Kidsville News - August '09

COFFEE/MOORE COUNTY'S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

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AUGUST 2009

Dear Kids, August is here, and for many of you this is your last month of summer vacation before returning to school. I always like to get in one more fun adventure before school starts. This summer, I went white-water rafting! You can read all about rafting in Come Out & Play. And, you can also read about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

I have to admit that my inspiration for wanting to have some fun on the river came from a book I’ve been reading. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by Mark Twain is a classic novel about a boy and his adventures along the Mississippi River. I hope you enjoy learning more about the author and the river in this edition!

Check out the calendar for some back-to-school tips. And for more fun, visit my Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com!

Have an awesome August!

Your friend,

AUGUST 2009

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WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE...

A RAFT GUIDE? I’ve been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn this summer. Playing by and in the river sure sounds fun, so I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Matthew Leonard is a raft guide and trip leader for High Mountain Expeditions in Banner Elk, NC. They give guided rafting trips down rivers in Tennessee and North Carolina. High Mountain Expeditions is a family-owned business, so Matt grew up on the river, and he’s been a rafting guide for the past six summers. He was glad to talk with me about what it’s like to be a rafting guide.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a raft guide?

MATT: To become a raft guide for our company, working on the Watauga River, you must be highly certified in first aid, CPR and white-water safety. Keeping everyone safe on the river, while still having fun, is of upmost importance.

TRUMAN: When, and why, did you first become interested in this profession?

MATT: Ever since my first rafting trip when I was six years old, I have always loved rafting; soon after my first experience, it became my dream to spend my college summers as a raft guide for High Mountain on the Watauga River. Working on the river makes for a fun day. I am able to meet new people and guide down the raging waters all day. I also get to work with my brother and sister, and they have taught me a lot about being a rafting guide, as they are much more experienced than I am. To this day, I cannot think of a better way to spend a summer break than on a river.

MATT: There have been times when I have been scared on a rafting trip.

White-water rafting is a thrilling experience, but in certain situations, the water can be dangerous. It is important to always be alert and aware of how the water is flowing through the river. Every river is different, so it is important to take every trip, regardless of your experience, seriously.

TRUMAN: What do you do if your boat flips over?

Above: Rafting on the Watauga River.

Left: Matt Leonard (far right) with his father, sister and twin brother.

TRUMAN: What do you do?

What’s a typical day on the job?

MATT: If the raft were to flip over, as guides, we would simply flip the raft back over. Raft guides are trained to make the best of these sticky situations! As a guest on the boat, you would want to make sure you are in river float position, lying on your back with your toes and head out of the water. Either your guide or another guide will get to you almost instantly.

TRUMAN: What’s the wildest river that you have ever been on?

MATT: As a raft guide for High Mountain Expeditions, we follow a strict schedule of fun! We start our mornings by making sure all the rafts are blown up. After loading the rafts onto the trailer, we count out the paddles to make sure we have one for every guest. After the equipment is ready, we make sure lunch is packed and in the gear truck. The gear truck is driven by my twin brother, Chris. The gear truck leaves before anyone else and gets to the river to make sure everything is prepared for the clients. When they begin arriving, we make sure everyone receives a PFD, also known as a life jacket, so they can be safe on the river. Next, we load High Mountain’s big red bus and head to Elizabethton, TN, where the fun really begins. On the bus, I try to entertain the guests by making them laugh, telling jokes and sometimes acting silly. I do great impressions of people. I get to make funny faces a lot. It rocks! Before we get into the rafts, we have a picnic lunch, where the excitement of going rafting is really built up! Once lunch is over and paddles are handed out to everyone, I give a very important safety talk. It’s extremely important for me to make sure everyone who will be rafting knows how to be safe on the river and what to do in an emergency.

This is one of my most critical duties as a guide and trip leader, other than making sure everyone has a great time, that is! After all that, it is finally time to get into the rafts and start paddling down the river. I make sure all the rafts stay together and are not separated throughout the day. But once on the river, it is my job to make sure we go through all the rapids, have water fights, get wet and most importantly, have a great time!

AUGUST 2009

TRUMAN: Are you ever scared on a rafting trip?

