December 2016 issue

Winter Break Camps

Holiday Happenings

Holiday Gift Guide Subscription Boxes

Stocking Stuffers

Games & Toys

STEM & More!

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Phone ahead.

We’ll have it ready.

EUGENE/W 11TH AVE 2911 W 11th Ave 541-431-6882

5-MEAT 12 $

S T U F F E D

LARGE

(Red Sauce, Canadian Bacon, Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Bacon, topped with Ground Beef, Provolone, Cheddar) Coupon required. Expires 1/1/17. No Limit.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

EUGENE/WILLAMETTE 1711 Willamette Street 541-344-5189 EUGENE/COBURG RD 1508 Coburg Rd/ Sheldon Plaza 541-686-6615 SPRINGFIELD/MAIN 5727 Main St 541-744-2475 SPRINGFIELD/OLYMPIC 1810 Olympic St 541-741-8886

Waves of Waterpark Fun! Open extra hours on no-school days!

6100 Thurston Road, Springfield • 541-736-4244 Check willamalane.org for hours

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“LOVE NG THEIR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. STRO YEARS

Wish I could have put both my kids in earlier instead of in home day care for so long.”

— Preschool mom Denny Price

Distributed through all Eugene/ Springfield, Creswell and Junction City public elementary and middle schools, most area private schools, and over 400 commercial locations throughout Lane county.

PUBLISHER

Pacific Parents Publishing EDITOR

Sandy Kauten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Better Lawns & Gardens, Inc.

Oregon Family 1/6 page b&w December 2016 Willamalane ➤ Complete Lawn & Landscape Maintenance ➤ Lawn Restoration ➤ Leaf Pick Up

➤ Dethatching & Core Aeration ➤ One Time Projects ➤ Commercial and Residential

Programs to Fit Your Budget

Rick Epstein Jennifer Galvin Bonnie Harris Kelli Matthews

541-915-1615 • Free Estimates w w w. b e t te r l aw n s a n d g a rd e n s . n e t

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Springer Design & Illustration ADVERTISING

Christi Kessler • 541.484.0434 christi@oregonfamily.com Sandy Kauten • 541.683.7452 sandy@oregonfamily.com OREGON FAMILY MAGAZINE

The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts

Shedd Theatricals 2016

P.O. Box 21732 Eugene, OR 97402 541.683.7452 Email: info@oregonfamily.com Web: www.oregonfamily.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/OregonFamily

Irving Berlin’s 1946

Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.

© 2016 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.

Tickets: 541.434.7000 www.theshedd.org

Annie Get Your Gun December 2nd to 18th The Shedd Institute

OrFam-Shedd 2016-12.indd 1

11/19/2016 7:39:38 PM

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Holiday Gift Guide

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6 A Dad’s Eye View 23 Earthtalk 26 Rescue Spotlight

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Family Movie Time

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Calendar of Events

Family Health

Q&A w i t h D r. Le d a M a e R a b o t - Cu ra Pe d i a t r i c i a n , Pe a c e H e a l t h M e d i c a l G r o u p , C o t t a g e G r o v e

Q.

My daughter just turned two and she’s into everything! If something beeps or flashes or plays music, she’s all over it. With the abundance

of these devices around our home during the holidays, what hidden dangers may be lurking and what steps should I be taking to ensure her safety?

A.

The holiday season is filled with joy, but it can definitely be a risky time for young children.

I always tell parents to watch out for small, powerful magnets and button batteries—the kind you find in a lot of toys, and also musical greeting cards, ornaments, remote controls and other small electronic items. Children who swallow these can have serious stomach and intestinal problems, and can even die. Without careful, constant adult supervision, keep any items with button batteries out of reach from your daughter and any other young

children. If your child swallows one or you suspect she has, call the doctor immediately!

Hard candies, decorative lights, extension cords, glass ornaments and even bags and ribbons pose a risk to young children. Be extra watchful for things like frayed wires and loose sockets, and clean up the wrapping right away after opening gifts. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org website has an article with loads of great holiday safety tips (click on News!), as does Safe Kids Worldwide (safekids.org).

Welcome, Dr. Rabot-Cura!

Dr. Leda Mae Rabot-Cura is the first pediatrician to join PeaceHealth Medical Group’s Cottage Grove team in more than 10 years. She’ll team up with Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Katie Thomas to expand and improve care for infants, children and young adults in Cottage Grove, Creswell, Dexter and surrounding areas.

“I’m excited to be able to offer more comprehensive, specialized care to the children of this community,” she said.

Her approach to care involves close and frequent communication with parents and other caregivers: “How well you involve them impacts the overall health of the child.”

She moved to Oregon from Texas, where she practiced for eight years as a pediatrician in clinics in McAllen, Edinburg and Round Rock. A native of the Philippines, she earned her medical degree at the University of the Philippines, Manila, and speaks both English and Tagalog. She completed an internship and residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

Dr. Rabot-Cura is married with two young daughters, 8 and 7. She loves to read and cook. “I was excited to move to the Willamette Valley to be closer to family,” she said, “and to explore the beautiful outdoors the Northwest has to offer.”

To make an appointment with Dr. Rabot-Cura, call 541-767-5200.

The Spirit of Health O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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A Dad’s Eye View

by Rick Epstein

CELL PHONE FOR CHRISTMAS? M

y sixth-grade daughter, Wendy, has just produced her Christmas wish list. It reads like this: SMARTPHONE!!!!!

It reminds me of the time I was nearly drowned by a playful pal in a YMCA swimming pool. As he held me underwater, I had only one thing on my list, too: AIR!!!!!

Of course, once I surfaced, other priorities reasserted themselves.

Right now, my priority is staying in touch with my loved ones. That’s why I’m glad her sisters have smartphones at college, and why I don’t want to get Wendy even a cheap flip phone. The big sisters phone home a couple times a week. The 20-year-old talks about her fears and ambitions, tells me funny stories and sometimes even asks my advice on friendships, ethics and semi-colons. For the 17-year-old, it’s more of a dutiful gesture, like she’s visiting a nursing home. I cherish that contact, too.

But if we got a phone for Wendy, we’d lose what little contact with her that we have.

Wendy is already on the house phone or Instant Messaging on the computer every possible moment – except for when she is in the bathroom. (She’s very delicate about that.) Even when she is WITH other kids, she and her visitors are phoning whomever is absent.

Most of her friends have smartphones. And to be without a mobile phone is a disadvantage, especially because kids don’t plan ahead anymore. They are like police radioing to each other during a highspeed chase. “Hi Justin; we’re on our way to the basketball game.

Are you going? We’re two blocks from your house. Should Wendy’s dad pick you up? You’re getting a ride there later? OK, when you get there, call me so we can find you!”

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A child with no cell phone can be like the Canada goose who does not get the invitation to join the V-formation and ends up summering in Phoenix while all her friends are splashing around in the refreshing lakes of Quebec.

On the other hand, a girl with a cell phone carries with her the instrument of her own torture when one of her “frenemies” feels the need to reach out and hurt someone – anytime, day or night.

That’s another thing. When I was a kid, a child who phoned late at night would be scolded by an angry adult. So I have the ingrained belief that it is immoral to telephone anyone after 10 p.m. But a cell phone hums at 3 a.m. and a child wakes up, pulls it out of her pajamas and chatters until dawn. That’s just wrong.

There’s no denying the practicality of cell phones. I was giving Wendy and her friend Bree a ride to some venue of pleasure or other, when Bree said, “Wendy, what is the deal with your hair?! It’s gone all you-know!” and she waved a hand in a corkscrew gesture.

Wendy replied, “Gimme your cell,” and with a practiced air, she turned on its camera, pointed it at herself and looked at the image while patting the stray foliage into place.

“In my day,” I told her, “if we wanted to see ourselves, we had to look into a pool of still water.”

And speaking of still pools of water, I find myself thinking of Henry David Thoreau, who spent a couple of uneventful years in the 1840s thinking deep thoughts at Walden Pond.

To chat with someone, he would’ve had to hike a few miles into Concord, Mass. He couldn’t just pick up the phone and say, “How ‘bout those Sox?!” But that was OK because he was extremely unchatty.

In fact, when Thoreau got word that a telegraph wire was being strung from Maine to Texas, he wrote in annoyance: “But Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.”

He’s right. First, the guy in Maine would yell, “I’M IN MAINE!” Then he’d say, “Did you hear that Hank Thoreau has been talking trash about us? He is such a geek. I mean he lives at that pond, which would be such a great place to party. But he has like NO friends except for that other loser Ralph Waldo Emerson. I mean, they CALL themselves Transcendentalists, but if you ask me, they are POSER-dentalists. And popularity-wise the two of them are like two times zero.”

