Parent
Inaugural Issue
Complimentary
metro east
November 2012 / MetroEastParent.com
For All The Holiday Happenings Around The Metro East Area Page 35 Stand Up to Bullying Page 17
Facebook: A Predator’s Playgound? Page 23
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Inside November On the Cover: Xavier Ludwig, 13, of Centralia, Photography done by DayFancy Photography
Vol. 1 Number 1
Features
Departments
of Gestational 11 History Diabetes?
Are you and your baby at risk for Diabetes? Take steps now to ensure a healthy life for both yorself and your child.
14 Break the Habit
Routine can be a good thing. Teach your kids to tackle challenges by starting a healthy lifestyle of breaking bad habits now.
17
Stand up to Bullying
23
Parents’ Weekend Getaway: Cobden
33
Facebook: A Predator’s Playground?
A student is bullied every seven minutes in our country, is your child one of them?
Kids are great! Maintaining sanity, even greater! Learn about a great vacation spot for your and your spouse just a few miles away!
Do you know who your child is talking to on Facebook?
6 News You Can Use 8 Letter from the Publisher 9 Voice of Generation “I” 10 Coming Soon
Extra, Extra... 16 Painting Kids’ Rooms 19 Simple Tips for the Families 21 10 Legal Needs Parents Don’t Expect 27 Website 101 28 Bringing Up Baby 30 Daddy’s Cookbook
Holiday Happenings This Month Page 35
pg
37
Events Calendar
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VOLUME I, NUMBER I November 2012 PUBLISHER
ROBERT LUDWIG EDITOR@MetroEastParent.com
MANAGING EDITOR Cherie Washow
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGN Robert Ludwig
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October 28, 2012 • Noon - 2 pm
Placement Test December 1, 2012
ADVERTISING@MetroEastParent.com 618-407-5281 Academic Excellence
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December 1, 2012
TO SUBMIT EVENTS TO OUR CALENDAR
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METRO EAST PARENT MAGAZINE IS A 5401 West Main PUBLICATION OF THE CREEDStreet MEDIA GROUP. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE Belleville, IL 62226 REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT
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WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OR AN INDICATION OF SUPPORT BY ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.
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Bluestem Brands Recalls Range Rider Ride-on Toy Cars Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
Kolcraft Recalls Contours Tandem Strollers
If you have any of these items, please contact the location in which you bought the recalled item. For more recalls please visit www. recallinsider.com!
The name says it all! For cool easy home science projects to amazing magic tricks, you and your family with learn all the cool stuff about science! Funology.com
FamilyDaysOut.com: Looking for a fun day out with the family? Check out this fantastic website that has all the fun-filled places in the are!
Peg Perego Strollers Recalled
PlayKidsGames.com provides free online kids games that are both fun and educational, and offers kids a safe environment to discover their abilities and learn new skills
Are you worried about what may show up when your kids search for something innocent onthe web? Worry no more, AskKids.com only brings up kid friendly sites!
Websites We Love
Recalls
YOU CAN USE
Summer Infant Recalls Baby Bathers. Fall Hazards!
Pull the Plug for Better Communication
SCIENTISTS AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY have found that watching television can lead to less interaction between parents and children and have a negative impact on literacy and language skills. In the study, published in Human Communication Research, mother-child pairs were randomly assigned to either reading, playing with toys or watching television. The researchers attempted to evaluate “maternal responsiveness,” which they define as the quality of responses that a mother provides to an infant when they interact. Maternal responsiveness with these activities has the potential to provide children with positive feedback and encouragement and help to increase the child’s vocabulary and speech. Results showed that mothers who co-read books with their children communicated significantly more than those watching TV. Parents used a more active communication style when reading or playing with toys than TV viewers, improving the child’s development.
You’re in a store and can’t remember your brother’s shirt size or the name of the toy your niece has asked about for months. Get the answer in just seconds on your smart phone with the giftster app. Your friend shows you the cool case they found for their iPad and you want the same one. While it’s fresh on your mind, in a few touches, you’ve added the idea to giftster and everyone in your family will know exactly which one you’ll love. Mobile giftster shares the beautiful design of giftster. com, but in a mobile sort of way.The mobile app automatically updates itself with all the list information from the web. In real time. It just works. Use the website or the app to invite your friends and family, set up wish lists and remove the guesswork and stress of giving the perfect gift. With the giftster app on your Apple iPhone, iTouch or iPad, simply log in with the same user name and password and your family and their wish lists and events will all be there! If you first created your account from the App, you also have the same account and access to your lists at giftster.com
Check out more News You Can Use on our website MetroEastParenting.com MetroEastParent.com
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Called to Lead Called to Serve Called to Love
High School
5401 West Main Street · Belleville · Illinois 62226 (618) 235-1100 · www.althoff.net
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letter from the publisher...
Robert Ludwig I wish to welcome all of you to the inaugural edition of Metro East Parent Magazine! This magazine is a collaboration of many different people and many different dreams. Within these pages I hope you will find a number of concepts that we share at Metro East Parent. The first and most important ideal that we share is that our children are the most wonderful experience anyone can ever possibly dream of. My son is the reason why God has placed me on this Earth, the reason why I wake up and go to sleep always with a smile on my face with a hope of a better tomorrow. I wonder how that could possibly be, since another day of him being in my life and telling me that he loves me seems so perfect already. How could tomorrow possibly be better, but it seems to always be with him. Secondly, we at Metro East Parent believe that our area has so many wonderful places and events to raise our children, we are truly blessed. We are blessed with our neighbors, our neighborhood, and everyone else that makes the Metro East such a great place to raise our families. Within these pages we shall highlight all of the great and wonderful people and aspects of our area in a positive way, without the negativity that seems to overtake our media these days. I hope you will find Metro East Parent both informative as well as uplifting with great ideas to help you with this great experience of parenting. Lastly, we at Metro East Parent Magazine believe that not only that it takes a community to raise a child, but also both parents as well as extended family. We will not exclude any member of the family as most publications do. As a single father I found it both demeaning and insulting that every magazine I picked up at our local pediatrician or dental office that pertained to parenting almost totally excluded fathers. We will not make that mistake. I hope you enjoy our new magazine, and hope you will give us your feedback within our website, Facebook, and twitter pages. Or you may just write a letter to the magazine and we will surely read each and every one of them. Take care, God Bless you and your family through this Holiday Season, and we hope to see you in the funny pages.
Go Figure... Fun Thanksgiving Facts 190 How many attended the first Thanksgiving Dinner, 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians, in 1621 and lasted three days.
5 Women that survived the Pilgrimage and cooked for the 190 attendees of the first Thanksgiving dinner.
690 million According to a study done by the National Turkey Association Americans ate 690 million pounds of turkey during Thanksgiving 2011. That is equal to the weight of the entire population of Singapore. If that isn’t enough to make you feel stuffed then nothing will.
260 tons Part of the reason that Swanson started creating T.V. Dinners in 1953 was because they needed to find something to do with 260 tons of frozen turkeys that were left over from Thanksgiving. Talk about a lot of Turkey dinners!
91% About 91% of families in the United States eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
45 million It is estimated that more than 45 million turkeys are cooked each year.
86 pounds At the annual Heaviest Turkey Competition of London in 1989. Mr. Cook’s prize winning turkey name was Tyson, and weighed in at a record setting 86 lb (39.09 kg), which was then auctioned off for charity, earning a record $6,692. Talk about having some leftovers!
0 The number of turkeys that were killed in the famous WKRP in Cincinnati episode in which station manager, Arthur Carlson, dropped turkeys over a crowd of shoppers as a publicity stunt. “As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!” -- Arthur Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati.
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Voice of Generation “I” by Xavier Ludwig Xavier is an eighth grader at a private school in Southern Illinois who has a passion for writing and photography. His generation, those of Generation “I”, are those who have been raised in the digital age of Internet, I-phones, and I-pads.
A
s a child of divorced parents I know how difficult holidays can be for kids like me. My parents divorced when I was only a year old, so my holidays have been split between two different families in two different states my whole life. As a new teenager, with friends, school, and sports these split times are more difficult to suit my schedule. For example, basketball usually has tournaments during the holiday breaks, as well as summer AAU and camps that I attend every summer to better my game for the goals I have set out for myself in the future. With the visitation schedule set out by the courts, how can I play on an AAU team over the summer if I am to be in two different states during those months? How can I play in a Holiday Tournament if I am to be in Tennessee during the odd or even year of Christmas and Thanksgiving? How can I play football on the weekends if I have to go out of state every other weekend? I love both my mother and father, and wish I could spend as much time with them as possible. BUT I also love and live for the activities and sports that I have worked so hard to be good at. It is also harder when my parent’s only communication is through me or the judge. So, what do I do? Go spend time with my mother during the time the judge has given me and let my team down because I have to miss a game or tournament? Or do I disappoint her yet again and choose to stay in Illinois and play with my team? Choose... Communicate… Compromise…Commit Choose. As teenagers we make decisions every day that may affect our lives, our relationships, and our general well-being. In situations like mine and most likely yours if you come from a two family household, we have to be involved in decisions that affect us. So Choose. You can’t communicate what you want if you do not know what you want. Weigh out the pros and cons of the situation, who may get hurt and who may gain from your decision. And once you make that well thought-out decision, go on to the next step. Communicate. My father and I watched an old movie a few months ago about a prisoner who kept trying to escape his chains, Cool Hand Luke. The movie came out the year my father was born, so you know it is really old. But there is one line that stuck out throughout the movie, and my father tried to imitate it many times with an old Southern twang (not with much success of course).
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“What we got here is failure to communicate.” Sometimes as teenagers we do fail to communicate to our parents what we really want, what we really need in order to get through these tough years. We, too, are trying to break from the chains that bind us to childhood and break on through to the other side: adulthood. But with this freedom there are difficult decisions to make, and ultimately someone may get their feelings hurt if you do fail to communicate the right way. If your parents refuse to communicate, you must. If they fail to listen to your feelings, you must communicate in a way to make them listen without confrontation or argument. I know that is hard, especially with someone that is as stubborn as my parents, but you must. Compromise. There is plenty of time to share with two parents, even in two different states. As teenagers, we must find a way to balance out this time between not only each parent, but with ourselves. Talk to them and try to make alternative plans to suit everyone’s schedule and needs. Try and work out plans that may involve a parent to travel to see the game and spend the remainder of that weekend with them, instead of not seeing them at all during that time. Or switch the times, or holidays to try and please all involved. I have found out that writing a letter to each parent, or both together, works miracles. They read it, digest it, and respond, and usually all of the arguing that is involved is eliminated. They know how I feel, what I want, and what I need. Try this the next time you want to communicate something you know will cause an argument with your parents. It is better than the alternatives. Commit. Once a deal has been met between you and both parents, commit to that compromise. Do not change your mind at the last second, especially if your parents have rearranged their schedules to suit yours. If you have to write down the plans that were agreed upon so that everyone commits to this also, do so. Remember... Choose... Communicate… Compromise…Commit In a perfect world with a perfect family we would never have to deal with all of this. Judges and courts would not be involved to try to figure out what is in your best interests. But we do not live in that perfect world. We live in a world where almost half of all marriages end up in divorce, and we as children are left to the mercy of the courts and two homes. Happy Holidays…
at the movies...
COMING SOON ber
Nov 2- Wreck-It Ralph -Ralph is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer, “’30 Rock’”), the “good guy” star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he’s tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero. On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch, TV’s “’Glee’”) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty. But it’s the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman, “’The Sarah Silverman Program’”) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and save the day before it’s too late?
Novem
Nov 16-The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
The astonishing conclusion to the series, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.
