Eastern Shore Parents September 2013 by KeepSharing

You are Cordially Invited to the Expansion Dedication of the

Children’s & Women’s Hospital UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Thursday, September 12, 2013 4:30 p.m. | dedication and tours

also join us for our

open house Sunday, September 15, 2013 2 - 5 p.m.

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September2013

Volume 6 Number 4

54 Columns

Publisher’s Note Lynn Knighton

Living With Children

School Year Tips for Parenting a Child with ASD

Help for facing specific challenges in the classroom.

John Rosemond

Special Needs Resource Guide

Local & national organizations are available to help.

Kids Health Watch

sponsored by Magnolia Springs Pediatrics

Get This!

Gerry Paige Smith

Dave Says Dave Ramsey

A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

Beating the Mommy Blues

Five ways to recharge your spirit.

Communicating with Your Teenager

Strategies, with a twist, for meaningful talks with your teen.

On The Cover

The FlyLady Marla Cilley

Departments 6

Kate Sharp, (13), twin sister to her brother, Brennan (13), little sister to Reilly (17), and daughter of Greg and Heather Sharp of Spanish Fort. Proud Grandparents are John and Jane Sharp of Mobile and Joan Calvert of Mobile. Kate is a Spanish Fort Middle School cheerleader and also cheers for Sparkle. In her spare time she loves to cheer, dance, text, and hang out with her friends just like every other 13-year-old. The Sharp’s family and friends refer to her disability as “Up Syndrome” because there is nothing “down” about her. She amazes them daily!

Bits and Pieces 20

School Bits 74

Family Calendar 84

Movie Reviews

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Publisher’sNote It was August 19th, the first day of school. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the girls could not wait to get to school. I was elated that we had managed to get three kids to three different schools without any chaos. Life was good. To reward myself, I decided to take an hour of “me” time before starting my work day. You know the routine, watch a little morning TV, play on Pinterest and catch up with friends on Facebook. That is when it happened. As the Facebook page was loading I suddenly got a pit in my stomach. I realized I had forgotten something…something big…something I knew my mother was going to call me about. This was not going to be pretty. I was so happy sharing in the girls’ joy about the first day of school that I forgot to take a first day of school pic! Everyone else remembered, but no, not me. While I rarely post pictures or comments, I knew my mom and in-laws were anxiously awaiting a “first day of school pic”. How was I ever going to explain this to my mother who has a picture of every moment of our lives?! Then it hit me. I would take the picture after school. After all, it is still the first day, right? The girls came home telling me all about their day and how much fun it was and how much they like their teachers. I was thrilled! That night, lying in bed, I remembered, I forgot again! Here we are, a whole week into school and I have yet to take the picture. I just get so excited to hear about their day and talk to them before they leave the next morning that it just keeps slipping my mind. I know there will be a day when they may not want to share details of their day with me so freely, so I try to take advantage of it while I can. Mary-Bradley is in middle school now and still talks to me...I just have to ask a lot more questions. My new favorite question to ask the girls is, “If today were a color, what color would it be?” Then, we guess what happened to make it that color. That actually came from an article we ran last year. This year we have included the perspective of a teacher when it comes to talking with older kids. In 5 Strategies for Communicating with Teenagers, Rachael Moshman gives us some tricks she has learned as a professor and teacher on ways to capture your teen’s attention. (I am so buying myself a blue wig!) The start of school is also the kick-off to another great fall season. Football, festivals and fairs are just a few of my favorite things about fall. It is also the time of year we publish one of my favorite issues, the Special Needs Issue. Each September we dedicate the issue to families with children who have special needs. I love this issue because it is always such an inspiration to me to meet these “wonder families” who handle incredible obstacles with grace and thanksgiving. They are truly an inspiration. Some of my favorite people I have had the pleasure of meeting are the moms of these great kids. In this issue we have included School Year Tips for Parenting a Child with ASD and an extensive Special Needs Directory. This directory includes support groups, therapists, financial assistance resources, and recreational resources, just to name a few. If you know of a resource that was not included, please let me know. Also, make sure you check out the Bits N Pieces section where you will find several walks, golf tournaments and other events that will peak your interest. Well, now that the kiddos are settled in school and Mom and Dad are in a “normal” routine, I hope you take time to enjoy the moments with your family. Soak it all in…the Facebook pictures can wait, I am proof of that! Happy Fall Ya’ll!

Lynn

lynn@easternshoreparents.com

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

The Eastern Shore’s Foremost Parenting Source

Eastern Shore Parents Magazine, is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant, role in our community. Eastern Shore Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@easternshoreparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@easternshoreparents.com Associate Editor Kelly Watson Research Editor Nancy Sherrell Contributing Writers Marla Cilley Bama Hager, Ph.D. Pam Molnar Rachael Moshman Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Dr. Robert L. Rux, M.D. Gerry Paige Smith

Cover Photography Jennifer Pharr www.jenniferpharr.com President Jason Watson jason@easternshoreparents.com

Advertising Opportunities Lynn Knighton Leslie Hall Tracie Calvert ads@easternshoreparents.com (251) 929-2099 Ad Design Tim Welch

Visit us online at www.easternshoreparents.com Eastern Shore Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: P.O. Box 374, Montrose, Alabama, 36559. The phone number for voice and fax is (251) 929-2099. Eastern Shore Parents is copyrighted 2013 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Eastern Shore Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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LivingWithChildren by John Rosemond

Parents Should Do Their Best, But Not Expect Too Much in Return I often hear real-life parenting stories that evoke two equally strong feelings: on the one hand, sorrow; on the other, gratefulness. I am saddened to hear these stories, always told to me by loving parents who have conscientiously tried to always do the right thing, but they also cause me to be glad beyond measure that I am not raising children today. I got out of the game just in time, it seems. Willie and I did not have to deal with hundreds of cable channels, video games, cell phones, or the Internet with its various temptations, including social media, pornography that a 5-year-old can access (Click Here if You’re 18 or Older!), chatrooms, online gaming, and shopping carts. When my kids were growing up, we had a television (sometimes), period. In 1980, I wrote a column in which I speculated that video games were addictive (which we now know is true), and

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

the president of Nintendo USA sent me a state-of-the-art video-game system to share with my poor, tech-deprived children so I could see for myself how wrong-headed I was. It sat, unopened, in my attic until several years ago when I gave it away. In short, Willie and I had it easy. The worst thing either of our kids did was sneak out at night after we were asleep. That would be the son, of course. One such heartbreaking story was told to me recently. It’s been told to me hundreds of times, actually, and every time my heart is broken. It begins with good, decent, responsible parents discovering that their young adolescent boy has accessed pornography of the worst sort on the Internet. They confront him. His father talks to him about how pornography disrespects women. The parents make sure he can no longer access the Internet at home without supervision. The boy figures out how to get around the blocks, how to disarm the tracking software. The parents find him sitting at the computer, mesmerized, at three o’clock in the morning. Then his best friend’s parents call to complain that he has introduced their son to Internet pornography. The word gets around. No one will let their children

associate with the boy, and the parents figure out that they’ve become untouchable as well. And the boy just keeps right on figuring out how to beat the system. As the parents tell the story, they’re both fighting back tears. So am I. What should we do? they ask. I tell them it sounds to me that they’ve done all they can. But it’s not working! they say, in despair. I ask, “Can you accept that you’re not going to be able to completely solve this problem? Can you accept that the river’s going to find a way around your sandbags, but that you should keep putting out sandbags anyway?” Then I say something along these lines: “Are you willing to accept not only that this isn’t your fault, that it has absolutely nothing to do with anything you did or failed to do, but also that you are not the appointed agents of change concerning this issue in your child’s life?” In other words, I tell them, do your best, but don’t expect much in return. Pray for your son. Above all else, keep the demons of guilt at bay. Guilt is the enemy. And then I feel guilty for being so grateful. Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his website at www.rosemond.com.

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bits & pieces Gulf Coast Dance to Appear on Dance Moms

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Raises Funds for Ronald McDonald House

Wind Creek Casino Presents Ronald McDonald House Charities Girls Just Wanna Have Fun event on September 12, from 6 – 10 p.m. at The Alabama Cruise Terminal. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is an event for ladies 21 years of age or older to do a little for themselves and a lot for Ronald McDonald House. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door and includes delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, martinis, mini manicures, make-overs, chair massages, hair do’s shopping and an unforgettable evening of entertainment and pampering just for our guests. Purse-Onality is an opportunity to purchase purses for $25 and $50 each. Enclosed in each purse will be a wonderful surprise. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.rmhcmobile.org.

Scarecrow Festival Coming in October

CACOB’s 2013 Scarecrow Festival will be October 4-5. Sign up for a free frame early this year—there are 140, and they go fast! CACOB supplies the frame; you supply the style. The Scarecrow Festival has become an event that brings together families and groups of all types as they vie for nine named prizes, including the coveted Proprietor’s Purple Pumpkin Prize. Keep an eye on CACOB’s web page for the opening of Scarecrow sign-up! www. orangebeachartcenter.com. Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

Gulf Coast Dance Academy’s Competition Team was invited to an invitational dance competition, Masters of Dance Nationals to compete against the Abby Lee Dance Company in New Orleans for an episode of Lifetime’s hit show, Dance Moms! The show is set to air September 10th on Lifetime. The Gulf Coast Dance Academy’s dancers did really well and placed 2nd overall Junior duet/trios, 5th and 7th overall for mini solos, 7th overall junior small groups, and 10th overall for Teen solos. Pictured are 3 of the Gulf Coast Dance Academy Dancers with Abby Lee.

Project Compassion for Special Needs Families Project Compassion is a support group for the parents and educators of special needs children in Baldwin County. We hope to create an open, supportive environment where we can share our experiences and knowledge of current services along with create awareness for needed programs and services for special needs children in our community. Please join us Tuesday, September 10th as Lisa Simmons, from the FEEF sponsored Zach’s Summer Camp for the Multi-Disabled, speaks about the camp and the prospect of expanding the camp to offer full time service for Summer 2014. The group will meet at 5:30 in the Fairhope Public Library Board Room. Visit Project Compassion on Facebook to RSVP for this event.

Volunteer to Clean Alabama’s Coast

The 2013 Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Over the past 25 years, 68,583 volunteers have participated in the removal of 1,420,466 pounds of marine debris from Alabama's valued coastline and waterways. The City of Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center off of Canal Rd. is a new zone on Wolf Bay. Participants can launch canoes and kayaks from the Center, or check-in by boat. Lunch will be supplied for volunteers. Contact zone captain, Caroline Harris at 251974-7245 with any further questions.

Film Focuses on Dyslexia

The Crescent Theater in Mobile will be showing "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia" on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. The film provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts and iconic leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson and financier Charles Schwab. “The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia” not only clears up the misconceptions about the condition, but also paints a picture of hope for all who struggle with it, beautifully illustrating that while the condition is an obstacle, it also carries some unique advantages, and ultimately can be overcome. For tickets or to help with promotions contact: Julie Rentz, 287-1822 or Hunter Oswalt 625-4020. 6

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Picture Your Family at the Table

Join parents across the country in making a special commitment to your children on Monday, September 23rd at The Family Table. As children age, it is important to build trust with them and keep the lines of communication open so that if at any point they begin to feel increased pressure to experiment with smoking, drinking and using drugs they can feel comfortable talking to you about it. Everyday activities like having family dinner together, helping your children with their homework or attending their after school activities have a lasting effect on your kids. Each of these moments offers an opportunity to connect, share and really listen to what’s on their mind. Research shows that children with hands-on parents are far less likely to smoke, drink or use other drugs. This year, your local Drug Education Council wants to support and encourage your family meals together with a photo contest. Pictures of your family having a meal together can be submitted to the Drug Education Council’s Facebook page event: www.facebook.com/ events/582774631761580/ . Join the event and upload your favorite photo of your family dining together! We will be accepting photos the entire month of September. The winners will be notified on Friday, October 4th and rewarded with gift cards for groceries! Winners will be chosen from both Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

Sporting Clay and FundHunt for United Cerebral Palsy United Cerebral Palsy will be hosting its first annual Sporting Clay and FundHunt on Friday September 13th, at 9:00 a.m. at Taylor Creek shooting preserve, in Theodore. Registration fees are $125 per shooter or $500 per 4 man team. The fees include range fees, 100 clays, a light breakfast and refreshments, a catered lunch, and an event t-shirt. Awards will be given. There will be a raffle and silent auction. For more info, contact Eric Cash, UCP Mobile, at 251-479-4900 or ecash@ucpmobile.org.

3rd Annual Mobile Fashion Week Accepting Vendors and Sponsors

The “Fashion with a Cause” concept is all about promoting Mobile and Baldwin County retail stores, salons, local eateries, and nightlife, all while giving to a local charity with a percentage of proceeds benefiting local charities such as Camp Rap-A-Hope, and national charities like “Pantene: Beautiful Lengths.” Our two-day fashion show event raised over $5,000 for Camp Rap-A-Hope last year. As we begin our 3rd year we have an even bigger monetary goal, so we’re promoting an entire week of fashion shows, and we need your help filling spots and giving Mobile a fashion show that would outshine even New York, Milan, or London. We are right now accepting sponsors and vendors for this exciting week, to be held Sunday, Sept. 22 Saturday, Sept. 28. For more information, visit www.mobfashionweek.com.

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bits & pieces Walk With Me Mobile 2013 to Raise Funds/ Awareness for Disabled

Join us September 21st for Walk With Me Mobile at Hank Aaron Stadium. Check in will be at 9:00 a.m. with the opening ceremony and walk at 10:00 a.m. Walk with Me is a national fundraising event that spreads hope and awareness while raising funds to support people with disabilities. Participants will join hundreds of other passionate citizens for a day of fun, entertainment and, of course, our signature walk. Donate, register your team and share this information with your family and friends to start fundraising today to change the lives of people in our community. For more information, please visit wwm.easterseals.com.

BayFest Scholarship and Music Education Program

All area high school students are welcome to the Music Industry Education Program, scheduled for Saturday, September 21st at 1 p.m. in the Mobile Civic Center Theater. This free program offers students the opportunity to learn about the music industry and jam with professional musicians. The BayFest Scholarship Program offers twenty $1,000 scholarships to public and private high school students in Mobile and Baldwin Counties for music education. High school students must submit a completed application which is found online at www.bayfest.com and a videotaped audition by Saturday, September 21. Submissions may be brought to the event at the Civic Center, sent via email to info@bayfest.com or mailed to 2900 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36606 (Attn: BayFest Music Scholarship). If any child needs assistance with this process, please give us a call at 251-208-7835. For more information, please visit www. bayfest.com. Scholarship winners will be announced on a BayFest stage during the 2013 festival, which takes place October 4-6 in Downtown Mobile. Scholarship winners will also benefit from a continued mentoring program formed by the BayFest Music Scholarship Program Committee members. BayFest, Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest music festival brings family-friendly entertainment to Downtown Mobile October 4-6. At BayFest, there is something for everyone with multiple stages and continues music.

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bits & pieces Mobile and Baldwin Counties Celebrate National Yoga Month

In recognition of National Yoga Month, local yoga instructors and studio owners have teamed up to offer free yoga classes and events throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties. During the 3rd annual Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week, September 21-27, local studios will be offering unlimited, free yoga classes to individuals that have not previously taken class at their studios. Take half hour workshops of yoga here, even seated in a chair if preferred. Try meditation or new styles of yoga like paddleboard yoga or aerial yoga, in the air. An on-site kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yoga practice will take place simultaneously. Attendees will have the opportunity to get to know area yoga teachers by visiting their informational booths. No experience is necessary and participants should bring their own mat or towel and water. Healthy snacks and tea will be provided by Sunflower Cafe. The event will have music, raffle prizes, a conscious product market with local vendors, an evening of fire performers, a drum circle and more. During the kick-off event and throughout Yoga Week, yoga instructors are encouraging participants to take part in seva (the yogic concept of selfless service) by bringing non-perishable food items to free classes and events. Donations will be collected by yoga teachers and studios for Bay Area Food Bank. For more information, visit www. yogalifefair.com or Facebook: Yoga Life Fair- Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week.

Play Date in the Park

Join us for Mobile District Early Interventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Annual Play Date in the Park, Friday, October 4th from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be refreshments, arts & crafts, and fun! Lavretta Park, 200 North Parkway Dr., Mobile, located off Old Shell Rd., just East of the University of South Alabama. For more information or to RSVP, call the Mobile District Early Intervention office at 251-439-7890. Rain date will be October 11.

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Buddy Walk® Participants Take Strides Toward Acceptance and Inclusion for People with Down Syndrome

The 6th Annual Mobile, AL Buddy Walk® will take place at the Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday, October 19 at 8 a.m. More than 800 people are expected to attend the event, to raise awareness and funds for programs that benefit people with Down syndrome and their families. The National Buddy Walk® Program welcomes participants of all ages and abilities. The Mobile, AL Buddy Walk® will feature the Lizards Band. Participants will also enjoy a visit by Mr. Reggie Copeland who will be our Grand Marshall and along with the top team, will be taking steps for a brighter tomorrow for individuals with Down syndrome. To learn more, visit www.dssmc.org. Find us on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/pages/Down-Syndrome-Society-of-Mobile-CountyAlabama/121086191294826.

The Leukemia Cup Regatta

The Alabama/Gulf Coast Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is proud to announce its 2013 Leukemia Cup Regatta, setting sail to raise funds to support blood cancer research and patient services. The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a thrilling series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important goal of raising money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. Each sailor in the Regatta series is eligible to win prizes including the opportunity to race at the Fantasy Sail with world-renowned sailor and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson, national Regatta chairman. The Leukemia Cup Regatta kickoff took place on August 2, at Stewartfield Hall on the Spring Hill College campus. It was a huge success as over $20,000 has already been raised for the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guests were also able to hear a presentation from Michael Daves, this year’s honored skipper. Michael concluded his speech by saying, “If I had been born much earlier and this had happened to me 20 or 25 years ago, most likely I would have never even finished my senior year, much less be here to speak about it. So thank you ever so gratefully for the support you give to this incredible mission to help fight leukemia and lymphoma.” Visit www.leukemiacup.org/al or www.bucyc.com to register or to learn more about the Regatta series. Pictured are this year’s honored skipper, Michael Daves, with Virginia Pittman.

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Prodisee Pantry 4th Annual Turkey Trot

The 4th Annual Prodisee Pantry Turkey Trot runs through Lott Park and Old Towne Daphne on Saturday, October 26. This event includes a 5K Race and a 1-mile Fun Run as well as a family friendly post race party! Registration is available online at www.active.com (search Prodisee Pantry Turkey Trot) and at www.prodiseepantry.org. Registration forms are also onsite at McCoy Outdoor in Mobile, Run-N-Tri in Mobile and Running Wild in Fairhope. Pre-registration entry fees are $18 for the 5K and $10 for the Fun Run by the deadlines of Oct. 13 for mail applications and October 24th for in-person and online applications. Registration fees are $20 for the 5K and $10 for the Fun run on race day. The 5K race starts at 8 a.m. in Lott Park on Main Street. It is a flat, fast course winding through beautiful Old Towne Daphne. The Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. Walkers are encouraged to participate in the 1-mile run. A post-race party includes food, music, beverages and many family friendly activities. Proceeds from the race benefit Prodisee Pantry, Baldwin County's nonprofit emergency food pantry. Participants are also encouraged to bring non-perishable canned food donations to the race. For more information, call 626-1720 or email info@prodiseepantry.org.

Exhibition for Children’s Artwork

Now is the time to plan your entry in the second annual Young Artists Exhibit at CACOB! Any elementary, middle, or high school student who has ever taken one of CACOB’s children’s classes or participated in a camp, is eligible for the Young Artists Exhibit. Students may enter up to three artworks in any medium. 2-D work does not have to be framed. To enter, send an email toartcenter@cityoforangebeach.com stating the student’s name, grade when the work was done, current grade, and what type work is being entered. You’ll be asked to fill out an identifying form for each work, and to bring in the artwork between Sept. 15-28. The Young Artists Exhibit opening reception will be Oct. 3.

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BayPointe Dance Academy Wins Big in Destin

Baypointe Dance Academy Senior, Teen, and Junior Dance Competitive Dance Company attended dance nationals in Destin, FL, July 27th-29th for Fire and Ice Dance Nationals. Our Senior Company placed Two Gold Awards for the Small Group Routines “Circus and “I Surrender”. The Teen Company placed a Platinum Award for the Small Group Routine “We Run The Night” and Our Juniors placed a Diamond Award for the Large Group “Hey Baby”. The Production Line which includes all three teams placed a Platinum and 1st Overall Highest Score of the Day for the Routine “Party People”. The Junior Company also placed in the final round beating out 14 teams and winning National Dance Champions for the year 2013! Students are: Back, left to right: Jaylee Schroeder, Olivia Buchanan, Caitlyn Roberts, Zoey Gibson, Brooke Justesen, Alexis Wetzel, Bayleigh Blackard, Autumn Ford, Logan Mavar, and Alyssa Rolls. Middle: Catelyn Alexander, Cheney Pratt, Madison Blake, Peyton Mann, Olivia Davis, Anna Claire Kinsey, Shelby Lee, Hali Everette, and Rebecca Klimjack. Front: Landry Mavar, Kamden Eady, Maren Cunningham, Ally Mavar, Libbie Graham, Emma Grace Vannoy, Megan Schaffer, Kearston Costello, and Heather Mann.

Join Walkers in St. Jude Give Thanks. Walk. ™ Event

On Saturday, Nov. 23, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is hosting the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk.™ in 75 communities nationwide, including Mobile & Baldwin County, to support children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases with pioneering research and exceptional care. The local St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. will take place at the Eastern Shore Centre and feature family friendly activities from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration is free, but participants are forming teams and raising money online at givethankswalk.org to earn incentives. These efforts support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Unlike any other hospital, St. Jude relies on funding from everyday people to help support its lifesaving mission of finding cures to save children battling cancer and other deadly diseases. Because of donations, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Local patient families like the Malones whose 7-year-old son is fighting at St. Jude understand firsthand the significance of events like this one. Ryan Malone was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma on December 31, 2012 and he continues to fight every day. Ryan will be serving as this year’s Grand Marshal for the 2013 Give thanks. Walk. in Mobile & Baldwin PulmAssoc PurpFlwr 10:43 AM St. Page County. Bead sure 5/8/13 to “like” the Alabama Jude1Facebook page to receive the latest updates.

