t vape to start smoking regular cigarettes.

Instead of being a substitute for smoking, as many people think, vaping can actually lead kids to start smoking. Finally, many vaping devices are of poor quality. There have been numerous incidents of exploding devices that have caused burns and other injuries.

Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

family health

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safety

family: day trip

Fright Lane which gives guests frontof-the-line access to mazes can be purchased online. Haunt is held select nights September 21 through November 2.

Kings Dominion Unleashing New Terrors at Halloween Haunt Virginia’s largest Halloween Themed Amusement event, Halloween Haunt returns for its 19th frightful season on Saturday, September 21, 2019 with the debut of four new gruesome experiences. Guests who dare can brave seven mazes, six scare zones plus a variety of frightful shows. The Great Pumpkin Fest also returns on September 21 with familyfriendly daytime Halloween fun in Planet Snoopy.

Adding to an already macabre lineup of mazes, monsters and live entertainment, Halloween Haunt highlights two new terrifying scare

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zones, an all-new nightly opening SCAREremony, and a shocking new show.

NEW SCARE ZONE: Masquerade Her Royal Highness, the evil Queen Majesty, has decided to throw a ball like none other as she lays claim to the lands of the living and the dead.

In what is bound to be the most prestigious ball ever thrown, Majesty

is out to prove once and for all that every person and demon will eagerly follow her plan for domination. Part party, part scare zone, guests are invited to mix and mingle with the height of the undead high society and those 21 and older can dare to try the specialty cocktails. Be sure to grab a selfie with the Duke and Duchess, but beware; sometimes the mask is there for a reason.

NEW SCARE ZONE: Pumpkin Eater

NEW SHOW: Heads Will Roll

In the last years of the Revolution, Peter Armstrong was a pumpkin farmer living off a winding road in the quaint woods of Virginia. Some say the spirit of a dead soldier possessed him and in an act of rage he murdered his wife with a bayonet. He hid her body inside one of his largest pumpkins, leaving her there to rot. Soon after he started seeing apparitions of his wife with the face of a jack-o-lantern. His rage not subsided, Peter went on to murder other victims, burying them all in the patch. The evil spirit in his body began to morph him into a pumpkin like creature. His victims too, began to rise and now haunt these once tranquil woods with their jack-o-lantern faces.

Join Queen Majesty and her Royal Court as they behead, one by one, the most loyal of Overlord’s subjects.

Sometimes the executions do not go quite as planned, but they always end in a raucous musical celebration as her court of singers and dancers Put a Spell on You in this grand Ballroom Blitz.

When the clock strikes midnight, the Overlord will finally meet his fate as Majesty makes one final cut in what is sure to be The Greatest Show.

In total, those who dare can brave seven mazes, six scare zones and a variety of live shows during Halloween Haunt, which features the largest scare force in the region with more than 400 monsters roaming the midways. During the nighttime event, guests can also get their adrenaline fix on more than 20 rides, including Twisted Timbers, Intimidator™ 305 and Dominator, as fog and darkness blanket the park. Monsters descend upon the park at 7 p.m. during Blood Reign at the International Street Bandstand.

For daytime Halloween fun with no fear, the park holds The Great Pumpkin Fest in Planet Snoopy. There are delightful surprises hiding around every corner, from hay mazes to a pumpkin painting patch. Kids can take part in educational and interactive puppet shows in addition to the festive activities and their favorite rides in Planet

NEW SHOW: Blood Reign A new reign of terror is here, and the overthrow of the dark beings has begun – Queen Majesty has grown tired of the antics of her minion, Overlord, and has vowed to bring hellfire down upon his followers.

This opening SCAREremony will take place every night of Halloween Haunt at 7p.m.

Snoopy. The Great Pumpkin Fest is held Saturdays and Sundays from September 21 through November 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Planet Snoopy will close at 6 p.m. as the park transforms for Halloween Haunt.

The Great Pumpkin Fest has fun for the whole family to enjoy together and as an added benefit, children three to five years of age are eligible for unlimited FREE admission to this event and the rest of 2019 when their parent or guardian registers online and activates their 2020 Pre-K Pass at the park.

For the most up-to-date hours of operation, visit kingsdominion.com.

The Great Pumpkin Fest and Halloween Haunt are both included with park admission. To get unlimited admission and free parking to Kings Dominion the rest of 2019 and all of 2020, including Halloween Haunt, guests can purchase a 2020 Gold Season Pass.