Certainly I’m being silly, but am I being unrealistic about the whole cell-phone thing? Let’s just wait and let Wendy decide for herself on Christmas morning – when she unwraps her new Kindle. (Just kidding.)

Rick can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.

Cottage Theatre presents A holiday gift for the kid in all of us

Parents of 3-7 year olds Do you struggle with your child’s Disobedience? Hitting? Fighting Tantrums?

December 2 - 18

Written by Philip Grecian

Help is at hand!

Based upon the motion picture A Christmas Story ©1983 Turner Entertainment Co., distributed by Warner Bros. and written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark; and on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd

Take part in the Success for Children & Families Project and learn how to:

www.cottagetheatre.org

Directed by Eliza Roaring Springs Tickets: $25 Adult, $20 Youth (6–18)

700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove 541-942-8001

 Improve your child’s behavior  Increase your confidence in parenting Receive the Triple P Positive Parenting Program FREE of charge and up to $90 in gift cards/cash Call Today to see if you qualify for this exciting and important research project!

Success for Children and Families Project 541-434-1551 success@ori.org www.ori.org/ success

The U.S. Gymnastics Academy Great Starts Here® Oregon Research Institute

Winter Break Camp Dec 19th – 23rd

Fun • Fitness • Self Confidence Coordination • Social Development World Class Coaches State-of-the-Art Facility

4540 Commerce St • 541-255-2883 • eugenegymnastics.com

Find Holiday Fun for Everyone at Eugene Saturday Market’s

Open Weekends: Nov. 19-20, Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10-11, Dec. 17-18 + Dec. 22-24 Hours: 10 AM–6 PM

Dec. 24 only, 10 AM– 4 PM

Handcrafted Gifts Food Court • Live Music Children’s entertainment every Market morning at 10:30!

Take an #elfieselfie outside Holiday Hall!

Free admission, free parking!

At the Lane Events Center, 13th & Jefferson w w w. h o l i d a y m a r ke t . o r g

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Bridging 2016 O R E G O N FA M I LY

Holiday

Gift Guide

Start-up Circuits help younger children understand fundamental STEM concepts. See page 10 for more details.

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Learning & Fun with STEM Toys & Games L

earning focused on science, technology, engineering and math - or STEM - has captured the imagination of researchers, educators and parents. STEM experiences of all kinds can develop critical thinking and help build the next generation of innovators.

Of course learning is important, but do you sacrifice fun when you put too many educational toys and games under the tree? For this, our fifth annual holiday gift guide, we looked a wide variety of toys - and it turns out, you can have it both ways!

Our intrepid toy testers took more products for a spin than ever. Meet the testers: Xander, Age 4: Curious and quirky. He’ll give anything

a try, but isn’t shy about letting you know what he thinks — good or bad.

Braxton, Age 10: A veteran Oregon Family holiday gift guide toy tester, he’s been around the block. He’s open and interested in new toys, but won’t waste his time.

Brandon, Age 12: A tinkerer and builder by nature, Brandon has focus and determination needed to see some of the more challenging building sets through to the end and enjoys every minute.

Sammi, Age 6: With two older sisters, Sammi is wise beyond her half-a-dozen years. She particularly enjoys toys and games that either a) she can share with her sisters or b) not share and make her sisters a little jealous.

SCIENCE: Exploring the Earth & Sky SmartGlobe Infinity I remember sitting and spinning the globe on my dad’s desk as a kid, imagining all the places and people. Oregon Scientific satisfied that natural curiosity with the SmartGlobe Infinity. With a bluetooth “smart pen,” kids can learn facts, figures, compare regions and people and even hear the national anthems of hundreds of countries.

In an ever-changing world, it’s easy to keep the content up-to-date by syncing the pen to your computer and you can even connect through an iOS or Android app for even more games and challenges. For the kid who loves learning about people, places and culture, the SmartGlobe is a perfect gift.

• oregonscientifics.com • $69.99

Open up your child to a world of knowledge with the SmartGlobe Infinity.

AstroScan Telescope The night sky is full of stars, galaxies, and mystery — sharing all that with your kids is fun. The AstroScan Telescope from Scientifics Online makes for great family time. It’s top quality without requiring computer enhancement. It’s also portable, powerful, easyto-use and for an entry level telescope, very affordable.

• scientificsonline.com • $219 The Astroscan is an affordable, yet powerful telescope.

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TECHNOLOGY: Coding, Gaming and Creativity Code-a-Pillar™ Sequencing and programming for preschoolers? The Fisher-Price Code-a-Pillar encourages the youngest potential computer scientists to experiment and develop critical thinking skills. The eight light-up segments each do something different — forward, left, right, wait.

And kids put

each segment together so they can reach the targets throughout the room.

Bloxels help kids design their own games.

When kids connect the segments to make Code-APillar™ move - that’s sequencing. When they figure out a sequence that will create a path for Code-A-Pillar™ to reach a target, that’s programming (and problem solving, too). It’s all coding—and it’s all fun!

• Amazon or Toys R Us • $49.95

Bloxels

Code-a-Pillar is programming for pre-schoolers!

With games like Minecraft, Mario Maker and other do-it-yourself platforms, young gamers feel empowered to build their own creations. But the tools to do that aren’t always accessible.

Thanks to Bloxels®, conception and execution of a new video game is easy. Kids can watch their game world come to life as they create and animate play spaces, characters and ob-

Bringing the Family Together with GAMES Juxtabo

Arrazzles Under the Sea

This game is not only fun but also very visual with its colorful game pieces. After drawing a challenge card you take turns stacking, trying to mimic the card for the win. As you play the board becomes a 3D mountain range where your pieces change the color of the landscape.

Each time you correctly build a pattern on a challenge card, you win that card. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins! It takes some light strategy so I recommend it for kids six and up.

• Funnybonetoys.com • $29.99

Anaxi Think Scattergories, but next level. This fun word game is made for kids who can read well and think quickly. During a round, three Anaxi Word Cards are chosen with describing words on them. They are then overlapped to bring two or more qualities together. Players then wrack their brains to come up with unique nouns that share those qualities.

Did I mention the cards are round? It’s an enjoyable, fastpaced word game that gets you thinking and giggling.

• Funnybonetoys.com • $21.99

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Juxtabo is an easy-to-learn strategy game.

A great way to spend a Saturday morning with your littles!

Arrazzles®, the multi-award winning, art-inspired building toy, launched by Funnybone Toys in 2013 came out with a new ocean inspired set. Create seascape with beautiful ocean creatures with the 45 slotted cards. All your child needs is their imagination.

• Funnybonetoys.com • $19.99

Agenda Game What better way to teach your kids about politics than with a game? The brainchild of a former teacher, the Agenda Game is a way to discover politics and the political games people play, but in a light-hearted way. Players compete for money, votes and their own agenda.

It will spark debate and open a dialog between you and Anaxi is a fun game that gets kids your kids. thinking and laughing.

• http://theagendagame.com/ • $34.99

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jects. The gamer becomes the artist, game designer, storyteller, programmer, publisher and player!

By using the physical pieces in the Bloxels® game set work along with the free Bloxels® Builder app to digitize their creations, kids can put them on-screen and make them playable. The app is free and will start with a series of tutorials to set your kids up for successful game development.

• BloxelsBuilder.com • $49.95

Start-up Circuits What looks like a simple pre-schooler toy becomes an easy lesson in electronic circuits with this creative set. (See photo on previous page). Kids click together chunky pieces, each with a different switch on the bottom, to create three different results: either a spinning fan, a glowing light or a whistling siren. All switch blocks and action tops are interchangeable for mixing, matching and experimenting with actual working circuits in a completely safe way. The set comes with a parent guide so you can describe what’s going on to your young kids in an understandable way.

Start-up Circuits are designed to give young children an innate understanding of circuitry and help build a strong foundation for future STEM success. It’s appropriate for a range of little ones as young as 18-months and it was a big hit with our 4-year-old tester.

• mindware.com • $19.95

CreoPop Cool Ink 3D Pen 3D printing pens add dimension to your artwork—literally. This starter set is a great way to explore the intersection with technology and art, using your imagination to create. With the CreoPop Cool Ink 3D pen, the ink is cool, unlike other 3D pens, so it’s safer for kids.

