Knoxville Parent January 2016 by Knoxville Parent

Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 6

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Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ January 2016

KNOXVILLE

In This Issue... Score A “Touchdown” With Your Goal Setting “They were told to reward themselves with a sticker each day they accomplished their goal. I promised to do the same.”

January 2016 Volume V • Issue I Adam and Samantha Kalwas, Publishers Advisory Board

Contributing Writers

Sr. Mary Marta Abbott, RSM The Diocese of Knoxville

Vincent Amico Jeff Ashin Jeff Comas Healthy Living Expo Tracey Matthews Erin Nguyen Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

Marie Alcorn United Way of Greater Knoxville Mike Bailey Small Business Representative Paul Parson East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

PAGE 4

Coping With Negative Emotions “When parents convey an accepting attitude towards negative emotions, children are more likely to acknowledge and accept their own emotions.” PAGE 5

Contributing Photos By Mickey’s Travel Jeff Comas Young-Williams Animal Center

Tracey Matthews Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Elizabeth Pooley Marketing Professional Lee Tramel Knox County Sheriff ’s Department Liza Zenni The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville

Reading Knoxville: Turning Points In Modern History “Past political and military events still significantly influence current events.” PAGE 6

Contents

4 Score A “Touchdown” With Your Goal

9 Getting The Most Out Of Practice:

Setting

Chapter 4

5 Coping With Negative Emotions

11 A Life-Saving Decision For Animals

6 Reading Knoxville: Turning Points In

13 Join The Healthy Living Expo!

Modern History

Parent publications are GREAT places to advertise! For more information, please call: (865) 622-9680.

14 10 Terrific Books: Decisions, Decisions!

7 Conversing With Vejas Liulevicius 8 The Creature Within

Contact Info: Phone: 865.622.9680 Fax: 888.457.9602 E-mail: KnoxvilleParent@gmail.com KnoxvilleParent.com Knoxville Parent is published twelve times a year and is distributed throughout the city of Knoxville and surrounding communities. Knoxville Parent is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per monthly issue. Knoxville Parent may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

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Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Score A “Touchdown” With Your Goal Setting

By Tracey Matthews Wynter, Supervisor of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department

his year, I presented each of the students in Ms. Collins’ fourth grade class at West Hills Elementary School with a set of sticker charts and stickers. With the gift, came a challenge: to set a goal in the upcoming year to do something new, do something differently, or do something better than they had before. They were told to reward themselves with a sticker each day they accomplished their goal. I promised to do the same.

Offensive Strategy: Evaluate why you are setting your specific goals— what is your motivation? I quit smoking more than 20 years ago for the children I may have one day. I figured that if my children or grandchildren were going to have to take care of me because I fell ill, I didn’t want it to be because of something I did to myself. My attempts to quit smoking just because it was an unhealthy habit consistently failed, but I was able to quit after I realized I was motivated most by how my habits might negatively impact others in the future.

To make sure we were all accountable to one another, we decided to review the sticker charts during my monthly visits. We could evaluate progress, celebrate successes, and discuss challenges while brainstorming solutions to them.

Nickel Defense: If your goal is to regain momentum and achieve new success at something in which you’ve been successful before, it is essential to examine what made you successful in the past. When you figure that out, put those same or similar practices in place now. I’ve been successful at losing weight in the past because I only ate when I was physically, and not emotionally, hungry, I stopped when I was satisfied rather than full, and I did these things consistently. These are a few of the strategies I need to put in place again to regain momentum in this goal.

Below are a few tips and ideas I shared with my students to help them start the process. The Playbook: Make sure you set SMART goals—that is, goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If your goal is missing one or more of these elements, it can be harder to achieve. For example, one of my never-ending goals is to lose weight. The SMARTer way to state this goal is to “I will lose 2-3 pounds per week by eating right and exercising.”

