April 2015

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April 2015

Information, Education and Entertainment for Northeast Florida Families

MAY 2 & 3 Metropolitan Park One-day Pass $5

Experience rich traditions, beautiful customs and amazing foods from more than 35 countries.

See dragons dance, hear new music, listen to fascinating storytellers and maybe even learn to folk dance!

The possibilities are endless!

JaxHappenings.com

Page 2 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Letter From The Editor

Contents

Dear Readers,

April 2015

A

n estimated one out of every 68 children are affected with Autism. April is Autism Awareness month and in this issue Dr. Ozdemir of Pediatric Associates of Jacksonville helps us to understand Autism. In our Tidbits this month, read about how you can help shine a light on Autism (page 36).

living well Community Profile: Wolfson Children’s Hospital....................................... 5 Passover & Easter Events........................................................................ 6

Health & safety

If you love Spring but Spring doesn’t love you, turn to page 8 and read Dr. Joshi of Family Allergy Asthma Consultants’ tips for you during Pollen season.

Soon Spring will turn to Summer and children will be out of school. Summer Camp planning is well underway and you’ll find many options on pages 9 through 13.

There are so many great events happening during the month of April we could have published an entire newspaper filled with events. You’ll find all of them listed in our online events directory at www.jax4kids.com. Here are a few we think are exceptional family fun. Disney On Ice, Let’s Celebrate will be at the Veterans Memorial Arena from April 9th through 12th. You can save $5 on tickets using the code J4K15. There will be a special School Performance on Friday, April 10th at 10:30am. Tickets are $10. Call 1-866-248-8740 (option 3) and mention Jax4Kids. The Cake Boss returns to Jacksonville on April 8th! Turn to page 24 for show details. Mythbusters fans, Jamie & Adam will be at the Florida Theatre on April 28th.

Jax4Kids.com is proud to sponsor several great events this April - the Clay County Fair opens on April 2nd for ten days of wholesome family fun.

We bring you the 25th Earth Day Ecology Fair at the Jacksonville Landing on April 18th, and on April 25th, join us for the Butterfly Festival at Tree Hill Nature Center and on April 26th at 2pm, join us for pre-concert activities at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of The Twins

Spring Pollen Season Is Upon Us............................................................. 8 Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle..................................................................... 8 Important Facts About Measles............................................................... 9 and the Monster. Easter and Passover events are on page 6 and you’ll find more online at www. jax4kids.com.

We have assembled ideas and money-saving tips to help you in planning your child’s next Birthday Party. Whether you have toddlers or teens or children in between, the fun begins on page 15.

Pull this section out and keep it for future reference. You can visit our online Birthday Parties resource at www.jax4kids.com and our Birthday Parties Pinterest board for more ideas.

Happy Easter or Passover!

Until next month, Alison Peters-Carlson Editor

Summer Camps...............................................................9-13 Birthday parties Start with a Plan...................................................................................16 Preserving Birthday Memories...............................................................16 Bounce House Safety............................................................................17 Money-saving Birthday Party Tips..........................................................18 Low Key Events for Little Ones..............................................................19 Tried and True Party Games for Tots.......................................................20 That’s My Job, Captain Character, Children’s Entertainer........................20 Favorite Party Themes.....................................................................21-22 Party Ideas for Teens.......................................................................23-24

education

It’s Time to Celebrate our Poets and Poetry............................................26 Is Dual Enrollment an Option for Your High School Student?....................27

duval county public schools..........................28 clay county school news....................................29 st. johns county school news..................30-31 Teens Fight Distractions with the Spider Technique..........................................32

Infant & Toddler

More Children Getting Cavities at a Younger Age....................................33

Follow us...

Alison Peters-Carlson Editor....................................... editor@jax4kids.com Linda Bigbee Graphic Designer......................................linda@jax4kids.com Judi Fields Circulation Manager........................................judi@jax4kids.com Doug Berle Advertising Sales......................................... doug@jax4kids.com Beth Canonica Advertising Sales.................................... beth@jax4kids.com Donna Paunetto Advertising Sales.............................. donna@jax4kids.com Mary Gustafson Business Manager............................... mary@jax4kids.com Published by Child Enrichment, LLC, 12620-3 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. Copyright 2015.

Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by Jax4Kids.com To Go is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for any errors and/or omissions. The Publisher’s liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to editor@jax4kids.com. For more information concerning advertising, call 904-710-2020 or e-mail advertise@jax4kids.com.

Page 3 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

special needs

Studies Show 1 in 100 Children Have OCD............................................34 Family Café Conference Set..................................................................34 Controlling Autism in Children is Everyone’s Responsibility......................35

tidbits.........................................................................................36 pets...............................................................................................38 Things to do April Events..........................................................................................39

JAC KS O N V I L L E SY M P H O NY FAM I LY S E R I E S

Sun, Apr 26 at 3 pm

Pre-concert activities begin at 2 pm Jacoby Symphony Hall Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

Two twins must outwit a fierce monster and heal their devastated village.

Norma Lewis brings the story to life using carved masks, singing and movement.

904.354.5547 • JaxSymphony.org

Page 4 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Living well

Community Profile: On A Mission for All T he recent operations to separate conjoined twins have again made the hospital the focus of the national media. But it’s not the exotic cases that make this organization such an important part of our community. Its mission is to provide world-class pediatric care to all the children in the region.

Recognized year after year as one of America’s top children’s hospitals, Wolfson is the only full-service hospital for children in North Florida and South Georgia, providing care regardless of their ability to pay.

and is affiliated with the nursing programs at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida State College Jacksonville, St. Johns River Community College, the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Central Florida.

A vital part of the hospital’s mission is to advocate on behalf of kids in the public policy arena, making sure that their needs and concerns are heard when important decisions are made.

With the establishment of THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health, funded by a $1 million gift from THE PLAYERS in 2011, they have cemented this mission by focusing on health and wellness, childhood injury prevention, healthcare access and community education. It serves as the lead organization in Safe Kids Northeast Florida, a program to address pediatric injury prevention needs, and to prevent accidental injuries in children 14 and under; The Community Asthma Partnership, a program to educate providers and caregivers to manage the disease; Florida KidCare, helping secure health insurance for children; and, along with the Jaguar Foundation, sponsoring NFL Play 60, a program designed to help prevent childhood obesity by empowering children to make healthier food choices and exercise.

You can help Wolfson complete its mission by donating directly to the Baptist Health Foundation or participating in one of the many fundraising events that support the hospital.

Upcoming events include:

A non-profit organization, Wolfson relies on charitable donations to provide this care. With the aid of an initial $500,000 donation from the Wolfson Family Foundation, the hospital opened in 1955 as a place for all children to be admitted and treated without regard to creed, religion, race or financial position. A part of Baptist Health, the region’s most comprehensive healthcare provider, it is supported by the Baptist Health Foundation and physician partnerships with Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, the University of Florida College of Medicine, Brooks Rehabilitation and the Mayo Clinic.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital is also a center of research and a leading teaching hospital dedicated to training tomorrow’s pediatric doctors, nurses and technical staff.

It serves as the main teaching facility for the University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville’s Pediatric Residency Training Program,

Page 5 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Jacksonville Greek Festival, Apr. 23-25, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Jacksonville Fairgrounds.

5% of proceeds will be donated to Wolfson.

Bowls for Moms, May 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Woodcraft, 9280 Arlington Expressway, proceeds will go to Beads of Courage, which supports the pediatric oncology department.

Riders Against Cancer Poker Run - Motorcycle Charity, May 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pecan Park, proceeds to benefit the oncology department.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament, May 14-16, Palatka City Docks, for more information visit foundation.baptistjax.com/ basstournament j

• Charcoal Drawing • Ebony Pencil Drawing • Design • Clay • Painting • Print Making • Scratchboard Art • Gouache • Sculpture • Adult Classes Register Now For Summer Workshops Two Locations To Serve You: 1406 Kingsley Ave Orange Park, FL 32073 8411 Baymeadows Way #2 Jacksonville, FL 32256

www.WolfsonChildrens.org

904.612.7557

www.childrensartclasses.com

passover & Easter events Passover Matzah Making April 2, 1:30pm to 2:15pm The Jewish Community Alliance hosts Passover Matzah Making for ages 3 to 6. Kids can mix, knead and roll dough into matzah. Cost is $10 for members, and $15 for non-members. Register online. Jewish Community Alliance / 904-7302100 / 8505 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32217 / www.jcajax.org

Easter Egg Suncatcher With Spring Flowers April 3, 11 am We have an amazing selection of flowers right here at Whole Foods Market and today we are going to use flower petals to create an egg shaped suncatcher. This activity is great for little hands!

For lunch we will enjoy pizza and decorate coconut and jellybean cupcakes. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. $5.00 per child. Registration for this Southside Chabad Passover Seder event is required. Visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/ April 3, 7:30pm; April 4, 8pm Enjoy The Seder, serving succulent Urugayan beef easter-egg-suncatcher-with-spring-flowerstickets-16248593982 paired handmade round ‘Shmurah’ Matza from Whole Foods Market / 10601 San Jose Blvd, Israel. Discover the Haggadah and the timeless Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-288-1100 / www. messages of Passover.

First Seder – Friday, April 3, 7:30pm. Adults, $54 wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville Students/Children under 12, $18. Limited to 50 Easter Egg Hunt and Craft reservations.

April 4, 3pm to 5:30pm Second Seder – Saturday April 4, 8pm. Adults $54, Students/Children under 12 $18. Limited to TNT hosts an Easter Egg Hunt and Craft. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, gymnastics 50 reservations. Chabad Southside / 904-6464434 / 11271 Alumni Way, Jacksonville FL 32246 time, open play and more. Ages 2 to 5, 3pm to 4:30pm and ages 6 to 10 from 4pm to 5:30pm. / www.southsidechabad.com Cost is $12 in advance before 3/29 or $15 for late registration/walk-in. Ages 12-23 months are Passover Seder $6. Call to register in advance. TNT Gymnastics April 3, 7pm; April 4, 7:30pm / 904-998-TNT1 / 2683 Saint Johns Bluff Rd, Chabad at the Beaches is inviting all residents to participate in community Seders to be held on Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www.tntgymfit.com Friday night, April 3, and again on Saturday night, Adventure Landing Easter Egg Hunt April 4. Included in the Seder will be traditional Beaches Location • April 4, 9am to 12noon hand made Matzah, and a five course kosher for Passover meal. All are welcome to join the com- Adventure Landing hosts their Annual Easter Egg Hunts on the Mini Golf Courses with a visit by the munity seder, regardless of Jewish affiliation or Easter Bunny. There will be 3 Egg Hunts: 9am, background. Reservations can be made online First Seder: April 3 at 7pm. Adults: $50, Students 10am & 11am. Egg Hunt registration begins at 8am. There are 3 age groups for each hunt: & Children (under 12):$25, Family $250 Ages 4 & Under, 5-8, and 9-12. A $3 Per Child Second Seder: April 4 at 7:30pm. Adults $36, Students & Children (under 12) $18, Family $180 Donation will benefit the American Red Cross Volunteer Life-Saving Corp. Each hunt is followed No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. by a charity raffle. There will also be stay and Chabad Beaches / 904-543-9301 / 521 A1A N. play specials From 9am-2pm, enjoy Unlimited Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.ChabadMini Golf, Laser Tag and Go-Karts. $10 – Guests Beaches.com under 56” tall or $15 – Guests 56” tall and over.

Adventure Landing / 904-246-4386 / 1944 Beach Passover Seder Meal Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.

April 4, 5pm adventurelanding.com Complete Seder meal and dessert with a reading of the Passover story and indepth prophetic Adventure Landing Easter Egg Hunt – Blandteaching of Yeshua/Jesus in the Passover Feast.

Reservations are required and seating is limited. ing Blvd and St. Augustine Adults: $20; Children: $8 (ages 5-12). Reserva- April 4, 9am to 12noon Adventure Landing hosts their Annual Easter tions Required, 904-827-9731.

Egg Hunt on the Mini Golf Courses with a visit Hineni Messianic Fellowship / 904-827-9731 / by the Easter Bunny. There will be 2 Egg Hunts: 1797 Old Moultrie Rd., Ste 102 St. Augustine, FL 9am and 11am. Egg Hunt registration begins at 32084 / www.hinenimessiah.com 8:15am. There are 3 age groups for each hunt: EASTER EVENTS Ages 4 & Under, 5-8, and 9-12. A $3 Per Child Donation will benefit the St. Francis Animal HospiEco-Friendly Egg Hunt tal (Blanding location) or the Betty Griffin House April 2, 11 am (St. Augustine location). Each hunt is followed by Come dressed in your Easter themed outfit for a a charity raffle. There will also be stay and play spring photo op! Color hardboiled eggs with plant specials. From 9am-2pm, enjoy Unlimited Mini and fruit based dye. You will take yours home in Golf and Go-Karts. $10 – Guests under 56” tall or a recycled nest. Join our courtyard egg hunt with $15 – Guests 56” tall and over. over 100 Eco-Friendly eggs! We will enjoy AnAdventure Landing / 904-827-9400 / 2780 State nie’s Bunny Mac & Cheese and decorate coconut Road 16, St. Augustine , FL 32092 / www.advenand jellybean cupcakes. All ages are welcome, turelanding.com but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Adventure Landing / 904-771-2803 / 4825 $5.00 per child. Registration for this event is Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 / www. required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecoadventurelanding.com friendly-egg-hunt-tickets-16248503712 Whole Foods Market / 10601 San Jose Blvd, Easter Eggstravaganza at Chets Creek Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-288-1100 / www.

Elementary • April 4, 9:30am to 12noon wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville This is a free community wide event for fami-

Page 6 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

lies. There will be egg hunts for different ages, inflatables, food, games, crafts, face-painting, and more. Chets Creek Church / 904-223-5954 / Chets Creek Elementary School, 4420 Hodges Boulevard Jacksonville, FL 32224 / hodges. chetscreek.com Easter Eggstravaganza April 4, 10am to 12noon Chets Creek Church hosts an Easter Eggstravaganza on April 4. This is a free community wide event for families. There will be egg hunts for different ages, inflatables, food, games, crafts, face-painting, and more.

Chets Creek Church / 904-223-5954 / Valley Ridge Academy, 105 Greenleaf Drive, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 / nocatee.chetscreek.com The Great Spring Egg Hunt April 4, 10am to 1pm The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens hosts The Great Spring Egg Hunt on the Zoo’s Great Lawn.

Egg hunts will be divided into age groups. Several lucky guests from each age group will find some EGGcellent Zoo gifts. Don’t forget to bring a basket to collect the eggs. There will also be eggrelated enrichment for animals throughout the Zoo. This event is free with regular Zoo admission. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-7574463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.jacksonvillezoo.org Family Life Olympics & Egghunt April 4, 10am to 1pm Southpoint Community Church hosts a Family Life Olympics & Egghunt. There will be competitions for groups of 3 (family teams & kids’ teams K-5th) followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for kids 4 & younger. Plus, enjoy free hot dogs & drinks.

Register online. Southpoint Community Church / 904-281-1188 / 7556 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.southpointcc.com City of Jacksonville Beach Easter Egg Hunt April 4, 10am The City of Jacksonville Beach hosts an Easter Egg Hunt at 10am at Sunshine Park.

City of Jacksonville Beach / Sunshine Park, Osceola Avenue and South Beach Parkway, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.jacksonvillebeach.org

Community Easter Egg Hunt April 4, 10am to 12noon Crosswater Community Church hosts a community Easter Egg Hunt from 10am to 12pm. There will be jump castles, food, crafts, balloon animals, popcorn and the Easter Egg Hunt. Be sure to bring your basket to collect the eggs.

Crosswater Community Church / 904-824-9800 / 211 Davis Park Road Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32081 / www. crosswaterchurch.net Easter Egg Hunt April 4, 10:30am to 12noon Families with children from infants to 5th graders are welcome to attend, free of charge. In addition to the Egg Hunt will be food, games and prizes.

