Oregon Family Magazine by Oregon Family Magazine

No More Have-To Holidays Page 8

Reducing Holiday Stress Page 26

Holiday Happenings! Page 14

New! Lane County Schools: Connected Page 11

7th Annual

Holiday Gift Guide

Stocking Stuffers

Games & Toys

STEM & Tech

Mom’s Gifts

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 8

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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 8

2018 O R E G O N FA M I LY

Holiday

Distributed through Eugene, Springfield, Creswell, and Junction City elementary and middle schools, most area private schools, and over 300 commercial locations throughout Lane county.

Gift Guide

PUBLISHER

Pacific Parents Publishing

december 6 Earthtalk Tube-free toilet paper

25 Family Movie Time Ralph Breaks the Internet

8 No More Have-to Holidays Keep Your Family Happy

28 Dad’s Eye View Christmas Gift Quandary

13 Calendar of Events

26 Rescue Spotlight

18 Winter Camps

EDITOR

Sandy Kauten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Pilar Bradshaw, M.D., F.A.A.P. Rick Epstein Bonnie L. Harris Christina Katz Kelli Matthews GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT

Springer Design & Illustration ADVERTISING

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

Lane County Schools: Support Kids’ Mental Health

Reducing Holiday Stress

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

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

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

No matter your child’s stage, we are with you every step of the way.

Emily Dalton, M.D., F.A.A.P., cares for children of all ages, from birth through adolescence. Recognizing that wellness is a family affair, she actively listens to kids and parents, offering helpful advice, addressing their concerns and celebrating their milestones. She sees patients at both our clinic and at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

To schedule an appointment, call 541-HUG-KIDS. 995 Willagillespie Road, Suite 100 • 541-484-5437 • www.EugenePeds.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 8

Earthtalk from the Editors of “E” the Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Does the Scott brand’s “tube-free” toilet paper really save much paper or is it just another form of corporate greenwashing? -- Matt Potamkin, Milwaukee, WI

itching the cardboard tube in the middle of the toilet paper roll is definitely a step in the right direction for Scott, the paper company owned by multinational conglomerate Kimberly-Clark, as it tries to do what it can for the planet while still providing the products its customers have come to depend on. According to Scott, Americans currently discard some 17 billion cardboard toilet paper tubes every year—enough to fill the Empire State Building twice over. Meanwhile, RecycleBank, a company that works with m u n i c i p a l i t i e s t o re w a rd cons umers for inc reasing recycling, reports that most of these cardboard tubes—some 160 million pounds worth every year—end up in landfills even though they could easily be recycled (or even turned into compost if thrown into the yard waste bin instead of the regular trash). It is ironic that Scott, the company that first introduced the cardboard core to toilet

paper rolls back in 1890, is the first modern-day manufacturer to go without it. But don’t worry about toilet paper tubes going away completely anytime soon. Scott is the only major manufacturer offering a tubefree option right now, and the vast majority of its own toilet paper sales are for those with the trusty old tube. A s far as environmental

advocates are concerned, tubefree is better than not, but critics say Scott could do a lot better. “When they come out with getting rid of the tube, the logical thing to say is, ‘Is that the best that they could do?’ No, it’s not,” says Allen Hershkowitz of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a leading environmental group. “But I wouldn’t label this greenwashing. I’d say this is a helpful initiative.” For its part, Scott has been h e s i t a n t t o a d d re c y c l e d content to its toilet papers due to compromised quality and softness. “We are still researching alternative fibers and evaluating them based on quality and availability for potential use in the future,” says Scott’s brand manager Jared Mackrory. “Right now we’re making a difference where we can.” Beyond losing the tube, Scott has begun using fibers certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council, a nonprofit wood, paper and forest products certification entity. And the company has pledged to replace half of all of its wood

fiber with more sustainable alternatives by 2025. In the meantime, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to reduce our use of toilet paper. One quick and easy way to stop wasting squares would be to install a Control-nRoll on your toilet paper holder. This nifty reusable foam insert costs $4.99 for a two-pack, and its manufacturer claims it can cut your toilet paper use by 50 percent by serving as a brake on the roll when you stop pulling. An even better way to reduce toilet paper use is by installing a bidet, which uses a jet of water to clean your nether regions so you can save the toilet paper for patting yourself dry. Blue Bidet gets high marks for easeof-installation and high-quality workmanship despite being affordable. CONTACTS: Scott Brand, www. scottbrand.com; NRDC, www.nrdc. org; Control-n-Roll, www.controlnroll. com; Blue Bidet, www.bluebidet.com. EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

YouTube stuntman Roman Atwood created a prank video where he drives a fast car into a pile of 66,000 toilet paper tubes — the amount Americans throw away every two minutes — to raise awareness for Scott’s tube-free toilet paper.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

CANCER TRIED TO STOP HIM. Bennett had other ideas.

Bennett was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer at just two weeks old. The news was heartbreaking. The odds of survival were low. Over many months, an amazing team at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital guided Bennett back to health. Today, he’s a happy, high-spirited 4-year-old, cancer free for the past three years. Your generosity powers this world-class care. With your support, there’s no limit to what Doernbecher can do. Please make a gift to Doernbecher today.

MAKE YOUR GIFT

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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 8

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 â&#x20AC;¢ O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

No More

Have-To Holidays! Keep Your Family Happy This Holiday Season by Christina Katz

rowds, traffic, in-laws, extra bills to pay — no wonder the holidays stress so many people out. If you are one of these people, you are not alone. According to some reports, up to 90% of all adults become stressed about at least one aspect of the holidays. And the holidays are especially stressful for women, who shoulder the brunt of the scheduling, planning, shopping, and cooking each year. This year can be different. If you are prepared to take your mood from stressed to holly-jolly. When you are ready, call on this list of radical advice for grinning all the way through your holidays, rather than grinning and bearing it from midNovember through early January.

TAKE CHARGE. Declare yourself your life’s official cruise director. If you are waiting for others to make you happy — and feeling disappointed or resentful because they don’t try hard enough or try but miss the mark — stop. Make a bucket list for your life of everything you have always wanted to do and start checking off peak moments as soon as possible. Then, when you are done, put the whole family through the bucket-list making process. Two books by author

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 8

Lara Krupicka, Bucket List Living for Moms and Family Bucket Lists, make bucket list creation process a lively adventure the whole clan can enjoy on a chilly afternoon or evening.

D E T E R M I N E YO U R H O L I DAY PREFERENCES. If you feel like every holiday is already planned out for you by your extended circle of family and friends, you may have never actually considered what you prefer. Choosing not to choose is actually still a choice — but not a very good one. Ask yourself the question, How do I really want to spend my holidays? And then answer it honestly. And be specific, not just vague or reacting against what you don’t want. For example, if you’d rather wake up in a ski lodge on Christmas morning and have someone else serve breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can hit the slopes with the fam’, so be it! Contemplate what you want – what you really want – so you can share your needs honestly with others.

SHARE YOUR VISION WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY. If your family loves you, and I assume they do, then your vision for the holidays matters to them. Even if they don’t share your enthusiasm for Black Friday shopping, Christmas caroling, and marathon tree decorating, everyone should be able to accommodate everyone else in the family. Who knows? Maybe by the time you are done regaling the neighborhood with “Oh, Holy Night” and “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer,” everyone will be shivering and laughing in that ineffable way that makes life-long memories.

GIVE FAMILY MEMBERS A CHANCE TO CHIME IN. Okay, so you have gotten

clear on the ways you enjoy spending the holidays. Now it’s time to encourage the rest of your (immediate) family to share what they want! Come on now, they tolerated your eccentricities and now it’s your turn to back them up. And yes, you must attend the sporting event you could probably live without with your son and take your daughter to see The Nutcracker for the umpteenth time. You will also go to the office party with your husband. If these are the things that make the holidays magic for them, who are you to disagree?

CREATE YOUR PERFECT HOLIDAY. If you can’t remember the last time you just stayed home for Christmas and unwrapped gifts from under your own tree, then maybe it’s time to simplify your Christmas without feeling like you have to apologize to the entire world. The beauty of taking charge, having personal preferences, and sharing and receiving ideas within the family is that you can now communicate what you all need to your extended family members. Yes, your family can carve out your traditions and create your own memories. And now that you know what they are, it’s your responsibility to follow through as best you can.

