Oregon Family Magazine

M A R C H

SPRING

HOME SPECIAL ISSUE

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O R E G O N F A M I L Y . C O M

TRENDS IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN

EUGENE’S SPRING GARDENS

AT HOME IN NEARBY NATURE

Marking the milestones, from childhood to young adulthood.

Shelley Hartman, M.D., F.A.A.P., is an avid listener who focuses on her patients’ needs and builds trust with families. She has extensive experience in pediatric well-child and urgent care, as well as the management of mental health, medically fragile and complex cases. Having come from a family of teachers, she approaches her role like an educator would, guiding and sharing her knowledge as patients grow from infants to young adults.

To schedule an appointment, call 541-HUG-KIDS. 995 Willagillespie Road, Suite 100 • 541-484-5437 • www.EugenePeds.com

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O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

Eat Smart,

Waste Less

Tip #1

Shop with meals in mind “Shop at home” first! Be sure to check your fridge, freezer and cupboards for any ingredients you already have before you go shopping.

For more information, visit

www.eatsmartwasteless.tips

NEW! Coming March 7

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LIMITED TIME ONLY Buffalo Ranch Sauce, Chicken, Bacon, Mixed Onions, Mozzarella, Cheddar and Buffalo Ranch Drizzle on Original Crust

Family Size Pizza

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Not valid with any other offers, specials, promotions or discounts. Valid at participating locations. Cannot be sold, transferred or duplicated.

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®

Offer available at participating locations for a limited time on Tuesday only. In-store Family Size prices may vary. Includes Signature, Gourmet Delite®, Fresh Pan, Stuffed, or CreateYour Own pizza up to 5 toppings; topping additions to recipe pizzas will result in additional charges.

For a Eugene or Springfield locations, go to

PapaMurphys.com welcome

Available 3/7 - 4/17 or while supplies last at participating locations. welcome

MARCH 2022

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

22-9468-OF-BRC

©2022 Papa Murphy’s International LLC

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HOME EARTHTALK The Great Handwash or Dishwasher Debate

HOME DESIGN Remodel with Design in Mind

AT HOME IN Nearby Nature

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DAD’S EYE VIEW Little Kids with Big Plans

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contents 8

EXPERIENCE LANE COUNTY Best Spring Gardens

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FAMILY HEALTH Straight Talk About Social Media

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HOME LANE WASTE MANAGEMENT Climate Change and the Unique Challenges it Poses for Infants

CAMP DIRECTORY 2022 Spring Break and Summer Camp Directory

MOVIE REVIEWS Kids: Sing2 Parents: The Edge of War

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SPRING & SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY

RESCUE SPOTLIGHT Pupper: Summer Kitties: Samuel Bernard

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

Straight Talk About Social Media

BY PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P. EUGENE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES

DOLESCENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN a challenging time of development; however, social media has made growing up even more complicated for a lot of kids.

Recent surveys show about 90% of teens regularly use social media. In a poll conducted by Common Sense Media, 78% of teens say they check their digital devices hourly. Younger children are also increasingly exposed to social media with an estimated 39% of kids getting their first online account between the ages of 10-12 and 11% before they turn 10 years old.

While there are some benefits to engaging with social media platforms, including the ability to stay connected with friends, it also comes with risks, such as intentionally or accidentally oversharing personal information or photos and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, potential predators and cyberbullying.

Constant engagement with electronic devices can also rob kids of sleep, play and spending time with family, and has a direct connection to increased rates of anxiety, depression and suicide.

LOG INTO THE CONVERSATION It’s critical for parents to have open and honest conversations with their kids about the realities of life online. If you are not well-versed in social media, take the time to learn. Read about or watch YouTube videos on how these sites work and why kids are using them. In addition: Follow your kids’ social media accounts with an agreement about whether you will or won’t engage with their posts.

• Keep computers in public areas of the home.

• Set parental controls on internet access to age-appropriate sites.

• Help your kids turn off location sharing on their apps.

• Make it a rule that kids dock their phones in your bedroom at night.

• Instruct them not to share important information including full names, addresses, telephone numbers or dates when your family is leaving town.

Remind your kids that anything they post does not go away. Many employers, as well as colleges and universities, take a hard look at the social media history of prospective applicants.