Jones Road Baptist Church / 904-699-1960 / 2506 Jones Road, Jacksonville, FL 32220 Easter Celebration April 4, 11am to 2pm Mandarin United Methodist Church hosts an Easter Celebration with inflatable bouncy houses and slides, storytelling stations, face painting, multiple Easter Egg Hunts, live music, food trucks, and more. Contact Sam Corlew at scorlew@mumc.net with any questions.

Mandarin United Methodist Church / 904-629-0022 / 11270 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / mandarinumc.com 57th Annual Easter Promenade April 5, 12:30pm The 57th Annual Easter Promenade will be held downtown at the Plaza de la Constitucion. Honored guests will be the Royal Family of St. Augustine. There will also be a Guess the Number of Rubber Ducks contest, and prizes for a variety of categories including prettiest hat, most creative hat, best dressed boy/girl, best dressed pet, and more. Contest registration starts at 12noon.

City of St. Augustine / 904-829-3800 / Plaza de la Constitución, St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.staugeasterfestival.com Easter SONrise Service in San Marco Square April 5, 6:30am – 7:30am Easter Sunrise Service in San Marco Square. Hot Chocolate, Coffee and Donuts will be waiting!

1435 Atlantic Blvd / 904-396-6633

St. Augustine Easter Parade April 5, 3pm The annual St. Augustine Easter Parade features marching bands, floats, drill teams, clowns, the Easter Bunny, the Royal Family and the city’s carriage horses wearing hats donated by nationally- recognized women. The Peter Cottontail Express parade begins at 3pm at the Mission of Nombre de Dios April 4, 10am to 4pm and winds through downtown St. Augustine. Trophies The St. Marys Railroad Peter Cottontail Express will be presented in four categories. excursion. Journey to the land of magic eggs and City of St. Augustine / 904-829-3800 / Downtown St. Easter bunnies with Peter Cottontail taking center Augustine, 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL stage to ride the return trip and host a fun Easter 32084 / www.staugeasterfestival.com

Egg Hunt. Tickets for open air railcar rides are : Adults $17, Children (3-12) $11, and Children under 2 free. St. Marys Railroad / 912-200-5235 / 1000 Osborne Street, St. Marys, GA, 31558 / www.stmarysrailroad.com

Family Eggstravaganza at Celebration Church April 5 A free, fun event for the whole family on Easter Sunday night. Food, games, music, and more!

5pm – Celebration Arena / 9555 R.G. Skinner Parkway – Jacksonville, FL 32256 Spring Egg Hunt 5pm – Celebration St. Johns / 616 St. Road 13 – St. April 4, 10am to 1pm FL 32259 The Easter Bunny will be at Jordan Park on Satur- Johns, 5:30pm – Celebration Orange Park / 512 Kingsley day April 4. There will be lots of fun activities for Avenue – Orange Park, FL 32073 the entire family including games, train rides and Celebration Church / 904-737-1121 / free refreshments. For more info, call 904-247www.celebration.org

5828. City of Atlantic Beach / 904-247-4038 / Jordan Park, 1671 Francis Ave, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 / www.coab.us

For a complete list of Passover and Easter Events, visit Jax4Kids.com

Sleeping Beauty Ballet With the

Jacksonville Symphony

Sat, May 2 at 8 pm Sun, May 3 at 3 pm Jim and Jan Moran Theater Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

9 0 4.35 4.55 47 JaxSymphony.org Page 7 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

health & safety

Spring Pollen Season Is Upon Us!

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any say that spring in Northeast Florida is the best time of the year to enjoy our wonderful outdoors. The birds are chirping. The grass is growing. Cool breezes are blowing and our children are playing baseball and soccer while enjoying the ideal weather. Unfortunately, many people suffer with seasonal allergies in the spring which can make outdoor activities much more challenging.

antihistamines or prescribed nasal steroids/nasal antihistamines can also be very helpful in minimizing symptoms, if used on a regular basis during the pollen season. Since each of the medications has potential side effects, they should be used only under the supervision of a physician. Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops) is a way in which a person suffering with allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma can be desensitized to his or her triggers. This can lead to a “cure” of the allergy symptoms. An allergist/immunologist can determine if an individual is a good candidate for immunotherapy as it is not appropriate in every situation.

Spring is a wonderful time of the year in Northeast Florida. The weather is beautiful, flowers are blooming and the ocean waters are warming up.

Everyone, even allergy sufferers, can enjoy this time of year as long as appropriate treatment strategies are in place. Have a wonderful spring!

Spring Pollen: Since we do not have as many hard freezes during the winter as our friends up north, our pollen season tends to occur sooner and last longer than most parts of the country. From mid-February until late May, trees release pollen that can fly for hundreds of miles at a time. It is the pollen (tiny gains that are required to grow the plant population) that leads to the classic symptoms of “hay fever” (allergic rhinitis). Each tree has a period of time in which it releases its pollen and this tends to be relatively consistent Tips: from year to year. In the earlier part of the spring, • Keep windows closed during the spring pollen yellow pollen will dust our cars and driveways. season.

This yellow powder is from pine trees. However • Air conditioning with a good air filter (preferthere are many other trees that release pollen ably electrostatic). particles that are so small they cannot be seen by • Drive with the windows rolled up. the naked eye. In fact oak trees produce the • Avoid going outdoors if possible during late most pollen of any other plant in the area but this afternoon and evening, when pollen counts pollen is not visible! Thus, the pollen season may peak. catch people by surprise as it lasts well beyond • During high pollen counts, spend as much the time that the yellow pollen is present. time indoors as possible.

• People who spend a lot of time outdoors Symptoms of Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis): should wash their hair in the evening prior to The classic symptoms of hay fever include bed since the hair can be a trap for airborne sneezing, runny nose, nasal stuffiness, postnasal pollen. drainage, sinus pressure and itching eyes, nose, • Do not use an outdoor clothesline to dry ears and/or throat. If not treated, these sympclothes as this will allow pollen to come into toms can progress and lead to a sinus infection, the house and on one’s body. j bronchitis or even asthma exacerbations.

Occasionally people who suffer with seasonal Sunil Joshi, MD is a Board Certified Allergist/ allergic rhinitis will also develop itchy/inflamed Immunologist, the Vice-President of Family Allergy skin known as eczema.

Asthma Consultants and is a Past-President of the Florida Allergy Asthma Immunology Society Diagnosis: Usually the history of seasonal symptoms is Main Office and Business Location: enough to support a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. 4123 University Blvd. South; Suite B However, allergy testing can be performed to Jacksonville, Florida 32216 confirm the suspicion. Allergy testing is done Beaches Location: with either skin or blood testing and should be 135 Professional Drive, Suite 106 done under the guidance of a physician. Once Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082 the appropriate allergens are identified, then an Mandarin Location: appropriate management strategy can be 12276 San Jose Blvd., Suite 609 implemented.

Jacksonville, FL 32223 Fleming Island: Treatment: 1570 Island Ln A personalized treatment plan can be very Fleming Island, FL 32003 effective in managing the symptoms. Avoiding 904-636-9100 exposure to the pollen is the most effective jaxallergists.com approach, however it can be very difficult to accomplish in particular while enjoying the weather. Medications such as over-the-counter

Page 8 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle!

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very year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics promotes a theme that encourages healthy dietary and exercise habits. This year, the academy challenges us to “Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle” which implies that we should NOT equate healthy eating with fad dieting, but rather we should embrace sustainable lifestyle changes which can improve our overall long-term health and well-being and reduce our chances of chronic disease.

Let’s look at a few of the nutrition and exercise tips from the Academy. Many of these tips are a family-effort, and are relevant for both children and adults.

1. Eat Breakfast: Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day for you and your children. Not only does it kick-start your metabolism, but it gives your brain the fuel it needs to face the work/school day ahead. Include protein for the best start.

2. Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables: Visit www.

MyPlate. gov for more information how to incorporate more fruits/veggies in your diet.

3. Watch Portion Sizes: Limit carbohydrates to ¼ of your plate – this includes pasta, bread, rolls, rice or potatoes.

4. Be Active: Kids should aim for 60 minutes of physical activity per day – grab a basketball or your bike and get out there with them!

5. Fix Healthy Snacks: Healthy snacks are important for growing kids as they can contribute a significant source of energy and protein for the day. Skip the empty-calorie snacks including chips, cookies, sodas and other sweetened beverages.

6. Get to Know Food Labels: The Food and Drug Administration has guidelines to help navigate through a food label and what the numbers mean. Go to www.fda.gov/Food/ IngredientsPackagingLabeling 7. Consult an RDN (Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist) if: • You have diabetes, cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure; • You are thinking of having or have had

gastric bypass surgery;

• You need to gain or lose weight.

8. Follow Food Safety Guidelines: Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold – don’t defrost meat on the kitchen counter where it can come to room temperature (think bacteria!).

9. Get Cooking: Cooking your own meals means you have control over portion sizes and more control over the amount of added fat and sodium in your meal. Home cooked meals are also friendlier on your food budget!

10. Dine Out Without Ditching Your Goals: Plan on only eating half your meal and take the other half home. Ask for dressing on the side and always choose baked, broiled, grilled or steamed over fried.

11.

Family Meal Time is Important: Children tend to be a healthier weight when the family eats together.

12.

Banish Brown Bag Boredom: Be creative when it comes to lunch – think of alternatives to traditional sandwiches – try a veggie or hummus wrap, soup, or pasta.

13. Drink More Water: Staying hydrated is important living in Florida. Offer water to your children in place of sugary drinks – squeeze a little lemon/lime or orange in the water if they don’t like it plain. Gatorade is appropriate during sports activities, not for watching TV. 14. Explore New Foods and Flavors: Ask your kids to pick out a new fruit or vegetable that you can try as a family – eat from a rainbow of fruit/vegetables available.

15. Eat Seafood Twice a Week: Choose seafood rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout, oysters and sardines.

Changing your eating and exercise habits takes time and practice – try to incorporate one tip a week and make it a family effort. You are on your way to making positive changes in your life! j Aurea Thompson,MSH,RD,CSP,LD/N Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition Wolfson Children’s Hospital

health & safety

Important Facts About Measles Y ou may be hearing a lot about measles lately, and all of this news on TV, social media, Internet, newspapers and magazines may leave you wondering what you as a parent really need to know about this disease. CDC has put together a list of the most important facts about measles for parents. Measles can be serious.

Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience.

• About 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized • 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage • 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care Some of the more common measles symptoms include: • Fever

• Runny nose

• Rash • Red eyes Measles is very contagious.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing he/she has the disease—from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.

Page 9 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Your child can still get measles in United States.

Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination program. Eliminated means that the disease is no longer constantly present in this country.

However, measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 20 million people get measles and 146,000 people, mostly children, die from the disease each year. Even if your family does not travel internationally, you could come into contact with measles anywhere in your community.

Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers (Americans or foreign visitors) who get measles while they are in other countries. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.

You have the power to protect your child against measles with a safe and effective vaccine.

The best protection against measles is measlesmumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. Your child needs two doses of MMR vaccine for best protection: • The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age.

• The second dose 4 through 6 years of age.

If your family is traveling overseas, the vaccine recommendations are a little different: • If your baby is 6 through 11 months old, he or she should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.

• If your child is 12 months of age or older, he or she will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days) before departure. j

We take the Fear out of Dentistry!

Did you know

82% of people say fear is the number one reason they don’t go to the dentist?

Don’t let this be you!

Let us help you ease your fears and take care of your smile! At Carlson Dental Group, we offer different levels of sedation allowing you to relax or even snooze!

904-647-4765

www.CarlsonDentalGroup.com

FREE

Sedation Consultation ExpiRES mAy 31, 2015.

New Riverside Location Opening May 2015 in the Everbank Building!

X-TREME

SCIENCE

SUMMER CAMP

June 15 - August 7 9 AM - 3 pM

Ages 5-12

Extended care available for additional charge

.

Four Bi-Weekly Sessions:

Eco-Exploration Krazy Khemistry Fun with Physics Summer Safari

.

Weekly Field trips and Swimming Days

Visit www.xtremescience.org for details, descriptions and to register!

904.573.0883 4151 Old Middleburg Rd Jacksonville, FL 32210

Early Registration $25 off each session Must mention this ad. Expires April 30, 2015

See www.esj.org/summer to sign up for camps.

Programs run May 22 - July 31 Page 10 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Grades K-12

Session A June 15July 10 2015 Session B July 20August 14 2015

Camp Theatre Jacksonville 2015

For more info: (904) 396-4425 or www.theatrejax.com

4-H Summer Camps from June-August

Affordable, educational, experiential camps for boys and girls ages 5-18 Camp offerings include: Underwater Robotics, Kidʼs Cuisine, Pig Jig, WILD about Nature, Teen Smarts, Bee Camp, Camp Cherry Lake, Discover Florida, All About Animals, Sew Into Fashion, Outdoor Adventures, and MORE! Please call or visit our website for more information.

904-255-7450 www.duval.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H.shtml

An Equal Opportunity Institution

ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM AND INK! (INVESTING IN KIDS) PRESENT

SUMMER CAMP !

FOR DATES AND REGISTRATION INFO, VISIT: www.staugustinelighthouse.org/camp

SUMMER CAMP

June 8 - July 31 • 8:30 am - 5 pm Activities Include: Warm up games & stretching, tumbling, gymnastics, dance, arts and crafts, movie, cheerleading and group games.

Come one week or all summer $150 first week $10 off each additional week (max discount 3 weeks)

June 22-26 July 6-10 July 13-17

July 20-24 July 27-31

FREE extended hours available.

Half days and daily drop ins welcomed!

MENTION THIS AD FOR $10 OFF CAMP 904.783.8043

www.gymnasticsunlimitedfl.com

Page 11 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Volleyball Association VOLLEY STARS CAMP SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 3 SESSION 4

JUNE 8-10 JUNE 22-24 JULY 6-8 JULY 20-22

AGES 5-8

95 PER SESSION

9AM-12PM

This camp focuses on motor skills such as volleyball movement, jumping and throwing. Campers will learn basic volleyball skills and work with a light ball. (T-shirt included)

ALL SKILLS CAMP

AGES 9-12

SESSION 1 JUNE 8-12 JUNE 8-10 (3 DAY OPTION) JUNE 11-12 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 3 JULY 6-10 JULY 6-8 (3 DAY OPTION) JULY 9-10 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 2 JUNE 22-26 JUNE 22-24 (3 DAY OPTION) JUNE 25-26 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 4 JULY 20-24 JULY 20-22 (3 DAY OPTION) JULY 23-24 (2 DAY OPTION)

AGES 13-16

9AM-4PM

260 per session (FULL WEEK) 165 per session (3 DAY OPTION - MONDAY THRU WEDNESDAY) 110 per session (2 DAY OPTION - THURSDAY & FRIDAY)

SESSION 1 JUNE 15-19 JUNE 15-17 (3 DAY OPTION) JUNE 18-19 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 3 JULY 13-17 JULY 13-15 (3 DAY OPTION) JULY 16-17 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 2 JUNE 29-JULY 1 (3 DAY OPTION) JUNE 29-30 (2 DAY OPTION)

SESSION 4 JULY 27-31 JULY 27-29 (3 DAY OPTION) JULY 30-31 (2 DAY OPTION)

Campers will receive instructional training from JJVA’s most experienced Coaches on the six fundamental volleyball skills. Campers have the choice to attend two days, three days, or five days per session. (T-shirt included) Note: JJVA does not have a cafeteria. Campers will need to bring their lunch.

EVENING SKILLS SESSIONS

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS IN JULY

AGE 13-15: 5-6:30 PM HIGH SCHOOL TEAM CAMP

JULY 7, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 AGE 16-18: 6:30-8 PM

JULY 31 5-8 PM & AUGUST 1 9 AM - 4 PM

For your convenience JJVA will be offering Extended Care from 8-9 am and 4-5 pm:

Extended Day includes: arts & crafts, movies and other fun activities.

