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pring is on it’s way! The Cherry Blossoms told me so. There’s nothing quite as fabulous as spring in Oregon. Except maybe Fall, and Summer, and even Winter. Exciting news for OK&F! I secured a booth at the county fair! My kids are psyched about spending days and days at the fair. I better start saving my dimes for all the amazing food there! So excitedI’ve never been! Had a great discussion on the Oregon Kids & Family facebook page about all the places that are close enough for a day-trip from Salem. I got some amazing ideas, and I think I will make it a continuing feature. I had fun learning about some pretty cool places that are nearby. Also- You will find a gentle shift toward more local news and events from here on out. I believe that becoming an integral part of the community means really focusing on what is going on here at home. There’s a lot to discuss about the Salem and Keizer area! This issue is an ode to Mother Earth, and a celebration of Earth and Arbor Day. Though I was SO sad to see the gorgeous trees by Sheri’s on South Commercial cut down- I love the fact that we have so many glorious trees to enjoy. Life in the Willamette Valley is pretty darn good. SooOoo... I quit my day job. OK&F now has 100% of my attention. You’ll soon be seeing our name everywhere! I intend to be Salem’s loud mouth for all things family related. If you have any news for me- let me know! You can add events online or give me a call or email. I’ve got you covered! yvette@oregonkidsandfamily.com
Happy Spring to you!
Yvette 5 Please say “I saw it in Oregon Kids and Family.” Thanks!
Visit us online www.oregonkidsandfamily.com ! 6
You can be a...
VEGGIE NINJA Try these tricks to sneak more vegetables into your family’s diet. Spinach is your friend! Sometimes convincing your finicky eaters that you are both on the side of good can be tricky. Blend frozen or fresh spinach with frozen blueberries, a splash of milk, and unflavored greek yogurt for a yummy smoothie, or freeze and make fruit-cicles! Sneaky parents can add cauliflower to mashed potatoes and nobody can tell the difference! Cue the ninja music, please! Kids may turn up their noses at veggies in spaghetti sauce, but hiding them in their meatballs is a totally legit move! Think of little meatloaf balls chock full of veggie goodness. “Beet” them at their whiny veggie faced game! Adding pureed beets to your pancake batter makes them an exciting shade of red so even the staunchest hater can’t resist the fun. Delicious muffins feel like dessert, and they can be- when you know they are your secret weapon for hiding squash and carrots. Eat up, little ninja kids! Visit our blog for recipes and more great ideas! www.oregonkidsandfamily.com
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Choosing Where to Give Birth in Oregon Table compiled by Ash Johnsdottir, CPM LDM. Ash Johnsdottir is a home birth midwife serving Corvallis and the Greater Willamette Valley. Go to willamettebirth.com or contact Ash at (541) 908-9188 to learn more.
Home Birth
Caregivers & Continuity
Midwives -The same Midwife you hire who has done all of your prenatal visits will also take care of you during labor and birth.
Birth Center
Hospital
Midwives- Most birth centers have a rotating call schedule for midwives- you get the midwife who is on call the night of your birth.
OBs & Midwives- Most hospital practices have a rotating call scheduleyou get the doctor or midwife who is working that night.
Home Birth & Birth Centers offer most of the same options for pain relief, comfort, & relaxation. -Water birth & hydrotherapy
Pain Relief & Relaxation Options
-Movement and position changes -TENS machine -Herbs & Aromatherapy -Acupressure -Midwifery care -Doula support
What Mothers Say
Access to some natural comfort measures like water birth varies. Hospitals offer these resources not available at home or in birth centers:
-Sterile Water Injections
-Regional anesthesia (epidural & spinal)
-Local anesthetics for suturing (if necessary)
-General anesthesia
-Other natural comfort measures
Safety
Each hospital and care provider is different, but options including doula and midwifery support are typically available.
-Narcotics
Out of hospital birth is appropriate and safe care for low risk mothers. Home Birth & Birth Centers offer the same level of safety and emergency resources. If a higher level care becomes necessary, transfer of care to a hospital facility is indicated.