COMMUNICATE WITHOUT GUILT. Give the extended family plenty of time to accept your plans. They don’t have to like them. In fact, you might think they will never speak to you again. But part of being an adult is learning to let other people face with their feelings without continually adjusting your needs to fit theirs. Guilt may have been the type of internalized shame that kept you

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

in line in the past, but it’s time to shake off this type of programming and live the life that really makes you happy.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE. Perhaps you have heard the quote? Attributed to Mahatma Ghandi, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” but what he may have really said is, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” In other words, our personal happiness does matter and the way we live does impact the world. So, in claiming our joy, we make the world a more positive place. Christina Katz is an author, journalist and writing coach who has been working on developing her backbone her whole adult life. She highly recommends the practice.

Activate the Power of Personal Choice Be creative in your decisionmaking process. Remember, there is no such thing as one right choice for everyone. Choose whatever makes sense for your family. • You could go to a soup kitchen or you could take this year off and make soup at home. • You could fly across the country to see your great aunt and grandmother or you could go next year. • You could go to every holiday party you are invited to or you could confer with the family about each choice first. • You could feel guilty about not visiting your in-laws or you could send a beautiful card and thoughtful gift instead. • You could attend midnight mass or you could create your own spiritual celebrations at home. • You could invite friends and family over for holiday meals or you could just have one potluck for the whole season. • What you choose to do this year does not have to be the new tradition. Try things and see what sticks.

Connected

LANE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Supporting Kids’ Mental Health

ane County educators are reporting a significant increase in student need for mental and behavioral support. The rising demand is not specific to our community or even our state – in fact, schools across the nation are witnessing intense need for mental and behavioral health help for students, particularly those in the early grades.

Mental Health and Wellness Resources Mental health often affects physical health. Locally, there are many resources available for students and their families, including: • Lane County Behavioral Health collaborates with other local organizations to connect families with support, including: Food for Lane County, CASA, Bags of Love, and the Oregon Family Support Network. They also collaborate with other organizations addressing abuse and addiction. 541- 682-1915 • 67 schools throughout the Lane County offer free breakfast/ meals. Check with your school office to find out more. • 15th Night has resources to help homeless youth. Call or text 541246-4046 for access to services related to housing, clothing, transportation, or counseling.

Need for Support on the Rise

Mental and behavioral health needs often surface at school, with outbursts that vary from aggression to depression: Both pose major obstacles to learning for children who are experiencing distress as well as their classmates. Mental health plays a huge role in a child’s long-term success in school, and all Lane County school districts consider it a high priority and are working together to provide emotional and behavioral support for students. This effort -- the School-Based Health Center Alliance -- brings together the Community Health Centers of Lane County, Bethel Health Center, PeaceHealth and the Western Lane County Behavioral Health Network. In addition, districts take a multi-pronged approach to supporting all students, including: School-based counselors Class-based programs such as the “Good Behavior Game,” which helps students selfregulate and reinforces positive classroom behavior. Prevention programs to help reduce the likelihood that students who are experiencing behavioral or emotional problems will abuse drugs and alcohol. Peer support groups to address bullying and help make schools a safer place. In the metro area, four school-based health centers (Churchill High, Springfield High, North Eugene High and Cascade Middle) now include mental and behavioral health supports. These clinics are often able to see students from other schools. Additional

services and referrals are provided by Lane County Behavioral Health. Western Lane County Behavioral Health Network will soon open centers in both the Mapleton and Siuslaw school districts, with facilities on-site at the schools and clinicians who will make home visits. How to Receive Professional Help Although a school can make a recommendation that a student receive professional help, parents and students themselves can also ask for help – and insurance should not be an issue. “We are dedicated to helping families receive care. Just because you heard a ‘no’ at one place, you shouldn’t stop seeking help,” Ellen Thornton-Love, Clinical Supervisor for Child and Adolescent Health Services at Lane County Behavioral Health urges. “Walk into Lane County Public Health, and someone will help you. Call me, and I will find someone to help you.” Editor’s Note: Oregon Family is grateful to its readers and the schools who help make this resource available to families across Lane County. We receive a tremendous amount of information from the schools and in view of this, have asked Lane Education Services District to provide services, news, and observations of trends occurring in Lane County schools. If you have topics you’d like to learn more about, please share them at info@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 8

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december

events

Springfield Public Library story times. Preschool Story time (ages 3-6) Weds 10:00am. Lap sit story time (ages 0-3) Weds 10am, Sensory Storytime (for kids with sensory integration issues or special needs) every other Thurs. 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 Fern Ridge Storytimes (recurring weekly). Pre-K Storytimes (ages 3-5) Wed at 11am. Baby & Toddler Storytimes (ages 0-3) Friday at 11am. Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.393.1046 Downtown Public Library storytimes. Preschool Storytime, Wed 10:15am and 11:00am. Baby Storytime, Fri 10:15am and 11:15am. Talkers Storytime, Tues 10:15am and 11:00am. Walkers Storytime, Thurs 10:15am and 11:00am. Pajama Storytime, Tues 6:30pm. Sheldon and Bethel Branches: Family Storytime, Fri 10:15am. Ph 541.682.8316

Adventure! Story Time. A rotation of awesome storytellers will read, tell felt board stories, make craft projects, chat with puppets, and generally bring the fun every Friday from 11-11:30am. Adventure! Children’s Museum, FREE! Ph 541.653.9629

PHOTO: EMILY BLY

Story Times

The Fantasticks December 1st - 16th

On-Going Events 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 Dog Tale Story Time. Kids have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs and handlers’ courtesy of PAAWS.

Every Sat, Downtown Library, 2-3:30pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Kids Minecrafters. Play together, share tips, and get creative with building challenges on Eugene Library computers. Ages 6 - 12. Limited space, pre-reg required. Downtown Library, Mon & Tues @ 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Playtime for Parents and Children. Children 4 and under can join us every Monday to play in our fun and welcoming playroom filled with baby dolls, books, trucks, soft dough, and more. Parenting Now! 10am-12pm, nominal fee, Ph 541.484.5316 Family Music Time. Live music for kids of all ages, with their caregivers. Downtown Library, Saturday’s 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Public Skate @ The Ice Center. Call for skate times. Ph 541.682.3615 Lane County Farmers Market. Saturdays from 10am - 5pm and Sundays from 11am - 5pm through December 23rd at the Lane Events Center. Ph 541.431.4923 “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

PHOTO: VILLAGE GREEN RESORT

Eugene Science Center. Our ever-changing exhibits and Planetarium feature something for everyone! Explore science topics, astronomy, mechanics, optics, water quality, and nanotechnology. Pre-K Planetarium Show: Stories in the Stars. Designed with younger visitors in mind, this live, interactive planetarium show is a wonderful introduction to the

EugeneCascadesCoast.org/Events/

planetarium. 25 minutes. Fri and Sat, 10:30am See website for features, admission, dates, and times. Ph 541.682.7888 S.T.E.A.M. Punks! Ages 6-10, Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.393.1046

1 SATURDAY The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. The beloved tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power home, has been entertaining audiences for generations. Enjoy dinner and a show or entertainment a la carte with reserved seating. Actors Cabaret, 7:30pm, Ph 541.683.4368 Get Squirrely Nature Quest. Enjoy an afternoon outdoors in Hendricks Park and learn about the critters who are preparing for winter. Play acorn hide and seek and listen to fireside nature tales. Meet at the Hendricks Park Wilkins Shelter. Members free/non-mems $5 per family. Pre-reg at 541.687.9699 The Fantasticks. The longest-running musical in the world, due in part to the touching and universal fable of love. The Cottage Theater, 8pm, $15-25, Ph 541.942.8001 Eugene Symphony, Star Wars – Live in Concert (Episode IV: A New Hope). Relive the first adventure of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo like never before! Hult Center, 7:30pm, $65-96.25, Ph 541.682.5000