Pay attention: Notice when your child’s behavior is changing in relation to what they are seeing or doing on their devices, including signs of sadness, anxiety or irritability, and bring it to their attention and talk about it.

If your child is suffering physically or emotionally from their use of social media and you need help addressing it, be sure to talk with your pediatrician. ✦

MARCH 2022

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Our Contributors 1

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28 YEARS

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Oregon Family Magazine is distributed monthly, year-round via direct mail in the greater Lane County area, and at over 150 high-traffic commercial locations. For information regarding Every Door Direct Mail, please visit www.dmachoice.org or www.optoutprescreen.com.

PUBLISHER Pacific Parents Publishing EDITOR Sandy Kauten GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Springer Design & Illustration 1. RICK EPSTEIN A Dad’s Eye View contributor, also awardwinning columnist, and journalist. Author of Rookie Dad (Hyperion) and The Right Number of Kids (McKenna Publishing Group). His wife and three daughters run a living laboratory in which he is constantly tested, analyzed, and experimented upon. It’s as if a guinea pig could write.

2. BONNIE HARRIS Bonnie is Oregon Family Magazine’s resident Movie Review Master Extraordinaire. She enjoys watching movies of all kinds, and has been doing movie reviews for over 9 years and counting. She lives in Eugene with her family, enjoys gardening and cooking.

3. DANIEL HIESTAND Daniel Hiestand is the new Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator, responsible for working with the county’s Waste Reduction team to produce original content to promote waste reduction education and outreach.

Daniel has worked extensively as a reporter, overseas teacher, communications consultant, entrepreneur, and nonprofit fundraiser. Later this year, Daniel will graduate from Arizona State University with a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Leadership.

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4. TAJ BARNHART MORGAN Taj Barnhart Morgan is the Director of Content Strategy for Travel Lane County. A journalism graduate from the University of Oregon, Taj has two decades of special event management and hospitality marketing experience in San Diego, CA and Maui, HI. Passionate about mothering, and back to her Oregon roots, she is discovering the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region all over again through the eyes of her daughter.

5. BETH STEIN Beth Stein is the Executive Director of Nearby Nature, a non-profit nature education group in Eugene, Oregon. At Nearby Nature’s home base in Alton Baker Park she might be found teaching classes, training volunteers, telling stories, writing newsletters, managing finances, or even occasionally hopping around in a Frannie Frog costume! Beth has a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Environmental Studies from Williams College. She lives in Eugene with her husband, daughter, and cat Batman.

5. RODDY SCHEER Journalist and photographer specializing in environmental issues, the outdoors and travel.

When he is not out in the field taking pictures, Roddy runs EarthTalk, the non-profit Publisher of the syndicated EarthTalk Q&A column and the EarthTalk.org and Emagazine.

ADVERTISING Sandy Kauten • 541.683.7452 sandy@oregonfamily.com Christi Kessler • 541.484.0434 christi@oregonfamily.com OREGON FAMILY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 21732 • Eugene, OR 97402 541.683.7452 Email: info@oregonfamily.com Web: www.oregonfamily.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/OregonFamily

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1993 Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of, nor an endorsement by this publication. © 2022 Pacific Parents Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without prior expressed written permission from Pacific Parents Publishing.

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

My husband thinks it’s better for the planet to hand-wash dishes in the sink, but it seems to me using the dishwasher is more eco-friendly. Can you settle this debate for us?

— CHRIS B., BOWIE, MD

H

ANDSpots and pans as you can fit Savannah Sher on BobVila.com.

DOWN, THE in the dishwasher typically “It would be nearly impossible DISHWASHER “consumes” some 27 gallons to use less than five gallons of IS the way to go, not only from the standpoint of water waste and energy use but also to preserve your own sanity. Who needs to be scrubbing, rinsing and drying dishes all day when an efficient machine can do the work?

Modern dishwashers use much less water and energy than their forebears, so you can clean up after your meals and snacks quickly and without guilt just by filling up the dishwasher and hitting the “start” button.