MATT: The wildest river I have ever been on is the Gauley River in West Virginia. It is one of the most popular advanced rivers in the country. The Upper Gauley has class five rapids throughout its 10-mile stretch! The raging white water is quite exciting and challenging. I hope to continue to raft many different rivers to gain more experience so I can become the best raft guide that I can!

TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job?

MATT: The hardest part of my job is to make sure everything throughout the day is run smoothly. If my job is not done correctly, it could result in the entire trip suffering the consequences. It is especially important to work together with my fellow raft guides and help each other when needed.

TRUMAN: What’s the best part of your job?

MATT: The best part of my job is doing what I love. What could be better than spending a summer outside on the river?

TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession?

MATT: If you are interested in being a white-water rafting guide, you simply just need to know how to have fun on the water, and all the safety precautions too!

TRUMAN: Thanks for talking to Kidsville News! My rafting trip down the Watauga was great! You really do have a terrific job.

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River Word Find

Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!

Find the words below that relate to rivers.

BANKS CURRENT DAM LAKES

Y S A K I D A M O S L L V N J

R R W D J I N K Y A L L B X V

H A A M D U A Q K O B A U I R

ANSWER: CEILINGFAN

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LOCKS PORT RAPIDS RESERVOIR

J J P T D V M E C S B F L E Z

Y R B I U C S K X K P R D R N

Z G L B D B S R D C P E V R R

B Q U X K S I P Q O C T M T I

U S W N I B K R O R T A Q A R

V W B B G A E U T R K W I U T

R E S E R V O I R R T V K G H

RIVER ROCKS TRIBUTARY WATERFALL

G H K R S T N E R R U C N J S

T Q Y I K D Y L K A U L E L B

Q P L V N K J O N X Z H S C H

T T Q E A N G B N J A O H X D

F M B R B P O O G X A N W Y G

ANSWER: THE EYES

Can you help Truman find his way to the river bank?

AUGUST 2009

COME OUT AND PLAY! White-water Rafting: Not Just Another Float Down the River The characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn from Mark Twain’s classic stories spent many hours lazily floating down the Mighty Mississippi on their homemade log raft. Today’s exciting and challenging sport of white-water rafting offers another way to “run the river” while going faster and getting wet — on purpose!

White-water rafting has become very popular since the 1970s, but instead of a log raft like Tom and Huck’s, rafters use a very strong and durable inflatable boat of rubberized or vinyl material to travel down a river. These boats range in size from 11 to 20 feet long and six to eight feet wide and usually hold between four and 12 people. Each person on a raft has a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) or life jacket, a helmet and an oar to help steer.

Most rafters wear shoes and clothes that they don’t mind getting wet and that dry quickly, and any equipment like watches, phones or cameras should be waterproof or carried in a waterproof container or bag. Knowing how to swim is always a good idea when playing near — or on — the water!

Rivers are classified according to how much rapids or “white

AUGUST 2009

water” they have, from Class 1, which is a river with very small areas of rough water requiring little steering and skill level, to Class 6 rapids full of waves, rocks and waterfalls. Class 6 rapids are very dangerous, even for the experts.

Unless you are an experienced whitewater rafter, you will want to raft with white-water outfitters and raft guides, professionals who take groups of rafters on guided trips down the river.

These outfitters and guides know how to “read” the river and how to move the raft through rapids safely. They will provide you with everything you need, including equipment, meals, interesting information about the area and most importantly, safety presentations and skills. While white-water rafting has certain risks, including rapids, rocks, fallen trees and strong currents, by following essential safety precautions, you and these rafting experts can help ensure a safe, exciting natural water ride better than anything you’ll find in an amusement park!

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River Word Find BANKS CURRENT DAM LAKES LOCKS PORT RAPIDS RESERVOIR RIVER ROCKS TRIBUTARY WATERFALL

Y S A K I D A M O S L L V N J

R R W D J I N K Y A L L B X V

H A A M D U A Q K O B A U I R

J J P T D V M E C S B F L E Z

Y R B I U C S K X K P R D R N

Z G L B D B S R D C P E V R R

B Q U X K S I P Q O C T M T I

U S W N I B K R O R T A Q A R

V W B B G A E U T R K W I U T

R E S E R V O I R R T V K G H

G H K R S T N E R R U C N J S

T Q Y I K D Y L K A U L E L B

Q P L V N K J O N X Z H S C H

T T Q E A N G B N J A O H X D

F M B R B P O O G X A N W Y G

Let’s Go Down to the River Bank!

