Outlook 2013: Play

Herald&Review

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

LIVE LEARN WORK PLAY As the old saying goes, all work and no play makes Jill and Jack dull people.

In Central Illinois, there’s no excuse for that to happen. The cultural events, community activities and attractions are there if you only look for them. In this section, we explore play and show there are many things to do that will give Jill and Jack an edge when it's time to begin work.

INSIDE:

MOTIVATING MOTOR SKILLS

Playing tricks Hand games may appear fun to young children but they’re actually learning

Shelbyville will draw treasure hunters this week for Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure Page 3

Herald & Review photos/Jim Bowling

Pre-kindergarten student Reggan Williams paints during open center time in a class at Pershing Early Learning Center.

By NICOLE HARBOUR H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Mariah Smith, 5, couldn’t wait to let her classmates and teachers at the Decatur Day Care Center know what she accomplished.

“Look, I put this puzzle together,” she said excitedly as she walked around the classroom with a completed 24-piece “Beauty and the Beast” jigsaw puzzle. “I’ve been trying for a long time and I did it.”

Putting a puzzle together was just one of many things Smith, a student in Andrea Siemons and Stephanie Coins’ pre-kindergarten classroom, did that day. She also whisked eggs, molded Play-Doh and used a plastic knife and fork to eat, all hands-on activities that Siemons and Coins said are not only fun, but help prepare Smith and the other students for kindergarten.

“We’re really trying to help them with fine motor skills and also trying to bridge the gap between the books we read and hands-on experiences,” said Siemons as she had a small group of students help her cook a country breakfast of sausage, bacon Students and teacher Stephanie Coins and scrambled eggs in an use Play-Doh for a hands on activity. electric skillet. “They’ve been learning about farms and farm animals, so we want to give them an idea of what types of foods we get from a farm, and we also want to teach them that they can go home and help their parents do things in the kitchen.”

As she had each student take a turn whisking eggs in a plastic mixing bowl, Siemons emphasized the correlation between hands-on activities and learning.

“Stirring or whisking eggs, spreading things like peanut butter and jelly on bread and using a rolling pin are things that help with fine

For nearly 80 years, a trap shooting event has helped charity, gathered area enthusiasts Page 6

Karsyn Hayes, left, observes as teacher Andrea Siemons receives help scrambling eggs from Dre’Tarius Stewart while the Decatur Day Care Center pre-kindergarten class are taught about different foods in a farmer’s breakfast. motor development,” she said, “and that’s important when you’re heading into kindergarten where you’ll be using a pencil and writing and cutting with scissors.”

Leading a Play-Doh activity table, Coins said playing with clay can help children develop fine motor control, as well.

“They get to roll the Play-Doh into small balls and use rolling pins to flatten it and plastic knives to cut it, and that helps them develop muscles in their hands and fingers,” she said.

“I like to make french fries,” said 5-year-old Rachel Besser, as she

HANDS/PAGE 2

Children’s Museum of Illinois has seen growing interest in events that aim to reinforce learning Page 7

2 PLAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

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Truly for everyone FROM OUR

READERS “Goofy! Sometimes,” a boy said about Jeff Tish while on a night hike at Rock Springs Nature Center. One of Jeff’s many duties is helping people, young and old, learn about stars, flowers and bugs.

Not just what they are, but why they are important to us.

Jeff meets with many different groups. Some days, he will be leading a hike for Millikin students and later a preschool or helping a person in a wheel chair feel welcome at Rock Springs.

Is he a one-man show? Of course not. It takes many people, including volunteers, to keep Rock Springs and other natural areas open. Programs tend to need many skills.

Once, Jeff had to remove a fish hook from a young boy’s hand, all the while telling a fish story to take the boy’s mind off the procedure. Perhaps he learned this skill first-hand from his dad, who fished with Jeff and Jeff’s children during his lifetime.

Jeff’s schedule often includes programs on weekends and evenings, but family, church and community events have always been a very important part of his life. Patriotism is, too. Want a brief history of our early heritage? Help Jeff fold the flag some day. Each fold, like the stars and stripes, has a story.

Jeff’s favorite work is being outdoors, but he accepts the challenge of working on budgets, planning new programs and helping train volunteers, staff and interns.

Jeff may be a bit goofy at times, but he cares about people and helping them enjoy the “magic” of water, wind and plants working together. Thumbs up to Jeff, and all who provide a place for wildlife.

— Joyce Rakers, Decatur

non “A Big Thumbs Up” must go to Doug Durbin who works at Primrose Gardens.

He is truly a “Jack of all trades.” His label is maintenance man, but he is so much more than that. He is the mainstay for the more than 100 residents, and he takes care of all of us from changing light bulbs and driving the bus to take us to appointments and stores around town. He scoops snow, waters grass, hangs drapes, repairs and solves our problems. He even takes a turn at hosting the Friday night Happy Hour, Guys Night out and always does the Dashing Dudes breakfast. The thing about Doug is that he is always happy to do things for us. No matter how busy he is, he takes the time to chat a bit, smile and tell us about when he will arrive at our “home” to fix whatever needs fixed. He is always smiling and courteous, no matter what mess he is cleaning up. We all love him and appreciate him so much.