1 HOUR $10/DAY

2 HOURS $20/DAY

REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE AT WWW.JJVA.COM

904.854.2323 11661 PHILIPS HWY WE’RE ON FACEBOOK Page 12 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Page 13 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

AUDITIONS

litan Metropo Park

May 2 & 3 2015

Naturalization Ceremony SATURDAY, MAY 2

Taste the World – VIP Experience SATURDAY, MAY 2

Parade of Flags SUNDAY, MAY 3

1 Day Pass $5 Discounted ticket prices will be available for military and senior citizens. Tickets are available for purchase at Metropolitan Park gates (during festival hours only).

JaxHappenings.com

for the 2015-2016 Season

Perform with the area’s best musicians!

Audition dAtes: May 27-31, 2015

inFoRMAtion/eXCeRPts: May be downloaded at

www.JaxYouthorchestra.com

FoR MoRe inFoRMAtion: Contact Tony Kamnikar at tkamnikar@jaxsymphony.org

Page 14 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

birthdays

Start with a Plan A

successful birthday party is one that celKids, depending on their age, can participate in ebrates the birthday child, creates memories many aspects of the party planning and prepaand is fun for everyone attending. ration. When kids participate in planning their Birthday Parties, it gives them an opportunity to The first step in the planning process is for the learn and practice organizational and entertaining kids and their parents to decide on the basics: skills that they’ll use for a lifetime.

• When and where, including date, time of day, and address.

One of those skills is etiquette. Once the party is over, don’t forget the gesture of thanking your • Theme (if there will be one) guests for coming and for any gifts given. If the • Number of guests and who they will be. child is old enough, let them write the thank you notes.

• Food? Snacks? Beverages? A meal?

• Activities – swimming, games, music, or … As a gift from you to your child, consider purchasing note cards with your child’s initial or having Once you have a game plan, the fun begins. custom-made note cards made with their name.

With access to the internet and great tools like Note cards are available from online retailers You Tube and Pinterest, we live in a day and age such as giftsin24.com, crane.com, americanstawhere we have the benefit of idea sharing. tionery.com. or papyrusonline.com. j

Preserving Birthday Memories P

rofessional party planners remind grownups to keep in mind family history and lore linked to birthday celebrations … from the first one to the current year’s.

•

Write your child a birthday letter every year.

Wrap up the year; describe how you’ve seen him grow and change, and explain he is so special. If your child isn’t yet old enough to cherish these letters, save them for later.

Make sure to read them together every year.

•

Reminisce about the day the birthday boy or girl was born. Look at the photos, reread any cards you still have, watch home videos, share funny stories. Move on to more recent milestones, like the first day of school or another special occasion. j

Consider these ideas: •

Take an identically posed photo of your child every year on the big day. When you have enough pictures, turn them into a digital slide show or put them into an album.

Review it each year as part of the family birthday festivities.

mommypoppins.com

Specializing in Monogrammed & Embroidered Clothing, Accessories, & Gift Items Visit our Etsy shop and receive 10% off your total purchase.

Enter Code: JAX4KIDS .com/shop/MyMimiMadeIt2013

Page 16 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

/MyMimiMadeIt2013

birthdays

We’re Not Just Inflatables Anymore!

(Formerly Jump Zone)

Bounce House Safety B ounce houses are the stuff of every kid’s dreams, situated right at the top of the spectrum of fun alongside Halloween candy, carnival rides, and Christmas toys. Parents who rent inflatables for birthday parties and other events provide kids with a surefire way to have a blast all day long.

But even though inflatables are built for fun, they can still be dangerous for children if certain precautions aren’t taken. Here are a few basic safety tips parents and guardians need to follow to keep their kids safe.

1. Supervision is Paramount Never allow children to occupy the inflatable house without an adult present. Bouncing kids need to be monitored carefully. If things start to get a bit too rough or risky inside, a supervising adult can calm things down.

Adults who rent inflatables should divide children into groups according to age and size, allowing each of these groups to enter and play separately for a set period of time. This prevents bigger children from colliding with smaller ones and risking serious injury.

In addition, the number of kids inside the house must be limited: overcrowding is a good recipe

for falls, collisions, fractures, and other injuries.

2. Workmanship and Liability Before you rent inflatable units, ask the rental company questions as to how they are installed.

Some companies will practice safer installation methods than others. The inflatable house should be anchored to the ground with large, 20 to 40-inch metal stakes rather than smaller plastic ones.

In addition, ask the company if they offer the service of an operator to supervise for the duration of the bounce house rental or, if they can provide a brochure on safe operating instructions.

Just as technicians supervise roller coasters at theme parks, these operators can enforce safety practices and fix any equipment problems that may arise.

Seek out a company with liability coverage. There are many small companies that rent inflatable bouncers, but these businesses can’t offer you the peace of mind that comes with an insurance agreement. Companies that have coverage show that they’re confident in their equipment, installation, and operation procedures. j

blog.herecomesfun.com

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

– Zen Shin Page 17 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

• • • •

Giant Themed Inflatables Awesome Parties Walk-In Play Ages 2-10

• The Area’s Most Exciting New Party • Walk-In Play • Ages 7 to Adult • More Fun Than Laser Tag

1035 Blanding Blvd Ste. 108 • Orange Park 904.328.2227 • JumperzFunCenter.com

birthdays

Money-Saving Birthday Party Tips Invitations Online invitation services such as Evite.com are free, earthfriendly, easy for your invitees and will also help you keep track of responses.

Have your children hand make invitations using art supplies you already have on hand.

Locations

Target are great options to find party favors, prizes, scavenger hunt and goody bag items as well as paper products.

Search your home for items you already have on hand that can be used or borrow from friends rather than buying new. When you’re done with party items, add them to a party theme box that others can borrow.

Search Goodwill for items such as oversized shirts to protect clothing from art project splatter or clothing for dress up parties.

If you or a friend or family member has a pool, consider a pool party. If not, a backyard party or party at the park make excellent locations for a birthday party. North Florida offers many free outdoor options and beautiful weather most of the year to enjoy the outdoors. Some parks have pavilions that you can rent. Make sure you bring sunblock and have plenty of water on hand.

1. Pour one cup of cornstarch into the mixing bowl, and dip your hands into it. Can you feel how smooth the powder is?

It’s made up of super-fine particles.

2. Now pour the water in, mixing slowly as you go. Keep adding more water until the mixture becomes thick (and hardens when you tap on it). Add more cornstarch if it gets too runny, and more water if it becomes too thin.

Make your own cake, cupcakes or try the mug cake recipe below as part of the party activities.

1. Mix together 1 box angel food cake mix and one box of your favorite flavor of cake mix – chocolate, vanilla, red velvet.

2. Place 4 tablespoons of mix and 2 tablespoons of water in a mug.

3. Mix and microwave 1 minute. (Cooking time will vary by microwave) 4. Top with ice cream

Homemade Bubbles Ingredients • 6 cups water (distilled is preferable) • 1/2 cup blue Dawn dish detergent • 1/2 cup corn starch • 1 tbsp baking powder (not baking soda) • 1 tbsp Glycerine Dissolve the cornstarch in the water, stirring really well. Then gently stir in the remaining ingredients. Avoid creating a lot of froth. Allow your mixture to sit for at least an hour, stirring occasionally if you see the cornstarch settling to the bottom.

happyhooligans.ca Vegan Cupcakes

Here’s a super easy recipe for vegan cupcakes. Mix 1 can of pumpkin into chocolate powdered cake mix and cook according to package directions on the cake mix box. Top with your favorite frosting and decorations.

Activities Water play games, outdoor games such as a bean bag toss, scavenger hunts and fun, inexpensive activities such as bubbles cost very little.

Some of the best-loved party games require little or no materials. Hopscotch, musical chairs, capture the flag and charades, for example, require minimal supplies and have engaged party goers for generations.

Party favors, goody bags and prizes Dollar stores and dollar bins such as those at the entrances to

Page 18 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Materials • 1 cup of water • 1 to 2 cups of cornstarch • Mixing bowl • Food coloring (optional) Preparation

Cake

Mug cake

fun. A tap on the surface of Oobleck will make it feel hard, because it forces the cornstarch particles together. But dip your hand slowly into the mix, and see what happens—your fingers slide in as easily as through water. Moving slowly gives the cornstarch particles time to move out of the way.

Peanut Hunt Providing none of your guests have peanut allergies, here’s an inexpensive party activity that kids love.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Buy a bag of unshelled peanuts, small prizes and paper bags.

Color as many peanuts as you have prizes Toss the peanuts into the yard Write each child’s name on the bag or create a coloring table and have each child color their own bag.

5. Children hunt for peanuts using their bags to collect their find. Children who find the colored peanuts win a prize.

Peanuts make a great alternative to candy.

Science Fun Make Oobleck!

This substance’s funny name comes from a Dr. Seuss book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck.

Kids will make a substance that is similar to quicksand—but more

3. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. (If you want to turn your Oobleck another hue, it’s easier to add the coloring to the water before you mix it with the cornstarch.)

4. Oobleck is non-toxic, but please use caution when doing any science activity. Be careful not to get it in your eyes, and wash your hands after handling the Oobleck.

5. Encourage kids to play with Oobleck by dropping their hands quickly into the Oobleck, then slowly lower their hands into it. Hold a handful in their open palm and see what happens. Squeeze it in their fist or roll it between their hands. Move their fingers through the mixture slowly, then try moving them faster.

6. You can make a big batch of Oobleck and let kids tack of their shoes and socks and try standing in the Oobleck.

Multiply the quantity of each ingredient by 10 or more and mix it in a large plastic bin or tub.

Mentos Geysers

Ingredients: • Mentos • 2-liter diet soda • Mentos geyser tube, available at hobby lobby or online Attach the Geyser Tube to a 2-liter bottle of diet soda. Secure the trigger pin in place. Load the MENTOS® into the tube, lock the special pressurizing nozzle in place and pull the pin. The MENTOS® will drop and the soda will go flying into the air!

Visit www.scientificamerican.com and www.stevespanglerscience.com for more experiments and the science behind the experiments. j

birthdays

Low-Key Events Equal High Spirits for Little Ones

F

over, even if it is already childproofed. Put away appliances and breakable and sharp objects.

Make sure cupboards, drawers, and toilets are latched.

amily, friends and fun are the main ingredients for a successful party for children ages two to four. Many childcare experts recommend inviting a few children to a one-hour party.

Schedule it in the late morning to avoid need-anap crankiness. Here is a round-up of tips from the editors of websites What to Expect and Moms Think.

• Keep in mind the typical layout of a preschool classrooms as you plan activities.

Children of this age are not yet ready to do a lot of cooperative play, and side-by-side play is more common. Cover child-sized tables with white paper and provide plenty of crayons to keep children busy and happy. As new guests arrive, they can easily pick up a crayon and make their marks.

• Arrange several stations or play areas.

Ideas? Set up a place to dig in the dirt or

Page 19 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

build sandcastles. Define a blocks area (put a blanket or beach towel on the ground) where wee ones can build and topple and sort and stack.

• Before the party, give your home the once-

• If you’re hosting a backyard bash, check that yard tools are safely stored, lock the garage, and check the lawn for sharp, fallen branches and holes.

Make sure there are no available water sources (like kiddie pools or fountains) that a toddler could topple into unsupervised. If you have a pool, have a designated person to watch the pool at all times. WaterWatcher.org suggests the designated person wear a water watcher tag.

Duties can be shifter as the tag is passed from one to another adult.

• Making an original creation intrigues children at this age. Usually, they are more engaged with the process than they are excited about the final product, which means doing textured drawings or leaf rubbings on large pieces of cardboard and using sidewalk chalk on a fence are ideal activities. Expand your idea of “making something.” Pass out scarves and hats. Turn on the music, hand out stuffed animals, and skip around the yard.

Watch as your little party-goers follow along and stage their own style of parade.

• Follow the usual precautions as you plan arts and crafts. Small beads, sponge shapes, and buttons should be at least three quarters of an inch in diameter. Put away caps to pens, markers and glue containers.

j

birthdays

Tried-and-True Party Games for Tots S

tumped for games to play during a birthday celebration for tots? Here are three triedand-true suggestions from the folks at whattoexpect.com.

prize, like a sticker or a temporary tattoo. Keep playing until everyone’s won. Not sure that your wee guests grasp the concept? Have a couple of grown-ups join the fun.

Get ‘em Guessing If your party guests (or you) need a slightly quieter activity to calm things down, place a few (easily) recognizable items — a board book, a chunky toddler fork, a teddy bear, a rubber duck — inside a hat or a basket. Cover it with a little blanket, and let toddlers reach in and grasp one object. Give stickers for correct answers (and good faith guesses, of course). Use as many objects as there are guests, and give everyone a chance.

Hop and Pop Kids get a kick from pop that results from squeezing air out of the bubbles in bubble wrap, but tiny toddler fingers aren’t strong enough to produce that noise on their own. So let your little one’s feet do the popping. Tape a big sheet of bubble wrap to the floor (to avoid slipping), put on some music, and let your little ones pop until they drop. (Have extra sheets at the ready.) Follow usual safety rules regarding plastic materials. j

Play Hot Potato Birthday party games for toddlers shouldn’t be complicated, which is why this classic-with-atwist provides just the right level of challenge for a third birthday party. Sit the birthday boy and his buddies in a small circle, play some festive, familiar tunes, and let them pass a small pillow or rolled-up hanky. Cut the music after a few bars and whoever’s holding the “hot potato” wins a

That’s MY Job!

Captain Character – Children’s Entertainer Q. How long have you been a children’s entertainer?

A. I’ve been a professional children’s entertainer since 1991. I’m also a member of the World Clown Association and Kidabra International, The Association of Kidshow and Family Performers. My first paid gig was in Ft. Lauderdale. I was playing Spider-Man at a church for a birthday party and had a 4-year-old girl ask me “Spider-Man, do you believe in God?” I told her that I did and that God was the real superhero. I have never forgotten that little girl’s question.

Kids say the cutest things!

Q. Why did you choose this career?

A. Growing up in the church where my grandmother was the pastor, I marveled at the sermons of heroes, love, giving, faith, family, character, purpose and laughter. Both my grandmother and mother were on a mission to bring joy to families everywhere. They inspired and instilled in me a love of bringing love and laughter to children.

Q. What kind of education did you get to become a children’s entertainer?

A. From grade school through high school I was always involved in plays and skits. I loved getting up in front of the class doing skits mimicking Jerry Lewis and Tim Conway, my favorite comedians. In church I sang in the choir and was involved in the puppet ministry. So you could say that my childhood provided me the education I needed for this career.

Q. What are some of your responsibilities?

A. At birthday parties I provide a one hour puppet show and magic show with not only a message of “Happy Birthday” but a message of character, truth and to believe in your dreams.

My show is full of laughs, followed by face painting and balloon twisting. My school shows are one hour long and can be based on different messages like building character, making friends and caring for the earth. I’m honored to help entertain children and do everything I can to celebrate an event and make it one they will never forget.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. To me, there is no job in the world that is more rewarding than children’s entertainment. I love the responsibility of bringing a message of character to the kids. Teaching them that they can be “captains of their character”. Thus making each child CAPTAIN CHARACTER. Letting each one of them know that dreams do come true as long as we believe together and help one another. It is a gift to be able to bring laughter to a family. It’s the greatest treasure on earth!

Through my work, I still relive my family’s celebrations of yesterday. Having a sense of family is the real treasure and it’s where my heart always is.

Find these great ideas and more on our Jax4Kids Birthdays Pinterest board.

Also, check out www.karaspartyideas.com www.catchmyparty.com and blog.hwtm.com for more fun and unique birthday themes.

Page 20 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

BIRTHDAYS

Favorite Birthday Party Themes Minions Look for the new Minion Bears coming to Build-A-Bear soon. Minions the movie will be in theaters July 10th.

Minion Cupcakes What you’ll need: • • • •

Cupcakes Blue Frosting - to top the cupcakes Twinkees, cut in half, to make their bodies Tube of Black Frosting to adhere the eyes and make eyeballs and goggles • Wilton eyeballs or Smarties white candy • Black or Brown Sprinkles – to make their hair

Nerdy Mummies

white hues, readily available in stores, you can create a winter wonderland for a Frozen birthday party. Here are a few ideas for your Frozen party.

