Publisher :Lynn Ivey Images by: Lynn Ivey/ Pixaby September 2019
Back to School Tips for Parents Meet the new teacher For kids, one of the biggest back-to-school fears is “Will I like my new teacher?” Breaking the ice early on is one of the best ways to calm everyone’s fears. Take advantage of your school’s open house or back-toschool night. Some teachers welcome phone calls or e-mails — another great opportunity to get to know each other before the year begins. If personal contact with the teacher isn’t possible, try locating the teacher’s picture on a school website or in a yearbook, so your child can put a name with a face. If your child’s teacher sends a welcome letter, be sure to read the letter together.
Tool up Obtain the class supply list and take a special shopping trip with your child. Having the right tools will help him feel prepared. While keeping basic needs in mind, allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a favorite-colored pen. These simple pleasures make going back to school a lot more fun. School supply lists also provide great insight into the schoolwork ahead. Get your child excited about upcoming projects by explaining how new supplies might be used. Let him practice using supplies that he’s
Ease into the routine Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Avoid firstday-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother.
Eight Back to School Tips
1. Be Prepared When Transitioning Back-to-School. Start your back to
school shopping ahead. ... 1. Schedule Your Days. ... 2. Provide Information to Your Child. ... 3. Open Communication with Your Child. ... 4. Do Not Panic About School Starting. ... 5. End Lousy Summer Habits. ... 6. Complete Summer Homework. ... 7. Screen Time.
How did 3MonkeyArt get started? When Rodney and I started this journey and dream of 3MonkeyArt, we had no idea where this would take us. We've had successes and failures throughout our 10 years together, and we wouldn't change them because with it all we are living. Ups, downs, laughter, and tears have brought us to this point and our dedication to making art an avenue to help others to "See More Do More Living" is stronger than ever. Exactly how that is going to look is a work in progress. With the opening of our online store the possibilities seem endless. Of course, we also hope to have a brick and mortar location in the future, and are also looking at fairs, art shows, and events to participate in person.
You design a lot of different varieties of work, why ? We believe that art should be fun, accessible, and available through many outlets from jewelry, design, painting, graphic art, and so much more. Our See More Do More philosophy means taking chances, trying new things, and offering unique ideas, designs and products to our loving and loyal customers. If just one of our designs makes someone's day, or brings a smile to somone's face, or makes life a little easier (such as one of our tote's, mugs, pet beds, or anything really) then that makes us happy. One of the greatest joys is to see someone light up when they put on a pair of Rodney P earrings, or necklace, or get excited about owning a piece of art whether an original, print, or clothing that was infused with a painting in an original way. And if our art inspires just one other artist, that's fabulous. We all have a creative side, whether writing, visual, performing arts, cooking, speaking, whatever it is, that's a day that tops all others.
What was your inspiration ? Of course our greatest muse is our third monkey, Max who inspired us to create artistic art infused, graphically designed pet products as well. He is our glue and keeps us grounded in love, and life.
Do you have any favorite pieces of art? I can’t say we have a favorite but, the last collection “ Sphere Rings” we really enjoy because, in my opinion it captures the universe as a whole.
Are all pieces of art unique? All Jewelry is handcrafted and one of a kind. Inspired by vibes and energy from life itself.
Contact number: 252-259-1248 Online orders : Facebook.com/3monkeyart.com
Owners & Designers : Deanna Spangle & Rodney Pollard
Wednesday - September 25, 2019 12:00 Noon - Campgrounds open for check-in Chamber Park and Arena, 355 J. Lee Road Thursday - September 26, 2019 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM Carnival Location TBA MICHAEL'S AMUSEMENTS Unlimited ride arm bands are $25.00 each No arm bands sold one hour prior to closing All rides have height and weight limits 5:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight Free Trolley Rides Load at the corner of Parrish and Elm, the Chamber Park, or the carnival 6:00 PM - Mule Day Concert 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Antique Outlaws Band 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Confederate Railroad Benson Singing Grove - Main Street 6:00 - Barrel Exhibition 8:00 - Open Barrel Race Free admission to Both 355 J. Lee Road Friday - September 27, 2019 9:00 AM Mule Events Featuring a Mule Race, Mule Pull, and more! 12:00 Noon - Mule Race $3.00 per person - $5.00 for Two - $1.00 for Children 12 and under 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Last standing Mule Stable in Benson Tours The Garland McLamb Family Stable 604 East Parrish Drive 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Wagon Rides through Historic Benson Leaving from the Mule Stable $5.00 donation per person(ages 10 and older) for Benson Mule Statue Sponsored by the Mule City Mule Club 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Mule Day Arts on Main Sidewalk Art by Benson Area Schools
History. "Mule Day" has been a popular Columbia tradition for nearly 170 years, since the 1840s. It began as "Breeder's Day", a single day livestock show and mule market event held on the first Monday in May. ... They went to the Chamber of Commerce and in 1934 the First Mule Day Parade was a reality.