2 SUNDAY The Fantasticks. 2pm, see the 1st Family Fun: Winter Crafts. Make wintry upcycled and nature crafts to keep, give as gifts, or trade at the upcoming Kids Craft and Maker Market (Dec 16). Downtown Library, 2pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Christmas at Village Green Resort continued on next page… O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M / C A L E N D A R • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Holiday Happenings On-Going This Month… 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 Christmas at Village Green Resort. Enter a winter wonderland and find yourself surrounded by 500,000 lights twinkling lights, artisan vendors, fire pits, and holiday cheer! Peruse a traditional Christmas market modeled after European Christmas markets. Sip cocoa, relax by a fire, play games in the family lounge overlooking the gardens and be sure to visit Santa. Live entertainment from 5:00 – 9pm, $5-10, Dec 1 - Dec 23rd. Ph 541-942-2491 The Long Christmas Dinner. Invites the audience to partake in “’one long, happy Christmas dinner’ - past, present and future.” The Very Little Theater, Thurs – Sat 7:30pm/ Sun 2pm, Dec 1st - Dec 16th. $15, Ph 541.344.7751 Giving Tree. Visit the Giving Tree located near JC Penney in Valley River Mall and pick an ornament that designates gift donations for thousands of underprivileged children in our community. Items requested include toys, clothing, sporting equipment, gift cards, and more. Dec 1st – 24th Ph 541.236.2600 White Christmas. The Shedd Institute is pleased to bring its sparkling production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas back to Eugene. This heartwarming stage adaptation of the beloved, timeless 1954 film musical features 17 Irving Berlin classics and a great libretto of the original screenplay! Nov 30th – Dec 16th $18.25-38, Visit www.theshedd.org for dates and times. Ph 541.434.7000 December 1st Christmas in Cottage Grove. A day of celebration and holiday festivities including light displays, breakfast and pics with Santa, a 5k run/walk, scavenger hunts, refreshments and shopping specials, hayrides and caroling around the neighborhood, and much more! Downtown Cottage Grove, 8am-8pm, FREE! Ph 541.942.2411 Down To Earth Winter Market. Vendors of the Whiteaker Community Market will set up at a pop-up marketplace at Down to Earth for an afternoon of winter festivities. Browse a fantastic selection of home and garden goods along with creative jewelry, crafts and handmade gifts from local artisans. 12pm – 5pm, FREE! Lowell Covered Bridge Tree Lighting. Music provided by the Lowell High School Band and caroling. Enjoy refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus. 5-6:30pm, Jasper-Lowell Rd and Hwy 58, FREE! Ph 541.937.2157

McKenzie Valley Christmas Bazaar. Kick-off the holiday season with unique crafts, a Santa visit, delicious food and a raffle. Walterville Community Center, 9am4pm, FREE! Ph 541.896.3330 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 at Twin River/Doc Rios School ! Downtown Springfield, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.988.0955 Winter Holiday Bazaar. A magical mix of Artisans, School fundraisers, and Consultants. With over 50 different vendors you won’t want to miss it! Howard Elementary, 9am-2pm, FREE! Ph 541.790.4900 Tuba Carol Concert. Tuba, euphonium, baritone and sousaphone musicians perform Christmas carols at this seasonal celebration and cultural mainstay. Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary School, noon-1pm, FREE! Victorian Family Holiday. Decorate gingerbread cookies, write letters to Santa, make holiday crafts, this year, explore the house with a scavenger hunt and more. Shelton McMurphey Johnson House. 11am-2pm, FREE! Ph 541.484.0808 Westfir Bridge Lighting Festival. Santa Claus is coming to Westfir and he’s arriving by fire truck! Live music, real reindeer, face painting, a bonfire, props for selfies, cookies and hot drinks, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Office Covered Bridge, 6-8pm, FREE! Walterville Christmas Bazaar. Experience unique crafts by local artists and vendors, taste good food and desserts & bid on our many great raffle items. There will even be a visit from Santa! Walterville Grange, 8am-3pm, FREE! Ph 541.747.9297 December 2nd Breakfast with Santa. Join us for breakfast with Santa at BJ’s Restaurant. Enjoy breakfast, a Christmas story, and a visit from Donna the Elf. Please bring $5 donation for Food for Lane County and 2 cans of food per attendee. RSVP required. 8:00am-9:30am, Ph 541.683.5511 Dec 4th – 5th Holiday Marketplace at Willamalane. Shop an an incredible array of handcrafted gifts and homemade delicacies. With a variety of vendors, this is the place to shop for affordable one-of-a-kind wooden creations, jewelry, candles, fiber arts and more. Willamalane Adult Activity Center, Tues-Wed: 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-3pm, FREE! Ph 541.736.4544 December 6th Veneta-Fern Ridge Light Parade. Brightly lit parade floats will make their way through the streets, delivering holiday cheer to onlookers young and old. Starts at 8th St & West Broadway, Veneta. 7pm, FREE! Ph 541.935.8443

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Jazz Kings - Ring Those Bells, Christmas 2018. Bells are a familiar symbol of the holiday season and The Jazz Kings’ upcoming show will reflect the warmth of their cheerful tones. They ring to celebrate the arrival of Christmas and again for New Year and are mentioned in several Christmas songs. The Shedd Institute, Dec 6th 7:30pm and Dec 9th at 3pm, $24-34, Ph 541.434.7000 December 7th Candlelight Tours at Shelton, McMurphy, Johnson House. Decorated for the holidays, by candlelight. Tours start at 6:10pm. $3-5, Dec 6th, 16th and 20th Ph 541.484.0808 December 8th Christmas in Coburg Light Parade. Activities include Breakfast with Santa, the Light Parade with a lit-float competition and horse and carriage rides. Free chili and a bonfire courtesy of the Coburg Grange follow the parade, along with a community singalong and tree lighting celebration. Downtown Coburg, Dec 8th and 9th, FREE! Ph 541.912.8291 Holiday Show on Ice. Local talents glide to the soundtracks of favorite fantasy movies. Enjoy snacks, holiday gift-buying opportunities and a raffle. This year’s event: “An Ice Fantasy.” Lane Ice Arena, 7:30-9pm, FREE! Enjoy snacks, holiday gift-buying, and a raffle, all to benefit the Relief Nursery. Ph 541.682.4292 Winter Light Fair. Join us for candle dipping, a puppet show, crafts, cake walks, a Crystal Cookie Cave, Nutcracker Ballet, food and games, Russian Tea Room, the Rose Café, the Golden Goose school store. Live music and more! Admission is FREE! but activities require $2 tickets. Eugene Waldorf School, 11am-3pm, Ph 541.683.6951 Adventures in Narnia. Hosanna Performing Arts present a holiday ballet for all ages blending drama and several forms of dance. Performance includes dancers of all ages and skill levels - the quality is sure to surprise and captivate you! Lane Community College, 1pm & 6pm, $15-20 December 9th Whiteaker Winter Market. Unique artisans, jewelers, herbalists and healers will present their products at Thinking Tree Spirits for a community-minded market highlighting the spirit of Eugene’s Whit. Live performances by MOONWΔTER and food from El Quetzal Food Truck. 12-8pm, FREE! Jazz Kings. Ring Those Bells, Christmas 2018. See Dec 6th December 15th Community Christmas Celebration with Cascade Chorus. A performance in Barbershop Harmony Style which includes the Top 10 International Seniors Quartets, Social Insecurity and local favorites The 4 C-Sons. Eugene Church of Christ, 2-4pm, $7-12, Ph 541.607.6937 Annie. Annie dreams of the day she’ll meet her birth parents, and after spending a week at a wealthy businessman’s mansion, is flooded with new hope her dreams may come true! Lane Community College, 2pm & 6pm, $15-20, Ph 541.654.0202

December 16th A Dickens of a Christmas – by Eugene Concert Choir. Christmas Past takes place at a Renaissance Feast, Christmas Present takes the story to the time of Dickens and Christmas Future. Festivities begin in the lobby at 1:30pm. with wassail and cookies. Hult Center, 2:30pm, $25-59, Ph 541.682.5000 December 21st A Cowboy Christmas - by Radio Redux. A herd of holiday songs and stories done the cowboy way. The company recreates the Golden Ages of Radio (1935 - 1960) as cast creates sound effects the old-fashioned way. Hult Center, Fri/Sat. Dec 21st – 22nd 7:30pm and Dec 23rd at 2pm, $22-25, 541.682.5000 Gingerbread House Night! Children’s Museum. Bring your extra Halloween candy to make a gingerbread house. We’ll help you build a ginger village complete with Tootsie Roll walkways and lollipop lamp posts. All materials plus cocoa or tea included. RSVP by Dec 17th Adventure! Children’s Museum, 6-7:30pm, $12/ house, Ph 541.653.9629 Winter Solstice Celebration: Giants of the Ice Age. Ring in the season with a day dedicated to mammoths and other beasts of the Ice Age. Enjoy live performances, crafts, face painting, science activities, and shop for unique holiday gifts. Admission free with a non-perishable food donation (per person) to FOOD for Lane County. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 5pm-8pm, Ph 541.346.3024 The Nutcracker by Eugene Ballet Co. A marvelous journey to the Snow Kingdom and the Land of the Sweets to see Clara and the Nutcracker, with help from the Sugar Plum Fairy, battle the Mouse King and his henchmen. Hundreds of aspiring dancers to bring the performance to life in a show full of whimsy, joy and colorful sets and costumes. Hult Center, Fri Dec 21st 7:30pm, Sat Dec 22nd 2pm & 7:30pm, Sun Dec 23rd 2pm. $30-68, Ph 541.682.5000 Winter Solstice Celebration. Campfires, storytelling, sweet treats, and natural crafts to celebrate the shortest day and longest night of the year. All ages welcome. Dorris Ranch, 6-8pm, $6-8, Ph 541.736.4544 December 24th Harry Potter Read-a-Thon. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” will be read aloud all day from start to finish. Readers can sign up for time slots of 15 minutes to 1 hour and get one scoop of Bertie Bott’s Jelly Belly Belly Flops after reading. Make Golden Snitch ornaments in the Art Lab and listen to movie soundtracks. Adventure! Children’s Museum, 10am-6pm, FREE to readers (and chaperone), 541.653.9629 December 25th Lane County Senior Holiday Dinner. Gather round with a friendly community of seniors and welcoming hosts. Dinner is a joyous occasion that brings people from near and far to celebrate holiday cheer. There will be door prizes, live music, dancing and more with tickets including everything. Dinner served at 1pm. Hilton Eugene, 12pm-3pm, $8/pp, Ph 541.915.3254