Hospitals are the only appropriate place for the care of high risk mothers. Hospitals vary in the level of care that they can provide.
“Having a home birth was my dream, and I did it! My midwives were the best. I was ecstatic. The first time my husband and I slept in our own bed together with our new baby after the birth is one of my favorite memories of being a new mom! I am definitely going to have another home birth.”
“I was low risk but after talking to my husband we decided we would be most comfortable in the hospital. I wasn’t sure I wanted an ‘all-natural’ birth and I ended up being really glad I could get an epidural which really helped me relax! My doula was great!”
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“When my husband and I moved to Oregon, our savings were low and we decided to live with his parents for a bit until we saved up for a down payment on a house. I wanted to try for another home birth, but I didn’t want to give birth in his parents’ house. My birth center VBAC was amazing, I love my midwives!”
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Tantrums, back talk, slamming doors,
asserting independence, and emotional rollercoasters are some of the hallmarks of what has been categorized as the terrible two’s. But many parents experience a surge in these behaviors well after the toddler mark and wonder if they missed something important previously to cause this later heartache. In fact, something reminiscent of the toddler years is actually occurring: a massive restructuring of the brain. This preparation for adulthood occurs during the adolescent years (approximately ages 12-24). Dan Siegel, founder of Interpersonal Neurobiology (the study of how our brains change and grow in relationship to one another), describes four features of brain
development in his book Brainstorm: Novelty-seeking. The adolescent brain sees more potential rewards of a situation and downplays the risks. Social engagement. The adolescent brain is wired to seek connection in peer groups. There is a natural drive to expand outward from the core family unit. Increased emotional intensity. There is a quality of aliveness and vitality - that many adults miss later in life. Creative exploration. By questioning the way things have always been done and seeking innovative new solutions, the brain of today’s adolescent drives them to see beyond rules and rigid ideas. They find exceptions that cultivate “outside the box” thinking.
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How many of your biggest parenting challenges fall into one of these four categories? There are many opportunities to be cultivated with what we now know about the adolescent brain. And now, some additional biological and environmental findings cited by YogaCalm, a Portland-based program for children which educates the heart, mind, and body.
Changing and increasing external stressors and pressures. Declining
physical activity, overscheduling, sleep deprivation (their biological clocks are not wired to be up at 6 or 7am!), shifting behavior and academic expectations, and reduced parent time/changing family structures are among the top stressors impacting our tweens and teens. The combination of massive neural restructuring and increasing external stressors highlight the need for a societywide shift in how we view adolescence. This starts at home and schools, as we examine our parenting strategies and interactions using what we now know about this stage of development. “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” - Maya Angelou This rings as true for parents as it does for tweens and teens. As the more experienced group with the theoretically more developed brains, we must
stop commanding and demanding that our teenagers be different than they are wired to be, and relying on angry punishments and power-driven manipulations to get our way. We can unwittingly stomp on the innate aliveness and ingenuity blooming and cause irreverent rupture to the very relationship we are so desperately trying to hold onto. Let’s highlight the gifts of adolescence and learn the skills we need to model to our teens. maintaining healthy relationships, thinking critically using information from our hearts, brains, and intuition, and admitting when we have made a mistake and then make amends. Here are three solutions to begin shifting the cloud of negativity: Focus on the positive. Look again at the four features above - whatever is most challenging for you, find a healthy outlet for the positive side of it. Talk with your teen about these changes in the brain and collaboratively come up with solutions. Take an inventory of your teen’s stressors and resources: Reduce stressors and increase support.
Build inner tools for managing stress. Teens may at times give the appearance that they no longer need our guidance, and some days everything feels like a battle. Knowing the scientific reasons for the myriad of difficult behaviors they sometimes demonstrate could very well be a step toward peace and shared understanding.
(See the online version of this article for more information, a Stress/Resource Inventory worksheet, and a list of resources.)
Jenifer Trivelli is a Salem mom with a graduate degree in counseling and over a decade of experience working with families. She helps couples, parents, and kids understand each other better to create happier, more connected relationships. Connect on Facebook.com/JeniferTrivelliMS
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Specials are subject to change, we suggest that you call ahead!