Nov 21-Life of Pi The coming-of-age story surrounds the son of a zookeeper who survives a shipwreck by stowing away on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger by the name of Richard Parker.
Nov 21-Rise of the Guardians A group of mythical fairy-tale characters team up to save the world in this DreamWorks Animation production. Based on William Joyce’s series of children’s books,
Nov 21-Red Dawn (2012) In ‘Red Dawn,’ an American city awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky -- shockingly, the U.S. has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and without warning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. Determined to fight back, a group of young patriots seek refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganizing themselves into a guerilla group of fighters. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves the Wolverines, banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors, and take back their freedom.
at home...
Book of the Month
Nov 16 Arthur Christmas Nov 9
The Amazing Spiderman
Nov 13 Brave Nov 27 ParaNorman Nov 27 Step Up Revolution Nov 30 Men in Black III
Nov 6 Little Big Planet Karting (PS3) Nov 9 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Nov 13 Wonderbook
Band of the Hand by Creed Ludwig
Xavier McTall, Chelsea Lambert, Colby Lyons, Andy Wolff and Amara Creed are five extraordinary teenagers, handpicked to carry on a decades-old tradition. The Band of the Hand, formed in 1947 by the five most unlikely co-conspirators imaginable, exists to prank, pester and peeve those who use their power to persecute the peons of Centralia High School. Five freshmen, each selected for his or her singular specialty, with nearly eight decades of continuing support from former members, take on the injustices of the secondary education system. With the help of the mysterious “Mr. Sage,” the tradition continues. Meet this year’s version of the Band of the Hand: Xavier, the 11-year-old computer genius and social misfit; Chelsea, the studious animal-lover with a weakness for jazz; Colby, the daredevil punk rocker prodigy with an aptitude for foreign languages and a penchant for getting into trouble; Andy Wolff, the star athlete; and Amara, the “Girl Most Likely to Be Perfect.” The freshmen pranksters target their talents toward Vice Principal Arnold “the Pig” Riggs—a mean-spirited, malicious miscreant who despises teenagers and whose favorite target is Colby Lyons. It’s all fun and games until Andy’s father is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, and the Band of the Hand must use their considerable resources and their extraordinary expertise to reveal the true culprit. Available on Amazon.com.
gaming...
Nov 13 The Hip Hop Dance Experience - Xbox 360 Nov 14 Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Nov 13 FIFA 3 Just Dance 4 New Super Mario Brother U Nov 20 Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale Sonic & All Star Racing Transformed
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HISTORY OF
Gestational Di
Healthy habits can help prevent diabetes in your future
G
Family Features
estational diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. If you had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, you and your child from that pregnancy have a lifelong risk for developing diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to health problems such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and amputations. The good news is there are steps you can take to prevent or delay diabetes and lower that risk for yourself and your child. “Women with a history of gestational diabetes can lower their chances for developing diabetes by taking steps to reach and maintain a healthy weight, making healthy food choices, and being active,” according to Judith Fradkin, M.D., of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Keeping a healthy lifestyle as a family is good for everyone.”
Keep up healthy habits — even after the baby is born. Many women who have gestational diabetes see a dietitian or a diabetes educator to guide them in developing healthy habits during pregnancy. But what many women don’t realize is that it’s just as important to keep up with those healthy habits even after the baby is born. If you are a woman who had gestational diabetes, it is important to get tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born, and at least every three years after that. It is also important to reach and maintain a healthy weight by mak ing healthy food choices, such as following an eating plan lower in fat and calories and high in fiber, and being active for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Even if women do not reach their “goal” weight, research shows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce risk.
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Busy? Build physical activity into your day one step at a time. Physical activity is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and preventing type 2 diabetes. Set a goal to be active at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week. If you have not been active, start slowly, building up to your goal. Take small steps to include physical activity in your day-to-day routine. Busy moms can use these tips to get started: n Park your car farther away from the store, movie theater, your office, etc. n Get your friends and family involved. Set a regular walking date, such as after dinner. Or do something
Diabetes?
Get Tested! Women who develop gestational diabetes have high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels during pregnancy. Immediately after pregnancy, 5 to 10 percent of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually type 2. All women with gestational diabetes should be tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after their baby is born. In many cases, their blood glucose levels show they are no longer considered to have diabetes at this time. But what many people don’t realize is that having gestational diabetes increases a woman’s future chances of developing diabetes by 35 to 60 percent. Any woman who had gesta tional diabetes should get tested for diabetes and pre-diabetes at least every three years. This follow up testing is very impor tant and usually consists of a simple blood test. Women with a history of gestational diabetes should also talk to their health care provider about earlier screening for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. Children born from a mother who had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for obesity and diabetes, so it’s a good idea for mothers to let their child’s doctor know that they had gestational diabetes and take steps to promote healthy habits for their child.
that all ages can enjoy — shoot hoops, take a bike ride, or just dance around the house. a walk during your lunch break or push the baby’s stroller around the mall. n Don’t just watch the kids at the playground ... play with them. n Deliver a message to a co-worker in person instead of by e-mail, and take the stairs instead of the elevator. n Exhausted from a busy day and just want to plop on the couch in front of the TV? Use the commercial breaks to stretch, take a quick walk around your home, do some sit-ups, or march in place. For more information, visit the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) at www. YourDiabetesInfo.org/GDM. n Take
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Opening at 11 am for holiday schedule on Veterans Day and the day before and after Thanksgiving! Make sure to mention Metro East Parent Magazine for special discounts!
BREAK THE HABIT
R
outine can be a good thing. Regular bedtimes and nightly family meals help foster healthier kids who are better prepared to tackle challenges. But some
of your family’s routine habits may be getting in the way of something better. Habits get established for any number of reasons — busy schedules, convenience, or not realizing you have other choices. Shortcuts and timesavers can give you more time to spend together, but they could also be shortchanging your experience.
How to Change a Habit
Breaking habits can be tough, but luckily there are many ways to reach your goals. Here are some simple questions and tips to help you break any bad family habits, and establish new, better ones. n What’s
the habit?
Get everyone together and talk about what family habit you would like to change. Is it unhealthy eating? Too much TV? Always running late? Start small and keep it simple. If everyone is involved in the conversation, you’re more likely to get everyone’s buy-in and meet with success. n What’s
the reward?
The reward makes it easier for the brain to put the behavior on autopilot, and before you know it, you have a habit. But the reward may not be that obvious. You may have to try out different rewards to discover what the true payoff for the bad habit really is. For example, you might discover that the real reward of watching TV after dinner is spending time together as a family. n What’s
the plan?
Once you identify the habit and understand its reward, you can come up with a family plan to start a new habit with new — and better — rewards for everyone.
Ideas for New Routines
Here are some common family habits that could use a little revamping — and some easy ways you can make a positive change.
TV Habits After a long day, the couch seems to be calling you to just sit and watch TV — even though you know you could or should be doing other things. But you don’t have to be stuck in a TV rut. Talk about it as a family and see if you can figure out what your reward is for watching TV. Is it time together? Is it relaxation? Or is it enjoying a good story? Once you identify the reward, look for some other ways to get it. n Togetherness
If it’s about being together, brainstorm some other family activities. Think about family game night, backyard soccer, arts and crafts projects, or time at the neighborhood park.
People stick to habits because something rewards that behavior.
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n Relaxation
Eating Habits
If it’s just about chilling out, try substituting other relaxing activities like listening to music, or even just talking. n Story
time
If you all enjoy the story element of your favorite TV shows, how about looking for new stories? Set aside some individual reading time, or let everyone take turns reading aloud from their favorite book. Reading a whole story as a family is a fun activity — and younger kids may enjoy acting out their favorite scenes.
Information Habits
Families need to get information about pet grooming deals, kid-friendly restaurants, or vacation tips and deals. With a time crunch — and the force of old habits — it’s easy to rely on the same source for answers. But using the same search engine out of habit could be letting you down. For example, when it comes to search, people chose Bing web search results over Google nearly 2 to 1 in blind comparison tests.* In addition to useful results, Bing also offers access to your social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora and more, letting you exchange ideas and discover what your friends are searching — to help you spend less time hunting and more time doing. You can test if changing your habit is right for you with the Bing It On Challenge at www.bing. com.
Full schedules often lead to fast food dinners or junk foods for snacks. While a quick meal when you’re busy may seem like a reward, it really adds up to spending extra money and adding extra calories. These ideas still get you food quickly, but with a much healthier payoff. n Take
a look at your weekly schedule and plan meals and snacks accordingly. If you know a particular night is hectic, you can plan a make-ahead meal and healthier on-the-go snacks to take with you.
n Keep
healthy options handy. Apples are the perfect fast food — just pop one in your bag or stash one in the cup holder in your car. Pre-measure individual servings of trail mix or nuts and keep them in snack sized containers so you can just grab one and go.
n If
you do have to grab a fast food meal, try to make smarter choices. Go for grilled chicken instead of breaded and fried, salad instead of a burger, and apple slices instead of fries.
Remember, while some habits and routines can be helpful, it’s a good idea to re-examine them now and then to see if, with a few small changes, your family could be better off.
*Based on a comparison of web search results pane only; excludes ads, Bing’s Snapshot and Social Search panes and Google’s Knowledge Graph.
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Painting Kids’ Rooms: Tips and Tricks to Get it Right
Whether you need to set up a nursery for a new baby or update a room for a growing child, painting is an easy and cost-effective way to create just the right atmosphere. But knowing how to get started can feel overwhelming. These tips will help you choose the best type and color of paint, while keeping the process quick and stress-free.
Sheen Savvy Sheen determines how shiny your paint looks when it’s dry. Choosing the right sheen adds the perfect finishing touch on a room, and it can make a big difference when it comes to cleaning up.
Semi-Gloss – Brings a soft shine to the room without being overpowering.
It’s good for kids’ rooms because it’s durable and easy to clean. You can wipe off crayon and pencil marks with common non-abrasive cleaners.
Eggshell/Satin – Has a smooth finish with a subtle sheen, and is washable
and scrubbable.
Flat – A beautiful matte coating with no shine. It is ideal for low-traffic areas and hides minor dents or nicks best. Choosing Colors For many DIYers, choosing paint colors can be a tricky and time-intensive process. There are so many options and many people worry about making a big color mistake. Get inspired – Look through magazines, websites such as Pinterest®, an online pinboard, and even at friends’ homes to get some ideas. You can also take some inspiration from these color collections by Glidden® paint – available on their website. Try them out – Once you’ve narrowed down your color choices, try out your top picks to see how they will look in the room with your specific lighting conditions. For example, Glidden paint testers come in a variety of colors from the Glidden® Brilliance Collection® paint, which is available only at Walmart stores. The testers have a built-in brush and hold enough paint to cover three square feet so you can experiment with several colors before making a final decision.
• Celery Sticks • Spring Bluebell • Sweet Baby Girl
• • • •
Top 10 Baby Colors Bubblegum Pink Early Morning Sun Walnut Bark Rich Navy
• Iced Purple • Sweet Baby Boy • Mint Shake
Painting Tips • Consider using a combination paint and primer – it can save you time and money by eliminating the need to use two painting products. • Work from the ceiling down to the baseboards. Do one entire wall or area at a time. • Use wide masking tape to mask off areas you don’t want to paint, such as window panes or trim. • Use a roller to paint in blocks of roughly 4 x 4 feet. Paint adjacent blocks before each previous block dries to help blend the edges. • Paint molding and woodwork with a brush, in the direction of the wood grain. Use short strokes to coat the surface, then use longer, smoother strokes for an even and finished surface. • Make sure the room is well ventilated as you paint. • Pick a paint that dries quickly and has low odor, so your child can move into the newly painted space sooner. To get more inspiration and helpful painting tips, visit www.Glidden.com. You can also try a virtual room painter or calculate how much paint you’ll need for your next project.
