Mobile Bay Parents March 2015 by KeepSharing

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March2015

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Mom of the Month 4

Living With Children John Rosemond

Kids Health Watch

Head lice has affected most of our households, or will in the future. Find out what to do!

Volume 4 Number 10

The Smart But Scattered Student

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Help your children increase organization and achievement.

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Head Lice...

When Does It Stop? Lice. It makes my head itch just thinking about it! It is a word that children, parents, and teachers dread to hear. I am sure most of you have experienced lice first hand – whether it was a family member you were trying to treat or if you were someone who frantically checked your child’s hair repeatedly because you received a note from school that lice was going around the classroom. Lice (plural for louse) are small, microscopic bugs that can live on people’s scalp at the hair shaft and feed off of human blood. The itchy sensation occurs with each bite the lice take. Some key things that people see in someone who has lice are the bugs themselves (sometimes it looks like a piece of dirt that is jumping or crawling), the eggs – also called nits (can be mistaken for dandruff), and the person constantly scratching or saying something is tickling his or her head. School nurses are usually the ones who most often check for lice, and they either tell the family to treat at home or be seen by their pediatrician if they are concerned. Usually once someone in the class is diagnosed with lice, the school nurse examines everyone in the classroom. This is because lice are simply that contagious.

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

It is easy for a louse to jump from one head to another if the people are in close proximity. A louse will then lay multiple eggs that will hatch in 1-2 weeks. There are two main types of treatment: pediculicidal medications (creams that alter the parasite’s cell membrane function to kill the actual louse) and ovicidal therapy (creams that inhibits cholinesterase which kills the eggs). Some are a one time treatment that you rub into the scalp like a shampoo, and others you apply two or three times at one to two week intervals. Some kits come with nit combs and some do not. The nit combs do not actually treat or eradicate the problem. Quite honestly, the only reason to need a nit comb is so that others do not think that you still have lice. The eggs/nits are small and can only survive on the hair shaft very close to the scalp. Once the egg hatches, the casing of the egg remains on that part of the hair follicle and has the hair grows, the casing moves farther from the scalp and becomes more noticeable. These are especially difficult to remove if someone has long, thick hair. The school can mistakenly think a child has not been treated when they see these casings and may not allow them

back in school. This is the tricky part, because yes – sometimes the lice can be resistant to the medications and can require multiple treatments, but sometimes it is just the casings from eggs and lice that have already been killed. If you are concerned that you or a family member has lice, seek medical attention. Depending on the extent of the infestation, the single person or the whole family might be treated. It is also best at the time of treatment and again in 1-2 weeks to thoroughly clean the house and wash the sheets. This is because lice survive on human blood so are normally on a scalp, but they can survive up to two days out in the open. I hope this is helpful, but I hope for most of the readers, you do not have to deal with lice! Jennifer Adair, M.D., was born and raised in Mobile. She graduated from Davidson High School in 2002 and received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at The University of Alabama in 2006. She completed her medical training at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and pediatric residency at the University of Nevada College of Medicine – Las Vegas and the University of South Alabama. She joined Children’s Medical Group in July 2013 and currently practices at their Airport office. Jennifer and her husband, Cory, reside in Mobile with their dogs, Fitz and Barkley.

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Autauga County Schools

Bryant SWAT Team Visits Dauphin Island Elementary

Dauphin Island Elementary School students received a visit recently from the Alma Bryant High School S.W.A.T. Team (Students Working Against Tobacco). The SWAT Program is sponsored by the Mobile County Health Department and enlists high school students to help educate younger students about the dangers of tobacco use. Pictured are some of the members of the Bryant SWAT Team along with Dauphin Island Elementary 4th graders. Thank you, SWAT, for helping our students to remain drug free!

Causey Boys’ Basketball Team Wins Championship

The Causey boys’ basketball team won its second straight Class 3A championship January 22 with a 43-30 victory over Semmes. Jalen Lilly led all scorers with 11 points. Kelvin Rogers and Kris Davis added 8 each. Samario Rudolph was named the team MVP. Coach Hamilton and Mr. Poiroux are incredibly proud of the team and would like to thank all who came out to support us.

Theodore Thinks Through Math

Tanja Franks receives the Think Through Math THINKa-THON award from math department chair, Mrs. C. Kiser. TTM is a computer generated math program that motivates students to learn and have fun. They earn points for pizza parties, donate to charity, etc.

Congratulations to Grace Gray of Mrs. Golemon’s 4th period, 6th grade advanced math class at Semmes Middle School. She worked hard during the 2014 Mobile County Winter THINK-AThon challenge for ThinkThrough-Math. Think-Through- Math (TTM) is an online program that helps students improve their math skills while having fun with math. Grace passed the most lessons on ThinkThrough-Math at Semmes Middle School for the month of January 2015.

Cottage Hill Christian NHS Society Collects School Supplies The Cottage Hill Christian Academy National Honor Society collected school supplies to send to students in Spanish Wells, Bahamas. A group of Cottage Hill Christian Academy students will be travelling to Spanish Wells to deliver the supplies as part of a mission trip. The students are: Connor Floyd, Logan Woodruff, Caitlyn Dressler, Mark Snyder, Courtney Bryson and Kathleen Sweatt.

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

Mobile County Winter THINK-a-THON Winners Announced

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Mary G. Montgomery Goes to D.C.

On January 25, Mrs. Denese Wilson and a group of students from Mary G. Montgomery High School flew to Washington, D. C., to participate in the Close Up government studies program. The Close Up Foundation is our nation’s largest non-profit civic education organization for students. The program brings students from all 50 states and all U. S. territories to Washington, D. C., for a one of a kind opportunity to experience their government in action. The activities are designed to give students an inside, “close up” look at their democracy in action. The program uses our nation’s capital as a living classroom and provides students the opportunity to interact with the people, processes, and places that make our government and capital city so unique. During this program, students participated in workshops at the actual landmarks, memorials, and government buildings. While there, students visited the offices of their senators and representatives on Capitol Hill, sat in on sessions of Congress and Congressional hearings, participated in debates and a mock Congress, as well as seminars that included lobbyists, policy makers, journalists, and members of government agencies. There was a special emphasis this week on the impact of the media on our citizens and government. Students were also treated to a White House study visit and an evening theatre performance at the Kennedy Center. Participation in the Close Up program informs, inspires and empowers our students to not only know and exercise their rights but to also accept the responsibilities they have as citizens in a democracy. These students return with a new interest in our government, a desire to be more involved, and an attitude that they can surely make a difference. Participants from left to right: Payton Parnell, Kirsten Gandy, Haylee Richoux, Marissa White, Destinee Rath, Breanna Konazeski, Savannah McNeil, and Jovani Fore.

Donuts for Dads at Dodge Elementary

Dodge Elementary PTA sponsored Donuts for Dads on January 16. Dozens of Dodge Dads and Granddads came to school to enjoy a delicious breakfast with their children or grandchildren.

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Autauga County Schools An Island Christmas

at Lighthouse Academy

Our students at Lighthouse Baptist Academy did a wonderful job at our Christmas program in December! The theme was "An Island Christmas" with each of our students grades k3-12 participating. We had over 600 parents, grandparents, and guests for the event!

Little Flower School Spelling Bee

Little Flower Catholic School held its annual Spelling Bee for students in grades four through eight. Participants were chosen from the best spellers in their individual homerooms. Some of the more challenging words included vehicular, quibble, ultimatum, and stalwart. When seventh grader, Autumn Smith, spelled nourish correctly, she was declared winner of this year's Spelling Bee. Eighth grader Kyla Campbell earned a spot as the first alternate. Shown left to right are faculty member, Mr. Andy Ryan; first place speller, Autumn Smith; first alternate, Kyla Campbell; and eighth grade teacher, Miss Jessica Hultquist.

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Covenant Christian School Lady Eagles Undefeated

Congratulations to the CCS Girls Varsity Basketball team on their amazing season. The Lady Eagles went undefeated in league play and continued their dominance in the CMSAA Tournament by winning the tournament title as well. The Lady Eagles also had 3 players selected to the CMSAA AllConference Team. They are: Sarah Gardner, Brittney Sharpe, and Katherine Allred. CCS also claimed the most prestigious award from the CMSAA as 8th grader Katherine Allred was selected as the Randy Belt award winner for the 2014-2015 school year. Way to go Lady Eagles!

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Knollwood Christian School Student Art Featured in Calendar Congratulations to Sophia Darrough, 4th grader, she had her art featured in the Alabama Marine Resource annual calendar contest.

Donuts with Dads at St. Ignatius School

St. Ignatius celebrated Catholic School week with many fun events. One of the events that the students most look forward to is Donuts with Dads. Donuts with Dads starts early in the morning before school begins and all the school dads and students meet for Krispy Kreme donuts in the cafeteria. Pictured here are Erik Eways with his daughters Ava and Rosie.

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AutaugaSt. County Schools Dominic Catholic School Graduate Receives Recognition

St. Dominic Catholic School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Tanya Dunwell has been named a 2015 NCEA Distinguished Graduate. This award is presented to a Catholic Elementary school graduate who has made a contribution to the community, reflecting positively on the education received in a Catholic elementary school. Tanya graduated from Saint Dominic Catholic School in 1985 but continues to be involved in our parish community. Pictured with Tanya are her children (l â&#x20AC;&#x201C; r) Nicholas, Ben, Stewart and Janie and her husband, Danny.

St. Pius X Celebrates their Mardi Gras Court

The 2015 St. Pius X Carnival Season will be reigned over by 6th Grader, Queen Savannah Bentley and 3rd Grader, King William Carter, III. The two royals were honored at the Court Luncheon on Wednesday, February 4 at noon. Over 60 people attending the luncheon including the courts of both monarchs. The monarchs paraded at the Crewe de la Cardinal Parade on Wednesday, February 11.

St. Mary Catholic School Alumni and Business Honors

St. Mary Catholic School held their annual Alumni Mass and Family Day, Friday, January 31. Awards were presented to distinguished alumni and business partners who enhance the school and community though their involvement. Pictured with St. Mary Catholic School Principal, Mrs. Debbie Ollis, this year's awards include: The NCEA Distinguished Graduate presented to David Hyland, St. Mary Class of 1997; The Outstanding Graduate presented to Rev. Msgr. G. Warrren Wall, St. Matthew Catholic School, Class of 1958; and St. Mary Catholic School Outstanding Business Partners, Teresa and David Gill.

St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Geography Bee Winners

The annual St. Luke's School Geography Bee was held recently and Gavin Kelly was the winner! Sutton Frezell was the runnerup. This year's participants were front row: Mia Fusaiotti, Christian Eblen, Rishi Gulati and Allison Tharp, and back row: Sutton Frezell (runner-up), Cassidy Harris, Gavin Kelly (winner), Sam Welch, Winter Bragg and Isabel Bela.

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Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 10th of the month. Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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McGill-Toolen Catholic Pole Vaulters Make History!

McT's Sean Collins, ranked #7 in the United States earns the all-time indoor pole vault record in Alabama High School history with a vault of 16-6.5. Sean is a senior who has committed to the University of South Alabama next year. Margaret Ollinger, also ranked #7 in the United States, also broke the Birmingham Crossplex record and the Alabama High School all-time indoor record with a vault of 13-2.25. Both vaults were achieved at the Last Chance Invitational in Birmingham January 30-31st.

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St. Mary Catholic School Welcomes Senior Bowl Players

One from the North and one from the South, Senior Bowl players visited St. Mary Catholic School students with inspirational words on the value of education followed by an autograph signing session. Nick Boyle was the North Team representative and plays for Delaware. Andrew East, from Vanderbilt University, represented the South Team.

MGM’s First Rho Kappa Induction

Mary G. Montgomery held an induction ceremony on January 23rd to recognize the members of its inaugural Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Members of Rho Kappa will be participating in civic projects with the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park and the University of South Alabama’s archaeology department to further broaden their interests and exposure in the social studies field. Pictured back row from left to right: Jay Williams, Joseph McDonald, Tyler Chambliss, Caroline Eiland, Caris Smith, Abby Stephenson, Mila Dixon, Elizabeth Smith, Priscilla Sprinkle, Whitney Lewis, Michaela Hobson, Hayden Sellers, Genesis Stroud, Arthur Ogburn, Morgan Mabry, Agatha Carter, Harrison Harvell. Front row from left to right: Joe Moody (sponsor), Tasnim Khan, Taylor Pierce, Danielle Miller, Alexis Scott, Olivia DePaolo, Nicole Duke, Hailey Ellison, Erica Powell, Mariah Massengill, Kaitlyn Moody, Brianna Hall, Randi Evans, Brianna Batdorf, Katelyn Wilson, Courtney Willis, Riley Worring. Not pictured: Kyla Abbuhl, Tanner Byrd, Courtney Ogburn, Meredeth Uzel, Ashton Williams.

Fourth Grade Service Day at the Southwest Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind

In preparation for the Fourth Grade Service Day, Mrs. Amy Hess and Ms. Rebecca Eskridge, faculty members at the South-west Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, met with all the St. Paul’s fourth graders on Wednesday, January 28th to train them in working with visually and hearing impaired students. The students learned about issues faced by the hearing impaired, cochlear implants, and hearing aids from Ms. Eskridge, a St. Paul’s alumna. Mrs. Hess is a mobility specialist for the visually impaired and spoke to the students about proper techniques for helping the visually impaired. The students then practiced in pairs with goggles and canes to direct each other around. The whole grade hosted a Valentine’s party for the students of the Regional School on Friday, February 6th. Each St. Paul’s student was paired with a Regional School student, and they visited various Valentine-themed stations together. They made Valentine’s cards, decorated crowns, ribbon-danced to fun music, and more. When the party was over, the St. Paul’s student walked their new friends back to their classrooms. They not only learned about this special school but made new friends and memories in the process. 21

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Autauga CountySt. Schools Luke Episcopal School’s National Honor Society

St. Luke's Episcopal School recently inducted twenty four students into the National Honor Society. Congratulations to: Rachel Parden, Morgan Meeker, Olivia Pickett, Jensen Sirmon, Cameron McPhail, Gavin Busby, Martha Ellen Phillips, Cameron McConnell, Annie Tillman, Eden Marble, Jessica Welch, Sara Taylor, Steven Small, Dylan Jordan, Robert Alston, Elise Polio, Lydia Lambert, Drew Mathers, Mary Enger, Claire Sweeney, Will Dunnam, Spencer Arnold, Ashley Chapman and John DeArmon.

Archbishop Visits Corpus Christi Catholic School

Each year Archbishop Rodi visits Corpus Christi Catholic School. He celebrates Mass with the entire student body and he takes the time to visit each classroom. The students always enjoy meeting the Archbishop and sharing with him what they are doing in their classes. Archbishop Rodi is pictured with the group of students who welcomed him to Corpus Christi Catholic School.

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Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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Cottage Hill Fine Arts Students Excel

Cottage Hill Christian Academy recognizes that all art is a gift from God to be used for His glory. Our fine arts program provides a foundation of cultural and personal enrichment while encouraging the development of individual talent. Haleigh Spragg, Emily Overman and Justin McDaniel are three of CHCA’s outstanding visual and performing art students. Sophomore Haleigh Spragg was chosen to participate in Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival. Emily Overman, a CHCA senior won the 9th Annual Trail of Painted Ponies Holiday Design Contest with her submission, Gloria. Senior Justin McDaniel’s art portfolio was accepted by the University of Chicago while he was attending the New Orleans National Portfolio Day.