Ride a suitable horse for your riding skill level. Beginner riders should ride quiet, well-mannered horses used to the mistakes beginners make. Don’t leave small children unattended on or around horses. Teach kids how to act around horses. They should learn to speak softly and move slowly, keeping a safe distance between themselves and the horse, unless they are directly working with it. They should also learn not to be a distraction when others are riding. · The safest way to learn to ride is with an experienced riding instructor or coach. Don’t go it alone. Not only will you learn faster, you will be safer as you learn. · If you are riding a young, green or unfamiliar horse, ride with supervision and in a familiar area. Taking a horse out on the trail, or riding alone for the first time isn’t a great idea.
Wear an ASTM approved riding helmet. Numerous agencies and safety committees cite that the majority of rider fatalities are due to head injuries. Experienced riders are just as prone to head injuries as inexperienced. Some statistics suggest experienced riders are even more likely to be injured than beginners. Put on a helmet each and every time you ride. · When riding in a group, keep at least one horse length between horses. Should one horse kick out at another, they’re unlikely to be able to make contact and won’t kick you by accident instead. · If your horse becomes very agitated, dismount and handle the situation from the ground. Don’t race.
Movie Review: Dumbo returns to the silver screen but fails to stand out
Images by Disney
The 1941 animated Disney movie known as “Dumbo” is a classic to numerous audiences of numerous ages, but in an attempt to capitalize on the trend of live -action Disney remakes, Tim Burton tries but fails to create a more modern take on the classic. The plot follows the Farriers, a family of three belonging to an impoverished circus, which in a desperate attempt at success, takes in a pregnant elephant. However, when the elephant births her child, the infant is revealed to have mutated ears that are initially viewed as hideous but become a selling point of the circus when they are revealed to allow the infant flight capabilities. Capitalizing on the success of the flying elephant, known to many as Dumbo, the circus is bought out by a wealthy businessman known as Vandevere (played by Michael Keaton), who merely seeks to exploit the circus and Dumbo for his own personal gain.
“Dumbo” has the elements of a successful children’s film through its repeated usage of an innocent creature mocked by society and only wanting freedom, while virtually no other characters seem to care, with many whimsical spectacles thrown in between, such as the repeated flight scenes. However, these elements are not enough to carry a film for audiences older than the target demographic. The film suffers from an unnecessary time length with many padded-out scenes that grind the film to a halt until the circus sequences, which in themselves become repetitive by the end. The issue with “Dumbo” is ultimately the fact that the film does not realize how its premise, being confined to numerous repeats of the same circus act, is not enough to carry a product that is nearly two hours long. The film relies heavily on the emotional aspect of Dumbo the elephant, but the rest of the numerous characters, who belong to a circus, are not realized or fleshed out, thus making the film’s actual substance bland and uninteresting past a surface level.
The performances in “Dumbo” are incredible due to the all-star cast, featuring names such as Colin Farrell, Anne Hathaway and Danny DeVito, to name a few. The performance that is arguably the most memorable would be Michael Keaton as the film’s villain, who obviously is enjoying the film’s shallow material by being as close to a cartoon villain’s demeanor as possible. In this respect, “Dumbo” is not entirely lifeless. In the typical realm of director Tim Burton, the visuals and presentation are prioritized much more than any other aspect of the film, with mixed results. While the film itself is visually and audibly appealing, the sheer excess is difficult to ignore. The presentation suffers much from fatigue in that the main selling point of the film, Dumbo’s flight, overstays its welcome after the third sequence, which shows that the film fails to stand out beyond being a well-presented children’s film. The live-action remake of “Dumbo” is a difficult film to recommend or dissuade against viewing. The film will certainly appeal to children due to its innocent premise and decent presentation, but for adults, it is a bland viewing that, while not entirely terrible, is not memorable or groundbreaking in the slightest. As with “Alice in Wonderful,” this is an example of Tim Burton not understanding how certain family films are noteworthy for their simplicity and do not require transformation into bloated spectacles. Jared Ferguson, Contributing Writer April 2, 2019
When her 14-year-old son drowns in a lake, a faithful mother prays for him to come back from the brink of death and be healed.