Our 10-year-old tester loved experimenting and, with a little practice, was able to get the hang of it pretty quickly. This would be a wonderful gift for an artist of any age. We’ll just say mom had as much fun with this one as the kids did.

• TheGrommet.com • $129.95

The Gift That Keeps Giving: Monthly Subscription Boxes Monthly subscription boxes of all sorts are all the rage. We had a chance to check out several boxes for kids, each with a very different focus.

Girls Can! Crate Each month, GIRLS CAN! CRATE delivers a box celebrating the achievements of a fearless woman from history who helped make the world better. The box includes a 20-page activity book telling the fearless lady’s unique story, 2-3 hands-on

lantern-style lamp that only turns on with the lights are off.

Completing each box gives kids tremendous satisfaction and confidence to tackle problems of all sorts. Building electronics isn’t as complex as many think and with Creation Crate, older tweens and teens can learn that it’s totally accessible and opens up a world of possibilities.

Mail Order Mystery One of the most creative subscription boxes we’ve seen, the Mail Order Mystery box sends your 8 to 13-year-old on a quest to solve a mystery through a story that unfolds through a series of mailings.

• https://mycreationcrate.com • $29.99

Cheeky Days’ Outside the Box

Each month, Girls Can! Crate sets up a new adventure.

As a long-time community volunteer - and citizen of the world - teaching my kids generosity, compassion and kindness is important. Cheeky Day’s Outside the box is a family subscription box focused on inspiring all those things.

In each mystery there are are codes to crack, clues to solve, red herrings and double-crossing characters all part of an ongoing story that resolves in the final mailing which includes an artifact or collection of keepsakes that are part of the mystery’s resolution.

The first envelope contained a letter from a longlost pirate relative with a coded message and a key that promises future loot. Our 10-year-old tester is obsessed with the mystery and can’t wait until the second clue arrives (note: we’ll write a wrap-up web article about the mystery, too. Follow us on Facebook for updates).

activities related to her field, a creative play prop and more. Real women make the very best heroes and every month, GIRLS CAN! CRATE delivers them.

• https://www.mailordermystery.com/ • $73 total (6 mailings)

We tried the Grace Murray Hopper Curious Coder box, which had an activity to make code necklaces, a naval cap and other awesome activities. Right now, there are more than half-a-dozen different crates in all and each features a real woman to inspire your daughter (or son) to do great things.

North Pole Notes I don’t know about you, but I use Santa as a threat, bribe and incentive all year long with my little one.

North Pole Notes can help keep up the, er, pressure.

Your kiddo will get a note in the mail each month from Santa addressed just to them. Thanks to North Pole Notes, my 4-year-old got a note from Santa that included with some details about our trip for Thanksgiving. He was in awe. Each note is customizable, so you can make sure each feels magical and special.

• http://www.girlscancrate.com/ • $29.95 - Use Holiday25 for 25% off first crate

Creation Crate The easy, step-by-step directions in Creation Crate give kids the tools to learn the basics of building electronics. The first box is a mood lamp that requires basic programming, simple electronic components and a small breadboard. The result is a

Your kids will be obsessed with Mail Order Mystery!

Cheeky Days’ Outside the Box combines fun with a focus on generosity and compassion.

Each box has a “give back” component.

The box we reviewed featured an organization called 96 Elephants. After drawing and decorating an elephant, we mailed it to a friend to encourage them to learn about this endangered species and create their own elephant art.

Creation Crate opens up a whole new world of building electronics.

The box also included a handmade rhino mask and a beautifully illustrated book about endangered species. The whole box is delightful and engaged our four-yearold in craft and conversation.

• cheekydaysbox.com • $49.99 monthly

• northpolenotes.com • $5.95 - $9.95/month

, Dea r Xan der th! list thi s mon on the nice Yay ! You ’re aro und the givi ng jus t Wit h Tha nks t to see you can ’t wai x! cor ner , I bet the ir bir d Ma and nts are you r Gra ndp you thi nk? ! ’t don , l par rot He is one coo the cor ner . jus t aro und Chr istm as is ta will see you goo d and San Kee p bei ng soo n! xox o San ta

ble gob ble ! nks giv ing ! Gob Hap py Tha the tab le ily aro und Wit h our fam e to get mad It’s not a tim be tha nkf ul and le smi Rat her let ’s

cou rte ous Be kin d and per los e you r tem And don 't hea r you can San ta ber em Dec It' s alm ost

chi ng San ta is wat th to go On ly 1 mon ng goo d So kee p bei !

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North Pole Notes sends your child a personalized note from Santa each month.

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Other Cool Stuff A hodgepodge of creative toys and games may not have quite fit any other category, but we love them just the same!

four different colorers in our family would create a beautiful mosaic of styles and colors.

I’m in love!

The newest Really Big Coloring Poster is What A Colorful World, a globe-trotting adventure that charts every continent in great detail and celebrates cultural diversity from historical landmarks to food. You can also find: The Big Apple, Food Fight and Funny Farm.

Fuzzy Flyers Our four-year-old tester proclaimed this a “baby toy” when it first arrived, but it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with Coco and encourage us all to have a doggie dance party in the living room.

Coco is a Fuzzy Flyer. These plush toys react to your actions with hilarious phrases, challenging games, and interaction. Intelligent sensors inside the lovable characters recognize movement, and the toys respond. Each character senses when it has been hit, shaken, tossed and caught to facilitate unique gameplay and interaction.

• fuzzyflyers.com • $24.99

• http://www.pirastanyc.com • $32

Fair Trade Finger Puppets

It’s all fun and games with interactive Fuzzy Flyers!

Really Big Coloring Posters For anyone who loves to color, Pirasta’s Really Big Coloring Posters are the ultimate project. Created by award-winning illustrators, the Really Big Coloring Posters are huge -- they measure 5 feet by 3 feet -so no one has to fight over finding a space to color or elbow each other for a spot. The Coloring Posters are printed with vegetable ink on recycled content paper. You can use markers, gel pens, colored pencils and crayons. Spread it on the floor or hang it on the wall with painter’s tape and start coloring.

These tiny knitted creatures were the first to arrive this year and they’ve been well-loved through dozens of stories of adventure, conjured in the imagination of my four-year-old. Believe it or not, you can find more than 200 adorable characters to collect, trade and share — from wild animals, to kings and queens of the castle to beautiful birds, there are 16 different collections to browse.

And even a tiny finger puppet can change the world — each one is handmade by women’s artisan collectives in rural Peru and every purchase supports subsistence communities.

• fingerpuppetsinc.com • $5 each for 5 for $20 (use code: FUN)

Fair Trade Finger Puppets encourage creativity and support rural Peruvian artisans.

Pirasta’s Really Big Coloring Posters give plenty of room for everybody in the family.

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“Copy that.” “Breaker-breaker.” “Over-and-out.” Give two boys each a compact two-way radio and a big yard to roam and let the fun commence! Our testers had a ball creating an outdoor adventure, all the while checking in with each other.

The Motorola Talkabout T100 series of twoway radios are pocket-size and easyto-use.

They are fun for hours of playtime time outside and are perfect for families Stay in touch with the Walkabout. who enjoy outdoor adventures, especially if those adventures take you out of cell phone range.

You can get them in either blue and bright pink. And with 22 channels and up to a 16-mile range, your family members can easily stay in touch at the park, at the ball fields or even between cars in a caravan.

• Most major retailers • $34.99

Goodie Gusher

We got Let’s Color America and I quickly saw that

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Motorola Walkabout T100

An alternate to the piñata, the Goodie Gusher is brand new and a must-have for birthday parties and celebrations. It is easyto-fill and it’s reusable!

Just fill the Goodie Gusher with candy and prizes, hang it up, kids (or parents) take turns trying to pull the Magic Key, once the Magic Key is pulled the Goodie Gusher will release a wide shower of party treats! This mom-inspired, dad-invented fun party game will make sure kids have fun without the fear of getting hit with a stick or bat and you can use it indoors.

• GoodieGusher.com • $20

Goodie Gushers make birthday parties a hit!

ENGINEERING: Building from Scratch Jimu Robot The Buzzbot and Muttbot kit from Jimu Robots is not for the faint of heart: focus and determination required! But these remarkable robots bridge the gap between learning and fun. Our 12-year-old tester built the Buzzbot via the step-by-step 360 degree animated instructions on the free Jimu app. Once built, he was able to program his robot via a smartphone to move, walk and even dance with tiered levels of coding and programming for all skill levels.

Jimu Robots teach

14-in-1 Solar Robot

a motorized air suction system that enables it to walk vertically up and down perfectly smooth surfaces.