Elementary Honors Ceremony More Than a Tradition at Faith Academy

On January 15, Faith Academy held their annual elementary honors ceremony at Life Church. Grades first through sixth took part in this special event. Every first grader received an award in a subject the have improved in during the school year. In grades second through sixth, students received awards if they made A or A/B honor roll or if they had perfect attendance. The purpose of the honors ceremony is to award the children for all their hard work and diligence throughout the first semester. It also motivates them to keep up the good work. First grade teacher, Mrs. Ashley Malone, said she prepared her students through teaching her kids their classroom motto, "Try your best no matter what." She believes her students have truly grabbed ahold of the concept of the motto. Just a few of the many students she awarded were Izzy Sands, Brayden Keebler, and Cassie Mosely. Izzy was awarded the math award and responded to getting the award by saying, "I felt happy. It was really fun. Math is my favorite subject." Brayden also received the Math award and he commented by saying, "I was happy and liked going on stage. School is my favorite subject." Cassie was awarded the Phonics award and she said, "I was very surprised and happy. I am so glad I got it." Mrs. Malone said all of her students won awards because they are all very handworkers, they strive to do their best every day, and each of them is a high achiever. Students in Mrs. Barlow’s 2nd grade class at Faith Academy, proudly show their honor roll and perfect attendance certificates that each one earned.

Enrolling Now for 2015-2016 A legacy of excellence in Christian education. is the power of Faith? It’s parents trusting that their The Condence to Create What children will receive an excellent education in a wholesome, positive environment. It’s young people believing in their a Better Tomorrow… abilities and gaining the confidence to move forward into future. And it’s the unwavering commitment of our That’s the Power of Faith. the administrators, teachers, and coaches to each student’s success. Give your child the advantages of Faith.

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Educating Students in Grades K3 – 12 Please call to schedule a tour. (251) 633.7267 *We accept funds from Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund

Office: (251) 633.7267 | Web: www.FaithAcademy.us | Address: 8650 Tanner Williams Rd. • Mobile, AL 36608 23

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Autauga County Schools

St. Paul’s Students Learn About Brain-Computer Interface

The 4th grade made a trip to the School of Computing at the University of South Alabama. The students learned about Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), which uses brain waves to interact with a computer. Specifically, students used a single channel, non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) headset to interact with and manipulate a number of computer games and other activities. Our students were encouraged to think creatively about other applications of this technology, especially in relation to helping people with disabilities. Because 4th grade’s philanthropy focus is on children with disabilities, this activity was a wonderful extension and way to think of future aids for people with disabilities.

Patriotism at Austin Elementary

Mrs. Martin's Kindergarten Class enjoyed learning about Patriotic Symbols throughout their thematic unit. They each created their own Liberty Bell out of paper cups and aluminum foil. Let Freedom Ring!

Lott Middle School’s Miss Crimson and Gold Pageant

Lott Middle School held their 21st Annual Miss Crimson and Gold Pageant on Thursday, January 29th. The pageant theme was “Fabulous Fifties.” The pageant started with an opening dance to “Jailhouse Rock” with the pageant participants dancing in poodle skirts. The opening dance was followed with the participants introducing themselves and sharing one thing they would like to bring back from the fifties and why. Next each contestant was judged on poise, appearance, and beauty while wearing their pageant gowns on stage with grace and style. The eighth grade contestants had to answer an interview question. The closing dance was to “One Dance” with the participants in their pageant gowns. Miss Sydney Hendry was crowned 2015 Miss Crimson and Gold. Joni Reed was crowned First Runner Up and Ashton Smith was crowned Second Runner Up. Miss Crimson and Gold and her court are all from eighth grade. Kirsten West was crowned Sixth Grade Beauty and DeLanie Lambert was crowned Seventh Grade Beauty. Haley Dearmon, DeLanie Lambert, and Jorjalyn Weaver were awarded Miss Congeniality. Whitney Smith, Jalianna Weaver, and Elizabeth Daniels were awarded Miss Photogenic. Emma Estes, Sydney Brasier, and Tavy Byrd were awarded People’s Choice Award. Taliah Turner was recognized for selling the most ads and the most tickets and was presented with a cash award. Pictured left to right, 1st Runner Up Joni Reed, Miss Crimson and Gold Sydney Hendry, 2nd Runner Up Ashton Smith.

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Celebrating 100th Day of School with Perfect Attendance Pizza Party

On January 21st students at McDavid-Jones Elementary celebrated the “100th Day of School”. This year we had 69 students who were able to participate. We had pizza and played on the playground. The students enjoyed playing outside. It was a beautiful day. We would like to thank all the students and their parents who have not missed any school this year. What a great accomplishment! We would also like to thank our Partner in Education – Arkema for making this possible.

100th Day Fun at St. Dominic Catholic School

St. Dominic Catholic School Kindergarten students creatively aged recently as they celebrated the 100th day of school. Dressed as they might be when they are 100 years old are (l – r) Seth Markris, Caroline Howell, Hadley Kelly, Ren Lunceford, Luke Adams and James Hoffman.

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Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 10th of the month.

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Technology at St. Ignatius School

St. Ignatius is always adding technology to the classrooms. This year we added an entire classroom of Lenovo laptops to use. Each student is able to log unto the St. Ignatius cloud to work on assignments from the Technology Lab, the classroom, the library or from home. They can send assignments directly to their teacher from the cloud. Having the Lenovo laptops to use in the classroom is a wonderful way to bring technology to the classroom. Pictured here working on a Language Arts assignment is 3rd grade student Margaret Wilson.

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Archbishop Rodi Visits Little Flower School

Little Flower Catholic School welcomed Archbishop Thomas Rodi and school superintendent Gwen Byrd for their annual school visit. The visit started with Mass for the entire school body and continued with an overall evaluation of the school. Father John Lynes, pastor of Little Flower Parish, and principal Clara Brunk accompanied Archbishop Rodi and Miss Byrd as they visited classrooms and chatted informally with students. Shown are (L to R): Principal, Clara Brunk; Miss Byrd; Kyla Campbell; Archbishop Rodi; Juan Hernandez, and Father Lynes. 25

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Autauga County Schools

Knollwood Christian School Celebrates 100th Day of School

Mrs. Huntley's 1st graders celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up as 100 year old ladies and gentlemen.

100th Day at Revelation Christian School

On January 16, the students at Revelation Christian School

celebrated the 100th day of school. The students each brought in 100 items to participate in various math activities within their classrooms. As a culminating activity, the physical education instructor allowed the students to create the number 100 using their bodies. It was a day full of fun and excitement!

Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 10th of the month.

UMS-Wright Participates in Brain Interface Class at USA

Each month, Mrs. Calhoun’s computer class visits the University of South Alabama’s School of Computing for an instructional class. This month, UMS-Wright 1st grade students participated in a “Brain Interface” session led by Rosalind McCullough. This particular session allowed students to control the objects on their screens by using only their brain waves.

Signing Day at Theodore High School

Congratulations to Theodore High School’s athletes that will be signing with various colleges throughout the US. Head Coach Eric Collier and signees, left to right are Chris Mosley walk on at USA, Lamarcus Hogan Concordia College, Selma, Tremaine Kyles, Concordia, Claude Davis, Concordia, Cortez Nelson, Concordia, Ezekiel Mayblen, Coffeyville in Kansas, Gage Swann, Huntington College, Billy McClain, Huntington, and Alijah Jordan, Alabama A&M.

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Dauphin Island 1st Grade Students Receive Honors

Dauphin Island Elementary School first grade students were both excited and nervous during our 2nd Quarter Awards Program! Students received awards for A Honor Roll, A-B Honor Roll, Accelerated Reading Goals, Perfect Attendance and Vocabulary Development. Pictured is 1st grade teacher Mrs. Ann Hibberts presenting awards to her students. Congratulations, everyone!

UMS-Wright Middle School Drama Club Presents…

UMS-Wright Middle School Drama Club performed “The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson” on January 29th in Dunlap Auditorium. The students did a fabulous job portraying their characters, and we are so proud to have such a talented group of thespians! Cast includes: Madison McGilberry, Mary Elizabeth Howze, Scotty Stimpson, Cate Moore, Will Cunningham, Jordan Moore, Chaney Scott McCorquodale, Isabella Williams, Zoë McMahan, Rivers McMurphy, Sophia Palacio, McCall Shivers, Ben Holston, Rob Wingate, Scooter Burmeister, Rainey Tanner, Ryann Jokerst, Amelia Jeznach. Crew: Preston Alford, Hudson Barnett, Constantine Catranis, Jordan Chow, Will Horn, Anna Kline Lee, Katie Morris. Rehearsal Assistants: Monica Langan, Katie Pappas.

MGM Student First in the State to Achieve a Master’s Certification in Microsoft Office 2013

Jonathan Pollock, a student of Mrs. Suzanne Taylor’s at Mary G. Montgomery High School, is the first student in the state of Alabama to achieve a master's certification in Microsoft's latest version, Office 2013. He was awarded the master's certification from Microsoft for attaining five Microsoft Office Specialist certifications in Microsoft Office 2013. Not only did he pass all five certifications, he made a perfect score on three of them. Congratulations, Jonathan! Picture from left to right: Suzanne Taylor and Jonathan Pollock.

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Students at St. Paul’s Named Candidates in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Caroline Scott and Daly Wettermark, graduating seniors at St. Paul’s, have been named as candidates in the 2015 United States Presidential Scholars Program. This prestigious program was founded in 1964 to honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Based on their broad academic achievement, up to 141 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars. This year, over 3,000 candidates were selected out of 3.2 million high school seniors. Scholars are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities. Candidates are initially selected for their exceptional performance on the College Board SAT or ACT Assessment. 560 semifinalists will be chosen by a distinguished panel of educators considering students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will make final selection of the Scholars. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in May, and they will be invited to Washington, DC to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion and attend various ceremonies and events. 27

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Autauga County Schools

100th Day of School at Austin Elementary

Mrs. Martin's class let their (gray) hair down and dressed up like old geezers to celebrate the 100th day of Kindergarten!

Elementary Students at Faith Celebrate 100th Day

Every year, the preschool and elementary classes at Faith Academy celebrate the 100th day of school. This year, on January 22, grades K-3 -2nd had a day full of fun! Second grade teacher Ms. Howze said, "It is a milestone in the year.” The students have fun playing games and making crafts that have to do with the number 100. Second grader, John Kerr said, "It was really cool making the crafts, especially the 100th day of school crowns!!" The Faith Academy teachers strive each day to make learning fun for their students, especially on days like this! Faith senior Morgan Reaves assists second grader Thomas Ewing with his 100th Day of School craft.

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Little Flower Students Enjoy Origami

Students in Ms. Alesa Weiskopf's fifth grade class at Little Flower Catholic School know the value of self-taught activities like origami. When asked to wait for a few minutes between classes, an instruction book and a few sheets of colored paper fill the time with surprising outcomes. When the folding gets too complicated, just check the book for clear instructions. What started out as an airplane ended up a graceful swan. Bruce Davis (left) turns the pages while Gigi Gardner (center) and Abby Grosvenor follow the instructions.

100th Day at Dodge Elementary

Students celebrated the 100th day of school on January 22, with a variety of different activities. Students counted by ones, fives, or tens to make 100. Students used 100 items to create things such as towers, necklaces, or an art masterpiece. Students wrote about the number 100 – like what they would do with $100.

CHCA Celebrates 100 Days

Lower School students from Cottage Hill Christian Academy enjoyed many varied and unusual 100th day of school activities. Some activities included sharing 100 snack items, counting to 100 by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, predicting what it would be like to be 100 years old, painting, and parading, All activities focused on various mathematical concepts that could be taught using the number 100. It was a fun day at the Lower Campus. 29

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Autauga County Schools

UMS-Wright Celebrates 100th Day

Mrs. Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class celebrated the 100th day of school, along with all K4 and K5 classes, on January 23rd. K5 students, Cole Maurin, Ellie Gartman, Alex Barrera & Mallie Hanes made necklaces, built puzzles and decorated hats to commemorate the day. From the very first day of school, students began tracking the number of school days in anticipation to the 100th day. While having fun, teachers used this as a tool to teach various mathematical concepts.

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Theodore High School Wins Hi-Q Competition

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New Horizon Credit Union Hi-Q Competition among Theodore, McGill and LeFlore schools was hosted by Theodore High School January 27. After a challenge to the author of a question was won by Theodore, the official final winner was Theodore High School. A reception for teams, sponsors, and coordinators was provided by Evonik. Pictured on back row are Mrs. Everett, sponsor, Samantha Woods, Alexis Ott, Mr. Holt, sponsor. Front row: Andy Shepler, Jeremy Shiver, Blake Sheperd, Taylor Guy.

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McDavid-Jones Student Council Organizes Valentine Service Project

The student council collected valentine cards and placemats for the nursing home. We asked that teachers have each student make a valentine card and make 1 placemat per class. The placemat was made out of 11x17 copy paper and students could sign their name, write a little note and decorate them. The placemats were then laminated and prepared for delivery. Pictured Left to right- Garrett Sullivan (secretary), Grace Banks (treasurer), Faith Isler (president) and Jacob Arnold (vice president).

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McT Physics Three Peat!

History was made at the Alabama High School Physics Competition on Friday January 30th! The McGill-Toolen Physics Team attained a rare "three peat championship" by taking 1st place for the third consecutive year in their division. The McGill-Toolen A-Team and B-Team won 1st Place AND 2nd place in the private schools division and won 2nd and 3rd place among all schools in ALL divisions (beating all large public and ALL science-math magnet school teams!) "Perfect Rounds" are earned by answering all 4 presented physics problems correctly in 40 seconds or less. Perfect team rounds were posted by Chris McDonald, Claire Powers, Connor Kusch and John Michael McGuire! Patrick Spafford and Peter McDonald answered all team round questions correctly. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School was awarded 2nd Place among all Schools in all divisions in 2015 (among public, private and magnet schools.) This is the 3rd consecutive year that McGill-Toolen has placed 1st or 2nd among all schools in all divisions.

Corpus Christi Catholic School Building the Body of Christ One Student at a Time.

Please join us at our Open House program. Interested parents are invited to tour our school and meet with students, teachers and parents, while learning about our many excellent academic programs for all students in K3 through eighth grade. For more information, please call 342-5474, ext. 1105.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015, 2 P.M.—4 P.M. Corpus Christi Catholic School 6300 McKenna Drive · Mobile, AL · 36608 www.corpuschristiparish.com/school

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Autauga County Schools

Blessing of the Throats at St. Ignatius School

St. Ignatius school had a Blessing of the Throats on February 3. Fr. Shields and Fr. Daniel (not pictured) went to every classroom and blessed each child that they would stay well. The Blessing of the Throats is a prayer during the feast day of St. Blaise. St. Blaise is the patron Saint of diseases of the throat and all illness. During this flu season, we hope that all our students stay healthy. Fr. Shields is pictured here blessing 5th grade student Gabby Marston.