Thank you for the opportunity to laud Doug. He deserves it.

—Phyllis A Jakoby, Decatur

Age, gender, disability don’t matter in effort to score fun with bean bag toss

By PHIL JACOBS For the Herald & Review

PANA — Bean-bag tossing is not yet an Olympic sport, nor is hurling horseshoes for that matter, but each fall when Jerry “Coon Dog” Koons, lays aside his iron shoes for the winter, he now picks up the lighter bean bags and continues his competitive play indoors.

Coon Dog’s formidable talent with horseshoes has led to several championships over the years, and his new fascination with bean-bag tossing has been equally rewarding.

But he does suffer a loss now and then.

During a recent tournament at the Eagles Club in Pana, he finished in fourth place, his worst performance so far. A week later, in a match at the Moose Club, he won.

“It’s not always easy to hit a grapefruit-sized hole 30 feet away,” Koons said, low-balling his considerable talent following a rare loss. He has put all four bags in the hole, a rare feat that most shooters can only dream of.

Play begins when teams of two face off against each other until one of them scores 21 points and wins the game. If a bag goes through the hole, it counts three points. A bag laying anywhere on the board at the end of an inning counts one. The trick is for team A to toss more bags through the hole or leave more bags on the platform than team B, though, as in horseshoes, ties are common and the Photos for the Herald & Review/Phil Jacobs game then continues until there is a Zack Clutter, back to camera, takes his turn as his partner Randy Smith, left and Jerry ‘Coon Dog’ Koons of Pana look on. Koon’s clear winner. Sometimes whether by partner, Roy Easton is not pictured. TOP: Eight bean bags and two platforms are all one needs to play. skill, luck or a serendipitous windfall, one team knocks the other’s bag in especially to purists, born in Kenthe hole scoring three points for his tucky or southern Ohio, where the opponent. game is said to have originated in this The game is co-ed and family oricountry 100 years ago, it’s known simented. Women play on the men’s ply as corn hole. teams, or it might be a team of The game can be played anywhere women against a team of men, or kids indoors or out, depending, of course, playing the old guard. Players in on the weather. It can be played in the wheelchairs or on crutches are also yard, on the driveway, in parks, at welcome. or the beach. And the campgrounds “It’s just a fun game for everyone,” game is safer than horseshoes. The 6said Kindra Pope, whose was playing by-6-inch bags weighing 14 to 16 with Carrie ounces are Collins. Pope, a made of soft, petite, 22-year12-ounce duck old who weighs canvas, filled 100 pounds with corn or when wet, said soybeans. the game can “It definitely get exiting. beats nearly 3 “When you pounds of iron put one through coming at you,” the hole, it’s Koons joked. cause for celeLike other bration. I’m sports, the new to the game is often game, Pope used as a said “but it’s a fundraiser.

Koons tosses a bean bag during a recent tournament at the Eagles in Pana. lot of fun with a A recent lot of great peomatch at the ple, most of local Moose them friends.”

H O W TO P L AY Club, where Just then, well as the American Corn tered 9 inches from the top The platforms in playing each adult Collin’s partner, Hole Association, there are and 12 inches from each bean-bag toss, also known player chose a shooting from a number of websites to side. The two platforms are as corn hole, are 2 feet youngster as a the opposite visit including www.american spaced 30 feet apart, wide, four feet long, 2½ partner, aided Kindra Pope of Tower Hill lets the bean bag end of the cornhole.org, www.playcornmeasuring from the center inches tall at the front and fly with a perfect toss that added three points the local food court, put one hole.org or www.ajjcornhole.

12 inches above the ground of the holes. For more inforto her team score. pantry. in the hole com. mation about the game as at the rear. The hole is cenGlen Niehart causing her to and his wife throw her Lois of Pana have been playing the hands in the air while shouting “It fun for the whole family,” Steve the air or snatch them off the platgame for many years during family whoops of approval. form and run off with it.” said. “It’s a great way to pass an outings at a farm pond on land they The game, which is now played “It’s always a fun time, in a pastoral afternoon at family get-togethers.” own near Rosamond. worldwide, is growing in popularity, setting on a sunny summer day with “It a pretty simple game, really,” “It’s always a good time,” Glen said. family and friends,” Lois added. but it is not new. Its roots predate the Coon Dog said. “If you have two plat“The only problem we’ve had over the age of Shakespeare and it’s called by Steve Beyers, who farms near forms and eight bean bags, you’re all many names including corn toss, bean years is with the dog. We often had to Oconee, agrees. His family has been set.” bag and soft horseshoes, among them, coax it to bring our bags back. That playing the game every summer for but according to the official website, silly thing would catch one of them in pjacobs837@yahoo.com years.

HANDS

Continued from page 1 used cookie cutters and a plastic knife to mold her Play-Doh into small, skinny strips.

“I’m going to roll it,” said Sincere Dady, 5, as he used his hands to roll his blue PlayDoh into a ball.

Executive director Janice Baldwin said children often learn and develop while they play. “They (the children) think it’s a fun game, but they don’t realize they’re working their muscles and developing skills.”