• Visit the movie’s official site at frozen. disney.com for crafts and recipes inspired by the film including how to make princess capes, Frozen coloring sheet and Ice Castle Maze and Get Elsa and Anna’s Icee recipes.

• Go to YouTube for step by step instructions to make huge 3D paper snowflakes or visit frozen.disney.com for printable instructions • Decorate windows and greenery with snow spray to create winter themed décor. You can also use white spray paint – available at your hardware store – on greenery to create a winter theme décor for your table • An 8-count package of Frozen Tiara’s are $3.99 at PartyCity.com • Payless Shoesource carries a line of Frozen products including an 8-pack Frozen Ring and Bracelet set for $5.99 that can be added to party bags.

• For sweet treats in Frozen colors, buy Hershey’s Kisses Cookies & Cream, make Oreo cookie snow balls, order frozen colored M&M’s from www.mymms.com or Jelly Beans from www.jellybelly.com, Aqua Blue Swirl Pops from Amazon or www.funexpress.com, or Blue & White Raspberry Tesla’s Tiny Twist Lollipops from Amazon. Remember to log in using Smile.Amazon.com and designate 0.5% of your purchase to the charity of your choice – including your child’s school if their registered.

• Visit eng.ohmyfiesta.com for free Frozen printables including cupcake toppers, printable crown or tiara, olaf mask and paper dolls.

• Visit jello.com for recipes such as snowman teeth, sky slurp or dragon kibble – all of which are Frozen colored treats.

Get a snowflake mold at jello.com and using the Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin, make jello snowflakes. Happy Birthday molds are also available.

• Make snowflake cookies • Fill a clear plastic pitcher with Glacier Freeze flavor Gatorade G2

Cinotti’s Bakery makes a pirate ship and treasure chest cake. OrientalTrading.com sells a black pirate ship treasure box for $10.25 per dozen that can be filled and given as party favors. They also offer pirate eye patches, mustaches, chocolate gold coins and pirate tableware.

Dinosaurs Jurassic World comes out in theaters on June 12th and The Good Dinosaur movie comes out Thanksgiving weekend and MOSH’s summer exhibit, opening May 23rd, will be Dinosaurs Unearthed. Oh the fun you can have with this theme!

• Orange Brown and Army Green make a great color combination for your décor.

• Make dirt cake and serve it in small, lined green or orange plastic pots for plants with Dinosaur gummies • Fill a plastic kiddie pool or plastic bin with dirt and bury “fossils” and have a Dino dig • Play Pin the Tail on the Allosaurus (or Cammarasaurus or Brachiosaurus) • Have a Dinosaur Egg Hunt • Serve Dinosaur Toenails (aka Bugles)

Frozen One thing is for certain, the Frozen theme is here to stay for a long time to come. Disney has confirmed plans for the movie Frozen 2 to be released in 2018, the new short “Frozen Fever” opened in theaters March 13th, and a Frozen attraction at the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT World Showcase will open in early 2016.

Page 21 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

A pirate theme is a classically popular theme for a birthday party. Locally, we have a REAL pirate ship birthday party option available on the Pirate Ship Black Raven which sails out of City Marina in St. Augustine next to the Bridge of Lions. Kids will experience a live and interactive pirate show onboard the ship.

Pirate Ship and Treasure Chest cakes by Cinotti’s Bakery

Find step by step instructions online from BettyCrocker.com, mylitter.com, cupcakepedia. com, or by searching You Tube.

Fortunately, the Frozen birthday theme is an easy one to create. With its pale blue and frosted

Pirate Theme

Check out the next page for Dinosaur themed party ideas from our Pinterst page:

(Continued on Page 22) Frozen tiara from partycity.com

APRIL 2015 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 21

BIRTHDAYS

Favorite Birthday Party Themes Minions Look for the new Minion Bears coming to Build-A-Bear soon. Minions the movie will be in theaters July 10th.

Minion Cupcakes What you’ll need: • • • •

Cupcakes Blue Frosting - to top the cupcakes Twinkees, cut in half, to make their bodies Tube of Black Frosting to adhere the eyes and make eyeballs and goggles • Wilton eyeballs or Smarties white candy • Black or Brown Sprinkles – to make their hair

Find step by step instructions online from BettyCrocker.com, mylitter.com, cupcakepedia. com, or by searching You Tube.

Frozen One thing is for certain, the Frozen theme is here to stay for a long time to come. Disney has confirmed plans for the movie Frozen 2 to be released in 2018, the new short “Frozen Fever” opened in theaters March 13th, and a Frozen attraction at the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT World Showcase will open in early 2016.

Fortunately, the Frozen birthday theme is an easy one to create. With its pale blue and frosted white hues, readily available in stores, you can

Page 22 •• Jax4Kids.com Jax4Kids.com •• APRIL APRIL 2015 2015

create a winter wonderland for a Frozen birthday party. Here are a few ideas for your Frozen party.

• Visit the movie’s official site at frozen. disney.com for crafts and recipes inspired by the film including how to make princess capes, Frozen coloring sheet and Ice Castle Maze and Get Elsa and Anna’s Icee recipes.

• Go to YouTube for step by step instructions to make huge 3D paper snowflakes or visit frozen.disney.com for printable instructions • Decorate windows and greenery with snow spray to create winter themed décor. You can also use white spray paint – available at your hardware store – on greenery to create a winter theme décor for your table • An 8-count package of Frozen Tiara’s are $3.99 at PartyCity.com • Payless Shoesource carries a line of Frozen products including an 8-pack Frozen Ring and Bracelet set for $5.99 that can be added to party bags.

• For sweet treats in Frozen colors, buy Hershey’s Kisses Cookies & Cream, make Oreo cookie snow balls, order frozen colored M&M’s from www.mymms.com or Jelly Beans from www.jellybelly.com, Aqua Blue Swirl Pops from Amazon or www.funexpress.com, or Blue & White Raspberry Tesla’s Tiny Twist Lollipops from Amazon. Remember to log in using Smile.Amazon.com and designate 0.5% of your purchase to the charity of your choice – including your child’s school if their registered.

• Visit eng.ohmyfiesta.com for free Frozen printables including cupcake toppers, printable crown or tiara, olaf mask and paper dolls.

• Visit jello.com for recipes such as snowman teeth, sky slurp or dragon kibble – all of which are Frozen colored treats.

Get a snowflake mold at jello.com and using the Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin, make jello snowflakes. Happy Birthday molds are also available.

• Make snowflake cookies • Fill a clear plastic pitcher with Glacier Freeze flavor Gatorade G2

Pirate Theme A pirate theme is a classically popular theme for a birthday party. Locally, we have a REAL pirate ship birthday party option available on the Pirate Ship Black Raven which sails out of City Marina in St. Augustine next to the Bridge of Lions. Kids will experience a live and interactive pirate show onboard the ship.

Cinotti’s Bakery makes a pirate ship and treasure chest cake. OrientalTrading.com sells a black pirate ship treasure box for $10.25 per dozen that

can be filled and given as party favors. They also offer pirate eye patches, mustaches, chocolate gold coins and pirate tableware.

Dinosaurs Jurassic World comes out in theaters on June 12th and The Good Dinosaur movie comes out Thanksgiving weekend and MOSH’s summer exhibit, opening May 23rd, will be Dinosaurs Unearthed. Oh the fun you can have with this theme!

• Orange Brown and Army Green make a great color combination for your décor.

• Make dirt cake and serve it in small, lined green or orange plastic pots for plants with Dinosaur gummies • Fill a plastic kiddie pool or plastic bin with dirt and bury “fossils” and have a Dino dig • Play Pin the Tail on the Allosaurus (or Cammarasaurus or Brachiosaurus) • Have a Dinosaur Egg Hunt • Serve Dinosaur Toenails (aka Bugles) j

BIRTHDAYS

Party Ideas for Teens Cooking Party

• sitting at the food court with an unknown family • hugging a stranger • wearing hats • with a salesperson • in a display window • spelling YMCA

If you have a teen that enjoys cooking, have a cooking party. Teens can make their own pizza and this can be as simple or involved as they want to make it. Pre-made dough is available in the bakery section of Publix or you can buy Boboli ready made pizza crusts or English muffins. Buy jars of pizza sauce or pesto or have making them Nature Scavenger Hunt part of the party. Toppings can be pre-cut or part Find something fuzzy, something yellow, a rock, of the party activities. seeds, stick, berries, grass, etc.

For dessert, create a make your own sundae station with different flavors of ice cream or frozen yogurt, and toppings such as fudge, caramel, nuts, crushed candy and whipped cream. Make it as simple or varied as you like.

For a party keepsake, buy aprons for each guest and have them embroidered with their names.

Visit Etsy.com/shop/MyMimiMadeIt2013 and use the code JAX4KIDS and save 10% on your order.

Spa Party Making beauty scrubs such as salt scrubs and lips scrubs are inexpensive and fun and make for a great take home item. If you have a teen who plays a sport, you can create scrubs with restorative benefits such as Epsom bath salts with Eucalyptus and Rosemary or, experiment with different salts, sugars and oils.

Select containers and download or pre-make labels. Small mason jars, plastic Ziploc Art Party containers or sandwich bags will work. Shop Pick the project – t-shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry, stores such as Michael’s for decorative jars. glass vase, flower pots, birdhouses - or walk the Labels can be pre-made using downloadable aisles of your nearby Michael’s or JoAnn’s store printables from websites such as glueandglitter. for ideas. Make sure you print or cut out coupons com, made from paper products on hand or to the store of your choice before you go. They’re stickers or mailing seals purchased in an office readily available. Buy your supplies - tie-dye kits, supply store. paint, paint brushes, etc. Throw an old sheet over your table to protect it and have guests gather Buy or pull from your cupboard a selection of around the table to make their projects. oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba, sweet or almond oil, sugar (regular sugar, turbinado, Scavenger Hunt coconut sugar, brown sugar), and salt (sea salt, epsom salt or kosher salt, for example) and Divide guests into teams and give each a essential oils (lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, scavenger hunt list and something to collect grapefruit, lime, lemongrass). Dried lavender, items in such as a brown paper bag or grocery rosemary and lemon zest are great additions. bag. The team that gathers all of the items first wins a prize. There are a variety of themed hunts Simply measure salt or sugar into container, pour in the oil and drop in essential oil. Mix and place you can do and you can find ready-made lists or in airtight container and add label. idea starters online.

• 1 cup coarse sea salt (can also add fine sea salt) • 1/3 cup grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond or coconut oil • 1 Tablespoon dried lavender • 15 – 20 drops of lavender essential oil • 1 cup Epsom salt • 1/3 cup coconut oil • 15 drops grapefruit, lime or sweet orange oil • • • •

1 cup kosher salt 1/2 cup almond oil Zest of one lemon 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves off the stem

Lip Scrub • Blend a small amount of jojoba or olive oil with a superfine sugar and a couple of drops of peppermint or vanilla extract.

Bath Fizzies • Mix 2 tsp unsweetened lemon drink mix, 1 tsp flour or cornstarch, and 4 tsp Arm0 & Hammer™ Baking Soda in a bowl.

• Mix 4 tsp baby oil or mineral oil with 3-6 drops food coloring in a separate bowl.

• Slowly mix the colored mixture into the dry ingredients.

• Make small 1” balls of mixture. Place on wax paper to dry.

• It takes 24-48 hours for fizzies to dry completely.

• Drop a couple into bath water.

Movie Party If you’re fortunate enough to have a child whose Birthday falls near a hot new movie release, this is a fun outing for teens. If not, pick a favorite movie and create invitations, decorations, activities and food around the theme of the movie.

Beach Scavenger Hunt Recipe Ideas Find shells, feathers, sea sponges, something red, something blue, colored rocks, seaweed, Body Scrubs something metal or have team take photos of bird tracks, boats, a wet dog, sand castle or friend • 3 parts coarse sugar buried in the sand.

• 1 part olive oil • 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil Mall Scavenger Hunt or oil blend Divide guests into teams and have a parental • 1/2 cup coconut oil chaperone for each team. Teammates then get • 1/2 cup brown sugar photos of themselves: • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”

– Robin Williams Page 23 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

APRIL 2015 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 23

BIRTHDAYS Here’s a list of movies opening in 2015.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

April 3 – Furious 7 April 17 – Disneynature Monkey Kingdom April 17 – Unfriended April 17 - Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 May 1 – The Avengers: Age of Ultron May 15 – Pitch Perfect 2 May 22 – Poltergeist May 22 – Tomorrowland May 29 - Insidious: Chapter 3 June 12 – Jurassic World June 19 - Inside Out July 1 - Terminator: Genisys July 10 – Minions July 17 – Ant-Man July 24 – Pan July 24 – Paper Towns July 24 – Pixels July 31 – Mission: Impossible 5 August 7 – Fantastic Four August 7 – Masterminds August 14 – The Man from U.N.C.L.E. August 14 – Underdogs August 28 – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Destiny August 28 – War Room September 4 – Kitchen Sink September 11 – The Visit September 18 - Everest September 18 - Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials September 25 – Hotel Transyvania 2 September 25 – The Intern October 2 - Victor Frankenstein October 2 – The Walk October 9 – The Finest Hours October 9 - Steve Jobs October 9 – Kidnap October 9 - Vacation October 16 - Goosebumps October 16 – Bridge of Spies October 23 - Jem and the Holograms October 23 - The Last Witch Hunter October 23 - The Secret in Their Eyes October 30 - Scouts vs. Zombies November 6 - The Peanuts Movie November 13 - Rings November 13 – Rock the Kasbah November 20 - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 November 25 - Creed November 25 - The Good Dinosaur November 25 - The Martian November 25 – Midnight Special November 25 - Untitled Christmas Eve Project

December 4 – Krampus December 11 - In the Heart of the Sea December 18 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens December 23 – Alvin and the Chipmunks 4 December 25 – Concussion December 25 - Joy December 25 - Monster Trucks

Page 24 24 •• Jax4Kids.com Jax4Kids.com •• APRIL APRIL 2015 2015 Page

• December 25 - Point Break • December 25 - The Revenant Note: Many movies are not yet rated. Please check ratings.

Birthday Cake Popcorn Yield: (10-12 servings)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8th • 7:30 p.m.

Florida Theatre Charge By Phone 904-355-2787 Or floridatheatre.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels • 2 bags (12 oz. each) Wilton vanillaflavored candy melts • 1/2 cup yellow cake mix • 1 bag (8 oz.) Birthday Cake M&M’s candy • 12 Birthday Cake Oreo cookies, roughly chopped • Assorted sprinkles

OPENS APRIL 13 DISCOVER A PARADISE UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Instructions 1. Pop popcorn kernels and pick out any unpopped kernels 2. Place the popcorn in a large bowl 3. Place wax paper on two baking sheets and set aside 4. Melt the Wilton candy melts according to package directions 5. Stir in the dry cake mix until thoroughly combined 6. Working quickly, pour the candy over the popcorn and mix well 7. Add M&M’s and Oreo cookies. Mix well.

8. Divide the popcorn mixture between the two baking sheets, spreading out into a single layer and separating the pieces 9. Immediately shake sprinkles over the top 10. Allow the popcorn to set until the candy melts have hardened. Break the popcorn into pieces before serving j

NARRATED BY

JEFF CORWIN

IN IMAX THEATERS. BE AMAZED.

For Showtimes and Tickets:

WORLDGOLFIMAX.COM

World Golf Village | I-95 Exit 323 | St. Augustine

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .ai

Facebook “f ” Logo

Page 25 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

EDUCATION

It’s Time to Celebrate Our Poets and Poetry N ational Poetry Month is here. Join tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives, making it the largest literary celebration in the world.

While we celebrate poets and poetry year-round, the Academy of American Poets was inspired by the success of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March) to found National Poetry Month in April, 1996, with an aim to: Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets; encourage the reading of poems; assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms; increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media; and encourage increased publication of poetry books.

There are many ways to participate. Here are a few: • Follow the thousands of National Poetry Month celebrations taking place using #npm15 and follow the Academy of American Poets on Twitter @POETSorg.

• Attend Poetry & the Creative Mind, a celebration of poetry from the reader’s perspective featuring leading and luminary actors, artists, and public figures, on April 15, 2015, in New York City.