Can you help Truman find his way to the river bank?

AUGUST 2009

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Music As Art Louis Armstrong: Father of Jazz Louis Armstrong was an African American musician. A trumpeter and singer, he is often called the founding father of jazz music.

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. His family was very poor, and from a young age, he worked to help support them — singing on street corners, working on a junk wagon and even cleaning graves for tips, among other things. His jobs took Louis all over New Orleans and introduced him to the different kinds of music found there, from the blues played in noisy bars to the brass bands that marched in the city’s parades.

Louis seemed to be a born musician; he bought himself a cornet and taught himself how to play it before he was 10 years old!

As a young teen, Louis got into trouble with the law and was sent to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. There he received his first actual music lessons from the director of the Home for Boys’ band, Peter Davis.

He was such a natural that it wasn’t long before Louis was the leader of the band. When he was released from the home in 1914, he played music in New Orleans’ local bars. He also found a new mentor and teacher, Joe Oliver, who was one of the best trumpet players in the city.

By the end of 1918, Joe Oliver had left New Orleans to start a band in Chicago. In 1922, he asked Louis to join him as a member of the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band. Soon, Louis had recorded his first record with the band, and it wasn’t long before he was recording with other influential musicians, too. In 1929, Louis made his first Broadway appearance. A pit musician in the orchestra for the musical Hot Chocolate, Louis regularly stole the show with his singing cameo of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” which is still his biggest selling record today. With his growing fame and popularity, Louis was free to improvise and explore his own style. He toured the country and abroad and played with several different orchestras, all the while recording more and more music.

Louis changed jazz music with his gravely voice and solo improvisations. And he loved to perform! Throughout his career, he played in numerous jazz ensembles and appeared on television, in movies and stage musicals and on live radio shows. Despite recurring health problems, he performed until almost the day of his death on July 6, 1971.

Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and other education-related companies. Sources: Louis Armstrong House Museum, http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/; Louis Armstrong on Wikipedia, http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong; The Time 100: Louis Armstrong, http:// www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/armstrong.html.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...

ECUADOR?

It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located.

Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Get out your globe, and find longitude 77º W and latitude 2º S to locate Ecuador, a country that celebrates its independence day in August. Ecuador is located in western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator and between Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. The country also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

They are located about 600 miles from the mainland.

Ecuador is located on the equator, from which it takes it name. The equator is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface equal distance from the North Pole and South Pole. It divides the Earth into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.

Equador has three main geographic regions. The coastal region, la costa, is low-lying land along the Pacific coastline. The mountainous highlands area, la sierra, is in the center of the country, running north to south. This area includes the Andes mountain range and Mount Chimborazo, the highest point on Earth. The Amazon rainforest region is known as la amazonia or el oriente (the east). It makes up half of the country's area, but is very sparsely populated. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago (chain) of volcanic islands.

Equador is one of 18 "megadiverse" countries. This means that it has the majority of the Earth's species located there. Over 1,600 bird species and 25,000 species of plants live in Ecuador. There are many species that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which means they The Galapagos Islands are found nowhere else in the world. These species were studied by Charles Darwin and contributed to his theory of evolution.

Sources: “Ecuador,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency; Wikipedia.

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At the Movies Bandslam (In Theaters: August 14) Actors Aly Michalka (Phil of the Future) and Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) team up with Gaelan Connell (Chocolat), Scott Porter (Speed Racer) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends) in a musicfilled picture about a rock band competition for kids. Up-and-coming songstress Charlotte (Aly Michalka) gets local newcomer Will (Gaelan Connell) to manage her new rock band so she can outshine her ex-boyfriend’s group at the upcoming “Bandslam” competition, where musical acts of assorted musical backgrounds will test their skills. Pure teenybopper bubblegum fun from start to finish, Bandslam is all about kids finding their musical voice before an audience of their peers. Rated PG. 111 mins. (Summit Entertainment)