Top 10 Growing Up Colors
• True Turquoise • Sunbaked Orange • Blooming Fuchsia
• • • •
Blue Marina Spring Green Fresh Pink Lemonade Sunbeam
• Rich Navy • Refreshing Mimosa • Lilac Bouquet
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Stand up to
(Family Features) Going back to school can be stressful for many kids, especially if they have been the victims of bullying. According to Youth Ambassadors 4 Kids Club, an organization dedicated to eliminating bullying, a student is bullied every seven minutes in our country, and an estimated 77 percent of students will experience some form of mental or physical bullying during their school years. While the statistics are worrisome, there are measures parents and caregivers can take to help identify the signs of bullying and the anxiety it can induce so they can help their children manage through this difficult situation.
Recognizing Bullying Bullying can take many forms, including hitting, threatening, intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name calling, making sexual remarks, stealing or damaging personal belongings, and indirect attacks such as spreading rumors or getting others to exclude another student. It’s also no longer limited to the classroom, lunchroom or playground. Today, cyberbullying -bullying through electronic outlets such as text messages and social media sites - has made this issue a 24/7 challenge. “Bullying can have a significant impact on students,” said University of Phoenix College of Social Sciences instructor and expert on bullying Dr. John Nixon. “Children and teenagers who are bullied suffer from anxiety, fear, withdrawal, low self-esteem and poor concentration. Recognizing the warning signs is the first step toward ending the behavior.” Signs that your child may be a victim of bullying include: • • • • • • • •
Coming home with damaged or missing clothing or belongings Unexplained injuries Frequent complaints of headaches, stomach aches or feeling sick Changes in eating habits Loss of interest in friends or going to school Mood and behavior changes Trouble sleeping and/or having frequent bad dreams Feelings of helplessness or not being good enough
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What You Can Do if Your Child is Bullied
Establishing a process for detecting, discussing and monitoring bullying can help in more effectively reaching a solution. “It can be embarrassing for a child to admit that they are being bullied,” said Nixon. “And many kids don’t tell parents about it because they are afraid of either being blamed for the situation, or they are afraid of how the parents will react.” Nixon offers some tips for what you can do: • Increase awareness – Parents must educate themselves on the signs of bullying and realize that they are not alone. • Communicate – Ask children questions about how they slept or what they are looking forward to doing in school that day. Their responses can provide a wealth of insight. • Gather more information – Ask teachers if they have noticed anything that would signal the child had been bullied. Also, check a child’s text messages and Facebook profile for signs of cyberbullying. • Develop an action plan – Put steps in place to monitor the signs of bullying to see if it persists and engage your child regularly to open up communication about the problem. • Follow through – It’s important to keep at it. Be active to both spot the signs of bullying and discuss them with the child to work toward a solution. If bullying persists, take action. Discuss the problem with the parents of the child who is bullying, if it is appropriate. Talk with your child’s teacher. If the teacher is not responsive, escalate the discussion up to the principal or superintendent if necessary. There are more participants in bullying scenarios than just the bully and the victim. “More often than not,” said Nixon, “there are bystanders. These are students who know what is going on and either encourage it in some way, or sit back and do nothing. We need more kids to stop being bystanders and take a stand against bullying.” More resources for helping students deal with bullying at www.a4kclub. org, and www.stopbullying.gov.
Simple Tips for Busy Families (Family Features) Zipping around from one family activity to the next can be fun, but it requires a plan in order to juggle the busy schedule. “Like so many parents, it can be a challenge to keep my active family organized, especially on the go,” says Olympic gold medal figure skater and mom of two Kristi Yamaguchi. “I am thrilled to share with other moms and dads my favorite tips for unstoppable families.” 1.) When a busy day has you skating from one activity to the next, it’s important to be prepared. Bring along a backpack with everything you might need for your on-the-go day, including handheld snacks, like bananas and Smucker’s® Uncrustables® PB&J sandwiches, water, sunscreen and easy activities for down time. 2.) Unstoppable families are always on the move. Post a large calendar in the kitchen or family room to capture and keep track of your family’s weekly activities. Assign a different color marker to each member of the family. This will help keep everyone on time and in line. 3.) Let the games go green! Encourage creativity by finding ways to repurpose everyday items into fun
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activities. A drinking straw and some ribbon becomes a magic wand. Two painted paper towel rolls can become a pair of backyard binoculars. Reuse magazines to make colorful collages and other fun art projects.
with practice and perseverance. Encourage your kids to try their best at every activity they pursue and explore their interests no matter how sky-high. You might be raising an award-winning musician or the future President of the United States.
4.) Sometimes fast-paced weekdays leave little time for family fun. Set aside time each weekend to enjoy the outdoors and each other’s company. Plan hiking trips and bike riding adventures that will appeal to everyone. Put together a “scavenger list” with fun things to look for along the way like a yellow flower, a white cat, a BIG bug and other outdoor items.
8.) Think outside the toy box when it comes to family activities. An old blanket quickly transforms into a magic carpet when spread across the living room floor. Couch cushions and bed sheets always make the best forts. A simple flash light becomes a projector for shadow puppets in a dark playroom. Use soccer balls, hula hoops and other everyday items to create a fun obstacle course in the backyard.
5.) Have a little fun while on the run. Store books, games, markers and paper in the car to keep kids entertained on the road or in-between events. Also, make sure to have some kid-friendly tunes to keep the kids singing from your driveway to the soccer field. 6.) Ask around at your local community center or health club about family fitness classes. Try an aerobics or swimming class as a family; it will be a great way to stay active and spend time together. 7.) Like the title of my book Dream Big Little Pig, I always teach my kids they can accomplish anything
9.) My family spends a lot of time on the ice and it has shown us the importance of teamwork. Encourage your kids to join a local soccer or basketball team. They’ll have fun while learning team building skills. 10.) Don’t let a rainy day dampen your outdoor plans. Pitch a small tent in the living room and have a “camp in” complete with a construction paper campfire and sleeping bags. Weather the storms outside with tall tales shared over campfire treats.
10 Legal Needs Parents Don’t Expect (ARA) - Many parents might wonder why they would ever need legal assistance themselves, much less for their children. But the truth is, even if you raised the perfect child who never got into a bit of trouble, there’s a good chance you might someday have a legal need related to your child. Just as is often the case for adults, legal needs regarding your children can occur when you least expect them. Courtesy of ARAG, a global provider of legal solutions, here are 10 situations where a legal issue might arise related to your children. 1. A legal document called Medical Treatment Authorization for Minors authorizes medical personnel to treat your child if you’re not there and cannot be contacted. It also gives your child’s school or daycare the authority to obtain emergency medical treatment. This is a good idea if you are unavailable during the day or travel frequently.
gets hurt while he or she is at your house, you may need legal advice regarding liability issues. 5. As your children enter college, they could experience a legal issue such as a dispute with their landlord over a lease or other rental issues. Online resources and documents can help you take the appropriate actions when a lease is signed.
becomes the victim of cyberbullying, Internet scams or other online crimes, legal guidebooks can help you understand your options and an attorney can help you to take action. 9. If you or your student takes out student loans and then you can’t repay them, an attorney or financial resources can help you understand your repayment options.
2. If your child is involved in sports and gets a concussion or suffers heat stroke, you may need to consult an attorney if best sport safety practices related to such injuries weren’t followed.
6. Once your child reaches driving age, it’s possible he or she could get into an accident and need legal assistance if there’s a disagreement with your insurance company or another driver.
10. If you have a college savings plan in place and are unsure of how to properly allocate your savings in accordance with tax laws, you may benefit from the help of an attorney or financial counselor.
3. If your child is bullied, resources to educate yourself on your rights and responsibilities may be helpful as you strive to keep your child safe and take the appropriate action to address the issue. Same goes if your child is accused of bullying.
7. If you don’t see eye to eye with your child’s college over a tuition bill or an issue related to academics, you may need legal advice.
These are just a few examples of situations where having access to educational resources or an attorney could help. Considering other “adult” issues that also may require legal assistance, such as modifying your will or settling a dispute with a contractor, a legal plan can really be a benefit.
4. If one of your child’s friends Page 21
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8. Online safety is a big issue for children of all ages. Educating your children about Internet safety issues is important, but if your child
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Parent's Weekend Getaway! Kids are great! Maintaining sanity, even greater! Sometimes it is best to drop the little bundles of energy off at the grandparent’s house for the weekend and get away to maintain what semblance of sanity you may have left, or to mend and strengthen relationships with our significant others. Southern and Southwestern Illinois offers incredible weekend stays for just adults not too far away from home at rates much less expensive than those offered in the major cities. Plus, destinations can be close to home just in case of emergencies. A simple drive through one of Southern and Southwestern Illinois’ state parks, a weekend stay at one of the many bed and breakfasts, or just sitting down and relaxing with a glass of wine at one of the area’s numerous wineries could be exactly what you and your partner need to put the spark back into your relationship, or the serenity back in a parent’s hectic life. In every issue of Metro East Parent Magazine we will help plan this Parent Timeout, all within a few hours away. We will choose a town or area within a hundred miles and try and give you some of the information that parents can do on their getaways. Southern Illinois is vast, and we cannot get to every town or event in the area, so we will need your help in finding the best spots…
Cobden, Illinois Our first destination is Cobden, Illinois, just about a hundred miles directly south of the Metro East Area, and in the heart of Shawnee Hills and on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. This little town of just over 1100 is best known for its vast orchards and breathtaking landscape. The drive down Highway 51 through Giant City State Park in the autumn to get to Cobden is worth the trip alone. Cobden is surrounded by so much for a couple to do, you may have to make several trips just to see a small portion of what this little haven has to offer. LODGING: There are four Bed and Breakfasts within Cobden alone ranging in price, but not in beauty and comfort. If you have never had the luxury of staying in a B&B, please treat yourself and your partner to the amenities of one. Oh yeah, and most will serve you breakfast in bed! This is your getaway, pamper yourself. I am sure you deserve it. View from Porch at Historic Bell Hill Bed and Breakfast Windy Hill Acres Inn: This unique B&B is an old Potato House from the 1800s and remodeled into a beautiful home later. Set in the middle of Shawnee National Forest, you can lose yourself in the peaceful solitude of the inn and area. www.windyhillacresinn. com 618-893-4065
Historic Bell Hill Bed and Breakfast: This Southern style mansion is rich in décor and beauty. If you are a history buff and love to travel back in time to life in the mid 19th century, this is the place for you. Bell Hill’s elegance and genteel graciousness will leave you breathless and rejuvenated for the week of reality to come. www.historicbellhill.com 618-697-0326
Shawnee Hill Bed and Breakfast: If you are a lover of antiquity, this B&B is just the place. It has everything from a Log Cabin Suite, Victorian Suite, and Country Suite with a stocked pond for fishing, an antique store on the premise and a cave to see where Daniel Boone carved his name in 1766. The rooms are gorgeous and will make you think that you are in Heaven. www. shawneehillbb.com 618-893-2211
Water Valley Inn: Located on a hundred breathtaking acres, Water Valley Inn is like taking a trip to Grandma’s house a century ago. The peacefulness of sitting on one of the many porch swings sipping on ice tea or a glass of wine is just what the doctor ordered in this perfect getaway. www.1watervalleyinn.com 618-534-2244 Victorian Suite at Shawnee Hill B&B
For other B&Bs in the area you can visit the Shawnee HillsWine Trail Bed and Breakfast website at www.shawneewinetrailbb.com for rates and availability
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Things to do in Cobden! Although just sitting back and enjoying your lodging has its appeal, many of you would want to see the sites that Cobden and its surrounding area has to offer. There are plenty! From wine tasting at the 13 different wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, antique shopping at the Makanda Boardwalk or just a hike along the many trails offered in the numerous state parks you will never be without something to do!