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Creativity is Flourishing at St. Pius X

St. Pius X students have been busily preparing art work for the St. Pius X A Night to Remember at the Cattle Baron's Ball to be held on Saturday, March 21. Students have been busy working on individual projects as well as live and silent class art items. Pictured here are students in kindergarten through 6th grade with some of the silent art auction items created by students with their teachers. The pallet art, which will be up for auction also, was also created by a St. Pius X student and teacher.

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Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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St. Luke’s Cash Bash Tickets On Sale in March

St. Luke's Episcopal School will hold their annual CASH BASH on Saturday, May 2nd .ONLY 300 Cash Bash tickets will be sold! Tickets are $100 each and include admission for 2 to the Cash Bash with food, music, entertainment, silent auction, “horse” racing, cash bar and more! One lucky attendee will walk away with $10,000! All proceeds directly benefit St. Luke’s Episcopal School. Tickets go on sale March 18th and are being sold on a first come first served basis...get yours early by contacting the school at 666-2991!

Corpus Christi 6th Graders Participate in Mentoring Program

In 2012, Corpus Christi Catholic School developed a mentoring program for students who are entering the sixth grade. Every sixth grader is assigned a mentor who is a faculty or staff member. The mentors and students meet throughout the school year to discuss issues that are unique to junior high students. The program has been very successful by providing another source of academic and social support of the students. "I recently met my mentors for breakfast in the school cafeteria. It was mid-quarter so I was able check with the students to make sure they were going to have a successful semester," said Tammy Foley. Mrs. Foley is pictured with her mentees: L to R, Victoria Rodriguez, Rebecca Lee, Samantha Butler and Jordan Brooks.

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Autauga Schools Elementary January GATOR Kids County at Allentown

GATOR Kids demonstrate the 6 Pillars of Character. K-2nd grade pictured left. 3rd-5th grade pictured right.

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Causey Middle School Works to Get Fit

Bernice Causey Middle School along with our PTSA is inviting families “2 Be Fit” together on February 24th to hear AYSC Jason Smith give us some tips in the Causey Gym. Here are a few examples of what Causey’s PTSA has done over the past year: MDA walk, Jason’s Gym coming to speak to our children, continuously supporting student success through honors programs and welcoming all families into the school community. We will have refrigerator magnets to hand out to families that state the success a child has when parents are an active part of their child’s school. We will have cookies at the door for everyone who comes. Door prizes will also be given away!

Covenant Christian School Recognizes NJAHS Members

Covenant Christian School would like to recognize this year's members of the National Junior Art Honor Society. Congratulations to these outstanding students: Angela Russ, MacKensey Edmund & Isabel Sharer.

Corpus Christi Catholic School Students March for Life

On January 22, Corpus Christi Catholic School students participated in our 3rd annual March for Life. The march at our school was held in conjunction with the annual March for Life that was taking place Washington, D.C. at the same time. Corpus Christi students were led by the Pro-Life Club and the Knights of Columbus as they prayed the Holy Rosary during the march around the school's field. 35

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Senior Bowl Players Visit St. Pius X School

Senior Bowl players David Johnson and Sammie Coates visited St. Pius X during Senior Bowl Week. The players spoke to the students about the importance of working hard to obtain a good education in order to follow your dream. Both players attributed their education as the main catalyst to fulfilling their dreams of entering the NFL draft. After speaking to students the players signed autographs and poised for photo ops. Pictured here are David Johnson and Sammie Coates with Mrs. Cheryl Perez (P.E. Aide) and Mrs. Diane Roberts (Media Specialist).

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St. Mary Catholic Celebrates Family

Catholic Schools Week ended with a huge celebration of family including parents, students, grandparents, alumni and friends of St. Mary Catholic School. The day began with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, followed by awards, classroom visits, and a fantastic luncheon. Pictured is St. Mary parent, Don Urquhart with his son Bud Urquhart, who is in kindergarten at St. Mary. Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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Q. My daughter is a freshman in col-

lege, but I didn’t save for her education. My parents said it was my job to pay for my college, and that’s what I’ve told her. She’s going to have about $12,000 in student loan debt after her first year, but how do I talk to her about not ending up with $50,000 in debt when she’s through?

A. If you want her to pay for college, then, as her dad, you have to coach her on how she’s supposed to come up with the money and manage it properly. She’s already behind the eight ball because it sounds like you didn’t teach her the correlation between work and money earlier. So, you’re going to have to get real busy, real fast unless you want her to be drowning in debt when she graduates. I think you owe her a leg up at this point. Twelve thousand dollars doesn’t just magically appear in an 18-year-old’s hands. I’m perfectly okay

with kids working through college and parents cracking the whip when it comes to acting responsibly. But if you expect them to pay for it, you first have to show them how to do that. Otherwise, they’re going to hit the default button and wind up $50,000 in debt when they graduate. That’s a really bad plan! If you have some money, I think you should help her along while teaching her how to make money, save and budget. Then, maybe she’ll be prepared to pay for her last couple of years with some good, hard work!

Q. How do you sell a vehicle with a lien amount that’s higher than the actual value of the car? A. First, you have to find a way to cover the difference between the amount of the lien and what you can get for the car. Let’s look at an example.

If the car is worth $15,000, and you owe $18,000, that would leave you $3,000 in the hole. How do you get out of that car? The bank holds the title, and until you give them the payoff amount of $18,000, you’re not getting the title. The easiest and simplest way would be if you had $3,000 on hand to make up the difference. But if someone comes along and buys the car from you for $15,000, you’ve got to be able to cover the remaining $3,000, right? Barring the best-case scenario where you actually have the money, you could go to a local bank or credit union and borrow the remaining $3,000. I hate debt, but being $3,000 in the hole is a lot better than $18,000 in the hole. Then, you could turn around and pay back the $3,000 quickly. After that, you’d give the total amount owed to the bank. They would give you the title, and you sign it over to the new owner. That’s how it works!

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If you are parenting a bright but disorganized student, you may feel frustrated

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yourself are disorganized, you may even feel hopeless. But no matter what their age, there is no reason to feel stuck. As organizing expert Donna Goldberg reminds: “If you and your child invest the time it takes to organize supplies, homework, and a study schedule, you can create the structure that he needs to succeed.” Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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Scattered Students

Does your student need help in the area of organization? Goldberg outlines a snapshot of disorganization in The Organized Student (2007): 1. Frequently loses papers. 2. Doesn’t hand in assignments on time or at all. 3. Has a backpack full of crumpled papers and random objects. 4. Can’t break down long-term projects and misses deadlines. 5. Leaves everything for the last minute. 6. Disrupts home life with frantic searches, urgent requests for late night help, and anxiety-ridden meltdowns.

Organization’s Payoff

It’s clear to most parents and students how disorganization leads to lower achievement and grades, but it is also worth noting what is to be immediately gained from investing the time to become organized. Author of Where’s My Stuff (2010) Samantha Moss identifies five important reasons for adolescents to get organized: 1. Score bonus time. “Getting organized frees you from this frenzy, leaving you more time for the luxurious things in life. Like sleep.” 2. More cash. “One side effect of being disorganized is that things get ruined or lost all the time.” 3. More chill. “Being surrounded by turmoil keeps your mind in permanent panic mode, with no chance to rest.” 4. Improve relationships. “When serenity rules, there’s more time and energy for the people you care about—and when you’re more relaxed, they’re more relaxed too.” 5. Greater independence. “Earning your parents’ trust will mean earning the right to make more decisions for yourself.”

10 Organization Habits You know the basics. Your child needs proper school supplies, a planner, a comfortable place to do work and study at home, and a consistent study routine. Your student needs plenty of sleep and healthy foods. Beyond the obvious, educator Grace Fleming advises incorporating these 10 habits into the daily routine to improve performance: 1. Write down every assignment (due date, test date and task).

2. Remember to bring homework to school (develop a habit of placing finished work in backpack immediately). 3. Communicate effectively with your teacher (ask lots of questions). 4. Organize with color coding (a different color for each subject). 5. Establish a study zone at home (a quiet room free of distractions). 6. Prepare yourself for test days (think about the room’s temperature and choose the proper clothing). 7. Know your dominant learning style (Visual? Auditory? Tactile?) and tap into your strengths. 8. Take fabulous notes. 9. Conquer procrastination. 10. Take care of yourself (take better care of your mind and body).

Smart Studying for Tests

Fleming also has advice for students to improve study habits: 1. Don’t take linear notes. Instead, right before every new lecture, review notes from days past and predict the next day’s material. Reflect and make relationships between key concepts before you sit down for a new lecture. Prepare for your exams by creating a fill-in-the-blank test from your notes. 2. Take practice exams. Instead of re-writing notes, switch your notes with a classmate and create a practice exam. Exchange practice exams to test each other. Repeat this process a few times until you are comfortable with the material. 3. Go beyond flash cards. Just memorizing vocabulary words is not enough after middle school. Learn to memorize a definition, then define the significance of the new vocabulary terms you encounter. In Studying Smarter, Not Harder (2009) Kevin Paul discusses the inhibiting role of stress and anxiety upon studying and learning. Since daily life for most students includes stressors and numerable distractions, it is important to learn skills to calm themselves. “Stress is normal but so is the receding of that stress so we can rest, relax, and recover.” He suggests breathing and muscle relaxation to achieve a “relaxed alertness” before attempting to learn anything new. To learn more about relaxed breathing exercises, Dr. Andrew Weil’s site may be helpful (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/ three-breathing-exercises.html). MBP Michele Ranard has a husband, two children, and a master’s in counseling. Visit her at http:// hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com and http://hellolovelychild.blogspot.com.

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A Page in a Book Sleepy Selections for Bedtime While anytime is a good moment to read-aloud with our kids, most of us tend to make their bedtime our default reading window. The work of the day is behind us, our distractions are minimized, and cuddled up in bed is always a great setting for reading. And while starting off the bedtime reading with some exciting titles is fun, having a drowsy book to close out the night is also a smart move. Books about sleeping signal the approaching lights out and offer peaceful themes that children can carry with them as their heads hit the pillow. The following titles are somnolent beauties that will waft the widest eyes to sleep in short order.

Sleepyheads

by Sandra J. Howatt, Illustrated by Joyce Wan (Simon & Schuster) Children are not alone in their adorable repose as they sleep. The animal kingdom is full of critters whose cute factor launches off the charts when they settle in for the night. Sleepyheads gently parades images of sleeping creatures rendered in their habitats against the soft darkness of night. Simple text introduces each animal cuddled into its favorite sleeping spot with encouragement for readers to find and observe them as they snooze. Gently illuminated with fireflies and hazy moonlight, this is an ideal transition from the last light of the evening to the peaceful darkness that joins us at bedtime.

Snoozefest

by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Kristyna Litten (Dial/Penguin) For Cuddleford Snugglebun, a slow-moving sloth and champion sleeper, Snoozefest is her destination event of the year. Celebrating all the best parts of bedtime and sleeping, Cuddleford prepares to join an army of her fellow snooze fans for the sleepiest show around. Everyone brings their favorite blankets, bedtime books and cuddles. Live bands like ‘Chamomile Rage’ and ‘The Nocturnal Nesters’ take the stage just after the pajama parade. There’s not a wide eye in the house as drowsy rules the night at Snoozefest. Rhyming text and softly lined illustrations are just the ticket for this book that celebrates everything and everyone who enjoys falling asleep!

Time to Sleep

by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Some children love to learn new things with every book they read. For those young facthounds, Time to Sleep is an ideal bedtime book that combines interesting facts about animals’ sleep habits with gorgeous illustrations. An enormous title that covers two laps when opened, the paper collage images are stark and lovely. From the sleepy bee to the drowsy giraffe, the featured animals each reveal a unique or unusual way that they get their sleep. There are additional interesting facts on each creature included in the back of the title for daytime follow-up reading. Filled with nuggets of information on snoozing creatures, it’s the perfect book bridge between educational reading and dreamy musing before sleep.

Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

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Fall and winter encourage us to collect more stuff. We stock up on canned goods and fire wood. We give and get mountains of holiday goodies and gifts. By the time spring arrives, we’re eager to feel a sense of openness and light in our homes once again. You don’t need an expensive wholehouse makeover to refresh your emotional energy. Clearing out clutter offers a quick and inexpensive mood boost. Here’s how to do it.

Start small. If just the thought of sorting and organizing leaves you dizzy and short of breath, take baby steps. Tackle one drawer, corner or closet at a time. You’ll gain momentum as your space opens up. Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

Sort smart. Put like items together in one location so you can see how many you have. If you buy in bulk or hang on to practical items (like half-full bottles of shampoo), you probably have two, three or more of the same thing. Get rid of worn out items and duplicates. Use up or consolidate. If your most-loved objects are not the most-often-used, they should be. Toss thread-bare towels and use the plush, luxury linens. Life is short. Let go of guilt. Do you keep items only because you’d feel guilty if you got rid of them? I’m talking about your great aunt’s Hummel figurine collection and the bridesmaid dress you wore to your sister’s wedding in 1998. Your loved ones wouldn’t want you to feel obligated to keep items that overcrowd your closets and stress you out. Give yourself permission to let go. 42

Test date. Even if you have only one bread machine or tennis racquet, it may be time to give it up. Discard or donate items you haven’t used in more than a year. Next time you need a specialized gadget or one-time-only outfit, borrow or rent instead of buying. You’ll save money and avoid storing things you rarely use. Sell out. If you don’t mind haggling, have a yard sale. Set reasonable prices and give discounts to customers who buy several items. Your goal is to get rid of things, not to get rich. Sell specialized, more expensive items online through Craigslist or eBay. Collectors and niche consumers spend more than yard-sale scavengers. Donate discards. List unwanted items at Freecycle.org or take them to a www.mobilebayparents.com

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local thrift shop. Many charities will pick up heavy items – like furniture – for free. Even obsolete electronics can be recycled. Go to Earth911.org to find recycling sites by zip code.

Pitch paper. Paper clutter can be overwhelming, especially if it represents decisions and actions you’ve delayed. Finish any unfinished business. Store phone numbers in your address book, pay bills and file tax documents. Then get shredding. If you have too much to shred on your own, find a local document destruction company. Most offer by-the-box or per-pound rates, and they are bonded and insured, so you don’t have to worry about identity theft. Think outside the box. Determine what storage containers you need only after you’ve whittled down your belongings. Check your closets, cupboards and garage for bags, bins and boxes. Re-use old containers or raid the cardboard recycling bin behind the neighborhood strip mall. You don’t have to spend a fortune on decorative hatboxes to corral clutter. Label well. The time you take to clearly label boxes and bins will pay off later. Color code and write big so it’s easy to identify contents at a glance. You should be able to find last year’s tax records without sifting through school supplies, family photos and take-out menus. Bonus: If you label things right, other family members will be able to find what they need without your assistance. Scrap it. Don’t throw out the memories with the mess. Take pictures of kids’ artwork and store them electronically. Put small mementos – like your tickets to The Lion King on Broadway or the program from your son’s sixth-grade graduation – in a scrap book or memory box. Happy memories are the best treasures. MBP Heidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist and reformed pack rat. She is the author of Detachment Parenting.