The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. 2pm, see the 1st

3 MONDAY Shasta Middle School Annual Band and Choir Winter Concert. Two mixed-grade, audition-only groups will entertain with their fabulous talent in this annual local tradition. Silver Concert Hall, 7pm, $10.50, Ph 541.682.5000

4 TUESDAY Teens at 4:30. Hour of Code. All events free and open to the public. Teen ages 12+ Springfield Public Library, 4:30-5:30pm, FREE and open to the public! Ph 541.726.3766

5 WEDNESDAY Kids’ Club: Marble Roller-Coaster Engineering. All events are free and open to the public. Ages 7-12, Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766 Middle School Lounge. Gift Crafting. Need some gifts for friend and family? Come to the library to make some! Grades 6-8, Fern Ridge Public Library, 4-5pm, FREE! Ph 541.393.1046 All ages Karaoke. Come check out our Kids’ Menu and sing and dance out that mid-week energy! Trev’s Place, 6-10pm, Ph 541.653.8151 Ideas on Tap: Sustainable Design. Quench your thirst for knowledge and beer, at Ideas on Tap, the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s monthly pub talk. This month explore ecological, economic and social uncertainties associated with life in a rapidly changing environment. Viking Braggot Southtowne. 6-8pm, 21 and over please, Ph 541.346.3024

White Christmas Irving Berlin • Nov. 30th - Dec. 16th 6 THURSDAY Little Family Yoga with Brynne Blevins. Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766 The Fantasticks. See the 1st S.T.E.A.M. Punks! Legos! Grades K-5, Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.935.7512 Nature Kids: Fossils. See, touch, sort, and make predictions about real fossils with Mia Jackson of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Age 6 - 12, Downtown Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

7 FRIDAY First Friday Artwalk. A guided tour begins at 5:30pm at Lincoln Gallery, and continues ending at 8:00pm. ArtWalk is from 5:30-8:00pm and always FREE! Ph 541.485.2278 The Fantasticks. See the 1st

8 SATURDAY

FREE First Friday at the Museum. Investigate Oregon’s amazing fossils and ecosystems and delve into its cultural history. Museum of Natural History, 11am-5pm, Ph 541.346.3024

Día de la Familia. Popular exhibits include Plastic Entanglements, featuring works plastic material from 30 artists from 13 countries; Paper Weight, Elsa Mora's exhibition of intricately detailed paper creations; and Reflections of the Cosmic Web featuring fine works of Daoist iconography. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. 12-3pm, FREE! Ph 541.346.3027

The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. see the 1st Sprout! Children’s Business Expo. Children of all ages get the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship by vending and participating in a pre-expo business workshop taught by local business leaders. Eugene MindWorks, 4:307:30pm, Ph 541.514.2154

Emerald Valley Opry. Featuring: Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising, Americana Jimmy Bobby Band, New Folksters, McKayla Marie. Powers

Auditorium Willamette High School, doors open 5pm, concert 6:00-9:30pm, $3-$8/under 7 free, Ph 541.688.0937 The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. see the 1st Authors and Artists Fair. Dozens of authors and artists from all around Oregon attend to share their work and encourage reading and the arts. Supports summer reading programs throughout Lane County. Lane Events Center, 10am-5pm, FREE! Ph 541.683.6837

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Give Music Shedd Institute Gift Certificates 541.434.7000 | www.theshedd.org

OrFam-Shedd 2018Dec.indd 1

11/19/2018 9:51:41 PM

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M / C A L E N D A R • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

11 TUESDAY

Santa SIghtings 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. A special time is reserved for your furry (dogs and cats only please) to have a pic with Santa. Dec. 10th from 5pm-8pm only. Valley River Center Breakfast with Santa & Mrs Claus. Come have breakfast with Santa and enjoy the spirit of the season, brought you by Eugene Downtown Lions Club. Sat. Dec 8th, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8am-Noon. Breakfast with Santa. Come and join a festive holiday breakfast and take pictures with Santa. Don’t forget your camera!

Teens at 4:30. Game Day. All events free and open to the public. Teen ages 12+ Springfield Public Library, 4:30-5:30pm, FREE and open to the public! Ph 541.726.3766 Registration is required, the event fills quickly. Petersen Barn, December 13th, 9:30am & 10:30am, $5, 541.682.5521 Breakfast with Santa. Bring the family and spend the morning with Santa. Amazon Community Center, Dec 6th $5, 9:30am & 10:30am, Ph 541.682.5373 Surfin’ Santa. Pics with Santa today! Splash! Lively Park. Dec 22nd 1:30pm Santa is coming to town! Visit Santa at the Fifth Street Public Market on the second floor in the Public Market Eateries. Photos available from Clementine Photos ( $12-28). Every Fri/Sat/Sun through Dec 23rd. Fri 4-6pm, Sat 2-6pm, and Sun noon-4pm. And don’t forget – the Market guarantees snow every Fri/Sat from 6:00-6:30pm! Ph 541.484.0383

12 WEDNESDAY Kids’ Club: Paper Lanterns. All events are free and open to the public. Ages 7-12, Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766 High School Hour. Creepy Pasta: Holiday Edition. Do you like writing and/or reading spooky stories and urban legends? Come to the library to write your own chilling winter tale. Grades 9-12, Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.935.7512 National Geographic Live: View from Above. Join former International Space Station Commander Terry Virts for a talk on his time in space. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $25, Ph 541.682.5000 Nutcracker Short and Suite. Eugene Youth Ballet performs a child-size version of the classic Nutcracker. Two shows - 4:00pm and 6:00pm, Downtown Library, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

S.T.E.A.M. Punks! Snow Day! Join us for S.T.E.A.M. related projects that are all about snow! Grades K-5, Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.935.7512 Game Night. We’ll teach and play our games of the month, then break into small or large groups to play. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied. Barnes & Noble, 7-9pm, FREE! Ph 541.687.0356

14 FRIDAY The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. see the 1st Little Wonders: Stories and Activities for Pre-K. In December, learn to be an astroexplorer for a day as you travel through outer space with games, stories and alien crafts. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, ages 3-5, 10:30am – 11:30, $3-10, Ph 541.346.3024 Second Friday Art Walk. Starts at Springfield City Hall, 5:00pm, FREE! Pre-K Planetarium Show: Stories in the Stars. Designed with our younger visitors in mind, this live, interactive planetarium show is a wonderful introduction to the planetarium. 25 minutes. Eugene Science Center,

13 THURSDAY

The Fantasticks. See the 1st

Family Fun: Bhangra Dancing. Jump into Bollywood-style dance led by Sat Pavan Kaur Khalsa. Downtown Library, 2pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Preschool Art & Science Storytime. Designed for precocious preschoolers, this story time is designed to teach about science and art in harmony. Preschoolers will conduct experiments, read, learn, create, and talk about the amazing world around them. Springfield Library, 10:3011:15am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766

First Quarter Star Party. Gather just before dusk and stay as long as you want. Everyone welcome, with many different types of telescopes set up for viewing. Presented by Eugene Astronomical Society. College Hill Reservoir, 6pm, FREE!