Shorts (In Theaters: August 21) Director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids) returns to making kids’ movies with a sci-fi-fantasy picture set in the suburban community of Black Falls, where the appearance of a Rainbow Rock that falls from the sky empowers locals with supernatural powers. For 11-year-old Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett), school life is “survival of the coolest” until a Rainbow Rock hits him on the head and makes his every wish come true. Of course, there are alien forces at work, so little green aliens are part of the plot. Things get out of control when the head of an evil local corporation called Black Box gets ahold of the rock and asks for things better left alone. Only Toe and his friends can save their community from a danger that isn’t so “alien” after all. Rated PG for mild action and some rude humor. (Warner Brothers Pictures) Movies on DVD

The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season Soak up hours of hilarious Simpsons’ episodes like “Treehouse of Horror XI,” “Insane Clown Poppy” and “Homer vs. Dignity” until your sides hurt from laughing in yet another year’s worth of comedy from television’s longest-running animated show. Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Homer, It Might Get Loud (In Theaters: August 14) Marge and all of the gang from Springfield are here, along with loads August is music month at the movies for kids, and although it might take a of extras like commentary tracks, deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, while to come to a theater near you, It Might Get Loud is the kind of music StoryBoard comparisons, Easter Eggs and a sketch gallery. Not even Bugs documentary that parents can enjoy just as much as their children. Davis Bunny or the Road Runner have anything on the Simpsons for stirring up Guggenheim (the director of An Inconvenient Truth) brings together rock laughs that make watching DVDs almost as much fun as eating ice cream. music legends Jimmy Page (guitarist for Led Zepplin), U2’s The Edge, The Simpsons’ Twelfth Season isn’t really a movie, but there aren’t too and The White Stripes’ guitarist Jack Black for a behind-the-scenes look many kids’ DVD movies this month. Besides, the Simpsons episodes will at how these great musicians communicate with each other and create the last a lot longer than any old movie. Not Rated. (Twentieth Century Fox) music together. Impromptu jam sessions and walks down memory lane reveal each guitarist’s childlike passion for playing his instrument and their Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world,” has intense inspiration from different musical influences. You’re never too been a film critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print young, or too old, to enjoy watching master guitar players practicing their and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn. craft and taking the time to explain their creative process.

Rated PG (for mild thematic elements, brief language and smoking. (Sony Pictures Classics)

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AUGUST 2009

Hunting for Other Earths

KIDSVILLE KITCHEN Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

Our solar system has eight planets. However, planets elsewhere are a dime a dozen.

Planets outside our solar system are called “extra-solar planets” or “exoplanets.” And the universe is crawling with them!

Astronomers have detected many exoplanets without actually seeing them. Most of these planets have been huge — as big as Jupiter and bigger. Some orbit so close to their stars they would be way too hot for life.

Of course, huge planets are easier to detect than smaller, Earthsized ones. So there could be millions of smaller planets right here in our own Milky Way Galaxy that we haven’t yet been able to see.

Finding an Earth-like planet that might have life would be very exciting. If a planet is too close to its star, it This is an artist’s idea of how some exoplanets will be too might look. Planets too close to their sun will hot. If it is probably be too hot for life, and planets too far away too far away might be too cold. Astronomers would love to find from its star, some exoplanets with lots of land and water right in it will be too the “Goldilocks Zone.” cold. We are pretty sure it will be have to be rocky, like Earth, rather than a big gas ball, like Jupiter and Saturn. And if it has life, it probably needs a lot of water, like Earth.

Now, thanks to the Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have seen quite a few exoplanets directly. The Spitzer Space Telescope detects an invisible kind of light called infrared light. Compared to stars, planets are very cool and dim. But planets do glow in infrared light.

To see cold exoplanets, Spitzer must be very cold itself. Since it began its mission in 2003, Spitzer has been chilled by a tank of super-cold liquid helium. As expected, the liquid helium has finally run out. The telescope is still mighty cold, though, and more than cold enough to keep studying exoplanets. Maybe it will be able to study planets that could have life!

Unscramble slider puzzles of beautiful images from the Spitzer Space Telescope at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spitzer/ slyder.