Interceptions and Blocking: If you are struggling with motivation or achievement, ask yourself what obstacles are getting in your way. What’ is different this time from the last time you were able to reach your goal? Do you have new obstacles? Really evaluate what the root causes may be of your repeated failure to reach some goals. In my weight loss struggle, the lack of motivation to do what I need to do is an obstacle, and, as I’ve gotten older, I realize that I must add exercise to my weight loss plan. My metabolism has slowed down, so my legs must speed up! My hatred for exercise, the difficult of exercising, the lack of a partner to keep me on track when I don’t want to be, and not putting to use equipment I already have are all root causes of my repeated failure to exercise. As for the root causes of my repeated failure to exercise for more than a few days at a time Defensive Team: It is important to be held accountable to your goals. Don’t secretly set a SMART goal and quietly work to achieve it. You should tell family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances—every one you see and know—what your goals are and ask them to support you in achieving them with regular contact and inquiry on your progress. Just Do It: Achieving goals is basically about making choices and deciding whether or not to stick to them—though that doesn’t typical make achievement any easier. Success is almost always a case of mind over matter. Whenever you get discouraged, remember that you, alone, control the power to set a goal and stick to it! Please share your success stories in and related tips for setting and achieving goals, and/or topic suggestions for future articles by contacting Mrs. Tracey Matthews Wynter, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department Supervisor, 865-594-9525, tracey. matthews@knoxchools.org. For more information and resources available to Knox County Schools’ students and families, please visit us online at knoxschools.org/fce and knoxschools.org/frc.

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Coping With Negative Emotions by Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D.

few weeks ago I received a lengthy text message from my son. He was feeling upset about something that happened at school and decided to write about the experience to see if he could determine why he felt bad. He added, “I’ll let you read this and we can talk tonight after I finish my homework.” Right away, I noticed that by writing about and wanting to talk about his negative feelings, my son, at age 16, had discovered an approach to dealing with emotions that I did not learn until I was a doctoral student in a Counseling Psychology program. In this article, I will elaborate upon the three-step approach demonstrated by my son for effectively coping with and working through distressing emotions. Step one: Notice and accept that you are feeling distressed. This step can be a tricky one. Sometimes negative emotions are glaringly obvious and, at other times, they are more subtle and difficult to notice. Additionally, many people are prejudiced against negative emotions, believing them to be bad or wrong, an attitude they may have adopted in childhood based on messages received from adults in their lives. In reality negative emotions, such as anger and sadness, play an essential role in our overall mental health by alerting us to something important in our lives that requires our attention. There are many things parents can do to cultivate a child’s ability to notice and accept negative emotions. Parents can emphasize that feelings are neither bad nor good, and they can help with identifying a particular feeling (e.g. “You seem upset—is something bothering you?”). Parents can convey an accepting attitude regarding all feelings. To that end, a child should not be told, “don’t be mad” (or sad, or disappointed, or jealous, or afraid, etc.). Rather, children should be told that all feelings are valid and necessary for understanding and making sense of our experiences. When parents convey an accepting attitude towards negative emotions, children are more likely to acknowledge and accept their own emotions. Step two: Write about your negative feelings to gain clarity and perspective. Studies over the last 30 years have shown that writing about negative feelings or events has benefits for mental health. These studies suggest that the act of writing about upsetting feelings lends structure and coherence to an internal experience that initially seems amorphous and overwhelming. Through writing, you can begin to tackle the often urgent question, “Why am I feeling this way?” Writing about your feelings can be a form of self-empathy for times when it’s not possible to talk to another person, either due to situational constraints or concerns about privacy. There are several convenient options for where to write, such as a journal, notebook, computer, or phone. In the case of my son and his recent text message, through writing about why he was upset, he discovered several troubling aspects of his experience that he had not been aware of prior to writing about it. Writing also helped him calm himself down and have self-empathy. After reading what he had written, his immediate sense was, “No wonder I’m so upset.” Step three: Discuss what you have written with a good listener. Although writing about negative feelings is sometimes sufficient in itself, in many cases, talking about feelings is necessary for working through them. As my son did with his text message to me, the written product describing the feelings can be shared along with a request for a talk. A good listener listens

“When parents convey an accepting attitude towards negative emotions, children are more likely to acknowledge and accept their own emotions.” with acceptance and empathy and with the goal of facilitating understanding. By reading what was written, the listener can orient more quickly to the issues at hand in conversation. When my son and I finally spoke, we had a great talk after which he felt much better. Even though it was difficult to see my son struggle with painful emotions, I was, at the same time, grateful that he has acquired and can use key skills comprising emotional intelligence: noticing, writing about, and talking about negative emotions. Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. is a private practice psychologist specializing in psychological assessment and parenting consultation. Dr. Smith can be reached at kerea@aol.com.