The Fantasticks. 2pm, see the 1st

The Fantasticks. See the 1st

9 SUNDAY

So You Think You Can Dance, LIVE! Top 10 Finalists of last summer’s hit television competitions series of the same name comes to Eugene! All-Star guests accompany dancers who perform a wide range of dance styles that are sure to energize the audience. Hult Center, 8pm, $43-88.50, Ph 541.682.5000

The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. 2pm, see the 1st

15 SATURDAY The Wizard of Oz Dinner Show. see the 1st The Fantasticks. See the 1st

THE NUTCRACKER

16 SUNDAY Family Fun: Kids Crafts & Maker Market. Find great gifts for others or yourself at the Kids’ Craft and Maker Market. All kids get free tickets to trade for kid-crafted items. Table reservations required. Downtown Library, 2pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 The Fantasticks. 2pm, see the 1st

18 TUESDAY Teens at 4:30. Teen Flicks. All events free and open to the public. Teen ages 12+ Springfield Public Library, 4:30-5:30pm, FREE and open to the public! Ph 541.726.3766

Live music with Orchestra Next and Cantabile Collective youth choir, plus hundreds of young dancers!

December 21–23 | Hult Center Tickets $15– $60 eugeneballet.org 541-682-5000 Euphoria Chocolate Company | Umpqua Bank Performance Sponsors “ ...a no-miss holiday tradition for many, and as keepers of the torch, the Eugene Ballet’s sturdy production twinkles and delights as ever.” — Eugene Weekly

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M / C A L E N D A R

Family Night. Winter Lights. Enjoy solstice stories and songs, and craft paper bag luminaries with LED candles. All supplies provided. Sheldon Branch Library, 6:30pm, FREE! 541.682.8316

• Challenging Curriculum • Self-Directed Learning • Multi-Age Classrooms • No Tuition Information Sessions: January 12, 10:00am January 24, 6:30pm Application Deadline for 2019-20 School Year: January 31, 2019 For Details Call 541-681-9662 or visit www.ridgeline.org

19 WEDNESDAY Kids’ Club: Sticky & Sweet Engineering. All events are free and open to the public. Ages 7-12, Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766 Cookies & Scavenger Hunt! Come to the library to decorate some cookies and go on a library scavenger hunt! There will be prizes! Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.393.1046

20 THURSDAY Graham Cracker Houses! It’s that time of year! Come to the library to make delicious candy and graham cracker houses! Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.393.1046

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The Nutcracker December 21st - 23rd

PHOTO: ARI DENISON

One Planet. Three Incredible Journeys. Come Explore with Us. Save 20% when All Tickets $25 buying all 3

Photo: Terry Virts

View From Above

Wednesday, December 12 at 7:30 pm Join former International Space Station Commander Terry Virts for a talk on his time in space.

Photo: Brian Skerry

Photo: Florian Schulz

Into the Arctic Kingdom

Tuesday, January 29 at 7:30 pm From the Northern Lights to playful polar bear cubs, life beyond the arctic circle is unlike anyplace else on Earth.

HultCenter.org • 541-682-5000

Special thanks to our partners:

Ocean Soul

Tuesday, February 26 at 7:30 pm Celebrate the mysteries of the depths with acclaimed underwater photographer Brian Skerry. Special thanks to venue sponsor:

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M / C A L E N D A R • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Little Family Yoga with Brynne Blevins. Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541.726.3766 Game Night. We’ll teach and play our games of the month, then break into small or large groups to play. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied. Barnes & Noble, 7-9pm, FREE! Ph 541.687.0356

28 FRIDAY

30 SUNDAY

Parent’s Night Out. Leave your kids, ages 4 – 12, at Bounce for an evening of gymnastics, games, trampolines, movies, arts and crafts, and tons of fun during our Parents’ Night Out! Bounce Gymnastics and Circus Arts, 6-9pm, $14-20, Ph 541.343.4222

Family Fun: Nearly New Year’s Eve Bash. Ring in the new year early with games, activities, and crafts. Plus, a mock ball drop! Downtown Library, 2pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Oregon Reptile Man. Springfield Public Library11am-12pm, FREE! Ph 541-7263766

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Gala. Dress in your best and disguise your face for a New Year’s Eve Masquerade. Snack on appetizers, purchase cigars for the cigar tent, pop balloons with prizes, dance the DJ’s playlist and grab a drink at the nohost bar. Toast to the New Year with champagne as midnight arrives! This event will benefit the Junior League of Eugene. 21 and over! Along Came Trudy, 8pm-1pm, $60, Ph 541.337.3768

23 SUNDAY Family Fun: Drive-In Storytime. Make cardboard cars to take home and listen to some transportationthemed stories and songs. Downtown Library, 2pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

29 SATURDAY Kids: Make It - Sew a Fleece Scarf. Use the Library’s sewing machines to make a fleece scarf with hand-warming pockets. No experience req. Supplies provided. Due to limited space, pre-reg required. Kids ages 9 -12, Downtown Library, 11am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

25 TUESDAY Merry Christmas!

31 MONDAY

Broadway in Eugene Series Presents “The Lion King”

27 THURSDAY S.T.E.A.M. Punks! Ages 6-10, 3:30-4:30pm, Fern Ridge Public Library, FREE! Ph 541.935.7512

Coming Jan 9- 20 to the Hult Center. See advertisement on page 12.

Lego Club. All bricks provided, including Dupelo. Springfield Public Library, 2-4pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

WIN T E R

CA MPS

Winter Camp at the DAC! December 24 to January 4 Ages 5-12

All Day Play

Games and activities for everyone!

999 Willamette St. 541-484-4011 downtownac.com/winter-camp

Winter Break Gymnastics Camps!

Where Fitness is Fun and Confidence Grows! Making a positive difference in the lives of Lane County’s youth for 44 years

• Great Classes • Birthdays • Parents Night Out 541-343-4222 329 West 3rd Avenue www.bouncegymnastics.com

National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics

4-12

DAC Winter Camps

www.downtownac.com

541-484-4011

5-12

National Academy of Gymnastics

www.naag-gymnastics.org

541-344-2002

5-13

PNCA Community Ed Youth Program

www.cereg.pnca.edu/p/youth

mstevens@pnca.edu

4-18

Whole Earth Nature School

WholeEarth.org

541-937-KIDS

gr. K-5

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Spiritual

Aquatics

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Climbing/ Ropes

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Outdoor Sports

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Hiking

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Theater Arts

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Field Trips

Dance

Music

Arts & Crafts

Computers

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Indoor Sports

541-343-4222

Games

www.bouncegymnastics.com

Math & Science

AGES

Bounce Gymnastics

Reading/ Writing

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Expires January 31st, 2019. Cash value 1/20th of 1 cent. One coupon per person, per visit. Reproductions not accepted. Valid only at Goodwill Boutique on Broadway.

Counseling and psych assessments for kids, couples and families. Pantone 320U Blue

www.EugeneTherapy.com For Appointments Call or Text 541-868-2004

685 E. Broadway Eugene (541) 344-1029 Our mission: To provide vocational opportunities to individuals with barriers to employment. O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M / C A L E N D A R • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Family Time is 2018 O R E G O N FA M I LY

Holiday

Gift Guide

“The Field” turns a beautifully simple idea into hours of imaginative play (see page 22). 20

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

the Best Time Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages by Kelli Matthews

In a world in which we are often looking at screens instead of each other, this year’s holiday gift guide might just bring your family together around a table or a book or to learn something new. Games Galore My family loves board games of all sorts from easy to play with a quick start and simple concepts to more complicated and challenging. Between my family and a few friends, we tried eight different games this year; I’ve ranked them roughly by age and level of challenge.

Veggie Farm Sorting Set The perfect game for a busy preschooler! The Veggie Farm Sorting set teaches kids ages 3+ how to count, match, and sort by color or type. The pieces are brightly colored, sturdy and fun to hold. A friend’s three-year-old instantly took to putting the pieces in the bushel baskets and then sorting them onto the foam mat. This game is engaging and helps develop pre-school abilities such as color recognition, matching sorting and counting skills. • $25 • Major retailers

Game of Space Magnets are endlessly fascinating. This dead-simple, but addicting game uses (very strong) magnet rocks and a four-piece board/mat. It’s meant for two players and each plots their space rocks’ positions on the board with the objective of not attracting another magnetic rock. If your piece attracts another, add it to your pile. Whoever loses all their rocks first wins the game. The rounds move quickly and my kids begged for “one more time!” as they figured out just how close you could place two magnets together before one would make the other move. It takes some spatial reasoning skills to play and the board can be configured to amp up the difficulty level. • $24.99 • TheGrommet.com

uKloo As the mom of a first grader, I know first hand the challenge of getting young kids to commit to reading when it’s slow and can feel tedious to sound out every. single. word. Of course they get the hang of it with practice, and this early literacy game can help. My son giggled running through the house looking for clues his big brother had mapped out (bonus points to uKloo for pulling big brother into the fun). Even the earliest of readers can read the clues (thanks, in part, to a visual map that helps when they get stuck) and kids will focus on sight words and basic sentence construction while hunting for a surprise. • $20 • uKloo.com, Amazon, Wal-Mart, major retailers

Stick Six is a simple yet challenging strategy game that takes Connect 4 to a new dimension.