This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

AUGUST 2009

A New Twist on Meat Loaf Jennifer Bushman, author of “The Kitchen Coach” cookbook series, recommends making weeknight cooking a pleasure rather than a chore. A few of her ideas for dinner-tainment include: • Spread a blanket in the living room and treat the family to an at-home dinner picnic. Prepare simple sandwiches or wraps. Or, when parents and kids are on-the-run between soccer practice and music lessons, spread out the sandwich fixin’s so the family can make their own grab ’n’ go dinner.

• Celebrate a night-in with the family with a new twist on a comfort food favorite. Prepare a perfectly-seasoned Pizza Meat Loaf in no time. Set up the couch and chairs in your family living room to create a “home theatre” and enjoy pizza meat loaf, while watching your favorite family flicks.

PIZZA MEAT LOAF WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix* • 2 pounds ground beef • 1-1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs or 3/4 cup • plain dry bread crumbs • 2 eggs • 1 small green bell pepper, chopped (optional) • 1/4 cup water • 1 cup Ragú Old World Style Pasta Sauce or other brand • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces) HOW TO MAKE IT (makes 8 servings): • Preheat oven to 350°F.

• Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup pasta sauce and 1/2 cup cheese in large bowl.

• Shape into loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan.

• Top with remaining sauce. Bake 50 minutes.

• Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. *Also terrific with Lipton Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion or Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix. .

For delicious recipes, affordable meal ideas and a family fun booklet, go to www.MakingLifeBetter.com. All materials courtesy of Unilever Brands.

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A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

BOOKSHELF Wild River

Marley Goes to School

Author/Illustrator: P.J. Petersen Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Age Range: 9 to 12 From the Publisher: It’s Ryan versus the river in a race against time to save his brother’s life.

When 12-year-old Ryan reluctantly agrees to join his experienced older brother Tanner on a camping trip, he could never have dreamed this would turn into the most frightening day of his life. Ryan’s no good at sports or outdoor stuff. He’d rather be home playing video games. But Tanner says it’s an easy trip. They’ll kayak down the Boulder River, catch fish and roast marshmallows. But the river is higher than usual, and the kayaking is scary. Tanner isn’t worried. But soon after, he’s badly hurt in a kayaking accident, leaving Ryan alone and afraid he can’t save his brother’s life. He’s only faced danger in video games. What good are games now when Ryan faces a real-life battle?

The Bugville Critters Compete in the Big Spelling Bee

Author/Illustrator: John Grogan, Richard Cowdrey (Illustrator) Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Age Range: 4 to 8 From the Publisher: It’s the first day of school, and Cassie is all set to go. So is her dog, Marley!

Although he’s told to stay, Marley digs a tunnel out of the backyard and sniffs his way to school. As he roams the halls looking for Cassie, he finds trouble instead. From wolfing down hot dogs in the cafeteria to setting free a bunch of mice in science class, Marley won’t stop until he locates his best friend.

This loveable and rowdy dog may not be much of an academic, but he’s full of school spirit! Packed with action and hilarious Marley bad-boy antics, this follow-up to the bestselling Bad Dog, Marley! and A Very Marley Christmas will leave readers howling for more. Awooo!

Just Grace Goes Green

Author: Robert Stanek Publisher: Reagent Press Books for Young Readers Publication Date: August 2009 Age Range: 4 to 8 From the Publisher: Robert Stanek, the highly acclaimed author of more than 75 books for young people and adults, including Journey Beyond the Beyond and The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches, has selected an irresistible combination for this age group — loveable critters and exciting reading adventures. In this story, Lass and her friends Sarah, Buster and Barry compete in the B. Havior School Annual Spelling Bee. When Lass gets a big case of stage fright, her family and friends work together to help her through it. The wonderfully crafted story is paired with energetic illustrations and playful examples that help children discover the world around them and the joy of reading.

Author/Illustrator: Charise Mericle Harper Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Age Range: 6 to 9 From the Publisher: Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet? Or at the very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed animal back?

Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi’s older cousin Gwen is coming to stay with Mimi, and Miss Lois’s class is GOING GREEN! For their “green” project, Grace and Mimi aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles. But a far more important issue is that Gwen has taken a strong liking to Mimi’s favorite stuffed toy, Willoughby. Just Grace uses her empathy superpower to figure out ways to make her best friend feel better, and she makes a difference for the environment, too.