About Kings Dominion & Soak City Kings Dominion & Soak City offers Virginia’s best value - Two Great Parks All in One. With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, guests can enjoy 12 roller coasters, the world’s largest PEANUTSthemed kids area, Planet Snoopy™, and an all-inclusive 20-acre water park with dozens of water slides and a massive wave pool. Special themed festivals as well as the best Halloween event in the region make Kings Dominion the best place to create lasting memories. The park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership and one of the largest regional amusementresort operators in the world. For more information, see cedarfair.com.

Family/October 2019

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family: health

4 Keys to a

Stress-Free Evening

by Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

Family/October 2019

49

family: health In my family, evenings used to be stressful, with everyone coming home at different times, doing different things, and making little effort to spend quality time together. Things have changed. Through trial and error, and conversations with other parents, we’ve come up with four keys to a stress-free evening that’ll also make you feel like a real family again.

Snack – Homework – Play One of the keys to a stress-free evening is for the kids to know exactly what to do when they get home from school — and when. After a long, demanding day at school, they need some downtime before they do anything else. Give them a snack before they start doing their homework, and insist that they do all, or at least most, of it before they’re free to play. Once we got the snackhomework-play routine down pat, we ended up having much more calm kids and more time to spend together as a family the rest of the evening.

Dinnertime Assuming it’s not one of those days where your kids are overwhelmed by homework, have them help you prepare the dinner. It’s fun, relaxing, and gives you a chance to touch base with them in a less formal way than during dinner. Standing side-by-side preparing food is a great opportunity to talk about any problems they may have at school, with friends, etc. You don’t necessarily have to look each

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other in the eye, so it’s easy to get things off your chest. When it’s time to eat, put on some relaxing music — it’s a good way to put everyone in the right mood.

Clean Up Together We used to have a chore chart, which rotated the responsibility for cleaning up after dinner.

That worked out well, but we realized that by doing it individually, we missed out on a great opportunity to spend some additional quality time together. Now, we still rotate our clean-up duty, but we do it in pairs.

That way, my partner and I each get a chance to spend some alone time with each of the kids — and they with us.

It’s great for following up on any issues that came up during dinner.

a play-bath-teeth routine. They get some extra time to play, after which they’re supposed to take a bath and brush their teeth.

When it’s finally time to go to bed, we spend a few minutes saying goodnight, after which it’s lights-out. When the kids were younger, we used to have them get into their pajamas and read books to them in our bedroom. We didn’t do it for any particular reason, but we learned from conversations with other parents that it happened to be a great idea.

By preparing them for sleep in our bedroom, they learned to only associate their bedrooms with sleeping.

After a long, demanding day at school, they need some downtime before they do anything else.

Getting the Bedtime Routine Right After you’re done cleaning up, it’s time for the bedtime routine. Sometimes, the kids need a little more time to finish their homework. Most of the time, though, they’re ready to start winding down for the day. Try to follow

We never had the experience of having to sneak out of our kids’ bedrooms once they were asleep. Now that the kids are older, we no longer read books to them. Instead, we sit on our bed and read our different books sideby-side. But the kids still go to bed without any complaints and have no problems falling asleep.

Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences & Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

family: holidays

El Dia de los Muertos: Una Oportunidad de Recordar Nuestra Cultura y Antepasados

P

ara los Latinx, el meses de Septiembre y Octubre son mejor conocidos como los meses de la herencia Latinx, en el cual se celebran las tradiciones, las historias, las culturas, las contribuciones y los logros de las personas Latinx-Americanos (as) con ancestros de España, México, el Caribe, Centroamérica y Sudamérica.

“La semana de la herencia Latinx” se estableció en el año 1968 bajo la presidencia del Presidente Lyndon B. Johnson. En 1988 el Presidente Ronald Reagan lo extendió de una semana a un mes.

Me facina esta época del año porque me hace sentir muy afortunada de poder enseñarle a mis hijos acerca de los (las) Latinx-Americanos (as) que han llegado a ser gran parte de la historia de los Estados Unidos. En mi casa hemos estado aprendiendo acerca de Ellen Ochoa (la primera mujer Latinx astronauta), Sonia Sotomayor (la primera mujer juez Latinx en la Corte Suprema) y César Chávez (Latinx activista de los derechos civiles- que logró mejorar las condiciones para los trabajadores agrícolas). Nos encanta ir a la biblioteca y pedir prestados ciertos libros en Español sobre estos temas.

Además, estos meses son meses de fiesta. No cabe duda que para los Norteamericanos (as) el festejo tradicional de Halloween o la Noche de Brujas se celebra a lo grande.