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscle movements in body parts such as the hands, fingers and wrists that enable children to do things such as pinching objects between the thumb and forefinger, holding and using a pencil or paintbrush, putting small puzzle pieces together and using a fork to eat.

Baldwin said it’s important for parents and children to work on these skills from an early age.

“The earlier children start doing activities and things with their hands, the more dexterity they’ll develop in preschool and kindergarten,” she said, noting that increased

Herald & Review/Jim Bowling

Amir Richardson plays with string while threading it through shapes to developing fine motor skills with fellow student Tianna Cliff. fine motor control can help in terms of learning to zip a zipper or tie a shoe. “Sometimes when we get a child that hasn’t been coming here from a young age, a lot of times if they haven’t been practicing fine motor development early on, it can be harder for them to grasp a pencil or do some of the other fine motor activities.”

Janet Truitt, a teacher in the day care center’s infant room, agreed.

“There are simple things we and the parents can do with the babies, and the earlier the better,” she said. “It can be as

simple as the babies holding a bottle. We also do a lot of clapping and have them try to pick up toys with their fingers or turn the pages of a (fabric or board) book. We do (baby) sign language with them, too.”

At Pershing Early Learning Center, pre-kindergarten teacher Hilary Lohrstorfer has different activity centers in her classroom that focus on fine motor skill development, such as a table where students can string beads onto a long shoe string.

“I’m making a necklace for my mommy,” said Kellie Stinnett, 3, as she strung brightly-

colored beads of different sizes onto her red string.

Over in another area of the room, 4-year-old Liberty Hinton was practicing fine motor skills as she painted a picture.

“I’m painting a picture of a park,” she said. “I really like painting.”

“These types of activities help a lot with writing,” said Lohrstorfer, noting that students typically get one hour of free play each day, during which time they can play at any of the centers they choose.

“We really work with the kids on holding and grasping items and getting them used to writing tools, and we encourage parents to work on it with them at home, too.”

Regina Rhodes, owner of Next of Kiln Ceramics in Mount Zion, said working on fine motor development can also be beneficial for a child’s mental and emotional development.

“We want the kids who come (to the art studio) to experience how to work in a social setting,” she explained. “They learn how to wait their turn and how to listen to directions, but they also get to make a piece of art.”

From using wooden skewers and cookie cutters to cut and shape the clay to painting their clay masterpiece,

Rhodes said the idea is to foster independence and positive self-esteem.

“They love to play with the clay, and we like to let them choose what colors they want to use when they paint them,” she said, adding that children as young as two years old can participate.

And with the clay creations taking two weeks to harden and fire in a kiln, Rhodes said the children also learn patience.

“I think they learn there’s a reward for their hard work,” she said, “and the reward is when they get to come pick up their artwork. Immediately they gasp and they’re so excited when they see it because they realize they did it. That’s my favorite part.”

Rhodes said whether it’s just playing with clay, practicing cutting, or painting at home, the earlier children can begin working on fine and gross motor development, the more successful they will be as they get older.

“The sooner you can introduce a child to something creative, the better,” she said.

“That creativity and love of art will grow with them, and kids need that.” nharbour@herald-review.com| (217) 421-7963

BUSY HANDS Activities parents and children can do at home to develop strong fine motor skills: n Practice molding and rolling Play-Doh or clay into balls by using the palms of your hands n Use pegs and toothpicks to make designs in Play-Doh or clay n Use a spray bottle to water plants n Pick up small objects such as Cheerios or small marshmallows using a set of large tweezers n String beads, Cheerios or macaroni to make a necklace n Practice scrunching up one sheet of newspaper using just one of your hands to build hand and finger strength n Play with Legos or building blocks n Have your child break small bubbles on bubble wrap by pressing the wrap between their pointer finger and thumb —Courtesy of Pershing Early Learning Center

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SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

PLAY 3

Treasure hunters arriving Shelbyville to host Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure this week

COMMUNITY

PROFILE

By CHRIS LUSVARDI H&R Staff Writer

SULLIVAN — Travis Hughes wants to be as discreet as possible when he goes geocaching.

But while holding a GPS and looking for items that can be small and hard for others to find, the Sullivan man realizes that’s not always possible. One time he was at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for a baseball game and spotted a cache.

Wanting to sign the log for the cache, Hughes said he had no choice but to grab it and a guy behind him recognized what he was doing as geocaching.

“We don’t want to worry about muggles finding them,” Hughes said in reference to a term for ordinary people popularized in the Harry Potter books. “Geocaching is growing by leaps and bounds.”

Hughes and thousands of others have found geocaching to be an enjoyable hobby as they discover new places and meet new people. Caches can be hidden with varying degrees of difficulty from handicap accessible to needing special equipment to reach it.

More than 2 million finds of caches have now been recorded, Hughes said.

“It’s not in the treasure we find,” said Mark Shanks, another geocacher from Shelbyville. “The treasure is the adventure.”

Shanks said geocaching has taken him and his family to scenic places and other spots while on vacation. He has taken an interest in it for nearly 10 years.

“We caught the bug for it,” Shanks said. “We can do it without much planning.”

As participants become more involved in geocaching, they develop nicknames, said Hughes, who has about 3,000 finds to his credit. He is known as Chief Illini for his interest in keeping the tradition alive.