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Children’s Rooms Not Just Dorms Custom Headboards and Dorm Décor (251) 661-9100; www.notjustdorms.com Our headboards and accessories are great for apartments, homes, beach houses, condos, nurseries and hunting camps -- anywhere you want to add style and a custom look without spending a fortune.

Polka Tot Designs

7335 Airport Boulevard, Mobile (251) 639-5265; www.polkatotdesigns.com Custom rooms for custom kids! Whether it’s custom baby bedding in your dream nursery or a cool college dorm room, we’re happy to help you with all your decorating needs. We specialize in custom baby bedding, kids bedding & window treatments.

Siegel’s Baby’s Room

758 Downtowner Blvd., Mobile (251) 342-9469; siegelsbabysroom.net We have been serving Mobile for over 20 years and have the finest in new infant products. We are the shopping experience you have been looking for when you are shopping for your new baby’s room.

Tiny Town

3980 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, (251) 341-1480; www.tinytowninc.com Tiny Town specializes in traditional children’s clothing, gifts, and furniture.

Fabric Shops Cotton Capers

1302 Dauphin Street, Mobile (251) 432-3452

Ely’s Fabrics

2767 Springhill Ave, Mobile (251) 478-5374; www.elysfabricwarehouse.com

Five Gold Monkeys

4350 Old Shell Road, Suite B (251) 345-3380; www.facebook.com/ fivegoldmonkeys

RichTex Fabrics

8967 Rand Ave, Daphne (877) 625-2889; www.buyfabrics.com

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

Home Décor/ Decorator Shops Augusta Tapia Interiors 2966 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 476-0042

Bronstein’s

458 Azalea Road, Mobile (251) 343-7200; www.bronsteins.com Bronstein’s Fine Furniture has been the Gulf Coast’s premier showroom for quality home furnishings, spanning in style from traditional to contemporary. Taking great pride in customer service, we make extraordinary efforts to offer our clients the best names in home furnishings at competitive pricing. We also offer complimentary in-home design consultations to all of our customers. Whether you are furnishing one room or an entire home or are simply in need of interior design ideas, let one of our talented designers be your partner in creating a space that perfectly fits your lifestyle.

Design House

3607 Old Shell Road, Suite 2, Mobile (251) 607-6310 www.facebook.com/MobileDesignHouse Full service design and retail space. Furnishings for your home: upholstery, lamps, tables, art, mirrors, accessories in a wide range of styles and prices.

Sarah B. Atchison’s

2602 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 473-4086; www.sarahbatchisons.com Jewelry for your home and so much more.

Yellow House Antiques & Interiors

1902 Government St, Mobile (251) 476-7382; yellowhouseantiques.com Antiques, Interiors. Whether you looking for a timeless piece or need help with your entire house, we’ve got the largest showroom in the area to help meet your needs. Interior Decoration services include custom upholstered furniture, drapery, and custom window treatments, wallpaper and rugs. Yellow House also specializes in quality lampshades and finials as well as offering lamp repair and custom lamp work.

Antiques and Consignment Furniture Antiques and Estates

12 South Conception Street, Mobile (251) 377-8336; antiquesestates.com Our mission is to accent the unique style of our colorful city by helping you bring to your home or office the rich European flavors which tie us so closely to our past.

Antiques at the Loop

28 South Florida Street, Mobile (251) 476-0309; antiquesatloop.com Find affordable solutions for better living.

Atchison Imports

Details

4456 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 463-4833; (251) 605-3829

Feather Your Nest

4258 Bit and Spur Road, Mobile (251) 343-3634; fyninteriors.com Custom home interior design, gifts and accessories.

Five Gold Monkeys

4350 Old Shell Road, Suite B (251) 345-3380; www.facebook.com/ fivegoldmonkeys Fabrics, Furniture, Gifts, Home Accents

M.A. Simmons

2151 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 479-4350 Antiques, Gifts, Home Accents, Jewelry & Accessories 44

921 Dauphin St, Mobile (251) 438-4800; Atchisonimports.com Excellent collection of antiques, lighting and accessories from around the world.

Charles Philips Antiques & Architectures 4505 Laurendine Rd., Theodore (251) 973-2885; www.charlesphillipsantiques.com Come spend some time with us in the country – wherever you live, we promise we are worth the drive! You will find a huge, constantly revolving stock of fantastic antique pieces – whether you’re looking for furniture, architectural elements, unusual accessories, collectibles, prints, or linens, you’ll be sure to find it here at prices you can afford.

Cotton City Antique Mall 2012 Airport Blvd, Mobile (251) 479-9747 Fabulous furniture finds.

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Divine Consignment

2104 Airport Blvd, Mobile (251) 473-2126 www.facebook.com/DIVINEConsginment Offering antiques & vintage.

Emme’s Furniture Gallery

2154 Airport Blvd., Mobile (251) 287-2933 Emme’s is a very unique furniture and accessory consignment/interior shop located at the loop in Mobile, Alabama.

High Cotton Consignment

2567 Old Shell Road, Mobile (251) 473-2565; www.highcottonmobile.com Our mission is simple. To provide exceptional value and customer service to our consignors and customers by providing a convenient, safe, and effective venue for buying and selling previously owned quality home furnishings and decor on consignment.

Joachim Street Antique Mall

9 S Joachim St, Mobile (251) 895-2687; www.facebook.com/ JoachimStreetAM Joachim Street Antique Mall is located in the heart of historic downtown Mobile, AL. Our dealers offer the widest selection of vintage, antique and eclectic items in the south.

Kaglan’s Resale

3431 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile (251) 666-2000 Antiques & Consignment Store.

Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery

1616 W I65 Service Road South, Mobile (251) 661-9818 We take great pride at Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery in offering one of the largest and most interesting selections of quality antique furniture, opulent accent pieces and select collectables on the Gulf Coast. We also have estate sales on the first weekend of every month.

and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.

C H I L D R E N A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY

1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

Plantation Antique Gallery

604 Bel Air Blvd, Mobile (251) 470-9961; plantationgalleries.com Opulent antiques, incredible rugs, decorator items, chandeliers and lighting for the most discerning tastes. European furniture, rare artwork, and the best selection of floor coverings on the Gulf Coast.

The Shop Around the Corner 207 Saraland Blvd., Saraland (251) 209-9107 Offering antiques & vintage.

White House Antiques

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12650 Cunningham Rd., Grand Bay (251) 401-6407; www.whitehouseantiques.com Specializing in cottage chic and French country décor.

Organization

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(251) 344-0202; www.customclosetsmobile.com Welcome to Custom Closets by Kenney-Moise, Inc., your local home organization expert serving Mobile and Baldwin Counties of AL. As a fully trained and authorized ORG Home dealer, we provide professionally designed and custom built organization solutions. Our complete line

MontgmeryParents_COA_HeadlineAd_Chess.indd 1 of home organization solutions includes unique solutions to organize closets, pantries, garages, basements, laundry rooms, and even the home office or extra bedroom.

Neat Freak Organization & Staging

(251) 680-9809 www.facebook.com/mobileneatfreak Are you overwhelmed by your closet? Trying to sell your home and need to declutter? Just moved in and need help getting your stuff organized? Neat Freak Leigh Dale Younce provides organizing and staging services.

Spaces Organized Simply

(251) 650-4646; www.spacesorganizedsimply.com We are Professional Organizers for any room in your home or business.

2/3/15 10:28 AM Home and Garden Shows

Baldwin County Home Builders – Home and Product Show

2603 U.S. 98, Daphne; www.bchba.com Join us at the Daphne Civic Center Baldwin County Home Builders – Home and Product Show on March 7-8.

Festival of Flowers

6801 Airport Blvd, Mobile (251) 639-2050; www.festivalofflowers.com This year’s festival, entitled “Southern Roots” showcases creative interpretations of breathtaking landscape and architectural designs unique to our area. The Festival of Flowers continues to enchant, entertain and educate visitors of all ages with over eight acres of exhibits under

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tent and sky. Visitors will be delighted by new venues and by the return of many old favorites, such as Designer Tablescapes, Floral Design Showcase and World of Flowers exhibit. Show Times: March 26-29, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm. Festival of Flowers Single Gate Tickets: At the Gate: $14.00, Adults (in advance): $12.00, Seniors (at gate): $13.00, Advance: $12.00; Children (under 12) Free. Groups: Special Rates

Home & Garden Show

1 South Water Street, Mobile www.mobilehomeandgardenshow.com Don’t miss your opportunity to turn your home and garden dreams into reality! The entire Convention Center will be completely transformed, for one weekend only, into a Home and Garden Extravaganza. From the front door to the backyard you’ll find it all at the Greater Mobile Home & Garden Show. March 27-March 29 at the Mobile Convention Center (1 South Water Street, Mobile). Show Hours: Friday, March 27 from 2:00pm - 7:00pm, Saturday, March 28 from 10:00am-7:00pm, Sunday, March 29 from 11:00am-5:00pm. Please visit www.mobilehomeandgardenshow.com for more information.

Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale

5151 Museum Drive, Mobile (251) 342-0555; mobilebotanicalgardens.org Thousands of plants, including vegetables, herbs, and fruits, will be for sale at the Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale at the Mobile Botanical Gardens from March 19 – March 22. All plants are especially selected for the Gulf Coast climate; many varieties are grown on site by MBG greenhouse volunteers. For plant collectors, rare and unusual plants will be available in the “Fab & Funky” section. Thursday (March 19th) is the Opening Night Preview Party and Sale from 4-7 p.m., when wine, hors d’oeuvres, and music accompany shoppers who will get first choice of plants. Admission is $25. Weekend sale hours are Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission free. Bring your own wheelbarrow or cart for easier shopping. For more information call (251) 342-0555.

The Greatest Home Show in Mobile

201 South Water Street, Mobile (251) 661-6523; www.hbamm.com Home Grown, Locally Owned! The Greatest Home Show in Mobile is a one-stop place for consumers to meet Mobile’s finest builders and remodelers. See the latest in home products, materials and technology. Located at the Alabama Cruise Terminal with FREE covered parking! February 27-March 1- Friday hours 2:00 - 5:00; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 5:00. $7 adults, 12 & under FREE!

Garden Centers A Bloom Garden Center

(251) 633-6046; abloomgardencenter.com 116 Alverson Road North, Mobile A Bloom Garden Center has been open since March 2008, with our abundance of beautiful trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and garden art. But we also offer landscaping services with A Bloom Landscape & Sprinkler Co.

Blair’s Nursery and Gifts

9001 Dawes Lane N, Mobile, (251) 666-5687 Retail Garden Center open year round.

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

Elizabeth’s Garden

250 North McGregor Avenue, Mobile (251) 344-2654; www.elizabethsgardenshop.com Find flowers, unique gifts and decorations.

Laura Kay’s Nursery & Florist

5600 Cottage Hill Rd, Mobile, (251) 666-1510 Family owned and operated nursery and florist.

Zimlich’s Patio and Garden Center

2650 Dauphin St. (251) 478-1484; www.zimlichspatio.com Offering only the highest quality of plants, shrubs, bulbs as well as a variety of distinctive garden ware and unique containers and baskets.

Art Galleries Amber Ivey Fine Art

3607 Old Shell Road Suite 6, Mobile (251) 767-1312; www.amberiveylane.com Art, WK Southern Wood Furniture, Jewelry, Photographs

Artology

306 Dauphin Street, Mobile, (251) 439-7767 Gallery and Gifts

Ashland Gallery

2321 Old Shell Rd, Mobile, (251) 479-3548 Art Gallery and full service custom framing along with fun gifts and fine crafts.

Cathedral Square Gallery

612 Dauphin St, Mobile (251) 694-0278; www.cathedralsquaregallery.org Located in the heart of LoDa’s Art District, Cathedral Square Gallery houses the largest selection of local and regional art on the Gulf Coast; featuring a complete array of artistic styles ranging from ceramics and jewelry to sculptures, woodwork and pottery.

Gallery 450

450 Dauphin Street, Mobile (251) 301-6810; gallery450.wordpress.com On top of being an art gallery, Gallery 450 is also a Real Estate Office, Photography Studio, Event Hall, and a Co-Working Space.

Innova Arts

505 Saint Louis Street, Mobile (251) 510-0649; innovaarts.com Innova Arts’ vision to provide a place for artists to continue learning and creating art as well as providing a venue for artists to show their work.

Koch Galleries

507 St. Louis Street, Mobile (251) 680-7641; kochgalleriesofmobile.com

Nolen-Schmidt Gallery & Studios

1835 Dauphin Street, Mobile (251) 476-3849; nolenschmidt.com Custom picture framing, local artwork and commissioned portraits and paintings.

Robertson Gallery

312 Marine Street, Mobile (251) 234-9213; www.robertsongallerymobile.com Robertson Gallery showcases the work of Brad Robertson, an award-winning contemporary artist.

Southern Art and Framing

4693 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, (251) 460-2539 Local Art, custom framing, and gift shop. MBP

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Don’t Dread Shopping for Swimwear Many of us dread the summer season because we know we are going to have to show some skin, and who wants to add to that stress by spending a lot of money on their swimwear? Not me! I have found some great ways to incorporate swimwear perfect for every body type. Swimwear follows the same techniques and trends as everyday clothing, and my method of bargain shopping is the same for swimwear. You can always find bargain swimwear at your local TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Target, Kohls or outlet stores. Remember to find pieces you can mix and match. You might find a top that costs a bit more, then pair that with a bottom from another bargain store, or vice versa. You can find some really nice pieces in some of these amazing stores. Another tip for finding that perfect swimsuit would be to shop at the end of the season. A lot of your retail stores like Dillard’s or Belk will discount their summer items to make room for fall/winter styles. Visit higher end stores in late August or September to take advantage of these end of summer deals. Another great tip that I like to use is the same tip I would use for my everyday style...ENHANCING. This is key and you can do it by adding pops of color, wedges, or maybe your favorite piece of jewelry. Honestly, these tricks work for every shape or size. Just bring your everyday style in with your swimwear style. Know what you enjoy wearing and what feels or looks good on you. Be confident in your body and yourself.

* High-cut bikini bottoms make legs look longer. If you’re short, or you’re long in the torso, this is a good selection.

Here are some other great tips: * To highlight a feature you like, use a bright color or pattern. * To hide something you don’t like, use a solid color. * If you have pale skin, use black or deep jewel tones, such as dark purple, navy, and maroon. * If you have dark skin, bright colors can actually be more flattering and help hide what you don’t like.

* Halter tops draw attention to the bust, as do triangle tops. * Tie-front bikini tops draw the eye to the bust, as well as pulling the breasts closer to one another, effectively making them look larger. If you have small breasts and want them to look larger, this might be a good choice. * Bandeau tops will make the bust seem wider. If you’re a pear shape and you want to imitate an hourglass shape, choose a bandeau top with ruffles or another busy detail.