• Join the Academy of American Poets and show your support year-round for poets and poetry.

• Share your photos and feedback about your National Poetry Month celebrations with the Academy of American Poets by emailing npm@poets.org.

The best-selling author has announced that he is donating $1.25 million through a grant program • Invite K-12 students to participate in our Dear administered with Scholastic Reading Club, a division of Scholastic, Inc. Libraries or supporters Poet project by writing letters in response to of libraries can seek donations $1,000 to poems shared by award-winning poets. $10,000. Scholastic will match each donation Students watch a series of exclusive videos with “Bonus Points” that can be used to purchase that feature award-winning poets sharing their poems, then write a letter responding to classroom materials. According to Patterson, one of the poems and send it by post or email requests can be for anything from fixing a to the Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden computer system to paying for a school reading project.

Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038 or dearpoet@poets.org by April 30. (Include your “James Patterson is such a champion of books name and the name of the poet to whom and reading for all children. We are thrilled to you’ve written.) All letters will be considered work with him to support school libraries, which for publication on Poets.org in May. are essential for thriving school communities,” Judy Newman, president of Scholastic Reading Then everyone can join in the action with Poem in Club, said in a statement.

Your Pocket Day on April 30. All you have to do is select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with Patterson, who has strong memories of his others throughout the day. You can also share weekly visits to libraries as a child, told the your poem on social media using #pocketpoem.

Associated Press during a recent interview that j he wanted to “shine a light” on the problem of public schools with no libraries or underfunded www. poets.org

American Sign Language Extravaganza April 11, 10am The Creekside High School Sign Language Class hosts an American Sign Language Extravaganza.

Bartram Trail Branch Library / 904-827-6960 / 60 Davis Pond Blvd. Fruit Cove, FL 32259 / www.sjcpls.org School Choice Information Session April 16, 6:30pm to 8:30pm Get information about magnets, special transfers, and other school options, while being able to ask questions.

Register online. Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960 / Duval County Public Schools, Cline Auditorium, 1701 Prudential Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www. duvalschools.org/ParentAcademy

7th Annual HomeSchool Conference and Information Expo • April 18, 8am to 3pm The 7th Annual HomeSchool Conference and Information The Tortoise & the Hare Expo will be held at First Baptist Church of Live Oak. A April 7, 10am to 12noon Beka, Bob Jones, Usborne and Classical Conversations The Tortoise & the Hare will be presented by Artist will be there along with workshops by homeschool Series Broadway in Jacksonville at the Wilson Center moms. There will also be information tables with local for the Arts. Tickets are $8.50 per person. Best for organizations and local happenings. Co-op members grades Pre-K thru 5. Two performances, 10am and are free, non-members $25 per family. You can pay 12noon. Call to reserve your tickets. Artist Series of using your credit/debit card with PayPal in advance Jacksonville / 904-442-2929 / Wilson Center for the or pay at the door. Connections HomeSchool CoOp Arts, 11901 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www. / 386-590-0912 / First Baptist Church of Live Oak, artistseriesjax.org 401 West Howard Street, Live Oak, FL 32064 / www. connectionshomeschool.com

Page 26 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

aving recently handed out more than $1 million in grants to help independent bookstores, best-selling author James Patterson now plans to share his wealth with some other vital, but often struggling institutions: School libraries.

• Sign up for Poem-a-Day at poets.org.

Things to Do Education Discover Duval Tours Discover Duval Schools, in partnership with the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) provides citizens with an opportunity to make their own discoveries about schools. Both parents and other community members get a chance to take a closer look into the successes and challenges Duval County Public Schools face in fulfilling its mission of providing educational excellence in every school, in every classroom, for every student, every day. Free and open to all members of the public with advance registration.

For more information, contact Ciara Walton at ciara@ jaxpef.org or call 904-356-7757.

April 1, 9am to 11am - A. Philip Randolph Academies of Technology, 1157 Golfair Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32209.

April 15, 11am to 1pm - Mayport Elementary Coastal Sciences Academy /2753 Shangrila Dr. Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. jaxpef.org/discoverduvalschools

Author’s Wealth-Sharing Now to Include Libraries H

Find Your Edge April 25, 2pm to 5pm EDGE is hands-on classes that empower parents to incorporate STEM into their child’s after-school activities. Sylvan Learning of Orange Park, North Jacksonville & Ponte Vedra Beach will host a “Find Your Edge” event for local families, scout leaders, coaches and educators to help children find their edge by experiencing Sylvan’s new hands-on robotics, coding and math activities. Geared to families with kids in grades one through six, this free community event will provide children with the opportunity to build and animate LEGO® robots, design video games, solve fun math brain boosters and more.

Ponte Vedra Beach / 880 A1A N, Ste 7, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082 / 904-280-8410 North Jacksonville / 2416 Dunn Ave, Jacksonville, Florida 32218 / 904-757-2220 Orange Park / 1414 Kingsley Ave, Ste 4, Orange Park, Florida 32073 / 904-2692000 www.sylvanlearning.com MOSH One Day Fun Day Camp April 2, 9am to 3pm MOSH is holding One Day Fun Day Camps on the days DCPS students are off. Kindergarten through fifth grade campers will enjoy themed activities and science experiments. Cost is $55; MOSH Members receive a 20% discount. Extended Care is an additional fee. Register online in advance. This month’s theme is Lego For a Day. MOSH / 904-396-MOSH / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www. themosh.org/Home.html Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

libraries. In California, for instance there was just one certified school librarian for every 7,784 students in 2012-13. More than 8,000 public schools nationwide did not have libraries in 2011-12, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

“A lot of schools also don’t have as many books as they should have,” said Patterson, adding that libraries were especially important for kids in households without books. “There’s a myth out there among some people that the kids are reading only digital books now. They’re not. I’m the most emotional and passionate about getting kids reading in late elementary and early middle school reading because, if they don’t, how are they going to get through high school?” he said.

The program will begin with a $250,000 donation from Patterson, with the remaining $1 million to be distributed throughout the year and additional funding likely in the future.

Applications for library grants can be found at www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership. j

Lucky Goes to School

M

rs. Wildalynn Thomas’s 4th grade class at the Webster School in St. Augustine has a new addition thanks to a creative and hardworking student. Kylee Acton’s entry in the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park’s annual Edu-Gator contest won the opportunity for her class to care for and learn about a baby alligator until the end of the school year. The alligator, now named “Lucky,” was born in September.

Kylee submitted a diorama that answered the question “Why are American Alligators important?” Mrs. Thomas plans to use the opportunity for writing, learning about the animal through vet visits, and visits with Lucky school-wide. j

Kylee and Mrs. Thomas check out baby Lucky

EDUCATION

Is Dual Enrollment An Option for Your High School Student?

H

igh school students with their eyes on college have several options to speed them toward their goal. Last month, we shared information on Advanced Placement (AP) programs offered in many local high schools. This month, we will examine dual enrollment, another high school acceleration program.

Dual enrollment is a program offered by many colleges and universities allowing high school students to take college classes and earn both high school and college credit. For most dual enrollment courses, a high school student can earn three college credit hours as well as a half-credit on his or her high school transcript.

tuition. As of the 2014-2015 academic year, the FSCJ dual enrollment program is offered free of charge to students in Duval and Nassau Counties. Public school students are reimbursed for textbooks. Home and private school students pay for theirs, according to the FSCJ web site.

Another advantage is that dual enrollment courses offer talented high school students more rigor.

In college-level English classes, for example, students are expected to be able to critically read, analyze and write about multiple texts quickly.

Drawbacks Some critics of the program say dual enrollment courses are not truly college level. Poppell agreed Most students interested in dual enrollment saying he expected more rigor in the classes he arrange to take a college placement test. At took on FSCJ campuses. “You can apply yourself Florida State College in Jacksonville, for example, 25% and make an A,” he said. students may submit SAT, ACT, FCAT 2.0 or PERT scores or a combination of test scores to show AP courses were much more rigorous than dual their eligibility for dual enrollment. Students must enrollment classes, Blyler said. “AP classes are have English, reading and mathematics scores. harder than dual enrollment classes because they High school students need to achieve minimum test minute things and there are essays [to write] English and reading scores to be enrolled in any every week,” she added. college-level class and minimum mathematics scores to be enrolled in any college-level mathAnother potential pitfall could occur if students ematics or science course. have poor time management skills. Poppell started his coffee habit during his sophomore For high school students who are ready to chalyear, he joked, because his schedule was so lenge themselves, dual enrollment may be the stressful. Kids who aren’t skilled time managers right fit. For those who struggle with reading, will most likely run into problems in college-level writing or math, it may be the best for them. courses. “Self-motivation and time management Jenna Blyler and Cole Poppell are seniors at are important qualities for dual enrollment,” West Nassau High School in Callahan. Both Popell said. students began taking AP classes during their sophomore year. During the summer after their Having to choose a college major while still in sophomore year, they started dual enrollment high school can be a disadvantage for some stuclasses through FSCJ. In June, Blyler and Poppell dents. Poppell knows he can change his majors will graduate with their high school diplomas and at UNF, but if he does, he may lose some college Associate’s Degrees from FSCJ. credits he worked hard to earn in high school.

Poppell plans to enter University of North Florida (UNF) as a junior studying business and financial management. Blyler is set up to enter UNF as a junior studying criminology and political science.

Both students found dual enrollment worthwhile.

Benefits The main reason the program is valuable to many students is because it moves them through college at a faster pace. “I did AP and Dual Enrollment because I wanted to get ahead,” Blyler said.

“I want to get a degree and get into the workforce quickly.”

Another benefit of dual enrollment is elimination of repetition found in high school and college courses, although some students need to be exposed to challenging material more than once.

Dual enrollment also offers savings on college

Page 27 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Further Resources Most college and university web sites have a section devoted to dual enrollment. In addition, the Duval County Public Schools’ web site (www. duvalschools.org) has information on several high school acceleration programs, including dual enrollment.

For more information on dual enrollment through FSCJ, please visit http://www.fscj.edu/academics/college-readiness-programs/dual-enrollment.

A dual enrollment handbook is available for download as a PDF on this web page. j Nancy Lee Bethea www.rivercityrevisions.com

There is tremendous energy and excitement about the district’s educational initiatives, and YOU ARE INVITED to show your spirit and support for quality public education by attending the Public Education Partners Rally for Excellence (P.E.P. Rally). This year’s event will feature education-and-child-centric vendors and exhibitors, the Celebrity Reading Zone, student performances, the Teacher V.I.P. Club, and the return of the SPIRIT 5K Stadium Run ($20) and one-mile Reading Is Fun for kids (free). Join the festivities as Duval County celebrates the acheivements of Duval County Public Schools’ students, teachers, employees, and community.

When: Saturday, May 30, 2015 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Jaguars’ Cabanas/Fan Entertainment Zone 1 Everbank Field Drive | Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Event Highlights

SPIRIT 5K Stadium Run | Fun Run - 1 Mile | Reading Celebration Celebrity Readers | Student Recognition and Performances | Vendor Expo

Re a d ing Cele Cele b r i Re c o t y R b r at i o n e , g n it ion aders, S Expo, and t Pe r f u d e nt orm ance s

Ru n m iu ) tad mi.

S 1 ( 5K Run T I n u R Everbank Field - Fan Zone S P I ing is F d May 30th| 8 a.m. - Noon Rea

Visit www.peprallyduval.org for more information.

Page 28 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Clay County School News Student Beauties

Shakespearians All

Two county high schools have selected their queens for the coming school year. Aalyiah Manning has been named Miss Oakleaf High School and Carson Roberts has been selected Miss Middleburg High School.

Elisa Nanty from Clay County’s Oakleaf High School will represent Jacksonville in the national finals of the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition in New York City in April. Jalacia Lewis from Stanton High School placed second and Middleburg High’s Zachary Lofton was third.

(Right) Miss Middleburg High School: left to right: 2nd Runner Up Brooke Searles; last year’s Miss MHS Ali Robertson; winner Carson Roberts; and 1st Runner Up Jeanelle Vigil-Casanova.

The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition provides teachers across the country with a performance-based program for the study of English Language Arts and Shakespeare. It is a school-based program serving Grades 9-12. Through the Competition, students develop communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and literature. The Competition has engaged more than 250,000 young people since its inception in 1983.

(Left) Aaliyah Manning is Miss Oakleaf High School

Soles for Tots The annual Clay County “Soles for Tots – New and Used Shoe Drive” by the Marine Corps League has begun and will continue through April. Critical needs are male and female “youth” sizes 1 through 8.

The best shoes will be distributed to county elementary and junior high schools in kits of appropriate sizes. Local organizations such as the Clothes Closet, The Salvation Army, Seamark Ranch, and Mission Harvest receive the remainder.

Over the past eight years, the Marine Corps League has collected more than 4,000 pairs of shoes for needy kids and their families in Clay County. Is there a need? Just ask a teacher.

This year, selected Watson Realty offices, Ronnie Robinson’s Easy Automotive and the PODS container company, are partnering with the Marine Corps League to provide collection points.

All styles and sizes of new and used shoes (except high heels) are acceptable. Just tie the shoes together.

Please donate shoes through the end of April at the following locations: Orange Park Watson Realty, 153 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park Fleming Island Watson Realty, 4729 US Highway 17, Fleming Island Middleburg Watson Realty, 2239 Blanding Blvd, Middleburg Ronnie Robinson Easy Automotive, 3170 US Highway 17, Green Cove Springs For additional information contact Russ Kamradt at russkamradt@hotmail.com.

Page 29 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Through the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, students: 1. Develop essential skills: critical thinking, close reading and public speaking; 2. Increase self-confidence through reading, analysis and performance of Shakespeare; 3. Explore the beauty of Shakespeare’s language and classic themes; 4. Bring the timeless works of Shakespeare to life and learn to express his words with understanding, feeling Shakespeare winners from left: Jalicia Lewis, Elisa and clarity; Nanty and Zachary Lofton 5. Meet local, state and national standards in English Language Arts and Drama.

Students read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets in three qualifying stages: at the school, community and national levels. Approximately 2,000 teachers and 15,000 students in nearly 60 ESU Branch communities participate each year.

The ESU National Shakespeare Competition has been recognized by the Globe Center (USA), the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America and the American Academy of Achievement.

Many distinguished judges have served on the Competition panels.

Spring Calendar Friday, April 3

Good Friday, Student/Teacher Holiday

Monday, April 6

Easter Monday/Fair Day, Student/Teacher Holiday

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day (Observed), Student/Teacher Holiday

Wednesday, June 3

Last Day, Students (4th Grading Period – 50 days)

Thursday, June 4

Last Day, Teachers – Planning Day

www.oneclay.net OP/Middleburg (904) 272-8100 Green Cove Springs (904) 284-6500 Keystone Heights (888) 663-2529 TDD (904) 284-6584

Connect with us!

St. Johns County School District News All-County High School Art Show Winners

Painting 1st – Autumn Forget, St. Augustine 2nd – Olivia Eastman, St. Augustine 3rd –Lily Deeter, St. Augustine Honorable Mention – Alexa Carter, Bartram Trail Honorable Mention – Holly Strickland, Creekside

Olivia Testasecca, with her Best-In-Show painting The St. Johns County School District and the St. Augustine Art Association have announced the winners of the 10th annual All-County High School Art Show. Students won cash awards and memberships to the St. Augustine Art Association.

The Best in Show and first-place winners will be recognized at the Apr. 14 school board meeting.