The names are all part of the geocaching experience, Hughes said.

He likes to hide and find caches in places of significance, such as old cemeteries where Revolutionary War soldiers have been buried.

“It can be something that has meaning to it,” Hughes said. “They’re in places you won’t see sitting on the couch.”

A cache typically contains a log book for those who find it

CITY: Mattoon COUNTY: Coles POPULATION: 18,555 MAYOR: Tim Gover EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS: Bagelfest, Lake Mattoon, Paradise Lake, Lake Land College INDUSTRY: RR Donnelley, Lenders Bagel MAJOR HIGHWAYS: Interstate 57, U.S. 45, Illinois 16 and Illinois 121 ON THE WEB: www.mattoon chamber.com or mattoon.illinois.gov non

Herald & Review photos/Lisa Morrison

Travis Hughes thought he knew where the cache at the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development office was located. The cache is no longer at the previous location, and he will let the owner know so he can hide another cache. to sign and then leave in place for the next person to find, Hughes said. Other items can be hidden with it for those who find it to take with them.

A GPS is used to get someone near the cache, but then they must know what they’re looking for once in the right location, Hughes said. Permission should be granted from property owners before hiding a cache anywhere, Hughes said.

Coordinates of where to look for caches are available for those who sign up at www.geocaching.com.

With more people having smartphones, a GPS is no longer as necessary as it was as the activity was first becoming popular, Shanks said. All the information, including GPS, can be found on smartphones, Shanks said.

Hughes said much of the cost comes with buying batteries and fuel to get places.

“It’s cheap entertainment,”

Hughes shows how small and camouflaged a cache can be. This device will contain a small list for people to sign when they find it.

Event expected to benefit businesses The center of activities for the Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure event Thursday to April 7 will be in Shelbyville, but geocachers are expected to branch out throughout the Lake Shelbyville area.

Between 100 and 150 new caches are expected to be hidden just for the event and remain afterward, said Phil Manhart with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is helping to host the event.

Businesses throughout the area are expected to benefit from the thousands of visitors coming from across the country. The event in Iowa last year attracted visitors from 38 states and three countries.

“We were very fortunate to be selected to host the event,”

said Tad Mayhall, a volunteer with Shelbyville Works who has been helping to explain to area businesses the expected impact of the event.

Manhart expects a positive economic impact with the influx of visitors coming not just for the event but returning afterward.

The welcome center for visitors has been moved to Shelbyville High School after it was originally scheduled to be at the Chautauqua Auditorium in Shelbyville. The Shelbyville City Council has been considering plans to demolish the more than 100-year-old pavilion, leaving its future in doubt.

For more information and a complete schedule of upcoming events, go to mogageo. com/JM25/

Hughes said. “It’s drawing all these people in. It’s good for small communities like this.”

More than 1,000 geocachers have been gathering for the past 10 years at various spots for the Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure. It will be Thursday to April 7 in the Lake Shelbyville area.

After traveling to events in other areas, Hughes is looking forward to having it in his own backyard.

“They’ll branch out, and you’ve got people nonstop coming and going,” Hughes said. “These people get to come to my small town USA and see what we have to offer.”

For Shanks, who owns the Monical’s Pizza in Shelbyville, the event is an opportunity to host other cachers.

Shanks has been known to put pizza coupons in his caches, making him a popular guy for others to trail behind.

“The caches will stay around, so people will be able to come back to Lake Shelbyville throughout the summer,” Shanks said. “Lake Shelbyville has been a great area for geocaching because of its scenic, out-of-the-way spots.”

Phil Manhart of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said hosting the event is a way to get people active and

clusvardi@herald-review.com| (217) 421-7972

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“Some might take a hike in the woods having never been out in nature,” Manhart said.

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All the trappings Shooting event is nearly 80 years old and has become an area favorite

FROM OUR

READERS

sBy PHIL JACOBS For the Herald & Review

OCONEE — Judging from the history of the Sacred Heart trap shoot, which is usually held on the first Sunday in November, you might think it was started by a postal worker rather than a Catholic priest. “(The 75th annual event in 2009) was the only time in the history of the event that it had to be postponed,” said Jim Temmen, who has been volunteering there for many years. The postponement was due to incessant, heavy rains that left standing water in the shooting areas and in the traps, part of which are below ground.

But the shooters have historically bucked the harsher elements of early winter.

“We have shot in the snow and when it was so cold we had to bring out heaters. We have also had a lot of nice days, and days when it has rained continuously. Whatever the weather, we just tried to make the best of it. In the early years, the event was always scheduled for the Sunday before Thanksgiving which, weatherwise, can be even less accommodating,” he said.

The event, now approaching its 80th year, began as a fundraiser in 1934 in the midst of the Great Depression when then-parish priest, Father Michael J. McGovern, himself an avid hunter, gathered some parishioners together to

Photos for the Herald & Review/Phil Jaocbs

Clarence Schmitz, 89, of rural Pana has been shooting trap most of his life, though he retired the old Model 12 Winchester and now uses this Ithaca 12-guage over and under, which he has used at the annual Oconee event. TOP: Schmitz loads his shotgun. organize the initial event. As the years passed, it became one of the most popular trap shoots in the area, drawing shooters from towns and villages throughout the state.