* To add volume (such as to the bust or hips), choose a piece with ruffles in that area. * To hide volume (such as on the waist), use shirred or ruched fabric. * Don’t be afraid to buy separates that don’t match perfectly. Say you want to highlight your bust, but draw attention away from your hips. You might buy a bikini top in a bright solid or pattern, and a bottom that’s a dark black, blue or brown (depending on the top). * Enjoy vintage! I love vintage style swimwear on every shape woman. * A tankini will highlight your waist, because it draws the eye to the section of skin that’s showing. If you love your waist, but not your hips or bust, choose this. * A one-piece will hide your waist. Choose one with shirred panels over the stomach, or in a dark, solid color. 47

* To minimize a large bust, look for a straight across cut at the top of your swimsuit with wide set straps. Try a bikini top with an underwire and a thick chest band for extra support. A thick chest band will prevent jiggling so that the bra stays where it should and your girls won’t fall out. Enjoy and embrace your body and your style. Happy swimsuit shopping! Laura Handey is an independent clothing consultant in Pike Road, Alabama. You may reach her by email at laura@ centsiblysouthern. com or visit her website at www. centsiblysouthern. com.

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Family Calendar Ongoing

Civil War Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island. For more info call (251) 861-6992. www.dauphinisland.org. Concerts in the Park Sponsored by Mobile Pops Band. For more info call (251) 679-4876. www.mobilepopsband.com. Fort Conde Welcome Center Sponsored by Mobile Convention & Visitors Corp. Mobile. For more info call (251) 208-7658. www.mobile.org. Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center Government St. Mon. - Fri. 9 - 5; Sat. 10 - 5; Sun. noon - 5. Adults (19 - 59)/ $14; youth (13 - 18) & senior citizens (60+)/ $12.50; children/ $12; Combo tickets include a viewing of an IMAX film: $18; $17; $15.50. HandsOn South Alabama (Formerly Volunteer Mobile, Inc.). For information on Local Volunteer Opportunities, contact 251-433-4456, www.handsonsal.org. History Museum of Mobile • In March, the History Museum of Mobile will mark the 5th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with an exhibit that serves as a poignant reminder of those horrific months when the waters of the Gulf teemed not with life, but with deadly, thick, black tar. More than 20 local artists will lend their works to this exhibit entitled, “What’s at Stake?” designed to remind visitors of the beauty and uniqueness of the Gulf region, and the necessity of its protection. Please visit www. museumofmobile.com for more information. • Exhibit “Art of India” open through September 1, 2015. “Ark of India: An Alabama Artist Explores Southern Asia” is an exhibit about personal discovery and exploration. It is an account of late 19th and early 20th century India as seen by Alabama artist, Roderick D. MacKenzie, using his paintings, drawings, sculptures, and most importantly, photographs, and writings. Please visit www.museumofmobile.com for more information. Joe Jefferson Players Mobile. For information call (251) 471-1534. www.jjp.com. LODA Artwalk Second Fridays in Downtown – LoDa Arts District. Exhibitions (with receptions) and entertainment in a variety of downtown galleries and other venues. City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services. 6 - 9 p.m. Check NCS website for complete list of activities/map after noon the day of the event. For more information, please contact: 251-208-7443 or visit www. ncsmobile.org. Mobile Ballet For information about performances call (251) 342-2241 or visit www.mobileballet.com. Mobile International Speedway Irvington. For information call (251) 957-2026. www.mobilespeedway.com. Mobile Opera Mobile. For information call (251) 476-7372. www.mobileopera.org. Mobile Symphony Mobile. For information call (251) 432-2010. www.mobilesymphony.org. Oakleigh Museum House Mobile. For information call (251) 432-1281. www.historicmobile.org. Richards-Dar House Museum Mobile. For information call (251) 208-7320. USS Alabama Battleship 2703 Battles Parkway, Mobile. (251) 433-2703. www.ussalabama.com. VSA Arts & Easter Festival Mobile. For information call (251) 343-0958.

Classes/Meetings

APAC - Mobile County Adoptive Family Group Meets the 4th Friday of each month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Regency Church of Christ, 501 S. University Blvd., Mobile. Parent, Youth/Teen Group and Childcare Is Provided. Topic Discussions & ceu’s for foster families are offered. For more information please call 251-460-2727 * 1-800-489-1886 * or estokes@childrensaid.org.

Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

February/March 2015

Azalea City Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines Meets/rehearses each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Mobile Christian School, The Leopard’s Den. For more info call 251-380-0579 or visit www.azaleacityharmony.com. La Leche League Mobile Bay Area Breastfeeding support meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. and the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are free and open to all women with an interest in breastfeeding. Babies and children are welcome. For information or support contact a leader. 251-689-2085, amandaLLLmobile@yahoo. com, meghanLLL@yahoo.com, or michelleLLLmobile@ yahoo.com. Facebook: La Leche League Mobile Bay Area. Mobile Bay Area La Leche League Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. The number to call for the location is 251689-2085. We can also be found on Facebook at mobile bay area la leche league. Parent-Child Worship Service Each Wednesday in January and February, Dauphin Way United Methodist Church will offer a new Parent-Child Worship Service from 9:15-10:00 a.m. (room E207) for parents and their children ages birth to four-years-old. Relaxed and filled with music, prayer, a Bible story and coloring, this new program is a wonderful opportunity to worship with your precious little ones. The program will be short, and then kids can play while parents enjoy social time. Contact Dauphin Way UMC at 251-471-1511 for more information. Dauphin Way UMC is located at 1507 Dauphin Street, Mobile. The Family Center The Family Center’s classes in Mobile and Daphne are free and offer free childcare WITH minimum 24-HOUR RESERVATION. Night class includes supper and giftcards. All classes provide a certificate of completion. The Family Center of Mobile *Nurturing Parenting course teaches parenting skills such as teaching cooperation and peaceful bedtimes. Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 12-week rotating series. Call 251-479-5700 to register. *The Responsible Fatherhood Program (RFP) classes are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., but REQUIRE ADVANCE INTAKE APPOINTMENT. See daily listings for class topics. *Mondays: Together We Can, a cooperative parenting course, 8 weeks. *Tuesdays: Quenching the Father Thirst, (Four things every dad needs to know), 12 weeks. *Thursdays: Chill Skills Stress/Anger Management training, 4 weeks. 251-479-5700 for information on all Family Center classes. All held at 601 Bel Air Blvd, Suite 100, Mobile. www.familycentermobile.org or www.Facebook.com/ FatherhoodMobile Mobile Infirmary Hospital For complete information about class dates, times, and locations, or to schedule a tour of our maternity center, call the childbirth education office at (251) 435-2000. • Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings for families and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Meets every second Thursday of every month. E.A. Roberts Alzheimer’s Center, 169 Mobile Infirmary Blvd. Preregistration Not required. Free. Call 251-435-6950 for more information. 10-11 a.m. • Birthing Basics Class This course is for parents who either have already experienced childbirth or who prefer to attend just one class because of time constraints. The four-hour weekend session (with breaks) includes a tour and all birthing information. The fee is $30 for patients delivering at Mobile Infirmary. Pre-registration is required; call 435-2000. Every last Sunday of the month. 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. • Cancer Support Group Meets every 4th Tuesday of the month from 10-11 a.m. • Gastric Band Support Meets every 3rd Thursday of the month from 6-7 p.m. • Gastric Bypass Support Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month from 6-7 p.m. • Preparation for Childbirth Series This series of classes includes all aspects of labor including natural coping skills and epidural anesthesia. Class participants will practice comfort measures and learn about post-delivery and newborn care. A maternity tour is included.

Providence Hospital: www.providencehospital.org Providence Hospital is pleased to offer a variety of classes on childbirth issues. All classes are located in Conference Room I (located just inside the main lobby doors of the hospital beside the Gift Shop) unless otherwise specified. To register for classes or for more information, you may call 639-2938 to speak with our Childbirth Educator, Kathy Wade RN, or email kwade@providencehospital.org. For Daytime Breastfeeding classes only, you may call Marcia Ranew RN, our Lactation Consultant at 633-1749 or email mranew@providencehospital.org. Support Groups • Providence Hospital Breast “Friends” Meets the second Friday of every month at noon in the Moore Conference Room. The Moore Conference Room is located in the cafeteria. Call Robi Jones for more information, 251-639-2852. • Diabetes Support Group Classes meet in the Diabetes Center, Suite D-436 in the Providence Medical Office Plaza. Call 251-633-1987 for more information. Spring Hill Medical Center: www.springhillmedicalcenter.com • Better Breathers Support Group Meeting For people with pulmonary disorders. Meets on the fourth Monday of each month. 2-3 p.m. Gerald Wallace Auditorium. For more information, call 461-2438. • Breastfeeding Class One Wednesday per month. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Family Center. Benefits of breastfeeding, getting started, going back to work and FAQs are covered. Call 340-7770 early to pre-register. • Childbirth Preparation Classes Four consecutive Mondays (6:30-9 p.m.) at The Family Center. Register early. The class covers onset of labor, inductions, Cesarean sections, relaxation, anesthesia and postpartum. Includes a tour of the maternity units. Cost: $25 if delivering at Springhill Hospital.  Call 340-7769 early to pre-register. • Childbirth Preparation: Accelerated Course  One Saturday per month. 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at The Family Center. Ideal for those who live out of town or will be delivering soon.  $25. Call 340-7769 early to pre-register. • Me, Too! A Tour for Siblings Noon on the First Sunday of the month. Join us for an individualized tour and instruction for siblings ages 9 and younger. The event includes a tour of the maternity areas and tips on helping parents with the new baby. Parents must remain with their children.  By Appointment ONLY. Call 340-7769 to schedule an appointment. • Infant CPR  Learn this potentially life-saving technique while you are pregnant or soon after your baby’s birth. Covers infant CPR and choking. $5 if delivering at SMC. 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. The Family Center (Bldg. 2, Fourth Floor). Call 3407769 early to pre-register. • NAMI Mobile Support Group A support group for family members of those who suffer from mental illness. Meetings are held the third Monday of every month. For more information: Diane Kent at 5918021. 6-7 p.m., Spring Hill Baptist Church Activity Center. • Resolve Through Sharing For parents who have lost a child before or immediately after birth. Meets the fourth Monday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Gerald Wallace Auditorium. Call 460-5323. USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital www.usahealthsystem.com/usacwh Classes: Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 415-1069. No children at classes, please. Class size is limited. Advanced payment required to secure your reservation. If you are expecting multiples or having a c-section, please call for additional class information. • Preparing for Childbirth All-day Saturday class for the expectant mother and her support person (coach). Topics include: pregnancy changes, labor, role of the support coach, relaxation and breathing techniques, vaginal and cesarean births, postpartum care, and a tour of the maternity areas. Fee per couple: $30. You should plan on beginning the 3-week series when you are approximately 28 weeks pregnant. Class will meet in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital. Every other month, 9-2.

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Family Calendar • Childbirth in a Nutshell This class includes a brief overview of labor and a tour of the maternity areas. Class meets first Tuesday every other month from 6:30-9 p.m. in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital. Fee per couple: $15. • Breastfeeding This one-night class is for expectant and newly delivered mothers and their support persons who want to learn about breastfeeding. Topics include advantages, myths and facts, getting started, correct positioning, latching on, engorgement, returning to work and problem-solving. Class meets second Thursday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the CWEB2 Building behind the hospital Fee: $5. Registration Information: Credit card payments are accepted by calling 415-1685. Mail payments for classes to: University of South Alabama, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Education Department, 1700 Center St., Mobile, AL 36604.

Friday, February 20

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Harlem Globe Trotters – 2015 World Tour The iconic Harlem Globetrotters are coming to town with their unrivaled family show, featuring some of the greatest athletes on the planet. With incredible ball handling wizardry, amazing rim-rattling dunks and trick shots, side-splitting comedy and unequaled on-court fan interaction, this must-see event is guaranteed to entertain the whole family – creating memories that will last a lifetime. The performance takes place at 7:00 PM at the Mitchell Center. For ticket information, please contact the Mitchell Center Ticket Office at (251) 4606047 or visit southalabama.universitytickets.com.

Saturday, February 21

Back to Bach – Mobile Symphony In February, we span the Baroque, Classical, and Post Romantic with Grammy nominated guest conductor Patrick Quigley. Soprano Kathryn Mueller sings the famous Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart for a program of serene beauty, tranquil delight and dancelike ecstasy. Join us on February 21 at 8:00 PM or Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 PM at the Mobile Saenger Theatre (6 Joachim Street, Mobile). Please call (251) 432-2010 or visit www.mobilesymphony. org for more information. Mobile Chocolate Festival The 7th Annual Mobile Chocolate Festival will be held at the Abba Shrine Center (7701 Hitt Road, Mobile) on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All proceeds from the event benefit Penelope House! Travel down Chocolate Bliss Lane, Visit our vendors for all your chocolate and gift-giving needs, Experience a taste of heaven with a chocolate martini tasting, Get creative with Alabama Art Supply, Go wild with kids arts & crafts, Enter your signature chocolate concoctions in our Chocolate Challenge, Learn from local chefs at the Mobile Fixture Demonstration Area, Enter and/or enjoy the designs from Project YumWay and more. General admission - $3, 65 and over $2, 13 and under Free. For more information, please visit www.mobilechocolatefestival.com. 21st Annual Women’s Conference Christ United Methodist church will hold its 21st Annual Women’s Conference, Live a Better Story and will feature Kasey Van Norman of Bryan, Texas. Kasey, a bestselling author of the book “God and Raw Faith”, works as a licensed professional counselor at Stone Creek Ranch, one of the world’s largest child rescue centers. Kasey also travels the country as a headline speaker for the Extraordinary Women Conferences and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Live a Better Story will be held at Christ UMC in Mobile beginning at 8:30 AM with check-in and ending at 12:30 PM. The cost is $35. The cost includes a continental breakfast, snacks, and child care. To register and pay on-line: www.christumcmobile.com or call (251) 342-0462.

Sunday, February 22

The Gala of the Royal Horses Experience the excitement, splendor, and majesty of the Gala of the Royal Horses coming to your city. The Gala of the Royal Horses is a spectacular show

February/March 2015

combining the most beautiful horses in the world with a live performer creating a breathtaking event for the entire family. The Gala of the Royal Horses is a “must see” for horse lovers and this is the first time the show has performed in the United States. 3:00 p.m. at the Mobile civic Center. Please visit www.mobilecivicctr.com for more information. Back to Bach – Mobile Symphony See February 21 for more information.

Tuesday, February 24

USA Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble Winter Concert Join us at 7:30 PM at the USA’s Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 each for general admission and $5 for USA faculty & staff, USA students, youths under 18 and all senior citizens. Please visit www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music for more information. West Mobile Softball Registration West Mobile Spring Registration takes place on February 24 and 26 from 6 - 8 p.m. and February 28 from 9 am - 1 p.m. 15U tryouts will take place on February 27 and 6U, 8U, 10U and 12U will take place on February 28 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, please email info@wmcgsa.com or find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/WMCGSA.

Wednesday, February 25

Winter Wednesdays – Bellingrath Gardens Join us on Wednesdays in February for special programs. Topics include gardening, history and the collections in the beautiful Bellingrath Museum Home. Please visit www. bellingrath.org for more information. Pre-K Studio – Centre for the Living Arts Pre-K Studio is a weekly program that allows children ages 2-5 and their parents to explore contemporary art and music. Activities are designed to stimulate young minds while offering cross curriculum learning opportunities with fun projects. Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the CLA classroom (301 Conti Street). Please visit www. centreforthelivingarts.com for more information.