Adam’s Rib
KIDS EAT FOR $3.95 EVERY DAY!!! 1210 State Street, Salem, OR 97301 www.adams-rib-smoke-house.com 503.362.2194
Original Roadhouse Grill KIDS EAT FREE !
with purchase of adult entree on Tuesdays 481 Lancaster Dr. NE Salem, OR 97301
Gilgamesh Brewing
KIDS UNDER 12 EAT FREE! Mondays, 1 free kids meal w/ purchase of adult meal. 2065 Madrona Ave SE Salem, Oregon
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Venti’s ( downtown location only ) KIDS EAT 1/2 PRICE !
with purchase of adult entree. After 4pm Sun & Mon Dine-in Only Kids 12 and under 325 Court ST NE Salem, OR 97302
Birdie’s Bistro
KIDS EAT HALF OFF on SUNDAY! with full priced adult entree 3860 River Rd N, Keizer, OR 503.393.2087 birdiesbistro.com
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FAMILY HEALTH FEATURE
Just as every baby is different, so is their
teething schedule and progress. Most babies show a first tooth around the age of 7 months. However, some babies can go till their first birthday gumming their food with no teeth in sight, while others can even be born with teeth! While it can be a guessing game for parents to predict their baby’s pearly whites, there are some tell-tale signs that your baby is teething. Excessive drooling, runny nose, rash, slight fever, tugging at the ears, etc can all be signs of teething. Some babies and toddlers ease through the teething phase while others can really be downright miserable.
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Teeth generally appear in this order: 6-10 months: Bottom middle 8-12 months: top middle 9-13 months: top incisors 10-16 months- bottom incisors 16-22 months - upper canines 17- 23 months lower canines First molars typically show up after baby’s first birthday with the top two leading the way at 13-19 months. Following close behind, are the lower molars at 14-18 months. (Poor baby!) By the time your kiddo is three, they will have grown a full set of primary teeth. That’s 20 teeth in that tiny mouth! Tips for easing teething pain: Typical suggestions are for parents to try non-medicinal methods first, which include giving the child something clean and safe to chew on, like a teething ring. If plastics are of a concern to parents, a clean cloth or burp rag to chew can help. Wet the cloth, squeeze out the excess water, and throw it in the refrigerator or freezer. If your baby is on solids, try giving them a carrot to gnaw on but keep a vigilant watch for choking hazards. Always be careful that the baby is chewing on age-appropriate items without small parts that could be dangerous. Many dentists will caution you against use of topical pain relievers and numbing agents which contain benzocaine, that are sold over the counter for pediatric use. Use these products with care, and consult your dentist to discuss the pros and cons, in order to make an informed decision.
When to visit the dentist? The Academy of Pediatric Dentists reccomends visiting a dentist around your baby’s first birthday. They will show you how to properly care and clean your babies teeth to keep them shiny and healthy. How often you visit the dentist is a decision that you will jointly make based on your child’s oral health. Typically visits are scheduled every six months for check-ups. So... What about the tooth fairy? You can expect a visit from the tooth fairy beginning around your child’s sixth birthday. Again, all children are different, and some may lose them earlier, or later. The teeth are shed in the same order that they came in, typically from the center out, with the molars being the last to loosen their grip, and fall out. There is nothing cuter than the gap-toothed smile in elementary school, and most baby teeth will be out by the time your child is 12 years old, to be replaced with 32 permanent teeth, counting those pesky wisdom teeth. Keep those pearly whites healthy! Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. With guidance from the dentist, you can establish a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments to learn and teach your children. When added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, you will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits. How do I know if we will need braces? Your child’s dentist should be able to assess any issues and direct you to an orthodontist. Orthodontic treatment most commonly begins between ages 8 and 14. Some problems, however, are best addressed early, even while mostly baby teeth are present. Orthodontic care is not just a cosmetic treatment, and with evolving technology, it can go a long way toward giving your child a beautiful and healthy smile.