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Mobile’s Singing Children to Represent Alabama in International Music Festival

The Mobile’s Singing Children Concert Choir has been invited to represent the state of Alabama in performance at the American Celebration of Music in Canada. MSC will be initiating a marketing and fundraising campaign seeking support of the choir’s participation in the Canadian music festival. “Mobile’s Singing Children is primarily funded through public support.” says MSC Executive Board Member, Tish Odom. “Sending 44 singers, the director, an accompanist, and chaperones on an international trip is quite a financial challenge. There is no way we can do this without support from the community. Without sponsors and fundraising, these children will not be able to participate in this once in a lifetime experience.” “Look for us around town as we work with our corporate sponsors, accept performance invitations, and generally let the community know about this organization and how deserving the children are of being selected for this honor. They work incredibly hard, and what they achieve musically is phenomenal. If you’ve never heard these kids perform, you’ve truly missed one of Mobile’s greatest treasurers. ” 2013-14 Mobile’s Singing Children Concert Choir Members were selected through a process of internal and open auditions. Front Row: Elizabeth Ann Wright, Leigh Hoitt, Victoria Tanner; Second Row: Emma Loftin, Grace Greenwood, Lindsey Hawkins, Janie Dunwell, Mary Martin True, Virginia Pryor; Third Row: Hannah Evans, Katie Norton, Whitney Wallace, Ruth Harper, Kaliyah Shula, Meredith Mosley, Sarah Jane Shearer, Grant Wallace; Fourth Row: Ginny Spicknall, Isabella Alday, Zach Conner, Madison Lancaster, Bekah Burgess, Caroline Womack, Lauren Wallace, Tamra Gill, Jane Roberts, Rileigh Hawkins, Fifth Row: Teresa Fleming (Accompanist), Kiana Shula, Cameron Bruemmer, Emily Atwood, Gillian Atwood, Bentley Odom, Mallory Odom, Caroline Belue, Madison Green, Katie Jacobs, Susan Hoitt (Director); Not Pictured: Hayden Emmertson, Max Jones, Taylor Emmertson, Emmanuel Gapud, Morgan Myers, Miguel Gapud, Sarah Posey.

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Local Bake Shop on Track to Break Guiness World Record

Something Sweet Bake Shop in Daphne will celebrate its 5th Anniversary by attempting the impossible: baking the world's largest brownie. The brownie will be sold with proceeds donated to benefit Bay Area Food Bank. The public is invited to attend an official unveiling ceremony and measuring Friday, September 13th, 10 a.m. at the bake shop located on 1712 Main Street in Old Towne Daphne. The current record stands at 220 pounds, 7 oz. The Daphne concoction will weigh over 250 pounds and measure over 64 square feet baked in the shape of a rectangle. The oversized confection will taste like the classic treat and use traditional ingredients containing chocolate, butter, flour, eggs, cocoa powder and lots of sugar. Owners, Joan Scott and Gayle Hohman dreamed up the idea as way to celebrate five years of operation and to benefit a local cause. Local craftsmen have jumped in to support the attempt. The event will entail a customized oven built especially for the occasion by Bolttech Mannings, and a one-of-a-kind baking pan designed by Jim Haley at Fulton-Haley Metal Products. Mary Candace Vegliacich, Special Events & Media Manager for the Bay Area Food Bank welcomes the enthusiasm, “Both of these guys jumped in with both feet and have been more than helpful. It’s great to see industry professionals lend a hand with their expertise to benefit the local community.” The brownie will be mixed and baked in Theodore, with all ingredients carefully measured and weighed before and after baking. Once the brownie has baked and properly cooled it will be transported in a thermostat-controlled truck to the bake shop in Daphne. The entire process will be videotaped and photographed per the guidelines set by Guiness World Records that will review evidence and pronounce the record after its completion.

Fun Day for Special Needs Families

Shiloh Baptist Church will be having their 3rd annual Special Day for Special Needs Families on Saturday, October 5. Join the fun from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. This free event is for families of children with special needs. Families will be able to bring their children to an environment designed around them. They will have a buddy for the day, go down zip lines, jump in bounce houses, enjoy a hay ride and eat a lunch. Families will be able to share experiences with each other and discover available resources. In addition, there is a special luncheon for parents where they will receive encouragement from the senior pastor, who has three special needs kids and has walked in their shoes. Last year over 90 special needs kids and siblings were at this event and looks forward to meeting more people that have been specially gifted by God. The event will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church, 717 Cleveland Road, Saraland. For more information call 251-675-3587 or visit www.shilohbc.com.

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Cooking for the Community Boston Butt Sale

Cooking for the Community, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping area families in need. Over the past couple of years this organization has restored homes in disrepair, fixing leaky roofs, missing windows, mold infestation and plumbing problems, and they upgraded a ramp to be wheelchaircompatible, just to name a few. They are also excited to be sponsoring thirty school children in the Fairhope Rotary Youth Club for after-school tutoring and “Enrichment” and “Academy” programs during the summer. Cooking for the Community’s goal is to expand efforts in both areas and make a greater impact in the lives and in the communities they serve. In order to do this they are proud to announce this year’s fundraiser, the Third Annual Cooking for the Community Boston Butt Sale! You can purchase a Boston butt for $30 online or over the phone by calling 251-2101229. Orders must be placed by October 11th. Pickup date is Saturday, October 19th between 8am and 12 noon at Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church, 23050 Highway 98, Fairhope. If you would like to become more involved please visit them on facebook, www.facebook.com/cookforthecommunity and share their journey with friends. They also invite you to visit the website and volunteer at www.cookingforthecommunity.com. If you are interested in becoming a personal or corporate sponsor for this wonderful event, please call Rick Skinner at 251-209-2896 or simply sign up on our website.

Out of the Darkness Community Walk for Suicide Awareness

The Out of the Darkness Community Walk for suicide awareness and prevention will take place Sunday, October 20th at Daphne City Hall with registration beginning at 1 p.m. The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, by helping to support local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs. Many walk in memory of a loved one lost to suicide. This provides opportunities for survivors of suicide loss to connect with each other and get involved through a wide variety of educational, outreach, awareness and advocacy programs. There will be a Memory Wall and table set up at the Daphne Walk so pictures, poems and messages can be displayed to honor a loved one. There will also be music, food and informational booths set up to distribute information. You can also form a team in honor of a loved one, you can join a team or you can walk on your own. To register for the Walk and to donate, please go to www. outofthedarkness.org, and find the South Alabama Walk in Daphne, Alabama. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please call 455-6453.

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Magnolia Springs Pediatrics

Preparing for Flu Season School has started back and the cool weather is around the corner. So, do you know what that means? That’s correct, flu season. Thousands of Baldwin County school children have missed numerous school days in the past few years and it’s going to start early this year. We had a family that was Flu A positive in July, so this year could be a doozy. Let’s review the flu vaccine and how it may affect your family this year. The flu vaccine is recommended for any child aged 6 months to 19 years and for any adult persons aged >19 years; women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematologic or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); persons who have immunosuppression (caused by medications or by HIV); persons who have any neurological condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration; residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities; health-care personnel; household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged >50 years, with particular emphasis on vaccinating

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

contacts of children aged <6 months; and, household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe complications from influenza (cdc.gov). So basically, anybody over 6 months of age and anyone who takes care of a child, especially under 6 months old, should get the vaccine. What are your options? There are two main types, the shot or the intranasal spray. The differences are, well, the obvious one (a shot vs. up the nose), the cost of the spray being a little pricier, and then the restrictions. For the shot, a possible restriction is anyone who has an allergy to eggs (this is a current debate) and definitely a restriction for anyone allergic to the flu shot itself or currently has a febrile illness. For the spray, restrictions include an allergy to the vaccine, as well as less than 2 years of age, any patient with asthma or chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and pregnant women. Of course, discuss any of these options with your healthcare provider. The last thing to discuss are the reasons why people elect to not get vaccinated. Of course, the choice is yours, but I really encourage my parents to get vaccinated,

especially if they have children under 6 months of age. While an adult might claim “I never had the flu shot and I’ve never had the flu!,” anything is possible and you might be putting your child at risk. The other question I hear frequently is about the flu vaccine not working. The flu vaccine each year is composed of the flu strains that are predicted to be the most common culprits for the disease. Unfortunately, since the vaccine cannot contain every possible strain, there have been years where the vaccine wasn’t as effective as past years. Every year, there are a few patients who received the flu shot, but still got the flu. But, we have had a lot more with the flu who did not have the vaccine at all! However, it was interesting that people who did receive the flu vaccine and still got the flu had significantly less symptoms and serious complications than those who did not receive the vaccine. And, last, but not least, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot! Flu shots are already arriving at doctor offices now, so call and get fixed up today. And, remember to wash your hands. Robert L. Rux, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician at Magnolia Springs Pediatrics. Originally from Mobile, he attended medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) and completed residency at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama (UAB). He is married to Jaime and has three children, Adler, Walker and Mary McAtee.

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Autauga County RESSchools Faculty Focuses on Habits of

Gulf Shores Student Wins Medal at Soccer Camp

Gulf Shores Elementary student, Downing Sweat, shows off the medal he earned at the Wolfpack Soccer Camp at North Carolina State University. Downing and his team worked very hard and won the finals for the 8 and under age group!

CKCS Celebrates Pastor Appreciation Day

Highly Effective People

The faculty of Robertsdale Elementary School recently invested three days of their summer break studying the renowned Stephen Covey book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The school is implementing Coveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s principles throughout the campus, and will be using the timeless concepts to develop student leadership and character. The school benefitted from the passion and expertise of training facilitator Shelly Rider who donated her time to help the faculty gain a strong understanding of Coveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachings. Pictured with Ms. Rider (2nd from right) are teachers (l to r) Shawn Kavanaugh, Janie Sawyer, Sarah Bodle, Wendy Byrd, and Barbara Middleton.

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Girl Scouts Recruiting Members

Christ the King Catholic School students, from left, front row: Robert Montgomery and Piper Cook, back row, Claire Mattingly, Riley Panza, David Giardina, Grant Murray, Laurie Grace Drago, Robert Barr, and Mary Ford gather around Rev. Matthew O'Connor after mass celebrating Pastor Appreciation Day on May 9. The school students, faculty, staff, and parents presented Fr. O'Connor with a certificate in appreciation of his work for Christ the King proclaiming 564 hours of adoration offered by members of the school and parish for his intentions over the weeks leading up to this special day.

Riley from Girl Scout troop 8164 and Rey from troop 8633 are trying to spread the word about how much they LOVE being involved with the girl scouts! This is a recruitment event at meet the teacher night @ Daphne Elementary. There are 3 scheduled information/sign up dates in September local schools will have the info to send home. Information can also be found @ www. girlscoutssa.org.

Students Have a Blast in Summer Math Program Sponsored by W.J. Carroll Math Blast, a summer program sponsored by W.J. Carroll Intermediate, had close to 40 students sign up to participate. Meeting twice a week during the month of June, students had the chance to work on strategies to strengthen math skills through the use of games, manipulatives, and computers. The program was conducted by two certified teachers, Cindy Riley and Benita Battle. As Kaitlynn Akin and Amaya Smith complete a problem at the board, their teammates cheer them on to be the first group finished. Also pictured are Benita Battle, Autumn Carstarphen, Kaya Smith, Laura Anne Ling, and Ashton McDonald.

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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One. One. One. – McT Football’s Mantra for the 2013-2014 Season

Coach Bart Sessions started a new tradition for the Yellow Jackets last year. Seeking to inspire greatness on and off the field, he adopted “I am Third” as the motivational mantra for last season – God first, others second and I am Third. This year, the Yellow Jackets kicked off summer training with an inspirational talk from Dr. Dick Duffey who shared with the team the following quote from Mother Teresa. “I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time. I can only feed one person at a time. Just one, one, one. You get closer to Christ by coming closer to each other. As Jesus said, ‘Whatever you do for the least of my brethren, you do to me.’ So I begin…I BEGIN… maybe if I didn’t pick up that one person [a long time ago] I would not have picked up 42,000. The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if I didn’t put that drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. Same thing for you. Same thing in your family. Same thing in the Church... Just begin. One. One. One.”

Bayside Academy Welcomes New Faculty

Bayside Academy is excited to announce the addition of sixteen new faculty and staff members to the Bayside family. Stephanie Balmori and David Bingham are teaching World Language; Ashley Dempsey and Lauren Reibe are teaching Math; Anna Dykema and Emma Follansbee are teaching English; Wade Long and Peter Wilson are teaching History; Jeffrey Stanley is teaching Physical Education; Alba White is teaching World Language. Dylan Deal joins the Administration staff as the Assistant Head of Upper School, Mark Lasseter as Bookstore Director; Dennis Ring as Development Director, Kristen Ring as the Head of Upper School, Jen Warden as Co-Director of Admissions and Larry Warden, Jr. as the Special Events and Auxiliary Program Coordinator. Pictured (l-r) New faculty and staff at Bayside Academy: Ashley Dempsey, Alba White, Peter Wilson, Stephanie Balmori, Jen Warden, Larry Warden, David Bingham, Kristen Ring, Emma Follansbee, Lauren Reibe, Anna Dykema, Wade Long, Dennis Ring, Dylan Deal and Mark Lasseter. Not pictured: Jeffrey Stanley.

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Autauga Providence UMC Busy with County SpecialSchools Back to School Activities

Providence United Methodist Church marked the second year of its back-to-school celebration with cookies delivered to local schools and a special “Blessing of the Backpacks” Worship Service. The week before school started in Baldwin County, church members baked, packaged, and delivered over 2,200 cookies to Rockwell, Spanish Fort, and Daphne East Elementary Schools, and Spanish Fort Middle and High Schools. A note on each bag of cookies thanked teachers and school staff for all they do for the children in the community and reminded them that they were being prayed for as a new school year began. Then, on August 18, Providence welcomed a crowd of children and school personnel to a special “Blessing of the Backpacks” Worship Service. Children brought their backpacks to the altar so they could be blessed. Reverend Brennan Peacock led the entire congregation in a prayer for students, teachers, administrators, and school staff: “This year is full of new challenges and new opportunities and we are eager to face them and embrace them. Lord, bless these backpacks and those of us who carry them.” The activities gave Providence a chance to celebrate the start of the new school year with its members and members of the wider community.

Boathouse Buddies Visit Kids Art Happenings

Three of the five Boathouse Buddies authors visited Kids' Art Happenings at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach. They presented book 5, “Eye in The Sky,” and talked with participants about why and how they wrote the Boathouse Buddies series. Boathouse Buddies, L-R, are Elva Simpson, editor, Melanie Houseknecht, editor, and Karen Thomason, author. Ilene Baskette, author, and Cindy Allen, illustrator, were unable to attend. Also pictured are Morgan Amison from Irving, TX, Claudia Catar from Orange Beach, and Lauren Calvert from Gulf Shores.

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Outstanding Sea Cadet to Attend Marion Military Institute

Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) Nathan B. Goss, has been an exceptional leader within the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Dunlap Division over the last few years; however, all great things must come to an end as new doors are opened. PO3 Goss has been recently accepted to Marion Military Institute. We have had the opportunity to observe PO3 Goss and found his performance to be nothing short of outstanding. PO3 Goss became a Sea Cadet with the Dunlap Division in June 2011 and immediately stood out as a very bright and outstanding prospect for leadership. By January 2012, he had completed the Basic Military Requirement and Airman Courses, participated in numerous drills and a nineday recruit training in Smyrna, TN. Due to his outstanding performance and drive to excel, his Commanding Officer, LTJG John V. Wilson, promoted Cadet PO3 Goss to Lead Petty Officer for the Dunlap Division. After 9 months, drilling and serving as the LPO of his division, his leadership skills were continued to be confirmed. He has been awarded the “Cadet of Honor” citation ribbon as well as the “Physical Fitness Award 2012” and “Community Service Awards” for his many hours giving back to his community. In June 2012, the Mobile Council Navy League named PO3 Goss “Sea Cadet of the Year” and presented him with the Navy League’s “Theodore Roosevelt Youth Award” for outstanding performance of duty. After completing Basic and Advanced Airman trainings, Petty Officer Leadership training, and the Military Requirements for Petty Officer 3rd Class, Cadet Goss was promoted to his current rank of PO3 on October 4, 2012. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution awarded PO3 Goss the “Bronze Good Citizenship” Medal on December 7, 2012. PO3 Goss continues to be an inspiration to all those under his leadership. Petty Officer 3rd Class Goss, remember that you have been, and will always be, an accepted member of the most exclusive of all fraternities (if you will) – that of the Dunlap Division, United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Your shipmates wish you the traditional "Fair Winds and Following Seas".

Improving Life, One Smile at a Time

H. L. Strickland, Jr., DDS, PA 7489 Parker Road | Fairhope, AL 36532 251.928.9292 | 888.335.7493 www.StricklandOrthodontics.com

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CountyAwards Schools $8,000 ChamberAutauga Foundation to Foley High School’s New AP Academy

The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation recently awarded $8,000 to Foley High School to help fund training for teachers of the new Advance Placement (AP) Academy. The money will be used to cover travel expenses for 21 teachers attending four-day training sessions this summer in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. A separate A+ College Ready grant has funded the related registration fees. Advance placement courses allow academically qualified students to take college-level courses while enrolled in high school, which in turn saves families money on college tuition. “The AP Academy program truly has potential to change the climate of Foley High School while raising academic standards for all of our students,” says Wendi Lores, Foley High School counselor. The teacher training, addressing AP and PreAP instruction, will help Foley High School realize plans to add four new AP courses and enroll 337 additional students in AP and PreAP courses. Teachers of PreAP students in the 9th and 10th grades will be trained on how to create the level of rigor in the classroom needed in order to ensure the academic readiness of students for AP courses. “This training will help teachers increase their focus on rigorous instruction and adequate preparation of students for college and careers” said Lorez. “Ultimately, the challenge of AP courses will help prepare our students to compete for better jobs.” Pictured front row, left to right: Terry Burkle, South Baldwin Chamber Foundation (SBCF) vice president; Linda Spangrud, SBCF board member; Michelle Nelson, SBCF chairman; Lynn Harrison, FHS assistant principal; Wendi Lores, FHS counselor; Ayana McIntosh-Lee, SBCF board member. Pictured back row, left to right: Gail Thomas-Jackson, Jeff Ricks, Patrick Bussey, Kevin Leeser, SBCF board members; Christi Koehle, South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce (SBCC) chairman; Donna Watts, SBCC/ SBCF president; JaNay Dawson, SBCF board member.

CONGRATULATIONS TO UMS-WRIGHT CLASS OF 2013: ACCEPTED TO 91 DIFFERENT NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL COLLEGES $9.7 MILLION IN MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS 4 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS 34 STATE ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS 1ST PLACE ONE-ACT ENSEMBLE AND DUET ACTING AT ALABAMA CONFERENCE OF THEATRE 4 NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS TOP MALE VOCALIST AT STATE CHORAL COMPETITION

ALL THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN JUST FOUR YEARS... THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

UMS-Wright

PREPARATORY SCHOOL UMS-Wright.org | 479-6551 Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

UMS-Wright does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or national origin. 24

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Sea Cadets Graduate from Summer Training

On Saturday, July 29, 124 cadets graduated from the NSCC Summer Training held at Latimer Scout Reservation, Spencer, TN. Trainings were held for Scuba, Lifeguard, Petty Officer Leadership Academy, Fitness, Recruit, and Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.). Eight of the cadets were from the Dunlap Division, located in Mobile. During the 9 day training, the cadets underwent physical fitness, military drill and team building exercises, canoeing, swimming, repelling, hiking, skeet shooting as well as class time instruction in Naval History, First Aid and Range Safety. The cadets participating in the Lifeguard Training were able to receive a two year certification upon graduation; while Scuba graduates received their PADI open water certification. Many of the cadets participating in the various trainings also received First Aid/CPR Certification. Cadets from Dunlap Division attending the various trainings: SN Connor Nylander and SN Victoria Wotczak, Lifeguard; William Pimperl, Recruit Training; and SA Matthew Bowen, SA David M. Lowder, LC2 Joseph Mahoney, SA Christopher Townsend, and SA Gunnar Williams, Fitness. Cadets learn seagoing skills aboard Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships and shore activities that emphasize patriotism, courage, self-reliance, team work, leadership skills, accountability, military training that builds character, and for some, helping those transiting into a military career. They are even authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to wear Navy uniforms marked with the Sea Cadet Corps insignia. The program is open to the community for young men and women ages 10 to high school graduation with open enrollment year round. The Sea and League Cadets drill together one weekend a month at the United States Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL. Upon completion of training as a Sea Cadet, the young men and women cadets are under no obligation to enlist in any of the armed forces. However, if they decide to enlist, they are usually eligible to enlist at an advanced pay grade. Participation in the Sea Cadets is also a positive factor in the awarding of ROTC scholarships. If you or someone you know is interested in the Sea or League Cadet program and how they may join or by volunteering as an adult leader, visit our Division website www.drdunlap.org or our national website www. seacadets.org. You may also follow our local unit page on Facebook at www.facebook. com/DunlapDivison.

Gulf Shores 2nd Grade Pumpkin Plant

Gulf Shores Elementary School second grader, Jackson Lee, shows off his pumpkin plant that he grew from a tiny seed. Gulf Shores Walmart and the Burpee Seed Company donated kits to GSES for students to grow their own flowers or vegetables, which correlates with the course of study objectives in second grade.

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Autauga County W.J. Carroll Teachers Get MathSchools Training this Summer

W. J. Carroll Intermediate School classroom teachers participated in AMSTI math training this summer. The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative, or AMSTI, is the Alabama Department of Education's initiative to improve math and science teaching statewide so all students develop the knowledge and skills necessary for success. Teachers participated in a week long grade and subject level professional development training. They were provided with equipment and materials needed to teach math using hands-on, activity-based instruction. From left are fourth grade teachers Kathleen Carraway, Angela Morris, Bailey Hartwell, Mandy Ames, and Kelly Agee.

Orange Beach Public Library Celebrates Summer Reading with Grand Finale

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In June and July 2013, over 100 readers were able to “Dig into Reading” and find literary treasures “Beneath the Surface” in a total of 2179 books! The Orange Beach Public Library held a total of 21 programs with 698 young readers attending! The Grand Finale and awards ceremony was held on July 25 in celebration of the end of Summer Reading. Summer readers attended to receive prizes and Summer Reading Program Certificates. Worm/Dirt cake was served to all attendees in keeping with the “Dig into Reading” theme. The Orange Beach Public Library would like to thank the community businesses and organizations that supported our summer program. Friends of the Orange Beach Public Library; Wells Fargo; Caricatures by Alonzo; McDonalds; LuLu’s; The Wharf; Sunshine Restaurant Supply; Dodge’s; Dolphins Down Under; Reel Surprise Charters; Adventure Island. Pictured is one of the many great craft projects enjoyed by participants in the Orange Beach Public Library Summer Reading Program.