Stick Six

The game of “Space” utilizes powerful magnets to create a fun, addictive game that also teaches skills of spatial reasoning.

In the same vein as the classic game, Connect 4, Stick Six uses colorful suction cups on a clear honeycomb board. You start with a giant clear playing board, then start strategizing — you’ll see so many options to get six in a row (or a circle). The game is simple enough for young kids to play along, too. Pro Tip: give the brand new pieces a quick clean so the little suction cups stay on the board. • $30 • FatBrainToys.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 8

Shadows in the Forest A 2018 gift guide favorite! Shadows in the Forest is entirely unique — it’s meant to be played in the dark as a board game variation of flashlight tag. Adorable forest creatures called ‘Shadowlings’ hide from any sign of light, while ‘The Seeker’ moves around the forest trying to catch them. The Seeker (one player) plays as the glowing lantern and tries to freeze the Shadowlings (up to six players) by casting light across the trees. As the light moves, the shadows change. The Shadowlings work together to move in the darkness and continue hiding behind the trees to avoid being captured. • $20 - $25 • ThinkFun.com, major retailers

Rest Stop Created by Eugene-area teacher, Tim Olguin, Rest Stop is a card-based game that mixes strategy and luck. With just a hint of Oregon Trail, the purpose of the game is to complete their road trip across the country. You start with just your car, but you’ll need food, gas and rest in order to make it. You can “speed” to make up ground if you get stuck, but you might get stopped!

Shadows in the Forest is a 2018 Gift Guide favorite!

match them up with the remaining 34 tiles. However – Here's the kicker: None of the tiles actually match. In order to find matching patterns, players have to look at either the two adjacent sides of two tiles, or the four adjacent corners of four tiles. Whoever can match the most tiles wins the game! With several ways to play (collaborative, solitaire or racing), you won’t tire quickly of this game. • $20 • FatBrainToys.com, major retailers

Iquazu And every game is different! My tween loved this game (as did I), but it was also simple enough that we could coach my first-grader along, too. • $25.99 • GameCrafters.com

Acuity This game is harder than it looks! A pattern-matching game takes 70 different bright, beautiful patterns. You start with 36 tiles are set out in a grid, then try to

This is a beautiful strategy game from German maker, HABA. It take a bit to set up and figure out the play, but we found once we got started, the narrative and game play was very compelling. The premise is that an indigenous-type tribe, the Inox, are working to save their gemstones from the Evil Rhujas by hiding them behind the rock wall of the Iquazu waterfall. Iquazu is great for ages 10 and up and easy to catch on for casual gamers. • $50 • Elephant’s Trunk or Amazon

More than Games This year’s guide is about more than board games, believe it or not. But even if your family isn’t competing (or collaborating) around the table, these gift ideas can be family or parent-child together fun.

BrainBolt BrainBolt is a memory-testing twist on handheld electronic games like Simon. Tiles light up in random order on the handheld, wireless game console. Perfect for solo play or there’s a head-to-head mode to share the game with your child. • $22 • Amazon

Giant Recycling Truck A 2-foot long recycling truck may not bring everyone together, but the imaginary play that happens with giant, rideable waste management vehicles is pretty impressive, none the less.

half-acre field has been all four in the time we’ve been testing it. The Field can be used indoors, or outside, for hours of turning imaginations into reality. Each field comes with animal figures, a tractor and trailer and even arrives with a Certificate of Title.

• $24 • Amazon, major retailers

• $35 (half-acre) or $50 (original) • Amazon

The Field “The Field” was created by the owner of Class Grass Ireland an artificial turf company. His son’s request turned into a beautifully simple idea — a “field” designed as a blank canvas for young imaginations. Is it a farm? A yard? a school? or maybe a park? I think our

Kids learn hands-on science concepts with the BYOL solar light kit.

Work and Playstation Too Active Minds & Bodies: Fully Desk and TikTok Chair Furniture is probably not at the top of your kid’s wish list, but when we got it set up, my kids were excited about the Jarvis Standing Desk from Portland-based Fully. I mean, who jockeys for their turn to use a desk? My kids do now. The desk moves up and down and has a whiteboard top for jotting ideas and doodles awhile they work. When the desk is lowered to normal height, the Tic Toc Tyke chair has just a little wobble for active sitting.

The Fully Desk moves up and down to keep up with active kids.

Build Your Own Luci (BYOL)

I can tell this desk is going to be a favorite spot for homework, project work and doodles.

Luci, from MPOWERED, is a popular line of inflatable solar lights for camping, backyard fun and everyday living. The company’s new Build-Your-Own Luci (BYOL) kit teaches kids hands-on scientific concepts while building a customizable solar light. My kids’ eyes lit up along with their new solar light. It’s a simple kit with three modular disks, a transparent cover, two USB cables, a whole bunch of LEDs and an activities booklet. To get started, just connect the solar panel and battery disks via the USB cables and the customizable LED light board will light up!

• Jarvis Stand-Up Desk: starting at $420 • Tic Toc Tyke: $179

•$35 • mpowerd.com

Kids have a very real physical need to move and there is growing evidence that kids excel when their active minds and active brains are engaged.

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Learn piano and have fun anywhere, anytime!

Roll-Up Piano & Hoffman Academy Learning piano basics doesn’t have to be time consuming or require a large piece of furniture. The Rock & Roll It flexible roll-up piano can be played anywhere. It features multiple keyboard tones and demo songs and it runs on batteries or USB so you can play when you travel, camp, or move around the house. Practice on the built-in speaker or hook it up to the sound system for a performance, then roll it up when you’re done. • $50 • TheGrommet.com Combine it with a subscription to Hoffman Academy lessons online. Started by Joseph Hoffman, the brick and mortar Hoffman Academy is located in Portland! The online lessons focus on an “ear before eye” philosophy and incorporate child development and learning theory. My 6-year-old tried a few lessons on both the Roll-Up Piano and our electronic keyboard and he picked up on the basic ideas and was playing “Hot Cross Buns” for days. All video lessons are free, premium accounts with more resources available for $18/month. Visit hoffmanacademy.com for more info.

ArmoGear Laser Tag

Turn your My kids love birthday parties backyard into a at Putter’s in West Eugene so laser tag arcade! they can play laser tag with friends. The ArmoGear Laser Tag is an at-home laser tag with arcade-style features to bring the fun to your backyard. The set has an 150200 foot shooting range, invisibility mode, night vision and wireless target vests. It works inside or outside — my kids and their cousins spent hours chasing each other around the yard. • The 2-pack is $75 and 4-pack is $150 • ArmoGear.com, Amazon

JBL Clip Bluetooth Speaker If you have an older kid or a teen, music is likely a big part of their life. Attach the JBL Clip 3 to a backpack or bicycle and enjoy hands-free entertainment for up to 10 hours – all with exceptional sound. It’s also waterproof and made of rugged materials — perfect for teens. • $60 • JBL.com, Amazon I hope this gift guide has given you some new ideas for games, toys and gadgets for the kids in your life. Turn the page for gift inspirations for Mom!

Family Music Roundup If you’re looking for some great children’s music to share with your family and friends, we’ve gone through and picked out the best. Lucky for us, Oregon is home to some of the top names in kindie (kid+indie) music and several artists will be playing venues in Portland this winter and are worth a trip to see. This holiday, give the gift of music with these five albums that are sure to make kids sing, dance, laugh, and think.

Winterland The Okee Dokee Brothers Winterland, a new Americana Folk album by the Grammy Award-winning duo, the Okee Dokee Brothers, makes the perfect gift for families who love the outdoors. Their exuberant yet introspective collection of 16 original songs offers a refreshing, wide-eyed view of the most exciting time of year. Winterland makes the perfect carride soundtrack for trips to Mount Hood or Mount Bachelor with songs about playing in the snow and enjoying the outdoors. While also embracing the cycles of loss and new life, darkness and light, bitter cold and warmth, Winterland reflects that winter is not only a season, but a feeling we carry within. The Okee Dokee Brothers will perform at McMenamins Mission Theatre in Portland on March 17 at 3 pm. Tickets are $12 and available at www.mcmenamins.com/events/196458-theokee-dokee-brothers.