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Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival Friday, March 18, 9am- 6pm. Until May1st. 33814 S. Meridian Rd. Woodburn 97071 The Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest is an invitation from our family to yours to enjoy all things that make spring in the Northwest. Stroll through 40 acres of stunning beauty, experience expansive views of vineyards, distant mountains, and a few mud puddles. Fresh flowers, food, and fun for the entire family! www.woodenshoe.com
Children’s Ettiquette Tea Monday, March 21, 11 am-12 pm Historic Deepwood Estate 1116 Mission St, Salem $25 // $22.50 Members of Deepwood Sign ‘em up for this fun and informative etiquette tea. We encourage everyone to dress in their finest to enjoy this kid friendly menu. We will have our resident Etiquette Experton hand. This is a kid only event, for elementary age children. If you would like to drop your child off, please fill out the emergency contact/permission form at drop-off. historicdeepwoodestate.org
Family Day- Polk County Museum Saturday,March 18, 1:30pm- 4pm Polk County Museum, Stafrin Room 560 Pacific Hwy. W Rickreall, OR 97371 Fun activities for the kids include a scavenger hunt, dress-up and vintage crafts. Demonstrations on spinning, weaving, quilting and blacksmithing. Civil War re-enactors. Free homemade butter and biscuits. Free admission. 503-623-6251 www.polkcountyhistoricalsociety.org Cherry Blossom Day Saturday, March 19, 10am - 2pm Oregon State Capital -Kite flying demonstrations, Martial Art demonstration, Children make-your-own kite kits Gyotaku (fish painting), Japanese Tea Ceremony Cherry samples, Koto music, Japanese dance and chorus performances, Tower tours to the Oregon Pioneer at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 1:30 pm This event is free and open to the public.
Nature Art Spring Break Class (Grades 3-5) Mon, Mar 21 - Tue, Mar 22, 10 am-2 Straub Environmental Center 1320 A Street, Salem, OR, United States Sign your student up for an exciting two-day (10 am to 2 pm), class about Oregon’s natural beauty! Cap it off with a Friday field trip (separate sign-up) to put new skills to work! straubenvironmentalcenter.org Family Concert With Eric Herman Tuesday, March 22, 10:15 am Loucks Auditorium 645 Liberty St SE, Salem Children and their grown-ups will be singing, dancing, clapping and laughing with family favorite Eric Herman. www.ericherman.com
HAVE AN EVENT TO SHARE? Email us! Yvette@OregonKidsandFamily.com or submit it via our website!
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Easter at the Mall Sunday, March 26, 11 am– 3pm Lancaster Mall 831 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem Kids 10 and under will enjoy..giant balloon egg hunt,kids carnival games, and prizes. There will also be an entertainment stage and lots of giveaways by our sponsors and participating merchants. OMSI $2 Day! Sunday,April 3, 9:30am- 5:30 pm OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214 Explore the museum and all exhibits for just $2 per person on the first Sunday of every month! Submarine Tours, Theater and Planetarium shows are also reduced to $5 per person, or less with applicable discounts. www.omsi.edu Friends of Library Book sale Friday, April 8- Saturday, April 9 10am-5:30 Salem Library-Anderson rooms A & B 585 Liberty St. SE Salem Ticket Pricing: Free Friends of Salem Library Spring Book Sale Books $.75-$1.25 Children’s books $.50, AV $.50-$1.00 $4.00 bag day on Sunday Super Hero Run Saturday, April 9, 9 am Riverfront City Park Join the Marion & Polk County CASA programs on April 9th for an EPIC Super Hero Race. Register soon, prices increase on Feb. 25th. All proceeds will go towards supporting the recruitment and training of CASA volunteers who advocate for the best interest of abused and negelcted children. https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/Salem/CASARUN Santiam Canyon Father-Daughter Ball Saturday April 9 5pm- 7:30pm 757 West Locust St Stayton, OR 97383 The Stayton Public Library Foundation proudly presents our 4th Annual Ball for fathers and their 4 to 18-year old daughters. Join us for an evening of food, dancing, singing and fun. 503-769-9658 www.staytonlibraryfoundation.org