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Chamber Foundation Supports New Student Orientation Events at FHS and FMS

Eighty junior and senior classmen helped lead Foley High School’s Camp Lion Pride freshmen orientation on Wednesday, August 7. They had been trained to do so as Link Crew Leaders the day before. Why would that many youngsters give up two of the precious few days left of their summer vacation for the new freshman class? Because they are student leaders who love their school and community and want to help all FHS students excel and graduate, and because they would have a lot of fun in the process. Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains Link Crew Leaders to be mentors who guide the freshmen in discovering what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school. Link Crew provides the structure for freshmen to receive support and guidance from juniors and seniors who have been through the challenges that high school poses. They understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming. “I loved my first year in Link Crew. When we watched the freshmen walk through those gym doors, they were shy, scared and speechless. High school is a huge change! Then as we did more and more activities, they came out of their shell. At the end of the day, it was so rewarding,” said Link Crew Leader Madison Grant, a junior this year. Studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in high school, their chance for success increases dramatically, according to the program developer, Boomerang Project. Donations made to the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation’s Bridges to Success program helped cover the cost of the Link Crew curriculum, training and collaterals. Donations of time and money also provided lunch for the approximately 320 freshmen in attendance. Volunteers from the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and Chamber of Commerce Diplomats served pizza and drinks in the school cafeteria, with the beverages donated by Coca-Cola. A similar orientation for new students, The Mane Event, was held at Foley Middle School on the same day with the help of Chamber Foundation funding and volunteer support. “More than 75 percent of our incoming freshman class attended Camp Lion Pride this year. Of course, we wish all had attended, but we are happy that so many students took advantage of this opportunity. They can now start the school year with confidence, and they’ve made new friends who can help them when they feel challenged,” says FHS social worker Ansley Beverly who helps administer the program each year. The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation seeks to enhance lives through education enrichment, leadership development and community betterment. For more information, contact Mary Riker at 251-943-5520. Top photo: Members of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and Chamber Diplomats served lunch and snacks during new student orientations at Foley Middle School and Foley High School. Pictured left to right: Jeff Ricks, DynlSys, Inc.; Camille Mosher, BB&T Bank; Tom DeBell, Riviera Utilities; and Sara Thompson. Not pictured: Carlie Figge, Fortis College and Traci Jarvis, Citizens Bank. Bottom photo: Coreen Armitage, 11th grade, participated as a Link Crew Leader during the Camp Lion Pride freshman orientation event at Foley High School. 27

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Autauga County Schools W.J. Carroll Students Wear New PTO Shirts

The second day of school saw many W. J. Carroll Intermediate School students wearing their new WJC PTO shirts, created with the support of Competitive Ink, a screen printing and embroidery company. Funds raised through the shirt sales will support the physical education program. Students may wear their PTO shirts on Tuesdays and Fridays. In no particular order are Mallory Sanders, Aubrey Carroll, Britany McDonald, Alex Lambert, Emily Lambert, Al Guarisco, Justin Castaneda, Madison Malone, Gavin Morvant, Hamilton Baker, Chapel Hurst, and Matthew Ladnier.

First Day of School at Christ the King Catholic School

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Christ the King Catholic School sixth grade students Lauren Martin, left, and Elizabeth Cotney organize their new lockers outside their homeroom on Monday, August 19. Monday was the first day of classes for CKCS.

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Adolescent Literacy Project Piloted at Robertsdale Elementary

Educational leaders from Baldwin County and the State Department of Education recently visited Robertsdale Elementary School to gauge the progress of the Adolescent Literacy Project being piloted at the school. The Adolescent Literacy Project consists of the teaming of resource and classroom teachers to equip struggling readers with literacy strategies in order to help them succeed. While, as the name implies, the goal is to improve adolescent literacy, the program recognizes that improvement efforts must begin at the foundational elementary level. Teachers at RES were pleased to discover that, while the project is targeted toward struggling readers, students at all skill levels realized significant benefits from the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implementation. During their visit, stakeholders in the Adolescent Literacy Model (ALM) spent time in ALM classes in the 4th , 5th , and 6th grades. The visitors were impressed by how well-prepared the ALM teachers were and by how students had taken ownership for their own learning. They lauded the creativity teachers have displayed in implementing the program, as well as the cooperation and teamwork displayed by the faculty. The successful roll-out of the project at RES will now allow for expansion to other classrooms at the school, as well as to other schools in the Robertsdale High School feeder pattern. Pictured as they start their visit are educational leaders from the school, the county, and the state (l to r): Theresa Farmer, Stacy Lawrence, Tina Rowell, Denise Perkins, Carol Palumbo, Sue Congleton, Shirley Farrell, Linda Felton-Smith, Suellen Brazil, Charlotte Odom, and Faye Sheppard. 29

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Autauga County Schools Sweet Start to the School Year at Bayside Academy

Bayside Academy attempted to beat the heat on the first day of school with our Annual Frozen Yogurt Social! After finding their classrooms, meeting their teachers, and getting acclimated to their new schedules, students from the fouryear-old Pre-Kindergarten class to the Upper School seniors, were treated to a bowl of frozen yogurt provided by Cold Snap in Fairhope. The many parent volunteers on hand and the staff of the Bayside Grill together served 850 bowls of chocolate and vanilla to the eager students and guests. It was a great way to end the first day of school! Pictured, right, Second graders Anne Frances Partin, Lucy Frailie, Ella Barrois, Lily Frailie and Mary Kate Foster. Pictured above, Seniors Trip Puckett, Dylan Kemper, Rebeckah Roe, Valerie Johnson, Wil Cox, Greg Parker and Conner Wilson with Head of School Peter B. Huestis.

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First Day of School at W.J. Carroll

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W. J. Carroll Intermediate School was full of smiles the first day of school. Even though both students and teachers enjoyed the summer, it was exciting to be back seeing friends and ready to learn. Standing with their 4th grade teacher Ms. Mandy Ames, in no particular order, are Darius Woodard, Paige Henry, Jalen Davis, Shawn Wiggins, Ricky Parker, Jackson Self, Brianna Portman. Pictured unpacking their boxes, in no particular order, are sixth graders Justin Castaneda, Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;myis Craig, Hamilton Baker, and Zoey Bembry in Mrs. Benita Battleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classroom.

Students Meet Teachers at Gulf Shores Elementary

Gulf Shores Elementary School held their annual Meet the Teacher event recently where students had the chance to see their new classrooms, drop off their school supplies and meet their new classmates and teachers. Pictured r to l: Second grader Jasani Knight, with her mother Antrice Allen, is looking forward to not only a new classroom and teacher, but a new school, as well! 31

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Autauga County Schools Have Fun, Make New Friends, Change Your World, Be a Girl Scout Today

What do you want your next adventure to be? Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kayaking, riding horses, performing theatre, creating out of this world science experiments, or camping out in the woods, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama wants YOU! Girls between the ages of 5-17 and adult volunteers are invited to become Girl Scouts to have fun, make new friends, and change the world. Girl Scouts offers young women the opportunity to build lasting leadership skills and friendships in a fun, educational environment. Each year, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama serves over 9,000 girls and more than 3,000 adult volunteers through programs and events designed to accomplish its mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. STEM programs keep girls interested in science, technology, engineering and math curriculums, while girl-led programming provides an environment for them to take leadership roles. While joining a troop is the most common option for participation, there are other ways for girls to become and participate as a Girl Scout. Individual girls may join as a Juliette, which provides more flexibility for girls and parents with active schedules. While allowing them to take part in the many activities provided by GSSA including camp, STEM programs, trips, product sales and more they can work toward earning badges and other goal-oriented programming at their own pace. Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama is also looking for key volunteers to make each girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventure a time she will never forget. Each year, many girls looking forward to meeting new friends, learning about STEM programs, and growing their leadership skills, miss out on those opportunities due to a lack of adult volunteers. Whether someone has a little or a lot of time to give, every attempt is made to meet the availability and interests of the volunteer with commitments ranging from one or two events a year to more long-term opportunities. To find your next adventure in Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscoutssa.org/NewMemberEvent or call 1-800-239-6636.

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State Farm Agent Sponsors Police Department’s Youth Academy

Local State Farm agent, Frances Holk-Jones, was a featured presenter and sponsor for the Gulf Shores Police Department’s Youth Academy held at Gulf Shores High School earlier in the month. The Academy was a week-long course for a select few community youth ages 12 to 15 interested in learning about the many aspects of police work & handling situations in a safe manner. Josh Coleman, Community Resource Officer for the Gulf Shores Police Department and coordinator of this event, stated “The goal of hosting the Youth Academy was to foster the relationship between law enforcement and youth while exposing them to a possible future career as a police officer.” Various activities included crime prevention, CPR & firearms safety sessions, along with physical fitness, confidence, & leadership workshops. HolkJones discussed the importance of driver safety with the students, in addition to being a lunch sponsor. “I was honored to be a part of this event. It was a great opportunity for the students to gain insight into the multiple functions that local law enforcement professionals do on a daily basis and to truly learn valuable life skills. Thank you, Gulf Shores Police Department, for your commitment to our community” stated Frances Holk-Jones. Pictured, Gulf Shores Police Department Youth Academy students presented Frances Holk-Jones, State Farm Agent, with a personal Academy t-shirt in appreciation for her participation in this inaugural event. Pictured left to right on front row: Dylan Stancil, Ryan Turner, Andrew Smith, Hannah Mobley, Tony Weidinger, & Evan Branan – back row include Tate Larkin, Drew Foster, Maze Shook, Daniel Davis, Kaitlin Neese, Trent Fields, & Abbie Shogren. Photo courtesy of Gulf Shores Police Department.

Kids Design Cardboard Boats

The Bodenhamer Recreation Center in Gulf Shores recently held its inaugural Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday, July 29th. This event was open to all children through 6th grade. Children were invited to let their imaginations run wild as they designed the boats that were to be made entirely of cardboard.

Gulf Shores Elementary First Day Bus

It’s that time of year again - school is back in session and the buses are on the roads! Please remember to follow school bus safety rules on the road and help protect our children. Pictured l to r: Gulf Shores Middle School student Carson Clarke is ready to board Norma Edwards’ afternoon bus with Gulf Shores Elementary School student Gethyn Evans.

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Autauga County Schools Rhythm and Blues Band to Headline FEEF’s Phantasy of the Arts

You don’t need to wear dancing shoes, but the organizers of Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation’s fall fundraiser bet you won’t be able to sit still when you hear rhythm and blues band St. Paul and the Broken Bones at Phantasy of the Arts 2013. Be prepared to dance, sing and shout on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center as FEEF shakes things up with great music, food, libations and its own high-tech version of digital graffiti. Music critics have named St. Paul and the Broken Bones one of the top Alabama bands to listen to now. Earlier this year, the soul revival group from Birmingham opened for John Mayer in Tuscaloosa and rocked the stage at the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores. Phantasy co-chairs Kathy Sternenberg and Gretchen Valentine agree, this is a performance not to be missed. “We are thrilled Paul Janeway and his band mates will perform as a benefit for our Fairhope Schools,” said Sternenberg. “Paul’s agent describes him as ‘a young man who began wailing straight out of the womb, and most folks would agree that he hasn’t stopped since.’ With testimony like that, we couldn’t be more certain Phantasy will be one entertaining evening.” Now in its 10th year, Phantasy of the Arts has raised almost half a million dollars for Fairhope public school students. This year, event proceeds will be used to provide programs such as choral electives for high school students and increased enrichment opportunities for fine arts, science, and technology in grades K-8. “FEEF is honoring its mission and in many ways, Fairhope’s history, by increasing the exposure our children have to the arts,” explained Valentine. “With funding from Phantasy, we truly will be able to provide our children with enrichment opportunities that make for a well-rounded education.” Valentine noted the FEEF board of directors, school principals and teachers share their excitement in collaborating to bring outstanding programs to Fairhope students. Phantasy of the Arts 2013 sponsorships are available with an exclusive, pre-party gathering at 6 p.m. for individuals and corporations donating $1,000 or more. Advanced individual tickets are $100 and available at brownpapertickets.com. Ticket price is $125 on the day of the event. To purchase a sponsorship, tickets or for more information visit www.feefonline.org, call 251-990-FEEF or email info@feefonline.org.

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Bayside Academy Cheerleaders Welcome Back Students

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Autauga County Schools Baldwin County Education Coalition Volunteers Receive State-wide Recognition for Public Affairs Campaign

The Baldwin County Education Coalition is pleased to announce that its board members and volunteers were recognized by the Public Relations Council of Alabama for their efforts in the 2012 Invest In Progress Campaign for Baldwin County Schools. Baldwin County Education Coalition volunteers submitted two entries into the 2013 Medallion Award competition, of which there were a total of 48 entries representing organizations from across the state of Alabama. The entries were evaluated by a panel of judges from the North Florida PRSA chapter which was comprised of a variety of PR professionals, including several practitioners with national accreditation (APR). The campaign efforts were awarded three honors including: 1) Medallion Award for Invest In Progress Overall Public Relations Program, led by Denise D’Oliveira and Mary Mullins. 2) Medallion Award for Invest In Progress Social Media Campaign, led by Deborah York Geiger. 3) Best In Show award for the Invest In Progress Overall Public Relations Program. Members of the Invest In Progress Task Force included: Denise D'Oliveira, Mary Mullins, Dr. Alan Lee, Matthew McDonald, Meredith Foster, Sandra Bostrom, Sheren LeBlanc, Deborah York Geiger, Suellen Brazil, Terry Burkle, John Hudson, Lisa Way, Miranda Shrubbe, David Tarwater, Terry C. Wilhite, Tina Covington, Angie Swiger, Beth Dotson and Yolanda Johnson. “The independent panel of judges who awarded these projects noted the creativity and value of refining the core campaign messages to five simple themes and using simple e-mail postcards to easily share these messages throughout the social media network,” explains Terry Burkle, executive director of the Baldwin County Education Coalition. “The past work of the seven partner foundations that brought people all over the county together in one place for the “community conversations” was instrumental in allowing the task force to develop key messages that would strike a chord with voters.” Invest In Progress 2012 Political Campaign for Penny Sales Tax In 2012, the Baldwin County Public Schools went to the public to request an additional penny sales tax to help meet budget shortfalls. The item was placed on the ballot in November 2012 as part of the national presidential election. Volunteer efforts toward school improvement and funding are led by leaders in seven local education foundations representing towns and cities throughout the county. Research included an extensive public engagement initiative (known as Yes We Can Baldwin) in which over 1,400 Baldwin County citizens met with foundation leaders in 85 different Community Conversations. The goal of seeking “adequate, stable funding” emerged as the public’s top priority.

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The main objective of this public affairs program was to secure a minimum fifty-one percent (51%) margin of support for the renewal of a one-cent sales tax for the Baldwin County Public Schools (i.e., Baldwin County Amendment #2 on the November 6, 2012. The social media aspect of the campaign became an important part of communicating the five core messages and specifically addressing contentious issues by publicly announcing common questions, concerns, and misconceptions with factual answers in short, shareable formats. The results of the campaign were astonishing. In all but one precinct, the voters responded with an overwhelming 63% in favor of the renewal of a one-cent sales tax for the Baldwin County Public Schools. PR Award Winners: Left photo, Denise D'Oliveira, Medallion Award Winner and Best In Show; Middle Photo: Front Row, left to right: Deborah York Geiger, Denise D'Oliveira, Terry Burkle; Middle Row, left to right: Pete Pederson, Lolly Holk, Beth Dotson, John Hudson; Back Row, left to right: Dr. Alan Lee, Norm Moore, Tracy Dickerson, Karen Glover, Durk Johnson, Bob Higgins, Michelle Nelson, Crysti Varden. Right Photo: Deborah York Geiger, Medallion Award Winner.

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Gulf Shores Elementary Creating Class Norms

Autauga County Schools

Mrs. Victoria Robersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second grade class at Gulf Shores Elementary School has been creating a community of learners. They worked together to establish their own classroom community norms. After creating the norms they created selfportraits using paper scraps. Pictured Left to Right: Jaylen Walker, Breeze Warnock, Ella Jane Wilson, Haley Sims, and James Eli Howell.

Christ the King Catholic School Students Start Year in Prayer

Pictured, Christ the King Catholic School third grade students, from left, Sarah Claire Sypeck, Parker Robson, and Ryan Pierce begin the first day of school with morning prayers on Monday, August 19.

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Autauga County Schools Infirmary Health Participates in Project SEARCH Helping Secure Employment for People with Disabilities

Infirmary Health is excited to announce its participation in Project SEARCH. Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a research environment that fosters visionary thinking and innovation. Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children’s to over 200 sites across the United States and Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia. Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities. The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a unique, business-led, one-year, school-towork program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and relevant job-skills training through strategically designed internships. The goal for each student participant is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches, and employers. As a result, at the completion of the training program, students with significant intellectual disabilities are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs. The presence of a Project SEARCH High School Transition Program can bring about long-term changes in business culture that have farreaching positive effects on attitudes about hiring people with disabilities and the range of jobs in which they can be successful. For more information on eligibility, training and curriculum, Carole Statter, 251- 591.6180. Photo: Parent/student orientation held at Thomas Hospital on August 8th.

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Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

This summer, 16 rising sixth through eighth graders at Bayshore Christian School participated in the Bayshore Christian School Summer Math and Science Camp. Campers learned about the awesomeness of God’s creation in math and science while doing fun, hands-on projects under the tutelage of Mr. Mark Breslin (Bayshore parent and engineer), Mrs. Sarah Colbert (Bayshore’s Physical Science and Chemistry faculty), and Dr. Holly Pursley (Bayshore’s Biology and Life Science faculty). The students learned about forensic detection of an art forgery as well as forensic document analysis, built cell models, created polymers, and challenged their brains with math facts, probabilities, measurements, and Punnett squares. Rising Bayshore tenth graders Sara Breslin, Priscilla Brock, Ian Doremus, Sabe Sheckells, and Maddie Walsh participated as lab assistants, earning service hours. The week concluded with a trip to the Gulf Coast Exploreum where the campers designed and created functional robots in a robotics educational workshop, “Little BITS”, under the instruction of Mr. Comeaux, the Exploreum Director of Education. Pictured with Exploreum employees kneeling left to right: Camryn Sexton, Alanna Wiest, Kirk Kirkland, Tillery French, Ella Pursley, Lily Sheckells; standing middle row left to right: Nathan Williams, Nina Messinger, Braden Downing, Will Edmiston, Elyse Hayse; standing back row left to right: Anna Thornton, Brooke Long, Lorali Pace, Aubrey Mund, Evan Doremus. www.easternshoreparents.com

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Dance Toys Take Center Stage

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

From the time they are babies, their innate response to music is just the first step toward kids getting their moves together to join the dance. Wiggling and bouncing are just the beginning of children’s progress toward the dancing spotlight. Encouraging their interest in dance and dance-related activity is an ideal way to foster physical coordination, memory skill and a purely physical expression of joy. Get your kids up and off the couch with these great toys and games that help kids become Lords (and Ladies) of the dance!

by Gerry Paige Smith

Baby Born Dance With Me

Twister Dance DVD (Milton Bradley)

Combining the best of traditional Twister with lively dance lessons, Twister Dance puts in motion a choreography journey with forty dance tutorials for beginning dancers. Once the dance mat, with clearly designated step zones for a single player, is placed in front of your TV, the accompanying DVD is ready to start the dance floor action. Beginning with the Learn mode, an animated choreographer, using the mats, introduces players to the basic steps before moving to Dance mode where the moves are connected with increasing tempo. Once the moves are mastered, Party mode provides music and lights so players can test their dance skills and movement memory. The dancing gauntlet can also be thrown down to include more players using all four dance mats included in the energetic Twister Dance!

(ZAPF Creation)

Start your baby off on the right foot (and the left) with the doll who’s born to dance! Making her move on center stage, Baby Born Dance with Me moves from side-to-side and then up and down in time to her own music (or yours!). Her smooth moves are just right for the toddler set with no sudden moves to startle little audiences. She comes with her own special dance music and dances with the rhythm until the song ends. This 14” tiny dancer can also be connected with an audio cable to your own MP3 player for an expanded repertoire of performance. With a washable surface and removable clothing, she’s battery operated and ready to charm even the most reluctant partners into joining the dance!

Zippity High-Energy Learning System

Angelina Ballerina Dance With Me Game

(LeapFrog)

(Wonder Forge)

Combining early learning with energetic dance moves, Zippity lets kids who may be too young for the Wii develop their memory and coordination through one active outlet. The interactive video game system plugs directly into a TV, with kids using a colorful dance mat and over-sized joystick to control the action! Eight games featuring favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters get children stepping, dancing, jumping and moving their arms while they hone their ability to follow directions as they master each level. The games assist the players to memorize certain moves in a short sequence, while color, letter, and number recognition are reinforced as the player uses big body moves to meet the Zippity challenges. Ideal for the pre-school set, this addition to the LeapFrog line-up encourages the younger set to get up and moving.

From playing on the board to treading the boards, the Angelina Ballerina Dance with Me game will move little dance fans from bedroom floor to the ballet spotlight in just minutes! As each player’s Angelina figure progresses around the game board, they collect step-by-step game cards that introduce the most basic ballet positions and moves. Players get “practice” moments along the way to get up and put their real dance moves to the test as they prepare for their moment in the spotlight! No matter who wins, every player gets to be a dancing star! (Having dress-up tutus on hand, definitely amps up the fun factor!) For kids who have trouble sitting still through a regular board game, the Angelina Ballerina Dance with Me game will put that extra energy and enthusiasm into play with prima ballerina results!

Paige Smith is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist living in Alabama. More on GET THIS! at www.PageBookMedia.com.

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Q. When is it okay to purchase a house without making a 20 percent down payment?

A. When you’re willing to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). And that’s not something you want to do. PMI costs about $75 a month per $100,000 borrowed. So, if you borrow $200,000 on a home, and you don’t put down at least 20 percent on the transaction, you’ll have to pay out an extra $150 a month as part of your mortgage payment. Private mortgage insurance does nothing for you except pay your mortgage company in the event they have to foreclose on you and they lose money. PMI is foreclosure insurance that protects the lender, and you get to pay for it if you don’t make a 20 percent down payment. In the scenario I mentioned before, that would be an additional

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

$1,800 a year on a $200,000 loan. In a sense, that’s an extra 0.9 percent on your interest rate. That’s what it feels like. So you can see that PMI is not a positive thing. Often, a first-time homebuyer will purchase a house with 10 percent down then pay the other 10 percent as quickly as possible in order to get rid of the PMI. Stay away from it. It’s nasty stuff!

Q. What do you think about predictions of a major deflation of U.S. currency?

A. I think woven into your question is another question: What do I think about the predictions of our economy completely collapsing? The truth is I don’t believe for one second that our economy is going to completely collapse. Do we have some serious prob-

lems that should be addressed? Yes. Do we have politicians who are stupid and who don’t want to address these problems? Absolutely. But does that mean the world is coming to an end? Of course not! It does mean, however, that you and I need to demand that the people in Washington stop playing games and do their jobs. This ridiculous spending spree we’ve been on for years has to stop. Government spending on all levels—national, state and local—is ridiculously out of control. I’ve heard end-of-the-world predictions most of my life. But the truth is, we’re not going to see anything of that magnitude until Jesus comes back. No, I’m not going to predict or believe that the U.S. currency is going to collapse. Don’t spend all of your time and energy worrying about conspiracy theories and doomsday scenarios. Spend it living life!

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Beating the Mommy Blues by Pam Molnar

mother often gets lost in the shuffle. Her job as support staff to her husband and children is essential, but lacking in personal growth. Women often let their family’s activities and accomplishments become their own. It is dark standing in someone’s shadow. Allow yourself to step back out into the spotlight. Mothers can continue to grow and evolve as individuals. By feeding your own fire, you are able to be a better mother and wife.

Take a class. Education is an important step in your evolution process. Your primary role as a mother is to teach your children, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn new things yourself. Find something that interests you and learn more about it. Look at community colleges in your area. Most colleges offer continuing education classes in a variety of subjects to sharpen your skills or teach you something new. Visit the park district in your area for gardening, dance or cooking classes. Take advantage of free demonstration classes on weekends at local hardware and craft stores. Attend a lecture, join an acting workshop or enroll in a wine tasting course.