The battery powered motor drives an innovative gear system that produces a rotating motion, making the legs move in motions that mimic a real gecko. The instructions are easy to follow with a guide that provides step-by-step illustrations and info about why the Geckobot works the way it does.

At under $30, this is a perfect entry-level kit for budding engineers. Build moving, rolling and even swimming robots. Kids can start with the first level of basic robot building to create silly creatures that move around your table. Make a companion dog-bot, a crawling turtle-bot, a scurrying beetle-bot, a wheel bot, boat bot and more.

The same set can also built a handful of other things including a suction-cup smart phone holder. The Geckobot set is a great mid-level building kit for kids who enjoy complex LEGO sets.

Extremely detailed instructions with 190 easy-topiece-together parts make building and learning easy for all. And it’s all solar-powered! What better way to get kids learning the basics of solar technologies.

• Amazon or Toys R Us • $49.99

• scientificsonline.com • $26.95

building and programming skills.

The Buzzbot and Muttbot Kit comes with everything needed to build the Buzzbot or Muttbot robots including six smooth motion robotic servo motors and 271 snap-together interlocking parts and connectors.

• Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us • $149.99

Geckobot The creative minds at Thames and Cosmos have some of the best building kits around. This year’s feature, the Geckobot, is an astonishing wall-climbing robot with

#MyGoodLifeGoal:

a third row of seats

When we finally found the car we wanted, SELCO was there with just the right auto loan.

Their interest rates are fantastic, and we were approved in no time. They even found us a better rate on our auto insurance.

selco.org • 800-445-4483 • Branches throughout Eugene and Springfield Banking | Mortgages | Insurance | Investments | Business Lending Geckobot shows you how to build a wall-climbing robot!

Membership requirements apply. See SELCO for details. NMLS#402847

16SEL016G SELCO “Car” ad O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 The Oregon Family Magazine 1/2 pg Island: 5.75” x 8.1875” 4C

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Q-BA-MAZE With an array of colorful, interlocking cubes and your kid’s imagination, Q-BA-MAZE helps create marble maze sculptures in any form such as animals, robots, towers, and geometric shapes. Configurations are unlimited, allowing for unpredictable action when the steel marbles travel different routes.

Q-BA-MAZE creatively combines physics and art.

Follow the plans provided in each set, get inspired by our plans section on the Q-BA-MAZE website or create your own. Developed by an architect, Q-BA-MAZE inspires creative play as you experiment with motion, stability, physics and art. You have to think in 3-D to design and build with colors and cantilevers. It’s both right-brain and left-brain, part art and part science — and lots of fun.

• mindware.com • $39.95

Arckit Young architects will love this creative, freeform model building system. With large floor plates and easy “click and connect” components, this a perfect starter set.

The buildings created with the Arckit are quite beautiful and display-worthy. If your builder is ready to take Arckit to the next level, she can integrate with popular CAD programs in the SketchUp 3D Warehouse. She can design and build your model digitally, and then build it with your Arckit set.

• Arckit.com • $59.95

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Skullduggery’s Max Traxxx — Tracer Racers Remote Control Police Chase Set This isn’t your typical race car set!

With variable speeds and adjustable track heights, the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers is a great set for both beginners and more advanced track builder. But what really makes this track amazing is the Light Trail Technology and Skullduggery-patented glow-in-the-dark track. Each Tracer Racer beams down purple light rays from its undercarriage onto track specially engineered to emit glow remnants long after the racer has passed.

We got lots of “whoas!” and “oh my goshes!” when we lit up the track in our living room.

These racing sets are perfect for both beginning and advanced race fans as variable speed remote control cars and adjustable track heights allow racers to control course difficulty. Four Tracer Racers RC Cars available.

• Toys R Us • $119.95

Edushape Magic Brix

Max Traxxx Tracer Racers come complete with lots of "oohs" and "aahs"!

MATH: Teaching money smarts Moonjar

Tiny builders want to create with toys that are made just for them. Magic Brix from Edushape are safe, soft and uniquely flexible knobby shapes interlock with each other Magic Brix offer unlimited creative possibilities. from practically every side. The set includes 72 pieces to build race cars, houses, robots, furniture and more. A simple guide provides construction ideas to mix and remix. Xander decided combining the boat with the car was a great idea! (and he was right).

• Amazon • $21.99

The Arckit building system can be integrated with CAD software.

With three compartments for saving, sharing and spending, Moonjar Moneyboxes help to build good money habits early. Made in Portland, Oregon, Moonjar was created as a tool for children and families to incorporate strong financial values and practices into their daily lives in a fun and accessible way.

This durable retro-tin Moonjar Moneybox comes with a family guide, passbook to track transactions and three moneyboxes.

Each moneybox is fitted with a color-coordinated acrylic lid.

• Amazon • $19.99

Moonjar Moneyboxes help kids learn about finances.

Building the bridge between learning and fun has never been easier than with this gift guide. But wait!

There’s more, be sure to check out our recommendations for subscription boxes, family-fun games and other cool stuff.

Movie Time

by Bonnie L. Harris

Not all Cupcakes & Rainbows 20th Century Fox & Dreamworks, Rated: PG Now in theatres

D

reamworks new animated feature, Trolls, creates an offbeat origin story about the secret life of those happy little creatures with the wildly colorful hair.

Trolls works at being engaging with non-stop action, glittering explosions, a hip musical score, and an exotic landscape filled with very unusual creatures.

But after a while, the cuteness avalanche and the repetition of humor wears thin for anyone

over the age of five. That said, the remarkable “textured” animation and the fast pace of Trolls makes it an entertaining film, if not exactly captivating.

Starting with a flashback when the little Trolls were crunchy appetizers for the much larger Bergens, we learn that Trolleating was a Bergen rite of passage. The Trolls, however, tunneled under Bergen Town

Poppy outlines her rescue plan.

to escape to the forest where they found a safe place to dance and sing.

Twenty years later, Princess Poppy decides to throw an enormous Troll anniversary party, but little does she know that Chef Bergen is still on their trail. Raiding the celebration and taking hostages, Chef Bergen returns to Bergen Town with a devious plan to become Queen.

Poppy blames herself and tries to enlist her best friend, Branch, to help her carry out a rescue.

Because of his fear of Bergens and his un-Troll-like negative

FOR THE PARENTS Moments in the Middle Arrival Paramount Pictures, Rated: PG-13 Now in theatres

M

arketed as a “hard science-fiction” film, Arrival takes the ordinary act of communication and builds an impressive story about man’s first attempt to learn an alien language. When twelve strange objects called “shells” mysteriously appear in haphazard locations across the globe, the military calls in an array of experts. After failing to decipher the “verbal” language of the non-human lifeforms, linguist Dr. Louise Banks, played by Amy Adams, resorts to translating their written language. Dr. Banks and physicist Dr. Ian

attitude, Branch refuses. On her way to face the Bergens alone, Poppy soon runs into trouble, but Branch arrives to save her.

Together, they discover that the kidnapped Trolls haven’t been eaten yet and they befriend a love-sick Bergen named Bridget to help them. They transform Bridget into a girl that Prince Gristle notices, and the resulting Cinderella effect causes a change of taste in Bergen Town.

Rest assured that no Trolls get eaten, and music finally comes to the rescue, making the Bergens almost as happy as the Trolls.

we finally work together to appreciate the aliens’ visit as a gift rather than a threat. Although Arrival moves more slowly than many sci-fi films, the final scenes that solve the extraterrestrial message are worth the wait.

Donnelly work feverishly to decode and share their information, but growing fears of an alien attack put the world on high alert. Scientists and linguists in other countries have different pieces of the same baffling puzzle, but as tensions escalate, human communications break down.

Dr. Donnelly finally realizes that the complex alien symbols incorporate the element of time, and Dr. Banks, through her comprehension, is given the ability to see into the future.

Watching the alien Spoiler alert: Mankind survives. departure.

But we almost risk war before

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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“2PM Talks”. A docent-led talk every Tues thru Sun at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, included with price of admission. Ph 541.346.3024

december

“A View from Space”. Track a hurricane from space, send a satellite spinning into orbit, and study incredible images of our planet captured by NASA’s Earth Observing System. Also, “Tapping into Clean Water” – plunge into water science and explore how drinking water gets to your home. Seasonal Stargazing everyday at 1:30. The Science Factory Children’s Museum Ph 541.682.7888

events

Story Times Downtown Public Library Story Times.

Baby Story time (ages 0-1) Fridays 10:15 & 11:15am.