Best in Show Olivia Testasecca, St. Augustine

Drawing 1st – Jordyn Quintanilla,Bartram Trail 2nd – Brooke Dowling, Ponte Vedra 3rd – Lauren McLevey, Creekside Honorable Mention – Althea Williams, Allen D. Nease Honorable Mention – Sarah Prosser, Creekside

Ceramics/Pottery 1st – Veronica Worrell, Ponte Vedra 2nd – Michaela Heinrich, Allen D. Nease 3rd – Laine Steverson, Ponte Vedra Honorable Mention – Allison Wilson, St. Augustine Honorable Mention – Brittany Donor, Bartram Trail

Digital/Photography 1st – Athena Giani, St. Augustine 2nd – Haley Bracken, Creekside 3rd – Mackenzie King, Creekside Honorable Mention – Logan Smith, Creekside Honorable Mention –Anna Kaufman, Ponte Vedra

Sculpture/3 D 1st – Emily Kayworth, Pedro Menendez 2nd – Kayla Geoffrion, Creekside 3rd – Natalie Wanjek, Allen D. Nease Honorable Mention – Valerie Coben, St. Augustine Honorable Mention – Victoria Havekost, Creekside

Early Ponte Vedra High Trio Wins History Fair Registration Honors For Kindergarten

The St. Johns County School District is holding early registration for children entering kindergarten and students new to St. Johns County and/ or public schools on Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday, May 8, from 1 to5 p.m.

To be eligible for public kindergarten in St. Johns County, children must be 5 years old on or before September 1 and must reside in St. Johns County. To register for first grade, children must be 6 years old on or before September 1 and have documentation of successful completion of kindergarten.

Parents must register children at the school where they are zoned for the 2015-2016 school year. Three proofs of residency must be provided such as a current mortgage statement, lease or rent agreement and two other forms of residency documentation such as a current electric bill, car registration and/or driver’s license. Additional information on residency and guardianship as well as a link to the Attendance Zone Locator can be found on the website at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us under “Featured Links.”

Elizabeth Fox, Frank Lukens and Harrison Snowden of Ponte Vedra High School won top honors in the annual St. Johns County School District History Fair. Their project, “Sydney Farber: Cancer Crusader,” was awarded the Overall Most Outstanding Project, and the students were presented with a check for $150 from the St. Augustine Historical Society.

The History Fair featured 100 projects represented by 150 participants. The winners will be recognized at the school board meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 14. Travis Brown, county secondary social studies program specialist, coordinated the history fair.

Participating schools included Liberty Pines Academy (LPA), Valley Ridge Academy (VRA), Sebastian Middle School (SMS), Fruit Cove Middle School (FCMS), Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS), Switzerland Point Middle School (SPMS), Bartram Trail High School (BTHS), Allen D. Nease High School (NHS) and Creekside High School (CHS).

St. Augustine’s 450th celebration was recognized with a special award. The winner was Trevor Schultz from Switzerland Point Middle School with his documentary on Henry Flagler. Two other projects on Henry Flagler by Mya Helhoski from Sebastian Middle School and Avery Lusk from

Sebastian Middle School received runner-up recognition.

The category winners were:

RESEARCH PAPER Junior Division 1st Place- Ana Sophia Williams, SMS 2nd Place- Taylor Brown, FCMS 3rd Place- Catalina Casillas, FCMS Senior Division 1st Place-Jacob Mier, PVHS 2nd Place-Joseph Sarci, PVHS 3rd Place-Ariana Genovese, PVHS WEBSITE: INDIVIDUAL Junior Division 1st Place-Joshua Zalkan, SPMS 2nd Place-Aidan Mather, SPMS 3rd Place- Katherine Gargon, SMS

Senior Division 1st Place-Abel Haynes, PVHS 2nd Place-Alexander Celentano, NHS WEBSITE: GROUP Junior Division 1st Place-Alexander Brailsford and James Brailsford, FCMS

2nd Place-Isha Chekuri and Farah Contractor, FCMS 3rd Place- Sofia Martinez and Lynne Park, LPA Senior Division 1st Place-Elizabeth Fox, Frank Lukens and Harrison Snowden, PVHS 2nd Place-Alexander Lasala and Johnathon Schott, PVHS 3rd Place-Nicholas Greco and Alexandra Hess, PVHS EXHIBIT: INDIVIDUAL Junior Division 1st Place-Chloe Vaughn, FCMS 2nd Place-Hayden Wardell, SPMS 3rd Place-Mackenzie Platt, SMS Senior Division 1st Place-Victor Manly, PVHS 2nd Place-Perri Truster, PVHS 3rd Place-Sarah Thomasson, PVHS EXHIBIT: GROUP Junior Division 1st Place-Natasha Najmi and Samantha Sberna, FCMS 2nd Place-Susanna Matza and Diana Coello, SMS 3rd Place-Madelynn Thompson and Delaney Cantrell, SPMS

Visit St. Johns County Schools online at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schools/ for more information.

Page 30 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

St. Johns County School District News Senior Division 1st Place-Paxton Threatt, Theodore Cheng, Julian Sanchez and Marc Moreira, NHS 2nd Place- Reagan Darrah and Molly Ronan, PVHS 3rd Place-Emily Benson and Jonathan Magiske, PVHS

In addition to the winners above, several special awards were presented and are listed below.

PERFORMANCE-INDIVIDUAL Junior Division 1st Place- Sophia Nguyen, FCMS

Showstopping Research-provided by The Colonial Quarter: Kristopher Bierlein, Samuel Shaffer, Angelicabelle Rivera-Soto, CHS.

PERFORMANCE-GROUP Junior Division 1st Place- Mia Gomez and Skylar Kyle, SPMS 2nd Place-Keegan Bedell and Garrett Owen, SPMS

Sports Legacy-provided by The World Golf Hall of Fame: Reis Buresh, Kiley Hurst and Megan Pagana, VRA.

Great Leadership-provided by Smoothie King: Griffin Slack, SPMS. Exhibit Design-provided by Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum: Rachel Stewart and Lauren Laughlin, FCMS.

Website Design-provided by Brockington and Associates: Joshua Zalkan, SPMS. Visually Appealing-provided by JAX Vision Care: Kathryn Choate and Theresia Chvala, NHS.

DOCUMENTARY-INDIVIDUAL Junior Division 1st Place- Kelsey Zweibohmer, LPA 2nd Place-Trevor Schultz, SPMS 3rd Place-Wade Miller, SPMS

Fashion Legacy-provided by JAX Vision Care: Ariana Genovese, PVHS. Aviation Legacy-provided by the Northeast Florida Regional Airport: Emily Benson and Jonathan Magiske, PVHS.

Senior Division 1st Place- Nicholas Lopez, NHS

Ongoing Legacy-provided by the Fort Menendez at the Old Florida Museum: Manaal Saqib, LPA.

DOCUMENTARY-GROUP Junior Division 1st Place- Camille Aguilar and Sanya Bansal, SPMS

Ancient History-provided by the Fort Menendez at the Old Florida Museum: Gavin Gundaker, LPA.

Automotive Legacy-provided by RPM Automotive: Kassidy Helinsky and Kira Dortch, CHS. Animal Awareness-provided by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park: Katherine Gargon, SMS. Pirate History-provided by The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum: Ali Baghalan, VRA. Lifetime Leadership-provided by Chipolte Mexican Grill: Grady Gilligan and Joshua Miller, NHS. Scientific Research-provided by Publix Charities: Sreenivas Kuntamukkala and Grayton Walker, LPA. Historic Perserverance-provided by The First Colony Exhibition in St. Augustine: Anceline Imson and Reanne Zukowski, VRA. Historical Significance-provided by St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation: Ana Sophia Williams, SMS.

Important Dates Friday April 3 Monday May 25, Memorial Day Friday, Saturday May 29 and 30 Thursday June 4 Friday June 5

Prize money was generously provided by The St. Augustine Historical Society, The Colonial Quarter, The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation, Brockington and Associates, the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration, Castillo de San Marcos, the Colonial Dames of St. Augustine, Smoothie King, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, World Golf Hall of Fame, the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, Fort Menendez at the Old Florida Museum, The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, Chipolte Mexican Grill, St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation, The First Colony Exhibition in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Gardens, Publix Charities, RPM Automotive, JAX Vision Care.

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Page 31 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Things to Do

teens

Fight Distractions with the Spider Technique

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out.

pringtime makes concentrating in class all the tougher. Here are a few tips to help you

Try to anticipate the main ideas of the coming lecture. Look over your notes of the previous lecture and read the course material. If you have questions about material from the previous class or text, ask the instructor before class about them. Prepare a few questions you expect to be answered on new material if possible.

Resist distractions by sitting away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on the instructor through active listening and note taking. Put yourself in the “mood” with attentive expression and posture; do not sprawl. Shift position in your seat every so often and don’t sit frozen in one position.

Shifting will help keep the blood circulating, send more oxygen to your brain, and help you remain alert.

When appropriate ask a question, ask for more clarity, or engage an instructor and the class in dialogue. Train yourself not to give in to distractions.

Practice the Spider Technique: When you hold a vibrating tuning fork next to a spider web. The spider will react and come looking for what is vibrating the web. Do it several times and the spider “wises up” and knows there’s no bug and doesn’t come looking. You can learn that.

When someone enters the room, or when a door slams, do not allow yourself to participate.

Rather, keep your concentration on what’s in front of you. Form a tunnel between you and the lecturer. Practice letting people move or cough without having to look at them – just let them “be out there” as you focus on what is being taught.

When talking with someone, keep your attention on that person, look at his face, and note what is being said. Let the rest of the world just be “out there. j Study Guides and Strategies www.studygs.net

Teens

Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt April 3, 8pm to 10pm Free Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt at Belle Terre Park.

City of Palm Coast / 386-986-2323 / Belle Terre Park, 339 Parkview Drive Palm Coast, FL 32164 / www.palmcoastgov.com SAT/ACT Prep Course April 4, 12noon Teens are encouraged to come take the SAT/ACT Prep Course at the South Mandarin Branch Library.

There is an Online Resource, Gales Testing and Education Resource Center, available 24/7. You can test as often as you’d like. Enjoy some free pizza after completing the SAT/ACT Prep Course.

South Mandarin Branch / 904-288-6385 / 12125 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / jpl.coj.net College 911 April 7, 6pm to 7:30pm College 911 seminar. Topics include Open vs.

Closed Enrollment Schools, Universities vs. Colleges, and Emergency College Application Assistance.

Register online.

Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960 / Terry Parker High School, 7301 Parker School Road, Jacksonville, FL 32211 / www.duvalschools.org/

tory day during National Library Week. Stop by anytime after school, 2pm to 8pm, on April 16 to celebrate the announcement of the 2015 Teen Top Ten nominees. Have a sweet treat and browse through previous years’ winners to find a new great read.

Bartram Trail Branch Library / 904-827-6960 / 60 Davis Pond Blvd. Fruit Cove, FL 32259 / www.sjcpls. org 2015 Teen Driver Challenge April 17, 6pm to 10pm • April 18, 8am to 5pm Licensed “Teen Drivers,” ages 16–19, are invited to attend the 2015 Teen Driver Challenge. The two-day “hands-on” education program is held at the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training and Education Center. It is recommended that each driver have at least 20 hours of actually driving experience before attending the course. The class is not designed to train a teen driver on how to drive; but how to drive better. A $50 deposit is required to register, but the fee will be refunded after successful completion of the class. Class space is limited. Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Jacksonville Sheriffs Office / Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training and Education Center, 4715 Capper Road Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.coj.net/ departments/sheriffs-office Crafternoon at the Callahan Library April 23, 4:30pm to 5:30pm Teens, come make crafts with your friends at the Callahan Library. Materials will be provided. This month’s craft: Tissue paper flowers, taught by Nisha.

Callahan Branch Library / 904-879-3434 / 450077 State Rd. 200 Suite 15 Callahan, FL 32011 / www. nassaureads.com

National Library Week: Teen Literature Day April 16, 2pm to 8pm Teens and those who love teen literature are invited to celebrate Teen Literature Day, a special celebra- Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

Earth Day at The Landing E

ach year, Earth Day – April 22 – marks the anni- and nationalities. More than a billion people versary of what many consider the birth of the participate in campaigns every year for environmenmodern environmental movement. tal programs and community activism through a broad range of events and activities.

A flower-child of the anti-Vietnam war protests and the emerging awareness of our environment, the For the past 25 years the celebration in Jacksonville original Earth Day channeled this energy into a has centered on the Earth Day and Ecology Fair at movement to put environmental concerns in the The Jacksonville Landing. The kid-friendly free event forefront. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. (which Jax4Kids is a proud sponsor) from 10 a.m. to Senator from Wisconsin, used this movement to 4 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 18, features educational and force environmental protection onto the national interactive displays from environmental organizapolitical agenda. He announced the idea for a tions, agencies and businesses as well as entertain“national teach-in on the environment,” persuaded ment throughout the day. Live animal encounters and other congressmen to join in, and recruited a national an arts and craft area using recycled material will coordinator to promote events across the land. keep the kids entertained.

As a result on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Today the effort is worldwide. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths

Page 32 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Entertainment headliners for the day include popular local band Oscar Mike and Jacksonville teen sensation Dalton Cyr – The 14-year-old singer, song-writer will be honored at next month’s Dare to Dream Music Festival in California for his hit song “You’re Not Alone.”

Also, the winners of the Earth Day Poster Contest, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Board, will be announced and the Earth Day Jacksonville Environmental Mini-Grants will also be awarded.

Earth Day Jacksonville is a local non-profit organization and about one third of the annual budget is put back into the community through environmental education mini-grants of up to $500 per recipient. j

April 28 @ 8pm Tickets Charge By Phone 904-355-2787 floridatheatre.com

infant & toddler

More Children Getting Cavities at a Younger Age

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oday’s parents are more informed and more involved in their children’s healthcare than any generation before. With the internet at our disposal we are able to stay current. We take our children to the Pediatrician on a regular basis.

We teach them to brush their teeth and try to keep their meals healthy. Would it surprise you to hear that our children are getting more cavities than we did? And that they are getting them at a younger age?

Most parents are aware of the importance of dental hygiene and have been trying to teach their children to brush twice a day and visit the dentist regularly. So what can be causing this surge of new decay in the younger kids?

Sippy cups and sugary drinks: While most parents are aware of the dangers of putting kids to bed with the bottle few think of the dangers of sugary juices in sippy cups. Do not allow your child to drink anything but water in their sippy cups. Juice should only be drank at the table from a cup and should be finished quickly.

Sugary snacks: The more frequently children snack the more likely they are to end up with cavities. Limit the number of times your children snack. Munching and grazing all day will lead to more decay in the long run. Try to encourage sliced fruits, cut up vegetables and whole grains for snack time.

Sugar does not equal candy: Unfortunately, most manufacturers are adding more and more sugar

Things to Do Infant & Toddler

Turtles & Tots April 11, 10am to 12noon An educational presentation on sea turtles geared towards kids 5 and under. Bill McCullum, from the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, will talk about the types of sea turtles, what they eat, how they live in the wild and what we can do to protect them. Although this event is coordinated through the local Moms group, it is free and open to all. Beaches Branch Library / 600 3rd Street, Neptune Beach, FL 32266 / jpl.coj.net Art For Tots April 18, 11am

Page 33 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

to their products. Do not believe what you read on front of the product. Many low sugar products have simply swapped one kind of sugar for another. Become your child’s best advocate.

Read labels, remember the first ingredient is the most important ingredient and it should not be sugar!

Special treats: Easter is here and soon the Easter bunny will be hopping about leaving candy and goodies for the kids.

What’s a parent to do? Let them eat candy! Let them have their day and enjoy their goodies. Make sure you get an extra brushing in there. Then talk to them about donating the rest of the candy.

Operation gratitude is a wonderful organization that sends candy overseas to our troops. Make the kids feel good about helping out someone else.

Kids really do say the funniest things! Please share your favorites with us by e-mailing your story directly to editor@jax4kids.com. One entry each month will be turned into a cartoon to be published in the next issue of Jax4Kids. We’ll send you the original cartoon as a keepsake.

And don’t forget the flossing! Yes, you have been brushing their teeth since they were very little but did you know you should start flossing as soon as the teeth start touching? For some kids that is as early as age one!

Visit your pediatric dentist: Pediatric dentists are all about prevention. Depending on your child’s age and dental development they will discuss the best ways to keep those pearly whites healthy.

They may be called baby teeth but those teeth will stay with your kids until they are 12 or older.

So it is important to take care of them and give your child the gift of a healthy smile! j

Come into the art lab for projects perfectly fit for little hands, accompanied by a story. This program is designed for toddlers and little ones.