Proceeds from the trap

shoot and from the annual fall festival, which begins on the last Sunday in September and continues for three Sundays in October, support Catholic education for parish children attending

Sacred Heart Grade School in Pana.

While the goal of the shoot has stayed pretty much the same, there have been some minor changes as it has become one of the most popu-

Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

Shooters and guests line up for some to the homemade food.

A team of shooters line up as a scorer prepares to record their scores.

lar trap shoots in the area, drawing shooters from towns and villages throughout the state.

“For many years, the turkeys and geese, which were prizes for the best shooters, were ‘on the hoof,’ ” said longtime volunteer, Clarence Schmitz. “Sometimes, as we went to retrieve them from the stock truck, one or two would escape and we had to have the younger kids chase them down.

“In those days, too, the traps had to be operated manually,” Schmitz said. “Thankfully, today, the 10-pound turkeys, 5-pound packages of bacon and hams are frozen and an electrical launch system has replaced the manual one.”

One of the favorite pastimes at the shoot is visiting the food court in a partially converted machine shed on what has become the permanent site of the annual affair.

It features homemade vegetable soup and chili, hot dogs, hamburgers and pulledpork sandwiches, a wide assortment of homemade cakes, cookies and pies along with plenty of steaming coffee, hot chocolate and various soft drinks.

The concession stand is staffed by a rotating group of 55 ladies who, besides working the counter, contributed all of the homemade goods.

Another popular attraction is the lottery wheel, which runs all day. Tickets are $1 and the frequent winners receive their choice of bacon, sausage or a turkey.

And through the changes, the difficult weather and the good shooting, the real aim is charity.

As the 80th anniversary of the event approaches, the organizers said they are trying to come up with something special to mark its passing, but for now, any such plans are still on the drawing board. pjacobs837@yahoo.com

I teach at Oak Grove School in Decatur and have taught three of Angie and Jason King’s children.

Angie is a nurse, which makes her deserve “A Big Thumbs Up,” but, that is not why I am writing this. Angie went to school while raising three children, which also is a reason she should earn “A Big Thumbs Up.” Again, that is not why I am writing this. Angie continues to help me in my classroom by taking work home to do at night. She says she enjoys it and her children, Carley and Jalen, like to call it her “homework.”

Even though her children have not been in my classroom for two years (I teach kindergarten and her youngest is in second grade), she continues to cut papers, make books, write names and copy numbers for me. Jalen’s class is across the hall from me, and he definitely gets a sparkle in his eye when I give him “homework” for his Mom. Being a helper and saving me hours of work is not the reason I am writing this for “A Big Thumbs Up,” either. The reason I am writing this is because Angie is such an excellent parent. She deserves “A Big Thumbs Up” for being supportive of teachers and education.

When I taught her oldest daughter, Amber, Angie proved to me right away that she expected the best from Amber. I would see Angie bring Amber to school early in the morning and she and Amber would sit in the van and would often be reading together. All three of Angie and Jason’s children are taught to be respectful, hard workers and to do their best in school. I read on a poster that “Parents are the First Teachers,” and that is why I think Angie King deserves “A Big Thumbs Up.” —Jill Hughes, Decatur

Aspen Ridge Care Centre is now

We’re not just changing our name, we’re changing our tune.

Exciting renovations, centered around a new philosophy of care, are happening at Symphony of Decatur.

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2530 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526

| (217) 875-0920 | symphonyofdecatur.com

A member of the

8 PLAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

www.herald-review.com

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

D E C AT U R PA R K D I S T R I C T A N N U A L R E P O R T

2012 Highlights Scovill Zoo Enhancements

Anne & Al Swartz Pavilion at Hickory Point

On May 18, a ribbon cutting was held for the new Scovill Zoo Entrance Plaza, which includes ADA accessible restrooms, a new concession building, and a beautiful archway with hand-crafted animal cut-outs. Also celebrated was the completion of a wolf viewing window, as well as a wolf art display donated by the estate of William T. Eichenauer, i ^ z } {~ |} _~}| i z } g ~} ¤

Thanks to a generous gift from the Anne & Al Swartz Trust, a striking new venue is now available for community events, golf outings, weddings, and family gatherings. The Anne & Al Swartz Pavilion at Hickory Point features sweeping views of the golf course, weather-resistant fabric wind screens, catering options, and {| { {| ~ } ~ ¢ guests. In the future, funds from the trust will be used to enhance recreational programs, update facilities, and complete projects that may not }} i | | h ~} ¤

Schaub Horticulture Greenhouse June 1 marked the grand opening of the Schaub Horticulture Greenhouse in Sportsman’s b ~ ¤ ] } _ |¦ ¥| ¦ ¢¢ } { ~ ¥ | |g { } | { | } ~ the District’s Horticulture Staff to propagate the annuals and perennials planted in beds throughout our parks and facilities each year. The horticulture center and greenhouse were made possible through grants and a generous gift from the former Lindsay-Schaub newspapers, along with Robert D. Schaub. The Howard Schaub family of Decatur was on hand to celebrate the occasion.