Five Ways to Recharge Your Spirit

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

Volunteer. Look beyond helping out in your son’s preschool class. There are so many great causes that need your help. Consider working at your local PADS, animal shelter or senior center. Giving back to your community recharges your soul. Cathy Fulgham, youth mentor and mother of two, explains her reasons for choosing to volunteer with teenagers. “Each and every one of our kids is so unique, so individual and quirky and fun and angst-ridden, it’s impossible not to learn from them. Being with them helps me to keep an open mind, to learn 48

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Go back to work.

Moms need to reconnect with adults on a regular basis. We are intelligent people and need to challenge ourselves. Now is the perfect time to start the business you have been talking about. Research your options and talk to business mentors at your local SCORE office. If a business venture is too much to take on right now, consider a part time job that takes you out of the house. Flexible hour jobs may include retail, tutoring, or jobs within the school district like library aides and office staff. Just a few hours a week in another environment will make a world of difference.

Have a regular Girl’s Night Out. Spending time socializing with other women will do wonders for your mental health. Amy Chavous, mother of an active five-year-old, stresses the need for a girl’s night out. “It is important for a mom to have a girl’s night out because sometimes when you become a mother you can lose yourself. Being able to connect with other women through stories is a way to reassure yourself that not only

are you doing the best you can as a mom, but you still have an identity outside of all your daily obligations.” Chavous suggests trying popular wine and canvas nights, chocolate tastings or hosting a book talk at your house.

Follow your dream. Is there something on your list that you have always wanted to try? You may want to run a marathon, try scuba diving or take a ride in a hot air balloon. Dig deep into your soul and think selfishly for a moment. As mothers, we tend to push off our unachieved dreams onto our children, hoping to live vicariously through them. If you have always wanted to play the piano, don’t get piano lessons for your daughter, get them for yourself. Search the dark corners of your

mind and find something to do just for you. Prove to yourself that you are never too old to try something new. As the saying goes, “If mom isn’t happy, no one is happy.” In other words, you can easily bring others down if you are not satisfied. Make yourself a priority. If you keep hitting the “Dismiss” button when your battery is low, you will eventually run out of juice. It is vital to keep recharging your spirit so you can be at 100% when your family needs you. ESP Pam Molnar is a freelance journalist and mother of three. She is inspired by mothers who continue to grow alongside their children.

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A Page in a Book by Gerry Paige Smith

The Beauty of Solitude Because our children are growing up in an age of social media, flash mobs and Skype, it’s easy to assume that they will never be alone. But there are times that they will be alone, either by choice or through circumstance, and it’s important that children understand the differences between being alone and being lonely. Being alone gives children the opportunity to hone in on details typically lost in the clatter of company; to appreciate sights, sounds and feelings that can be buried by outside stimulation. Even loneliness has its place in our hearts as it makes our time of reunion and together moments even more cherished and special. The following titles explore solitude, loneliness and alone time with great beauty and sensitivity, helping young readers to appreciate the special times that are theirs, alone.

Snook Alone

by Marilyn Nelson, Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering (Candlewick Press) Nothing gives Snook more pleasure than his days spent in the company of Abba Jacob, with whom he shares a monastic life on a quiet island. Snook spends every day by Abba Jacob’s side while he works, prays, and gardens: they are a constant pair. But when a violent storm separates them, Snook is left stranded on the island to make his way alone. At first sad and afraid, Snook begins to explore his home on his own. New adventures and elements of the island are Snook’s alone to discover with increasing pleasure while he waits for the return of his friend. Recognizing the fear that comes with isolation, this title offers a poignant balance, celebrating the heightened awareness that comes with being alone. An inspiration for kids who struggle with separation and alone time, this story finds the bright side to being solitary while you wait to be reunited with your companions.

Silence

by Lemniscates (Magination Press) Told from the perspective of a young girl, “Silence” is an expansive exploration of the quiet beauty of being alone. When the girl is by herself, she can hear her heart beating as she runs, her breath moving to and fro. The sounds of her legs swimming, her feet dancing might be lost in a crowd, but when she’s alone, she can hear them like never before. Birds talking, bees buzzing and the wind blowing are not hidden behind the murmur of conversation and company. Being alone among silence gives voice to the quieter sounds, awakening subtle senses that may be rarely used in a world of distractions that demand our attention. The undiscovered pleasures of solitude and silence are everywhere in this breezy and beautiful ode to quiet times and quiet spaces.

Octopus Alone

by Divya Srinivasan (Penguin / Viking) Octopus is very comfortable in the quiet confines of her cave, watching the underwater world and its beauties float by. But when a group of seahorses discover her refuge (and her), their friendly interest and enthusiasm feel like too much to bear. Octopus quietly goes into camouflage mode and sneaks away. As she slips into the darker deeps alone, Octopus finds herself enjoying the spaces where no one is watching. She twirls, wiggles and somersaults as she revels in the peaceful, quiet darkness. She is comfortable and happy. But after a while, she remembers the sea horses and decides to return – refreshed by the solitude – to get reacquainted with her new friends. Beautifully transitive illustrations celebrate both the lively wonders of the sea and the serenity of the deep ocean. Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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School Year Tips for

Parenting a Child with ASD by Bama Hager, Ph.D.

Transitioning to school or back to school can be very challenging for families living on the Autism Spectrum. New routines, new teachers, new students, new rooms and new demands can be very daunting. Transitioning back to school is a challenging time for any family and the characteristics of ASD can often exacerbate transition challenges. by Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D. Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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Consistency and Predictability. Although transitioning to the school year can be challenging, consistency and predictability hopefully will be established with each passing day. When the environment is consistent and predictable, children can explore, create, develop and learn. Consistent consequences and predictable routines are often established after a few days of the school schedule. Many children on the spectrum benefit from a written or picture schedule even if they have language skills. At times, a physical support like a written schedule can be comforting to a child and often fosters predictability in routine.

Decreasing Anxiety. Related to a

predictable and consistent routine, any supports that decrease anxiety during your child’s day might be helpful in adjustment to school. A plan for times of high anxiety is often useful. Some students have a safe space in a room or building where they are allowed to go when overwhelmed. Some students use a token or pass to go to an agreed upon area for rest and calm. Once the child takes the time out, he/she might use a checklist to camp himself/herself. The checklist might include deep breaths, trampoline time, stretches, etc. Discussion and planning at the beginning of a school year can often assist while routines are established.

Executive Skills Support. Planning and organization are often challenging

for students on the spectrum. Executive functioning supports might be helpful to a student on the spectrum. Parents might want to work with their child to create a checklist for each day including unpacking backpacks, locker stops, turning in homework, packing books for homework, etc. Asking the child’s caseworker or teacher to take a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day to help the child organize might be very helpful. Supports for planning, organization, class transitions, impulse control and maintaining attention are often parts of any typical classroom. Parents might visit the child’s classroom and discuss supports in the room that may help his/ her child. The child’s desk placement and classroom materials can help the child through the schedule. In addition, many classrooms have timers or study aids that would be helpful for the child with ASD to stay on task and stay organized.

High Functioning Autism and Transition to School. Specific to students with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, the child’s verbal skills can be used to ease the transition. Many children, teens and adults with high functioning ASD can learn to self-advocate for their needs during school transitions. Parents might present children with words or a word bank after school each day. The word bank may contain descriptive words or feeling words including, fun, exciting, frustrating, long, short, hard, easy, mad, angry, sad, worried,

nervous, etc. The parent might also use the child’s written school schedule to review each period of the day or subject. The student is asked to use a descriptive word from the list to describe each period of the day. So the child might use the word “worried” or “fun” to describe Science class. In this way, over time, the child might become more skilled in using words independently to describe his or her day. When a student with ASD can describe thoughts and feelings, the student is closer to skills of self advocacy and expression of his/her needs during the day.

Communication with Faculty/Staff. Establishing a daily or weekly method for communicating with your child’s caseworker or Special Education Teacher can be instrumental in heading off problems before they escalate. Checking in with a staff member who is with your child daily gives you insight into the adjustment to the school year. A daily or weekly email, phone call or visit to the school might establish a line of communication that can be maintained and adjusted as needed as school progresses. These are just a few suggestions for starting the school year for children with ASD. Every child is unique and each family will find techniques for transitioning to school that are helpful year after year. ESP Bama Folsom Hager, Ph.D. is a parent of a 13-year-old son living with autism. She is a clinical child psychologist, the Policy Advisor for the Autism Society of Alabama and Co-Chair of the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council. She can be reached at bamah@autism-alabama.org.

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SPECIAL NEEDS Resource Guide

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General Resources Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities RSA Union Building, 100 North Union Street, Post Office Box 301410, Montgomery, 36130 (334) 242-3973, (800) 232-2158; www.acdd.org Our Mission is to promote and support independence, advocacy, productivity and inclusion for Alabamians with developmental disabilities.

Alabama Dept. of Rehabilitation Services 602 South Lawrence Street, Montgomery, 36104 (334) 293-7500, (800) 441-7607; www.rehab.alabama.gov Unique in the nation, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is comprised of state and federal programs that provide a continuum of services from birth through life for Alabamians with disabilities. ADRS has four major programs: • Alabama’s Early Intervention System (AEIS) 1610 Center Street, Suite A, and Mobile (251) 439-7890 Toll-free number: (800) 879-8163 or TTY (800) 499-1816 A division of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Early Intervention provides supports and services for infants and toddlers birth though age 2 (0 to 36 months of age) who have a medical diagnosis that can delay normal development or who have a developmental delay causing the child to not meet developmental milestones. Early intervention supports and services focus on teaching the parents and other caregiver’s ways to help the child learn and participate in everyday activities. • Children’s Rehabilitation Service (CRS) CRS District Office – 1610 Center Street Suite A, Mobile, (251) 432-4560, Toll-free number: (800) 879-8163, (800) 499-1816 Any child or adolescent younger than 21 years of age who is a resident of Alabama and has a special health care need is eligible for Children’s Rehabilitation Service. Individuals with hemophilia are eligible beyond 21 years of age. Every county in Alabama is served through a network of 14 community-based offices. Staff members work closely with local school systems to enable children with disabilities to participate fully in school. • Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS) 2419 Gordon Smith Drive, Mobile (251) 479-8611, Toll-free number: (800) 671-6842, TTY: (800) 499-1816; Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS), the largest division within the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, helps Alabamians with disabilities achieve independence through employment. VRS provides specialized employment- and education-related services and training to assist teens and adults with disabilities in becoming employed. In addition, VRS works with middle

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

schools, high schools, junior colleges and universities statewide to assist students with disabilities in receiving appropriate educational opportunities. • State of Alabama Independent Living / Homebound Service (SAIL) - 2419 Gordon Smith Drive, Mobile (251) 479-8611, Toll-free number: (800) 671-6842, TTY: (800) 499-1816; The State of Alabama Independent Living / Homebound Service (SAIL) provides specialized in-home education and counseling, attendant care, training and medical services to Alabamians with severe disabilities. The SAIL program has seven community-based offices located throughout the state to serve residents in all 67 counties. SAIL ensures the consumer can live as independently as possible at home and in the community through specialized programs.

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (205) 348-4928, (800) 826-1625; www.adap.net; adap@adap.ua.edu; The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) is part of the nationwide federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) system. ADAP’s mission is to provide quality, legally based advocacy services to Alabamians with disabilities in order to protect, promote and expand their rights. ADAP’s vision is one of a society where persons with disabilities are valued and exercise self-determination through meaningful choices, and have equality of opportunity.

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Mobile Regional Center, 1050 Government Street, Mobile (251) 432-7777; www.aidb.org Mobile Regional Office that serves Baldwin, Mobile, Clarke, Washington, Monroe, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties. The earlier children learn the better. Some experts estimate that up to 20% of the skills learned in a lifetime are learned in the first five years. That’s why we place so much emphasis on helping families, and encourage families to come forward with their concerns as early as possible. Everyone around your child can be a teacher. Infants and toddlers will soak up language and information from every source. Regional Center staff members can show you how to make this happen. It may take more time, more creativity to communicate with a child who is blind or deaf, but the rewards of making that effort are incalculable.

American Foundation for the Blind Mobile Association for the Blind, 2440 Gordon Smith Drive, Mobile, (251) 473-3585, (877) 292-5463, (800) 232-5463; www.afb.org; In 1924, a group of concerned citizens in Mobile started the Mobile Association for the Blind to create job opportunities for people who were blind. The Mobile Association for the Blind is now a 45,000 square foot man-

ufacturing facility where many visually impaired individuals who are not able to join the public workforce are employed in our Sheltered Workshop. Our organization also provides assistance to other citizens with disabilities. Counseling and evaluation, skills training, and job placement are just some of the services we provide to help create the self-esteem needed to become productive members of society.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc. (256) 325-8885 (Alabama contact); www.asha.org ASHA is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively.

ARC - Baldwin County Director – Kathy Fleet, (251) 964-4451 or (251) 978-9125 Arc Baldwin County is a volunteer-based membership organization made up of individuals with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities, their families, friends, interested citizens, and professionals in the disability field. It is the mission of the ARC-BC, Inc. to ensure those appropriate and quality services are available and accessible to persons with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities throughout their life. Their services will be family and individual driven, proactive, and creative in their response to individual needs. Service delivery will be designed to provide a wide array of service options that can be tailored to individual and families’ needs. Community based service will promote family unity by natural family and community support systems and above all, enhance the quality of life of citizens with intellectual disabilities and/ or developmental disabilities in Baldwin County. Loxley Administrative Office is located at 3650 South Magnolia Street Loxley. This is the office to come to if someone wants to fill out applications. Robertsdale Day Program is located at 22860 McAuliffe Drive Robertsdale. Foley Workshop is located at 209 E. Fern Ave., Foley.

Delicious Dietician 2561 Dauphin Street, Mobile (251) 478-2233; www.thedeliciousdietician.com The Delicious Dietician offers “One- on- One” Disease Management services specific to the client’s individual needs. The Delicious Dietician understands the need for education and practical advice when dealing with health problems requiring restricted diets. Let The Delicious Dietician teach you how to live deliciously, despite having limitations with your meals.

Dianne Craft – Child Diagnostics (303) 694-0532; www.diannecraft.org Wonderful website filled with information, articles, resourc-

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es for learning disabilities, dyslexia, auditory processing, right/left brain learning. We provide nutritional therapy and supplement recommendations. You can purchase Dianne’s DVDs, CDs, Books, vitamins, and other various products through her online store.

Easter Seals of Alabama 5960 East Shirley Lane, Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 395-4489; www.alabama.easterseals.com Our organization consists of eight community rehabilitation program sites and the world’s largest barrier free recreational camp, Camp ASCCA. Easter Seals Alabama services include: Medical Rehabilitation, Early Intervention, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Hearing Therapy, Job Training and Employment, Child Care & Camping and Recreation. We provide services for people with disabilities and their families.

Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast 2448 Gordon Smith Drive, Mobile, (251) 471-1581 Easter Seals offers Parent Education and Support, Child Development Centers, Early Intervention and a Wonderful Recreation Program that provides schoolage children (6 - 12) of all abilities the opportunity to participate in a variety of community recreational activities. Sessions include gymnastics, rock wall climbing, bowling, skating, music & movement, and tee ball. The staff is assisted by volunteers from the University of South Alabama, Therapeutic Recreation and Occupational Therapy Programs.

Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama (334) 277-9151; www.ldaal.org The Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama, Inc. (LDAA) is a non-profit grassroots organization whose mem-

bers are individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them. LDAA strives to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults with learning disabilities.

The Listening Program (888) 228-1798; www.advancedbrain.com The Listening Program (TLP) is a music listening therapy that provides engaging brain stimulation to improve performance in school, work and life. It gently trains the auditory system to accurately process sound. Auditory processing problems can lead to academic, emotional, cognitive and social challenges, including problems with ADD, Listening, Speech & language, memory, communication, Social skills, reading, Sensory Integration, Balance and coordination and self-regulation. Auditory processing problems are often found in children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD, dyslexia and learning disabilities.

March of Dimes Mobile Alabama Chapter 205 Lambert Street, Suite A, Mobile, (251) 438-1360, (205) 824-0103; www.marchofdimes.com/alabama The March of Dimes Alabama Chapter has one goal: to help babies in our community start life in the healthiest way possible. Through education and intervention, we help moms-to-be learn how to take care of themselves before, during and after their pregnancy. We are also there when things don’t go as planned, providing comfort and information to families when a baby is born too soon. The Alabama Chapter also partners with local medical groups and organizations to establish guidelines for how to care for pregnant women and premature babies. And we provide grants to researchers working to understand birth defects and premature birth and to find treatments and solutions.

Mental Health-Nat’l Alliance on Mental Illness (251) 461-3450, (334) 396-4797; www.namialabama NAMI Alabama is an organization comprised of local support and advocacy groups throughout the state dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons with a mental illness in Alabama. The number of such groups is growing rapidly as families become more determined to improve treatment and care for Alabamians diagnosed with a mental illness. The mission statement/purpose of NAMI Alabama is to provide support, education, and advocacy for persons with mental illnesses, their families, and others whose lives are affected by these brain disorders. Meetings Family Support: 1st Monday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Springhill Baptist Church Activity Center (11 S. McGregor Ave. in Spring Hill Rm. 240), Contact: Diane Kent (251) 645-4404, Monthly Education - 3rd Monday, 5:30pm 6:30pm Springhill Baptist Church Activity Center (11 S. McGregor Ave. Rm. 222) Contact: Connie Ewing, (251) 461-3450, Family Support: 3rd Monday, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Springhill Baptist Church Activity Center, 11 S. McGregor Ave. Rm. 240, Contact: Diane Kent at (251) 645-4404, Family Support: 4th Thursday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Fowl River Community Center (5401 Fowl River Rd.) Contact: Diane Kent (251) 645-4404.

Mercy Medical – Pediatric Home Health Care 101-B Villa Drive, Daphne, (251) 621-4431; www.mercymedical.com/homecare_pediatric.php; homecare@mercymedical.com Healthcare - Mercy Pediatric Home Care allows children to recover in the comfort of their own home with family members, rather than in a hospital. It provides cost-effective, compassionate medical care to homebound children under 18-years old who are recovering from injuries or surgeries,

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dealing with chronic or complicated diagnoses or other serious health problems. In addition to the psychological and emotional advantages of recovering at home, Mercy Pediatric Home Care saves healthcare dollars, reduces the likelihood of complications such as infection and provides high-tech medical care by a skilled, specially-trained team of healthcare professionals. Mercy Pediatric Home Care also supports the family by offering educational, nutritional, and spiritual counseling and assistance in securing resources.

Montgomery Alabama Scottish Rite Learning Center (205) 365-1640; www.alsrlcenter.org; Free Testing of speech and language disorders such as dyslexia. The Alabama Scottish Rite Learning Center offers dyslexia evaluations for Alabama school age children from age 7 through 9th grade. The foundation has a network of speech/language pathologist, available to perform this FREE service. We are happy to serve as consultants to teachers of students whom we have evaluated and who have been determined to be experiencing dyslexia, language-learning disabilities, or severe speech or language disabilities. We will work collaboratively with teachers and other members of the IEP team to develop goals and benchmarks necessary to assist students in reaching their academic potential. We will also provide teachers with in-service training in the areas of identification and remediation of dyslexia. We will provide teachers with in-service training in the areas of language-learning disabilities and severe speech or language disabilities.

Mulherin Custodial Home 2496 Halls Mill Road, Mobile (251) 471-1998; www.mulherinhome.com Mulherin Home provides a home for individuals, children and adults with developmental disabilities. Our foremost concern is the happiness, comfort, and welfare of the residents at Mulherin Home. The Mulherin Custodial Home is a 501(c) (3) organization, and a United Way agency.

Santa America 308 Belrose Avenue, Daphne, (251) 626-6609 www.santa-america.org; info@santa-america.org Santa America is a national volunteer service organization with a very special mission. Over one-hundred Santa’s across America visit children and families in crisis. Santa Claus visits when a child or family needs him—twelve months a year—bringing love, hope and joy to special needs children in a loving visit of about an hour at home, hospital, or hospice. Santa’s visits are free. There is no charge for a visit from Santa Claus—ever.

Sight Savers America 337 Business Circle, Pelham, AL (877) 942-2627; www.sightsaversamerica.org Sight Savers America is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that assists children with obtaining eye exams, glasses, and other needed eye care from local eye care providers and clinics. Children are referred to Sight Savers via failed vision screenings at school, referrals from teachers, school administrators, school nurses, eye-care professionals and parents. Children of families who qualify for our program receive the eye care they need at no cost to the family. Sight Savers has set the standard in follow-up vision care. At Sight Savers, we work with the members of our extensive volunteer network of eye care providers to arrange comprehensive eye care including scheduling appointments and transportation, making arrangements for eyeglasses, medications, eye surgeries, vision aids, or any other prescribed treatment.

S.W. Regional School for the Deaf and Blind

3980 Burma Road, Mobile, (251) 221-5454 http://regional.mcs.schoolinsites.com (please note, using www with this address does not work, you must type in http://) Serving 6 counties and 300 students in Southwest Alabama including Mobile. The Regional School has an elementary campus on Burma Road that educates deaf and blind students ages three years to fifth grade. There are satellite campuses of the Regional School at a local

middle and high school, allowing students to easily transition to the next grade. Students from surrounding counties attend the Regional School and itinerant teachers provide services at their local schools. The Regional School is unique because special needs students are able to remain in their home environment and receive collaborative vision and hearing impaired services from experienced and qualified staff.

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Counseling Chris Murphee, Psy.D.

761 Middle Street, Fairhope, (251) 928-4750 www.ChrisMurphree.org; eastbaypsych@att.net Dr. Murphree is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents. Types of evaluations offered are Learning Problems, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Functioning, Behavioral Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Abuse/ Trauma and Depressive Disorders. The office accepts Aetna, AllKids, American Behavioral, Blue Advantage, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Alabama, Cigna, Compsych, Magellan, Medicaid, Medicare, MHCA, State EIB, United Behavioral Health and Value Options.

CrossRhodes at The Centre

Linda Colclough MS, LPC 1290 Main Street, Suite E, Daphne (251) 625-0118; www.thecounselingcentre.com The Centre’s CrossRhodes Art Therapy Program provides counseling for children who are facing life threatening illnesses. The nurturing therapeutic environment allows them to ask questions and express feelings in a healthy, healing way. Art becomes an added voice for telling their story. It gives them a self-soothing avenue to practice coping strategies they can use in their daily lives.

The Centre

1290 Main Street, Suite E, Daphne (251) 625-0118; www.thecounselingcentre.com

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The Centre is a private not-for-profit clinical practice. It is Faith-Based interdenominational resource that offers psychological healing for those who are struggling with life’s problems. The Centre specializes in services for children related to issues with behavior at home or school, ADHD/ LD, depression/anxiety and grief. Psycho-educational evaluations, family counseling and art therapy are available.

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Dr. David Kantra and Augusta Kantra, MS, LPC 150 South Church Street, Fairhope, (251) 928-5363 www.kantratherapy.com; Treatment specialization includes psychological testing (ADD, LD, strengths, relationship needs) and individual and family therapy. Please visit the website for a list of other services.

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Dr. Sharon Ann Friday, PHD, LPC 307 South McKenzie Street, Foley, (251) 955-1232 Helping families stay together and deal with special needs issues. Specializing in trauma.