Wonderful Ones Story time, 10:15 & 11am, Terrific Twos Story time, Tues 10:15 & 11:00, Preschool Story time (ages 3-6), Weds 10:15 & 11:00, Sensory Storytime (for kids with sensory integration issues or special needs) Weds 1:00pm. Pajama Story time on the 2nd Tues of each month. Features stories, rhymes, and songs for children 0-6.

Ph 541.682.8316 Family Story Time (all ages). Fri 10:15am and Fridays at 10:15am at Bethel Branch Library.

Ph 541.682.8316

Preschool Story time (ages 3-6) Weds 10:00am. Lapsit Story time (ages 0-3) Weds 10am, Sensory Storytime (for kids with sensory

Nutcracker Ballet Friday – Sunday, December 16 – 18 1 THURSDAY Nutcracker Ballet Preview. A preview of numbers from their Nutcracker Ballet. Springfield Public Library, 4-6pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

2 FRIDAY Annie Get Your Gun. Was a smash hit when it opened in 1946 and has lifted the spirits of young and old ever since. The Shedd Institute, 7:30pm, $14.50-38, Ph 541.434.7000

integration issues or special needs) every other Thurs, Springfield Public Library, Ph 541.726.3766

Elf Jr. the Musical. Based on the movie, Elf this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy in his quest to find his true identity. Wildish Theater, 7pm, $12, Ph 458.215.0220

Curious Kids Storytime with Taylor. 2nd and 4th Sunday at 6:30pm. Springfield Public Library, Ph 541.726.3766 Barnes & Noble weekly story time.

Whimsical Weds 7:00pm.

Toddler-Time, Weds 11:00am.

Saturdays at 11:00am, Ph 541.687.0356

Tot Discovery Day: Joys of Noise. Come to the Science Factory and listen to sounds of science. The Science Factory, 9am – noon, $10, Ph 541.682.7888 Nutcracker Storytime. Dancers from the Eugene Ballet will share of a taste of the Nutcracker. Bethel Branch library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682. 8316

On-Going Events Public Skate @ The Ice Center. Call for skate times. Ph 541.682.3615 Saturday Kids Workshops at MECCA. From magnetic puzzles to robots to sock creatures.

No need to pre-reg. All materials are included.

Kids under 10 accompanied by an adult. Each week features a different creative reuse project. MECCA, 11am – 3pm, $3-5, Ph 541.302.1810

PHOTO BY JEREMY BRONSON

Ornament/Holiday Art workshop.

Springfield Public Library, 1:30-3:30pm, FREE! Ph 541726-3766

Free First Friday. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural and Cultural History allow you to enjoy the museum’s new exhibits and old classics for FREE today! 11:00am-5pm

Sister’s Christmas Saturday, December 3rd

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

STEEL WOOL, Gumbo Groove and McKayla Webb. Three exciting Acoustic Rock acts in one show with great beer and pizza, too! An all ages event. Whirled Pies downtown, 6-10pm, $8, Ph 541.521.7208

3 SATURDAY Family Music Time. This week, join singer/ songwriter Rob Tobias for classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot. Downtown Library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Elf Jr. the Musical. See the 2nd Sister’s Christmas Catechism.

The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold. It’s CSI: Bethlehem in this holiday mystery extravaganza from the author of Late Nite Catechism. Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages - whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? Hult Center, 3pm and 8pm, $32-56.75, Ph 541.682.5000

4 SUNDAY

Annie Get Your Gun. See the 2nd.

Elf Jr. the Musical. 2pm, See the 2nd

Family Day. Celebrations Around the World.

Explore artistic styles and multicultural traditions during this free family day of art activities and learning experiences. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, noon – 3pm, FREE! Ph 541.346.3027

Annie Get Your Gun. 3pm, See the 2nd.

Family Fun: Silly Collages. Make seriously silly collages with Sharon Kaplan. Downtown Library, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Oregon Garden All through December

Holiday Happenings Holiday Bazaar. Handmade gifts and decorations, bakery, Duck & Beaver booth, silent auction, gift baskets and more! Lunch served 11:30 -1:30, Dec 3rd Wesley United Methodist Church, Ph 541.747.7116 Village Green. Enjoy the beautiful holiday light display in the Wedding Garden, cozy up to a fire pit, enjoy a warm mug of gluhwein or hot cocoa, and make s’mores! The Village Green Resort, Cottage Grove, FREE! Daily through Dec 24th, 5-9pm, Ph 541.942.2491 Eugene Concert Choir. A Festival of Carols.

The glorious sounds of choir and brass ring throughout Silva Hall for this celebration of the season. Dec 4th Hult Center, 3pm, $25-57.25, Ph 541.682.5000 Saturday Market Holiday Market. A vibrant hub for local artisans with nearly 200 booths featuring locally handcrafted gifts, international food and entertainment. An iconic Eugene event - a must see for locals and visitors every season. Lane Events Center, Every Fri/Sat/Sun – 10am-6pm through Dec 24th FREE! Ph 541.686.8885 Choose n’ Cut Christmas Trees. Take a hayride to the Christmas tree fields, shop in the store, warm up with hot drinks. Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm, Dec 1 – Dec 24th FREE! Ph 541.746.5161 A Christmas Story. Based on humorist Jean Shepherd’s stories about growing up in the Midwest, A Christmas Story is a delightfully funny play which will warm the hearts of everyone in your family. Thurs. – Sat, 8-10pm, Sun 2:30-4:30, Dec 2nd – 18th.

Cottage Theater, $20-25, Ph 541.942.8001

WORLD CLASS DANCE

SAVE $1

PER TICKE0T WHEN YOU BUY FIVE OR MOR PER SHOW E !

e

Nutcracker

Dec. 3rd Downtown Springfield, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.988.0955 Westfir Bridge Lighting Festival. Santa Claus is coming to Westfir and he’s arriving by fire truck! Live music by Isaac Turner, real reindeer, face painting, a bonfire, props for selfies, cookies and hot drinks, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus! New this year - an Ugly Sweater Contest! Office Covered Bridge, Dec. 3rd 6-8pm, FREE! Ph. 541.782.3983 Winter Light Fair. Candle dipping, a puppet show, crafts, cake walk, Crystal Cookie Cave, Nutcracker Ballet, food and games, Russian Tea Room, Rose Cafe, the Golden Goose store, live music, and more! Eugene Waldorf School, Dec. 3rd, 11am – 3pm, FREE! (activities are $2) Holiday Marketplace at Willamalane.

Shop an incredible array of handcrafted gifts and homemade delicacies. Find one-of-akind wooden creations, jewelry, candles, fiber arts and more. Dec 6th and 7th 9am – 6pm, FREE! Ph 541.736.4544 Christmas in Coburg Light Parade. Following the Community Sing Along and the lighting of the official Coburg Christmas Tree, get ready for the annual Coburg Parade of Lights! Dec. 10th, Downtown Coburg, 7pm, FREE! The Nutcracker by Eugene Ballet Co. Experience the holiday spirit and magic with loved ones of all ages. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will fly you away to the Snow Kingdom and the Land of the Sweets. Dec 16th – 18th Hult Center, Fri 7:30pm/Sat 2 & 7:30pm/Sun 2pm, $29-65, Ph 541.682.5000

Snow at 5th St. Market! It’s guaranteed to snow every Fri and Sat at 5th Street Market from 6:00 – 6:30, Dec 2 thru Christmas Eve. Bring the family for this free, fun and sparkling event! FREE! Ph 541.484.0383

Winter Solstice Celebration. Winter Around the World. Music, dance performances, crafts, science activities, and more. The annual winter solstice celebration is fun for the whole family! Dec. 16th Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 5-8pm, $5, Ph 541.346.3024

Springfield Christmas Parade. The oldest and coldest Christmas parade is in its 64th year! Santa Claus has promised to visit, escorting the finish, and ushering in the holiday season. See decorated cars, horses, and floats of all kinds. Start the day with the annual Tuba Concert at noon!

Nutcracker Tea. Make a lunchtime date of tea sandwiches and a tempting selection of sweets with your kiddo. Eugene Ballet emcee tells the story, while the Mouse King, Clara, and the Nutcracker dance to the delight of young and old. Hult Center, Dec 17th and 18th Noon, Ph 541.682.5000

Simply Good, Simply Local

A holiday adition for the entire family!