ADA Accessibility To ensure that the Park District complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we }} }} | ~ }} { | g ` ~ | }} |g }{ | |}¦ _~ i | z ~ ¢¢ g ~} h ~ }} |g }{ | ¤ x |g¥} h ~ } | } i ~ ~ z i ¦ ~ }{ |} z ¥z { { | | | } z | | b ~ }|~ | }|~ | z _ ¤ }g}| | ~ } | | { | parks and facilities to accommodate all individuals, including those with disabilities.

Stevens Creek Trail Extension & Enhancements to Hess Park c | ~ ~ h | { z } | | |{~ b ~ }|~ |m c c | ~ ¦ t } ~| | ~ { |{~ ~ | ~ x ~ i } { }| } ~ | ~ {|| ~ | ^| z } ~ |~ h| } ¦ i } {| { ¦ i } ~ x ~z i b ~ | w~ b ~ ¤ c c | ~ ¦ t } ~| | n |{~ Resources Director Marc Miller joined Park District leadership and Harris School students for the ribbon cutting celebrating enhancements to Hess Park, including an ADA accessible playground, walking trail, restrooms, and spray pad.

Land Swap with ADM Win/Win for Community Lakeshore Landing Unveiled c ^ | ~ ¦ | { |g ~ z |} _~}| glimpse of Lakeshore Landing, the multi-phase revitalization plan at Lake Decatur/Nelson Park, designed to provide year-round activities for residents and visitors, spur economic develop |¦ ~ z {~ { |gs} { |g ¤ ] innovative design plans are the result of more than two years of community meetings and ~ | ¤ i _| }} |~ ¦ } {~} ¦ ~ z | in Nelson Park, and a new promenade and public boat docks have been completed in front of the Beach House. A state-of-the-art miniature golf course and amphitheater are h | } m x ~ | }¦ z } | iii¤ } ~ ¤ ~ ¤

Bassmasters at Lake Decatur c ^ | ~ j ¦ q |{~ n } b ~ }| | ¢ yz Williams Bassmaster All-Star Championship, featuring the nation’s top anglers, interactive displays, and concerts in the park. The event, presented by the Decatur Park District, Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Decatur Celebration, contributed over k ¢¢¦¢¢¢ { |g | {~ } _|}¤

Community Partners Thanks to our valued community partners, the Decatur Park District is able to enhance the EH=CME? BM<H88? HILJ=MD;<? =<I :L=CDMA ;G CDGH G;9 =CC D< MEH F9H=MH9 KHJ=ML9 =9H=> •

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At the IAPD Best of the Best Awards Gala last fall, the Decatur Park District’s partner} } i | |{~ p ~ u } | |{~ b{ ^ }|~ | l |~ {| | | ~ | |i ~ }| {} i ~ }¤ pu i } }| x~ t } b ~ } ~ |} g ~} _ }{ ~| ~ | |{~ b ~ }|~ |s} ~ ~ }¦ collaboration on recreational projects like Redbird Rookies Baseball, and efforts to ~ z | | {~ { |gs} } ~} i | | x | ~ ~ | | t^ ¤ x ~ z ~ ¢ g ~}¦ b^ l } ~ | i | | b ~ }|~ | | _| }|{ |} ~ } r ¤ t | }{ ~ ¢ ¦ | } ¦¢¢¢ }|{ |} | z }{~ }{ }} ~ | { { { | z ~ |¤ The educational component of our summer park programming is made possible by ADM; DMH is our valued golf partner; athletic programs and Staley Striders are made }} | } | | _ }{ ~| ] | j qg | |{~ b ~ ^ ~} x ~}| ] w _| ~ ~ ^ z } }{ ~| g | ~ } |g ] ^ g¤ §^c¡¦ § n u ¦ | u ~ j ` z i ~ z { ~| ~}¤ § ¥ p ~| } } } ~ | | ¦ p i }| x ~ } } } ~ p ^| | ^ ~ { ¤ The Park District maintains an important relationship with Millikin University in the ~ | | t^ ¤ ] ~| ~} } i} | { |g | _| ~ } ~ | } | h ~| } } ~ ~ }} } {} ¦ | | }¦ _| }}¦ ¦ | ~|}¤

c n z ~ ¦ { | i } | } {}} | } | h ¤ acres on Decatur’s northwest side for Spencer Park, adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland, ¤ ] ~ h i z | i g ~ z | ps} { | transportation center, which will allow the company to store, load, and ship rail containers { ~ { | ~ h ~| ~ { | i ~ ¤ ] ~ | } } | z ~ | g } | z ~ b ~ }|~ | |~ }¦ } | h i i {} | h| | Stevens Creek bike trail, build a new walking trail, and renovate three parks in partnership with Decatur Memorial Hospital, Parkway Church of the Nazarene, and Robertson Charter School.

Park Board President Chris Riley Named Commissioner of the Year At the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) “Soaring to New Heights” Confer ¦ b ~ ~ b~ } | ~ } ` g i } ~ } ¢ }} ~ | ¡ ~¤ ` |} | } }| { } i ~ z } i {|}| { | } | }{ ~| promote parks, recreation, and conservation in their communities. Riley was selected ~ ¦ ¢¢ | ~ ~} | ¢ ~ }|~ |}¦ ~ }| ~ } ~z }¦ conservation districts across the state of Illinois.