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Reading Knoxville: Turning Points In Modern History Book by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, Reviewed by Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

“T

his course shows how the decisive turning points of the last 500 years have, in fact, combined to create the modern world as it is today, shaping the condition of modernity as we know it and live it now,” states Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius in the Introduction to his lively and informative series of video lectures Turning Points in Modern History. These videos are produced by The Great Courses (www.thegreatcourses. com), a company that specializes in courses taught by distinguished professors. “A turning point marks a decisive moment that shapes later developments” with an emphasis on modernity: “a mindset that stresses novelty and breaks with the past.” In discussing his twentyfour turning points, Professor Liulevicius narrates a breathtaking survey of transformations that have defined our modern world. Technological and scientific innovations combined with intellectual change define several turning points. Johann Gutenberg’s 1455 invention of the printing press “democratized” texts by creating a large reading public and a demand for the printed word. The microscope,

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“Past political and military events still significantly influence current events.” constructed by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1676, led to the discovery of bacteria and microorganisms, “things that are buried from our eyes.” The first motion pictures were viewed by audiences in New York in 1896; by 1930, “90 million Americans were watching a movie at least once a week.” Equally innovative were Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859), the Wright Brothers’ airplane (1903), and the discovery of penicillin (1928). Past political and military events still significantly influence current events. The Fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks signaled the end of the Roman Empire and drew geopolitical lines between East and West. The American Constitution of 1787 “was remarkable for its time and endures today as the first such document adopted by a large state and the oldest written constitution still in operation in the world.” The French Revolution of 1789, marked by the Reign of Terror and the rise of the emperor Napoleon, “established a recurring tragic pattern of radical revolt leading to anarchy and tyranny.” Britain forced China to open its borders to trade, cede Hong Kong, and buy imported opium in the Opium War of 1839. China’s earlier sense of superiority was replaced by feelings of national humiliation, an undercurrent that still propels Chinese policy towards the West. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 led to the unification of Germany, the dismantling of the Soviet empire, and the rise of Vladimir Putin. Social transformations have changed everyday life. The British Slavery Abolition Act of 1838 ended slavery in the British Empire and influenced the fight against this injustice in other countries. Women first earned the right to vote in New Zealand in 1893. The suffrage movement only slowed gained the right of women to vote in other countries: United States (1920), France (1940), and Switzerland (1971). Saudi Arabia still does not allow its women this right. Finally, the rise of social media and Facebook in 2004 has created a global community that can easily share ideas. Professor Liulevicius is a stimulating lecturer as he takes us on his tour of these historical turning points. The format of The Great Courses is to be commended; it makes history accessible to all ages, as listeners can stream lectures or watch on DVD. This study of history is important, as Professor Liulevicius summarizes: “We can better understand ourselves and where we stand in the grand sweep of world history and the human project.” Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Conversing With Vejas Liulevicius By Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.