Three Year Study Sheds Light on North Carolina Deer Seasons
Three Year Study Sheds Light on North Carolina Deer Seasons
Thank you hunters! With your help, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) Biologists and Technicians were able to sample more than 22,500 deer that hunters harvested across the state. We are excited to share what you helped us learn.What about the rut? The Eastern Deer Season is very large and consists of 3 biological deer management units (BDMU) with distinct breeding seasons (see diagram below). An important herd objective is for no more than 20% of the total antlered buck harvest to occur before peak breeding. Only one of the three BDMUs meets the biological objective .Why is timing of deer season important?
If antlered buck harvest occurs before peak breeding (Nov. 8)16% of antlered buck harvest occurs before peak breeding (Oct. 11)34% of antlered buck harvest occurs before peak breeding (Oct.30) 1. Yearling (1.5 yr.) buck dispersal• Young bucks leave the area they grow up in just before peak breeding and establish a permanent home range elsewhere. • Limiting buck harvest before peak breeding allows for this exchange of young bucks across the landscape to occur, which enables interested landowners to more effectively protect yearling bucks. 2. . Optimal fawning dates• Unequal harvest of bucks and does before peak breeding can lead to unbalanced breed-ing season sex ratios. Ideally, the adult sex ratio going into the rut should be balanced (close to 1 buck per doe). • Balanced sex ratios ensure that most does are bred at the correct time, and fawns are born during spring green-up when environmental conditions are favorable. • Balanced sex ratios result in shorter breeding seasons. More fawns born around the same time may improve their odds of avoiding predators. 3. 3. More competition between bucks during the rut can lead to exciting activity in the deer woods!
How old are the Bucks?
Managing for a buck age structure that adequately represents older age classes also improves balance in the adult sex ratio and increases breeding competition. A biological objective is for no more than 30% of antlered buck harvest to be in the yearling (1.5 yr.) age class. Hunters are much more selective today than they were 30 years ago resulting in a decrease in yearling buck harvest and increase in 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5+ year old buck harvest .. This created a significant shift in the age structure, however in the last decade not much change has occurre
How old are the Bucks? Managing for a buck age structure that adequately represents older age classes also improves balance in the adult sex ratio and increases breeding competition. A biological objective is for no more than 30% of antlered buck harvest to be in the yearling (1.5 yr.) age class. Hunters are much more selective today than they were 30 years ago resulting in a decrease in yearling buck harvest and increase in 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5+ year old buck harvest. This created a significant shift in the age structure, however in the last decade not much change has occurred.
How is the deer population monitored?
NCWRC biologists track a number of indicators over large areas including :1. The annual reported harvest trend• This is a long term trend (increasing, stable, or declining). 2. The percent does in the reported harvest• Deer are born at a 50/50 male to female ratio; doe harvest >50% would likely lead to some level of population decline.• Percent does can change either by shooting more does OR shooting fewer bucks! 3. The percent yearling (1.5 year old) does in the adult doe harvest• This number is a measure of the hunting pressure placed on the doe segment of the population.• Around 30% should result in healthy stable population. A higher percentage may lead to a declining population. A lower percentage indicates hunting pressure is relatively low.
Event Details ·
Date: September 13, 2019 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Date: September 14, 2019 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Categories: Music Event
Sep 14, 2019 Sat 7:30 PM EDT
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, North Carolina
Peter Frampton Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
After a 17-year hibernation below ground, Brood VI Cicadas are expected to emerge this summer in parts of North Carolina.
Parts of North Carolina will soon have a dramatic insect show as Brood VI cicadas emerge from the ground, where they've lived unseen for 17 years. The bugs, which, in large numbers, can do serious damage to young trees, shrubs and various crops, are always around. But huge broods of them occasionally hatch all at once, usually in 13-year and 17-year cycles. There are few things in nature as dramatic as the emergence of a brood of cicadas, said Clyde Sorenson, a professor of entomology at North Carolina State University. "You could have, in any emergence, a density of millions per acre and 3 miles away, essentially none," Sorenson said.
