0112 RM Parent

JANUARY 2012 • rmparent.com

Happy

Nutrition resolutions Talking with teens

baby

The great indoors Child sexual abuse Saving watts

Favorite 2012

Family

Awards See page 17 for details

YOUTH

SPECIAL SECTION:

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YouR kidS’ Stuff foR

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Mon. - Sat. 9am to 7pm Sundays 10am to 6pm

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We Pay Ca$H For Gently Used Clothing, Sizes 0-26

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JANUARY 2012

Departments Perspective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Facing up to child sexual abuse—when it happens way over there, it’s easy to think it doesn’t happen here

AS WE GROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Back off the back talk—promoting two-way communication with your teen

Fa m i ly a c t i v i t i e s . . . . . . . .10 The great indoors—take an active or educational excursion this month

HEALTHY l i v i n g . . . . . . . . 12 Knowledge is power—Check out a watt reader and learn about your energy consumption

C o m m u n i t y n e w s . . .14

Recycle your Christmas tree • Two Greeley parks undergo renovations • PVHS and Colorado choice Health Plans launch health benefits program • Winter Farmer’s Markets

N UTRITIO N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Nutrition resolutions—make the New Year a healthy one...gradually

C a l e n d a r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

T i m e o u t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 A day indoors—of why Billy can’t run or jump or kick

School District News Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Hands of clay, TSD receives Legacy Foundation grant, Legacy for Lu a success, Educator of the Year nominations

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

CenturyLink makes donation, coordinator says volunteers are awesome, calendar of events, explore the options for kindergarten, half- and full-day kindergarten programs, school choice options, McKinney Backpack Program provides food to students, PSD donates turkeys to Larimer County Food Bank

Greeley-Evans District 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Brentwood earns $10,000 in music contracts, snow closure make-up day set, open-enrollment applications, latest Star Student video

Lunchbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Special Section Youth Program & Activity Guide Plus, School Directory

UTH ProgrYOam & Activ

ity

JANUARY 2012 www.RMPARe NT.cOM

guide

FiNDiNg THe FiT 6 ScHOOl cAleNDAR S 50

Program Directory BY cATegORY AlPHABeTicAl

Find the right school for your child. Explore the options: neighborhood, charter, specialized programs, nontraditional, independent and more.

Features

18 Happy baby, happy parents

The moment they’re born, babies make parents believe nothing else matters except for making sure baby is happy and well. If your baby is sleeping well, eating well, and getting comfort when she or he cries, you’re well on your way to getting some of your life back.

20 B ad touch

When the victims of sexual abuse are children, reactions are heightened, because having sexual relations with a child is heinously wrong on every level possible. Unfortunately, talking about it doesn’t seem to be okay either. Parents, really all of us, can takes steps to protect children from becoming victims of sexual abuse.

School menus for Poudre, Thompson, Greeley-Evans, and Windsor

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20 22

perspective

Facing up to child sexual abuse

When it happens way over there, it’s easy to think it doesn’t happen here

N

o one really wants to talk about it. That’s the point with which Kim Sharpe starts her story about child sexual abuse. We just don’t want to believe that it happens,not here anyway.

We don’t want to believe that it usually is a relative or close friend of the family that assaults our children.

I’m wondering what part we all play in child sexual abuse. I’m not saying that any of us condone it. In fact we condemn it on its face as wrong, wrong, wrong. But why does it still exist? Are not the assistant coach who saw Sandusky, and everyone else who kicked it up the line, also culpable in this, possibly, most heinous of crimes, a crime that can shape a young victim’s life.

I’m not saying that you or I have witnessed something firsthand on this level and turned a blind eye. But now that we know (and if you read Kim’s story, then you know) that this is a threat in all communities and that it transcends socio-economic lines, can we choose to ignore it?

Craig Secher, founder of Realities for Children, has seen the threat of abuse and neglect for decades. He has seen what it does to individuals and to communities and he has made it his mission to, as he says, “shine a light on the darkness of child abuse.” The NightLights tree on College Avenue just south of Mulberry is an example of what this organization has done to raise money and awareness to fight abuse and neglect. It was a chilling moment, (literally and figuratively) to stand with a large group of people on Dec. 1 and watch the NightLight’s tree light up in blue, the international color of the struggle against child abuse and neglect.