December 16–18 | Hult Center The Nutcracker Tea | December 17 & 18 eugeneballet.org | 541-682-5000 | Hult Center Box Office

HOME, GARDEN & GIFT

532 Olive St. 541-342-6820

Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 10-5 • Eugene

downtoeartheugene.com

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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Santa SIghtings

Christmas Parade Springfield, December3rd

Photos with Santa. Santa will be available for photos and visits at his winter home, located in Center Court at Valley River Center. Reservations available, but not required! Dec.1st – 24th Hours vary, $29-35, Ph 541.683.5513 Pet Photos with Santa. Three special nights to bring your furry friends to see the man in red and take home a fun photo!

Cats and dogs only. Please be sure to have your pet on a leash or in a pet carrier. Cats and Dogs only please. Center Court, Valley River Center, Dec 5th & 12th , 5-8pm, $29, Reservation optional, Ph 541.683.5513 Professional Photos. Professional photos with Santa every Sat/Sun through Dec 18th from 1-4pm. Packages available for purchase ($8-16). Ph 541.484.0383 Breakfast with Santa. Bring the kids to breakfast with Santa. Seating is limited.

Valley River Center, Dec 10th 8:30am9:30am, $5 plus two cans of food, Reserve tix @ VRC. Ph 541.683.5511

5 MONDAY

7 WEDNESDAY

10 SATURDAY

Curious Kids Storytime with Taylor.

Springfield Public Library. 6:30pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Ideas on Tap: Boom or Bubble? The Future of Craft Beer. What do big-beer buyouts, brewery expansions and venture capitalism mean for craft beer in the US? Look into the crystal ball with OSU economist and Beervana podcaster Patrick Emerson. Marketplace@Sprout! 6-8pm, Ph 346-3024, FREE!

Annie Get Your Gun. See the 2nd

8 THURSDAY

Elf Jr. the Musical. 2pm and 7pm, See the 2nd

6 TUESDAY Teens @ 4:30. Steampunk art w/ Marianne Walker. Learn how to draw steampunk fashions and contraptions. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Animal House. Many movie scenes from “Animal House” were filmed in Lowell and on the University of Oregon campus. A guest speaker will introduce the movie and a discussion will follow. Wildish Theater, 6:30-9pm, FREE! Ph 541.736.4544 Live action Pac-Man. Come play life-size PacMan! Participants will serve as both players and characters, directing the action around a giant board by learning user-friendly Scratch code.

For ages 3rd grade and up. Downtown Library, 4-6pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Winter Around

the World

Winter Solstice Celebration Friday, December 16 · 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Fun for the whole family at the museum and the Many Nations Longhouse!

• Live music and dance performances • Native American storytelling • Science, crafts, and more!

Admission is free with a nonperishable food donation (per person) to FOOD for Lane County.

1680 East 15th Avenue, Eugene 541-346-3024 · natural-history.uoregon.edu

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Happy Holidays at The Shedd Institute. Join Jesse Cloninger and the Emerald City Jazz Kings for the 9th Annual Christmas Concert! 7:30pm, $18-34, Ph 541.434.7000

9 FRIDAY Elf Jr. the Musical. See the 2nd Nutcracker Storytime. Dancers from the Eugene Ballet will share of a taste of the Nutcracker. Sheldon Branch library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682. 8316 Annie Get Your Gun. See the 2nd LEGO Club for kids. Springfield Public Library, in children’s area, 2-4pm, Ph 541-726-3766 Second Friday Art Walk. Starts at Springfield City Hall, 5:00pm, FREE! Teens: “Dr Who Club”. Get together to enjoy episodes, snacks, and Whovian conversation!

Downtown Library, 4-5:30pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Little Wonders: Stories and Activities for Pre-K. This month’s theme is “Starry Night,” with stories and fun activities about the moon, stars, and nocturnal animals. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, ages 3-5, 10:30am – 12:30, $310, Ph 541-346-3024

Mixed Media for Kids and Tweens. Kinetic Art. (ages 7-12). Springfield Public Library. 10:30am – 12:00, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Teens @ 4:30. Teen book club. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Family Music Time. This week, Pia and Jason Robbins of Little Timbre Studio will share songs, rhymes, and music. Downtown Library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

11 SUNDAY Annie Get Your Gun. 3pm, See the 2nd Bird Walk at Mt Pisgah. Join Julia Siporin and Joni Dawning for a monthly bird walk intended for people with all levels of birding experience.

Use vocalizations, habitat, and behavior clues for identification of fall migrant and year-round residents. Mt Pisgah, 8:30-11am, $5, Ph 541.741.4100 Elf Jr. the Musical. 2pm, See the 2nd Amadeus film with symphony. Watch the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus which details the life of Mozart on a big screen above the stage while the orchestra performs the soundtrack live. Hult Center, 6pm, $32-71.50, Ph 541.682.5000 Oregon Men’s Basketball. vs. Alabama. Matt Knight Arena, 3pm Happy Holidays at The Shedd Institute.

3pm, see the 8th

12 MONDAY Shasta Middle School Winter Concert.

Experience the pride and talent of Shasta students as they perform on the Silva stage for the 27th year! The Hult Center, 7pm, $10.50-13, Ph 541.682.5000

13 TUESDAY Oregon Men’s Basketball. vs. Montana. Matt Knight Arena, 7pm Teens @ 4:30. Maker Space 3-D pen art. Draw in 3D and be noticed. Supplies provided. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Annie Get Your Gun. 3pm, See the 2nd

27 TUESDAY

19 MONDAY

Reading Patrol! Storytime with Officer Jarden Quinone. Springfield Public Library, 4:00pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Curious Kids Storytime with Taylor.

Springfield Public Library. 6:30pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Dancing with the Stars Live! This all-new production show cases every type of ballroom and modern dance seen on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. Hult Center, 8pm, $39.50-90, Ph 541.682.5000

20 TUESDAY A Christmas Carol. Performed by Man of Words Theater. Springfield Public Library, 6:30-8:00pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Oregon Men’s Basketball. vs. Fresno. Matt Knight Arena, 8pm

Annie Get Your Gun

25 SUNDAY

16 FRIDAY Teens: Ani-Manga Club. Get together with teen friends who share your love of anime and manga. Watch anime and enjoy Japanese snacks.

Downtown Library, 4:00-5:30m, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Radio Redux. Cowboy Christmas. Pistolpacking mamas and bow-legged cowpokes corral favorite holiday stories and seasonal songs for a humdinger of a Western holiday party. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $22-256, Ph 541.682.5000 The Nutcracker by Eugene Ballet Co. Experience the holiday spirit and magic with loved ones of all ages. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will fly you away to the Snow

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Family Music Time. This week sing along with Anahid Bertrand. She’s fluent in musical fun -and six languages. Downtown Library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 The Nutcracker. Eugene Ballet Co, 2 & 7:30pm, see the 16th Radio Redux. Cowboy Christmas. See the 16th Annie Get Your Gun. See the 2nd

18 SUNDAY Radio Redux. Cowboy Christmas, 2pm, see the 16th

541-683-5835 • 1801 Willamette Street • Eugene, OR • Uncommonscentsmeridian.com

31 SATURDAY New Year’s Eve Party. Ring in the New Year with Eugene Opera and the cast of Opera Trio!

Hult Center Lobby, 10:30pm, $25-27.50, Ph 541.682.5000 Family Music Time. This week, music educator Jodie St. Clair, Director of the Eugene Suzuki Music Academy, leads the fun. Downtown Library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

! ! ! ! ! !! !

17 SATURDAY

Fun and healthy bath and body care for the whole family

Oregon Men’s Basketball. vs. USC. Matt Knight Arena, 7pm

Happy New Year!!!!

Annie Get Your Gun. See the 2nd

The Nutcracker. Eugene Ballet Co, 2pm, see the 16th

Teens: Make Mobiles. During winter break, come use recyclables, natural materials, decorative papers, and more to create your own mobile.

Downtown Library, 2-4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Make and Take Art. Use our button makers and design your very own pieces of flair. Ages 7-12, Springfield Public Library, 1-3pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Family Music Time. This week, Emily Fox entertains with lively banjo tunes. Downtown Library, 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

The Nutcracker: Short & Suite. A childsize version of the classic, perfect for kids and families. Downtown Library, 4pm and 6pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Oregon Men’s Basketball. vs. UCLA. Matt Knight Arena, 6pm

Teens @ 4:30. Teen Flicks – The Secret Life of Pets. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

LEGO Club for kids. Springfield Public Library, in children’s area, 2-4pm, Ph 541-726-3766

Kingdom and the Land of the Sweets. Hult Center, Fri 7:30pm, $29-65, Ph 541.682.5000

28 WEDNESDAY

30 FRIDAY

24 SATURDAY

14 WEDNESDAY

Reptile Man. Springfield Public Library, 1-2pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Little Family Yoga with Brynne Blevins.

Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

23 FRIDAY

Starts Friday, December 2nd

Teens: Cocoa in the corner (provided).

Noon-4pm, Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Joshua Hirschstein, Director

LANE

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O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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Read & Play

by Jennifer Galvin

Gift books to give and read together this holiday season!

I love reading and have fabulous memories of reading together with my kids almost every night when they were younger. Books make great gifts to give and to share together as a family. Whatever holiday you are celebrating this December, here are some fabulous books to share with the children in your lives this holiday season! Also, after you share some great books together, here are some great crafts to make for the special people in your lives. Happy Holidays!

READ… Give & Take Candlewick Studio, $19.99, ages 2-6 by Lucie Felix

Little hands will love to take the circle from the first page of this board book and put it in the second. Then, they get to “break” apart the square into two triangles on the next page and “build” it into two house type images on the next one, and, so on until they finally get to put the circle back together! A fun take on opposites that will make this board book a great gift this holiday season.

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes Harper, $17.99, ages 4-8 by Kimberly and James Dean

Join Pete the Cat and the gang and help the solve the case of the missing cupcakes. Will they figure out where the cupcakes are going in time for the par ty? Join them and find out!

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Pete the Cat: My First I Can Draw Harper Festival, $9.99, ages 6 and up

Also, join Pete the Cat and the gang and learn how to draw some Pete the Cat characters and some cool other stuff. A perfect present for the holidays!

A Child of Books Candlewick Press, $17.99, ages 4 and up by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston

This holiday season, join a child of books in a land of imagination, among mountains of make-believe, and lose yourself in forests of fairy tales. Disappear into any adventure where your imagination can take you. Let words show you the way and enjoy these amazing illustrations where whole worlds are literally built out of words! Fabulous!

The Complete Adventures of Curious George: 75th Anniversary Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $34.99; ages 4-8

by Margret & H.A. Rey

Includes all seven original classic adventures of Curious George and his friend the Man with the Yellow Hat. From the original “Curious George” to “Curious George Flies a Kite,” plus even more, this book is full of all the classic Curious George favorites. It also includes a code for a free audio download narrated by John Krasinski and a scrapbookstyle biography of H.A. and Margret Rey’s journey to create Curious George.

Dork Diaries: Sqee-tastic Collection, Books 1-10, Plus 3 1/₂ Alladin, $153.99, ages 8-12 by Rachel Renee Russell

Fans of the Dork Diaries will be excited to see this set. It even includes “Dork Diaries 3 1/2: How to Dork Your Diary,” which is a little bit dorky and a whole lot of fun. Readers can learn super cool tips about how to dork their own diaries as they read and write along in 3 1/2. Then, read books 1-10 as well. A fabulous series to enjoy over the holidays!

The Way Things Work Now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $35.00; ages 8 and up by David Macaulay

If you ever wanted to know how things work, this is the book for you. Do you wonder how a radio or space telescope works? Or, how a hybrid car works? If so, it’s all in here!

Detailed illustrations and entertaining, informative text let you know exactly how so many different things in the world work.

Hours of entertainment!

... and PLAY! Make a guardian angel pin for the holidays Materials: Bow tie pasta, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, a small pearl bead (approximately 8mm), a small gold ring (approximately 7mm), a pin back, white acrylic paint, white school glue, a paintbrush, and silver glitter acrylic paint.

Directions: Cut a piece of bow tie pasta in half. Lay a whole piece of pasta down sideways and use hot glue to glue the half piece, narrow part in, to the whole piece. The whole piece will be the wings of your angel and the half piece will be her skirt. Paint the pasta white. Then paint the silver glitter over the top. Let dry. Glue a pearl into the top of the bow. Glue a gold ring on the top of the pearl for a halo. Let dry.

Use the hot glue gun to glue a pin back to the back of the angel. (Make sure an adult cuts the pasta in half and uses the glue gun so children do not get injured.)

The transition to kindergarten can be hard.

KITS gives your child the tools they need to have the best start possible.

MEET JAXEN.

He’s a 2016 KITS Graduate, and he’s ready to take on kindergarten and the world.

For more information about this FREE program, visit: kidsintransitiontoschool.org or call 541-681-4206

Design a set of magnets for your refrigerator Materials: Glass marbles with flat backs, white construction paper, permanent markers, white school glue, scissors, and an adhesive backed magnet strip roll.

Directions: Trace around a marble onto the construction paper. Use permanent markers to draw a picture inside the circle. Cut out your picture. Put glue on the flat side of the marble and glue the picture to it, right side of the picture to the glue.

Let dry. Cut a strip of magnet to fit the back of the marble and stick it on. Make several marble magnets for all the people on your gift giving list.

Paint a special pot and fill it full of a favorite treat Materials: A pot, various colors of acrylic paint, a sponge, a paintbrush, tissue paper, ribbon, and a paper plate.

Directions: Pour a bit of the colors of paint you want to use onto your paper plate. Sponge a light color of paint all over your pot. Paint the top a darker color. Paint a picture around the sides of the pot. Let dry. Wrap some of the person’s favorite candy in tissue paper and set it inside the pot.

College of Making it Happen If you've dreamed of being a teacher, Pacific University in downtown Eugene can get you there. With flexible full and part-time programs, you can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree and teaching license on your schedule.

Information Meeting: Tuesday, December 6th at 4pm 40 E Broadway, Suite 250, Eugene For more information, contact: Tracy Conaghan, Admissions Counselor tracy@pacificu.edu | 541-485-6812 x3905

Teaching | Social Work pacificu.edu/Eugene

Jennifer Galvin is never far from her children, a paintbrush, or a good book. You can find her on the web at www.jennifergalvin.com.

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Some say they’re local, others want to be…

We’re your neighbors in Junction City.

Look for us at your favorite grocer.

Ask for us at your favorite restaurant.

Follow us on Facebook!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas … and a joyous New Year.

May the joy of the season make all your wishes come true.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY.

Kirk Martin ChFC RICP CLU, Agent 115 W 6th Avenue Eugene, OR 97401 Bus: 541-654-0737 kirkmartininsurance.com M-F 8:30-5:30 Sat 9:00-1:00

Local Milk & Ice Cream Fresh Follow your feet to Footwise for clogs by Eugene's World Class Neighborhood Supermarket

This Spot HOLIDAY Could Be MEATS Yours!

RAISED HUMANELY WITH A VEGETARIAN DIET

NO ANTIBIOTICS OR GROWTH HORMONES

Call 541-683-7452 to advertise

State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL 1101447.1

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CALL US AT 541-345-1014 AND ASK FOR OUR MEAT DEPT. TO ORDER YOUR SPIRAL CUT HAM, PRIME RIB ROAST, OR FRESH TURKEY!

ALSO AVAILABLE:

Peking Ducks, Geese, Smoked Turkeys, Game Hens, Organic Turkeys, Boneless Hams, Boneless Turkey Breasts and Bone-In Turkey Breasts

Footwise is home to one of the largest Birkenstock selections in the Willamette Valley!

25th & Willamette • Eugene

Daily 8am-10pm • 541-345-1014

facebook.com/capellamarket

Downtown Eugene • 181 E Broadway • 541.342.6107 Mon-Sat 10-6 & Sun 11-5 • facebook/FootwiseEugene

Earthtalk from the Editors of “E” the Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that polyester fleece clothing is a huge contributor to the problem of plastic in our oceans?

— Mickey Walton, Seattle, WA

W

e’re all familiar with the issue of non-biodegradable plastic debris (shopping bags, soda bottles, fishing nets etc.) clogging up our waterways and making its way out to sea— sometimes accumulating in huge “gyres.” But what you might not realize is that even if you are responsible about recycling and not littering, you may still be contributing to the ocean’s plastic burden by virtue of the clothes on your back.

“The single biggest plastic pollution problem facing our ocean is microfiber: t r i l l i o n s o f p i e ce s o f tiny fibers flowing into the ocean—ever y time we use our washing machines,” repor ts the nonprofit Rozalia Project.

“Our synthetic clothing is breaking up, sending this plastic microfiber out with the drain water.” According to the group, just one fleece jacket could shed over 81,000 minute strands of polyester per wash. “New York City, alone, could have 6.8 billion microfibers flowing into its harbor every day.”