It’s not surprising that Running a full load of dishes in the dishwasher is much greener when it comes to many of us still think energy and water usage than handwashing the same amount of dishes. hand-washing is better, given that the dishwashers of of water, according to a study water to hand wash a full load of yesteryear used 10-15 gallons of by researchers at Germany’s dishes.” water per cycle. But dishwashers University of Bonn. (They also And if you’re going to use the sold today in the United States found that some people can dishwasher anyway, save yourself can only use a maximum of handwash a load of dishes with even more hot water by skipping five gallons per cycle per the as little as 8.7 gallons of water the sink pre-rinse and just mandate of the U.S. Department while others use as many as 116 loading those dirty dishes right of Energy. And to qualify for gallons!) into the bottom rack. one of the federal government’s “The average kitchen faucet “Scrape big chunks of EnergySTAR labels identifying has a flow rate of 2.2 gallons leftover food into the trash, but especially efficient appliances, per minute, meaning that you’d pre-rinsing isn’t necessary with dishwashers must max out their only have two minutes to wash modern dishwashers because water use at 3.5 gallons per cycle. an entire dishwasher’s worth of they have sensors that adjust the Meanwhile, handwashing dishes to match a dishwasher’s wash cycle based on how dirty the same number of dishes, water efficiency,” reports the dishes are,” says Consumer

MARCH 2022

Earthtalk

DEAR EARTHTALK

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

Reports’ Perry Santanachote. In fact, unnecessary pre-rinsing can waste about 6,000 gallons of water per household per year.

These efficiency gains only apply to running your dishwasher when it’s full. Rather than running the dishwasher with a half-load, wait until it fills up before hitting start.

(Some units have a “rinse and hold” feature that prerinses what’s in there so it’s easier to clean when it does fill up later.) Of course, some items—cutting boards, silver flatware, cast iron cookware, non-stick pans—will still require handwashing, but you can always try to minimize your use of them accordingly. ✦ CONTACTS: A European Comparison of Cleaning Dishes by Hand, https:// www.tempurl4.uni-bonn.de/forschung/ haushaltstechnik/publikationen/eedal-manualdishwashing-ht1; Dishwasher vs. Hand Washing: When to Use Each Cleaning Method, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ dishwasher-vs-hand-washing/; 9 Tricks That Save Tons of Water, https://www.nrdc.org/ stories/9-tricks-save-tons-water.

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine. com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org.

Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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Remodel with Universal Design

in Mind

L

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

ocal code ensures new construction homes and renovation projects reflect the requirements of

the Americans with Disabilities Act. Universal design, on the other hand, does more than make living spaces more accessible for those with disabilities. It expands on regulations to create more user-friendly spaces regardless of abilities, resulting in more enjoyable, functional design.

Often, when people think of universal design, they’re thinking of design that reflects the needs of seniors who wish to age in place. That’s not always the case; universal design can also benefit families with special needs or simply serve as a smart investment for the future.

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MARCH 2022

PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN To better understand universal design and how it might apply to your project, consider how the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) describes the seven principles of universal design:

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EQUITABLE USE. The design is useful for people with diverse abilities.

FLEXIBILITY. A wide range of individual preferences and abilities are accommodated.

SIMPLE AND INTUITIVE. The design is easy to understand regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills or current concentration level.

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PERCEPTIBLE INFORMATION. Any necessary information is effectively communicated to the user.

TOLERANCE FOR ERROR. Recognizing the possibility of accidents, the design minimizes potential hazards.

LOW PHYSICAL EFFORT. The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with minimal fatigue.

SIZE AND SPACE. An appropriate size and space is provided and isn’t affected by the user’s body size, posture or mobility.

TRENDS IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN The line between practical universal design and convenience features that drive up a room’s “cool factor” is growing increasingly blurry, according to Gary Grabowski, owner of Greater Home Services and a NARI Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP).

One example is curbless showers, which eliminates a wheelchair barrier with an appealing design element.

In fact, bathrooms are among the highest demand remodeling projects Grabowski sees, especially for people whose mobility is

affected, either personally or for a loved one who visits the home.

Other examples of on-trend universal design in the bathroom are floating, wall-hung vanities. Grabowski said the open floor space that design creates is enticing whether you need to be able to roll a wheelchair under it or not.

Other on-trend upgrades, such as motion-activated fixtures like fans, faucets and touch controls for showers, may feel like a bit of luxury in the short-term but could serve an accessibility role down the road.

In other parts of the house, luxury vinyl plank flooring continues to grow in popularity. Not only is it practical and easy to clean, it’s appealing from a design standpoint and also offers a barrier-free advantage.