Durante este día las casas de los vecindarios abren sus puertas para regalar dulces o caramelos a niños (as) y jóvenes que se han vestido con disfraces carismáticos de sus personajes preferidos. También,

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muchas iglesias locales organizan un evento llamado “trunk or treat (celebración de Halloween en el estacionamiento)” para la comunidad en el cual las familias se estacionan y reparten los dulces desde las cajuelas de su automóvil. A mi familia les encantan los “trunk or treats” porque es más fácil pedir dulces o caramelos para los niños pequeños de esta manera.

Pero también, en muchos de nuestros países latinoamericanos se celebra el Dia de los Muertos, Difuntos, Santos o Antepasados. Esta celebración tiene raíces prehispánicas y religiosas y festeja a los difuntos con ofrendas llenas de fotografías, veladoras, calaveras de azúcar, flores de cempasúchil y más. ¡Los altares son muy coloridos y extremadamente hermosos!

Para mi, el Dia de los Muertos ha sido un dia muy especial donde puedo aprender más y recordar a mis queridos antepasados, en particular a mis abuelitos. A pesar de que se

llama “el Dia de los Muertos” en realidad es un día donde celebramos la vida de nuestros antepasados, no solo su muerte. Ellos pasaron por muchos desafíos y son ejemplos de la perseverancia, bondad, y afán y podemos aprender mucho de ellos. Yo tuve la fortuna de crecer en México y claramente recuerdo la primera vez que deje un plato de mole, una coca-cola, una veladora, y flores de cempasúchil en el altar de mi abuelito paterno.

Tal vez para nuestros vecinos y amigos que no hablan Español, piensan que El Dia de los Muertos es solamente la versión Latinx de Halloween pero puede ser algo aún mucho más especial. Es un dia para recordar el amor que sentimos por nuestras familias; ambos los que ya fallecieron y los que viven. Debemos expresar gratitud por los sacrificios que han hecho para que salgamos adelante y hay que compartir esta importante herencia con nuestros hijos (as) y amigos (as). Les animo a que, mientras que disfrutemos las

fiestas de Halloween que tal vez son nuevas tradiciones para muchos de nosotros, que también busquemos la oportunidad de compartir nuestras hermosas tradiciones con los que nos rodean. A pesar de que muchos de nosotros nos sentimos lejos de casa, podemos tratar de siempre conmemorar a nuestros antepasados e inculcar un amor por nuestras costumbres en nuestros hijos (as). ¡Espero que todos tengan un feliz mes de Octubre seguro y divertido y que encuentren una forma de recordar y honrar a sus antepasados! ¡Felices fiestas! ¡Hola! Me llamo Paola y tendré el privilegio de compartir un mensaje mensual en Español con nuestros lectores.

Estoy muy agradecida y emocionada por esta oportunidad. Soy originalmente de Mexicali, Baja California, México y como muchos de ustedes, tengo poco tiempo viviendo en esta hermosa ciudad de Roanoke. Para alguna pregunta o comentario favor de enviar un correo electrónico a esta dirección: paoladehart@gmail.com.

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family: health by: Dr. Stephen Alouf

Trick-or-Treat Teeth October 31 brings the familiar sights of jack-o’-lanterns, autumn leaves, costumes, and of course, candy.

Surely, there will be plenty of treats to go around; the National Retail Federation estimates that 95 percent of Americans will purchase Halloween candy this year to the tune of $2.6 billion on gummies, chocolates, hard candies, and everything in between. And in Virginia, according to candystore.com, which releases annually its list of the most popular Halloween candies in each state, our favorite candies include Hot Tamales, Snickers, and Tootsie Pops.

My childhood memories of Halloween involve the excitement of that special costume and plastic jack-o’-lanterns used for hauling home my wealth of sweet treasures collected by door-todoor treks around the neighborhood.

As I grew older, wiser, and faster, the plastic pumpkin evolved into a pillowcase, as I could cover more ground and increase my take of candy.

Little did I know or care at that young age that I could be exposing my teeth to damage by having that much candy at my disposal. The good news is that I was very good at brushing my teeth well and often.

While we know that Halloween will be a night filled with sugary sweets for all, there are steps parents can take to minimize the risk of tooth decay, for themselves and their children, during this holiday and throughout the year.

Here are a few tips for parents to consider when giving out candy or determining the potential sugar damage to their children’s teeth this year.

Watch out for the hard, sticky candies.