Brood VI, which is on a 17-year cycle, hasn't been seen since 2000, he said. This year, they are expected to
be most abundant in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. "It's something worth experiencing," Sorenson said, recommending that looking for them would make a good weekend trip in late May and early June. "See if you can't hear them and then see them," he said. According to The Gardener's Network, a 17-year brood is expected to hatch this year in North Carolina, as well as Georgia and South Carolina. The broods are expected to start hatching in our state around May. The area that a brood impacts can vary widely from one hatching to the next. The adult life span of a cicada is short. The young nymphs often land on trees to shed their skin and become adults.
After that, they spend only about four to six weeks above ground before dying. Contrary to popular belief, adult cicadas do not eat the vegetation that comes into their path. Rather, adult females cut slits into twigs and small branches to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch, creating tiny nymphs which fall to the ground and burrow, feeding on underground tree roots for years until it's their time to emerge. Fruit trees are particularly vulnerable to damage by cicadas, along with ash, beech, dogwood, hickory, oak and willow, among others. Pines and firs, along with most flowers and vegetables, are generally not bothered by the bugs. They also do not bite or sting humans or other animals. The best defense against cicadas, according to The Gardener's Network, is 1/4-inch mesh netting spread all the way around the tree or plant you want to protect. Insecticides are useless against cicadas. But who would want to kill them when you can enjoy their song? "If you get in the midst of a good aggregation of them, it's pretty amazing," he said. "For 17 year, these things lay quiet in the ground, sometimes three or four feet under the soil surface, completely out of our consciousness. Then, in the right spring, in May, they get the signal and they all come up together. For a few weeks, if you happen to live where one of these broods comes up, your environment is dominated by these hordes of completely harmless insects." "The mass emergence, the system where all of them emerge simultaneously every 17 years or every 13 years, this happens nowhere else in the world except Eastern North America. It's a pretty special thing."'s magical, when you think about it, he said.
The lights are about to go out on fireflies, but we can stop it
Like Fourth-of-July fireworks, cool swims on hot days, and lazy vacations, fireflies are a sign of summer. Many of us have cherished memories of spotting and catching them during warm summer evenings and running through fields that sparkled as if strewn with stars. But there are signs our kids may not grow up with the same firefly memories we had. That’s because fireflies are disappearing from marshes, fields and forests all over the country—and all over the world. And if it continues, fireflies may fade forever, leaving our summer nights a little darker and less magical.
Why Are Fireflies Disappearing? Nobody knows for sure. But most researchers blame two main factors: development and light pollution. Most species of fireflies thrive as larvae in rotting wood and forest litter at the margins of ponds and streams. And as they grow, they more or less stay where they were born. Some species are more aquatic than others, and a few are found in more arid areas—but most are found in fields, forests and marshes. Their environment of choice is warm, humid and near standing water of some kind—ponds, streams and rivers, or even shallow depressions that retain water longer than the surrounding ground. The problem is that in America and throughout the world, our open fields and forests are being paved over, and our waterways are seeing more development and noisy boat traffic. As their habitat disappears under housing and commercial developments, firefly numbers dwindle. Logging, pollution and increased use of pesticides may also contribute to destroying firefly habitat and natural prey.
The lights are about to go out on fireflies, but we can stop it
Human traffic is believed to disrupt firefly habitat as well. While scientific studies have only been done for the past few years, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence in areas that were once full of fireflies—and much of it goes back generations. Some areas once had so many fireflies that they profited from running firefly tours in marshes and forests—but since human traffic has increased, firefly populations have gone down.
Too Much Light At Night Scientists don’t know enough about fireflies to tell for sure. But the signs are indicating light pollution as a major factor in the disappearance of fireflies all over the world. Both male and female fireflies use their flashing lights to communicate. Some species synchronize their flashes, sometimes across large groups of thousands of insects. All species speak a language of light— scientists believe they use it to attract mates, defend their territory, and warn off predators.
Human light pollution is believed to interrupt firefly flash patterns. Scientists have observed that synchronous fireflies get out of synch for a few minutes after a car’s headlights pass. Light from homes, cars, stores, and streetlights may all make it difficult for fireflies to signal each other during mating—meaning fewer firefly larvae are born next season. Where fireflies once had uninterrupted forests and fields to live and mate, homes with landscaped lawns and lots of exterior lights are taking over. The reduction of habitat and the increase in lighting at night may all be contributing to make fireflies more rare. Fireflies are fascinating creatures that light up our nights and bring a sense of magic and mystery to our environment. If they disappear, it will be a great loss to habitats and generations of people all over the world.