Just Between Friends Children’s Clothing Consignment Sale Thursday, April 21st - Sunday, April 24th Portland Expo Center- Hall A Portland Free Admission - Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bags.Parking is $8 per space, per entry. Carpools of three or more are $7. With over 48,000 square feet of clean and well-organized shopping goodness, it’s the one sale you can’t afford to miss! And anyone can consign with us! http://www.portland.jbfsale.com Shakespeare at the Market Saturday, April 16, 9 am - 3pm Salem Saturday Market, 865 Marion St NE The Salem Saturday Market is partnering with Salem Theatre Networkand Enlightened Theatrics who are putting together 4 performances each Saturday in April. Earth Day at Oregon Gardens April 23, 10am-4pm 879 W. Main St. Silverton, OR 97381 FREE Admission to the Garden on April 23, 2016. We encourage you to make a $5 donation when you bring your family to enjoy this day of free education and entertainment. www.oregongarden.org Salem Bicycle Club Monster Cookie Ride Sunday, April 24, 8:00am State Capitol Mall 900 Court St , Salem The Monster Cookie Metric Century Bicycle Ride is the Salem Bicycle Club’s premier spring event. This will be the 40th year of the ride. The Oregonian newspaper has ranked it the 3rd best ride in Oregon. Starts at the State Capitol Mall in Salem and takes riders over back roads to Champoeg State Park and back. Open to all bicyclists. Each participant must wear a helmet that meets CPSC requirements. To register for the ride go to www.salembicycleclub.org, or mail-in the registration form. Email: MHSANG@aol.com 17 Please say “I saw it in Oregon Kids and Family.” Thanks!
3 day-trips near Salem. McMinnville, OR With a city park playscape to rival any we’ve seen in Oregon, McMinnville tops our list of kid-worthy places to visit. Especially when you’re on a budget. Summertime visitors can enjoy a water park to cool little warm bodies. After hours playing in the park- refresh yourselves with a trip to Serendipity Ice Cream. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Decadent doesn’t even describe it! Stroll down picturesque Third Street and revel in the delight of small town, America. Distance- 38 minutes. Silver Falls State Park, OR Maybe our choice of Silver Falls seems obvious- but hear me out. I had no idea there was a playscape there. No idea! Google “North Canyon Nature Play Area” and you’ll find the most unique playscape. With a giant crow’s nest, complete with eggs, a tree you can actually climb inside, a fort and a kid-friendly hiking trail- you might even forget about the amazing falls that abound. If you’re too tired to hike, no worries- you can even see a few falls from the lot. Distance from Salem- 43 minutes. Gaston, OR Let’s talk teenagers. If your kids are a little older, possess a sense of adventure bigger than Oregon itself, and perhaps you won the lottery- there’s a pretty fabulous adventure park just 40 miles from Salem. Tree to Tree has an aerial obstacle course, zip lines, a tween adventure course, and a kids adventure village. Though it is pricey, this could be a memory of a life-time. Check out www.tree2treeadventurepark.com grab your nerve, and go for it, Tarzan. Distance from Salem- about 37 minutes. Salem is no doubt the perfect distance from just about everything. Within an hour each direction, there is a plethora of amazing and beautiful opportunties. Check out our website, www.oregonkidsandfamily.com and Pinterest page for even more day-trip ideas. Pack those kiddos, some pork rinds, and root beer and get going. Roll down the windows and blow that city stink off ya! :) If you know of a familyfriendly place that blows these away, email me and let me know! I’d love to hear from you. Happy trails and safe drives to you- yvette@oregonkidsandfamily.com
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Promote environmental awareness by teaching your children to be stewards of the Earth. Here are some simple and inexpensive ideas to help your child find a healthy respect for this wonderful planet that we share. Visit www.oregonkidsandfamily.com for more ideas! Build a fairy garden! ( See our Blog for samples ) Make a play Garden for kids to dig and plant in. Make a Birdfeeder! Pinecones and Peanut butter are easy! Try growing wheat grass indoors. It grows super-fast! Make a Nature Box diorama with leaves, grass and other finds. Explore how to make your own paper! See links on how to’s on our website. Use leaves and construction paper for Sun Prints! Throw an earth friendly party! Keep it “green” with reusable plates, and upcycled decor. Teach your kids to compost. Bring in some worms, even. Eww! Two toilet paper rolls, painted up and glued side by side make pretty cool binoculars! Challenge tweens and teens to organize a shoe drive. Decorate a reusable shopping bag together. Reuse materials for arts and crafts- magazines, wrapping paper, cards, etc. Create an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt using items like pinecones, leaves and flowers. Pick up trash in your neighborhood. Study symbiosis together in a neighborhood park. Collect recyclables from friends and make a trip to the local recycling center. Trace around a small hand and arm to make a tree, color it and make it fabulous! Make bark and leaf rubbings using a pencil and paper. Create a terrarium for your child’s room.