“M

y grandfather was an historian,” Vejas Liulevicius tells me over coffee at Panera. “He was also a refugee from Lithuania after World War II to the United States.” Vejas has been a professor in the Department of History at UTK for the past twenty years. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a largely Lithuanian American neighborhood. However, he attended school in both Denmark and Germany for many years. These experiences, along with his grandfather’s enthusiasm, led him to earn a Ph.D. in modern German history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994. “The lecture still has a place in the educational system,” Vejas argues as we discuss his own UTK courses and his association with The Great Courses. “How many lectures by great professors are lost to us? I would love to have heard the insights from my profession’s greatest historians, if only I could.” His favorite lecture course is the History of Espionage, which examines the role of spies from the Ancient World to the present. With the recent controversy surrounding Edward Snowden, the course brings lessons to current events. “The Great Courses nomination process is mysterious,” he says. “The company has to contact you to develop a course.” Vejas has had tremendous success with his Great Courses lecture series. He says it takes about nine days in their studios to produce a course after he has written the script. Turning Points in Modern History is reviewed in this issue. His espionage course became Espionage and Covert Operations: A Global History. Furthermore, he has courses on Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century, World War I: The Great War, History’s Greatest Voyages of Exploration, History of Eastern Europe, and War, Peace, and Power: Diplomatic History of Europe, 1500-2000. (Note: Most Great Courses go on sale regularly and are very affordable.) Vejas is also Director of The Center for the Study of War and Society at UTK. The Center collects interviews and documents related to veterans’ experience during and after wartime. Started by the late Charles Johnson, the Center built an enormous World War II manuscript collection through hundreds of interviews. Currently, the Center is also interviewing aging veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars; all audiotapes have been digitized. “We’re not only Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.

“Started by the late Charles Johnson, the Center built an enormous World War II manuscript collection through hundreds of interviews.” interested in combat experience,” Vejas notes, “but the larger picture of how war impacts all aspects of society.” Graduate students from the Center have won major research fellowships in the last five years. Since I was a History undergraduate major at UTK in the 1970s, Vejas and I enjoyed talking about professors that we both knew. His wife, Kathleen, also an historian, is finishing a book on Reconstruction in Tennessee, an important period whose controversies still linger. His children, Paul and Helen, attend Saint John Neumann. “I would love to do a course on the History of Royalty,” Vejas muses. As we part, I tell him I look forward to that course and to talking about history again.

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

The Creature Within By Vincent Amico, Owner of Mickey’s Travel

he creature is there inside each and every one of you. It is lurking, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to rear its ugly head. The creature takes normal loving parents and turns us into creatures that must get every second that is available for every penny we spent on a Disney vacation. The creature growls at their children “We have to leave NOW, the park opens in 15 minutes!” “Can you do something about him?” “I’m hot and tired too! Can you please keep up we’re going to be late!” “Stop looking around at everything!” “I know you’re hungry but we have four more rides to do first.” I remember a young boy watching a mylar Mickey balloon take off in flight. His mother noticed he wasn’t by her side and turned seeing him standing there watching that balloon. From nowhere the creature appeared as it snarled, clenching its fists as its face got redder and redder. She rushed over screaming “I said, let’s go we’ll be late,” grabs him by the arm and he falls down scraping his knee badly. Lots of tears and the creature returns back into a parent but one filled with lots of guilt. You spent hours planning for this trip. You Googled so many sites they are coming up in foreign languages. You’ve been on Disney forums reading posts trying to find the secret to the magic. You make a post asking for advice to plan your itinerary. MinnieMom with 76,299 posts replies followed by DisneyQueen who has 93,471 posts who totally disagrees. They argue their case like trial attorneys making your head spin. But you’ve finally done it. The perfect itinerary, with attraction by attraction, minute to minute touring all laid out. You have your spreadsheets and your 3 inch binder with all your notes. You’ve made Operation Desert Storm look like a child’s game of tic-tac-toe. Nothing is going to stand in your way.