Tour at Alto Vineyards
Alto Vineyards: The oldest winery on the Shawnee Hills Winery Trail, Alto Vineyards has some of the best wines made in Southern Illinois. Its many festivals and wine tasting events is just the ticket to kick back and relax. www.altovineyards.net 618-893-4898
Garden of the Gods, Shawnee national Forest
Shawnee Wine Trail: There are 13 Wineries along the trail, each with their own unique taste and amenities. It will take many weekends in order to enjoy all of the different wines this beautiful area has to offer. Tour buses area available to take you from one to the other. An events calendar on their website can help you plan the perfect weekend! www.shawneewinetrail. com 800-248-4373 Giant City State Park: Everything you need in one place for the weekend! Hiking, camping, fishing, the perfect getaway withing the mystic beauty of Southern Illinois. Just wait until you see the vibrant colors of Autumn in one of the State's wonders! Vertical Heartland Rock Climbing: For those adventurous at heart and would love to climb the many cliffs that Giant City Park has to offer, check out Vertical Heartland for instruction and guides. www.verticalheartland.com 618-995-1427
Giant City State Park Trail
Scuba Diving at Mermet Springs: Didn’t think you could scuba dive in Southern Illinois? Mermet Springs is an 8.5 acre springfed quarry that is breathtaking. Individual and group classes are available for those who have never tried diving before. www.mermetsprings.com
Giant City State Park
Makanda Boardwalk: This unique shopping mecca is set in the early 1800s with antiques, art galleries and craft shops. The Vulture Festival in October is so unique that words cannot describe it. www.villageofmakanda.com These are just a sampling of what to do in the area. The websites listed within this article will give you so much more to do on your getaway. Go explore, but most of all HAVE FUN!
Scuba Diving at Mermet Springs
Makanda Boardwalk
Vertical Heartland Rock Climbing
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Gateway Fun Park offers FUN for the whole Family!
“Buy one Get one Free Bumper Cars” Monday – Thursday Only after 4:00 pm 618-345-7116 #8 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234
*Offer may not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Offer expires 12/12 Mention Metro-East Publication for this discount
Gateway Fun Park offers FUN for the whole Family!
50 Game Tokens For $10.00 #8 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234
*Offer may not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Offer expires 12/12 Mention Metro-East Publication for this discount
Check us out on Facebook and www.gatewayfun.com
Monday – Thursday Only after 4:00 pm 618-345-7116
Gateway Fun Park offers FUN Dr. for the whole Family! 8 Gateway
62234 “Buy Collinsville, one Get one IL Free Bumper Cars” 618-345-7116 Monday – Thursday Only after 4:00 pm 618-345-7116
#8 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234
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Gateway Fun Park offers FUN for the whole Family!
FAMILY SPECIAL ONLY $21.50
Includes, 18” 2-Topping Pizza, Pitcher of Soda & 20 Game Tokens Monday – Thursday Only after 4:00 pm 618-345-7116 #8 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234
*Offer may not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Offer expires 12/12 Mention Metro-East Publication for this discount
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schedule on Veterans Day and the day before and after Thanksgiving! Make sure to mention
Metro East Parent Magazine Gateway Fun Park offers FUN for the whole Family! for special discounts!
50 Game Tokens For $10.00 Monday – Thursday Only after 4:00 pm 618-345-7116 #8 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234
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Website 101:
Creating a website with your kids can be fun, easy, educational ... and FREE!
There are so many great educational websites out there it is hard to try and keep them organized for easy access for you and your children. Why not create a website specifically for your child to help them with homework, stay in touch with friends, and share with family? It is fun and easy and can be great quality time for the whole family as you continually update the site as your child gets older. Here are some fun free web hosting sites specifically made for children. The numerous templates will have you and your child up on the web in no time: • Angelfire.com: Angelfire was one of the first sites that allowed free web-hosting on the internet. The web-making tools are so simple that children of most ages can easily navigate through the templates to create exciting web pages that they will want to return to time and time again. • Weebly.com: This easy drag-and-drop site builder is filled with templates that make it so
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easy for kids to add their own unique taste to the website. • Piczo.com: If you are looking for your child to be a little more creative, Piczo is great for the future blogger and photographer. Its amazing interface allows your child to share their life story with their friends and family, as well as being able to update the blog as easily updating their status on Facebook. • Wix.com: This is an awesome site that allows flash, and has incredible templates for free. There is an option to upgrade so that there are not any ads, but it is not needed. OK, now that you have found a free web hosting site, what content should be on your kid’s site? First, have more than one page on the site. It will help with download speeds and also teach younger children how to navigate through the web. You can have a personal page with your child’s pictures and blog, a fun page with online games, and a reference page with links to all the great websites out there geared towards
helping them in school. Please monitor what your kids place on their sites. Make sure the pictures are age appropriate and that they are not giving out too much information about themselves. There are too many predators out there that will use that type of information to their advantage. Stay away from times and places your child may frequent, you do not want a map handed to someone who may do them harm. Have fun with the content on the site, you want your child to want to go to their own website Make it colorful and exciting and packed with fun filled sites that make your child want to learn and explore. Share the site with friends and family so that they may post comments and share in the child’s life and excitement. Lastly, make your child’s website their Startpage whenever they open up their web browser. There is nothing more exciting for a child to turn on the computer and see something they have created themselves!
Bringing Up Baby Getting free products from companies for your child is as easy as visiting these websites
Having a new addition to the family can be daunting, and financially challenging. For those of you who are having your first child, you have no idea of the challenges that await you. Thankfully, there are companies out there that our vying for your future business and willing to sacrifice great coupons and products in order to attain it. For any parent who is expecting, or has a newborn or toddler, the time spent to sign up for baby clubs is well worth it. In no time, you will receive free products like formula, diapers, and coupons that are age specific to your child. Good luck from Southern Illinois Families… • Gerber: www.Gerber.com You can sign up for their baby club and start receiving great coupons every month. Also ask at the hospital you deliver your baby in to get the free Gerber New Mom Backpack filled with free samples and coupons… • Huggies: www.Huggies.com Sign up for their baby club and the coupons will start pouring in, via email and regular mail. If you sign up before your child is born, chances are you will get plenty of sample products before her arrival… • Enfamil: www.Enfamil.com The Enfamil program sends you free formula samples and up to $60 in formula checks along with other goodies. Coupons will come monthly to be age specific to your child. These savings are huge! • Pampers: www.Pampers.com Pampers is similar to Huggies and will periodically send great coupons in the mail for toms of money off. If you sign up before the due date, you will also get free samples. After the birth you can put in codes from Pamper packages to redeem points for more added savings. • Babies R Us: www.rewardsrus.com Sign up for their loyalty card or their Rewards R Us to get great free coupons in the mail. • Baby to Bee: www.Babytobee.com This program gives you health advice, baby tips, free baby diaper samples & coupons, free subscriptions to top baby magazines. • Johnsons baby Products: www.baby. com and www.Johnsonsbaby.com Johnson’s Baby.com gives you free baby care guides & special offers from Johnson & Johnson. They also have great coupons for Johnson’s products.
• Save a Lot Food Stores: http://save-alot.com/sign-for-baby-club Sign up for coupons snail mail on diapers, formula, and other baby products. • Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Formula: http://www.membersmarkformula.com/free_ sample.aspx Sam’s Club formula will send you a free sample and coupons afterwards of their formula. • Also check your local grocery store and su-
permarkets for baby clubs and coupons specific to your new addition… There are tons of other great baby clubs that I will place in every issue, but a Google search will bring the results you will need also. Remember, there are plenty of clubs and organizations that will help you with your child: from newsletters with advice from parents who have gone through what you are going through, to samples of great products, to great coupons that will come pouring in if you take the time to sign up for all the great promotional baby clubs out there.
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What to Do After a Winter Storm
Kid’s Help
Help Prepare Your Family’s Holiday Dinner
Eating a holiday dinner is fun, but helping get everything ready for the big meal can be a lot of fun too. Here are a few things you can do to help out. Plan the menu. Talk with your family about what you want to have for your holiday dinner. Pick a couple side dishes to go with the main course, like vegetables, potatoes and salad. Then pick something for dessert. Set the table. While your parents are busy carving the turkey, ham, or roast, offer to set the table. Fold the napkins and then place the forks on the left side of the plate and the knives on the right side. Lend a hand in the kitchen. There are lots of dishes to get ready for a holiday feast, so ask your parents what you can help with. Maybe you can mash the potatoes or put the rolls in a serving dish. Make sure to ask your parents if you’re not sure about certain kitchen tools, like knives. Clean up. Give your parents a break when dinner is over and help with clean up. Sweep the floor or load the dishwasher so your parents don’t have to.
• Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved. Roads may be blocked by snow or emergency vehicles. • Avoid overexertion. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of death during winter. • Follow forecasts and be prepared when venturing outside. Major winter storms are often followed by even colder conditions.
Your parents will be so happy to have your help. After a full day of cooking, eating and cleaning up, you can all enjoy a slice of pie for dessert.
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Daddy’s Cookbook
Publisher’s Note: I knew I was in trouble when I took my son to test for the local Montessori School in Nashville, Tenn., when he was 3 and the teacher asked him to point to the picture of the object that Daddy cooks on. He had gotten everything right so far, but was at a loss for the first time in the testing. Finally the teacher pointed to the picture of the stove and asked him if he knew what it was. He looked up at her and said matter-of-factly that he did, but Daddy only cooked in the microwave and never the stove. It was from that point on that I knew that I had to change
our McDonald's and Domino's Pizza lifestyle and actually have to learn how to be a single parent. As a single father I realized that my childhood was spent with sports, cars, and dinner magically appeared on the table when I returned home. I never knew the hours of labor that my mother put into making sure that my brothers, sisters, and I had a healthy, well-balanced meal on the table every meal. At college, meals were prepared in the dining hall and the local pizza place always delivered at all hours. It wasn’t until real life happened
— Robert Ludwig
Using the Kitchen as a Classroom
Cooking is Quality Family Time When we are competing with sports, Xbox, and 500 channels on the television, quality time with our children is limited and we must take advantage of the time we do have with them. Not only is the preparation of meals a great time to talk to our children about their lives, but the sitting down and eating with them at a prepared table is also treasurable. Ask them how their day at school went, or what they learned in science class that day. This is also a good time to find out if they are having problems with certain subjects or socially. Tell them about your day, and get them involved in your life as well. But first and foremost, talk. Studies have proven that a family that has meal times together benefits their children in so many ways. Conversations can increase a child's vocabulary,and help their self esteem. Learn about a different culture by having Asian night, or Mexican night by not only cooking an ethnic meal but also dressing the part and learning different trivia facts about that country. Trying new things like chopsticks with fried rice can be informative and entertaining as well! Most of all, make it fun for you and the kids!
that I had to learn to navigate my way around a kitchen, by that point it was not only me that I had to learn to cook for, but a beautiful, fast-growing toddler that depended on me for our lifestyle to change. We were alone, two states away from the nearest family member, and we learned together how rewarding to our family bond our meals actually were. For all the fathers out there, whether you are only a weekend warrior or full-time dad, this is for you and your family.