GETTING STARTED WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN Because most homeowners only explore universal design when there’s a specific need, the world of options is largely unknown. That’s why Grabowski recommends enlisting the help of a UDCP. “Knowing universal design and the features that enhance accessibility for all kinds of scenarios, I can suggest ideas that people have never thought of to make a living space easier to use,” he said.

Grabowski also suggests starting at least a year out so you can make plans from a big picture perspective, including ancillary projects that could make your project even more successful. ✦ Find more advice for your next remodeling project and certified remodelers in your area at remodelingdoneright.com.

MARCH 2022

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

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Experience LANE

COUNTY

BEST Spring Gardens

BY TAJ BARNHART MORGAN

S

ALL PHOTOS BY MELANIE GRIFFIN / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

PRINGTIME GARDENS ARE FULL of green sprouts, buds and sweet surprises. As we eagerly await blooming flowers and blue skies, we can find joy in puddle jumping through these family-friendly gardens.

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HENDRICKS PARK - EUGENE. Hendricks Park showcases rhododendrons and other native plants. The rhododendrons peak in May, making that the most colorful month. Hendricks Park features large open lawns perfect for spreading a picnic blanket on an afternoon in the spring sunshine. Narrow paths crisscross the hillside and the garden area.

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DELTA PONDS - EUGENE. Built around the natural Delta Ponds, this wetlands wildlife sanctuary is a wilderness garden.

Wander the paths around the ponds and over bridges to admire nature in its undisturbed state. The water and shorelines are home to herons, geese, ducks, turtles, beavers, otters and nutria.

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OWEN ROSE GARDEN - EUGENE. Still waking up in spring, the eight acre Owen Rose Garden may not yet be fully in bloom; but the unfurling of every flower is coming! April ushers in the first cherry blossoms, and in May early roses start to flourish. Combine an outing to the Owen Rose Garden with play at Skinner Butte Park and RiverPlay Playground.

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MARCH 2022

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ALTON BAKER PARK - EUGENE. Alton Baker Park features riverfront paths, ponds, a solar system installation, the Kalapuya Talking Stones, a native plant nursery and the Nobel Peace Park monument. Stroll around the edges of the pond as the cherry trees start to blossom. Large stepping stones across the water lead to a little landscaped island.

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PISGAH ARBORETUM - EUGENE. The Mount Pisgah Arboretum is excellent for all-season hiking. Trails wind through meadows, oak savannas, woodlands and along the river. Informative artwork makes the tour interactive, plus discover the experiential wetlands exhibit and the cedar exhibit. A field trip favorite, the Mount Pisgah Arboretum is fun and educational.

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RUFF PARK & MAGNOLIA ARBORETUM - SPRINGFIELD. When the magnolia trees start to bloom in April, Ruff Park is a splendid place to visit. Over 400 magnolia trees comprise the ten-acre arboretum in addition to other ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers.

The paved pathways provide an easy route for wheelchairs and strollers. There are picnic tables, interpretive signs and wide open lawns.

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GARDEN LAKE PARK - CRESWELL. Fish from the small dock at Garden Lake Park. Visit the interpretative pavilion to learn about the 33 acre habitat. To make a garden stroll here perfect, pick up a picnic lunch from the nearby Creswell Bakery.

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BELKNAP HOT SPRINGS RESORT’S SECRET GARDEN MCKENZIE RIVER. Moss-covered, damp and mysterious, the “Secret Garden” at the Belknap Hot Springs Resort is a fun visit.

Ramble the riverfront path and hiking trails through open meadows and shady woods. Then soak in their hot springs-fed swimming pool.

(Note: only children ages 5+ allowed in the pool.) Make it a retreat and stay overnight in the lodge, a cabin or campsite.

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DARLINGTONIA WAYSIDE - FLORENCE. A short interpretive boardwalk overlooks an 18-acre preserve of carnivorous Darlingtonia, or “Cobra Lily”. A rare carnivorous flora; the Darlingtonia attracts and traps insects, which dissolve inside its stalk and are absorbed by the plant. This unusual flower is striking to observe year round, but in the spring it blooms with purplish petals for an even more dramatic appeal.

It’s that time of year to start bringing your own yard to life. Explore the possibilities with a pleasant trip to a local nursery or gardening goods store.

Down to Earth Home, Garden & Gift - Eugene. Down to Earth is has classic gardening tools, organic supplies and nursery plants. Their website also offers plenty of “how-to” articles and gardening tips.