“The creature takes normal loving parents and turns us into creatures that must get every second that is available for every penny we spent on a Disney vacation.” You bought new sneakers for your child for this trip. You know, the ones with the lights that flash as they walk. Unknown to you, they will be like strobe lights causing epileptic seizures as you race through the parks. Got your first attraction done and you have 2.33 minutes to get to the next attraction. A few more attractions done but for some reason you’re behind schedule. You don’t understand. Last year’s statistics said on this very same day and time this attraction was only a 12 minute wait. Was your data faulty? Was MinnieMom right after all? You can’t panic and decide to increase speed. You gained a few minutes back and you decide to forgo lunch. You keep moving and your little one asks if you could slow down. And then it happens. In a blink of an eye, the creature from within takes you as you lean towards your child and bellow “Do you know how much money we spent so we could bring you to Disney so you could have fun and enjoy the rides?” Of course you need to plan but keep it within reason and be realistic. Make a list of “your must do” attractions. Historical information is useful but there are many unseen conditions that manipulate statistics. Making a simple outline of what you want to do and when works best for many. What activities, shows, parades and attractions you want to see and when? Use My Disney Experience and make some must do dining reservations and set up your FastPass+ for your favorite attractions. Stop and take short breaks. To a young child, Disney parks are a sensory overload. The colors, the sounds and seeing their favorite characters in real life. There is lots of processing going on in those little brains. Go back and relax in your room a bit which everyone needs. Walt created his parks so families can enjoy them together. Disney Magic isn’t about rides or characters. It’s about being together and sharing something so special…. time with each other. Vincent Amico is the owner of Mickey’s Travel. Mickey’s Travel has been designated by Disney Destinations as an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” as a result of our agency’s ongoing focus and commitment to planning customized, magical trips to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line® and other Disney vacation destinations worldwide Mickey’s Travel is a 100% FREE No Fee travel agency and has been in business for over 20 years sending thousands of families on Disney vacations www.mickeystravel.com

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Getting The Most Out Of Practice Chapter 4: (Self-Talk & Self-Image)

g ur own self-talk influences the shape of our Oown self-image. Our self-image determines s our beliefs about ourselves and what we can or cannot do, and even how we see the world. Our t brains automatically tend to try to make true, which we believe. If we say and/or think e that something frequently and/or consistently we

by Jeff Comas

will start to believe it. Let me give you some examples: If you believe “my job is boring” then you will find the reasons why your job is boring and it will be true. If you believe “I love riding my bike” then you will you will find the reasons why riding your bike is great and you will love riding your bike. So if we say something like, “I can’t do that.” to ourselves enough times it will probably become true. So often I hear adults tell me “I just can’t play music.” and to them the statement is true, because it is what they believe. However, the fact is that virtually anyone can learn to play music, but it takes time, commitment, and a belief that it can be learned. So what happened to make them believe that they “can’t” play music? Chances are that somewhere in their childhood they tried for a brief time but focused on the difficulties of learning music instead of the progress they had made. This in turn lead to giving up and the belief that they “can’t” play music, and the more they said it or thought it, the truer it became. One of the worst mistakes a student of music (or any subject for that matter) can make is to engage in negative self-talk about themselves and learning. If your child tells himself or herself that he or she “hates” math, they will find the reasons math why is difficult and it will prove their hate of math is justified. On the flipside, if your child thinks of math like a game or a puzzle then they may have a completely different view that is just as true to them.

“...virtually anyone can learn to play music, but it takes time, commitment, and a belief that it can be learned.” • I get better every time I play music • I can learn a little more everyday • I love music, it is easy and fun for me to learn • I naturally count and learn rhythms with ease • I can learn my music in small parts that are easy to understand and do • I remember note names and relate them to my instrument • I can clearly imagine my music • I like to play music everyday You can customize new statements to suit your current situation. For example: If you have an upcoming recital you might say- “I feel good about my upcoming recital, because I know I will be well prepared.” Or- “This performance will be easy, because I know my music so well.” You could, of course, modify statements for other subjects too. I think you get the idea. I’ll wrap up here by suggesting you say, or have your child say, positive statements, out loud, just before practice. The brain will automatically try to make them true. Keep doing it and do it with other things in your life too. I’m betting you see a difference. Jeff Comas started playing music at 5 years of age. He is the owner of Allied Music Instructors. He has been a music educator since 1989, and has given over 40,000 music lessons.

Over the years I have seen many students create self-fulfilling prophecies. Students say things like “Counting music messes me up.” Or- “I struggle with rhythm.” Or, “I just can’t get the hang of reading music.” These things usually become true because the student believes it. What makes these kind of thoughts worse is that if your child does not believe that he or she can do it, they will probably not even try. Why should they, if they are sure they won’t have success?