Research shows that hard candies (including lollipops) and sticky/sour candies put kids’ teeth at the most risk. This is because they don’t dissolve

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quickly and typically are high in sugar, producing more acid that coats your teeth. Sugary and sour candies are a double threat.

Chocolates are a better alternative.

Chocolates, especially dark chocolate because of its lower sugar content, are a better option than those sticky and sour candies. Chocolate with nuts also is better, as the nuts tend to break up the stickiness and sugar in a candy bar.

Eat candy in one sitting rather than all day.

As far as teeth are concerned, it’s the frequency of the sugar and not the volume of sugar that poses the most risk, meaning it’s better to enjoy a few treats in one sitting — and brushing your teeth or swishing your teeth with water after — than munching on candy all day long. We also know that oral bacteria can turn sugar into acid and that tooth damage can occur in just 20 minutes of acid exposure, so eat your candy and then rinse or brush afterward.

Plan to protect your teeth.

No ghosts or goblins will be as scary as your dentist informing you of a cavity during your next visit. For more information and tips, visit the American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy website at mouthhealthy.org.

Dr. Stephen Alouf is a member of the Virginia Dental Association and is a practicing dentist, specializing in cosmetic and implant dentistry, serving the Salem and Roanoke area. In addition to his practice, he dedicates his time volunteering with the Virginia Dental Association Foundation’s Mission of Mercy project.

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education. teachers

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books

education: learning organization The Brookings Institution, students who are engaged in handson learning are much more likely to remember what they were taught.

Interestingly, when children are physically engaged in an activity, they process information differently and learn more effectively. Simply reading about a concept in a textbook or watching a demonstration in class is not the same as physically experiencing what you are learning about. A research study from the University of Chicago measured this concept using brain scans and found that students who engaged in a handson approach to learning scientific concepts were more activated in the sensory and motor-related parts of their brains. This also led to better quiz scores.

It Stimulates Curiosity.

5 Benefits of Hands-On Learning in a Tech-Crazed World

by Sandi Schwartz

K

ids today are spending an exorbitant amount of time glued to their electronics.

A 2017 survey published by Common Sense Media found that nearly all children age 8 and under live in a home with some type of mobile device and spend an average of 2.25 hours a day on screens. This media time only increases with age — tweens use electronics an average of six hours, not including time spent using media for school and homework, and teens are up to an average of nine hours daily.

Being tied to phones, tablets, and computers takes away from hands-on learning time, which is unfortunate since these types of experiences provide so many critical benefits to children as they grow and develop. As

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media becomes the go-to teaching tool in classrooms, it is imperative that we find fun and creative ways for kids to experience more hands-on, interactive learning opportunities at home.

First, let’s dive into five key benefits of hands-on educational experiences for children.

It Enhances Learning.

When children primarily learn by reading, listening, and watching, they miss out on a key component of the educational experience that can only happen by doing. Kids of all ages thrive when they are provided with interactive, engaging, meaningful educational experiences. According to the nonprofit public policy

When children are part of something so fascinating that it fills them with awe, like a science experiment or art project, they get excited about it and want to learn more. Handson experiences like these can spur curiosity in children, which is so critical to their growth and success.

Even though their constant questions may be exhausting for us at times, their curiosity is exactly what we want to see from them so they continue to crave and seek out new knowledge.

“One of our most important jobs as parents is to nurture kids’ innate curiosity. Not only is curiosity linked to academic achievement, it is tied to happiness in the long term as well,” said Sandy Polu, Ph.D., founder of plumsparkkids.com, a creative learning subscription box for kids. “The key is to encourage curiosity in a way that is relevant and appropriate for the child.”

It Improves Social Interaction.

Part of the problem with all of this technology is that kids are losing the ability to communicate and interact with others in person. When they hide behind their devices instead of talking face-to-face with their friends and family, they miss out on a major

chance for emotional connection.

According to Psychology Today, this kind of communication interferes with actual conversation and undermines our ability to connect with others.

As children are constantly exposed to these quick, impersonal ways of expressing themselves, they miss out on learning how to accurately convey their thoughts and feelings.

When we engage our children in fun, hands-on activities, it opens a whole new world to them in which they need to ask questions, explain directions, and talk to others about the project.

These projects also provide a special bonding time for parents and children or siblings to take on a challenge and work together. Whether it’s baking in the kitchen, working in a garden, or conducting a science experiment, kids will learn so many important social skills from the experience. These types of projects are also a great opportunity to invite some neighbors or friends over for a playdate so that the kids can work on a creative project together instead of staring at screens.

It Boosts Confidence.