Alyssa: My mom is a play therapist, and she introduced me to a book by Kim Meeder, who runs Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend. After reading her about how much the horses and children connected, I wished I lived closer so that I could volunteer there and experience it, myself. A couple months later I saw a poster at my school for the Boot Scootin’ Benefit. I didn’t know what Love Reins Ranch was, but after the first day volunteering, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. OKF: What do you find most fulfilling about working with Love Reins? Alex: Knowing that I am able to make children feel loved and special is so satisfying. Their weekly progress is remarkable. The summer I began, we had a typically non-verbal rider out at the barn. She looked at me with a smile on her face and asked, “Hi! What’s your name? How are you?” Milestones, no matter how little, are a wonder to behold. The children’s excitement and their parent’s pride will always be the most fulfilling. Alyssa: Something I find fulfilling about working with Love Reins is the connection with the children. Each child is so unique and fun to be around. I love getting to know them and see them progress in the
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing two young ladies in Salem who are making a big difference in our community. Meet Alex and Alyssa, the A team behind this years Boot Scootin’ Benefit which benefits Love Reins Ranch. OKF: Could you begin by telling me about Love Reins, and how it benefits the Salem and surrounding areas? Alyssa: Love Reins is a nonprofit located in West Salem that offers free equine therapy to kids with special needs. Other organizations like ours charge for their services.. Each child receives an hour of individualized attention where they can choose to do art, ride a horse, play games, or other things. Horse therapy can be very beneficial to kids with special needs due to the right-left brain connection that happens when they ride. We’ve had multiple children say their first words on the back of a horse! OKF: How did you find Love Reins? Alex: At the end of my sophomore year I was looking for an opportunity to volunteer. Ever since I was five, I’ve wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine so I wanted a place where I could work with animals. One day in class I started talking to a friend, who told me about Love Reins. I loved the blend of working with animals and children as I adore both. That summer, I volunteered consistently, having found my perfect fit.