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This is why positive self-talk is so important for success with learning and playing music (and anything else really). If we replace our negative talk with affirmative words and thoughts, we will start believing that. I’m going to give you some general statements that your child (or you) should use to help improve learning music. • I’m proud of the music I have learned

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Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ January 2016

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

A Life-Saving Decision For Animals

By Jeff Ashin, CEO, Young-Williams Animal Center. Photo by: Young-Williams Animal Center

et owners face many day-to-day decisions that affect the health and welfare of the animals they love. What kind of food is best? How much food? What kind of exercise will be most beneficial? However, the most important decision pet owners face affects not only the pet, but the community as well. Each year, millions of healthy, adoptable pets in the United States end up in animal shelters. The numbers are staggering – according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are 70 million stray cats living in the United States. There are 13,600 estimated animal shelters nationwide. 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year. And sadly, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized each year. The decision to spay/neuter is the most humane way to control animal overpopulation. Since July 2007, Young-Williams Animal Center has provided more than 50,000 lowcost spay and neuter surgeries for the general public. This was made possible in the beginning by a five-year grant from the Aslan Foundation whose goal was to reduce euthanasia in the shelter through the use of the mobile Spay Shuttle program. Because of the high demand for this service, Young-Williams added a stationary spay/neuter clinic to the program in January 2012. Depending upon their size, some puppies and kittens may be safely sterilized when they’re as young as eight weeks old. In fact, puppies and kittens recover more quickly from surgery than do adult dogs and cats. Besides not being able to reproduce, the benefits of spay/neuter surgeries are many. The surgeries prevent ovarian or uterine cancer and prevent uterine infections in females, and both sexes are less likely to fight with other animals. Neutered males are less likely to mark territory by urinating, will not get testicular tumors, will have less prostate inflammation, and will exhibit less inappropriate sexual behavior. Just as the benefits of spay/neuter are many, the myths about the surgeries are plentiful. Animals do not become fat and lazy after being altered. While it is true that an animal’s metabolism may slow after a spay/neuter surgery, monitoring food intake and adjusting as needed can counter the slower metabolism. Altered dogs will not become passive when it comes to being protective of their surroundings. They will remain instinctually territorial and protective of their owners’ homes. The only behaviors that will change are those controlled by the sex hormones. Perhaps the most popular myth concerning spay/neuter surgeries is Jeff Ashin is the CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit animal welfare organization and the official shelter for Knoxville and Knox County. The center offers pet adoption at two locations and affordable spay/neuter solutions. For more information visit www.young-williams.org

“By choosing to adopt, you are making a wise choice for your home and your community.”

that they are too expensive to be practical. The truth is a spay/neuter surgery is a one-time cost that can save pet owners from significant medical expenses because of certain health problems over the course of an animal’s life. In addition, Young-Williams works to offer assistance programs to the community for spay/neuter solutions. For those who can afford more than they are asked to pay, Young-Williams asks that a donation be made to assist other spay/neuter surgeries. Call Young-Williams’ Spay/Neuter Solutions at (865) 215-6677 to schedule a spay/neuter appointment or visit http://www. young-williams.org/spay-neuter-your-pet/ for more information. It’s the most important decision you can make for your pet.visit www.young-williams. org/homeforholidays.

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Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ January 2016

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

Join The Healthy Living Expo!