Why Why Why Ants, Ants, Ants Why Why Why by the new Portland-based kindie duo Ants, Ants, Ants is a curious album that celebrates a childlike wonder of the natural world. Johnny Clay and Dave Gulick have been members of Portland’s independent music scene for the past decade and their new project for kids and families reflect childhood at its best with a collection of warm and playful songs. Their stylistic nods to 1970s era Sesame Street, School House Rock, and “The Point” by Harry Nilsson target not only the

kids in our lives, but the kid in all of us. This winter, Ants, Ants, Ants will release “Christmas Time” a new song for the Holidays. They will also be playing venues and libraries across the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at www.antsantsants.com.

Red Yarn’s Old Barn Red Yarn Beloved Portland-based family folksinger and puppeteer, Red Yarn, tells of an epic barn dance where critters of all kinds are welcome in his album Red Yarn’s Old Barn. Red Yarn’s playful and personal country rock songs paint the Old Barn as an inclusive microcosm of the U.S. The first track sets the welcoming tone as Red and his wife, Miss Jessie, invite a diverse band of animals into their ramshackle barn. With an apathetic rooster, an activist hen, a proud horse, a neglected cow, a free-spirited sheep, and a rigid sheriff, the cast of characters represents many sides of American democracy. As the story unfolds, a wild barn dance sparks a disastrous fire. But the community reunites to rebuild, for “it takes a village to raise a barn.” Red Yarn is playing venues across Portland this winter. See his show schedule at www.redyarnproductions.com.

Hold Tight Shine Bright The Hold Tight Shine Bright Collective In response to the separation of immigrant and refugee families at the border, 33 of the top artists in family music banded together to create Hold Tight Shine Bright. All proceeds from this compilation album benefit RAICES Texas, a nonprofit organization that provides legal aid to displaced immigrant and refugee families. The dozens of children’s musicians, artists, collaborators, and contributors on this album believe that families seeking refuge in the U.S. need to remain together. The album features of 27 songs of hope and comfort and offers the opportunity to start a difficult conversation with children about the current political climate. Hold Tight Shine Bright can be purchased digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp.

Nothing Is Impossible The Story Pirates Perhaps you know the Story Pirates from their top podcast for children. They are a nationally touring children’s comedy troupe who turn kids’ stories into hilarious songs and sketches. The Story Pirates recently released their first album Nothing Is Impossible offering listeners an eccentric array of topics and uniquely fun insight into the imaginations of children. Lin-Manuel Miranda calls the first song on the album “Fart Out Loud Day” a “masterpiece.” The song is based on the story submission of two sisters in Colorado. Nothing Is Impossible is perfect for children and families who love to laugh. Learn more about the Story Pirates at www.storypirates.com.

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Mom’s

Gift Guide

oms appreciate thoughtful gifts, too, right? Sometimes we just need to nudge our families a little. I had a chance to review a range of gift ideas this year — feel free to clip our 2018 Mom “Stocking Stuffer” gift guide and post on the fridge.

Look Good, Feel Good You can’t go wrong with jewelry to look good and I found two beautiful ideas for this year’s gift list. The Mama XO Necklace from Isabelle Grace is a sweet reminder how much the name “mama” means. Send (or receive) love and a hug with this mixed metal piece on a dainty chain. ($59 from IsabelleGraceJewelry.com)

If statement jewelry is more your style, the very sparkly Plaid Nouveau Collection from Chloe + Isabel may be the perfect fit. Colorblocked emerald and teal with pave crystal earrings and bracelet will absolutely turn heads. ($88 from ChloeandIsabel.com) If “feel good” is your favorite treat, check out Warm Human’s Solid Aromatherapy Scents. Visit WarmHuman.com to find your scent with “shop the feeling.” I tried relaxed, calm, peaceful (can you see where I’m headed…) and Blue Chamomile came up each time. Hint, hint! The scent is soft and you can wear on your skin or in your hair. ($14.95 from WarmHuman.com) Newton & Co’s Spanish Hand Salve is bliss on dry winter skin. My hands just can’t get enough. It’s made with hempseed oil and deeply moisturizes without leaving the skin feeling greasy. The scent is “Spanish Sage” and mixes white sage, lavender and Myrrh. ($9 at NewtonPlus.co)

Send (or receive) love and a hug with the Mama XO Necklace from Isabella Grace.

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A strong eyebrow can make a real difference and Medford, Ore.-based SurvivorEyes has a creative eyebrow kit that has — hands down — the best brow pencil and brushes I’ve ever used. SurvivorEyes brow kits are designed & created by a breast cancer survivor to create natural-looking, beautiful brows that are easy to apply and last all day. The founder quickly realized that lots of people need great brow kits and this one delivers and does so with a beautiful purpose — each purchase supports charities that help those struggling with hair loss. The kit comes with templates to match the size and shape of your natural brows, a pencil and a blending brush. ($19.95 at SurvivorEyes.com)

There’s really nothing like a great facial moisturizer, am I right? With dry (ahem, “maturing”) skin. I’m always on the lookout for new products to try. Brevena sent me a day and night moisturizer to try and both make your skin feel soft, smooth and yes, even a little lighter, tighter and brighter. It has something called a “Macro B Complex,” which the company says is the special sauce. ($159 for both day and night from Brevena.com or Amazon)

Treat Yo’Self Goetze’s Candy Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year — not familiar with that name? You may know it better by one of its candy brands - Cow Tails. A box full of caramel creams could not have made me happier. Caramels are my favorite. Whether eating right out of the wrapper or incorporating it into one of the delicious recipes the company has on its website, these little gems will make your day, too. You can find them at Fred Meyer, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. So, let’s be real. Chocolate and caramel creams are really the way to your heart. At least that’s true for me. OCHO Candy (Organic+CHOcolate) sent me some minis and some candy bars to try in lots of flavors and fillings. The caramel and peanut butter are my personal fave, but any of them will make a fun, inexpensive stocking stuffer that’s miles above regular grocery store chocolate. ($1.99+ at Albertson’s, Safeway, Whole Foods or OCHOCandy.com) OCHO Candy is really the way to Mom’s heart!

Meal subscription boxes are everywhere these days! Spice Madam is a new take on this idea — rather than all the ingredients, you get the spices unique to a particular county or region of the world with recipes, trivia about the country and tips for how to prepare an authentic meal. Spice Madam sent me a box from Greece and it smelled so good. I love Greek food and immediately tried the tzatziki recipe. Yum! The recipes ranged from simple (like the tzatziki) to more complex (baklava). The meal would be easy to customize, adjust for dietary restrictions or modify for picky eaters. (The subscription is $20/month at SpiceMadam. com and Oregon Family readers can get $10 off with code OREGONFAMILY10) My favorite thing to do when I’m cooking (like with the Spice Madam recipes) is listen to music. A little hip-hop on the bluetooth speaker, a little olive oil in the pan and off we go. I love the JBL GO 2. It’s small and compact, comes in 12 different colors and has five hours of playtime. ($39.95 from JBL.com or Amazon) Stocking stuffers for moms don’t have to be complicated. Feel good, look good and treat yo’self.

Movie Time

Best buddies.

by Bonnie L. Harris

Trending Friends Walt Disney Studios Rated: PG Now in theatres

e think we understand how the Internet works and how we’re connected by our electronic devices, but Disney’s hilarious new animated feature, Ralph Breaks the Internet, proves that what we know about our likes and dislikes, our hashtags and tweets, is only the tip of the Internet iceberg. On one level, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a riproaring cyber adventure that’s perfect family entertainment.

On another level, the film parodies our short attention spans and how we’re easily swayed by what’s happening on our screens. But trends aren’t what concer n best fr iends Ralph and Vanellope after her video game is accidentally damaged by an enthusiastic player. They’re more worried about how to find a replacement part so her game won’t be turned off forever. Their only choice is to literally sneak into the Internet to find a strange and

mysterious place called E-Bay. Ralph and Vanellope make it to E-Bay, but they’re forced to split up to try to earn enough money to pay for the precious part. While Ralph becomes an Internet sensation with his crazy online videos, Vanellope meets

FOR THE PARENTS Cosmic Connection Instant Family Paramount Pictures; Rated: PG-13 Now in theatres

eing a parent is the world’s hardest job, but it’s ten times tougher when you’re a foster parent for three high-spirited kids. Instant Family, directed by Sean Anders, is loosely based on his own crazy escapades as a foster dad and he’s turned his story into a wonderfully funny and truly charming film. The journey for newly-minted foster parents Pete and Ellie isn’t easy as they learn to cope with traumatized kids in their eight-week training seminar. Soon they meet an abundance of foster kids, but only

one really pushes their buttons. She’s a feisty teenager named Lizzy, and come to find out, she has two adorable siblings. Pete and Ellie decide Lizzie and Ellie connect.