Crossway Counseling Center, Inc. 27625 U.S. Highway 98, Daphne (251) 626-7959; www.crosswaycounseling.org CrossWay Counseling is a full Service Counseling Center assisting children and their families with the challenges presented by special needs. Our professionally trained counselors apply their knowledge of psychology and Biblical principles to serve individuals, couples, and families. The staff is trained to deal with a wide range of issues. You are encouraged to visit the Therapists page of the website for a summary of each therapist’s experience and his/her areas of specialty.

Focal Point Professional Services Barry Swope, LPC 6642 Park Drive, Ste. B, Daphne (251) 625-6448, www.focalpointps.com ADHD and ADD assessments and related services. Services also include individual and family counseling, drug treatment and conduct/emotional problems with adolescents. For a list of other services, please visit our website.

Holyfield Counseling Elizabeth Holyfield, MA, LPC 9 South Summit Street, Fairhope (251) 279-0604; Elizabeth@holyfieldcounseling.com Focus areas include adolescent and teen issues, Love and Logic – Independent Facilitator on Parenting the Love and Logic Way, depression and anxiety, grief and loss, life change/transitions and personal development.

Larry D. Faison, Ph.D. 18311 Wisconsin Street, Robertsdale (251) 605-6927; Testing, counseling and consultation for children and adults. Specializing in ADD, bi-polar disorder, behavior problems, and depression. Evening and Saturday appointments available.

Professional Counseling Associates Eastern Shore Counseling 29000 Highway 98, Ste. 305, Daphne, (251) 626-5797 www.easternshorecounseling.com; Faith based counseling services including AD/HD screenings, anxiety issues, relationship counseling and depression. Please visit the website for a full list of counseling services offered.

mitted to a C m o C e r ure! We’ In Alabama, approximately 2,000 children suffer from childhood cancer or serious blood disorders such as sickle cell disease or hemophilia --- and 90% receive their care at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's of Alabama. These children and their families are counting on a cure. That's why we've brought together a team that includes some of the brightest minds and most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine. We're committed to finding cures, and you can be too.

Diana Snow, D Ph.D. LPC 7525 Assunta Court, Fairhope, (251) 928-6292 Licensed Professional Counselors for Marriage, Family, Child & Individuals.

Stephanie Wright Williamson, LLCU 306 South Greeno Road, Fairhope, (251) 202-4573 Working with individuals, families and children. Services in Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, OCD, teen violence, parenting, family conflict, substance abuse, depression and coping skills.

Learn how you can help. Call 205.638.9285 or visit ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure 57

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Physical & Speech Therapy

AFOs, splinting, and a comprehensive team for feeding/ swallowing therapy.

CrossRhodes at The Centre Art Therapy

USA Speech and Hearing Clinic

1290 Main Street, Daphne (251) 625-0118; www.thecounselingcentre.com Art Therapy Program - The Centre offers a safe, nurturing therapeutic environment that allows children to ask questions and express feelings in a healthy, healing way. Art becomes an added voice for telling their story. It gives them a self-soothing avenue to practice coping strategies they can use in their daily lives. Please see our website for further information about specific art therapy programs at The Centre.

Thomas Hospital Pediatric Rehabilitation

212 Hospital Drive, Suite B, Fairhope; (251) 279-1640 rich.rammel@infirmaryhealth.org; Facebook - Infirmary Health Pediatric Therapy Thomas Hospital’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Department provides comprehensive care to children who require occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Located in the Wellness Center at Thomas Hospital, we offer an environment where all 3 therapies can work together with families to guarantee each child is receiving exactly what he or she needs. Our facility enables us to meet the unique needs of our patients ages birth through adolescence and allows parents to be an integral part of their child’s therapy. Therapy gyms and offices have viewing windows and headphone systems for parents to observe their child’s therapy sessions, full spectrum lighting to enhance learning needs of patients, and wireless laptop computers to further diminish distractions. Some of the specialized treatment modalities provided at Thomas Hospital include: Vital-Stim neuro-muscular electrical stimulation for Dysphagia, Augmentative/Alternative communication training and support, Ipad applications, Integrated Listening System training (iLs), Interactive Metronome, TheraSuit, Lite Gait, Braces,

1119 HAHN, 5721 USA Drive North, Mobile (251) 445-9378; www.usahealthsystem.com www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/speechandhearing/clinic.html The clinic serves two primary purposes: to provide services in speech, language and hearing to citizens of Mobile and surrounding areas and to provide the supervised clinical experiences needed by the students for graduation and to obtain professional licensure/certification. Because the USA Speech and Hearing Clinic functions as a service facility and teaching facility, activities and procedures address both purposes. Diagnostic and treatment services in speech, language and hearing are provided to persons of all ages and with all types of speech-language and hearing disorders.

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Therapy Services

1610 Center Street, Mobile (251) 415-1670; www.usahealthsystem.com Therapy Services at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital offers a team-oriented program of pediatric physical, occupational and speech-language therapies. Services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. We offer pediatric-specific care for infants and children with varied diagnoses. Services include assessment and treatment of: Developmental Delays, Orthopedic Injuries, Neuromuscular Problems—Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, etc., Burns and Wounds, Speech and Language Deficits, Feeding Problems, Sensory Problems, Attention Problems & Loss of Function Due to Chronic Illness.

Buckaroo Barn

39821 Duffee Lane, Bay Minette (251) 604-3904; www.buckaroobarnllc.com Physical therapy specializing in Hippotherapy for special little buckaroos. Specially trained physical and occupational therapists use this treatment for patients with movement dysfunction. A specially trained therapist di-

rects the movement of the horse analyzes the patient’s responses and adjusts the treatment accordingly. Hippotherapy is a medical treatment which uses the movement of the horse to influence the rider’s posture, balance, function, and sensory processing.

Center for Pediatric Rehabilitation 1108-A Airport Boulevard, Pensacola, FL (850) 471-1005; centerforpediatricrehabilitation.com Offering speech, occupational and physical therapies for children with developmental, neurological and organic disorders.

Gulf Coast Therapy 21040 Miflin Road, Foley; (251) 923-0888 9890 Twin Beech Road, Fairhope; (251) 928-7312 www.gulfcoasttherapy.com; Gulf Coast Therapy is a state-of-the-art outpatient therapy center serving Mobile and Baldwin County. We are committed to offering our patients a center of excellence for the treatment of pain and/or disability. The mission of Gulf Coast Therapy is to provide our patients with the skills they need in order to function at their highest level of independence and increase their quality of life. Services include: early intervention, outpatient pediatrics and school-based therapy.

Kids Kount- Therapy Services, LLC 26420 Kensington Place, Ste. C, Daphne (251) 517-0355; www.kidskounttherapy.com Kids Kount Therapy Services was established with a primary mission to foster a sense of achievement within each child and to improve the quality of life for those children and their families. Kids Kount Therapy Services recognizes and respects the uniqueness of every child. We firmly believe that every child deserves an opportunity to learn and play with optimal function at home, at school, and across all social settings. Each child is assessed and treated with an individualized program to meet his or her developmental learning needs.

Types of Evaluations Offered: Learning Problems Anxiety Disorders Mood Disorders ADHD Dr. Murphree is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents.

Abuse/Trauma Depressive Disorders Behavioral Disorders Autistic Spectrum Disorders Intellectual Functioning

East Bay Psychiatry and Associates (251) 928-4750 eastbaypsych@att.net Accepting Aetna, All Kids, American Behavioral, Blue Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Cigna, Compsych, Magellan, Medicaid, Medicare, MHCA, State EIB, United Behavioral Health, Value Options

chrismurphree.org Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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Our therapy techniques skillfully weave sensory experiences and practical application into activities of daily living. Children learn to work through challenges in a caring, supportive environment; and we all celebrate their accomplishments. We strive to instill compassion and confidence in each child, and we give each child encouragement to become his or her own unique self. Providing quality speech, occupational, and physical therapy for children ages birth to 21 years.

Pediatric Physical Therapy of Mobile 3202 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 450-0070; www.pptmobile.com It is the mission of Pediatric Physical Therapy to provide Mobile and Baldwin County pediatric patients with options for out-patient physical therapy services. Treatment will be individualized, assertive, and aggressive to maximize functional outcomes. We strive to have child-friendly, playbased treatment programs, which are family centered. We believe in empowering the patient and the family to heal their self through patient education. We believe in physical fitness for all ages and abilities thus will promote pediatric fitness and sports. Pediatric Physical Therapy strives to utilize state of the art technology and evidence based practice during treatment. Families will be guided toward area community resources. Services will be coordinated with other community agencies and other health professionals working with the child. We will provide students of physical therapy a problem based clinical with emphasis on adult learning. The clinic will practice according to the guidelines and ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Shelley Scott BS & MSCCC-SLP Speech Pathologist PO Box 1412, Daphne, (251) 626 -2366 or 251-7672366; speechpath123@aol.com; Certified provider of Fast ForWord, a neuro cognitive computer program (www. scilearn.com).

South Baldwin Regional Medical Center 1613 North McKenzie Street, Foley (251) 949-3580; www.baldwinmrc.com South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s Outpatient Therapy Center offers a variety of services, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. From the initial evaluation until the time of discharge, patients receive one-on-one care from our team, a compassionate and skilled group of licensed therapists and therapy assistants – some with almost two decades of therapy experience. In most cases, the same therapist provides a patient’s care for the duration of treatment. This provides for continuity of care for the patient and improved communication with the referring physician. Outpatient Orthopedics

Financial Disabled Children Relief Fund (516) 377-1605; www.dcrf.com Disabled Children’s Relief Fund (DCRF), a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, provides disabled children with assistance to obtain wheelchairs, orthopedic braces, walkers, lifts, hearing aids, eyeglasses, medical equipment, physical therapy, and surgery. Blind, Deaf, Amputees, and children with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spastic Quadriplegia, Encephalitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spina Bifida, Down’s syndrome, and other disabilities receive assistance. DCRF focuses special attention on helping children throughout the U.S. that do not have adequate health insurance, especially the physically challenged.

Family Support

1050 Government Street, Mobile (251) 438-1609; www.famsupport.com Family Support is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings together Alabamians with disabilities, their families, and supporters to provide assistance to their neighbors with disabilities. Assistance is “whatever is necessary” within available

funds, and may include information and referrals, home modifications, food, clothing, therapy, prescription drugs, utilities assistance, childcare, special holiday help, etc.

Individual and Parent Support

(251)209-0453; susanpolizzi@comcast.net Susan Polizzi, Director; Financial support to families with developmental disabilities and head/spinal cord injuries.

Medicaid Waiver Program

www.agingsouthalabama.org/services_medicaid_waiver_ program.html; (800) 243-5468 Our goal is for clients to retain their independence by providing services that allow them to live safely in their own home and communities they love for as long as it is appropriate. The Medicaid Waiver Program is funded by the Social Security Act through the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the Area Agency on Aging. These services are provided at no cost to the client meeting financial and medical eligibility requirements.

Mentally Retarded Waiver

800-361-4491; www.mh.alabama.gov; Individuals who are diagnosed as mentally retarded (and are age 3 and above) may apply for this waiver. These individuals must meet the income, resource, disability or age, and medical criteria for an institutional care facility for the mentally retarded. These individuals receive Medicaid coverage in the community and would not be placed in an institution.

State of Alabama Living at Home (LAH) Waiver Program

(800) 361-4491; Individuals, age 3 and above, who are diagnosed as mentally retarded or with related conditions may apply for this waiver. These individuals would receive Medicaid coverage in the community and not be placed in an institution.

State of Ala. of Independent Living Waiver

(800) 441-7607 www.medicaid.alabama.gov/CONTENT/4.0_Programs/4.3.0_LTC/4.3.1.5_State_Ala_Ind_

extraordinary Children, exCeptional Caregivers. Thomas Hospital’s Pediatric Rehabilitation program provides comprehensive care for children in need of occupational, physical and speech therapy. Whether you are a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs, our skilled professionals are here to help guide you through the journey of rehabilitation. Each therapy program is designed to meet the unique needs of each child.

Our pediatric therapists are trained to treat children with: • Autism • Muscular Dystrophy • Cerebral Palsy • Sensory Issues • Feeding Difficulties • Difficulty Talking To schedule a tour of our facility, contact our Pediatric Rehabilitation department at 251-279-1640.

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Liv_Waiver.aspx; This waiver program provides services to disabled adults age 18 years or older who have specific medical diagnoses and who would otherwise qualify for care in a nursing care facility. Diagnoses may include but not limited to; Quadriplegia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Spinal muscular atrophy, severe cerebral palsy, Stroke, and other substantial neurological impairments, severely debilitating disease or rare genetic diseases (such as Lesch-Nyhan disease).

The Rileigh & Raylee Angel Ride Foundation (251) 243-0365; www.angel-ride.org The Rileigh and Raylee Angel Ride Foundation is a foundation started by the inspiration of two children -Rileigh Glass and Raylee Odom. Rileigh was born with Down syndrome and Raylee with Muscular Dystrophy. Their genetic conditions brought to light the hardships a family is challenged with when caring for children with special medical needs. A small group of family and friends took this awareness and turned it into the determination to establish a funding program that could help families faced with similar circumstances. The mission of the foundation is to provide financial assistance to families of children with unforeseen health problems. Upon careful review of an applicant’s files, awards are distributed on a needs basis. All files are documented with medical diagnosis, physician recommendations, family income, expense records; and an estimated cost of transportation, food and lodging. The Foundation genuinely seeks to assist families faced with financial burdens when health complications are not covered by health plans.

Schools & Educational Resources Read-Write

1048 Stanton Road, Daphne (251) 625-4020; www.dyslexiaspecialist.net At Read-Write, we offer screening, consulting, multisensory math and one-on-one therapy in Orton-Gillingham based programs to students and adults in Mobile, Alabama area. Orton-Gillingham is the only procedure endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association to teach those with dyslexia to read, write, and spell. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory, systematic approach to teaching the structure of language. It is characterized by being explicit, direct, cumulative, and intensive.

Baldwin County Public School System

(251) 937-0306; www.bcbe.org; Offers speech-language evaluations and therapy (if eligible) for children 3 and up. This is available to children, by law, regardless of if they go to private, public or are homeschooled.

Bright Beginnings School

1901 S. Schillinger Road, Mobile (251) 689-8253; www.brightdyslexics.com Serving grades 1 – 3, Bright Beginnings School provides a full day educational program for children struggling with dyslexia or language processing.

High Hopes

ize no two students are the same, and we stand by the philosophy that a child learns faster and more effectively when he or she has a teacher and lesson plan devoted to the child’s individual needs. We build a personalized learning program for your child based on his or her individual strengths and needs, which we identify using our in-depth academic evaluation.. Our highly trained teachers then work one-to-one with your child while still fostering a sense of independence. We make sure to teach at a pace comfortable for your child, ensuring he or she never falls behind.

The Learning Tree

4979 Lott Road, Eight Mile (251) 649-4420; www.learning-tree.org The Learning Tree, Inc. is a non-profit organization that exists to provide a warm and loving environment with individualized, empirically validated services and supports to persons with significant educational, medical, and behavioral challenges; helping them develop and maintain a quality of life enjoyed by non-disabled members of their family and community. The Learning Tree serves children ages 6-21 with developmental disabilities including those with autism. The organization provides preschool services, child and adolescent educational and residential services and consultation and training. Programs are located in Mobile, Anniston, Auburn Jacksonville, and Tallassee.

The Learning Tree-Woody’s Song

5459 Able Court, Mobile (251) 331-8021; www.learning-tree.org Woody’s Song serves children ages 5-18 on the autism spectrum. The private, nonprofit school is a tuition-based, twelve month, day program. Woody’s Song helps children with autism increase their skills in the areas of language, socialization and cognitive skills while decreasing behaviors that interfere with their learning.

The Think Tank

(251) 414-4494; www.thinktankminds.com The Think Tank Tutoring provides one-on-one in-home tutoring to general education, learning disabled and home bound students. In addition to working one-on-one with students, The Think Tank tutors provide educational strategies to parents during each tutoring session. The Think Tank Tutoring and Educational Services works directly with the student’s teachers ensuring we follow the Individual Education Plan for special needs students. In addition, we follow the student’s current classroom curriculum. The Think Tank Tutoring provides homework help, test preparation, and study skills to students in grades Pre-K through 12 in all subjects. We have qualified educators to work with ADD, ADHD, hearing impaired, MR, Dyslexic, and speech impaired students.

WyzAnt Tutoring

www.wyzant.com; Looking for a tutor that specializes in working with your child’s special needs? Simply visit the website, type in the type of special need (ADD, Autism, Down Syndrome, Aspergers, etc) and your zip code to be connected with tutors in your area. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our “Good Fit Guarantee”. You don’t pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit!

Campus of St. Benedict’s School 12786 South Illinois Street, Elberta (251) 986-7007; www.highhopes4autism.org Our objective is to prepare children affected by Autism spectrum Disorders and other developmental delays to independently participate in a traditional classroom. At High Hopes we specialize in preschool age children. We encourage parents and families to seek appropriate services for their child as soon as a need is suspected. Diagnosis is not required for any of our programs. We understand that it takes the whole family to make real progress. We practice research based Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) techniques. We offer Individual ABA Therapy and Shadowing in the classroom. We also offer computer monitoring from your home while your child is in therapy.

Recreation / Social Events

Huntington Learning Center

Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach (251) 981-1180; www.backcountrytrail.com ADA compliant. Explore the beauty and diversity of the Back Country Trail! Six trails among six distinct ecosystems

6880 Us Highway 90, Ste. 13, Daphne, AL (251) 621-1057; www.huntingtonlearningcenter.com Imagine going from a class of 20 to a class of 1. We real-

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

Alligator Alley

19950 Highway 71, Summerdale (251) 946-BITE, www.gatoralleyfarm.com ADA compliant. With over 20 acres of natural cypress swamp land, our alligators roam freely in a protected environment. The whole family can safely observe alligators feeding, courting, and nesting from our elevated boardwalk. You’ll also observe other wild life such as: Ospreys, Owls, Turtles, Bull Frogs, and various field animals. In our gift shop area, we also display other amphibians, reptiles, and rare species. Call for info or to schedule a b-day party!

Back Country Trail

make up more than 11 miles of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail complex through Orange Beach and the Gulf State Park. Explore the timeless beauty of the Butterfly Garden, the mystical Freshwater Marshes and the Coastal Hardwood Swamps. Catch a glimpse of a Bobcat on the Twin Bridges or a White Tailed Deer on Gulf Oak Ridge. View and alligator basking in the sun and be sure to bring your camera to capture the adventure. For trail maps, pictures, locations and other information please visit the website.

Bay City Gymnastics

7980 American Way, Daphne (251) 621-2112; www.bcgagymnastics.com Now offering Special Needs field trips! Come and join us to “let loose” and have fun at Bay City Gymnastics. Did you know that gymnastics is the greatest overall body conditioning activity that you can have your child involved in? It develops strength, flexibility, kinesthetic awareness, muscular control, endurance, coordination, agility, speed, balance, courage, grace, posture and poise! Your children will be gaining so many valuable tools while having so much fun!

Dancer Within at Creative Outlet

66 S. Section Street, Fairhope (located in Creative Outlet Dance), (251) 517-7159; www.creativeoutletdance.com Therapeutic Dramatic Arts Specialist, Amie Millward, has joined the Creative Outlet Dance Studio to accommodate the growing need to help those in the community by offering a tailored dance curriculum that allows special needs children ages 3-21 to participate in a fun professional dance program. Dance program for individuals with emotional, social, cognitive or developmental disabilities, ages 3-21. The Dancer Within is a specially designed professional dance program that provides expressive outlets, skill development, and social recreation to increase physical and emotional well-being. This fun therapeutic program also focuses on building strengths, working and growing with others, skill development and performance etiquette. Classes are held every Saturday. Those interested in joining can call Amie Millward, Therapeutic Dramatic Arts Specialist and Program Director. The program is a part of the Creative Outlet Dance Center.

Access To Recreation

8 Sandra Court, Newbury Park, CA. (800) 634-4351; www.accesstr.com Provides exercise and recreational equipment for people with disabilities.

AMBUCS

(800) 838-1845; www.ambucs.com; A charitable service organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities by providing AmTryke therapeutic tricycles to children with disabilities.

Baldwin County Special Olympics

(251) 972-6854; Dawn Frenette, dfrenette@bcbe.org For more information, visit us on Facebook!

Boy Scouts of South Alabama (251) 476-4600. www.bsamobile.org

Deaf Studio at the Centre for the Living Arts

301 Conti Street, Mobile, (251) 208-5658 www.centreforthelivingarts.com; Deaf and hard of hearing students will use the CLA’s Futures Project exhibit as inspiration while exploring unique painting techniques and working with clay. The classes will be led by professional artists with an ASL interpreter provided by AIDB. Family participation is encouraged. RSVP required. Fall Classes: September 22 – Ceramics Studio-Students are invited to work together or separately using clay to learn hand-building and/or wheel throwing techniques. The 3-D forms created in class will be glazed and fired. Pieces may be picked up the following week. RSVP by September 18, 2013 October 13 – Tar Paper Paintings-This studio class teaches students how to use alternative surfaces to create bold and colorful paintings. Students will use acrylic paint on tar paper to finish a painting to take home. This class will be taught by deaf artist, Rick Hurst. RSVP by October 9th, 2013

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November 3 – Batik Paintings-Batik is a fabric dyeing method that uses wax to create patterns and designs. Students will create a simple wax-resist painting to take home. RSVP by October 30th, 2013 All classes run on Sundays from 1 – 4 pm/Cost -$5 for individuals $15 for families/Ages 8 and up / All supplies included. For more information or to register, please contact: Joy Antar (AIDB) at antar.joy@aidb.state.al.us or (251) 281-2333 or Brennan Gibson (Centre for the Living Arts) at cla.gibson@cityofmobile.org or (251)208-5658.

Disabled Sports USA

www.disabledsportsusa.org; Disabled Sports USA’s mission is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation and educational programs. These sports opportunities transform the people we serve, highlighting the potential in each of us, embodied in our motto: “If I can do this, I can do anything!” Each year through our nationwide network, we serve over 60,000 youth, wounded warriors and adults annually, through a nationwide network of over 100 community-based chapters in 37 states nationwide in over 30 different sports.

Exceptional Foundation

28788 North Main Street Daphne, located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, (251) 625-8955; www.facebook.com/ TheExceptionalFoundationoftheGulfCoast The Exceptional Foundation of the Gulf Coast is an exciting new community service organization that provides a safe and happy place for people with all types of special needs. They come to enjoy socializing, cultural experiences, exercise and quality life experiences that many people take for granted. The staff and volunteers provide fun and educational opportunities for the members to enjoy. The Exceptional Foundation’s ultimate goal is to enhance the social, educational, recreational, and extracurricular aspects of each their lives. They get to go on exciting field trips, such as: Art Museums, Rawhide Stables, Alligator Alley, 5 Rivers Delta Center, Walter Anderson Museum (Biloxi),

Fishing trips, history museums, libraries, sporting events, etc. This Foundation is known as “The Happy Place!”