Wild Birds Unlimited - Eugene. Enhance your garden with birdsong! Wild Birds Unlimited has a large selection of bird feeders, bird feed and bird baths.

Territorial Seed Company - Cottage Grove. Territorial Seed Company is a gardener classic. Purchase their quality, organic seeds, starts and supplies online or in person. Their website includes garden plans from around the world, videos and tools for keeping track of your own plot. ✦

MARCH 2022

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

PHOTO: SALLY MCALEER / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST

PLAN YOUR GARDEN

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Explore Nearby Nature

At Home in

Nature Nearby

S

BY BETH STEIN

TRANGE BIRDS – WHO’S singing that song?

Towering trees – sky high, spring green. Weird bugs – whoa! In addition to meeting new people, moving to a new place means meeting new natural neighbors.

If you’ve recently relocated to a new community, or if even if you’ve just switched sides of town, take some time to help your kids feel at home in their new natural neighborhood. Who’s that tall tree sheltering you from the rain? And what about that squirrel who just crossed the road? Where does she live? Who are those bugs are burrowing in your garden? And who’s making the air smell so sweet? Kids who are grounded in the place they live are more easily settled in their new environment overall, from their bedroom in the apartment building to their classroom at school.

As you wander, remember, just like human neighbors, some of your new natural neighbors will be super welcoming and easy to befriend – shiny red ladybugs, fluffy cottonwood seeds, and wiggly worms.

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O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

• For neighborhood exploration ideas, check out Eugene and Springfield Townscape Walks

by Tyler Burgess. This charming book features hand-drawn maps of in-town walks that will inspire discovery in all directions.

• For a collection of month-by-month nature notes about a myriad of our natural neighbors, see A Lane County Almanac by David Wagner. In this fascinating book you’ll learn about everything from the tiniest mosses to the tallest trees.

• For an extensive list of Northwest natural history resources on everything from birds to bugs, see nearbynature.org/naturalhistory-resources.

• Finally, check out this magazine’s daycamps resource guide to learn about all the ways kids can get to know their natural neighbors right here in town through a wide variety of local youth and nature organizations – including Nearby Nature! ✦

Explore Nearby Nature

These sorts of neighbors can be happily held in hand. Other new neighbors might be downright prickly or much more private – bees and nettles you encounter during the daytime or secretive night critters like owls and bats. Once you get to know these more sensitive individuals, however, you’ll understand better how to live cooperatively with them. Learning to treat all neighbors with kindness and respect, and caretaking the spaces they need to thrive and grow, is a great life lesson.

As you explore, expand your circle of discovery wider than just next door or around the block. Maybe even cross the tracks! The further you reach out, the more delightful diversity you’ll encounter. And the better your children get to know their unique natural neighbors – and maybe their human ones as well – the richer and more fascinating (rather than frightening) their new community will become.

Beth Stein is the Executive Director of Nearby Nature, a non-profit education group dedicated to fostering appreciation of nature nearby and providing tools for ecological living. The group hosts summer daycamps in local parks as well as school year programs, special events, and restoration projects. For more information, call 541-687-9699 or see www.nearbynature.org.

The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000

The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts

Community Music School Classes & private lessons for all ages � Contact the registrar today! � 541.434.7000 / registrar@theshedd.net

The Music Box! Mondays through Thursdays, 2 sessions each day Class size limited to 15 students per section. Sign up any time!

Private Lessons

Mon-Fri 9 am - 6 pm, Sat 9 am - noon

Begin any time. Online available.

MARCH 2022

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARIACHI del Shedd

Beginning: Tuesday at 4:30 pm - Advanced: Friday at 4:30 pm 13

A Dad’s Eye View

Little Kids with Big Plans

BY RICK EPSTEIN

“I’M

GOING TO BE A cat when I get big.” For my 3-year-old daughter, Wendy, the question “What are you going to be when you grow up?” is completely open-ended.

More recently she expressed a more moderate ambition, saying she wants to be “a beautiful lady who bakes pies and cakes.”

And she will marry me. I hate to boast, but each of my daughters, at age 3 or 4, has had her eye on me as likely husband material. My wife, Betsy, the only adult female who ever saw me that way, always says, “Sorry girls, he’s mine!” She says it in a spirited way, too, bless her heart.