Thursday, February 26

Outdoor Channel’s “Bone Collector” Team to Headline Family Based Event Outdoor Channel’s celebrity spokesperson Michael Waddell and the “Bone Collector” team will be coming to Mobile for the 2015 Mobile Leadership Series. Waddell and “Bone Collector” co-hosts Nick Mundt, Travis “T-Bone” Turner and Edwin Waddell will be the guest speakers for this special event scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Grounds (Greater Gulf State Fair Grounds); located at 1035 Cody Road North in Mobile. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The evening will kick off with a hunting and outdoor sporting expo showcasing some of the latest products from local vendors in the outdoor industry. Individual ticket prices begin at $100 and include admission to the expo and featured program with “Bone Collector,” as well as dinner catered by the event’s title sponsor, Kraver’s Seafood Restaurant. VIP table seating is also available. All proceeds from this event will go to support future Mobile Leadership Series speakers and Mobile Christian School. For more information on purchasing tickets or vendor booths, call 251.661.1649 or visit www.mobileleadershipseries.com. Voices of Jerusalem Lecture Series “Monks on the move: Evaluating pilgrimage to Byzantine Jerusalem using isotopes from ancient human teeth”. Lesley Gregoricka, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, University of South Alabama. As an extension of the exhibit, Voices of Jerusalem, there will be an academic lecture series running through early 2015. Cost for attending the lecture will be $10 per person and will include hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Location: Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center at 65 Government St at 6:00 PM. Please visit www.exploreum.com for more information. Archduke Trio with guest violist Rudolf Haken Join us at 7:30 PM at the USA’s Laidlaw Performing

Arts Center. Tickets are $8 each for general admission and $5 for USA faculty & staff, USA students, youths under 18 and all senior citizens. Please visit www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music for more information. Mobile Museum of Art – Night Market MMofA hosts a quarterly Night Market of artist and artisan wares. Bring a keen eye for detail and become known for the unique gifts you give. Rack your friends with jealousy for your rare, artful home décor. Support your local artists and join the party and shopping fun with great food, drink, and live music. 5 - 9 p.m. at 4850 Museum Drive. If you have any questions please visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com. West Mobile Softball Registration See February 24 for more information.

Friday, February 27

Playhouse in the Park presents “The Miracle Worker” “The Miracle Worker,” the inspirational story of Alabama’s own Helen Keller will be performed at the Playhouse (4851 Museum Drive) in February/March. The show runs from February 27 - March 8 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Please visit www.playhouseinthepark.org for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” Well-to-do guests gather for an anniversary celebration, but soon discover that the hostess is missing and the host has shot himself in the head (it’s only a flesh wound!). Comic complications arise when, given everyone’s upper class status, they decide they need to do everything possible to conceal the evening’s events from the local police and the media. Weekends February 27-March 15. Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM at 14 North Lafayette Street. Please visit mobiletheatreguild.org for more information. Mobile Orchid Society’s 38th Annual Orchid Show and Sale Join us for the 38th Annual Orchid Show and Sale at Bellingrath Gardens (12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore). Please visit www.mobile-area-orchid-society. org for more information. Home Show Home Grown, Locally Owned! The Greatest Home Show in Mobile is a one-stop place for consumers to meet Mobile’s finest builders and remodelers. See the latest in home products, materials and technology. Located at the Alabama Cruise Terminal with FREE covered parking! Friday hours 2:00 - 5:00; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 5:00. $7 adults, 12 & under FREE! Please visit www. hbamm.com for more information.

Saturday, February 28

Run for Ransom 5K & Fun Run Ransom Ministries is hosting a 5K and Fun Run along Mobile Bay with the USS Alabama Battleship and the Mobile skyline in sight on February 28. The out-and-back 5K course starts at 8 a.m. and begins and ends at the Battleship, and participants will run along the Causeway. After the race, participants and their families are invited to stay for an awards ceremony and a post-race party. The theme for the race is Salt Light, which represents Ransom Ministries’ mission: Be Salt, Be Light, Be Jesus. Participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt with the Salt Light logo on the front. Proceeds from the race will fund several of Ransom Ministries’ projects, including Ransom Cafe, a donation-only restaurant with six locations in churches across Mobile and Baldwin counties; the Clean Machine, a portable laundry and shower trailer; community gardens; and summer youth service camps. Please visit www.ransomcafe.com for more information. 21st Annual Women’s Conference Christ United Methodist church will hold its 21st Annual Women’s Conference, “Live a Better Story” and will feature Kasey Van Norman of Bryan, Texas. Kasey, a bestselling author of the book “God and Raw Faith”, works as a licensed professional counselor at Stone Creek Ranch, one of the world’s largest child rescue centers. Kasey also travels the country as a headline speaker for the Extraordinary Women Conferences and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Live a Better Story will be held at Christ UMC in Mobile beginning at 8:30

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Family Calendar a.m. with check-in and ending at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $35. The cost includes a continental breakfast, snacks, and child care. To register and pay on-line: www. christumcmobile.com or call (251) 342-0462. Playhouse in the Park presents “The Miracle Worker” See February 27 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information. Mobile Orchid Society’s 38th Annual Orchid Show and Sale See February 27 for more information. Home Show See February 27 for more information. West Mobile Softball Registration See February 24 for more information.

Sunday, March 1

Mobile Orchid Society’s 38th Annual Orchid Show and Sale See February 27 for more information. Home Show See February 27 for more information.

Wednesday, March 4

Breathe Deep Mobile Breathe Deep Mobile will be a 5K walk and fun run. The course is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. There will be refreshments and fun for the whole family! Breathe Deep Mobile is a grassroots event brought together by LUNGevity and Tonya Vankirk who lost her father to lung cancer 2 years ago. Breathe Deep Mobile was started by one generous, passionate family and will radiate out into the entire community. With your support and participation, Tonya and her family hope to help other families avoid the loss that has devastated theirs. Hank Aaron Stadium, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Contact: Anna Dumelle – (847) 922-9546 or adumelle@lungevity.org Pre-K Studio – Centre for the Living Arts See February 25 for more information.

Thursday, March 5

Lucky Ducky Gala Join us for an evening of dancing with the Modern Day Eldorados, New Orleans style food and a silent auction to benefit Ozanam Pharmacy which is a non-profit that provides medication to patients that live in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia Co. Medication is provided at NO COST to patients if they qualify. This event takes place at the Carnival Museum.Please visit www.ozanampharmacy.org for more information or call (251) 432-4111. Spark Talks – Lecture Series Lecture on “Scribes and Sacred Texts: Ancient Texts and the Codifying of Faith Perspectives” at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (65 Government St) at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the lectures are $6 each and include drinks and light refreshments. Please visit www.exploreum. com for more information. Voice in a Crowd: Community Participation in Contemporary Art For better or worse, the information age is one of insta-history, a time when we all have become the active documentaries of our own fleeting experience. Artist group, Delta Psychedelica, creates platforms and forums for communities to explore their own likeness and remembrance live, rather than with the distance of time. Come for a walk & talk through ‘The People’s Gallery’, make a contribution or two, and reconsider how we commemorate each day as it passes. Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Dr.) at 7:00 p.m. Please visit www. mobilemuseumofart.com for more information.

Friday, March 6

Dauphin Way Baptist Expo Dauphin Way Baptist Church at 3661 Dauphin Street in Mobile will host its 6th Annual EXPO from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. There will be over 100 vendors, information on area businesses, ministries and other services in the Mobile area. Concessions will be available with proceeds to benefit the Youth Ministry Missions and camp scholarships. For

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more information, contact Robin in the Student Ministry at (251) 445-4163. Playhouse in the Park presents “The Miracle Worker” See February 27 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information.

Saturday, March 7

American Cancer Society Chili Cook-off Join us at the American Cancer Society 26th Annual Chili Cook-Off presented by TRAX Tire Pros for a spectacular, fun-filled day of food, fun and entertainment! The 26th Annual Chili Cook-Off is Mobile’s “hottest” charity event where teams compete for bragging rights on who has the best chili in town. Proceeds from Chili Cook-Off will be used for programs to teach the importance of early detection and prevention; patient services such as transportation, prosthetics, etc.... and lifesaving research. This event starts at 11:00 a.m. at The Grounds (1035 Cody Road South). Please visit www.mobilechilicookoff. org for more information. 25th Annual Colonies of the Gulf Coast – Ft. Gaines This is a family style event and everyone is welcome. The Fort’s museum and gift shop are always open. Come and explore life on ‘Isle Dauphine’ in the 1700-1800’s as a French, British and Spanish soldier. The soldiers will go through drills and fire the cannon. Visitors can see the Fort’s authentic Blacksmith demonstrating his craft. This event is also known to have Pirates show so come down to Dauphin Island and enjoy this special event and everything the Island has to offer. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Ft. Gaines (51 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island). Tickets $8 for adult and $4 for children. Please visit www.dauphinisland. org for more information. Dauphin Island Sunset Bridge 5K Run Join us for the Sunset Bridge 5K course that showcases the natural channel followed by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The bridge separates the Mississippi Sound on the west from Mobile Bay on the east. The run will begin at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and end at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. The course is flat. The course includes the flat part of the Dauphin Island Bridge. Please visit Eventbrite.com to sign up. Teen Tech Week 2015 Teen Tech Week will take place March 7-15. Kick Off! Members of the Mobile Makerspace will offer demonstrations of 3D Printers, Quadcopter Drones, Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects, and so much more. Door prizes include Raspberry Pi’s, Arduinos, and Makey Makeys. Teen Tech Week is offered in partnership with Mobile Makerspace to kickoff “Engaging Teens for Technology,” a Library initiative supported through a grant from Wells Fargo Bank. West Regional Branch (5555 Grelot Rd) from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, please call (251) 208-7570. 7th Annual Spay-Ghetti Dinner The seventh annual Spay-Ghetti Dinner will be held at Our Savior Catholic Church (1801 Cody Road South) starting at 5:00. Proceeds benefit the MSPCA Spay/ Neuter Program. The Stringslingers will entertain while you enjoy a sumptuous dinner of pasta, homemade meat or vegetarian sauce, garlic bread, salad, tea and an array of delicious homemade desserts. Door prizes and lots of raffle items. Big raffle prize is a $200 gas card! Tickets are just $10. Eat-in or carry out! For more information call (251) 633-3531. Playhouse in the Park presents “The Miracle Worker”. See February 27 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information.

Sunday, March 8

Funky Monkey 5K & Fun Run Join us for the Funky Monkey 5K which starts at 8:00 a.m. and the Fun Run will start at 8:45 at USA Campus, Intramural Fields, Cleverdon Road, Mobile. Please visit Eventbrite.com for more information. Playhouse in the Park presents “The Miracle Worker” See February 27 for more information.

Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information.

Wednesday, March 11

Learning Lunch: History Museum of Mobile Learning Lunch at the History Museum of Mobile (111 South Royal Street) takes place at 12:00 p.m. Bring your lunch and enjoy complementary beverages. CeCe Redmond, Irish Network USA – Mobile Chapter, Gulf Coast Irish Fusion. Please visit www.museumofmobile. com for more information. Pre-K Studio – Centre for the Living Arts See February 25 for more information.

Thursday, March 12

Sunny Side Theatre presents “Bring it On: The Musical” “Bring it On” will be performed March 12-14 at Moorer Center for Performing Arts, 1400 University Blvd. at St. Luke’s Episcopal School. Please call (251) 510-1808 for more information. Voices of Jerusalem Lecture Series Lecture on “The Rewards of Interreligious Dialogue” by John B. Switzer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology; Director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding, Spring Hill College. Cost for attending the lecture will be $10 per person and will include hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, 6 - 8 p.m. Contact Don Comeaux - 251-208-6855 or dcomeaux@ explore.um.com A Vanity Affair - Stars Fell On Alabama Join us at the annual “A Vanity Affair” from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. This is a fundraising event held at Byrne Hall on the campus of Spring Hill College to benefit Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation. This organization’s mission statement is “To provide accessible, modern, comprehensive, compassionate and multidisciplinary care to those with vision loss or blindness”. Call (251) 476-4744 or visit www.csvrlowvision.org for more information. Tour Mobile Museum of Art Come take a tour! Once a month on Thursday nights the Mobile Museum of Art offers free tours of The Art and Design of Mardi Gras exhibition or our permanent collection galleries from trained docents. Get the low down on how things are made, who made them, and what it all might mean. Tours are free, sign up at the front desk between 6 and 7:45 p.m. 4850 Museum Drive. Please visit www. mobilemuseumofart.com for more information. Spark Talks – Lecture Series Lecture on “The Rewards of Interreligious Dialogue” at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (65 Government St) at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the lectures are $6 each and include drinks and light refreshments. Please visit www. exploreum.com for more information. Fans for Philanthropy Assistance League of Mobile presents their signature fundraiser, Fans for Philanthropy. The event will be held at The Grounds on Cody Road at 5:30 p.m. Our guest speaker will be Phil Savage, the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Live music, classic cars on display, buffet dinner and also silent auction will be part of the event. Tickets are $50 per person or $400 for a table of 8. There are also opportunities for sponsorship. For additional information call: 251-633-7800.

Friday, March 13

LoDa Artwalk Second Fridays in downtown is the place to be! Join downtown art galleries, institutions, studios and unique shops as they open their doors and welcome you inside to see beautiful artwork, sample delicious foods and hear the sounds of the LoDa Artwalk. From 6 - 9 p.m. in the lower Dauphin district. Elvis Costello – Saenger Theatre Live in concert at the Saenger Theatre (6 Joachim Street, Mobile), the legendary, influential Elvis Costello will stake his claim on the historic stage at 8 p.m. Please visit www.mobilesaenger.com for more information. Mobile Historic Homes Tour The Historic Mobile Preservation Society would like

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Family Calendar to invite you to Mobile’s 46th annual pilgrimage on March 13 -14. This lovely spring tradition gives you a chance to explore Mobile’s unique past. Please visit hmps.publishpath.com/historic-homes-tour for more information. Village of Springhill Sidewalk-A-Thon Join us at 4:00 p.m. for the walk starting at Wilmer Hall Children’s Home at 3811 Old Shell Road to raise money for sidewalks in Springhill. Please visit www. thevillageofspringhill.com for more information. Mobile Boat Show The Mobile Boat Show takes over the Mobile Convention Center on March 13-15. In addition to a huge selection of boats and marine products, there are special events for the whole family to enjoy! This year’s show will feature professional flyboarding demonstrations in the Mobile River. This exciting new sport is taking off around the Gulf Coast and is fun to watch! The Fetch-n-Fish dog show returns with dog jumping, training tips and lots of fun for the kids; and the Skeeter Experience seminar series boasts a great line-up of local and regional fishing talent sharing their secrets and tips. Friday 12 - 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 per adult at the door, kids 12 and under are free. Please visit gulfcoastshows.com for more information. Spring Tea – Bragg-Mitchell Mansion Spring Tea at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion from 1 - 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Historic Homes Tour; please join us for tea and informal look at one of Mobile’s finest treasures. Admission charged for this fundraising event. Please visit www. braggmitchellmansion.com for more information. Michael Ward discussion on C.S. Lewis and Narnia The University of Mobile invites the public to a free lecture by one of the world’s pre-eminent scholars in C.S. Lewis studies, Michael Ward, Ph.D. at 1:30. p.m at the Weaver Auditorium (5735 College Parkway). Please visit umobile.edu for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information. Sunny Side Theatre presents “Bring it On: The Musical” See March 12 for more information.