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program. It makes my day when a child wants me to sit next to them, for a game, or to shoot hoops with them because it shows me how much of a positive influence we can be in these children’s lives. It also shows how you don’t have to do anything extraordinary to make a difference, sometimes all you have to do is be there for them. OKF: Taking on a big benefit like Boot Scootin’ is brave! What’s been the most surprising thing that you’ve discovered while putting it all together? Alex: The outpouring of support from the community and the other volunteers was a shock. Knowing how successful the 2015 benefit was, taking the event on was an intimidating task! Though daunting, I would never trade this experience. If it weren’t for my amazing partner-in-crime, Alyssa, I would have ripped out my hair long ago! We have a strong support net of people rooting us on and wishing us the best from our school, families, sponsors and Love Reins. I believe we have put together an event to be proud of, which is all I can truly ask. Alyssa: The most surprising thing for me was how much work goes into planning a benefit. I helped last year, but now that I am actually planning it I realize how many people it takes to make the event possible. Without sponsors like Green Villa Barn who donates their amazing facility for us to use every year, Little Lois Cafe with sandwiches and soup, ABC Music and Willamette Valley Music who donate guitars, Keizer Appliance who donated a dining room table and all the other generous businesses who, we wouldn’t have a benefit. It also wouldn’t be possible without the amazing volunteers at Love Reins, who make time to make this work. I would never have been able to do this alone. I’m so glad Alex also decided to take on planning the benefit this year. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. OKF: Do you have any big ideas how the community can help Love Reins continue to do amazing things for the Salem area? Alex: Awareness and education is vital for our support. Often people aren’t familiar with how equine therapy works and the wonders it can do. Many can become Love Reins sponsors, volunteers
or donate to and attend the Boot Scootin’ Benefit in the spring, each year! There’s also our annual Hoofin’ It Run. Everyone can take part - including dogs! The run is also handicapped accessible with paths for people in wheelchairs. Alyssa: Donations are so appreciated! We are always in need of new art supplies, bubbles, etc. Becoming a volunteer or even just checking us out at the Boot Scootin’ Benefit are all great ways to help. OKF: Teenagers can sometimes get a bad rap. What do you feel is the biggest misconception about your generation? Alex: The perceived reputation of our generation is not a positive one, and this view has a profound effect on me. While there are those who fit the stereotype, there are plenty who see, understand, and want to fix the problems in the world - myself being one of them. Seeing people my age take initiative to find volunteer opportunities and take an active role grants hope that my generation will do great good in the world. Passion and drive fuels teenage volunteers; they do it because they have found something worth advocating for. Alyssa: I’ve heard my generation called narcissistic, self-centered, disinterested, and lazy. It’s difficult because even though Alex and I are event coordinators, I feel like some don’t take us seriously because we’re teenagers. I think some people believe my generation spends all their time on social media and don’t really care about what’s going on in the world, but my experiences have been the opposite. Many of my peers volunteer and work to make the world a better place, and I think social media can make that process easier. My generation is hardworking and wants to make a difference. People just have to get rid of their previous biases. OKF: Thank you so much for your time, girls. I know you have a lot to do for the benefit, so I won’t keep you. You are doing great things. Thank you for making a difference to families around Salem! To find out how to make a difference at Love Reins Ranch, visit their website www.lovereinsranch.org or find them on facebook.com/lovereinsranch., or write them at P.O. Box 7233 Salem, OR 97303
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If you think someone is being hurt or is in danger, call 911 immediately. Report child abuse to a local office of the Department of Human Services or a local police department, county sheriff, county juvenile department, or Oregon State Police.You can also call 1-855-503SAFE. This toll-free number allows you to report abuse or neglect of any child to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Marion County Dedicated child abuse hotline: 503-378-6704 Child Abuse Intervention Center- Liberty House 503-540-0288 offers a
safe, comfortable, child-friendly environment for children and their families who are facing concerns of abuse or neglect. Our experienced staff members know how to help children and teens, and can provide support so children and their family members can get the help they need with fewer appointments and more coordination.
Family Building Blocks- 503-566-2132 provides early intervention that builds successful and
resilient children, strengthens parents, and preserves families through an array of comprehensive and integrated early childhood and therapeutic family support services.
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Fill in the blanks with the names of trees! Money is called c_ _ _.
FUNNY TREE JOKES
For safety, wear a h_ _ _et.
Q: What is a tree’s least favorite month? A: Sep-timber!
To get wet is to s _ _ _.
Q: How do trees get on the internet? A: They log in.
If it’s not squishy, it’s _ _ _m. The bones in your back are called your s_ _ _ _.
Q: How can you tell that a tree is a dogwood tree? A: By its bark!
A fancy hat might have a _ _ _ _e.
Q: Did you hear the one about the elm tree? A: It’s a corny one.
Really? You gave up already? Fine- here are the answers. :) 10 differences: solar panel is missing, flower is gone, face on globe, hair tie is different color, prongs on eco-flower are gone. girls shoes are missing, trees are facing a different way cloud is missing, missing a leaf on the plant, eyelashes are gone. Fill in the Blanks: Ash, Elm, Oak, Fir, Pine, Plum.
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