Did You Know?

The Decatur Park District was proud recipient of the following H&R Readers’ Choice Awards: #1 Best Central IL Golf Course - Hickory Point; #2 Best Central IL Golf Course ` ] `{ l }| |~ tq w {~} ^ z l }| x | }} | ~ j l }| Place for Kids’ Parties – DISC; #2 Best Place for Kids’ Parties - Scovill Zoo. Thank you for g {~ }{ ~|m Ov ~ ¦¢¢¢ z { | ~} | ~ | ¦¢¢¢ {~} | ^ z ¦ ~ }¦ ~ ~ | programs, arts performances, Special Recreation events, soccer tournaments, and golf | {~ |} g ~¤ § ~ ~ | { ~ | ~ } ~z m t ~| ~} i | | t } ^| | ~ y { | ¦ | b ~ }|~ | ~ z ¦¢¢¢ } | z ~ ¦ ¢¢ ~ ~ g ¢ ¤ ] }|~ | } ~z } } } } | sites, including Old King’s Orchard and the Boys & Girls Club. t ¢ ¦ | b ~ }|~ | }| ~ } ~¦ | }¦ } | ¦ | {~ |} } i } | tu^ }} ~ }} { |~g } | }¦ | | |~ {| | ¦ ~ |} z ~ k { |g | {~ } _|}¤

Looking Forward x ~ g ~}¦ | b ~ }|~ | } i ~ | { _ {~ { |gs} } ~ physical well-being, productive leisure activities, and outdoor parks and recreation } }¤ ¢ i ~ h | i ~|{ | } } i i { } i f ~ | ^ z ¦ | { h } | ^| z } ~ |~ ¦ | | Park District’s long-range strategic plan, and collaborate with the City of Decatur in ~ | h | | z | }¦ z { } z |} | q } ~ q ¤

217-422-5911 www.decatur-parks.org b `r^ ^ c¨tqq cc `t tnw yn]y` na©y] x tqt]ty^ wcqx c©`^y^ bccq y ]©` tn cc` ^bc`]^ yn]y`

www.herald-review.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

PLAY 7

FROM OUR

READERS My husband and I would like to give “A Big Thumbs Up” to Dr. Cynthia Marschner and her office staff. As patients at this office, we have found our experience to be positive for these reasons: n Dr. Marschner listens to us carefully and with her full attention. We never feel rushed. n When her nurses say they will call you back, they do. n Everyone we have dealt with is friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and caring. n New prescriptions and refills are faxed quickly to our pharmacy for pick up. n Most importantly, we never, ever doubt that they will give us the best advice and treatment that they are capable of giving. They have gained our complete trust.

Thank you for the outstanding job you do.

— Larry and Barbara Baker, Decatur Herald & Review photos/Jim Bowling

Mount Zion Grade School second-grader Nathan Hart emerges from a mobile planetarium during a school field trip to the Children’s Museum of Illinois.

Learning events Children’s Museum of Illinois family programs attract more interest

By NICOLE HARBOUR H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR — Mount Zion Grade School second-grader Tia Veale carefully glued small squares of construction paper onto a black background, creating a freedom quilt square as she and her classmates learned about slavery and the Underground Railroad at the Children’s Museum of Illinois.

“It’s not really a railroad,” Veale, 8, a student in Colleen Shewski’s second-grade class, said of the Underground Railroad as she concentrated on making a “flying geese” quilt square. “It’s people that help bring you to freedom.”

“That’s right,” said museum educator Mary Beth Wickline who led the workshop, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” noting that slaves also used freedom quilts and the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to help communicate where safe housTHE es were NET and direct others For more infornorth. mation, visit www.

“The freecmofil.org or call dom quilt (217) 423-5437 worked because it was very common for quilts to be laid out to dry and the masters were clueless that the quilts and the quilt squares were symbols that had meaning.”

Shewski said while her students had been learning about slavery in her classroom two weeks prior to the workshop, she was hopeful the students’ visit to the museum would give them a fun, hands-on way to reinforce what they’d learned.

“I’m hoping they take away a better understanding of what they’ve learned in class and what the slaves went through to get their freedom,” she said.

For new Executive Director Nicole Bateman, who took the reigns of the museum in October 2012, that’s the overarching goal of the museum, as well.

“We really want to do some special things and turn them into fun learning opportunities,” she said of the museum’s workshops and special events.

Established in 1990 in Rock Springs Nature Center, the children’s museum has been an important community fixture for 23 years, and Bateman said she hopes to build on that reputation.

“We want to do some special workshops on school holidays so that kids can learn what the day is really about, like Lincoln’s Birthday,” she said. “We want to keep bringing people back here.”

“We want people’s experiences here to be very impactful,” said Kate Flemming, the museum’s marketing and fundraising coordinator.

One way in which the museum is working toward that goal is through more

non After many years of working in the corporate world, making the move to St. Mary’s Hospital eight months ago has given me an opportunity to see what goes on inside the hospital that most don’t from the outside.