P ARENTOWN

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AUGUST 2009

P ARENTOWN’S K ID S MART How Much Does That Puppy Really Cost?

As parents, we’ve all heard the age-old question our kids yell out at some point: “Mom, Dad, can we have a puppy, PLEASE?” Then comes, “I’ll take care of it, I’ll walk it, and I’ll even bathe it.” In their minds, the puppy will bring joy and endless play, and while this is true, there are additional responsibilities we can teach that come along with having a puppy.

Tip: Involve your child in the everyday care of the puppy, the good (joyful play time), the bad (chewing on Mom’s favorite shoe) and the ugly (cleaning up the “oops poop” in the house). This involvement gives them a well-rounded understanding that having a puppy requires time, patience, responsibility and money.

Activities: Be sure to involve your child in everyday care of the puppy.

Daily walks with the new puppy are required.

Be sure to set a time that your little one walks the dog, whether it’s right after school or right after dinner.

Train the puppy not to “go” in the house, jump on the couch or chew up shoes in the house.

Let’s not forget “Fido” needs to be fed! Be sure to set a feeding schedule and stick to it.

Take the puppy to the veterinarian for shots to prevent disease.

Explain what that means to your child so he will have a greater appreciation for “Fido” and his health and well-being.

Benefit/Key Takeaway: Sometimes the things we buy come with additional responsibility and costs.

Next Month: “The 4 Money Buckets” Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money in households across America between parents and their kids. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids. To register your child to win a share of stock in our monthly stock giveaway, please visit our Web site at www.BornToSave.org.

AUGUST 2009

¿Cuánto cuesta realmente ese cachorrito?

Como padres todos hemos escuchado la vieja pregunta que nuestros hijos nos hacen en algún momento, mamá, papá ¿podemos tener un cachorrito, por favor? Y después todo lo que viene detrás: yo lo cuidaré, lo sacaré de paseo e incluso lo bañaré. En sus mentes, el cachorrillo les traerá alegría y ratos interminable de juego, y aunque en parte es verdad, hay responsabilidades adicionales que vienen con el tener un cachorrillo.

Consejo: Implique a su hijo en las tareas diarias de su cachorro, lo bueno (el tiempo de juego) lo malo (el comerse el zapato favorito de mama) y lo feo (limpiar ‘los accidentes’ en la casa). Esto les da una idea global de que tener un cachorro requiere tiempo, paciencia, responsabilidad y dinero.

Actividades: Asegúrese de implicar a su hijo en la tarea diaria de su cachorro.

Los paseos diarios con su cachorro son requeridos. Asegúrese de establecer una hora donde su pequeño camine al perro, ya sea después de la escuela o después de la cena.

El entrenar al perro a que no tenga ‘accidentes’ en la casa, a que no salte en el sofá y que no se coma los zapatos. ÍNo olvidemos que “Fido” necesita que le alimenten! Asegúrese de establecer un horario para alimentar a su perro y de atenerse a él.

También tiene que llevarlo al veterinario para que le pongan las vacunas para prevenir enfermedades. Explíquele a su hijo lo que significa para que así tengan un mayor aprecio por “Fido”, su salud y su bienestar.

Beneficio/consejo para retener: A veces las cosas que compramos vienen con responsabilidades y costos adicionales.

El próximo mes: “Las cuatro fuentes de dinero” Keva Sturdevant es la fundadora de Born To Save, una organización benéfica basada en Washington, DC con la misión de enseñar a los niños de todas las edades la importancia de ahorrar e invertir. Nuestra meta es comenzar conversaciones sobre el dinero en los hogares a través de América entre los padres y sus niños. En un esfuerzo por fortalecer estas conversaciones, concedemos acciones de mercado reales a los niños. Para registrar a su hijo para que gane acciones de mercado en nuestro concurso mensual, por favor visite nuestra página web www.BornToSave.org.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 21