Shank, who introduces her to a new and exciting video game called Slaughter Race. Ralph and Vanellope finally meet up again, but their friendship and their goals have changed, which causes Ralph to unleash a nasty virus to disable Slaughter Race. After she discovers what Ralph has done, Vanellope barely has time to be angry before Ralph’s virus escapes Slaughter Race and rampages across the Internet. Finally, Ralph and Vanellope join forces to mend their friendship in a crisis, and they also learn to let each other change and grow. No spoilers here, but watch out for those Disney princesses and be sure to stay to the end of the credits for a fun surprise.

to take on the threesome, but the honeymoon is short and soon the insanity of what they’ve done hits them. Slowly but surely, a family forms through laughter, tears, tantrums, and plenty of mayhem. Just when Pete and Ellie think they’re through the worst of it, Lizzie’s biological mother shows up and wants her children back. Eventually, she’s given custody and the noisy, messy, zany family of five returns to a quiet family of two. Not that all foster families turn out happily, but this one does so pass the Kleenex and enjoy!

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 8

’Tis the Season for Reducing Holiday Stress by Pilar Bradshaw, M.D., F.A.A.P. Eugene Pediatric Associates

or most children, the holidays are a lot of fun—they get a break from school, and they often get to visit with friends and family. But just as the holidays can create stress for adults, the busyness of the season can also be overwhelming for kids. As a pediatrician for over 25 years and as a mother, I’m happy to share with you some tips to maintain the calm when life gets busy.

PLAN AHEAD. Children need some degree of predictability, so discuss holiday plans well in advance. If you know your kids travel best in the morning, book an early flight, if possible. It’s never easy flying with young children, but sometimes having a smart travel plan helps.

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CREATE DOWNTIME. It’s easy to become overscheduled, so plan quiet activities, like listening to music, reading books or going for a walk. Time spent decompressing will help everyone maintain their energy.

STICK TO ROUTINES, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Regularity, when it comes to things like naps, baths and bedtime, is important, so try to keep to your normal schedule, especially when traveling.

SET A CALM EXAMPLE. If you allow yourself to get overloaded with obligations, it increases pressure and tension on your kids. Enjoy the little moments and decide that, no matter what happens, you will be grateful for this time with your children.

MAINTAIN FAMILY TRADITIONS, EVEN IF A PARENT IS ABSENT. Things like setting the table together, baking cookies or reading a favorite holiday book are what our children will pass on to their kids. Traditions create a grounding effect and let kids know that even though some things have changed, other things remain the same. 6Give back. The holidays are also a great time to help instill the importance of helping others. As a family, try to find ways to give, like donating toys to the Toys for Tots campaign, Bags of Love or other worthy organizations. Take time to talk with your kids—especially your tweens and teens— about ways to volunteer their time, which can have a significant impact in their life and in their community.

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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 8

A Dad’s Eye View by Rick Epstein

The Christmas Gift Quandary… or the Epstein Family Curse “S

o, Dad, what would you like for Christmas?” I would ask that question every year from the time I was 8 years old. And he’d say, “ White cotton handkerchiefs and chocolate.” He had no hobbies or vices to supply. He had interests, but if you got him a book, he never read it. Worse yet, his birthday was December 22. One year I led him to believe he was getting chocolate on his birthday, and then astonished him with HANKIES! Three days later, there was really no way to make the chocolate a surprise. Of course, when I was a kid, everyone already knew what I wanted for Christmas. A pony! It was part of my career plan. Once I had the pony, I would learn to ride and rope and shoot. Eventually I would go into the cattle business or possibly law-enforcement. I was flexible – but only up to a point. I would NEVER become a hired gun for a greedy cattle baron. Meanwhile, I was being sent to the wrong kind of school. The curriculum was full of math, science and literature, when I needed to be studying bronco busting, tracking and Indian sign language. Back when George W. Bush was fretting over No Child Left Behind, he should have been talking about No Child Taught a Bunch of Baloney

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

He Doesn’t Want to Know. I could have testified in Congress. Year after year, Christmas would come and go, leaving me pony-less. Even though every year Dad got exactly what HE wanted, it never made me bitter. By age 18, I needed a full-sized horse, but was mature enough to realize I’d never get one. I also realized that Dad’s lackluster hankiesand-chocolate wish list was that of a man without dreams. My brothers and I felt bad for him. That year, after Thanksgiving dinner, we asked Dad the annual question, and he astounded us by saying, “I want a crystal ball.” “Why?!” “I want to see into the future,” Dad said. He couldn’t have meant it. Dad was already a fortune-teller. He used cards. Not tarot cards – report cards. And mine indicated that I was failing at the useless studies that were being forced upon me and that someday soon I’d be not arresting hombres and roping cattle, but “digging ditches.” (And whose fault would THAT be?!) Dad relied on observation and experience to divine other elements of my future. At various times he predicted for me a shotgun wedding, alcoholism, crippling injury, scandal and imprisonment. No, Dad didn’t need a crystal ball; he just wanted to send his three sons on a special mission. It was pre-internet, so we took a train into the city and examined the Yellow Pages and made some phone calls and managed to find a magicians’ supply shop. Unfortunately the crystal balls in stock were big, showy, tacky things that lit up, spun around and turned colors. Dad would have hated them. But at a gift shop that carried leaded crystal, we found something more tasteful – a sphere the size of a plum that would look classy on his desk. When you looked through it, everything was upside-down. Dad was pleased; he’d set us on a quest and we’d come through for him. Our success made that Christmas stand out in our memories. Fast-forward a few decades, and now I’m the dad who’s impossible to gift. I do have hobbies, but ironing and napping don’t require a lot of accessories. Worse yet, I don’t trust myself around chocolate and I’ve inherited one-third of the largest hanky collection in America. (At funerals I bring extras and give one to anyone who looks the least bit sad.) Rick Epstein can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com. But take it easy; he’s feeling a bit frail just now.

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2019 - January 19, 26 and Februrary 2, 9, 16, 23 For more information: OSU Precollege Programs winter.oregonstate.edu

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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 8

Rescue Spotlight

eet Voyager! Voyager was our featured pet a few weeks ago but he is still with us and looking for his forever home! Voyager is super handsome and an adventurous pup who would love to go to a loving home that includes him in all outings. He loves toys (especially ones shaped like food), tummy rubs and is excellent at fetch! Weighing 80 lbs, Voyager is a 6 year old mixed breed. He is very smart but should go to a home where he would be the only animal and has a family that is willing to give him support and use positive reinforcement training methods. If you are interested in adopting a dog, or would like to learn more about adding a dog to your family, please visit 1st Avenue Shelter. 1st Avenue Shelter is open for adoptions and visits Tues. – Sat., 10am – 6 pm (closed Sun. & Mon.) at 3970 W. 1st Avenue in Eugene. For more information call (541) 844.1777 or visit www. green-hill.org

he Cat Rescue and Adoption Network presents BUD, a large and handsome black and gray tabby male kitty about 5 years old. When he was rescued as a stray, he was very thin and had an abscessed leg. He wasn’t even scared – he just wanted to be petted and loved on. With vet care and lots of TLC, Bud is healthy and all healed up now! He is a sweet, well-mannered boy who gets along great with people of all ages, and with his fellow foster kitties. He has tested positive for FIV (the feline immunodeficiency virus), which means that he must be an indoor-only kitty for his lifetime, but with some precautions to protect his immune system, he will likely lead a normal life. The virus can’t be passed to dogs or to people, and only to other cats through a deep bite wound. While he would be safest as an only cat, he does get along well with other mellow cats, and he is fine with friendly dogs. He has been thoroughly checked out by a vet, and has had a complete dental. If you are in the market for one loving, laid-back dude of a cat, then Bud is your guy! He has been tested for feline leukemia (he is negative), neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, defleaed and dewormed – plus you get a free vet visit. His adoption fee is $60, which is strictly to help cover our costs. For more information on how to meet Bud, send an email to adoptinfo@ CatRescues.org or call 541-225-4955 option 1 for more information.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

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