When a child has the opportunity to directly work on a project like a science experiment from start to finish, she can feel a sense of accomplishment when she sees the results. She then becomes empowered, which leads to more confidence when she faces the next challenge.

A child also learns from his mistakes and failures, which only make him more resilient in the future. If the experiment does not come out as planned, he will learn to ask why and make adjustments the next time he works on it.

It is imperative that we find fun and creative ways for kids to experience more hands-on, interactive learning opportunities at home.

Finally, the encouragement kids get from accomplishing a hands-on project will increase their self-esteem, which will seep into all aspects of their life — like sports, schoolwork, and relationships.

Fun, Hands-on Learning Ideas for Kids There are a number of ways for us to share hands-on learning experiences with children of all ages.

It Expands Creativity.

Science Experiments

It’s one thing to observe art in a museum or watch a building being constructed in a video, but it’s another thing for kids to actually create masterpieces with their own hands.

These types of activities allow children to tap into their own creativity and explore as they go. It gives them a direct sensory experience, which offers a more in-depth way of learning about a subject. It also provides a chance to stretch their imagination as much as possible.

Working on science experiments is one of the best ways for kids to get excited about STEM in a hands-on manner. By working together on the experiments, your children will have the chance to get creative, follow directions, work with new science tools, challenge themselves to learn something new, and have fun being fascinated by science.

us. “A good experiment shows kids that science is fundamentally about understanding the world we live in — whether it’s figuring out fun concepts like why milk chocolate melts in our hands or testing which sunblock works the best.”

Gardening Working on a family garden together is another great way for children to grab some hands-on learning. By getting their hands dirty — literally — they learn to appreciate nature, hard work, and where the food we eat comes from. Because they play a direct role in growing the fruits and vegetables that they see with their own eyes, touch with their own hands, and taste with their own mouths, they are filled with accomplishment and joy.

Arts and Crafts Art projects are one of the easiest ways for children to experience tactile learning. Yes, they can color on an iPad by swiping their finger from side to side, but that doesn’t compare to actually holding a crayon in their hands and using different types of pressure to transfer colors onto the paper. Arts and crafts help stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination in a way that can’t be replicated by an electronic program.

Baking/Cooking Inviting the kids into the kitchen to help cook a meal or bake some treats can be a wonderful hands-on learning experience for them. Preparing a meal involves choosing a recipe, following directions, tracking time, measuring, and even working on simple math equations. Kids also have the chance to touch and feel the different ingredients. Although there are apps for baking cookies and making ice cream sundaes, nothing beats whipping up a delicious treat with your own hands!

Polu believes that doing science experiments at home is a great way to demonstrate that science is all around

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education: books

Rachel’s Reads

by: Rachel Levine

Few holidays are as thrilling for kids as Halloween. How can you beat carving squishy, slimy pumpkins, getting decked out in costume, and then staying up late collecting a quarter of your body weight in candy? Add a literary element to your sugar-laden celebrations and delve into some Halloween stories together. Keep a look out for Mother Ghost by Rachel Kolar in Little Free Libraries around Roanoke!

EEK! Halloween!

by Sandra Boynton Strange things are happening, and the chickens are getting worried.

Where have these strange creatures wandering the streets come from? Why are there pumpkins with fiery eyes guarding doorways? Something is not right. Eventually, the chickens figure out it’s Halloween, but there are lots of silly chicken escapades to giggle over along the way. Sandra Boyton’s board books are some of the best around, and EEK! Halloween! is no exception.

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The Berenstain Bears and The Spooky Old Tree

by Stan and Jan Berenstain The Berenstain Bears and The Spooky Old Tree might be the most exciting early reader ever written.

Together, three young cubs set off to explore a creepy, dark, old tree. On their hair-raising journey, the cubs encounter alligators, moving suits of armor, shifting walls, and giant spider webs before finding their way safely home again. Early readers love this compelling and slightly scary story!

Mother Ghost

by Rachel Kolar Halloween and nursery rhymes? Yes, please! In Mother Ghost, Rachel Kolar completely rewrites traditional nursery rhymes and gives them a fabulous Halloween twist. Come and meet creepy “Wee Willie Werewolf” and “Mary, Mary, Tall and Scary.” Discover “What Little Bats are Made Of,” and maybe even “Sing a Song of Witches!”

Kolar’s poems spook and delight with ghoulish whimsy.

Pick a Pumpkin

by Patricia Toht

Room on the Broom

by Julia Donaldson

Are You Scared, Darth Vader?

by Adam Rex

Pick a Pumpkin is a sumptuous read.