The kitchen can become the best classroom in the house for kids of any age. Colors, shapes, and numbers are all there waiting to challenge your child each step of the way. Babies will pass up their fancy toys every time for a chance to match up pots and lids or stack plastic containers. Toddlers love to "sort" silverware and fold napkins into triangles. Next time you need 60 marshmallows for Rice Krispie treats, have your preschooler count out 6 groups of 10 marshmallows each and teach fractions with sticks of butter. Ingredients: • 5 cups all-purpose flour • 1 jar basic pasta sauce • 1 bag of mozzarella cheese • Pepperoni • Sausage • Onions • Various toppings • Packet of yeast • Parchment paper • Olive oil Directions: Measure 1 1/2 cups of warm water, add packet of yeast. Stir and set aside. Mix 4 cups flour, 1 spoonful of salt, 1 spoonful of sugar and a little bit of olive oil in big bowl. Add water/ yeast mixture. Mix with fork until mainly combined. Knead by folding over and pushing down repeatedly for 10 minutes. If sticky add more flour.
Home-Made Pizza Once nice and doughy throughout, put back in bowl, cover with paper towels and set aside. Let rise for 30 minutes if you used regular yeast, 15 minutes if you used quick rise yeast. Make pizza buffet by putting cheese, sauce, and toppings in little bowls and in a line down counter. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put some parchment paper down on a cookie sheet. Cut off a fistful of dough from risen dough. Roll out in a semi round shape. Sprinkle with some salt. Add light layer of sauce, light layer of cheese, any desired toppings, drizzle with olive oil. Cook for 7 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Cut and serve. MetroEastParent.com
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What’s your name?
Hey, you’re cute
Send me a pic Where do you live?
RU Single? Wanna meet up?
Don’t tell anyone
redator s
layground
Facebook AP ’ P ? By Robert Ludwig
Almost every teen and preteen in the area has a Facebook page. Either your child talked you into allowing them to do so or did so themselves. Either way, there they are, on the world wide web for everyone to see who they are, what they do and where they are to the exact minute and location. Imagine this scenario: Your thirteen year old daughter gets a friend request from a cute boy who is friends with some of her friends. This boy goes to a school in a neighboring town, she doesn’t know him, but he is cute and he must be cool because he knows some of her friends. Once they are friends, this boy is able to see what school your daughter goes to, who her friends are, and where your daughter hangs out. He joins some of the same groups she belongs to, and soon they are chatting late night through the messenger on Facebook. Like most teens, your daughter also posts were she is going that day, whether at the pool with friends, or shopping at the mall. She also
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Facebook Facts
Our social networking statistics show that Facebook penetration in United States is 51.26% compared to the country's population and 66.47% in relation to number of Internet users. The total number of FB users in United States is reaching 159029740 and grew by more than 3327960 in the last 6 months. — socialbakers.com As of March 2011, teens made up approximately 20 percent of the U.S. Facebook population. A November 2011 survey of more than 1,000 parents found that many kids under the age of 13 - the Facebook magic number - have Facebook accounts anyway with 55 percent of 12-years olds, 32 percent of 11-year-olds and 19 percent of 10-year-olds having accounts compared to 78 percent of 14-year-olds and 69 percent of 13-year-olds. — Inside Facebook, 2011
posts on the Places button of Facebook where she is by checking into the wi-fi connection. So now this boy knows exactly where she is at the exact moment. Also, like most teens your daughter probably has her cell phone number or address on her Facebook page, something that has been there since she signed up.
After talking to this cute boy, they decide to meet. Some place quiet, away from friends or parents, where they can meet and talk about the feelings that most teenage girls struggle with. Now imagine that this cute boy is a 39 year old man who preys on young girls like your daughter on the internet.
• Total amount hours spent on YouTube per month:
• Total number of Facebook users worldwide:
2.9 billion
98%
17 million
11%
3,000
1.2 billion
• Total percentage of 18-24-year-olds who already use social media: • Total amount of articles hosted by Wikipedia: • Total percentage of people on Earth who use Facebook:
• Average pictures uploaded to Flickr per minute:
• Total amount of minutes people spend on Facebook every month: • Total amount of pictures hosted by Flickr:
700 billion
• Total amount of people who access Facebook with phone:
15 hours, 33 minutes
250 million
• Percent of teenagers who log on to Facebook over 10 times per day:
• Total amount of websites that have integrated with Facebook:
• Percent of Facebook users under the age of 10:
• Average amount of time a person uses Facebook per month:
2.5 million
• Total pieces of content shared on Facebook each month:
70 billion
• Total amount of unique YouTube users per month:
490 million
• Total amount of YouTube page views per month:
92 billion
Marion County State’s Attorney Matt Wilzbach warns parents to communicate with their children about the dangers of not knowing who is on the other side of communications via the internet and websites like Facebook and Twitter. As a parent and one who has prosecuted online predators, Wilzbach sees an open line of communication between parent and child imperative to make sure to make the internet a safe place from those who prey upon our children. “Facebook can be great,” explains Wilzbach, “but we have to be smart in not putting too much information out there for the world to see. Do not give information over the internet that you would not want the world to see. You never know who will see this information and you truly do not know who is on the other end of the conversation when speaking to someone on Facebook and other sites.” Within Marion County alone, Wilzbach has prosecuted over a dozen cases from online predators and online bullying that resulted in harm of minor. The most notorious was a female juvenile that was taken to another state by an adult male. The two met on Facebook. Pre-teen and teen years are hard for every child to cope with. The feelings and emotions that sometimes make puberty almost unbearable for a lot of today’s youth are no different than what every generation has coped with throughout the years. The only difference is that within the internet world, some see complete strangers as an outlet to vent and pour their feelings out with chat rooms. Wilzbach warns that it is these years that parents must keep an open line of communication with our children to keep them safe, as well as monitor every step
5 billion
• Average amount of tweets per day:
190 million 22% 25%
• Percent of teens that view social networks as unsafe:
59%
• Percent of Americans who aren’t confident in their ability to use privacy settings:
24%
that your child does in every avenue of the internet age. “Even when your child screams of privacy, as a parent you have the right and responsibility to monitor your child’s every action via the internet. Know your child’s passwords to e-mail, Facebook and other sites, as well as checking their text messages on a regular basis,” stated Wilzbach. Clinton County State’s Attorney John Hudspeth has seen cases as well within his district, mostly regarding parent who found inappropriate messages and pictures on cell phones in regards to an adult having sexual contact with a child. “Two convictions last year alone was prosecuted because of the due diligence of parents checking their children’s cell phones and found that their children were being victimized by adults. Don’t be offended to look at your child’s phone, we owe it to them. The world they live in now is different to the world we grew up in.” Wilzbach also warns that what is said on Facebook and Twitter can be used against you or your child in a court of law as evidence. Cases of bullying and harassment have been proven with posts from Facebook and other internet sites, as well as text messaging.
— statisticbrain.com
Online Predators
Stats parents should know: • More than 500,000 predators are online everyday Kids 12 to 15 are susceptible to being groomed and manipulated by offenders online • FBI stats show that more than 50 percent of victims of online sexual exploitation are 12-15 years old • 89 percent of all sexual advances toward our children take place in internet chat rooms and through instant messaging • In (27 percent) of exploitation incidents, predators asked kids for sexual photographs of themselves. • 4 percent of kids get “aggressive” sexual solicitations that included attempts to contact the kids offline Statistics taken from an FBI article: Child Predators – The Online Threat Continues to Grow
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The Metro East area is the place to be this Holiday Season! From making Christmas crafts, singing along with musical performances, sharing your wish list with Santa or dancing under the twinkling light displays with all the great places and wonderful people in the area to share it with! Special Events Nov 16-17 20th Annual Victorian Holiday Festival Lebanon, IL: Carolers in the streets, musicians, madrigal singers and others dressed in Victorian period attire. Come as you are, or put on your Victorian finery and join in the fun. Who knows ‐ you may run into Scrooge, Mr. Fezziwig, or even Charles Dickens himself! And we know Father Christmas will be here for photographs at the old Town & Country Shop. Free Admission Nov 16 Olde Tyme Christmas -- Downtown Vandalia Christmas in Vandalia! Come Downtown and start your Christmas Shopping early. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sleigh rides, Live Nativity Scene, Town Crier, Mr. & Mrs. Clause will be on hand to greet the kids. 5‐9 p.m. Free Admission
Parades Nov 23 Lighted Christmas Parade - Highland, IL This annual holiday parade culminates with the official lighting of the Downtown Square where musicians, Madrigal singers, carriage rides, hot chocolate, kettle corn and Santa himself await visitors. Free Admission Nov 23 Santa Parade -- Downtown Belleville 10-2 pm Come welcome Santa to Belleville for the largest holiday parade in Southern Illinois with 100 parade units of floats, marching bands and dance groups. Free Admission Nov 24 Christmas Parade -- O’Fallon, IL & Christmas Parade and Fireworks -- Breese, IL Free Admission Nov 30 Santa Parade -Mascoutah Free Admission
Nov 18 Red Bud Area Museum Christmas Open House The museum will feature an old time Christmas display in addition to the hundreds of items that have been donated to the museum. It will be held in conjunction with the Chamber’s Holiday Happenings that day. Nov 23 Come Home for Christmas - Greenville, IL Christmas caroling, courthouse lighting ceremony, Santa Claus, Christmas tree decorating, demonstrations, train displays, children’s activities.Free Admission Nov 23 Sing-A-Long 2012 - Downtown Belleville Join us in front of Santa’s House as we celebrate the beginning of the Christmas Season in downtown Belleville. Enjoy festive Christmas caroling and enjoy a performance by local Barbershoppers chorus. Santa Claus will officially be introduced. Santa will meet and greet all the children, hand out candy canes and pose for photos. Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies with by provided by Optimist Club of Belleville volunteers. Free Admission Nov 30 Christmas in Collinsville - Collinsville Join Santa at the Township Office on Friday evening at 6 p.m. for the annual Tree Lighting. On Saturday, stroll Main Street where Santa and his reindeer can be found, take a wagon ride, and stop in the many local businesses that have great holiday shopping specials. Finish the weekend with the Holiday House Tour where attendees can experience some of Collinsville’s finest festively decorated homes.Free Admission
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Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes (Touring) Peabody Opera House Tickets 1400 Market Street, at l4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 November 8 thru November 17
The 85th annual edition of the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes” ‐‐ that’s the full title ‐‐ has been overhauled with new technology and extensive digital enhancements to make it the biggest “Spectacular” yet. Last revised in 2007, the show now literally wraps the walls and ceiling of the ginormous hall in digital projections, with a 3D videogame adventure as the piece de resistance. Even so, the best moments are the old standards: “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” comes from the initial 1933 edition, and the still‐effective costumes from a young designer from Chicago named Vincente Minnelli.
Here Comes Santa Claus
Nov 11 Pet & Family Portraits with Santa -Eckert’s Country Restaurant -Belleville Be sure to stop by Eckert’s Garden Center get your picture taken with your pet and Santa. Eckert’s photographers will be on hand capturing these memorable moments for all pet lovers. 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Nov 11 Santa’s House -- Granite City, IL Come see Santa and his elves, maybe Rudolh as well!
Nov 24 Breakfast With Santa -Eckert’s Country Restaurant- Belleville Join us for a meal with Santa on the farm! Children can tell Santa their Christmas wishes. Santa has a special gift for each child. We will capture the moment in a photo of your child with Santa. Reservations are suggested. Breakfast will be provided from 8 am until noon. The meal includes: scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, biscuits and homemade sausage gravy. $12.99/child; $8.99/adult.
Nov 11 Santa on the Square -- Downtown Belleville Come visit Santa and his elves to see if you have been good or naughty this year!
Nov 28 Santa House - City Park, Edwardsville, IL Come visit Santa and get your picture taken.
Nov 23 Holiday Arts & Craft Fair - Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville Over 650 venders!