Wendy also wants to be a sales clerk in a store. She loves to play Button Store. She gets a big jar of mixed buttons, sorts them out by color, and I’m her customer. As I enter her room, she greets me with professional aplomb: “Hello,” she says, “What can I do with you?”

When we visit a real store, Wendy likes to pretend she’s the proprietor. She finds a place to sit and tells anyone who comes by, “Nothing’s for sale. The store is closed, so you have to leave.”

In contrast to Wendy’s kaleidoscopic outlook, our oldest daughter, Marie, age 10, is focused like a laser. She has always wanted to be an artist, and she seems to have some ability. I’m trying to guide her toward a practical application,

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and she thinks maybe she’ll be an art teacher.

I was trained in practicality by my dad – for most of my lifetime, he spoke to me largely in dire predictions, supported by newspaper clippings. Even his jokes had an air of grim reality.

After a field-trip to a science museum, I told my father, “Did you know: If Mars had enough water and oxygen, people could live there?”

“Yeah,” he said, “It’d be just like Upstate New York – you could live there, but there are no jobs.”

When I was a kid, my dad always warned that if I didn’t pay

more attention to my studies, I’d end up as a “ditch-digger.” I was a great one for digging holes, so it seemed a good trade to fall back on.

My first choice was to be a cowboy. I thought it’d be fun to be among all those horses and cows and have gunfights.

It looked like interesting work.

I knew my parents would never let an 8-year-old have a real gun, so I asked them for guitar lessons. When they told me I was too young, I got discouraged and thought maybe I’d be a veterinarian. I loved animals, but I was a little afraid of them. Then, when I was 9, I saw a picture of young Teddy Roosevelt stuffing a bird in a Classics Illustrated comic book.

As a taxidermist, I would be able to indulge my love of animals without being bitten, pecked or gored.

I thought my big chance had come when some neighborhood kids found a dead fox. In a couple of days they were done playing with it, and I brought it home on a shovel. My mom wanted to encourage me, but the decomposing fox was unsuitable for anything except quick burial.

I scouted field and forest for my next client, eventually finding a dead owl in perfect condition.

Mom put it on ice, and we got a how-to book from the library, and a scalpel and some borax from the drug store. Step One was skinning it. I followed the instructions, but the scalpel kept

poking holes in the skin, and the feathery hide was ruined before I ever got it off. I buried the remains beside the fox. The same thing happened with the next two birds I found.

Discouraged, I gave up trying to preserve dead animals, and concentrated on finding and burying them. I seemed to have a knack for grave-digging, so that became my new fallback ambition, as I turned my attention toward other prospects.

From reading the Hardy Boys mysteries, I knew detective work was fun, exciting and easy to get started in. So I trained myself by sneaking everywhere I went, and collecting cigarette butts and checking them for lipstick, the redder the better.

My 7-year-old, Sally, also entertains a shifting array of possibilities, frequently deciding and re-deciding what she’ll be.

Her type of agility, personality and showmanship usually lead to a career in Roller Derby. But just now she wants to become a trapeze artist, a professional jump-roper, a librarian like her mom, or all three. Raining practicality onto Sally’s dreams would be a crime, so I keep quiet. Her job now is to imagine the possibilities.

But someday, when she gets serious about her future, I hope she comes to me for guidance.

Maybe I can get her to throw in with me, and we’ll buy a herd of long-horns. ✦ Rick can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

SPRING SPECIAL BROWS LASHES W

A

Download the NEW WasteWise Lane County App or, visit www.lanecountyor.gov/wastewise

X

S K I N

Answers to your Recycling Questions are just a click away

Lash Extensions!

FREE FILL WITH FIRST SET One discount per customer.

Gift Cards Available!

BEFORE

AFTER

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LANE CO

Sunny Aina 2127 Yolanda Ave. | Springfield, OR 97477

find out, or

If in doubt,. leave it out

Call 541.335.1763 to schedule, or online at www.soleilrosespa.com

Free App Available in English and Spanish on Android and Apple devices.

Friday, March 11 • 6pm The Friendly Garden

PHOTOARK PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOEL SARTORE Come face to face with some of the world’s most charismatic animals.

This exhibit is bilingual English-Spanish.

ON VIEW BEGINNING MARCH 5 1680 East 15th Avenue, Eugene, OR 541-346-3024 mnch.uoregon.edu © Photo by Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark Photo Ark is developed and traveled by the National Geographic Society.