Girl Scouts (251) 344-3330; www.girlscoutssa.org

SNAP (Special Needs Athletes Programs) (251) 285-0224; www.snapofalabama.com, Our mission is to give developmentally disabled citizens in the greater Mobile, Baldwin County Alabama area, the opportunity to participate in a recreational sports with others of the same skill level and to have fun doing it. Starfish-Special Olympics Swim Team (251) 978-0295; Sharon Brindle, Coach

Thomas Hospital Rehabilitation Playground 750 Morphy Avenue, Fairhope, (251) 279-1640 Climbing on a rock wall or playing on a see saw can be a lot of fun for children but for the pediatric rehab patients at Thomas Hospital, those exercises also offer a fun alternative to traditional occupational and physical therapy. The department’s new playground offers a safe way to help special needs children with their strength, coordination and balance. The playground, funded by the Thomas Hospital Foundation, includes a rock wall, balance beam, monkey bars, over head glider, chin bar, see saw, disc swing and a therapeutic seat swing all on a state-of-the-art cushioned flooring system.

VSA of Alabama, Art Partners (205) 307-6300; www.vsaalabama.org; VSA Alabama is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to “serving children and adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities through the arts.” Programs offered by VSA Alabama include: visual arts, music therapy, therapeutic drumming & rhythm, art therapy, drama, creative movement, and creative writing. Annually, VSA Alabama serves over 3,000 people with disabilities and chronic illnesses through our programming in community, educational,

and healthcare settings across Alabama. ArtPartners program provides people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses the chance to develop meaningful relationships with artists in our community while creating collaborative masterpieces. The ArtPartners program makes a lasting impression on everyone involved and the memories created last forever. This program is FREE to participants! The Eastern Shore Art Center has participated in this unique program since its inception. For information, visit www.esartcenter.com.

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Westside’s Challenger League

(251) 633-9853; www.westsidebaseball.com/challenger This Division of Little League is a program for mentally and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseball learned through the experience, the value of the Little League Challenger Division is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem, the opportunities to mainstream into other divisions of play, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play, which are hallmarks of the Little League program. The Little League Challenger Division provides the framework so Little League programs may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in their communities. Playing with the same equipment on the same fields, Challenger Division participants have the opportunity to experience the joys of pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.

Recreation Camps Camp ASCCA

(256) 825-9226, (800) THE-CAMP; www.campascca.org ASCCA is an acronym that stands for Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults. Beginning in 1976, Camp

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Riverview Reﬁnement, Program, Campﬁres night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...

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Call for FREE DVD and catalog 1-800-882-0722 Accredited by American Camping Association • Members of Christian Camping International

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ASCCA has been a nationally recognized leader in therapeutic recreation and is known throughout the world for its superior quality services. Providing camping experiences for children and adults with disabilities, Camp ASCCA is open year-round. Within its barrier-free environment, Camp ASCCA offers 230 wooded acres on the shores of beautiful Lake Martin in Alabama. Camp ASCCA serves an average of 7,000 people annually. Activities include horseback riding, fishing, tubing, swimming, environmental education, arts and crafts, canoeing, a “splash pad”, outdoor adventure elements like the zip-line, and much more.

Camp Bridges

Located at Children’s Harbor, Lake Martin, AL (205) 558- 2090; www.campbridges.org; info@campbridges.com; Our mission is to provide camps and programs at no cost to pre and post transplant children, teens, young adults and their families from Alabama and neighboring states. We create a fun and educational environment for heart, kidney, liver and lung transplant recipients that encourages positive self image and healthy transplant living. Those served receive and provide peer support and form lasting friendships to better cope with the unique challenges of transplantation.

Camp Mash

(205) 979-5700, ext. 303; www.arthritis.org/alabama Camp M*A*S*H (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) is a weeklong recreational program for children ages 7 to 17 with a form of juvenile arthritis or a related disease. Camp M*A*S*H is planned specifically for these children in order to empower them to live life to the fullest and build friendships with other children on similar journeys with their condition. Offering everything from boating and fishing, ropes courses and horseback riding to arts and crafts and fun group activities, there is something every camper will take away as a favorite memory. All activities and accommodations are fully accessible, and a medical staff team is on site around the clock. Camp is provided at no cost to families, and is open to children living in Alabama and Mississippi. It is a program of the Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Region.

Camp-Rap-A-Hope

(251) 476-9880; www.camprapahope.org Camp Rap-A-Hope is an organization that provides a weeklong summer camp at Camp Grace in Mobile, Alabama and is open to children between the ages of 7 and 17 who have or have ever had cancer. The camp is offered at no cost to the campers and their families as cancer has been costly enough. Each year the children enjoy a typical summer camp environment that includes swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, arts and crafts and many other activities depending on the theme for the year. Many of these children have forgotten what it’s like to be a ‘kid’ because much of their childhood has been spent hearing the sounds and seeing the inside of hospitals. It is our privilege to give a part of their childhood back to them through a week of fun-filled camping activities. Camp Rap-A-Hope offers additional opportunities for “fun” throughout the year. Family fun days and Holiday parties are a few ways that Camp continues the fun for the Campers and their families.

Camp Smile-a-Mile

(888) 500-7920; www.campsam.org Year round challenging, recreational and educational experiences for young cancer patients, their families as well as young adult survivors from Alabama at no cost. Our purpose is to provide these patients, families and survivors with avenues for fellowship, to help them cope with their disease, and to prepare them for life after cancer.

Camp Sugar Falls & Camp Seale Harris (205) 402-0415; www.southeasterndiabetes.org Southern Diabetes Education Services camps and local community programs provide needed diabetes education, encouragement, and friendships for children with diabetes and their families. Camp is a place where having diabetes is the norm; where you can compare and share stories with peers; and where you don’t have to explain diabetes all the time because everyone here “gets it.” They understand exactly what it’s like living with diabetes, because they live with diabetes too. Children learn independence

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in managing blood sugar levels and medication, making healthy food choices, and being physically active. Trained adult volunteer counselors with diabetes are joined by physicians, nurses, diabetes educators, nutritionists, and pharmacists to provide safe supervision and real time feedback. Camps include fun activities that vary by location. Local programs include safe family-oriented recreation throughout the year.

Lakeshore Foundation (205) 313-7400; www.lakeshore.org Lakeshore is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization which serves people with physical disabilities throughout Alabama, across the country and around the world. Since 1984, Lakeshore has helped advance and promote the impact of positive, long-term physical and emotional effects of physical fitness on people with disabilities. From infants to seniors, to injured soldiers and elite-level athletes, every participant is free to discover his or her own potential. Our mission is to enable people with physical disability and chronic health conditions to lead healthy, active and independent lifestyles through physical activity, sport, recreation and research.

Space Camp and Aviation Challenge

(800) 637-7223, (256) 721-7150; www.spacecamp.com/ specialprograms Space Camp and Aviation Challenge offers a variety of programs for special needs students. We offer Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programs specifically designed for special needs students, including camps for blind, and/or visually-impaired, deaf and/or hard-of-hearing, and a week at the end of summer designated for special needs youth.

Disability-Specific Resources ADD/ADHD

(Please refer to the Counselors section for a list of counselors that also provide testing and additional resources)

Dr. Renee Lopez

401 N. Section St, Fairhope, (251) 928-5058 www.MaximizedLivingDrLopez.com reneelopez@bellsouth.com Dr. Lopez is the co-developer of Autism Whispers, a national program certifying physicians in the prevention, treatment and recovery of Autism and other Neurodevelopemental disorders (including ADD/ADHD). The program is complete with the Autism Whispers Parent’s Guide which includes biomedical interventions to evaluate and support neurological, immunologic, metabolic and toxicological challenges children on the spectrum face. Dietary guidelines, foundational nutrients support as well as core and advanced laboratory testing as indicated per a child’s individual history is also included. Where to start, what to expect, recipes and meal planning are just a few sections in the Parent’s Guide. Dr. Lopez’s second book is Brain Kids. Its core focus is on empowering parents with the essentials to grow and develop a healthy brain in children during the following stages of growth and life: 3 month pre-conception, throughout pregnancy, infancy, early childhood and adolescence. Dr. Lopez is a DAN! Doctor and a Generation Rescue Doctor. She is committed to helping all children and their parents lead healthier, more integrated and purposed lives. Certified Maximized Living Doctor, DAN! Doctor, Hope for Autism Doctor, Generation Rescue Doctor

Attention Deficit Disorder Assoc. (ADDA)

fessional Advisory Board of the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association.

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHAD)

(800) 233-4050; www.chadd.org Provides education, advocacy and support for individuals with AD/HD. In addition to our informative Web site, CHADD also publishes a variety of printed materials to keep members and professionals current on research advances, medications and treatments affecting those with AD/HD.

Feingold Association of the United States

(800) 321-3287; www.feingold.org Provides informational materials, online/telephone support, and resources. Helps families introduce low-additive dietary programs for children with learning/behavior problems and chemically sensitive adults.

Focus, Inc

28080 US Highway 98, Suite F, Daphne (251) 517-9025; www.focus-md.com Focus is a medical practice for kids and young people with AD/HD and related problems. Dr. James Wiley started FOCUS so that he would have more time to devote to the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Focus provides objective testing, medical treatment as well as behavior modification strategies.

(800) 939-1019; www.add.org; info@add.org

Autism

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Autism Society of Alabama

John I. Bailey, Jr., MD 829 University Boulevard, S. Mobile, (251) 342-6443 Medical Evaluation & Treatment for School Learning & Behavioral Problems, Classroom & Homework Difficulties, ADHD-ADD, LD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Tourette, & Depression & other Mood Problems. Thirty years experience serving Preschool through High School, College through Adult Learning through Adult Life. Member, Pro-

(251) 259-5553, (877) 4AUTISM www.autism-alabama.org Our mission is to improve services for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families through education and advocacy. Our current programs and services include, but are not limited to the following: toll free information and referral hotline, resource directory -a preliminary directory of service providers, activities, disability organizations,

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etc. ,education (parents, providers, family members, etc.) through our quarterly newsletter, exhibitions, speaking engagements, etc., parent Networking Groups in approximately 20 counties around the state, innovative website has a direct link to our e-mail addresses, annual Alabama Autism conference for parents, doctors, teachers, service providers, and students, and collaboration efforts with other state agencies to provide services for persons with autism spectrum disorders.

Autism Diagnostics Clinic USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital

1707 Center Street, Ste. 201, Mobile, (251) 415-8577 www.usahealthsystem.com/autism-diagnosis The USA Autism Diagnostic Clinic sees patients with referral from a physician or other medical/educational professional. The mission of this clinic is to improve the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the greater Gulf Coast area through early identification and diagnosis, as well as to provide educational outreach to families, physicians, daycare centers, churches and other organizations who serve children in the community. Autism Spectrum Disorders include Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The USA Autism Diagnostic Clinic evaluates patients up to ten years of age. Services include: Medical AssessmentsBy Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians to evaluate health-related conditions; Cognitive Evaluation-To determine current developmental level of functioning; Speech/Language Evaluation--To assess communication level; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)-To observe social skills and communication abilities during a play session; Genetics Evaluation-To obtain a detailed family history and pertinent genetic laboratory tests; Occupational Therapy Evaluation-To evaluate motor skills, sensory processing abilities, and self care skills; Assistance with Community Resources-Upon completion of the evaluation, the staff will assist the family in obtaining appropriate community services; Consultation-By affiliated specialists with expertise in autism-related conditions.

Alabama Autism & Asperger’s Statewide Info & Support Network www.alabamaautism.org; We are uniting, making connections and sharing knowledge and support for all 67 counties in our state & the world. A hub for Autism related info, events, videos, & support.

Autism Alabama www.alex.state.al.us/autismAL An initiative of Special Education Services, Alabama Department of Education provides on-line training resources for parents and educational professionals on autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism Society of America (800) 328-8476; www.autism-society.org Autism Society of America provides services in the areas of advocacy, education, awareness and research.

Autism Speaks www.autismspeaks.org; At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a possible cure for autism. We strive to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society: and we work to bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals. Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Our Kids 3216 Silsby Rd. Cleveland Hts, OH (877) 533-7457; www.ourkidsasd.com

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Our Kids was founded as the result of the joy Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy experiences in working with Autistic children. Our Kids focuses 100% of their product line exclusively on supplements for Autistic children and designing innovative, high quality products.

Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Autism Center Seton Medical Office Park, 5190 Bayou Boulevard, Bldg 2, Pensacola; (850) 416-4933; www.sacred-heart.org/ childrenshospital/autismcenter At the Sacred Heart Autism Center, we offer a range of direct services for children on the autism spectrum, all with a family-centered approach to learning. Research shows, and we strongly support, that when families are involved, children do better. Our services include: Direct, individualized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. ABA is a research-based, systematic method for improving socially significant skills and behaviors; Parent instruction and hands-on training; Social skills groups for various ages; Group training for families and professionals.

TACA (Talk About Curing Autism) (949) 640-4401; www.talkaboutcuringautism.org Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a national non-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to educating, empowering and supporting families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help improve the quality of life for people with autism.

CdLS CdLS Foundation (Cornelia de Lange Syndrome)

(800) 753-2357; www.cdlsusa.org The Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) Foundation is a family support organization that exists to ensure early and accurate diagnosis of CdLS, promote research into the causes and manifestations of the syndrome, and help people with a diagnosis of CdLS make informed decisions throughout their lives.

Cerebral Palsy Cerebral Palsy 4 My Child (800) 692-4453; www.cerebralpalsy.org Our Mission: to provide you with the most comprehensive resource and compassionate voice for all things related to caring for a child with cerebral palsy, and other neurological conditions. We strive, every day, to be your ultimate resource for everything Cerebral Palsy. We provide a comprehensive resource, including a website and call center that parents and caregivers of children with special needs can turn to for needed, non-legal help, information and resources.

United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile 3058 Dauphin Sq. Connector, Mobile (251) 479-4900; www.ucpmobile.org UCP of Mobile is dedicated to advancing the independence of people with disabilities. UCP offers a wide range of services for people of all ages, starting with one of our early intervention programs and continuing through adulthood with our supported employment program.

Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Mobile Chapter 205 Lambert Avenue, Suite B, Mobile (251) 436-0013; www.cff.org/Chapters/mobile The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. We fund more CF research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support.

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

Down Syndrome

Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama

Down Syndrome Clinic Children’s of Alabama

1600 7th Avenue, South, Birmingham (205) 939-9585; www.childrensal.org/DownSyndromeClinic We offer comprehensive, multi-disciplinary services for screening, early intervention and follow-up care of children with Down Syndrome from 6 months though 18 years. Medical Assessment Services provided through the clinic are developmental screening, hearing tests, laboratory tests, pediatric physical examination and radiology services. Educational resources, nutrition, physical/occupational therapy and speech therapy are available when needed.

Down Syndrome Society of Baldwin County 21428 S. Meadows Drive, Fairhope (251) 929-1704, admin@dssbc.org, www.dssbc.org

Down Syndrome Society of Mobile County 10 Westminster Way, Mobile, (251) 342-3122 www.dssmc.org, info@dssmc.org; As an organization, we strive to assist in meeting the needs for support to families of infants & small children with Down syndrome by providing educational materials and training, emotional support and networking opportunities. We have held special events that serve to both enhance and /or educate our community while serving our members & their families. In the past few years there have been three Buddy Walk events and Awareness Fairs and/or Spring Events. We have held back-to-school celebration events, in which members had opportunity to discuss concerns for the upcoming school year and the issues related to their particular school while allowing the children to get some exercise swimming, playing and building friendships with other Down syndrome children and their siblings

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. www.downsyndromfriends.org; Families Reaching, Influencing, Educating, and Networking for Down Syndrome.

Mobile Area Down Syndrome Support Group 2371 Carrington Court, Mobile (251) 634-1351; LaLaPEDRN@aol.com

Down Syndrome Alabama PADS- Parent Advocates Down Syndrome (205) 988-0810; www.downsyndromealabama.org Promote awareness and acceptance, and advocacy for individuals. Offers education and support for individuals.

(334) 277-9151; www.ldaal.org The Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama is a non-profit grassroots organization whose members are individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

Learning Disabilities Association of America (412) 341-1515; www.ldaamerica.org; Offers support programs for parents, an information and referral network, legislation and school program development.

Montgomery Scottish Rite Learning Center (205) 365-1640; www.alsrlcenter.org The Alabama Scottish Rite Learning Center offers dyslexia evaluations for Alabama school age children from age 7 through 9th grade. The foundation has a network of speech/language pathologist, available to perform this FREE service. We are happy to serve as consultants to teachers of students whom we have evaluated and who have been determined to be experiencing dyslexia, language-learning disabilities, or severe speech or language disabilities. We will work collaboratively with teachers and other members of the IEP team to develop goals and benchmarks necessary to assist students in reaching their academic potential. We will also provide teachers with inservice training in the areas of identification and remediation of dyslexia. We will provide teachers with in-service training in the areas of language-learning disabilities and severe speech or language disabilities. Free Testing of speech and language disorders such as dyslexia.

Epilepsy Pediatric Epilepsy Program Children’s of Alabama

1600 7th Avenue, South, Ste. 314, Birmingham (205) 996-7850; www.childrensal.org/epilepsy The mission of the program is to advance and provide the best care possible to the children of Alabama and surrounding regions. The skilled staff of EEG technicians, nurses and physicians are dedicated to this mission and are insistent on making children and families comfortable. The program uses the latest technology and state of the art facilities to diagnose and treat seizures. Treatments include medications, diets, and surgical therapy when needed.

Epilepsy Chapter of Mobile and Gulf Coast 951 Government Street, Suite 201, Mobile (334) 432-0970, F. Mitchell Garrett, Executive Director

Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama

Dyslexia Read-Write

1048 Stanton Road, Daphne (251) 625-4020; www.dyslexiaspecialist.net At Read-Write, we offer screening, consulting, multisensory math and one-on-one therapy in Orton-Gillingham based programs to students and adults in Mobile and Daphne. Orton-Gillingham is the only procedure endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association to teach those with dyslexia to read, write, and spell. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory, systematic approach to teaching the structure of language. It is characterized by being explicit, direct, cumulative, and intensive.

Alabama Branch of the International Dyslexia Association 2510 Monteview Drive, Huntsville www.idaalabama.org; email- info@idaalabama.org We are here to help improve the lives of individuals with dyslexia through education, legislation and services.

International Dyslexia Association (800) 222-3123; www.interdys.org Offers information on products, an online store, conferences, support groups and more for children, teens, college students, parents and educators.

(251) 341-0170; www.epilepsyfoundationalabama.org The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama has as its mission to educate and support individuals with epilepsy and their families, to increase awareness in the general community and to facilitate prevention and management of epilepsy. This includes providing services and programs for people with epilepsy and their families; educating and increasing awareness about epilepsy; providing leadership in advocacy for epilepsy issues and collaborating with other community resources in support of the mission of the people with seizure disorders.

Epilepsy Foundation (800) 332-1000; www.epilepsyfoundation.org The Epilepsy Foundation of America® is the national voluntary health agency dedicated solely to the welfare of the more than 2 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure. In addition to programs conducted at the national level, epilepsy clients throughout the U.S. are served by 48 Epilepsy Foundation affiliates around the country.

The Epilepsy Foundation Parents Website www.epilepsyandmychild.org

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Muscular Dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy Clinic Children’s of Alabama

1600 7th Avenue, South, Birmingham (205) 823-8191; www.childrensal.org This clinic offers a multidisciplinary team approach toward initial diagnosis and follow-up care. The team consists of physicians from the following specialties: neurology, pulmonary, and rehabilitation medicine, as well as occupational therapy, physical therapy and therapeutic recreation.

Alabama Muscular Dystrophy Association (205) 823-8191; www.mdausa.org MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

Spina Bifida Spina Bifida Program Children’s of Alabama

1600 7th Avenue, South, Birmingham (205) 638-9100; www.childrensal.org/spinabifidaprogram The mission of the Children’s of Alabama Comprehensive Spina Bifida Program is to utilize the best healthcare practices and restore hope and optimal function to all children and adults diagnosed with Spina Bifida. We are committed to providing care for all ages. Recognizing the needs don’t end after the teen years, transitioning care into the adult environment is in the individual’s best interest, therefore a cooperative program was developed with UAB and Spain Rehabilitation to create and adult clinic.

Gulf Coast Spina Bifida Group (251) 604-7062, Jenni Grimes Zimlich; jgzimlich@gulftel.

com; Working to raise awareness about Spina Bifida and to aid in the search for resources for recreation, funding and medical services in our area.

Spina Bifida Association of Alabama (256) 617-1414; www.sbaofal.org; info@sbaofal.org

Tourette Syndrome

National Tourette Syndrome Association (718) 224-2999; www.tsa-usa.org Our mission is to identify the cause of, find the cure for and control the effects of Tourette Syndrome. We offer resources and referrals to help people and their families cope with the problems that occur with TS. We raise public awareness and counter media stereotypes about TS. Our membership includes individuals, families, relatives, and medical and allied professionals working in the field.

Organizations for Parents Alabama Parent Education Center (APEC) (866) 532-7660; www.alabamaparentcenter.com We believe that parents have the greatest impact on their children’s lives. APEC provides families with the training, information and support they need to help them ensure that their children become productive, well-educated citizens.

Council for Exceptional Children www.cec.sped.org; CEC works to improve public policy affecting children and youth with disabilities and gifts and talents, their parents and the professionals who work with them, at all levels of government. In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains

a network among its units for influencing policy. CEC is the recognized leader in advocacy for special education policy. CEC has a long history of success in impacting policy and legislation in the special education, gifted and talented and general education areas. CEC played a large part in developing the predecessor of today’s IDEA, then known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (PL 94142). This law established the right to a free, appropriate public education for children with disabilities.

Family Voices of Alabama (877) 771-3862; www.familyvoicesal.org Family Voices of Alabama (FV of AL) aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Through our national network, we provide families tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.

Federation for Children with Special Needs www.fcsn.org; The Federation for Children with Special Needs provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. We are committed to listening to and learning from families and encouraging full participation in community life by all people, especially those with disabilities.

FighterMom www.fightermom.org; A program for any mom who not only cares for a child with a demanding disease or health condition, but who wants to get organized to defeat that condition by raising money, winning publicity, working with researchers, and making her case in Washington.

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Parent to Parent USA

Alabama’s Early Intervention System

www.p2pusa.org; Provide emotional and informational support to families of children who have special needs most notably by matching parents seeking support with an experienced, trained ‘Support Parent’.

Division of Early Intervention- Montgomery (800) 543-3098; www.rehab.alabama.gov/ei

Parent Training and Information Center Early Intervention Family AllianceAlabama Parent Education Center (APEC) 866-532-7660; www.alabamaparentcenter.com

Partners in Policymaking of Alabama 800-846-3735; http://acdd.org

The M.O.R.G.A.N Project

www.themorganproject.org The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to promote awareness and facilitate support of parents caring for their children with special health care needs, and to enhance the Quality-of-Life for these special families. In addition to having a large library of resources and information on their website, the group also assists families with travel expenses for medical treatments and gifts of medical equipment that aren’t covered by insurance, such as wheelchairs. It works to create a group of parents who are supportive of each other in difficult times.

The Sibling Support Project www.siblingsupport.org A national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns.