Southeast Branch Library / 904-827-6900 / 6670 US1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086 / www.sjcpls.org Tuesday For Twos April 21, 9:45am to 10:30am Two year olds and their parents are invited for interactive activities. There is no charge for this event, but space is limited. Call Lori Hall at 904-641-6644 for more information or to RSVP. This month’s theme is Music and Movement with dance director Emily Gray.

Jacksonville Country Day School / 904-641-6644 / 10063 Baymeadows Road Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.jcds.com Children Are Always Learning! Learning on the Go April 22, 6pm to 7pm

Visit us online Parenting Classes Toddler Events Health/Birthing Resources to find Child Development Classes Playgroups Explore ways to enhance children’s development by acquiring effective teaching and nurturing skills from birth to age five. Childcare provided ages 0-10.

Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960 / Early Learning Coalition of Duval 8301 Cypress Plaza Drive, Room 201 Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.duvalschools.org/ParentAcademy Babies ‘R Us Happy Mealtime April 25, 2pm Parents, learn about the latest in breastfeeding, bottles, formulas & first foods, food, snacks, cups and more. You’ll be able to sample new products and get coupons.

Babies ‘R Us / 4875 Town Center Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / 904-997-6311 Babies ‘R Us / 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244 / 904-908-9696 / www.babiesrus.com

Curious George April 27, 10am to 12noon Curious George at The Florida Theatre. Best for grades Pre-K-3. Tickets are $8 per person. There will be two performances, 10am and 12noon. Call to reserve your tickets.

Florida Theatre / 904-355-2787 / 128 East Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / floridatheatre.com Goodbye April! Storytime April 29, 10:30am Kids are invited for a reading of Little Bunny Foo Foo. Afterwards, kids can make paper plate bunnies.

Barnes and Noble San Jose / 904-886-9904 / 11112 San Jose Boulevard Suite 8 Jacksonville, FL 32223 / www.bn.com

Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

Special needs

NOW ENROLLING

Studies Show That 1 in 100 Children Have OCD C hildren with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have nagging and repetitive thoughts (obsessions) that cause considerable distress unless they engage in complicated rituals or repetitive actions (compulsions) that are used to ease these uncomfortable feelings. Children may even realize that their actions are irrational and become very frustrated by their perceived need to engage in these rituals, yet they feel driven to engage in them anyways.

children regardless of whether or not they have developmental disabilities.

Family Café Conference Set he 17th Annual Family Café, a venue for people with disabilities and their families to learn about available services, connect with policy makers and network with each other, is set for June 5-7 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando.

There is no registration fee for individuals with disabilities and their family members or caregivers. Also, limited financial assistance is available to cover the cost of the hotel stay.

The Family Café annual conference which includes the Governor’s Summit on Disabilities, is the largest state-wide event of its kind in the nation. Last year’s Café hosted nearly 9,000 people.

Thanks in large part to the support of the State of Florida the Family Café has been able to affect the lives of over 100,000 individuals across the state through education, training and networking.

Page 34 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Special Needs Private School

There is hope, though. Storch and Merlo (2006) note that there are several medication options that are considered effective for treatment of OCD, but success rates are 57-67 percent, with a standard two months of treatment, plus 12 months of additional medication therapy required.

By comparison, up to 85 percent of children who Obsessions may include concerns about conreceive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-aka tamination from things in the world, hoarding/ Exposure and Response Prevention) make clinisaving items, superstition (lucky objects, clothing, cally significant gains and it often takes less than colors, numbers, health concerns (that any small a year to achieve sustainable results. CBT is scratch or symptom of fatigue or illness means different than other talk therapies and it tends to catastrophe), and/or intrusive images or thoughts involve the entire family in treatment to help chilof events that have never happened before. dren overcome their own obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Not all providers are trained in the Rituals may include counting, touching objects a use of Exposure and Response Prevention CBT, certain number of times before using them, using so check to see if any potential provider uses it a saying, double-checking, or even doing a physi- before you decide. cal task until it feels “just right.”

If you suspect your child may have OCD, you’re Examples of physical tasks may include hand not alone. Contact a provider and schedule an washing, writing and rewriting words, opening intake. j and closing doors, locking and unlocking doors, or asking for reassurance with the same question Andrew Scherbarth, Ph.D., BCBA-D Licensed Psychologist repetitively.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst Studies show that one in 100 children have OCD, Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics 6867 Southpoint Drive North, Suite 106 which often persists throughout life and can Jacksonville, Florida 32216 lead to significant impairment across settings if 904.619.6071 left untreated. In fact, OCD is one of the top 20 causes for illness related disability. OCD strikes

T

AGES 2 – 22

This year a session for caregivers will be held the day before the Café. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 4, attendees will engage in a day of networking, personal growth and camaraderie with their peers. Caring for a loved one with a disability is stressful, never-ending occupation.

Caregivers can become burnt out, and experience a reduced sense of possibility, well-being and quality of life over time. The intent is to provide caregivers an opportunity to create for themselves new possibilities for sustainable health and well-being through an engaging and interactive program that is built upon research-based practices from a holistic medicine perspective. There is no registration fee to attend this event, and a limited number of slots are available.

See www.familycafe.net to register. j

Student-Teacher Ratio 5:2 Accepts the McKay Scholarship, Step Up for Students and PLSA Scholarships. Academic and Hardship scholarships are available.

Drama, Art, PE, Community Outings Call to Schedule a Tour

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Mainspring Academy admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and school administered programs.

904.619.6071 mainspringacademy.org

6867 Southpoint Drive North Jacksonville, FL 32256

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Special needs

Controlling Autism in Children Is Everyone’s Responsibility

I

n spite of growing efforts in research, autism has been steadily increasing over the last 20 years. Genetic, environmental and epigenetics factors (broken nature/ nurture balance related ailments) have been speculated as the causes of autism.

Autism is a bio-neurological development disability that usually presents itself before the age of three. Statistics indicate that one out of 68 children is affected by the disease and it is five times more likely in boys than in girls. It impacts normal development of the brain in areas that deal with social interactions, behavior, communication skills, and cognitive functioning.

ity; and lack of appropriateness in verbal and non-verbal behavior communication.

Unusual Behavior Patterns Symptoms include: Difficulty in motor control; peculiar attachment to inanimate objects; distressed by a change in routine; and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior.

We approach autism and related disorders with a multidisciplinary protocol.

Incorporating biomedical approaches first is the key. Nutrition, diet, toxic load, sleep should be regulated before child is sent for occupational, vestibular and sensory integration therapies.

In the long run combination of the multidisciplinary approaches determines the psychosocial outcomes.

Autism varies greatly from person to person and no two cases are exactly alike. And despite the fact there is no cure or discovered cause, autism is treatable. Children with autism can progress if given proper treatment – early intervention is key! Hypothetically, for all of us to save the next generation, collective efforts to clean the eco-system Communication Impairments and Regression from its toxic load, saving seeds from genetically modified technologies, and supporting local, Symptoms include: Delays or regression in denatural and regional self-sustainable communivelopment of spoken language; lack of pragmatic ties should be everyone’s responsibility. j aspect of language; inability to initiate or maintain Aylin Ozdemir, MD, FAAP, ABIHM language; and idiosyncratic repetitive language.

Pediatric Associates of Jacksonville 1102 A1A North Suite 104 Lack of Social Interaction Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 904-273-6533 Symptoms include: Lack of ability to develop relationships; lack of social and emotion reciproc-

HEAL ZooWalk April 26, 2015

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FREE EVENT

EGG HUNT

FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SATURDAYY APRIL TH AM MMMPM MRAIN OR SHINEE

SPECIALLY DESIGNED EGG HUNT COURSES BOUNCE HOUSES, FOOD, GAMES, AND MORE! Celebration Arena 9555 R.G. Skinner Parkway Jax, FL 32256

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Things to Do Special Needs

Egg Hunt for Children with Special Needs April 4, 10am – 12pm This fun event offers activities and fully accessible egg hunt courses for children with special needs. In addition to the egg hunt, there will also be games, food, prizes, bounce houses and more. Family members are also invited to join in the fun! Held at the Celebration Church Arena.

Celebration Arena / 9555 R G Skinner Pkwy, Jacksonville, 32256 / 904-737-1121 / www. celebration.org Connecting the Dots April 11, 8pm – 4pm Event for individuals, their families, and professionals regarding disabilities in and around Jacksonville. Topics to be covered include: Healthy Living, Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Help for the Struggling Reader, Preschool is for ALL children, Post-secondary Options, Employment Options, Community Resources, Guardianship Options, Transitional Medical Services and Aging with IDD. There will also be a vendor area, with local agencies represented.

Kathie Snow will be presenting on Natural Community Supports, and Cooperative Advocacy. Other featured speakers include representatives from the Early Learning Coalition, UF FDLRS, Project 10, FSCJ, OCT, the Arc Jack-

Page 35 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

sonville, Peace of Mind Jax, Pine Castle, Aging True, and JaxHATS, who will cover the spectrum of School-aged to Adult topics.

Christ’s Church / 6045 Greenland Rd, Jacksonville, 32258 / www.eventbrite.com Hope Haven Family Fun Day April 18, 10am – 2pm A fun-filled day for all children and families, focusing on creating a healthy lifestyle regardless of ability or disability. There will be train rides, bounce houses, bungee jump, arts and crafts and musical performances. It’s free and open to the public with a very small charge for rides and food. Losco Regional Park / 10931 Hood Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-346-5100 / www. hope-haven.org Sensory Friendly Films – Underdogs April 18, 10am AMC Entertainment (AMC) and ASA have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis. Lights are brought up, sound is turned down, and families are allowed to bring their own snacks. Movies are shown at the AMC Regency 24 in the Regency Center Square.

AMC Regency 24/ 9451 Regency Square Blvd, Jacksonville, 32225 / 904-725-0885 / www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

Gate Parkway, Suite 200. Appointments are available every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 904-997-3051 or email lgrub0a@ ft.newyorklife.com.

COOLIBAR

EDUCATOR APPRECIATION DAYS

YOUTUBE KIDS You Tube has introduced a kid-friendly version of YouTube with kid-centric, appropriate content, a safe search for kids feature, parental timer and no video comments. Download the app for android and i0S devices free of charge on Google Play and the App Store.

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY Autism Awareness Day is marked by wearing something blue. Last year, 10,000 landmarks, buildings and homes in 136 countries on all seven continents took part in Light It Up Blue. Join in shining a light on autism on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day. The Home Depot is selling three types of blue Philips light bulbs and an Amerelle night-light, offering its customers across the United States an easy way to join the campaign. A portion of each sale will go toward Autism Speaks’ efforts to promote research, advocacy and family services.

Coolibar, makers of sun protective clothing, has a Sun Hat Discount program for schools to protect children from damaging UV rays. Schools will receive 50% off the retail price on each school hat for children with a minimum order of 50 hats. For teachers, there is a 50% discount on one adult hat for every 15 kids hats ordered in conjunction with the school program. Pre-discount retail prices begin at $19.50 but most children’s hats are $22 - $26. For more information and to order online, visit Coolibar at http://www.coolibar.com/custserv/custserv. jsp?pageName=school-program-faqs or email service@coolibar.com.

From April 11-19, pre-K through 12th grade educators will save 25% on classroom and personal purchases, 10% on Café consumables, plus an additional 10% on new NOOK devices at Barnes & Noble. Discounts are valid in store and online at www.bn.com/educator. Educators must bring in a valid school ID or current pay stub to obtain Educator Discount card. Homeschool educators are also eligible for the Educator Discount card. Shop online at www.bn.com or visit these area participating stores: St Johns Town Center | 904-928-2027 | 10280 Midtown Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32246 San Jose | 904-886-9904 | 11112 San Jose Boulevard Suite 8 Jacksonville, FL 32223

DISNEYNATURE

SUPER SIMPLE LEARNING

Monkey Kingdom, the eighth true life adventure from Disneynature films opens in theaters on April 17th. Learn more about this and other Disneynature films at www. disney.com/monkeykingdom

Super Simple Learning creates quality educational materials that make learning and teaching simple and fun. Visit them online at supersimplelearning.com. This year, they launched the very popular Super Simple ABC’s and Super Simple Songs You Tube channels. Find them at www.youtube.com/SuperSimpleSongs and www. youtube.com/SuperSimpleLearning

PINK MOON The early Native Americans kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months.

The full moon that appears in April is the Pink Moon which will be visible this year on April 4th. The name pink moon comes from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers to bloom.

Page 36 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

NATIONAL PARK WEEK In honor of the opening weekend of National Park Week, all National Parks will offer FREE admission from April 18-19.

Learn more, plan your trip and find a park near you at www.nps.gov

CHILD ID PROGRAM Free Child ID’s are available to all children accompanied by a parent or guardian at New York Life’s offices at 7880

LET’S CONNECT

WHY IT’S SMARTER To Own Than To Rent WE ALL KNOW THAT HOME OWNERSHIP BUILDS EQUITY for you, lowers your car insurance premiums, and allows you a tax deduction for your mortgage interest. Yet, well beyond the numbers, there are plenty more reasons to choose a Mattamy Townhome in Durbin Crossing, Willowbrook or Segovia.

For one, all of our homes are designed by architects who create beautiful spaces for how real people want to live. Our communities also feature lavish amenities. At Durbin Crossing, you will find clubhouses, two pools, a fitness center, tennis and basketball courts plus playscapes.

Discover how fulfilling life can be in your own Mattamy home today.

PURCHASE AMOUNT: $132,990 Loan: FHA 30 Year Fixed Down Payment: 3.5% ($4655 due at closing)

PURCHASE AMOUNT: $185,990 Loan: USDA 30 Year Fixed Down Payment: $0

Rate Estimate: 3.75% APR: 5.013% Principal and Interest: $614 Taxes: $135 Insurance: $45 HOA: $140 CDD: $111 MIP: $90

APR: 4.52% Principal and Interest: $879 Taxes: $185 Insurance: $50 HOA: $120 CDD: $113 USDA Service Fee: $78

TOTAL PAYMENT = $1,135

TOTAL PAYMENT = $1,425

AT WILLOWBROOK

AT DURBIN CROSSING

COST TO RENT: $1,460 *1517 SQ.FT. 3 Bed • 2 Bath *Reference: Cost to rent in 32258 www.century-apartments.com/century-bartram-springs/floorplans#sthash.rR59Il98.dpuf

OAKLEAF PLANTATION Townhomes From The Low $100s SALES CENTER: 3747 Aubrey Lane • 904-291-4111

SEGOVIA ST. AUGUSTINE Townhomes From The Mid $100s SALES CENTER: 24 Adelanto Avenue • 904-342-8793

ST. JOHNS Townhomes From The Mid $100s SALES CENTER: 87 Richmond Drive • 904-482-3660

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR COMMUNITIES REGISTER AT MATTAMYHOMES.COM FOLLOW US: SALES CENTER HOURS: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; Friday and Sunday 12 pm – 6 pm NMLS #64022. This is not a good faith estimate or a Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Statement required by federal law. If you make application with Mattamy Home Funding, your Good Faith Estimate and Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Statement will be sent to you in the opening package. This is not a commitment to lend, nor is it a rate lock, pre-qualification or pre-approval. This flyer is intended to assist you in evaluating a loan or home purchase using estimated closing and property costs. Closing and settlement costs, reserve deposits, interest rate and APR are subject to change and the estimates shown above may be more or less depending on factors such as but not limited to: down payment, property type, and occupancy. Housing costs will vary depending on but not limited to: location, homeowner’s association dues, local and state fees, taxes, and hazard and mortgage insurance. The estimate provided is based on a credit score of 740. Changes from third parties, which may include but not limited to: Lender’s affiliates, will be passed through at the actual cost charged by the 3rd Party. You may wish to compare these estimated charges in considering the total cost of your mortgage. Equal Housing Lender. Trade/service marks are the property of Christine Milbourne NMLS Loan Originator ID #197636, Mattamy Home Funding LLC NMLS #64022. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. License #CRC1330987.