Saturday, March 14

13th Annual Azalea Festival The Semmes Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that we will now be hosting the 2015 Azalea Festival this year and the years to come. Support local businesses and community at the 13th Annual Azalea Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Everyone can enjoy the day out with family and friends as the Azalea Festival will feature: Nationwide NASCAR Show Car and Simulator, Music, Dance, many Arts & Craft Vendors, and a Children’s area that can give kids something to do all day long. Other events throughout the day will include; Semmes BIG Challenge 5k Run benefitting the Semmes Boys and Girls Club, Car, Truck & Bike Show sponsored by Floorz N More, and Hickory Pit Too, and a huge Plant Sale sponsored by Mary G. Montgomery Football Booster Club and Horticulture Club. For more information, please visit www. semmeschamber.org. Mobile Ballet presents “Cinderella” On March 14 – 15, Mobile Ballet presents the classic “Cinderella”, the endearing story of good triumphing over evil at the Mobile Civic Center. Fun for all ages, this joyful production will feature outstanding guest artists, as well as our own Lauren Woods and Noel Hanley, Principal dancers, in lead roles. You’ll also recognize some audience favorites in character roles, including Cinderella’s outlandish step-sisters! Please visit www.mobileballet.org for more information. The Sing Off Live Tour The Sing-Off Live Tour! will feature The Sing-Off fan favorite groups VoicePlay and Street Corner Symphony. On tour the groups will perform their a cappella versions of this year’s chart topping hits as well as

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favorite arrangements from the TV show. In addition to headlining talent, each concert will feature local a cappella groups to open the show, allowing fans of the genre the chance to discover top local talent as well. Location: Saenger Theatre (6 Joachim St, Mobile) at 8:00 p.m. Please visit www.mobilesaenger.com for more information. Walk MS: South Alabama Participate in our annual Walk MS: South Alabama at Spring Hill College’s Rydex Common. Walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. Walk MS is the rallying point of the MS movement, a community coming together to celebrate hope for the future. Have questions about being a participant, starting a team or volunteering? Contact us at (205) 879-8546 or toll free at 1-800-344-4867. You can also email us at WalkMSAlabama@nmss.org. Luck of the Irish Parade and Cook-Off Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the 14th Annual Luck of the Irish Cook off put on by the Exchange Club of Mobile to benefit The Family Center of Mobile in Bienville Square on Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. We will compete to find the best Irish stew and corned beef with cabbage you can eat this far south. Enjoy a parade at 2 p.m. and visit our children’s area that will entertain with jumps, slides, face painting and more. Experience authentic Irish pipers, Irish dancers, and Irish folk music. Tickets are sold in advance for $10 at The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Boulevard, Suite 100. Admission is free for children 12 & under. Gate admission is $15. Visit www.luckoirish.org for more info on this event that will knock your kilts off! 2015 Young Authors Conference with Guest Illustrator R. Gregory Christie A morning Conference for students in grades 3-6 will take place from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., a Teen Writing Fair and Workshop is scheduled for the afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. for grades 7-12. Students will meet and talk to published authors and others who make a living from writing for newspapers, magazines, and websites. They will participate in writing activities and discussions as well. West Regional Branch Library (5555 Grelot Road). For more information on the Conference, call (251) 391-5376 or email gillespiee@gmail.com. For more information on the author and his books, go to www.gas-art.com. Teen Tech Week – Ben May Main Library Members of the Mobile Makerspace will offer demonstrations of 3D Printers, Quadcopter Drones, Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects, and so much more. Door prizes include Raspberry Pi’s, Arduinos, and Makey Makeys. Teen Tech Week is offered in partnership with Mobile Makerspace to kickoff “Engaging Teens for Technology,” a Library initiative supported through a grant from Wells Fargo Bank. Ben May Main Library (701 Government St.) from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, please call (251) 208-7570. Mobile Boat Show See March 13 for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information. Sunny Side Theatre presents “Bring it On: The Musical” See March 12 for more information. Mobile Historic Homes Tour See March 13 for more information.

Sunday, March 15

Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert Come listen to some of the Bay area’s most talented children as they perform on stage. This concert takes place at the Saenger Theatre at 6 South Joachim Street at 2 p.m. Please visit mobilesymphony.org for more information. Mobile Theatre Guild presents “Rumors” See February 27 for more information. Mobile Ballet presents “Cinderella” See March 14 for more information. Mobile Boat Show See March 13 for more information.

Monday, March 16

Auditions for “Pippi Longstocking” – Playhouse in the Park Auditions for “Pippi” are Monday & Wednesday, March 16 & 18 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Playhouse. The show runs from May 1 - May 17 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Address: 4851 Museum Drive. Please visit www.playhouseinthepark.org for more information.

Wednesday, March 18

Auditions for “Pippi Longstocking” – Playhouse in the Park See March 16 for more information. Pre-K Studio – Centre for the Living Arts See February 25 for more information.

Thursday, March 19

Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Grab your tiaras and doubloons and join us for Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Mickey and Minnie are taking their seats too at this never-before-seen live show featuring your favorite characters from Disney Junior’s hit series, Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Filled with new music, amazing effects, thrilling action and endless surprises, your whole family will sing, shout, and soar into the action. Performances at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Mobile Civic Center. Please visit www.mobilecivicctr.com for more information. Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale Preview Party Thursday (March 19th) is the Opening Night Preview Party and Sale from 4 - 7 p.m. when wine, hors d’oeuvres, and music accompany shoppers who will get first choice of plants. Admission is $25 at the gate. Weekend sale hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 - 4 and Sunday from 11 – 4. Admission to the sale is free. For more information, please visit mobilebotanicalgardens.org for more information. Live at the Museum Join us for a songwriter showcase with local favorites, Emily Stuckey, Mike Jernigan, Robbie Sellers, and Gabriel Willis at 7 p.m. at Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Dr.). Please visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com for more information.

Friday, March 20

Aerofest Mobile Aerofest will be held at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. AeroFest is a festival celebrating our nation’s heroes. With a world-class lineup of music including Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band, art, sports, education, festivities and fun, this annual event will bring thousands of everyday citizens together with industry representatives to participate with these heroes as they enjoy activities and benefit from the latest technology in mobility, adaptive equipment and training. The weekend will be filled with activities, please visit www.foralltherightreasons.com for more information. Arts Alive Arts Alive is excited to announce we are moving our April event to March and joining forces with the first annual Aerofest at the Brookley Aeroplex. Arts Alive will take place at the Brookley Village area of the Mobile Aeroplex, 1891 9th Street, Mobile. Our event will play a prominent role in the diverse array of experiences and interactive events offered at AeroFest. The upcoming festival takes place Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Please visit www.artsalivemobile.com for more information Colonial Day – Fort Conde Bring your family to see what life was like in Colonial Mobile at this springtime educational event at Fort Condé from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. See demonstrations including: Candle making, Cooking, Blacksmithing, Native American arts and crafts, Sword fighting. Children can participate in activities such as: Dressing up in colonial clothing, Churning butter, Playing colonial games, Visit a petting zoo, Doing laundry outdoors, and more. For more information, please call the History Museum of Mobile’s Education Department at (251) 208-7510.

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Family Calendar 63rd Annual Arts and Crafts Festival – Fairhope The 63rd Annual Arts and Crafts Festival in Fairhope, Alabama is scheduled for March 20, 21 & 22 and presented by PNC Bank. Festival hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 - 6 and Sunday from 10 - 5. The festival is free to the public. More than 230 exhibitors will bring their best works from all over the country, including many from the Southeast, to showcase at this prestigious juried show. Enjoy live entertainment and delicious cuisine from the food court throughout this great three-day event. An Eastern Shore staple for more than sixty years, there’s something for everyone at the Arts and Crafts Festival in beautiful Downtown Fairhope. Free Admission. Please visit annualartsandcraftsfestivalfairhope.com for more information. Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale Thousands of plants, including vegetables, herbs, and fruits, will be for sale at the Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale at the Mobile Botanical Gardens from March 19–22. All plants are especially selected for the Gulf Coast climate; many varieties are grown on site by MBG greenhouse volunteers. Plants for sale include multiple types of citrus, including Satsuma’s; vegetables, herbs, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, trees, vines, ferns, roses, groundcovers, and natives. For plant collectors, rare and unusual plants will be available in the “Fab & Funky” section. Thursday is the Opening Night Preview Party and Sale from 4-7 p.m., when wine, hors d’oeuvres, and music accompany shoppers who will get first choice of plants. Admission is $25 at the gate. Weekend sale hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 - 4 and Sunday from 11 - 4. Admission to the sale is free. Bring your own wheelbarrow or cart for easier shopping. This annual benefit serves as an educational tool as well as a fundraising event for the ongoing growth and maintenance of the Mobile Botanical Gardens. For more information call (251) 342-0555 or visit mobilebotanicalgardens.org. Saints’ Night Out Please mark your calendar for Saints’ Night Out 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alabama Cruise Terminal! Each year, we

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look forward to an evening of fun and fundraising as we gather to celebrate the school, faculty and children we love! Last year, Saints’ Night Out raised over $180,000 to benefit St. Paul’s! Saints’ Night Out is the school’s largest parent-driven event fundraiser and monies raised at Saints’ Night Out help fund a variety of needs on our campus. Please visit www.stpaulsmobile.net/sno for more information. Mobile SPCA Giant Rummage Sale Gates open at 8 a.m. sharp Friday and Saturday mornings March 20-21! The Mobile SPCA store, warehouse, carport and yard will be packed with 1000s of items - collectibles, tools, art, jewelry, home decor, clothes, linens, household appliances, kitchen items, antiques, toys, furniture and more! New and gently used items at great prices. 620 Zeigler Cir West. Visit MobileSPCA.org for more information.

Saturday, March 21

Cajun Cook-Off Be eager to discover the pleasures of the Cajun-Creole cooking in Mobile. The Child Advocacy Center is excited to announce the First Downtown Cajun Cook-Off Presented by Cunningham Bounds, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Cathedral Square. Sample your favorite dishes from 22 local teams of downtown’s favorite restaurants. Tickets will be available for $10 in advance at the Child Advocacy Center (1351 Springhill Ave.), Mellow Mushroom locations (the Loop & West Mobile) and both locations of BugMaster (West Mobile & Daphne). Tickets will be available at the gate for $15 the day of the event. During sampling hours, cook-off enthusiasts will enjoy the music from local and regional acts. Independence Ride AeroFest and The Independence Fund are proud to sponsor The Independence Ride, an initiative providing custom bicycles, trikes, and tandem bikes for combatwounded veterans with mobility issues. This bicycling event is designed to bring disabled veterans and the public together in what could be the largest group ride ever held

in the Mobile area. To accommodate cyclists of different levels, the newly announced Aerofest Independence Ride will offer routes of 10.5 miles, 22.1 miles, 42.5 miles and 53 miles. The two longer routes will start in Bayou La Batre and end at the Aeroplex. The shorter routes will start and end at the Aeroplex. Registration for the ride is $45, which includes a two-day pass to Aerofest. For qualifying disabled veterans registered with the Independence Fund, registration is free. Please visit www.aerofest.org for more information. Mobile Symphony Orchestra: From Tragedy to Triumph Music by two German Masters will profoundly move you. Strauss’s transcendent tone poem depicts a dying man’s recollection of his journey through life. The University of South Alabama’s Concert Choir joins the MSO for Brahms’ “Song of Destiny”. March 21 at 8:00 p.m. and March 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre (6 Joachim Street, Mobile). For information call (251) 432-2010 or visit www. mobilesymphony.org. Azalea Trail Run Runners from around the world converge for a world-class 10K race, 5K and 2K fun run. The race courses are flat, extremely fast, and go throughout the oak-shaded streets of old Mobile when the city is in full bloom. Visit www. pcpacers.org for more information. 3rd Annual Wheels for Wilmer Hall Charity Dice Run Last year’s ride was a huge success and Mobtown Riders is making this year’s ride even bigger and better! We have new stops and we have added a bike show to be judged by the Children of Wilmer Hall, trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Final stop this year is Touchdown Tavern in Tillman’s Corner. DoorPrizes, 50/50 drawing, raffles, silent auction and a very special Raffle for a handmade Cooler stand filled with your favorite spirits and music. Begins at Wilmer Hall (3811 Old Shell Road). Registration at 9:30 a.m., Last vehicle out by 11:30 a.m. For more information, go to www.mobtownriders.com. 2015 Southern Literary Trail Margaret Tallichet, an aspiring actress and daughter

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of David Compton Tallichet of Demopolis, moved from Dallas to Hollywood where she married William Wyler, an established director with the Oscar-winning film, Jezebel already among his credits. The Wylers’ daughters Catherine and Melanie visit Mobile for Trailfest 2015 to introduce two of their father’s films and a special screening of the documentary, Directed by William Wyler. Catherine will introduce her film, followed by a screening of Jezebel with an introduction by Melanie Wyler at 2 p.m. at the Ben May Main Library. Admission is free. For more information call (251) 208-7097. For more information and full schedule of the Southern Literary Trail events, go to www.southernliterarytrail.org/events.html. Mobile Aerofest See March 20 for more information. Arts Alive See March 20 for more information. 63rd Annual Arts and Crafts Festival – Fairhope See March 20 for more information. Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale See March 20 for more information. Mobile SPCA Giant Rummage Sale See March 20 for more information.

Sunday, March 22

13th Annual Bunny Hop Join us from 1 - 3 p.m. at Geri Moulton Children’s Park at USA Children’s & Women’s hospital with proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile. Tickets $8 in advance and $10 at the event. For Tickets or more information, please visit rmhcmobile.org or call (251) 694-6873. 2015 Southern Literary Trail With nine Oscar nominations in 1941, “The Little Foxes”, directed by William Wyler, was the most Oscarnominated movie about Alabama until “Forrest Gump” won Best Picture in 1994. The film was adapted from Lillian Hellman’s stage hit inspired by her Demopolis family, the Marxes, who are buried in Mobile. Join special guests, Catherine Wyler and Melanie Wyler for a special screening of their father’s film. A reception to honor Catherine and Melanie will follow the film. Admission is free. Location: Ben May Main Library at 2:00pm. For more information call 208-7097. For more information and full schedule of the 2013 Southern Literary Trail events, go to www.southernliterarytrail. org/events.html. 63rd Annual Arts and Crafts Festival – Fairhope See March 20 for more information. Mobile Symphony Orchestra: From Tragedy to Triumph See March 21 for more information. Plantasia! Spring Plant Sale See March 20 for more information.

Tuesday, March 24

Steve Evans Onstage - One Man Show It’s an evening of outrageous and hilarious monologues written by and starring Steve Evans of Trained Monkey Productions. In his original comic memoir, “My Life with the Shawnee”, Evans looks back on the adventures he experienced and the lessons he learned performing in the outdoor historical drama, “Tecumseh,” staged adjacent to a skunk-infested forest. Admission is free. Location: Ben May/Main Library at 7:00pm. For more information, please call 208-7097.

Wednesday, March 25 Pre-K Studio – Centre for the Living Arts See February 25 for more information.