Christmas gifts. Visit each participating business (TBA) and you will be entered to win a fabulous prize! Free Admission
Nov 23 9th Annual Fall Indian Market -Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Cahokia Purchase holiday gift items made by Native American artists and craftpersons; will have jewelry, painting, herbals, weaving, baskets, pottery, bronze work and more.12 ‐ 5pm. Free Admission
Nov 30 St. Louis Arc Annual Holiday Bazaar -St. Louis Arc Family Center St. Louis Arc’s annual Holiday Bazaar features unique, handcrafted items. Concession stand available. The St. Louis Arc is a non‐profit, United Way agency that provides support and services to more than 3,000 adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and their families, throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area 2- 7 pm Free Admission
Nov 25 Christmas Walk - Waterloo The annual Christmas Walk sponsored by the Waterloo Merchants is held the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Local merchants are open for holiday shopping. Also featured are carriage rides, Santas cottage and a Christmas concert. Free Admission Nov 25 Columbia Christmas Cruise - Columbia Cruise around Columbia and find some great
Light and Tree Display Nov 16 Macy’s Festival of Lights - St Louis Christmas lights are turned on at 6:00 p.m. in downtown St. Louis for the official start of the holiday season. Special holiday activities and a fireworks display will be held. 4:30- 6:00 Free Admission Nov 16 - Dec 31 The Shrine’s ‘’Way of Lights’’ Christmas Display The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows - Belleville The Shrine grounds sparkle with light as illuminated displays tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Look beyond the lights to see the array of indoor activities including an Interactive Children’s Village, Puppet Show, Christmas Tree & Wreath Display, Community Choirs, and more!. For a small fee experience the Laser Show or ride a camel. 5- 9 pm Free Admission Nov 16 - Dec 31 Winter Wonderland of Lights -Horner Park - Lebanon This annual event is a step back in time. It is a trip to a much simpler time with scenes depicting several of the area’s attractions, wonderful childhood memories, and fantastic ideas. A trip through Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland is truly different from other attractions in the area. We don’t pretend to be the biggest, brightest, nor technically advanced. LWW is a view of the holiday that everyone remembers! Put your car in slow, and take a close look at all the hand painted scenes and wonderful reminders of a much simpler time. Colorful lights and displays of all types are ready
Holiday Craft Sales
Nov 30 50% OFF NIKE SALE - Lincoln Middle School, 145 West Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025 Organized by the EHS Baseball Boosters. Sportswear Sale for All Ages. November 30th ‐ 4PM to 8PM Saturday, December 1st ‐ 8AM to 3PM
for your enjoyment. Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland includes a wide variety of illuminated venues including a life‐size Nativity Scene. Free Admission Nov 23- Dec 31 Fantasy of Lights -- Foundation Park - Centralia Drive‐Thru lighted Christmas Display ‐ Santa House. 7- 11 pm Free Admission Nov 23 -Dec 31 Christmas Wonderland -Alton, IL Drive through Rock Spring Park to see more than 2.5 million lights adorning trees and lighting displays throughout the park. Visitors are sure to be captivated by the holiday spirit. A special walk‐through night (no cars allowed) will take place on November 28. Plus, you can take a romantic carriage ride through the lights on weekends. The cost is $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people. For more information, call 1‐800‐ALTON‐IL or (618) 465‐6676 Nov 23- Dec 30 US Bank Wild Lights - St Louis Zoo Walk through the Zoo’s holiday wonderland of spectacular light displays. Event runs November 23‐25, 30, December 1‐2, 7‐9, 14‐16, 21‐23, 26‐30, 2012 Admission is $4/Member; $5/Non‐member. Children under 2 are free 5:30- 8:30 Nov 23 -Nov 24 Christmas Candlelight Tours, -Stephenson House - Edwardsville Come experience Christmas at the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House. The customs of the 1820s will surround guests as Father Christmas, and his mischievous brother Rupert, entertain children and
adults alike. Historically garbed docents will be throughout the house as guests take a self‐guided tour through the festively adorned rooms. $10 Adult, $5 child (6‐12 years), children five years and under admitted free. 6 -9 pm Nov 23 Community Lighting of Fountain Belleville Come watch as the Downtown Fountain gets lit up for the holiday sesaon! 7- 8 pm Free Admission Nov 23 - Dec 31 Holiday Light Extravaganza American Farm Heritage Museum - Greenville Christmas light displays on drive path through the American Farm Museum grounds. Santa on duty on Friday and Saturday evenings.5 -9 pm Free Admission Nov 29 New Baden Festival of Trees - New Baden The New Baden Civic Center is turned into a winter wonderland, as dozens of Christmas trees are beautifully and uniquely decorated by local businesses, organizations, groups, families and individuals. Free Admission Nov 30 Township Christmas Tree Lighting Collinsville Santa will arrive to light the Christmas tree, there will be caroling, Toys for Tots collection, drawing for Main St. Christmas raffle, Holiday House Tour tickets give away and sales. It all starts at 6:00 p.m Free Admission
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Metro East Parent Magazine Calendar of Events! Have an event you would like to see in Metro East Parent Calendar? Email us at calendar@metroeastparent.com with the details and we will be happy to place it in there for you! Also, there are more events online at our new interactive website MetroEastParent.com! November 1
Thursday All Saint’s Day
St Anthony’s Parish Rummage Sale St. Anthony Parish Center | 451 West Third Street | Beckemeyer, IL 62219 | (618)227-8331 Free Admission 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Born To Be Wild St. Louis Science Center. Narrated by Academy‐Award® winner Morgan Freeman, Born to be Wild is an inspiring story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them ‐ saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured in IMAX, Born to be Wild is a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world‐renowned primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick, as they and their teams rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild. 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Wildlife Rescue Exhibition St. Louis Science Center. Oil spills and habitat destruction; forest fires and global warming — the threats to wildlife are as insidious as they are numerous. A new touring exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center introduces visitors to the scientists who are striving to save the world’s animal species. In conjunction, the Omnimax will screen “Born to Be Wild,” a documentary about conservationists helping orangutans in Borneo and elephants in Kenya. 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Doing Business By the Good Book A Living Angel Home Care 37 Granvue, Belleville Ministries at Work, Biblical Business Training 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2012 The Fox Theatre is located at 527 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, So You Think You Can Dance’s ninth‐ season Top 10 finalists will be hitting the road this fall making their way across North America as part of the 2012 live tour, sponsored by Just Dance 4, the world¹s No. 1 dance game franchise. The season 9 tour line‐up, just revealed on last night¹s show, includes the following
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top 10 finalists: Audrey, Chehon, Cole, Cyrus, Eliana, George, Lindsay, Tiffany, Will and Witney. November 2
Friday All Souls Day Cookie Monster’s Birthday Look for Circles Day National Deviled Eggs Day
St Anthony’s Parish Rummage Sale -Please See Nov 1 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Tween the Gartens O’Fallon Public Library. 120 Civic Plaza O’Fallon, IL 62269 Free Admission 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Family Life in Old Germany Belleville Public Library Kathy Wurth, member of the St. Louis Genealogical Society and founder of Family Tree Tours, will give a presentation titled “Family Life in Old Germany. Pre‐registration is encouraged. Please call 234‐0441 and ask for the Archives or email dana. prusacki@bellevillepubliclibrary.org to sign up! Free Admission 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Art After Five Sole Survivor Art Gallery 125 East Main St, Belleville, IL Sarah Rye Bliss – Pregnant Belly Art Free Admission 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Centene Fitness First at The Magic House - The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum, 516 S. Kirkwood Rd. St. Louis, MO 63122 314.822.8900 Children can earn free admission and take the first step toward a healthy lifestyle on the first Friday evening of every month. Families can stretch their muscles and their minds as they take the 1,000 step circuit through the museum touring hundreds of fun, educational exhibits and looking for “Fit Facts” filled with useful health and nutrition information. Each month will feature a different fitness theme as well as special guests and activities to get families energized about getting fit. All ages. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free with museum admission. 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Free Public Telescope Viewing
St. Louis Science Center, St Louis, MO The St. Louis Astronomical Society hosts public Star Parties at the Science Center on the First Friday of each month from January‐November. Weather permitting, the St. Louis Astronomical Society and the Science Center will set up a number of telescopes and be on hand to answer visitor questions. Regardless of the weather outside, indoor events are scheduled for each Star Party and held inside the Planetarium’s Orthwein Starbay. 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Science Goes Wild! -- St Louis Science Center St. Louis, MO Featuring Saint Louis Zoo animal conservation projects (Humboldt Penguin in Peru and hellbender salamander in Missouri) and David Lickley, director of Born to Be Wild, introducing the film and showing behind‐the‐scenes footage. Try out telescopes at our free Public Telescope Viewing, catch a Planetarium show, and enjoy a free sci fi movie at 10pm in the OMNIMAX. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Coventry Crafters At Edwardsville Library’Enjoy crafts, snacks, and lively conversation! Adult crafters bring portable crafts ‐needlework, quilting, scrapbooking, knitting, etc. http://www.edwardsvillelibrary.org Free Admission November 3
Saturday Book Lovers Day Housewife Day Sandwich Day
St Anthony’s Parish Rummage Sale -Please See Nov 1 Art & Craft Fair -- O’Fallon High School 600 S. Smiley O’Fallon, IL 62269 (618)234-3715 Handmade crafts, country folk art, quilts, jewelry, candles, Christmas crafts, bake sale, attendance prizes, breakfast and lunch served both days, over 350 booths. No strollers and no pets please. Boy Scout Days at the St Louis Science Center Registration for Boy Scout Days is now open! Come celebrate in science‐style with two full days of programs and discounts just for scouts! All scouts in uniform will be able to take advantage of discounts for Omnimax
films, tickets to the James S. McDonnell Planetarium and the Discovery Room. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Cub Scouts from any council and/or district are welcome! Call 314‐289‐4400 or 1‐800‐456‐SLSC, x4400 to register.
exhilarating family event, held on lovely Green Center grounds. We feature fire dancers, jugglers, storytelling, food, s’mores and more. Advance tickets: Adults ‐ $10, Children ‐ $5; At the door: Adults ‐ $15, Children ‐ $5 November 4
Woodcarvers Show Belle Clair Expo Center, 200 South Belt East, Belleville, IL 62220 (618)233-0052 42nd Midwestern Woodcarvers’ Show will have some of the best carvers from around the country display their artwork at one of the largest shows in the country. Get a unique gift piece of art for your home and learn about woodcarving. $4 Admission
Art & Craft Fair, Boy Scout Days at the St Louis Science Center, Woodcarvers Show, French & Indian Winter Rendezvous, Friends of the Library Book Sale (Please See Nov 3)
Wild Saturday At St Louis Science Center On selected Saturdays, learn more about local wildlife rescue efforts from area animal organizations and interact with live animals! The featured group this Saturday is Friends of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Friends of the Library Book Sale O’Fallon, Public Library Free Admission 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Mary’s AVON Christmas Open House Hampton Inn & Suites 5723 Heritage Crossing Drive, Glen Carbon Join Me for Shopping, Snacks, Deals, Drawings, Prizes & Fun! Free Admission 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM French & Indian Winter Rendezvous Prairie du Rocher, IL A winter gathering of French & Indian camping and competing in a team woodswalk musket competition. For more information call 618‐284‐7230 Free Admission 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM American Girl Club At Glen Carbon Library Meet Kit Kittredge (1934), an American girl! Each month a different American Girl doll and her history will be featured. Activities, crafts, and a snack will give opportunity for American Girls and their dolls to get together and make some new friends! Registration & Parental Supervision required. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Chair Yoga Edwardsville Public Library Free Admission
Sunday King Tut Day
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Miniature Painting Instruction Fantasy Books Inc, Fairview Heights. Miniature Painting Instruction. Bring paint, washes, brushes, and a primed model. $10 Fee for the Session. 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Holistic Fair Holistic Journey. 106 E. Main St, Belleville First Saturday of every month, our Holistic Fair features our service providers here to answer any questions and provide mini‐services. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Clydesdale Camera Day at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Anheuser-Busch Tour Center, St. Louis Bring your camera for an up‐close and personal visit with a world‐famous Budweiser Clydesdale. This unique opportunity allows visitors to view, pet and take photos with a Clydesdale in traditional parade dress. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free Admission
November 5
Monday
Playhouse Mouse: Cabaret at the Speed of Mice ICS Gym, 321 S. Metter Street, Columbia The Columbia Theatre Project is hosting an event to raise funds to preserve and utilize a historically significant city landmark. The event will include cabaret‐style songs, skits and more along with seven mouse races. Tickets in Advance: $120 table of 10, or $13 per person. At the Door: $15 per person. For more information call 618‐340‐6154
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Get Ready For The Holidays Edwardsville Library Laura Schmidt Borchers will teach how to make hand stamped Christmas cards and gift tags. All supplies will be provided for each person to make 10 cards and 10 gift tags. Registration required. Call 692‐7556 or stop by the Library Free Admission
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Festival of Science - Science with the Symphony: Here Comes the Sun St Louis Science Center, James S. McDonnell Planetarium Celebrate the sun and its role in science, history, religion and the arts through an eclectic musical score performed by the St. Louis Symphony’s world music ensemble, The Strings of Arda. Don’t miss this performance under the stars! Tickets are free, but space is limited: call 314.289.4400 to make reservations.