MARCH 2022

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

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Climate Change Poses Unique Challenges [ AND OPPORTUNITIES ]

for Infant Health and Wellness

BY DANIEL HIESTAND

H

OW WILL CLIMATE CHANGE impact your future? Study after study shows that systemic racism and socioeconomic status will play a significant role in answering that question.

Simply put: a person of color is far likelier to experience significant hardships than their white neighbors. However, another factor is often overlooked: age. The youngest and the oldest will face additional climate change adversity.

Recently, Emily Little, Ph.D.—founder and executive director of Nurturely, a Eugene-based nonprofit that promotes equity in perinatal wellness—sat down to answer questions about how we can help our youngest citizens cope with a changing world.

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MARCH 2022

Q: THANKS FOR CHATTING TODAY, EMILY. WHAT IS PERINATAL WELLNESS, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? Perinatal refers to the time before and after birth, and wellness is the state of being in good health (physically and psychologically).

Nurturely thinks about perinatal wellness as something that should be a human right. However, access to health equity for the birthing person and baby is determined by structural racism and other systemic barriers, which is why we see so many racial disparities in health outcomes. Equity starts at birth!

Q: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS FOR PARENTS—PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES— REGARDING THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES? Because of environmental racism, parents from all communities of color are more likely to live, play, and work in places with higher exposures to pollution, extreme heat, and natural disasters. The environmental racism that leads to increased climate exposures adds to an already high risk for parent and baby.

Q: HOW DO YOU SEE THE INTERSECTION OF PERINATAL WELLNESS, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND CLIMATE CHANGE? Climate action and perinatal health are often addressed as separate issues, yet we know this is false. Nurturely believes the most critical point of the interconnection between public health, racial equity, and climate change is during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, where parent and baby are most vulnerable to climate change effects.

For example, the risk of preterm birth increases with each grade of temperature increase and with longer durations of heat exposure.

Communities of color disproportionately feel these effects.

Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO THESE CHALLENGES? I invite parents and perinatal health advocates to connect directly with Nurturely. We offer workshops on moving away from disposal diapers, community organizing, and educational opportunities on climate resilience. However, the bulk of my advice would be directed to policymakers, employers, and fellow community members. For community members, if you have social and/or financial privilege, use that to decrease waste and environmental impacts. For employers, are your policies supporting the health of pregnant people and their babies? Are your work conditions centered on reducing waste and preventing unnecessary emissions?

For policymakers, are you creating environmental strategies that center pregnant and postpartum people of color as the most impacted group? ✦ Emily Little, Ph.D. Executive Director For more information on Nurturely, visit nurturely.

Nurturely org or call/text (541) 579-8941.

Q: HOW DO YOU SEE WASTE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT FITTING INTO THIS DISCUSSION? The same things that are good for the environment are also good for babies. Cloth diapering (or no diapering!), breast/chestfeeding, and natural “toys” (e.g., wooden spoon, leaves, pots, and pans) rather than plastic or electronic toys all show research-based benefits for infant health and development. These are also the same choices that are important for waste prevention and management. For example, disposable diapers are the third-largest single consumer item in landfills and take at least 500 years to decompose! Many people don’t think of going “diaper-free” as an option (and indeed, there are many societal barriers), but this approach has many economic, environmental, and developmental advantages.

MARCH 2022

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O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

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Family Movie Night

Big Musical Dreams

BY BONNIE L. HARRIS

H

OLLYWOOD NOW CALLS A film like Sing 2 an animated “jukebox” musical, which underscores the very large part played by the toe-tapping soundtrack and the famous pop voices accompanying almost every scene. For audiences, it’s extra oomph in an already fun-filled story of a little group of singers SING 2 Illumination & Universal Pictures, Rated: PG In theatres & streaming on Amazon

Last minute rehearsal. hoping to hit the big time.

Original writer/director Garth Jennings returns for Sing 2 and adds his light-hearted, comedic touch to the wacky new characters who join the familiar cast of Buster Moon, Rosita, Meena, Johnny, Ash, and Miss Crawly. In this new installment, Buster Moon, their starry-eyed koala manager, sets his sites on taking the singers to Redshore City, which looks remarkably like Las Vegas, to audition for the CEO of Crystal Entertainment.