Thursday, March 26

2015 Festival of Flowers presents “Southern Roots” Savor one of Mobile’s most “scentsational” experiences! The Festival of Flowers, produced by the Providence Hospital Foundation and presented by PNC Bank, celebrates its 22nd year with its most impressive array of blooming beauty on March 26-29! This year’s festival, entitled “Southern Roots” showcases creative interpretations of breathtaking landscape and architectural designs unique to our area. The Festival of Flowers continues to enchant, entertain and educate visitors of all ages with over eight acres of exhibits under tent and sky.

Includes: Landscaped Gardens, Floral Design Showcase, The World of Flowers, Container Gardens, Special Events, Photography Contest, Garden Café, Gardener’s Galleria, Seeds of Wisdom, Weekend Children’s Venue, Designer Tablescapes, and Seminars. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9 - 5 and Sunday 11 - 5. Providence Hospital Campus, 6801 Airport Boulevard, Mobile. For Tickets or more Information, please call (251) 639-2050 or 1-877-777-0529. Making Use: Recycled Materials Meets Costume Design Art and Design of Mardi Gras artists, Lillian McKinney, Adrian Vaughn, Rachel Wright, and Jillian Crochet will talk about their collaboration process, making site specific work, and ‘making use’ of the stuff of everyday life. Bring a friend and come get the low down on what inspired the ‘King and Queen of the Delta’ and what it’s like to work together. 7 p.m. at Mobile Museum of Art (4850 Museum Dr.) Please visit www.mobilemuseumofart.com for more information.

Friday, March 27

Puttin’ on the Dog – UMS-Wright Fundraiser The 2015 Puttin’ on the Dawg Auction Preview AND

Party will be held at 6:30 p.m. at 5 Rivers Delta on the Causeway. An online Auction will be held prior to the event, with more items available only at the event. Food will be provided by local vendors as well as live entertainment. Please visit www.ums-wright.org for more information. Home & Garden Show Don’t miss your opportunity to turn your home and garden dreams into reality! The entire Convention Center will be completely transformed, for one weekend only, into a Home and Garden Extravaganza. From the front door to the backyard you’ll find it all at the Greater Mobile Home & Garden Show. March 27-March 29 at the Mobile Convention Center (1 South Water Street, Mobile). Show Hours: Friday 2 - 7 p.m., Saturday 10 - 7, Sunday 11 - 5. Please visit www.mobilehomeandgardenshow.com. Mobile Opera presents “Manon Lescaut” The third presentation of The Puccini Project, “Manon Lescaut”, is a tale of obsession, betrayal, and unresolved ambiguities set to the magnificent music of Giacomo Puccini. Performances will be held March 27 and 29 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. Call (251) 432-6772 for the Mobile Opera Box Office.

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Family Calendar Joe Jefferson Players present “Aida” Joe Jefferson Players present Aida March 27-April 12 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.). Please visit www.joejeffersonplayers.com for more information. 2015 Festival of Flowers presents “Southern Roots” See March 26 for more information.

Saturday, March 28

Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Bellingrath annually hosts an extensive Easter egg hunt on the Great Lawn. Thousands of Easter eggs decorate the luxurious Lawn for children to scurry to collect. With several Easter egg hunts spaced for different age groups, this event is perfect for families with children of all ages. Families are invited to enjoy breakfast in the Magnolia Café where children can also take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Please visit bellingrath.org for more information. Family Easter Experience He is risen! Join us for a wonderful day filled with fun as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be inflatables, performances by the Christ UMC Puppet Ministry, an Easter egg hunt and family worship. 10 - 1 at Christ United Methodist Church (6101 Grelot Road). Please visit www.cumcchildren.com for more information. Dauphin Island Town Easter Egg Hunt Join us for the Town Easter Egg Hunt in Green Park on Dauphin Island at 10 a.m. Please visit townofdauphinisland.org for more information. South Alabama Youth Ballet’s “Swan Lake” South Alabama Youth Ballet’s “Swan Lake” will be performed at Davidson High School at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Contact GraceLines Dance Studio at (251) 232-4786 for more information. Children’s Honor Choir Concert Please join us at 6:30 p.m. at Spring Hill Baptist Church (2 South McGregor Avenue). The 170-voice auditioned

February/March 2015

choir is composed of fourth through sixth grade boys and girls from all over the state of Alabama. Their repertoire of music is enhanced by a variety of instruments, sign language, and movement. This group is sponsored by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and the concerts promise to be entertaining and inspiring. The concert is free to the public. For more information, please contact, Debbie Rice, drice@shbc.cc. Park Service Day – Fort Gaines Calling all volunteers and supporters, the Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board will help preserve Fort Gaines by hosting a Park Service Day. Fort Gaines is an important monument to honor the brave soldiers who fought and sacrificed in the American Civil War. Volunteers please per-register at the Fort’s Facebook Page or call us at (251) 861-6992. Home & Garden Show See March 27 for more information. 2015 Festival of Flowers presents “Southern Roots” See March 26 for more information. Joe Jefferson Players present “Aida” See March 27 for more information.

Sunday, March 29

Southern Literary Trail - The Reel Life of Eugene Walter Donald Goodman, a Eugene Walter biographer (“The Happy Table of Eugene Walter, Southern Spirits in Food and Drink”) and manager of the Mobile writer’s estate, presents “The Reel Life of Eugene Walter” with rarelyseen clips from the movies in which the writer appeared. Location: Ben May/Main Library at 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call (251) 208-7097. For more information and full schedule of the 2013 Southern Literary Trail events, go to www.southernliterarytrail.org/events. html. Home & Garden Show See March 27 for more information.

2015 Festival of Flowers presents “Southern Roots” See March 26 for more information. Mobile Opera presents “Manon Lescaut” See March 27 for more information. Joe Jefferson Players present “Aida” See March 27 for more information.

Looking Ahead...

Saturday, April 4 Easter in the Squares The streets and squares of Downtown Mobile will be filled with Easter eggs, an Easter parade and the Easter Bunny for the annual Easter in the Squares event. Join us in Bienville Square for free fun family fun. 10 - 1. For more information please visit www.downtownmobile.org. Community Easter Egg Hunt- Dauphin Island Join the community on Dauphin Island for a good old fashion Easter egg hunt. Cadillac Square, Dauphin Island at 10 a.m. Please visit townofdauphinisland.org for more information. Family Center of Mobile and Daphne Courses continue at The Family Center of Mobile and The Family Center in Daphne…the Nurturing Parenting series, the Quenching the Father Thirst series, Together We Can and a new Chill Skills (anger management) series begins. See “Classes & Meetings” The Family Center Mobile and TFC Baldwin County for details.

Please send your calendar events to lynn@ mobilebayparents.com. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

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Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

There’s an undefinable sense of accomplishment when we hit the goal we’re aiming for. Whether it’s our balled up napkin hitting the wastebasket from across the room (score!) or a Nerf dart acquiring its target with precision, a precisely delivered projectile reaching its destination is the definition of success in the world of aim games. Set your sights on the following recommended items that will train the eye and hand to focus on a target and score a bull’s eye every time!

by Gerry Paige Smith

Flickerz Target Net Set

Rebelle Agent Bow (Nerf/Hasbro)

Adding secret agent flair and fantasy styling to the ancient art of archery, the Rebelle Agent Bow combines legit targeting skills with Nerf’s proven take on soft target firing. This bow comes with three soft foam arrows with a secret hidden in plain sight; the arrows’ design allows customizable messages that can communicate secret intel to their targets who can be equipped with the included decoder. To ensure that the messages (and the missiles) reach their chosen targets the bow also features an electronic red dot sight so shots can line up perfectly. Archery action meets mystery and adventure when the Rebelle Agent Bow takes aim!

(Jungo)

Ideal for all ages, the Flickerz Target Net game challenges players to master the art of flicking lightweight plastic discs into a scored target net. Score sheets are included but style is the real journey as players learn to put their own spin on the Flickerz discs, developing trick shots and disc moves that add more action to the game. The target net is collapsible and the six discs are easily pocketed making the game infinitely portable for gameplay indoors and out. Addictive once you start, kids may have to compete with adults for target practice time once the Flickerz discs come out to play.

Baby Farm Bowling

Marble Aim

Building a solid ground for a child’s aim game, the Baby Farm Bowling set gets the ball rolling for the preschool set. The jingling ‘bowling’ ball is easy to roll toward six brightly colored animal-themed pins that make soft rattling sounds when they topple. The farm animal pins feature flat, weighted bottoms that make setting up the next round a cinch. An early boost for hand-eye coordination, kids can also up their counting game as they take aim at the numbered pins, keeping score along the way. Easy to surface clean and portable with its own carrying bag, Baby Farm Bowling scores a strike for boosting early aim skills.

A historic aim game gets a modern makeover with the Marble Aim carpet from HearthSong. Measuring about two yards long, the nylon carpet runner with a non-skid bottom rolls out the action for marble shooters with bright graphics that open the floor to a variety of games. Played solo or in company, this game comes with 36 marbles (including an aggie and four shooters). Fine motor and aiming skills are honed as players knuckle down and shoot to win. Complete with game instructions the Marble Aim carpet rolls up neatly for storage until the next exciting marble face-off!

(HearthSong)

(EarlyYears)

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

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The DUFF

SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: D+ Violence: C+ Sexual Content: D+ Language: D Alcohol / Drug Use: B The MPAA has rated The DUFF PG-13 for crude and sexual material throughout, some language and teen partying. If we are to believe The DUFF, sex is the only thing high school students think about -- ever. I’m not saying I don’t’ believe they think about it, but the characters in this film can’t even have a lunchroom chat without the dialogue degenerating into a conversation full of crude references to sexual activity, anatomical appendages and crass name-calling. Not surprisingly, these hallways are also packed with the stereotypical labels Hollywood seems determined to keep promoting. Madison (Bella Thorne) is the nasty queen bee made famous in movies like Mean Girls. Wesley (Robbie Amell) is the handsome football jock that shows up in every high school movie with a sports team. And Toby (Nick Eversman) is the artsy musician who flips his long locks with practiced panache. But now there’s a new label circulating in the school -- the DUFF. Bianca (Mae Whitman) doesn’t realize she is the “Designated Ugly Fat Friend” of Jess (Skyler Samuels) and Casey (Bianca A. Santos). And neither of them see her that way either. But as soon as Wesley points out to Bianca that she is less attractive than her two gal pals, she dumps her friends and jumps feet first into a DUFF pity party. Determined to ditch her new designation, she turns to Wesley for coaching. In exchange for helping him pass Chemistry, she gets lessons on how to turn herself into the hottest thing on campus. However that transformation doesn’t happen before she becomes the victim of vicious cyber bulling in the form of a highly edited video that goes viral among her peers. As I said, this movie has moments, like when Bianca overhears Wesley’s family in a heated argument. Yes, everyone, even the popular high school football quarterback, has problems. Or when the gorgeous Casey admits to having insecurities. Or when Bianca’s totally preoccupied mother surfaces from her own problems long enough to give her daughter some timely dating advice -something about “believe, achieve, don’t conceive”. Still, it is definitely a positive portrayal when Bianca’s friends prove they are as beautiful on the inside as the outside and welcome her back without question. The truth is probably everyone feels like a DUFF at some point in life. Recognizing that we all have self-doubts, worries and vulnerabilities is a good thing that hopefully makes us more tolerant and accepting of others. Yet that message, as good as it is, is poor recompense for slogging through the crass depictions of simulated sex and crude dialogue with a protagonist that loves to wallow in a swamp of self-loathing.

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B Violence: BSexual Content: ALanguage: AAlcohol / Drug Use: A The MPAA has rated SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water PG for mild action and rude humor. Okay, let me begin with a full disclosure. On those busy, tense days that movie reviewers sometimes face (like when the popcorn isn’t quite right) I reach for an embarrassing release... a dose of SpongeBob SquarePants. And not just any of the cartoon re-runs, but a “good” one, which typical revolves around the antics at the Krusty Krab where the draconian boss, Mr. Krabs, is likely to be breaking every rule in the human resources handbook. Not surprisingly, those often-witty fifteen-minute episodes don’t easily stretch into a feature length film. I voiced the same criticism in my review of the first SpongeBob movie. (Unfortunately I can’t use my clever stretchy eel metaphor again...) Still the 2004 film did manage to cook up at least a half-hour of chuckles that were entertaining for adults as well as children. Parents accompanying their little minnows to the theater this time will find less to chew on (a starfish could count the laughs on her tentacles). Another disappointment is the near lack of story, and that’s a shame because there is a great buffet of wellknown characters to work with. The shallow scenario opens with the overused premise of Plankton (voice of Mr. Lawrence), the proprietor of the competing Chum Bucket restaurant across the beach, trying to steal Mr. Krabs’ (voice of Clancy Brown) top-secret Krabby Patty recipe. When the list of ingredients goes missing Krabs is convinced the notorious sea vermin has taken it. But Plankton’s pleas of innocence convince SpongeBob (voice of Tom Kenny) and his starfish buddy Patrick (voice of Bill Fagerbakke) to think outside of the ocean. And that is when a time machine, a scheming pirate named Burger-Beard (Antonio Banderas) and a magic book get added to the mix. Admittedly the kids in the audience I screened with appeared to be having fun. Still, parents should be aware that little ones might be frightened by an apocalyptic representation of Bikini Bottom after the residents are convinced the world will end if there are no more Krabby Patties. Other concerns occur near the end of the film when the two-dimension cast transforms into 3D superheroes and flounders through a far-too-long physical confrontation that involves fantastical forces and weapons. Yet despite my disappointment of finding SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water to be lacking on the adult level, this movie does net some positive moral values for children. Characters learn how to work together and put differences aside. They also recognize it’s dangerous to judge someone without knowing all the facts. These messages may be reasons to consider taking this latest journey to Bikini Bottom -- just don’t hold your breath in anticipation of the humor many of us “big fish” have come to enjoy from these characters.

What Parents need to know about The DUFF...

Violence: A character punches another in the face. A character roughs up a boy in a locker room. Sexual Content: A character simulates sexual activity with a mannequin at a clothing store. Teen characters engage in passionate kissing and frequently discuss sexual activity. Characters make crude comments about other characters’ body parts. Two adult men kiss. A teen imagines herself in a porn movie. A girls walks into a boys’ dressing room while they are changing and makes comments on some of the boys’ anatomy. A hand-drawn picture of male anatomy is shown on a chalkboard. Characters discuss different kinds of kissing. Language: The script contains one strong sexual expletive, several crude terms for sexual activity, numerous crass terms for male and female genitals, frequent rude name-calling, scatological slang terms, and other frequent profanities. Alcohol / Drug Use: A woman drinks to deal with her divorce. Teenaged characters party. Mobile Bay Parents I March 2015

What Parents need to know about SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water...

Violence: All violence is within a comedic context. Superhero characters engage in a physical confrontation that causes some property damage, and involves the use of fantastical weapons and forces. After a favorite restaurant appears to be out of business a community suddenly turns into ruins, with destroyed buildings and people dressed in clothes reflective of other apocalyptic movies. Sexual Content: A live action scene shows men and women on a beach in swimwear. Language: A character calls someone a “jerk”. Other: Seagull poop is used to generate humor. 56

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Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WIC Program helps pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children stay healthy and eat right during times of important growth.

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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.