According to activist Sarah

Mosko, the tiny size of microplastics actually adds to their dangers. “Because plastics are lipophylic (oil-loving), oily contaminants in seawater are drawn to them,” she reports on Algalita’s blog. “Japanese researchers found that plastic pellets no

more than a half millimeter in diameter could adsorb hazardous chemicals (like polychlorinated biphenyls, nonylphenols and derivatives of DDT) onto their surfaces at up to one million times the concentrations in the

surrounding water.” The tiny size of microplastics means that even minute creatures can ingest them, thereby i n t ro d u c i n g a n y chemicals they carry into the ver y bottom of the food chain.

T h e Rozalia Project adds that “ingested pollutants can un-stick from the plastic and end up in the stomachs and tissue” of everything from plankton to whales, causing issues at the cellular level as well as digestive problems. Rozalia researchers found that twothirds of all fish species tested from markets in California had microfiber or microplastic in them. Even those who don’t eat fish may not be able to avoid ingesting microfibers, given that farm animals are typically fed fish meal as a dietary staple.

So what can be done? Rozalia has developed “the world’s first consumer solution” to stop microfiber pollution.

The patent-pending microfiber catcher works in any washing machine, catching microfibers so they can’t flow out with the drain water.

“Early test results show the microfiber catcher keeping 2,0009,000 pie ces o f sy nthe t ic microfibers from flowing into our public waterways per wash per household.

Outdoor clothing and gear makers are starting to realize that they can be part of the solution as well. Earlier this year, Patagonia commissioned

microbiologists from UC Santa Barbara to study the problem and suggest ways the company could reduce microfiber pollution moving forward. The company is sharing the findings with its competitors in order to collaborate on industry-wide solutions.

We probably can’t do much, concludes Sarah Mosko, about the microplastics that are already contaminating our oceans, but we can start making smarter clothing choices, adding that “natural fiber cloths like cotton, silk, wool, bamboo, hemp and even soy may be better choices for those concerned about the environment. All derive from renewable sources, are intrinsically biodegradable, and their fibers would not attract oily chemicals out of seawater.”

CONTACTS: Rozalia Project, www. rozaliaproject.org; Algalita, www. algalita.org; UC Santa Barbara study, www.esm.ucsb.edu/ research/2016Group_Projects/ documents/PataPlastBrief.pdf.

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action Network. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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WINTER CAMPS

DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

KIDS WINTER CAMP DECEMBER 19 - 30

AGES 5 - 12

Swimming Games & Sports Crafts & Projects Field Trips NONMEMBERS WELCOME (541) 484-4011 www.downtownac.com

Winter Break Gymnastics Camps!

HOLIDAY HOOPS CAMP Dec 19th – 23rd Choose from separate 3-hour sessions, or join for all 16 sessions.

All grades/All abilities

541-343-4222 329 West 3rd Avenue www.bouncegymnastics.com

www.trbobasketball.org 541-595-TRBO

Camp Dates: Dec. 19 - 23, 26 - 30 & Jan. 2 & 3

Register with a friend & Save 10%!

STEM Activity Days Young Adult Book Club 

And More!

4-12

541-484-4011

5-12

National Academy of Gymnastics

www.naag-gymnastics.org

541-344-2002

5-13

Winter Learning at Oregon Tutor

www.oregontutor.com

541-733-1749

4-16

TRBO

www.trbobasketball.org

541-595-TRBO

3-12gr.

Whole Earth Nature School

WholeEarthNatureSchool.com

541-937-KIDS

4-18

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Spiritual

Camping

Hiking

Sports

Games

Theater Arts

Field Trips

Dance

Arts & Crafts

Music

•

• •

Aquatics

541-343-4222

www.downtownac.com

Climbing/ Ropes

www.bouncegymnastics.com

DAC Winter Camps

Make dreams come true!

Help create a family while earning $40,000+ for your own family.

Computers

• • •

Bounce Gymnastics

Seeking Oregon Surrogates

Reading/ Writing

AGES

Math & Science

1205 Oak Patch Road • Eugene, Oregon • 541-344-2002 • www.naag-gymnastics.org

CAMPS at a GLANCE

541-733-1749 OregonTutor.com OregonTutor@comcast.net

See our website for full selection and camp descriptions!

Horseback Riding

National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics WINTER Full Day or Half-Day Drop-ins Welcome CAMPS!

• •

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GET AN EDGE ON YOUR COMPETITION Stronger core, improved endurance and increased flexibility for young athletes.

Individual training programs for young athletes or tweens and teens who want to be fit.

All you need is an hour twice a week and 6’ x 6’ of floor space in your home.

No gym required.

Aligned Fitness • Michael Graves, CPT, PES • (541) 868-5757 • Facebook.com/AlignedFitness

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Coming in January

OREGON

FAMILY

Education Resource Guide

SOUTH EUGENE & UO 30 W. 29th Ave (at Willamette)

541-484-7272 NORTH EUGENE/FERRY ST BRIDGE 54 Division (just off River Rd)

541-461-7272

Try our NEW PAN Pizza with up to 5 Toppings (or Specialty) for only $12!

Also, ADD a 2 Liter of Pepsi Product for just $2 more.

Order online at papajohns.com Open Lunch & Late Night Locally Owned & Operated

Expires 12-31-16. Can not be combined with any other Coupon or Special.

Delivery Charge Extra. Drivers carry less than $20.

WE BAKE. WE DELIVER.

Call 541-683-7452 to Advertise

Wishing You a Happy Holiday and a Prosperous New Year!

Fall for fresh

From all of us at…

Every day our central kitchen makes sandwiches, salads, deviled eggs and more for you to enjoy.

We use local, healthy ingredients.

You’ve always counted on us for the freshest milk and ice cream. Now, you’ll also enjoy our fresh to go items.

darimart.com

Treat your family to freshness!

instagram.com/darimartsm

facebook.com/darimart

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Rescue Spotlight

C

arrie is a sweet and enthusiastic young lady. She can be a little bit nervous when first meeting people but once she knows you, she’ll be your best friend. Carrie has a lot of energy and loves the outdoors.

She is looking for an active family that enjoys going on hikes and camping, and can get her the exercise she needs. Due to her nervous and excitable behavior she needs a kid and cat free home, but she does get along with other dogs. If you are looking for a loving, excitable, outdoorsy type to be a part of your family, Carrie is the one for you.

1st Avenue Shelter is open for adoptions and visits Tue -Fri, 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-5:30pm (closed Sun & Mon) at 3970 W. 1st Avenue in Eugene. For more information call (541) 844-1777 or visit www.green-hill.org

M

IDNIGHT is a sweet and friendly young solid black female kitty with fluffy, medium-length hair. She is estimated to be 1 to 2 years old. She came to us the beginning of August with her three baby kittens because her owner had to move due to sad circumstances and was unable to take her along.

Her babies were barely two weeks old! Midnight is one of the gentlest cats we have ever met.

She has been with us for 3 months now and has never bitten or scratched anyone, not even during playtime.

She has been a wonderful mama and a blessing to be around. She does not mind being an indoor cat at all, and she took very good care of her little ones. She loves to cuddle and is always willing to play. She gets along great with kids and is used to dogs in the house.

She deserves a forever home, where she is loved and cared for.

Midnight’s adoption fee is $75, which is strictly to help cover our costs. She is spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, tested negative for FIV/FELV, microchipped, defleaed and dewormed and comes with a free vet visit. She is currently in the cat room at Petsmart North (on Coburg Rd, across from Costco), and would love to meet her new family. For more info, please call Beth at (541) 255-9296. West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, www.westcoastdogandcat.org.

Rockin’ the Stage Inspiring Life Performance Based Music School Lessons for Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals & Keyboard allstarrockfoundation.com 90 Lawrence St. Eugene 541-393-6893

Play Live Shows, Engage your Music Journey Programs For All Levels: Beginner to Advanced, Ages 5-18 & Adults

SIGN UP NOW FOR SUMMER CAMPS! Little Timbers Winter Indoor Skills Academy M-W from 5-6pm International Fitness Sportsplex 6 week program Age 4-10 • Cost $110

Winter Indoor Footskills & Futsal Program Fridays from 5-7pm International Fitness Sportsplex 7 sessions Age 9-15 • Cost $120 Eugene Timbers Fútbol Club 541-343-5100 www.eugenetimbers.org

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Winter Break Camp Dec. 27-29 • Kick City Age 7-15 • 10am to 1pm

DREAM BIG Let Us Help Your Business Reach for the Stars.

To advertise, contact Sandy • 541.683.7452 • sandy@oregonfamily.com O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

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