Alabama/Southeast Resources Alabama Alliance for the Mentally Ill 4122 Wall Street, Montgomery (334) 396-4797; www.namialabama.org

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Center (334) 293-7500 (Montgomery office); (800) 205-9986 (Alabama’s Toll Free Hotline for ADA Information); www.sedbtac.org

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (800) 638-8255 or TTY (301) 296-5650; www.asha.org/public Committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively.

www.Care.com Large internet search engine dedicated to help families find special needs children caregivers like babysitters, nannies and after-school care, tutoring and more.

Career & Technical Education Alabama State Department of Education, Montgomery (334) 242-9111; www.alsde.edu

DBTAC - Southeast ADA Center 1419 Mayson Street, Atlanta, GA (800) 949-4232; www.sedbtac.org

Developmental Disabilities Alabama Department of Mental Health (334) 242-3107 or (334) 242-3701; www.mh.alabama.gov

Developmental Disabilities Council-Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities (800) 232-2158; http://acdd.org

Governor’s Office on Disabilities (888) 879-3582; www.good.state.al.us Facilitate the inclusion of Alabamians with disabilities in education, employment, housing, transportation, health care, and leisure.

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Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP)The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (800) 826-1675; www.adap.net

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Respite Care Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network-Anniston (256) 237-3683; www.alabamarespite.org 1-866-RESTALA; alabamarespite@aol.com Temporary short-term relief for caregivers of individuals with special needs such as: developmental and physical disabilities or other chronic illnesses that are related to health concerns, medical fragility, or for those at risk of abuse and neglect.

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Alabama Department of Education (800) 392-8020; www.alsde.edu/

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Special Format Library Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 6030 Monticello Drive, Montgomery (800) 392-5671; www.statelibrary.alabama.gov/

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Special Health Care Needs Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services/ Children’s Rehabilitation Service, (800) 441-7607 www.rehab.alabama.gov/crs

Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (256) 325-8885; Info@AlabamaSHAA.org www.alabamashaa.org

State Department of Education 2129 East South Blvd, Montgomery, (334) 242-8114 (800) 392-8020; www.rehab.state.al.us/vr.html

Technology- STAR Statewide Technology Access and Response for Alabamians with Disabilities (800) 782-7656; www.rehab.alabama.gov/star

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Civitan International Research Center-University of Alabama at Birmingham (800) 822-2472; www.circ.uab.edu

Special Needs Publications ADDitude Magazine (888) 762-8475; www.additudemag.com The magazine for living well with attention deficit and learning disabilities.

Attention Magazine (800) 233-4050; www.chadd.org Attention magazine provides science-based information and support for people affected by ADHD. A benefit of CHADD membership, the magazine is produced six times per year. Recognized for its excellence, Attention provides you with the latest resources, research, background, and context on issues surrounding ADHD.

Two Great Locations:

Original Oyster House Boardwalk

701 Hwy 59 • Gulf Shores

251.948.2445

3733 Battleship Parkway

Mobile Causeway

251.626.2188

www.OriginalOysterHouse.com Call our Causeway location to reserve our private room for your special party!

Exceptional Parent Magazine (800) 372-7368; www.eparent.com EP (Exceptional Parent) is a 42-year-old, award-winning publishing and communications company. EP provides practical advice, emotional support and the most upto-date educational information for families of children and adults with disabilities and special healthcare needs as well as to the physicians, allied health care professionals, and educational professionals who are involved in their care and development.

Parenting Special Needs Magazine (772) 532-4423; www.parentingspecialneeds.org We at Parenting Special Needs, LLC, are making it our mission to provide parents of special needs children, of all ages and stages of life, both information and inspiration. Through Parenting Special Needs On Line Magazine, we’ve created a world that provides practical tips, shares life’s lessons, tackles the challenges and celebrates the joys, of one of life’s greatest gifts.

Play 2 Podium (800) 725-7136; www.play2podium.com Play to Podium is for parents, healthcare professionals and activity providers working to help youth with disabilities be active, learn, grow and discover their potential. Much more than a magazine, Play to Podium is a bond of popular media – print, internet and social networking – and an assembly of industry partnerships, providing the disability community a first-rate resource for special needs families on the go. At its core, it’s about ensuring that all kids have the chance to play, to reach for their dreams and achieve their personal podium. ESP

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TheFlyLady

A Flight Plan For You and Your Home. by Marla Cilley

Parents Should Do Their Best, Saving Saturdays forReturn Fun! But Not Expect Too Much in Most of us have played “Catch Up on the Weekends” our whole lives! This has put a sense of dread into our daily life. We no longer looked forward to a wonderful weekend full of fun with our friends and family. This all started when we were children; it is how our mothers did it. We would have to spend all day Saturday cleaning house or we were banished to our rooms for the evening. I truly believe this is why we despise cleaning house. It has always been a punishment for us. I want you to have a reward... and a Saturday to play is a great gift for you! The solution to saving your Saturdays is very simple. First, let’s think about how many hours you spend frantically cleaning to catch up from a whole week of tossing your routines out the window! Between our piling and procrastination our homes look like a bomb went off. You can look at a room and see evidence of

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

the things that were done this week. For example, the package that had to be wrapped for a birthday party or the week’s worth of mail piled on the kitchen counter that is about to fall onto the floor. On Saturday you don’t wake up excited about cleaning all day. You sleep in a bit then drag around in your pajamas for a couple of hours with a pot of coffee to get you moving in the right direction. By the time you get started it is already noon! The next six hours are spent cleaning like a banshee so that you don’t feel terrible. All the while you are yelling out orders for everyone in the family to get in gear! I get sick just thinking about what we have done to us and our families, all because we lie to ourselves with these words: I DON’T HAVE TIME! The truth is that what you don’t have are ROUTINES! You have the time, you

just choose not to do anything because you don’t think you have six hours to do it right! Well, you don’t have six hours to clean like a banshee, but you do have seven minutes. Implementing just seven minutes in the morning, when you come home from work and before bed will give you back your Saturdays. Maybe we can call this our 7 Minute Saturday Rescue. The secret is to pick up after yourself and get the family to do it right along with you! It can become a fun game. Set your timer three times a day: morning, when you get home from work or school, and just before bed. Everyone has to put away the things that belong to them. It is up to you to remember to do it. When you forget you only make it harder to do the next time. With your piles put away and hot spots extinguished, you are off to have some weekend fun! For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, see her website and join her free mentoring group at www.FlyLady.net. Also check out her books, Sink Reflections, published by Random House, and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter, published by Simon and Schuster. Copyright 2013 Marla Cilley. Used by permission in this publication.

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I have worked with babies, toddlers and preschoolers in childcare centers for years. I also teach early childhood education courses at the college level. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve recently started seeing more high school students in my college courses, through a dual enrollment program. I quickly saw that communicating with teens requires a different skill set than what I was used to when working with small children and adults. Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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Here are some strategies I have found effective in communicating with teens. Try them in your home and see the difference they can make.

Get their attention. Today’s teens are constantly multitasking. They eat lunch, do school work, text multiple friends and download their favorite music all at the same time. You’ve got to be interesting to compete with that! Do the unexpected from time to time. I’ve even showed up for class wearing a blue wig to grab the attention of my younger students.

Give them the benefit of the doubt. Start off assuming that they are mature enough to handle the information. You can always scale it back later if needed. Addressing them on a younger level from the beginning can be insulting and send their defensive walls up. I speak to the teens in my college class in the same manner as the adults and then bring it down a notch if I see it is warranted.

Ask them to repeat information back to you. The high school students in my classes were forever asking me the same questions over and over again. I started asking them to repeat the info back to me. I also told them to write it down. This reduced the repeat questions.

Don’t attempt to compete with electronics. Trying to talk when they are playing with their phone, tablet or other devices is useless. I’ve noticed that many young people seem to go deaf with their electronics in their hands! I’ve had to softly put my hand on a student’s arm many times to get their attention. Make sure your teen is focused on you before you attempt to ask a question, give instructions or have a conversation.

Find some common ground. I had a student who was extremely withdrawn. She entered class at the last minute and rushed out as soon as it was over. She didn’t voluntarily participate in discussions and gave one word responses when called on. Then I brought up one of my favorite authors in class. She told me after class that she had read one of his books and asked for a suggestion of which one to read next. She started opening up in class after that. Sometimes it just takes finding something in common to open the lines of communication. Maybe there is a hobby or interesting conversation just waiting for the two of you to enjoy.

A few other tidbits I’ve picked up: 1) Sometimes they feel like they just can’t talk to their parents. I’ve had teenage students come

to me with issues big and small that they were embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to discuss with their parents. A few students have told me that they simply didn’t want to worry their parent with the problem. Make sure your teens have other responsible adults they can turn to when talking to you is just out of the question for them. 2) They tell their friends everything. I’ve overhead some very private information being exchanged between pals. If you want to know what is going on with your teen, get in good with their friends! 3) Teen communication revolves around texting. If you don’t know how to text, learn how. In fact, ask your child for help! Then start texting them daily. 4) They want to have strong relationships with their parents. I’ve heard teens express jealousy of another student’s close relationship with a parent numerous times. Hopefully these tips will help you both have a stronger bond. My own daughter is eleven. Working with my teenage students has given me some good preparation for her teen years, which are right around the corner. My texting speed is improving each day! ESP Rachael Moshman is a mom, freelance writer and educator. She lives with her daughter, husband, three cats and a mannequin named Vivian. Find her at www.rachaelmoshman.com.

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Family Calendar Ongoing

American Sport Art Museum and Archives Located on the campus of the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, dedicated to the preservation of sports history, art, and literature. Exhibits spotlight visiting artists on a rotating basis, as well as our permanent collection of prints, sculpture, original paintings, photographs and other arts media. Free admission. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 1 Academy Drive, Daphne. For more information call 251.626.3303 or visit www.asama.org. Big Brother / Big Sister Mentors Needed At-risk children at Summerdale School need volunteer Big Brother Big Sister mentors. “Bigs” have fun with a child one time a week, for one hour, on school grounds, during the school year by reading a story, working puzzles, playing catch, drawing, or just being a friend. Professional training and support are provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama YMCA, Inc. For more information or to volunteer, contact Polly at 251-344-0536 ext. 104. Eastern Shore Art Center A non-profit arts organization located in beautiful downtown Fairhope. The Art Center houses four galleries with exhibits that change monthly, as well as a gallery featuring member artists’ work for sale. Admission is free. 401 Oak Street, Fairhope. For more information call 251.928.2228 or visit www.easternshoreartcenter.com. The Exploreum The Exploreum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. For tickets or more information visit www.exploreum.com or call 251-208-6873. 65 Government Street, Mobile. Fairhope Museum of History The museum is full of artifacts from old Fairhope. You can see displays on Clay City, the Single Tax Association and the Civil War. You can also see personal belongings from some of Fairhope’s first families. The museum is located in downtown Fairhope at 24 North Section Street. The museum is open Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 929-1474. Marietta Johnson Museum This museum was founded to preserve the oldest school building in Baldwin Country, which was founded in 1907 by famed educator Marietta Johnson. Known as one of the first progressive schools in the world, the museum includes historic letters, documents, and artifacts from the school’s heyday, as well as biographical information about Marietta Johnson. To learn more, visit www.mariettajohnson.org. Open Mondays-Fridays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free. 440 Fairhope Ave. 990-8601. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve The Weeks Bay Reserve has a free educational interpretive center and two boardwalks. The Interpretive Center houses a multitude of exhibits, habitat models, specimen collections and a diorama giving the visitor a better understanding about the value of estuaries, diversity of coastal wetlands, and a close-up look at living plants and animals of coastal Alabama. Admission is free. Hours are Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. 11300 US Highway 98, Fairhope. For more information call 251.928-9792 or visit www.weeksbay.org.

Classes/Meetings

Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC) Offering Adoptive Family Support Group Meetings in Baldwin County the 3rd Monday of each month. The meeting is held at Eastern Shore Church of Christ, 1209 Daphne Ave, in Daphne from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Parent, Youth/Teen group and childcare is available. Topic discussions by adoption professionals and ceu’s for foster families are offered. For more information call 251-460-2727 or 1-800-489-1886 or www. childrensaid.org. APAC also offers free counseling services to adoptive families.

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Celebration MOPS Fairhope Celebration MOPS meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Celebration Church, 8180 Dyer Road, Fairhope. Childcare is provided and is included in the fees. There is an annual $23.95 MOPS International membership fee and $5/meeting. Check us out on Facebook at Celebration MOPS Fairhope or contact coordinator Lauren Beck at celebrationmopsfairhope@gmail.com. Daphne Neurological Disease Support Group (Includes Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy). Meets second Monday of each month at Daphne United Methodist Church, 2401 Main Street, Daphne, in the Community Life Center-Gathering Room. 11:00 a.m. until noon. Noon light lunch for $3 from 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. Speaker or joint group session. Contact person: Alice Hallford - 251-626-8228. Fairhope MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) We meet 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. every 2nd & 4th Monday at Fairhope United Methodist Church. All mothers of young children are welcome. Email fairhopemops@yahoo.com for more info. Father Central of Daphne *Positive Fathering, A New & Improved Parenting Class Just For Men, $75 giftcard upon completion. Mondays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call 251-626-1610 to register, held at The Exchange Club Family Center of Baldwin County, 27365 Pollard Rd., Daphne, near the YMCA. *Chill Skills Anger Management by appointment. $25 giftcard upon completion. Call 251-626-1610 schedule, The Exchange Club Family Center of Baldwin County, 27365 Pollard Rd., Daphne, near the YMCA. *Nurturing Parenting, everything you need to know but were afraid to ask. Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 12-week rotating series. Jump in on any Thursday! Call 251-626-1610 to register, 27365 Pollard Rd, Daphne, near the YMCA. “ M oms O ffering M oms S upport” (MOMS Club) is a group intended for stay at home moms to provide encouragement for each other while providing fun activities for their children. This club is open to anyone on the Eastern Shore area of Baldwin County, Alabama. We hold a meeting at the beginning of each month with a speaker or topic relevant to moms while childcare is provided. Each month there are social activates organized for the children such as play dates, field trips and seasonal parties. MOMS Club is also dedicated to giving back to the community through supporting various charities. MOMS Club is a great way to connect with other moms, form friendship and enjoy activities with your little ones. For more information please visit our website at www.momsclubofdaphne. com or email us at momsclubofdaphne@yahoo.com. MOPS on the Eastern Shore MOPS stands for “Mothers of Preschoolers” - but don’t let that confuse you. MOPS is about meeting the needs of every mom of a child from conception through kindergarten with local groups of moms just like you. 7100 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort. 1st Thursday of the Month (September through May). Dinner & Child Care are provided. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. http://www.mopsontheeasternshore.shutterfly.com/ Facebook.com/MopsOnTheEasternShore . Moonlight Chasse’ Ballroom Dance Society Dance lessons from 7 – 7:30 p.m., and Dancing from 7:30 – 10 p.m., first and third Monday of every month, at Fitzpen Place, 1 mile east of Eastern Shore Mall. No partner necessary. $10 per person includes dance lesson. $7 with membership, includes dance lesson. Live music, cash bar. www.FitzpenPlace.com. www. Moonlightchasse.com. For more information, call 251621-6665 or 251-377-4069. PUMC Caregiver Support Group A new support group for caregivers of aging parents and others is discussing “boundaries” at monthly meetings open to the community. The public is invited to be a part of this support group, which meets monthly at Providence UMC, located between Spanish Fort High School and Middle School at 32200 Jimmy Faulkner Dr. For more information about the new

support group, call the church office at (251) 6262510 or email pumc.office@bellsouth.net. For more information about Providence UMC, call the church office or visit the website at www.providencemethodist.org. Shepherd’s Place (Christian Life Center) Ministry for memory & physically challenged. Mondays & Wednesdays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fairhope United Methodist Church, 155 South Section Street, Fairhope. 9281148. Tango by the Bay ~ Argentine Basic classes are held every Tuesday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in Fairhope at Southern Edge Dance Studio, located behind Pizza Hut across from Thomas Hospital. 251 South Greeno, Fairhope. $5 per class (fee may be higher with special guest instructors). For more information Contact Ben Samel at 605-2657 or Cassie Fishbein 377-4069, cassief13@aol.com. South Baldwin Regional Medical Center offers the following classes: Your entire family can take part in several informative classes designed to help moms and dads welcome their special new addition to the family with more confidence. Classes cover topics including: Having A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition, discomforts of pregnancy, warning signs of complications, and relaxation exercises. One session. Cost: $10. Prepared Childbirth Classes (Once a week for four weeks). Cost: $30 Week 1: Begin the Stages of Labor: The labor and delivery process, signs and stages of labor, options for coping, pain management, vaginal delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 2: Delivery and Cesarean Birth: A review of complications that may arise, use of special equipment, complete the stages of labor, cesarean delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 3: New Born and Postpartum Care: Newborn appearance, caring for the newborn, infant safety, recognizing complications, relaxation exercises, and choosing a pediatrician. What to expect after delivery, understanding the physical and emotional changes to your body, and relaxation exercises. Week 4: The Art of Breast Feeding: The benefits of breast feeding for mother and baby, anatomy and physiology of the breast, how to breastfeed, and common difficulties. One session. • Tiny Toes members may enroll in Yoga, Water Aerobics and Expectant Mother Exercise classes through the Snook Family YMCA. The fee is $5 a class. There is a $3 fee for child care. There is no fee if you are already a member of the YMCA. All classes are located at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center–1613 North McKenzie Street Foley. Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Classroom A. Located just off of the main lobby. • Please plan to attend the Healthy Pregnancy Class during your first trimester and the Prepared Childbirth Classes anytime after your 24th week of pregnancy. For more information or to enroll please call the OB Educator at 949-3676 to schedule. We look forward to sharing this special time with you! Method of payment accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, AmEx, Debit Card. Gift of Life The Gift of Life is a required maternity care program for Medicaid patients or Medicaid-eligible patients. The Gift of Life Program provides a caring system of prenatal services; education and care coordination for expectant moms and their babies. For additional information please contact 949-3781. Thomas Hospital offers the following classes: Breastfeeding Class  Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Monthly, first Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m.  Free. Infant CPR and Safety Class  Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Pre-registration

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required.  To register call 279-1373.  Saturdays, 4 - 6 p.m.  Moving Through Labor Childbirth Classes Three or four-week prepared childbirth class series which prepares the mother-to-be and her support partner for the labor and delivery experience. $30 fee for the class series. Thomas Fitness Center, (Fairhope)   Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope) Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.  Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.  Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 251- 279-1373 or visit www.thomashospital.com for upcoming classes and registration. Natural Childbirth Classes, Fertility Awareness, Mother’s Comfort, Exercise and Nutrition For class schedule or more information call Geralyn Piizzotti, 251- 928-9396. Yourbodyyourbirth@bellsouth. net. Newborn Basics Class Held on the second Monday of every month from 6 – 8 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Free. No Pre-registration required. Pre-admission Sessions 6 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Pre-registration required.   Sibling Class   Thomas Hospital Fitness Center (Fairhope).   Pre-registration required.  To register call 279-1373.  10 - 11 a.m.   Thomas Hospital offers the following support groups for the community: Alanon (Alcoholics Anonymous) Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at The Harbor at Thomas Hospital. Call 800-477-1104 for more information. Alateen Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room East Tower meeting room at Thomas Hospital. Call 391-1152 for more information. Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 345-7645 or 438-9590 for more information. ALS Support Group Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to noon at Thomas Medical Center. Call 205-937-4415 for more information. Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Health Resource Center located at: 308 S. Greeno Road, Fairhope. Call 928-8650 for more information. Cancer Support Group-Family Connected by Ribbons Support group for cancer survivors, friends and family. Open to any types of cancer. Every first Thursday of every month from 6 - 8 p.m. Morphy Conference Room (Old ER entrance) at Thomas Hospital, Fairhope. Preregistration not required. Call 209-1229 for more information. Cancer Support Group for Women Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room. For more information, call Patti Huval at 209-1229. Diabetes Support Group Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Diabetes Center. Call 279-1700 for more information. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group Meetings are held every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Harbor at Thomas Hospital. Call 251- 9656264 for more information. Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month

Why SBCA?

• Academic Excellence • Individualized Instruction • Small Class Sizes • Safe, Caring, Christian Environment

• After School Enrichment Opportunities • Need-Based Tuition • Summer Camp Available

NOW ENROLLING K3–12 Pre-school Available!

www.SouthBaldwinCA.org | 251.967.2688 6900 Highway 59 • Gulf Shores, Alabama

South Baldwin Christian 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. The Academy 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 other school-administered programs.

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Family Calendar from noon to 1 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 251- 455-9919 for more information. Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Support Group Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 10 to 11 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 251626-6337 for more information.

Sunday, September 1

End of Summer Beach Blowout The Wharf, Orange Beach. 5 p.m. (251) 224-1000, www.alwharf.com Celebrate the Wharf’s End of Summer Blowout with Live Music followed by SPECTRA and Fireworks.

Thursday, September 5

15th Annual Chefs Challenge to End Hunger Five Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. (251) 653-1617 ext. 118, www.bayareafoodbank.org, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Bay Area Food Bank is kicking off Hunger Action Month with its 15th Annual Chef Challenge – A Challenge to End Hunger, thanks to presenting sponsor, TRAX Tires. The annual event will feature cuisine from some of our area’s most celebrated chefs, live music from Roman Street, a vast silent auction, and complimentary wine and spirits. Admission is $50 per person in advance and $60 per person the evening of. Tickets can be purchased online. All proceeds from Chef Challenge will be used by the food bank to continue distributing food to those in need throughout the Central Gulf Coast. United Way Campaign Kickoff Featuring Roger Shultz Daphne Civic Center, Daphne 11:30-1 p.m. 251-943-2110 The United Way of Baldwin County kickoff luncheon featuring keynote speaker, former Alabama Football

September2013

Player and “The Biggest Loser” reality star Roger Shultz. Tickets are $25. Mobile Museum of Art – Free Admission Day/ Museum Nights 4850 Museum Drive, Mobile. www.mobilemuseum.com. The Museum is free all day each Thursday. Open until 9 p.m. Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., The Mobile Museum of Art (MMoA) presents weekly programs and happenings highlighting our permanent collection and special exhibitions. Bring the kids during the dog days of summer, when the days are long and hot. Current exhibitions will serve as inspiration for free activities for kids. In the Grand Lakefront Gallery Museum educators will offer know-how and supplies to help youngsters create their own personal masterpieces. No reservations necessary.

Friday, September 6

First Friday Art Walk in Fairhope 5 p.m., Downtown Fairhope. Experience live music, local art, special events and food and wine at many local merchants.

Saturday, September 7

Duck n’ Dodge Dodgeball Tournament, Fairhope 251-990-8181, www.ransomcafe.com. 1st annual tournament to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Two age divisions: 8-14 and 15 and up. 10-person teams with at least 2 female players. Golf Ball Drop Benefitting Family Promise of Baldwin County Craft Farms Golf Club, Gulf Shores, 8-10 a.m. 251-947-5641, www.familypromisebc.org. Donation per golf ball is $25, for a $10,000 prize.