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Fall Fire Festival The Green Center 8025 Blackberry Ave., St Louis, MO, 63130 (314) 725-8314 This is our 5th annual Fall Fire Festival, an
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM SWIC Jazz Cabaret with special guests Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns SWIC Belleville Campus Theatre 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville
Area Storytelling Times O’Fallon Public Library 120 Civic Plaza Edwardsville Public Library 112 South Kansas Street Nov 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM & 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Preschool Story Time Nov 5 & 12 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM Books for Babies 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Time for Twos Nov 6 & 13 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM Fun for Ones 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Time for Twos 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM Preschool Story Time Nov 10 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Sensory Story Time
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Every Thursday Storyteller Gail Long Come listen to the amazing story teller Gail Long as she takes your kids into the great fantasy world of literature! 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM Every other Monday Preschool Storytime 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM 3rd Monday of Month Fun and Furry Reading Program Our new friends Norm and Izzy will join us in telling stories! So if you like dogs and just need a little more practice reading, check out our new program. Norm, Izzy, and their owners are from C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs, INC. Sign‐up to insure a time with the dogs.
Eckert’s Country Restaurant
Belleville Library Presents
Nov 24 - 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Holiday Storytime Your children will sure to be entertained during our holiday story hour. The kids will be enjoy hearing the story of the gingerbread man. After the story is over, each child can make a gingerbread craft. Fun for kids of all ages. FREE
Dial 234-0555 and a child can listen to stories over the phone! There is a new story every week!
951 S. Green Mount Rd, Belleville
DIAL-A-STORY
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November 6
Tuesday Marooned Without a Compass Day
5:30 PM - 10:30 PM Project Restore Fundraiser featuring The Well Hungarians Wildey Theatre, 252 North Main Street, Edwardsville Enjoy a fabulous evening at the Wildey featuring Hors d’oeuvres from selected downtown Edwardsville restaurants and an evening of eclectic music. This event, hosted by Project‐Restore, will feature an EHS string quartet, Lemen and Moon, singer/ song writer Kenny Jamison, a youth choir, Mt. Joy Praise dancers and headliners “The Well Hungarians”. All inclusive VIP tickets: $45 Well Hungarians tickets: $23 November 7
Wednesday Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day Dunce Day
Gifts from the Heart Belle Clair Expo Center A charitable event to benefit the children of St. Clair County with toys to provide a happier holiday season. Admission is a new unwrapped toy or $20. 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Family Game Night Belleville Public Library. All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Call Michele at 234‐0441 for more details. Free Admission 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM The Acafellaz at SWIC SWIC Belleville Campus Theatre 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Imagination of Poe Morrison Talbott Library 215 Park St., Waterloo, Dan Haughey, Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar and professional actor will appear in The Imagination of Poe where he performs and critiques Poe’s work in the guise of a skeptical critic. As an audience you will enhance the performance by participating in a chorus of sound effects. Free Admission 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Science Seminar at the Saint Louis Zoo Free Admission November 8
Thursday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Illinois Statewide Veterans Job Fair SWIC, Belleville This will be the 8th year in a row for this all important job fair! For additional information, contact donald.niebruegge@illinois.gov Free Admission 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Chess Club O’Fallon Public Library Like to PLay Chess? Join our chess club. For ages 9 and up. Free Admission 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM 4th Annual Ladies Night Out -- Four Points by Sheraton 319 Fountains Parkway Fairview Heights Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois host the 4th Annual Ladies Night Out. There will be pampering, shopping and music available. Tickets are $50 per person which includes appetizers, desserts, wine, beer and entertainment. For more info or to purchase tickets contact: 618‐236‐2531 x130. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Festival of Science - Emerging Technologies in the ER St Louis Science Museum Imagine the emergency room of the future. What life‐ saving technologies will it have? What advances will increase the efficiency of doctors, nurses, and technicians? Recommended for high‐school‐age students and adults. Call 314.289.4400 to make reservations. Free Admission
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7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Celtic Thunder The Fox Theatre St Louis, MO Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has been hailed as Billboard’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for Heritage. Their new CD/DVD concert special, VOYAGE continues to pay homage to the musical culture of Ireland November 9
Friday Chaos Never Dies Day
6:30 PM - 10:00 AM on 11/10 Girl Scout Camp-in at St Louis Science Museum This camp‐in is for Girl Scouts ages 12 and older. The activities are designed for children ages 6 and up. We stay up late and get up early at our Camp‐Ins. Sleeping under the stars is available at Planetarium Camp‐Ins only. Every Camp‐In Event Includes: An OMNIMAX film, Amazing Science Demonstration, Hands‐on Activities, Free time exploring the Galleries, Pizza dinner, snack and continental breakfast, A Planetarium Show, Sleeping in the Science Center galleries,Overnight parking, a souvenir patch. Call 314.289.4424 to reserve your spot. November 10
Saturday Forget-Me-Not Day USMC Day
Girl Scout Camp-in at St Louis Science Museum (see Nov 9 for details) Brewery, Bottle & Jar Show Belle Clair Expo Center There are over 250 tables of collectibles having to do with beer and brewing, plus all sorts of collectible bottles and jars. Largest show in the Midwest! $2 Admission 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Raptor Awareness Show Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Learn about Native Birds
of Prey through a demonstration and flight show. No admittance after the show begins. Free Admission 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EHS Marching Band Craft Fair Edwardsville High School 6161 Center Grove Road Edwardsville. EHS gymnasiums and hallways will host over 250 booths of quality handcrafted items. Admission $2. Children are welcome, but sorry, strollers will not be allowed. Free parking/Great door prizes/Bake Sale/Lunch avail. for purchase 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Holiday Extravaganza Eckert’s Country Restaurant 951 S. Green Mount Rd, Belleville Enjoy some of Eckert’s favorite recipes, cooking demonstrations, holiday decorating ideas, wine sampling and holiday food. We will share wine pairing ideas, delicious samples of cheese, deli items, bakery goodies, hot spiced cider and more. Santa will be on hand to visit with the children while you are finding the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your lists. Open House will take place in Eckert’s Country Store & Garden 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Festival of Science - Family Fun Day @ St Louis Science Museum Experience science through engaging interactive activities, wacky experiments and amazing presentations. Investigate the human brain, learn about birds of prey, explore military technology, climb a rock wall and much more! See how community partners (including Missouri American Water, the U. S. Air Force, and more) are using science to affect everyday lives. 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM Holiday Shopping Expo @ Grand Manor 58 Frank Scott Pkwy E. Swansea Over 50 unique and specialty vendors under one roof gives you a chance to start and finish your holiday shopping in one day. Spaghetti dinners for $7 will be served from 11 am ‐ 1 pm. For more info call 618‐942‐8000 Free Admission 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Fairy Tale Tea @The Magic House St. Louis Children’s Museum Showtimes are 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm Once upon a time, The Magic House will host a Fairy Tale Tea where aspiring princes
4:30am to 7:00am More info contact: Steve at Rainbow Shows LLC 150 Highland Ave Carrolton IL 62016 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Holiday Extravaganza (see Nov 10 for details) 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Fairy Tale Tea @ The Magic House (See Nov 10 for details) 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EHS Marching Band Craft Fair (See Nov 10 for details)
and princesses will have the opportunity to sip tea or apple juice, dine on assorted pastries, make a bejeweled crown to take home and enjoy a short, live production of Cinderella inside the Whitaker Theater at The Magic House. Following the play, kids can see their favorite characters up close as Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother visit with guests and sign autographs. The cost to attend this magical tea is $15 per person for members and $18 per person for non‐members and reservations are required. Cost: $18 per person for non‐members $15 per person for members
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sewing Circle @ Col. Benjamin Stephenson House 409 South Buchanan P.O. Box 754 Edwardsville Phone: 618.692.1818 Bring any period sewing or needlecraft project to share and/or work on in a relaxed setting. Period sewing instruction and help are available to those wanting to advance their skills in the production of period garments. Both ladies and gentlemen are welcome to participate. Free Admission 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Miniature Painting Instruction Fantasy Books Inc, Fairview Heights,Basic: Assembly and Priming. Bring an unassembled model. 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Hayrides ‘n Hotdogs @ Wil-
Sunday VETERANS DAY
Belleville’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony Downtown Belleville Come honor and celebrate the Veterans of the Belleville area. Free Admission Indoor Motorcycle/Hot Rod Show Belle-Clair Expo Center, Belleville 6:00 AM - 1:30 PM St Louis Area Automotive Swap Meet Belle-Claire Fairgrounds, Belleville Swap spaces and car corral. Event hours 6am to 1:30pm. Admission $4.00. Swap set‐up Saturday 7pm to 9pm ‐ Sunday
Bunko Nigh @ Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville An old‐fashion game for all ages. $5 per person includes game, prizes, beverages, and snacks. Open to the public. No reservation required. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Theatre IV presents “The True Story of Pocahontas” Holmes Lounge, Washington University: Edison Theatre St. Louis, St Louis, Pocahontas is known to every school‐age child and yet her true story is shrouded in myth. With an emphasis on historical fact, Pocahontas is revealed as a playful, strong‐minded young girl who changes her world before she will change her beliefs or herself. Following Pocahontas as she grows from a girl of 12 who saves Captain John Smith, to the young woman, wife, and mother who carries her message of peace and mutual co‐operation across the Atlantic to the mighty King of England. Grades K – 5
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Parent’s Night Out The Edwardsville Children’s Museum 722 Holyoake Road Edwardsville, IL 62026 (618) 692-2094 We will be hosting our first Parent’s Night Out event!Bring your child to the Children’s Museum for a fun night of activities while you and your significant other enjoy a much‐deserved night off! The kids will take over the Museum at our Parent’s Night Out events, and we are fully staffed and ready to entertain! While you’re on a date with your love or sitting at home relaxing, the children will participate in a large number of fun activities and crafts, all of which are fully supervised by our friendly (and fun!) staff. November 11
you 20% off all purchases from the Country Store, Garden Center and Restaurant as well as 50% off classes if you sign up from November 12‐16. Just present your military ID to receive the discounts.
loughby Farms 631 Willoughby Lane, Collinsville Join us for an old‐fashioned, country‐style good time in the heart of town. The evening includes hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting, potato chips, carrots, drinks, hayrides around the farm, and a bonfire to enjoy! Fee: $5 per person (children ages 3 and under are free); maximum $25 per family. Registration is offered but not required. 618‐346‐7529 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM MYTHBUSTERS Behind The Myths The Fox Theatre St. Louis The all‐new, live stage show “MythBusters Behind the Myths,” starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co‐hosts of the Emmy‐nominated Discovery series MythBusters,” promises to be an unexpected evening of on‐stage experiments, audience participation, rocking video and behind‐the‐scenes stories. For the first time ever, fans will join Jamie and Adam on stage and assist in their mind‐twisting and not always orthodox approach to science.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM School’s Out Movie Matinee Edwardsville Public Library November 13
Tuesday National Indian Pudding Day Sadie Hawkins Day World Kindness Day
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Teen Book Club O’Fallon, Public Library Please join us for teen book club. New people are always welcome.