Little League World Series Starting August 21, 2009

Little League World Series The Little League World Series. which begins August 21st, 2009, is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 and 12 years old. Named for the World Series in Major League Baseball, it was first held in 1947 and is held every August in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in the United States. (The postal address of the organization is in Williamsport, but the stadium complex is in South Williamsport.) Initially, only teams from the US competed in the "World Series" but it has since become a worldwide tournament. The tournament has gained popular renown, especially in the United States, where games from the Series and even from regional tournaments are broadcast on ESPN. In 2006, the age limit was changed such that players could turn 13 after May 1, not August 1, as had previously been the case. As the competitions take place in the Northern Hemisphere summer, many of the players have already turned 13 before the World Series. The 2006 tournament also marked the end of the American Broadcasting Company broadcasts under the "ABC Sports" name. As of September 1, 2006, all Disney sports properties are under the ESPN title, regardless of which channel from Disney airs the sporting event.

The Little League World Series is one of eight tournaments sponsored by Little League International. Each of them brings baseball or softball all-star teams from around the world together in one of four age divisions. The tournament structure described here is that used for the Little League Baseball World Series. The structure used for the other World Series is similar.

Qualifying tournaments In the summer months leading up to the Little League World Series, held each year in August, Little Leagues around the world select an All-Star team made up of players from its league. It is these All-Star teams that compete in district, sectional and/or divisional and regional tournaments hoping to advance to Williamsport for the Little League World Series. How many games a team has to play varies from region to region. In the United States, the tournaments at the lowest (district) level lack nationwide standardization. Some use pool play or double elimination, while others use single elimination.

In the United States, the fate of district winners varies widely from state to state. In some larger states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and California, the district winners advance to one of many sectional tournaments. The winners of each sectional tournament then advance to a state or divisional tournament, currently held only in Texas and California, which closely resemble the state tournaments held in less densely populated states. Most smaller states lack competition at the sectional level and go straight from district to state tournaments. A handful of states are composed of only one district, and the district champion is the automatic state champion.

With 4 exceptions, every state as well as the District of Columbia crowns a state champion, and sends that team to represent it to one of eight regional tournaments. The exceptions involve California, Texas, and the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. Because of their large geographic and population sizes, California and Texas send two representatives to their regional tournament; Northern California and Southern California in the West region tournament and Texas East and Texas West (whose areas encompass more than the geographical areas of East Texas and West Texas, splitting roughly along the I-35/I-37 corridor) compete in the Southwest region tournament. Conversely, because of their sparse population, the Dakotas have one district spanning the two states, and its winner becomes the joint champion and advances to the Midwest region tournament.

World Series breakdown The Little League World Series consists of 16 teams—8 from the United States, and 8 from other countries. Prior to 2001 there were eight teams in the LLWS: four U.S. teams (Central, South, East, and West) and four international (Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Asia). It should be noted that in 1975 there were only four teams in the LLWS (The United States best year), all from the United States. The international teams returned in 1976.

Horse Play, Inc.

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 22

We support Horse Play, Inc. A Tennessee non-profit organization helping to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities

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Conservation o r n e r Conservation, Family-style!

It’s every family member’s job to help conserve our natural resources and save energy, too. Here are a few ways the whole family can get involved.

• Carpool to school and after-school activities, or take mass transit if available.

• Big families often use several dishes, silverware and drinking cups during the day. That adds up to a lot of energy to run the dishwasher or for handwashing. Have each kid choose one set of eating and drinking utensils each day and wash them quickly after each use.

• Take unwanted household chemicals to hazardous waste collection centers. Do not pour them down the drain!

• Reduce how much time is spent in the shower to conserve water, and turn off the faucet when brushing teeth.

• Stop to think about how much energy you are using that you don’t realize. Every time you open and close the garage door, for instance, you are using a lot of electricity.

• Turn off lights when not in use. That’s an easy one, but not everyone does it. Try opening your curtains and blinds, letting more natural light in. This will reduce your dependence on electric lights.

• Sort through toys that are no longer played with, and donate them to a childcare center or consignment shop instead of tossing them in the trash. Or, have a neighborhood yard sale, and make a little “green” of your own!

• Encourage parents to use the outdoor grill instead of turning on the gas or electric oven. It’ll save more energy, and it’s more fun!

AUGUST 2009

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 23