First ball in the hole or closest ball to the hole wins; attendance not required to win. Call or visit web site to purchase a ball. Brett Robinson Coastal Triathlon Gulf Shores Public Beach, Gulf Shores. 251-968-7363, www.team-magic.com. The Triathlon begins early Saturday morning with a 1.5K swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a 40K bike ride through the state park and finishes with a 10K scenic run. The ”Tri-it-on” Triathlon begins with a 300 yard swim, a 9 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run. Join us for the awards ceremony and post-race party at The Hangout. The Laugh Out Loud Comedy Explosion Starring Eddie Griffin Saenger Theatre, Mobile, 8 p.m. www.mobilesaenger.com. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or The Saenger box office. Hurricane Run 5K and Fun Run Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island. www.productionsbylittleredhen.com. Run to benefit the Dauphin Island Fire and Rescue Units. Time: 5K - 8:10 a.m./ Fun Run 9:00 a.m. The location is the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Perdido Keymunity 5k Gumbo Run 850-497-0000, chrisina@pbumc Fundraiser for the Perdido Key Community Center. Will focus on family fun, and gumbo. Activities include DJ Josh Brown, a special awards ceremony, carnival games, face painting, gumbo sales and more. Also featuring a “Krazy Kids Run” where kids will experience obstacles, twists, turns and all kinds of crazy secrets. Early Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for kids under 12. Race day registration is $25, and Krazy Kids run is $5.

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Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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Wednesday, September 11

End of Summer?

NO PROBLEM!

We still have plenty of

Page and Palette’s Read It and Eat- Michael Kardos Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope 12 p.m. 251-928-5295, www.pageandpalette.com This event is free and open to the public. Lunch from Andree’s may be purchased for an additional $10. The Three-Day Affair is a gripping debut novel about three longtime friends who make one mistake, forcing a chain of decisions that will haunt them forever.

Thursday, September 12

Vino and Van Gogh Painting Party Performing Arts Association of Foley, 116 W. Laurel Avenue, Foley. 251-943-4381, www.foleyartcenter.com. PAA Foley Art Center announces our upcoming Vino & Van Gogh Painting Party schedule. Join us for a great night out and create your own masterpiece! All participants will paint a masterpiece and enjoy great company, good food, fine wine and door prizes. This is great fun for beginners as well as advanced artists. The cost is $25 per person, this includes your art supplies & light hors d’oeuvres. B.Y.O.B. wine from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Groups are welcome, the more the merrier! We also book private parties of 10 or more with a group discount. Please contact us today to reserve your date. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun to Raise Funds for Ronald McDonald House The Alabama Cruise Terminal, Mobile, 6-10 p.m. www. rmhcmobile.org. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is an event for ladies 21 years of age or older to do a little for themselves and a-lot for Ronald McDonald House. Tickets are only $50 in advance and $60 at the door and include delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, martinis, mini manicures, make-overs, chair massages, hair do’s shopping and an unforgettable evening of entertainment and pampering just for our guests. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit us online. Mobile Museum of Art – Free Admission Day/ Museum Nights See Sept. 5 for details.

Friday, September 13

20th Annual Shrimp Festival Golf Tournament for Education 251-968-6091. LoDa Artwalk Loda Arts District, Downtown Mobile, 6-9 p.m. 251-208-1550, www.ncsmobile.org. Exhibitions (with receptions) and entertainment in a variety of downtown galleries and other venues. City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services. Check NCS website for complete list of activities/map after noon the day of the event. United Cerebral Palsy – Sporting Clay & Fund Hunt 251-479-4900, ecash@ucpmobile.org. Registration is from 8:30-9:30 and the shoot starts at 9:30 a.m. This great event will have raffles, silent auction and prizes. The UCP Fundhunt is open to all adults and kids ages 13 and older. Cost -$125 per person/$500 for a team of 4.

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Saturday, September 14 Gulf Shores Fire Station #1 Open House Gulf Shores, 11-3 p.m. Opening ceremony for the opening of the new firestation #1 In Gulf Shores.

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Family Calendar Happy Feet Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk Eastern Shore Centre, 30500 U.S. HWY 181 Register by Thursday, September 12, 2013 @ 11:59 pm. The Happy Feet Childhood cancer Awareness walk, sponsored by the Proverbs 3:5 Foundation, is a walk to honor the fighters and the survivors, and in memory of those who won the battle on the other side. This is a family friendly walk for all AGES! We encourage participants to wear your gold in support of childhood cancer awareness. Paddleboard Yoga Class Gulf Adventure Center, Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, 7:30-9:30 a.m. www.zipthegulf.com. The two-hour class is great for all levels of yoga and will begin with an intro to stand up paddleboard (SUP) followed by an intro to yoga postures on SUP and a flow and play class. Yoga attire or swimsuits and board shorts are acceptable, and you can either bring your own board or rent one from Gulf Adventure Center for $12.50. Salute to Airbus! – Mobile Symphony Orchestra Saenger Theater, Mobile 8 p.m. www.mobilesymphony.org. Join the MSO as we welcome Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, to the Gulf Coast. We begin with Wagner’s powerful Overture to “The Flying Dutchman,” then move to a suite from French composer Joseph-Maurice Ravel’s largest work, Daphnis and Chloe. Finally, we end with the robust sounds of Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony. Don’t miss out was the Mobile Symphony kicks off another great season. 6th Annual Go Run The run benefits USA Mitchell Cancer Institute -Gynecologic Cancer Research. 5K/Fun Run at University of South Alabama Campus – Mitchell Center Lawn/ Moulton Bell Tower at 8:00 a.m. Please visit

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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www.imathlete.com/events/gorun2013 for registration information. Page and Palette Presents Author Sally Rideout Smith Page and Palette, Section Street, Fairhope 1-3 p.m. Book signing event.

Sunday, September 15

Salute to Airbus! – Mobile Symphony Orchestra Saenger Theater, Mobile 2:30 p.m. www.mobilesymphony.org. Join the MSO as we welcome Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, to the Gulf Coast. We begin with Wagner’s powerful Overture to “The Flying Dutchman,” then move to a suite from French composer JosephMaurice Ravel’s largest work, Daphnis and Chloe. Finally, we end with the robust sounds of Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony. Don’t miss out was the Mobile Symphony kicks off another great season.

Wednesday, September 18

Page and Palette-Read it and Eat with Lee Smith The Venue, Fairhope. 11 a.m. 251-928-5295, www.pageandpalette.com. Tickets are $15 and include lunch and $5 off the purchase of the book Guests on Earth.

Thursday, September 19

Storytime with Ms. Connie and Ms. Stephanie Page and Palette Bookstore, 32 S. Section Street, Fairhope, 4 p.m. Come and draw a mural with crayons as Ms. Connie and Ms. Stephanie read The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. Preschool - 3rd grade invited.

Friday, September 20

5th Annual Piratefest Happy Harbor Water Sports, 27212 Marina Road, Orange Beach. www.happyharbors.com. Not only is the festival a way to sport your pirate costume and makeup, but it’s also a rocking good time featuring some of the area’s best live music. This year, festival-goers will enjoy their grog to headlining acts, plus many more local and regional acts. There will be chili cook-off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a tailgate party. Saturday also features an arts and crafts fair with local artisans. Sunday is slated as PirateFest kids’ day with children’s music, a treasure hunt and inflatables. Proceeds will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Admission: The festival is open to all ages, with free admission Thursday and Friday, $10 admission Saturday and Sunday. MOMS Club of Daphne Popsicles and Fun! Join us for popsicles and fun at the Eastern Shore Centre Fountains at 10 a.m. Come learn more about what our group has to offer. We will have popsicles for the kids and information about our activities for the moms. We are a group aimed at supporting stay at home moms with kids from birth to elementary school. Visit our website at www.momsclubofdaphne.webs. com. MS Ride - Tour de Beach Hampton Inn and Suites, Orange Beach. 205-879-8546, www.bikeal.org. Join the MS Society for the 29th annual Bike MS Tour de Beach. This great 2-day ride features 25, 45, and 75 mile fully supported route options that start and finish each day from the beach front Hampton Inn, Orange Beach. On Saturday, cyclists ride to Fairhope and back on the beautiful back roads of Baldwin County which hug the Mobile Bay. Post-ride enjoy massages, great food at the bike MS lounge and the white sands of

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Orange Beach. Celebrate Saturday night with a seafood feast and awards banquet at the beautiful Hampton Inn. Sunday’s ride winds along the scenic gulf coast into Florida and finishes with the natural beauty of the Gulf State Park. Hot Glass Blowout Coastal Art Center, Orange Beach 5-8 p.m. (251) 981-2787, www.orangebeachartcenter.com.

Saturday, September 21

5th Annual Piratefest Happy Harbor Water Sports, 27212 Marina Road, Orange Beach. See Sept. 19 for more info. Coastal Clean Up “Get the Trash out of the Splash!” Gulf Shores, 8 a.m. - 12 noon. www.alcoastalcleanup.com. Show your support and concern for Alabama’s waterways by participating in the 26th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup. You or your organization can make a difference by volunteering to clean up our cherished coastal area. In its twenty-six year effort to clean up the coast, over 68,583 volunteers have removed 1,420,466 pounds of trash from 4,582 miles of shoreline. Join us this year as we continue to make Alabama the Beautiful! Supplies are limited. On the day of the event, come prepared with sunscreen, a hat, gloves, shoes and lots of water. It gets HOT! The Seagrass Concert Series Fort Gaines Historic Site, 51 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island. 251-861-6992. The SeaGrass Concert Series will feature the three-time Grammy Award winning artist, Delbert McClinton. Delbert McClinton blends country, soul, blues, rock, and jazz to embody Americana music. McClinton is a great American vocalist, and he will be joined by a special guest, who will be announced soon! The first 50 tickets sold are $35. Bayfest Music Industry Education Program The Music Industry Education Program is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Mobile Civic Center Theater. All area high school students are welcome. This FREE program offers students the opportunity to learn about the music industry and jam with professional musicians. For more information, please visit www.bayfest.com. Jubilee Race for Life 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run Downtown Daphne, www.jubileeraceforlife.org. Certified race and wholesome fun! Benefits Bayside Medical Missions who through volunteer doctors provide corrective orthopedic surgeries in underdeveloped countries. Unique awards from Ecuador 3- deep in 15 age categories. Chick Fil-A food, music and drawing for prizes among the many activities. Best of all: knowing that you are helping someone with a disability achieve a functional life! Yoga Life Fair Fairhope Pier and Park, Fairhope, 2:30 p.m. 251-990-9552, www.yogalifefair.com. Kick off Yoga week with an afternoon of vendors, live music, healthy refreshments, and a full schedule of yoga classes including chair yoga, meditation, paddleboard yoga and more!

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Family Calendar Sunday, September 22 5th Annual Piratefest Happy Harbor Water Sports, 27212 Marina Road, Orange Beach. See Sept. 19 for more info.

Monday, September 23 Page and Palette Book Signing and Author Discussion: Sena Jeter Nasland

Tuesday, September 24

Baldwin County Fair Fairgrounds Road, Robertsdale, 3-11 p.m. 251-947-3247, www.BaldwinCoFair.com . The Myers International Midway will offer “PAY ONE PRICE” specials on Tuesday and Wednesday of Fair Week. Everyone will pay $10 at the gate to receive an armband for unlimited rides. The Sweet Potato Cook-Off, Senior Citizens Kazoo Band, Southern Legends Band, and Tim Brown Entertainment are the special entertainment “in the house” on Thursday, Students and Seniors Citizens Day. A new event this year

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

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will be the Emerald Coast Electric Train exhibit in the coliseum. And who isn’t fascinated by miniature electric trains? The rodeo is a longstanding event on Friday and Saturday nights. That’s when “the cowboys come to town” and we all dress in western attire. It’s so much fun to see the arena filled with children of all ages running in the “calf scramble”. Fairground entertainment will be the Star Family Circus and Thrill Show featuring a giant “space wheel of destiny”, and motorcycle daredevils in the “globe of death”. Just wait until you see the surprise ending! What would any fair be without the Creative Arts Competition exhibits? Baldwin County has a good reputation statewide in the Alabama Association of Fairs for many outstanding displays in this division. Enter your canning, baking, sewing, quilting, crafts, scrapbooks, art, and photography. You might be placed in the winner’s circle and get a rosette ribbon! See you at the Fair!

Thursday, September 26

Paddleboard Yoga Class Gulf Adventure Center, Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, 5:30-7:30 p.m. www.zipthegulf.com. The two-hour class is great for all levels of yoga and will begin with an intro to stand up paddleboard (SUP) followed by an intro to yoga postures on SUP and a flow and play class. Yoga attire or swimsuits and board shorts are acceptable, and you can either bring your own board or rent one from Gulf Adventure Center for $12.50. Mobile Museum of Art – Free Admission Day/ Museum Nights Kids Art Activity – 3-6 p.m. See Sept. 5 for details.

Friday, September 27

Mercy Medical 27th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Rock Creek Golf Course, Fairhope. 251-621-4884, www.mercymedical.com, 12-2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Mercy’s Guardian Angel which cares for critically and terminally ill children of Mobile and Baldwin counties. Mercy’s Charity Golf Tournament is one of the area’s oldest and most popular charity tournaments and offers excellent prizes, a silent auction and sponsorship opportunities. Silent auction items and raffle prizes include resort stays, weekend passes, signed sports memorabilia, football tickets and much more. The tournament format will be a fourperson scramble with 8:30 a.m. shotgun followed by lunch and brief awards programs.

Saturday, September 28

25th Annual Jubilee Festival Mainstreet, Oldetowne Daphne, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (251) 621-8222. Arts and crafts, live local entertainment, children’s activities, festival foods and football on the large screen. Saturday & Sunday, September 28 & 29. Festival stage located in front City Hall. Attendance to the festival is free. Booths will be set up for children to explore their creative side. They will also be invited to paint their creations on a fence. Wonderful Wacky Women Run/Walk for Ovarian Cancer The Flora Bama, Perdido Key 9:30 a.m. www.active.com. Wonderful Wacky Women and the Mighty Men Who Love Them 4M Run/Walk 1M Fun Walk for Ovarian Cancer Research.

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Experience live music, local art, special events and food and wine at many local merchants. Page and palette presents: Jamie Dean Page and Palette, Fairhope 6 p.m. Jamie Dean will be signing his Good Food cookbook.

Saturday, October 5

The Free Bird and Conservation Expo 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of Faulkner State College in Fairhope. Offers hands-on fun and activities for kids of all ages with live raptors and snakes and displays and exhibits from conservation organizations, vendors, artists, and divisions of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Learn more about birding, add to your life list, and meet other birders as we welcome the fall migration! 50th Anniversary Celebration of The Naval Air Museum National Museum of Naval Aviation, 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola. 850-453-2389, www.navalaviationmuseum. org.Black Tie Celebration. 50 years ago on June 8, 1963, the Naval Aviation Museum (now National Naval Aviation Museum) opened its doors in a renovated wood frame building constructed during World War II. With only 8,500 square feet of space, the Museum displayed five aircraft which were rotated periodically with others in storage aboard NAS Pensacola. Since that day, the Museum has been through several phases of expansion, bringing the total display area to nearly 350,000 square feet with more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation. Bayfest Downtown Mobile, www.bayfest.com. Mobile’s premier musical festival, featuring 125 acts, including Zac Brown Band, Daughtry, Little Big Town, The Isley Brothers and more. Weekend tickets are $60.

Sunday, October 6

BayFest 5K & Fun Run BayFest will host its 7th Annual 5K Run/Walk to kick off the beginning of the 2013 BayFest Music Festival. This race benefits Bayfest Music Industry Education & Scholarship programs. The 5K race will start at 8 a.m. and the fun run will start at 9 a.m. Location: Bienville Square in downtown Mobile. For more information, please visit www.bayfest.com. The Opera Ball Marriott Ball Room, Mobile, 251-432-6772. The Mobile Marriott Ball Room will be transformed into a magical setting for fine dining with special wine pairings, dancing to the sounds of the Mobile Big Band Society, an entertaining silent auction and an elegant evening you will never forget. An exclusive VIP lounge is available to sponsors with signature Mikado and Madama Butterfly cocktails (and you can even keep up with all the SEC football scores). Don’t miss this special event!

Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

Sunday, September 29

Commedia del Arte Presents “The Phantom Curses the Opera” A spoof of the classic musical. 6:30 p.m. Loxley Civic Center. Admission: $10 in advance, $12 at the door, children 10 and under $5, 5 and under free. A portion of the proceeds benefit the National Federation of the Blind of Mobile.

25th Annual Jubilee Festival See Sept. 28 for more information.

Friday, October 4

10th Annual John Morom Birdfest 450 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope. www.alabamabirdfest.com. We offer expertly-guided trips by foot and on boat to prime birding locations on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. Our location on the northern Gulf Coast makes this area a major stopover for migratory birds from all over North America—and so fall is a great time to add all sorts of species to your life list. First Friday Art Walk in Fairhope Downtown Fairhope, 5 p.m.

Please send your calendar events to lynn@ easternshoreparents.com by the 15th of each month! We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of these calendar events. However, you should call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information. www.easternshoreparents.com

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Mortal Instruments City of Bones

Paranoia MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: C Violence: C Sexual Content: C Language: D+ Alcohol / Drug Use: C+ The MPAA has rated Paranoia PG-13 for some sexuality, violence and language. Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth) is a 27-year-old cubicle worker at Wyatt Enterprises, one of the top tech companies in the world. When a pitch he has been planning fails to gain the attention of the company’s boss, he and four of his friends (Lucas Till, Angela Sarafyan, William Peltz, Haley Finnegan) are fired. After a night of clubbing and drinks on the company’s credit card account, Adam is summoned to the president’s office -- but not for the reason he believes. Nicholas Wyatt (Garry Oldman) has one thing on his mind: the destruction of his rival Jock Goddard (Harrison Ford). Once partners, the two men split ways and have since been determined to take the other one down. Adam is given the option of serving prison time or becoming part of Nick’s plot. Prepped and preened for a position at Jock’s company Eikon, Adam is promised substantial financial remuneration if he steals company secrets and returns them to Nick. It is an offer Adam can hardly refuse, especially because he is responsible for his father’s medical bills. To pull off the infiltration, the young man is pulled out of his row house on the wrong side of town and set up in an expensive New York apartment with a high-end car. As part of a demographic that feels ripped off by the fraudulent financial antics of their parents’ generation, Adam has no reserves about repeating the same deceitful practices if it nets him a hefty income. The problem with his attitude is it’s hard to distinguish who’s good and who’s bad in the screenplay. Without a recognizable antagonist, everyone soon becomes suspects in this cat and mouse game. And audiences are left with no clear character to root for. Meanwhile Adam takes advantage of his new lifestyle to attract the attention of Emma Jennings (Amber Heard), a co-worker in charge of rolling out one of Jock’s latest inventions. Only too late does Adam realize he is merely a disposable pawn in the rivals’ high stakes game of corporate espionage. While the script contains a strong sexual expletive and infrequent profanities, corporate crime leads to some bloody murders used to silence informers. As well, Adam may jokingly talk about sleeping his way up the corporate ladder but in reality he appears to be doing just that. A sensual scene of kissing and undressing leads to a morning after in bed together. However this repeated consensual act also serves a purpose when Adam uses it to gain valuable insider information. Greed, entitlement and revenge are at the heart of Paranoia. Yet the blind ambition that drives these desires still pays off for many of the characters by the end of the film. Unfortunately, that positive reinforcement may set up a whole new generation to buy into the same avarices that fueled the felonies committed by their predecessors.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: C Violence: CSexual Content: B Language: B Alcohol / Drug Use: BThe MPAA has rated The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action, and some suggestive content. Clary Fray (Lily Collins) finds out she is more than a mere human when she begins to spontaneously draw the same mysterious pattern over and over again. Then she starts seeing things her friend Simon (Robert Sheehan) can’t see: Things like a man being murdered in the middle of a crowded nightclub. Only after being whisked away by a hooded character to a castle-like edifice hidden in the middle of downtown New York City does she discover she is the descendent of Shadowhunters -- half human, half angel. Like so many heroines in this genre, the fate of the world rests on her dainty shoulders. However, thanks to a magic spell of sorts, she can’t remember much about her past. And what she does remember isn’t true. (For instance that picture of the US soldier killed in the Iraqi war is not really her dad.) Unfortunately the only way to unlock her memories is to visit the warlock (Godfrey Gao) who cast the incantation upon her in the first place. To attract his attention she has to dress like a whore -her words not mine. The story, based on a series of novels by Cassandra Clare and pegged as the possible next Twilight successor, certainly has all the elements to appeal to its targeted demographic, including a love triangle with Clary at the center. Yet the film suffers from many of the same problems as Twilight. First of all the script and acting are unremarkable at best. And it’s no surprise that Clary is willing to dump steady, thoughtful Simon in favor of the more dangerous and sexy Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) who charms her with his stash of weapons and messy blonde locks. While that plot isn’t new (it’s been around even before Sandy Olsen exchanged pink frills for black leather in order to attract Danny Zuko in Grease), it’s one that makes romance look more like a game of roulette. Meanwhile, the violence in this film consists of negligible blood, but we still see characters impaled, stabbed, cut with knives and brutally beaten. Seemingly normal humans also metamorphose into horrific beasts and monsters that slash and gash their way across the screen. As well there are scenes depicting an apparent suicide, self-mutilation and brief sexual innuendo. Forced to look for a hidden goblet that will help restore balance (and provide plenty of storyline for the next movie), Clary is warned to trust no one, even those closest to her. Although the thrill of being anything but mundane (the film’s label for humans) might make Clary feel heady for a while, the advice leaves her with no one to turn to in a place where demons and death wait around every corner. And that’s a message that can make the world look like a big, bad place -- even to a teen with super powers.

What Parents need to know about Paranoia...

Violence: White-collar crime, insider trading and corporate espionage are all depicted in this film. These seemingly victimless crimes result in murders. Photos of dead and injured victims are seen. A car intentionally runs down a character. Another character is threatened with a gun. Characters chase down a man in an attempt to kill him. Cars drive recklessly through busy streets. Sexual Content: Sexual innuendo including lewd looks, crude comments and slang terms for sex are used. A couple kisses passionately while undressing and later they are seen in bed together. Several morning-after scenes are shown. Brief back and shoulder nudity are shown, sometimes in a non-sexual context. Language: The script contains one strong sexual expletive, a handful of scatological slang terms and some other profanities, along with brief crude sexual dialogue. Alcohol / Drug Use: A group of fired employees drink excessively at a nightclub on the company’s credit card. Two young men walk down the street drinking from bottles inside brown paper bags. Some cigarette and cigar smoking is portrayed. Characters drink socially and are offered drinks at the office. Eastern Shore Parents I September 2013

What Parents need to know about The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones...

Violence: Characters are beaten, impaled, whipped, slashed with knives and swords, thrown around the room, and bitten. A character has a knife held to his throat. A character appears to commit suicide. A character is hit over the head with a fire extinguisher. Characters discuss drinking blood. Sexual Content: A character dresses provocatively and comments on looking like a whore. A couple kisses passionately. Characters make brief sexually suggestive and homosexual comments. Language: The script contains limited mild profanities, some terms of Deity and brief sexual innuendo. Alcohol / Drug Use: A character drinks a liquid during an apparent suicide. Another character is given poison in a drink at a bar.

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