Lovely rhymes take you on an autumnal journey from picking your pumpkin to lighting it up on Halloween night.

The sweet illustrations of children preparing for Halloween are done in stunning, dusky fall colors, and the illustrator’s incredible use of light makes the pumpkins literally glow out of the page. Pick a Pumpkin is a book you don’t want to miss!

If you met a witch, wouldn’t you want to fly on her broom? The witch in Room on the Broom is a kind soul, and whenever an animal asks her for a ride, she says yes. Unfortunately, the witch’s broom is only meant for one, and they all soon crash into a dragon’s lair. Kindness and friendship save the day and keep everyone out of the belly of the beast. This witch’s charming tale is sure to become a favorite!

Do you think you could scare Darth Vader? Don’t rule out the possibility!

Are You Scared, Darth Vader? draws the reader into a plot to scare the infamous villain. All other attempts fail, but you the reader may be the one! This is a laugh-out-loud romp of a story that is perfect to read aloud with your best Darth Vader impression!

Star City Little Library Need a Book? Take a Book. Have a Book? Leave a Book.

Little Libraries are a great way to spread literacy and entertainment throughout our communities. Every month Growing Up in the Valley will restock the little libraries with great books for your whole family and we welcome your donations as well! Stop by our locations to see what surprises we have in store, and maybe leave a gently used book for someone else to enjoy.

Locations: Roanoke Ballet Theatre – 1318 Grandin Rd SW – Roanoke, VA 24015 Launching Pad – 1300 Intervale Dr – Salem, VA 24153 LewisGale Medical Center – 1900 Electric Rd – Salem, VA 24153 Amtrak Station – Downtown Roanoke Kirk Family YMCA Lower Entrance – Downtown Roanoke Roanoke Main Post Office - 419 Rutherord Avenue - Roanoke, VA 24022 Bounce Roanoke - 3424 Orange Avenue - Roanoke, VA 24012 United Way - 325 Campbell Avenue SW - Roanoke, VA 24011 Prestige Gymnastics - 2726 Lee Highway - Troutville, VA 24175 CHIP Roanoke - 1201 3rd Street SW - Roanoke, VA 24016 Family/October 2019

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recipes

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experiments

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diy Family/October 2019

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just for fun: science

Dancing Drawings a Science Experiment Southview Preschool Ministry of Southview United Methodist Church

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Supplies: • • • •

Smooth dish such as a glass pie plate Room-temperature water Dry-erase markers Paper towels

Directions: 1. Make sure your plate is dry and then draw a shape or figure on it with the dry erase marker — anything you want!

2. Let your drawing dry.

3. Carefully add room-temperature water to the dish so that it gently flows over your drawing.

What do you notice happening? Your figure should lift up from the surface of the dish.

What’s happening?

Dry-erase markers, unlike permanent markers, are designed to be able to be easily wiped away from smooth, non-porous surfaces like whiteboards or glass. In order to make this happen, the ink has a special oily silicone polymer added, which helps make sure the ink doesn’t stick to surfaces.

The ink used in dry-erase markers is also not soluble in water, so it won’t dissolve. If you add these two things together, you get an ink that won’t stick and won’t dissolve, which is why your drawing separates from the dish when you add water.

The dry-erase ink also has one more special property: it is less dense than water. That’s why your drawing floated and moved on the water’s surface.

Experiment provided by

Try moving your figure around by blowing on it or gently touching it with your finger.

If your figure doesn’t lift up, wait a few moments to see if anything changes.

If your figure still does not move, try a different dish. (Editor’s note: For us, nonPyrex dishes worked best.)

is! h t this same experiment but then place your hand straight down on the floating shape. What Try Try happened? Did it transfer to your hand? Alternatively, try picking your drawing up out of the water.

Can you lift it up? What happens when you put it back in the water?

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just for fun: recipe

Kids in the Kitchen Recipe Winner

Chili Macaroni and Cheese

by Wyatt Martin Ingredients: • 1 lb ground chuck • Salt • Pepper • Italian seasoning blend • 12 oz whole wheat elbow macaroni • 2 cups reduced-fat grated cheddar cheese • 14 oz crushed tomatoes • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 3 cloves garlic – diced • ½ Vidalia onion – diced

Directions: 1. Brown garlic, beef, and onion in pan.

2. Boil pasta according to package directions.

3. Once meat is brown, add seasonings, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste.

4. When pasta has finished cooking, drain in a colander and add to the meat sauce.

5. Stir in cheddar cheese.

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