Page 37 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Things to Do

pets

10 Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog In a word–housebroken Housetraining a puppy and its small bladder takes a consistent schedule and a hunk of time. An older dog can “hold it” much more reliably for longer time periods, and usually the Rescue has him housebroken before he is adopted.

Intact underwear Torn socks, gnawed shoes, holes in carpet, mangled books, ripped coaches, it will happen– this is a puppy’s job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.

A good night’s sleep A puppy can be very demanding at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Having children, you understand.

How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue dog?

that, moved on.”

Matchmaker make me a match Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons rescuers get “give-up” phone calls.

Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both with each other.

Instant companion

With an older dog, you automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There’s no waiting.

Rescue dog bond Dogs who have Finish the been uprooted newspaper from their happy Do you think homes or have your kids will not had the best really feed him, start in life are clean up the more likely to messes, and bond very take him for a completely and walk in the deeply with their pouring rain new people. every hour to Those who have get him lost their Lazer (pictured above) is an 8 year old, lab/shepherd mix that is families through housetrained? ready to be adopted. He is the sweetest cuddle bug who would death, divorce or With an adult dog, it will only love another K9 friend to play with. If you would like more info lifestyle change to adopt Lazer, email your name and phone number to lexysbe the kids go through a running amok, terrible mom012@yahoo.com. because your mourning dog will be sitting calmly next to you. process. But, once attached to a new loving family, they make exceptionally affectionate and Easier vet trips attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.

Puppies have many needs and the visits can add up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up donation to the rescue when adopting an older in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally pup should get you a dog with all shots current, inferior. But good Rescues will evaluate the dog already altered, heartworm negative and on before accepting him/her (medically, behaviorally, preventative at the minimum. and for breed confirmation), rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/ What you see is what you get she is ready and to a home that matches and is The great unknown: Size? Temperament? realistic about the necessary commitment.

Trainable? When adopting an older dog, all of Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased pup will those questions are easily answered. You can not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy responsible pet owners and breeders can do or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its that), but it does give many of them a chance foster homes can guide you to the right match they otherwise would not have. But, beyond (Rescues are full of puppies who became the doing a “good deed”, adopting a rescue dog can wrong match as they got older!) be the best decision and addition to the family you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted Un-scarred children friend for life. j When the puppy isn’t teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and art4theanimals.com you. Most older dogs have “been there, done

Page 38 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

Pet Events

Single and Loving It Adoption Event April 1 – 30 The Jacksonville Humane Society offers $0 adoption fee on select animals that have so much love to give that they want your heart all to themselves.

(Other fees may apply.) Jacksonville Humane Society / 904-725-8766 / 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 www.jaxhumane.org Find Somebunny To Love Adoption Event April 4 – 5 Choose an egg from the Easter basket, to see what your adoption fee will be, from $0 – $50. (Other fees may apply). Jacksonville Humane Society / 904-725-8766 / 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 ww.jaxhumane.org Pedal 4 Paws April 4, 8:30am This inaugural bike ride takes off from Unity Plaza and winds through Jacksonville’s urban core. The ride is open to all level of riders. The festival-like atmosphere is will feature history, the arts, live music and more. The event is a fundraiser for First Coast No More Homeless Pets. You can register as a team, or as an individual. Experienced cyclists have the option of riding 50 or more miles, while Beginner to intermediate cyclists can do the 7 to 30 mile course. Costs: $25 for individuals registering before April 1, or $20 each per team member, if registering as a team. First Coast No More Homeless Pets / Unity Plaza, 220 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204 / www.fcnmhp.org Kids and Their Dogs April 6, 5:40pm to 6:30pm Children age 9 and older will learn how to communicate with their dogs and take proper care of their best buds. They will be introduced to agility and obedience and trick training. Lots of fun activities will be offered. All dogs must be friendly. Register

in advance. Cost is $120. Classes start 4/6/15 and are held on Mondays for six weeks, 5:40pm to 6:30pm. My Pet Camp / 904-829-6165 / 1195 Thompson Bailey Road, St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.mypetcamp.com Understanding Dog Training Equipment Options April 14, 5pm There are many options when it comes to collars, leashes, and harnesses. Special guest, certified dog trainer Julie Parker and founder of Be A Pack Leader Dog Walking Club and the Pack Leader Dog Training Scholarship Program, will help you understand the many training tools available to help your dog become a better canine citizen. This program is free and open to the public. Please no dogs. For more information email: anderpark@msn.com or call: 904-471-5579. Anastasia Island Branch / 904-2093730 / 124 Seagrove Main St St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080 / www.sjcpls.org Mega Adoption Event April 17 – 19, 10am to 6pm First Coast No More Homeless Pets hosts a Mega Adoption Event with lots of adoptable pets. Free entry, free parking. Adoption fee on all pets. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, vaccines, and city license. Adoption hours are 10 am – 6 pm.

First Coast No More Homeless Pets / Jacksonville Fairgrounds, 510 Fairgrounds Place Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.fcnmhp.org Yappy Hour “Fur”Shion Show April 19, 2pm to 5pm Enter your dog to win the Dog Fashion Show during the Yappy Hour “Fur”Shion Show. There will be also be giveaways, music and more. Free.

Jacksonville Landing / 904-353-1188 / 2 Independent Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.jacksonvillelanding.com

Like Jax4Pets.com’s Facebook page at facebook.com/jax4pets to find out about other events for pets.

Heel, Daenarys, Heel!

O

kay, I confess. The release of the year’s most popular dog names is more exciting for me than the Academy Awards and the Grammys combined. If you’re a dog —surely you get this.

Now, let’s share the excitement. Drumroll please as I present the highlights from 2014’s most popular dog names, as reported by rover.com.

There were some interesting trends this year: Eighteen of the top 20 names are human names.

Perhaps this correlates to the growing trend of people referring to themselves as “pet parents” rather than “pet owners?” Compared to 2013, there was a significant rise in food and beveragethemed names such as “Guinness,” Kahlua,” “Coconut” and “Kale.”

There was a huge jump in names associated with things found in the great outdoors (perhaps a byproduct of our “going green” culture). “Lightning,” “Shadow,” “Clover,” “Panda” and “Moose” are some examples.

Pop culture shaped how we named our dogs this year. Many pups were named “Elsa,” “Olaf” and

“Anna” based on the movie Frozen (why am I not surprised). Game of Thrones (I’ve never seen this show) spawned plenty of doggie ID tags inscribed with “Khaleesi,” “Daenarys,” “Sansa,” and “Tyrion.” Any of these names are quite the mouthful when contemplating an effective recall command!

Newly retired New York Yankee superstar, Derek Jeter must feel flattered. “Jeter” made the top ten list of sports-related names. No great surprise to see “Max” and “Bella” leading the pack of male and female name lists. Both are good, rock-solid dog names, and have been super popular for years.

I enjoyed these results, just as I do most every year. As long as “Lucky” doesn’t make the top ten list, I’m a happy camper. Mind you Lucky isn’t a bad name, it just makes me a bit superstitious.

Every “Lucky” I’ve known was lucky enough to get kicked by a horse, run over by a truck, whooped in a dog fight, or trapped in a garage for days. j Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, Pet Health Network

things to do 2015 Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival April 25, 10am to 4pm Jax4Kids.com is proud to sponsor Tree Hill Nature Center’s annual Butterfly Festival. There will be animal encounters, a bounce house, face painting, local vendors, garden tours, and a live butterfly release at 3:30pm.

Cost is $5 adults, $4 senior/military/students, $3 kids 3-17, and free for under 3 and Tree Hill Members.

Tree Hill Nature Center / 904-724-4646 / 7152 Lone Star Road Jacksonville FL 32211 / www.treehill.org 29th Annual Clay County Agricultural Fair April 2 – 11 Admission to the Fair is: Adults (13-64) $8.00, Seniors (65+) $5.00, Children (6-12) $5.00. Children 5 and under are FREE. Visit claycountyfair.org for entertainment schedule, hours and more information.

Clay County Fairgrounds / 904-284-1615 / 2497 State Road 16 West, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 / www. claycountyfair.org 47th Annual Mandarin Art Festival April 4 – 5, 10am to 5pm Festival features a children’s art show, children’ activities including art clinics, face painting, balloon art, bake sale, green market, food court, live music and more. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt. Outdoor event with $1 suggested entry fee. Sorry, no pets.

Free parking and shuttles from Mandarin Presbyterian Church and Alberts Field. Mandarin Community Club / 904-268-1622 / 12447 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / www.mandarincommunityclub.org Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience Tuesday, April 7 – 7:30pm Wednesday, April 8 – 7:30pm Thursday, April 9 – 7:30pm Friday, April 10 – 8:00pm Saturday, April 11 – 2:00pm & 8:00pm Sunday, April 12 – 1:00pm & 4:00pm Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience is a parody that takes all seven Harry Potter books into seventy hilarious minutes. Appropriate for ages 6 and up. Tickets start at $34. FSCJ Artist Series / Times Union Center, 300 West Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.artistseriesjax.org Buddy Valastro: The Cake Boss April 8, 7:30pm In this interactive event, TLC’s Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro, will share stories, answer audience questions, and give a live demonstration of techniques. Tickets range from $35 to $125 and are available in advance online or by phone.

Florida Theatre / 904-355-5661 / 128 East Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / floridatheatre.com St. Augustine Race Week – Junior Sailing April 9 – 12 St. Augustine Race Week is a brand new Annual Spring sailing event combining large-boat ocean racing and spectator-friendly small boat racing along the St. Augustine Bayfront. The four-day regatta, April 9-12, 2015 coincides with St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration and celebrates the first city’s colorful maritime heritage of 450 years of Sailing. There will be two days of spectator-friendly In-Shore racing with boats under 30 feet on Thursday and Friday. Junior Racing in Optimist Prams and 420 dinghies at the Bayfront will be on Saturday and Sunday. Four Off-Shore (ocean) races will be held April 9-11th. In addition to the sailing events, St. Augustine Race Week includes two FREE concerts on the City Marina Lawn which will be open for racers and the public, Thursday and Friday night.

Many of the competitor yachts will be docked at the downtown City Marina and available for casual inspection by the public.

First Coast Sailing Association / 904-687-5146 / St. Augustine Municipal Marina, 111-E Avenida Menedez St. Augustine, FL 32080 / www.sarw2015.com Disney on Ice Let’s Celebrate!

Page 39 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015

April 9 – 12 Disney on Ice returns to the Veterans Memorial Arena.

This year’s theme, Let’s Celebrate, features a Very Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; a Royal Valentine’s Day Ball with your favorite Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel, Belle and Tiana; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin; a winter wonderland with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear; a Halloween haunt with the Disney villains, and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivities from around the globe.. Tickets start at $15, plus fees. Ages 0-23 months admitted free on ticket holder’s lap (no ticket required). If child has celebrated their 2nd birthday, they MUST have a ticket to enter. Tickets available online at Ticketmaster.com. Save $5 with the discount code J4K15. Not valid on Opening night, Friday 10:30am or Saturday 3:30pm; Not valid on Rinkside or VIP / Premium seating; Not valid day of show, all tickets $2 more day of show.

Show dates and times are: Thursday – 7:30pm Friday – 10:30am* and 7:30pm Saturday – 11:30am, 3:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday – 1:00pm, 5:00pm *The Friday 10:30am show is only for school groups.

Schools, to order tickets, call 866-248-8740 (Option 3) for Direct Group Sales and mention Jax4Kids. Tickets are $10 for school show performance.

Disney on Ice / Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.disneyonice.com Musical Madness for Kids April 15, 3pm The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents a Musical Madness for Kids for kindergartners thru grade 5. The event will feature the String Quintet, featuring live performances and opportunities to learn all about the instruments and see them up close.

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www. sjcpls.org North Atlantic Right Whales Saturday, Apr. 18 at 2:00 pm North Atlantic right whales visit Northeast Florida waters to give birth to calves December through March.

Join a ranger to learn about one of the world’s most endangered large mammals. This program will take place at the Ribault Club on Fort George Island Cultural State Park. No reservations are necessary and the program is free.

Fort George Island Cultural State Park / 904-251-2320 / 11241 Fort George Road / Jacksonville, FL 32226 / www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fort-George-Island West Nassau Historical Society Railroad Days April 18, 9am to 8pm This year’s celebration will include the grand opening of the Musslewhite Turpentine Commissary artifact exhibit building. Being Earth Day weekend, they will also celebrate the fabled “Hobos” and their Recycle and ReUse skills of the materials they used while riding the rails. The arts/crafts vendors and food vendors will open from 9am to 5pm with the live music and entertainment running from 10am to 8pm. The kids’ area includes jumpy houses, slide, a barrel train, and Hobo Games. The parade starts at 11am and will wind its way down US 1 through downtown Callahan. Steam driven engines, tractors and trains will be exhibited on the historic Florida Railroad rail bed, remnants of the state’s first cross-peninsular rail line.

West Nassau Historical Society / 904-879-3406 / Historic Train Depot, 45383 Dixie Avenue, Callahan, FL 32011 / www.wnhsfl.org ShAdco Zone 2 Safety Fair April 18, 10am to 2pm The ShAdco Zone 2 Safety Fair will feature informational booths, vendors, a bike rodeo and more.

Jacksonville Sheriffs Office / Regency Square Mall,

St. Augustine Outlet Mall parking lot next to Bozard Ford

Hands-on fun with trucks, fire engines, cars, boats, and more!

Admission: $5.00 for children ages 2 and up, adults are free.

Scoop up advance tickets on line at tagmuseum.org

9501 Arlington Expressway Jacksonville, FL 32225 / www.coj.net/departments/sheriffs-office Charlotte’s Web April 21, 7pm April 22 – 23, 10:15am Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E. B. White’s classic book. Tickets are $15.

Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts / 904-276-6750 / 283 College Dr, Orange Park, FL 32073 / www. thcenter.org Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library Book Sale April 22, 10am to 7:30pm; April 23, 10am to 5:30pm; April 24, 10am to 5:30pm; April 25, 10am to 4pm. There will be children’s books, audio books, videos and more. Bring cash. Saturday is Bag Day, where each bag of books is $8. All proceeds go to support the Friends’ Mission to make the library an outstanding educational, cultural, civic, and recreational center for the community.

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www. sjcpls.org Feel the Wheels April 25, 9am to 4pm Hands-on event where children of all ages can explore trucks, emergency vehicles, boats, military vehicles and more. Admission is $5 for children 2 and up; free for adults. Proceeds to benefit the tag! Children’s Museum of St. Augustine. Tickets can be purchased online, in advance. Children’s Museum of St. Augustine / 904-647-1757 / St. Augustine Outlets, 500 Outlet Mall Blvd. St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.tagmuseum.org/events.aspx Italian Spring Festa April 25, 11am to 9pm; April 26, , 11am to 6pm The Italian American Club of Jacksonville (IAC) presents the first annual springtime festival. This family event is IAC’s gift to the community — no admission

fee. There will be music, kids activities, souvenirs and Italian food, including pizza, pasta, hoagies, and homemade desserts.

Italian American Club of Jacksonville / 904-268-2882 / 2838 Westberry Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / www. iacofjacksonville.com The Twins and the Monster April 26, 3pm This imaginative tale by award-winning author Tololwa M. Mollel uses the rhythms of Africa to drive the fastpaced presentation, where two twins must outwit a fierce monster and heal their devastated village. John Estacio’s magical score, adapted by Doug McKeag, sets the scene as an actor brings the story to life using carved masks, singing and movement. Tickets start at $6. Join Jax4Kids.com for pre-concert fun.

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra / 904-354-5547 / Times Union Center, Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 West Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www. jaxsymphony.org 20th Anniversary “Out of this World” Concert April 28, 7:30pm to 9:30pm The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus presents the 20th Anniversary “Out of this World” Concert featuring Voca People. The concert will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 7:30pm, at the Lazzara Performance Hall at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The evening will feature performances by the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus and feature their guest artists, Voca People.

Jacksonville Children’s Chorus / 904-353-1636 / UNF Lazzara Performance Hall, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 / jaxchildrenschorus.org

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dates, times and locations are accurate at time of publication; events and activities listed in this guide are subject to change without notice. Visit Jax4Kids.com for updated information and more events!