January 22-23, 2016 at the Knoxville Convention Center

noxville, TN... If your New Year’s resolution is to get fit in 2016, then you should attend The Healthy Living Expo (HLE) at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, January, 22 at 9 am-3 pm and Saturday, January 23 at 9 am-4pm. The event focuses on fitness, nutrition, health and living green. It also offers educational exhibits, cooking demonstrations, informative speakers and fun entertainment. Knoxville Parent has made it possible for your entire family to attend the expo with the ticket included in the magazine. Cut, copy and share the ticket to bring your entire family and we encourage you to bring friends too. Fun Activities For The Entire Family Which Way Out Knoxville Escape Game will have two booths with a condensed escape game challenge for kids and families to attempt. They will also have special ticket prices ONLY available at The Healthy Living Expo so you can try the full game experience at their location. You can visit WhichWayOutKnoxville.com to learn more about playing a live escape game. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital will join the expo this year with information for families and fun activities for children promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Subway will be on hand sampling delicious new products and you can get your picture taken in their fun photo booth. Kids and adults both can try the DUI goggles provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol to learn how dangerous it is to drive while intoxicated. THP will also have coloring books and stickers for younger children to enjoy. Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable and WBIR’s Heartland Series Host Bill Landry will be signing their new books at the expo. Families can enjoy hearing some of the “old time stories” and humor they both provide. At the Eat Right Stage visitors will learn how healthy eating fuels the mind and body. Learn how to eat healthy at home or while dining out and sample food from various vendors. There will be cooking demonstrations by WVLT-TV8’s Chef Walter Lambert and other local chefs. Attend the CPR CHOICE Hands-Only CPR class on Saturday; where you can learn life saving CPR skills. This course will be offered at no charge. All participants will receive a certification of completion. For more info visit CPRChoice.com or call 865-548-1500. Various health screenings including: blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, body mass index, sleep assessment, and skin toxin analysis will be available for FREE or at a REDUCED cost. The Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center will have information about their new walk in clinic, Allernow. Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center (KCBC) will be doing mobile mammogram screenings. The Collection of Unwanted Medications conducted by the Knoxville Police Department, UT Academy of Student Pharmacists, Knox County and City of Knoxville Solid Waste Offices and the Knox County Health Department will offer a ticket into the expo in exchange for your old medications. These medications will be safely destroyed. Staying active is important for a healthy lifestyle. On the Get Active Stage there will be a variety of demonstrations such as martial arts, music, dance, CrossFit and other fitness activities with several prizes given away all day. The Healthy Living Expo hours are Friday, January 22 - 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Saturday, January, 23 - 9:00 am-4:00 pm at the Knoxville Convention Center. Tickets are $10 at the door, but tickets can be copied and shared from this publication or printed from the website at no cost. For more information visit www.TheHealthyLivingExpo.com.

Knoxville Parent • January 2016

10 Terrific Books: Decisions, Decisions! Compiled by Erin Nguyen

Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library

What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss PreK-2nd In this newly discovered title from the beloved author, the narrator ponders the difficult choice of selecting the perfect pet.

Billy Sure, Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe 3rd-6th Twelve-year-old inventor and celebrity Billy Sure sponsors a contest in which he will select the winning new idea submitted by other kid inventors.

A Random Book about the Power of Anyone by Talia Y. Leman 7th-12th Young philanthropist Leman raised over $10 million for Hurricane Katrina relief and is now sharing her knowledge with other teens trying to decide how to make a difference in the world.

Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey PreK-2nd The Moon thinks he would like to trade places the Sun, but Sun convinces him to spend a night really looking at the beauty of the world below before making a final decision.

Choose Good Food!: My Eating Tips by Gina Bellisario K-3rd Readers tag along with a picky eater as he learns how to find healthy food that he will enjoy eating instead of filling up on junk food.

Red by Jan De Kinder K-3rd A young girl must decide whether or not to speak up when she witnesses her classmate being bullied on the playground.

Why We Live Where We Live by Kira Vermond 3rd-6th In this fun, informative book, the author explores all the factors people consider when choosing where in the world they want to live.

The Harlem Renaissance: An Interactive History Adventure by Allison Lassieur 4th-6th Readers decide which path they will take in this choose-yourown-adventure style story that takes place during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s.

For library information in your area visit: www.knoxlib.org/

Meteor Men by Jeff Parker 8th-12th When he discovers that a meteor shower was more than it first appeared, teenager Alden must confront tough choices about how to save the world from an alien invasion.

Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas 9th-12th Heart had planned on attending prom in a group with her No Drama Proma friends, but she faces a difficult decision when two different boys ask her to go.

Knoxville Parent â&#x20AC;˘ January 2016