November 12
Monday Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
Military Week @ Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville As a small way to THANK all of the military personnel and their families we are offering
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6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Teen Read West Branch Belleville Public Library Our Teen Read gatherings currently focus on speculative fiction. Spec Fic includes alternate histories and universes, low and high fantasy, super powers, science fiction, and classic monster stories. Suggest your favorite books for our recommended reading list. You do not have to have a library card or belong to the library in order to participate in the gatherings. November 14
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Babygarten O’Fallon, Public Library Free Admission 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Beyond the Garten O’Fallon, Public Library Free Admission 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Katie Armiger Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at McKendree University, Lebanon Newcomer Katie Armiger’s powerful vocals, skillful songwriting and radiant personality have drawn comparisons to country artists Martina McBride and Sara Evans. At the ripe age of 20, her inspiring combination of determination and passion shine through in her music. November 15
Thursday Great American Smokeout Day Pack Your Mom Lunch Day
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM A Christmas Carol O’Fallon Township High School O’Fallon, IL This two act holiday play follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he journeys from a bitter, ungenerous man into a caring human being with the aid of three spirits. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come show him what his live was, is and will be and he does not like what he sees. This is a story of redemption, of epiphany, of starting anew and of loving self and others above all else. Join the amazingly talented cast of student actors (you won’t believe how good they are!) as we ring in the holiday season. $5 Admission November 16
Friday Button Day Have a Party with Your Bear Day
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM and 10:45- 11:45 AM Tween the Gartens O’Fallon Public Library Free Admission 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Open Call – James and the Giant Peach Center of Creative Arts 524 Trinity Ave., St Louis (314) 725-6555 Students ages 11‐18 are invited to audition for the production of the classic adventure story James and the Giant Peach, written by Roald Dahl and adapted by David Wood. Students should bring a resume and photo and prepare one monologue. Performances are January 18‐19, 2013. Reserve an audition time by sending your name, the show name and your preferred audition time to registration@cocastl.org. Free Admission 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Free Family Night @ The Magic House St Louis Some of the best things in life are free! These special nights enable a family (no more than two adults and four of their own children) to enjoy more than 100 hands‐on exhibits in the museum at no charge through the generosity of Emerson. Free Admission
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6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Fourth Friday Art Walk Historic downtown Ste. Genevieve, MO Several galleries in Ste. Genevieve are offering the opportunity to view the art works of Ste. Genevieve area and regional artists with a variety of art forms that will offer something for everyone. Other retail businesses will also participate in the event by being open during the same hours. Refreshments will be served at various locations and maps are available at each location designating which galleries and studios are open. Free Admission 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM A Christmas Carol (see Nov 15 for details) November 17
Saturday National Adoption Day
Kids Can Help @ The Magic House St. Louis. Kids, 11 years and younger who bring in three canned goods per person will get in free of charge. FAll canned goods will be donated to the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Free Admission Nutcracker Ballet Scottish Rite Bodies Cathedral, Belleville (618)233-5551 Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite performed by the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra and the Belleville School of Ballet with guest artists from The American Ballet Theater. Art and Wine Walk Downtown Belleville Join us in Belleville Downtown in celebration of one of the greatest pairings of all time ‐ Art and Wine! Free Admission Christmas Tree Lots Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville Stop by Eckert’s Belleville Farm to beat the rush this holiday season. Our Christmas Tree Lot is stocked with beautiful trees, you are sure to find the perfect one for your home. For more information call Eckert’s at (618) 233‐0513. Santa’s Holiday Avenue Parade & Chili Cook-Off Granite City Large holiday parade with over 100 entries followed by chili cook‐off. Lots of fun and free stuff for the kids. Free Admission 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Flea Market Belle-Clair Expo Center Belleville There are over 600 tables and 300‐400 vendors selling antiques, collectibles and merchandise old and new. Indoor/Outdoor year‐round! Free Admission 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Girls Day Out National Our Lady of the Snows Shrine Belleville Jump start your
Christmas shopping and enjoy lots of fun at the Shrine’s Girls Day Out! With a multitude of vendors, wine‐tasting and so much more, this exciting event has something for girls of all ages! Free Admission 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Festival of Science - Healthfest St Louis Science Museum Dozens of health‐related exhibitors from the St. Louis metro‐area will offer information on healthy lifestyles and health‐related services, provide free health screenings for all ages, hand out great giveaways and more. 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM Great Green Adventures: Preparing for Winter Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Winter will soon be approaching. Kids can search the Missouri Botanical Garden and discover what the plants and animals do to prepare for winter. For children ages 6‐12 with an adult. Walk‐ins welcome! Meet at the Children’s Garden ticket fort at the Missouri Botanical Garden. 10:30‐11:30 a.m. and 1:30‐2:30 p.m. Free for Garden members; $3 for children ages 6‐12. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Edwardsville Intelligencer Birthday Bash! SIUE Campus- Student Activity Center Kids’ Activity Day‐ Help celebrate the I’s 150th anniversary! Inflatables, Face Painting, Kids’ Crafts, Birthday Cake, MORE! Free Admission 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Late Harvest Tasting @ Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville Join us for a fun afternoon of apple tasting and other activities. There will be a formal tasting as well as apple samples throughout the store. An apple craft will be available for kids as well as an open classroom demo featuring some of our favorite apples recipes Free Admission 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM COCA Family Theatre Series: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Center of Creative Arts, St Louis In this whimsical musical from the renowned Dallas Children’s Theater, audiences will learn there are two sides to every story. The play begins where the popular book by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith left off – with Alexander T. Wolf on trial for murder. Show‐stopping song and dance numbers plus all‐around fun make this lesson in justice perfect for children and adults alike. For ages 5+. 5:00 PM - 10:00 AM 11/18 Boy Scout Camp-in @ St Louis Science Museum This camp‐in is specially designed for Boy Scouts who are working on merit badges. We stay up late and get up early at our Camp‐ Ins. Sleeping under the stars is available at Planetarium Every Camp‐In Event Includes: An OMNIMAX film, Amazing Science Demonstration, Hands‐on Activities,
Free time exploring the Galleries, Pizza dinner, snack and continental breakfast, A Planetarium Show, Sleeping in the Science Center galleries Overnight parking, A souvenir patch 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM A Christmas Carol (see Nov 15 for details) 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM Zootini presented by Macy’s Saint Louis Zoo. The Young Zoo Friends’ party in The Living World includes live music, “Zootini” cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and more. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Zoo. Ages 21 and up only. November 18
Sunday Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Mother-in-law Day
Kids Can Help @ The Magic House, Nutcracker Ballet, Boy Scout Camp-in @ St Louis Science Museum, Flea Market, Late Harvest Tasting @Eckert’s Country Restaurant (see Nov 17 for details) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Miniature Painting Instruction Fantasy Books Inc, Fairview Heights 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Lego Club O’Fallon, Public Library Join us each month for Lego Club. All ages welcome! Free Admission
November 19
Monday Have a Bad Day Day
The Edwardsville Drusilla Andrews Chapter NSDAR Public Program Glen Carbon Historic Museum Glen Carbon The Edwardsville Drusilla Andrews Chapter NSDAR presents former World War II pilot William David Whiteside and his daughter Gail Balsamello on their experiences during the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Free Admission November 20
Saint Louis Zoo The Unique Conservation Challenges of Saving the Vulnerable Desert Humboldt Penguin in Punta San Juan, Peru, by Michael Macek, curator of birds at Saint Louis Zoo. Free Admission November 22
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Belleville Thanksgiving Day 5K and Fun Run Belleville Square Belleville, IL 62220 November 23
Tuesday Absurdity Day Beautiful Day Chilrden’s Day
Gingerbread Walk Downtown Belleville. Stroll down Belleville’s Main Street to view award‐winning gingerbread creations displayed in downtown merchant windows starting at the Square on East and West Main Streets Free Admission 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM Cultural Adventure Club O’Fallon, Public Library You are invited to SEE THE WORLD on every third Tuesday at 4:15! We will learn about other cultures and traditions through games, guest speakers, crafts, and an occastional snack. For 2nd grade and up. Free Admission 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Conservation Conversations @
Thursday THANKSGIVING
Friday Black Friday Buy Nothing Day
Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville Come experience a crisp winter’s day enjoying the beauty of more than 40 acres of lush evergreen forest as you search for the perfect Christmas tree. We will provide the saw (you provide the elbow grease!) to cut your tree. Our full service Christmas tree farm will provide free shaking and baling of your tree. Pre‐cut trees are also available. November 24
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Gingerbread House Workshop Eckert’s Country Restaurant Belleville For those who
BLUE MAN GROUP The Fox Theatre 11/20 to 12/2
Experience the Phenomenon. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that BLUE MAN GROUP is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous show that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, BLUE MAN GROUP is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. BLUE MAN GROUP is now on the road for its first U.S. theatrical tour. This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else; guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget. MetroEastParent.com
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have always longed to build a gingerbread house but were intimidated by the thought, here is your chance to create a beautiful display for the holidays. We provide all of the supplies and the guidance. You provide the creativity! Great for young and old. $12/Gingerbread House. Join us between the hours of 10am and 4pm in the Country Store.
Please join us for Brave, rated PG. Free Admission
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Great American Train Show Gateway Center Collinsville The Great Train Expo is America’s favorite traveling train show serving more states than any other show. Our shows feature operating model railroads, train dealers, collectors, hands‐on exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and much more! Many shows feature a riding train for kids. There is a play are for smaller engineers. It is a great way to spend the day whether you’re an avid modeler or just looking for a fun and interesting day out with the family.
Bunko Night @ Eckert’s Country Restaurant (see Nov 12 for details)
November 25
Sunday
Tails, Trails & Twinkes National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Belleville Bring your canine friends to enjoy a walk through the lights with Scotty leading the way. All walkers welcome. Dogs must be on leashes. Sorry pet lovers, dogs only. Enjoy refreshments, music and pet blessings. Free Admission 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Gingerbread House Workshop (see Nov 24 for details) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Miniature Painting Instruction Fantasy Books Inc, Fairview Heights, Miniature Painting Instruction. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Family Movie Matinee - Brave O’Fallon, Public Library
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November 26, 2012
November 27, 2012
Monday
Tuesday Pins and Needles Day
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Lego Club Edwardsville Public Library Free Admission November 29, 2012
Thursday
Madrigal Performance O’Fallon Township High School (618)624-4500 If you aren’t in the holiday mood this amazing show will get you there. A capella holiday vocal performance, jesters, queen and king and much, much more! November 30, 2012
Friday Stay at Home Because You are Well Day
Dog Show @ Belle Clair Fairgrounds Belleville 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Tween the Gartens O’Fallon Public Library Free Admission
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