Weaseling their way on stage is no easy task, but when roughtough Jimmy Crystal mistakenly

hears that Buster knows reclusive rock ‘n roll legend, Clay Calloway, he immediately hires the group to put on a show. Unfortunately, this white lie leads to mayhem when Buster has to not only organize a sci-fi musical extravaganza, but also coax Clay Calloway out of retirement. Porcupine Ash steps in to help convince Clay to return to the stage while gorilla Johnny meets street-cat Nooshy, who teaches him some exciting new dance moves. Shy elephant Meena meets the pachyderm of

her dreams, but is too trunk-tied to talk to him. And mama-pig Rosita struggles with being replaced by newcomer Porsha, a sophisticated she-wolf with an attitude. It seems the show will end in disaster even before the curtain rises, but eventually the music comes shining through, as does the enthusiastic audience.

Sing 2 pushes the envelope with songs, dance, animation, and sight gags that makes this sequel just as entertaining as the original. And be sure to watch the credits. ✦

FOR the PARENTS

What Might Have Been MUNICH, THE EDGE OF WAR Turbine Studios, Rated: PG-13 Streaming on Netflix

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LOW-MOVING AND METHODICAL, Munich, The Edge of War, pulls apart the subtle details of a pivotal moment in history when the world might have avoided catastrophe, but only if someone had stepped in to make a fateful choice. Based on the popular historical novel by Robert Harris, the story pivots on two friends, one British and one German, who might have stopped WWII. Hugh Legat works as private secretary to Neville Chamberlain while he negotiates with an increasingly dangerous Adolf Hitler. Across the channel, Paul Hartmann works as a translator in the German foreign office while secretly leading an underground resistance movement.

Hartmann comes into possession of documents proving Hitler’s plan for European conquest and he’s determined to pass them to Legat for Chamberlain. Efforts are thwarted at every turn, communication is garbled, and roadblocks are cemented, but the friends eventually

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Facing the Nazi truth. reunite in the city of Munich. The documents land in the right hands, but fate proves that diplomacy is tricky business. No spoilers here, but we all know what eventually happens after Chamberlain declares “peace for our time.” Definitely a film for history buffs, Munich, The Edge of War, is a fascinating examination of what might have been.

O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

MARCH 2022

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O R E G O N F A M I LY . C O M

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Rescue Spotlight

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eet smiley girl SUMMER! This affectionate, silly 9-year-old pup is ready to spend her days with her new family! She is looking for an active household to join in on all the fun! We love how sweet, well mannered, easy going, affectionate yet independent Summer is! She is very cute to watch play outside as she loves to sprint around the yard with her toys. A volunteer said, “Her friendliness and enthusiasm are infectious. I really enjoyed our play and walk time.”

Summer may do well with another mature, calm doggie pal. She should meet any dog siblings at the shelter prior to adoption. She should go to a cat free home. She has lived with kids of all ages previously and loved them. She is a beautiful brown Pitbull terrier mix, weighs between 47 and 50 lbs., is spayed, microchipped and up to date on vaccines. We know this loving gal will find her perfect fit in no time!

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he Cat Rescue & Adoption Network presents SAMUEL BERNARD, a cute & friendly 11-yr-old gray tabby male kitty with a fun personality. This affectionate guy loves to engage with his people, and is so playful and energetic. He’s tested positive for FIV (the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), but he’s a healthy kitty who will likely have a normal lifespan as an indoor-only cat (the virus can’t be passed to dogs or to people). He’s OK with mellow dogs, but would do best as the only cat where he can get lots of attention and be spoiled rotten. He’s neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and negative for FeLV. To meet Sam, please call 541-225-4955 option 1, or visit our website at CatRescues.org

Greenhill Humane Society open seven days a week, 11 am – 6 pm at 88530 Green Hill Rd in Eugene. Cat adoptions are on a first come limited capacity basis. Dogs and specialized species adoptions are by appointment. For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org.

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MARCH 2022

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Strides for Social Justice BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TODAY. You’re invited to participate in this free, inclusive, family-friendly program that will guide you to various landmarks for a view into local Black history and the powerful influence of Black residents within our community.

Strides for Social Justice will educate, engage and encourage physical activity for people of all abilities, while generating financial resources in support of the NAACP and other organizations.

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History

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MARCH 2022