Let me share a little about life inside this healing ministry and why I feel St. Mary’s Hospital deserves “A Big Thumbs Up.” n An opportunity for spiritual growth is offered to all colleagues, while working in an environment that welcomes all faiths and all people. n What a wonderful feeling to be part of an organization that cares about the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of everyone. n Every morning, a prayer is shared for our patients, visitors and colleagues. Every meeting is started with a prayer or reflection. n Mass is open to all, regardless of their faith, and a prayer request book is open for all to share their requests. Perpetual adoration is offered in the chapel both day and night — all due to dedicated volunteers.

It is truly amazing to be in an environment that welcomes, embraces and cares for all who come through the hospital doors and beyond.

The mission of the founding sisters that started this healing ministry 135 years ago has not been forgotten and lives within each of us every day.

St. Mary’s Hospital has my big thumbs up award!

—Debbie Seitz, Decatur

non

TOP: Museum educator Mary Beth Wickline explains how gourds were used to drink water on the Underground Railroad. LOWER LEFT: From left, museum volunteer Jeanine Hunter assists second-graders Hannah Gebke, Dakota Harrison and Tia Veale make freedom quilt squares during a field trip. LOWER RIGHT: Second-grade teacher Colleen Shewski assists Dakota Harrison, Tia Veale and other students into a mobile planetarium.

UPCOMING EVENTS n April 14: Family Science Sunday n April 17 to 19: Fairy Tale Ball n April 20: Money Smart Week kickoff with crafts and readings of “The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money” at noon and 2 p.m. n April 24: Duck Derby Kickoff Day n May 4: Duck Derby n May 12: Family Science Sunday and the Children’s Museum of Illinois’ 23rd Birthday family programs and events such as Family Science Sundays. Made possible through a sponsorship deal with Archer Daniels Midland Co. and a partnership with Richland Community College, the series allows families to bond, have fun and learn the second Sunday of

each month.

“We had our first (Family Science Sunday) in January, and the kids really liked it,” said Bateman, noting that the first program in the series focused, “Whodunnit?” aimed to teach kids the basics of forensic science by allowing them to use microscopes and hair and fingerprint analysis to solve mysteries, such as determining who had stolen a gift that wasn’t theirs.

Flemming said the idea for the series came from another children’s museum.

“There was a children’s museum in Connecticut that did something like this,” she said, “so we used that museum as a model and wrote a grant, and we ended up getting some money from ADM. We had 30 kids at our first one, and we’re hoping it picks up throughout the year.”

“The kids and adults all

really enjoyed it,” added Bateman. “It was fun and a nice, happy medium; the parents were into it because of shows like CSI, and the kids were excited about it because it was interesting and not necessarily something they’d cover in school.”

Bateman said the museum is also hoping to partner more often with the Decatur Park District and Scovill Zoo. “We’re on park district land, so it would be great to do more outside,” she said, noting that the museum will be a host site for the park district’s Camp Connections again this summer.

Additionally, Bateman said she hopes to spice up the museum’s existing events, such as the Fairy Tale Ball and the Decatur Duck Derby.

“We really want to make our events bigger,” she said.

“This year, we did a Medieval Times theme with ‘A Knight

to Remember’ and had fencing demonstrations and turkey legs and chili, and for the Duck Derby, we’re going to have a Kentucky Derby theme where the kids wear big, floppy hats and bowties.

Our attendance numbers are really increasing this year, so I think we must be doing something right.”

With new exhibits slated for the fall, as well as events such as the Fairy Tale Ball and Kidstock scheduled for this spring and summer, Bateman said she’s excited for the rest of the coming months.

“We’re excited for a new beginning and to make these events and experiences new for the entire community,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s just great to take this jewel and make it even bigger and brighter.” nharbour@herald-review.com| (217) 421-7963

“A Big Thumbs Up” goes to Charlesette Webster, volunteer extraordinaire at Scovill Zoo in Decatur.

Charlesette has been helping make the zoo one of the most favorite destinations for families in Decatur and the surrounding areas for about 20 years while working with her husband Dave Webster, who is the zoo director.

Charlesette met Dave when they both worked at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Vacations for Charlesette and Dave always involve animals and visiting zoos, except when she moved her mother from Baltimore to Decatur. Zoos are and have always been a large part of her life while raising four children, being very involved with nine grandchildren, and being a caregiver to her mother. In her spare time, she volunteers as a Master Naturalist.

Charlesette is the keeper and caregiver of the 13 raptors at Scovill Zoo, which includes all of the owls, a hawk, two eagles and a vulture. She orders their food, feeds them each evening and comforts them when it is time for the veterinarian to examine the birds. Several birds have been hatched and raised by her at the zoo. She has tamed several owls and trained volunteers to handle the owls for public presentations. She is also involved in organizing the special events such as Boo at the Zoo and supporting school tours.

The Scovill Zoo presents certificates to volunteers at an annual banquet each year recognizing the number of hours they have contributed; her certificate simply says, “lots and lots” of hours. I don’t think anyone knows for sure how much time she volunteers at the zoo, but it is north of 1,500 hours each year. Be assured Decatur is a better place to live because of what Charlesette Webster gives to her community.

—Doug Antonelli, Mount Zion