We’re all busy and there are so many things that need our attention in this world. So if you’re feeling as though you want to do something to help fight child abuse, but you’re not sure where to start, give them a call (484-9090) and see what you can do. They need volunteers and donations for starters.

We’ve enthusiastically supported Realities for Children almost since we launched RMParent, and it has been over-the-top encouraging to see the business community, the social-services community, the lawenforcement community and the community at large, working together under their coordination to stamp out child abuse and neglect in Larimer County. And now they’ve launched a branch in Weld County.

I would like to thank Kim Sharpe for taking on the challenge of writing this story that very directly confronts this very difficult issue as she challenges us not to ignore what makes us uncomfortable.

I was going to write about New Year’s resolutions, but when I sat down to pound something out, this is what emerged.

In any case, let’s resolve to make this year a great year and to treat each day, each moment, in fact, like the wonderful gift it is.

Cheers, —Scott Titterington, publisher

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JANUARY 2012•VOLUME 16, NUMBER 8 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Calendar editor Aly Titterington calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES Sara Hansen, (970)310-9850 sara.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Wendee Brungardt, Sharon Klahn, Rob’s Bike Courier Service COVER PHOTO RM Parent magazine: iStockphoto.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katie Harris, Richard Keller, Ann Schimke, Kim Sharpe, Lynn Utzman-Nichols ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING 825 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2012 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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as we grow and ‘What-in-the-world-were-youthinking?!’ Stating the broken rule and consequence and adding a ‘Want to talk about it?’ should suffice.

Back off the back talk

Promoting two-way communication with your teen l ynn u t z m an - n i c h o l s

S

o your teen is experimenting with talking back. What’s a parent to do? Telling him ‘because I said so’ doesn’t work any more and grounding him for his entire high school career isn’t an option. You’re just going to have to start over. Keep the house rules you have established but throw away the simple problem-solving tactics of giving orders and telling your children how to handle what comes their way. It’s time to balance listening and exploration with advice and opinion. That means talking with, not at, and listening to hear rather than for a chance to interject. It takes more work, but it’s worth it. In the end you’ll have teens that talk rather than talk back.

Practice two-way communication Adolescence is about kids reinventing themselves. Kids need to break away so they can define themselves and grow into independent adults. If you don’t want a 30-something in your

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house in 15 years, allow for some independent thinking today. Here’s how to promote it: First off, resist giving lectures and passing judgment. You may be thinking, ‘I can’t believe you did that!’ But don’t say it. Instead, say something like: ‘That sounds dangerous, tell me more about it.’

Or, ‘What do you think about that?’ Try not to react. Nothing stops a conversation like anger and you will most likely be greeted with hostility. A conversation can’t be productive when someone is put on the defensive.

Instead, ask open-ended questions that get your teen thinking and sharing.

More than anything teens want to make their own decisions. When parents jump in and tell them what to do, they get the message that mom or dad thinks they are still a child. That’s when they stop coming to you to talk. Of course, if your child shares about risky behavior you have to address it. But do it in a calm, direct manner free of ‘I-told-you-so!’

Establish ground rules and set consequences Two-way communication won’t hold up unless it has a strong foundation of established do’s and don’ts. That is, a few, good old-fashioned house rules.

Families cannot be democracies. The house is yours and you get to decide what rules must be followed by those who live in it. Go ahead, breathe a sigh of relief. You get to keep those rules about no foul language or physical fighting and no video games or texting until school work and chores are done.

You even get to add a few more—like curfews, dating, no drinking or drugs, and having to check in when plans change. Established rules and consequences help keep things cut and dry— a rarity during the teen years. Keep consequences related to the crime, for example driving with extra kids than the one allowed equals no car for a few weeks. Or, coming in a half-hour late equals one hour earlier next time. Just make sure they know the consequence to breaking the rule beforehand.

Give the gift of time The most important way to promote strong communication with your teen is to simply spend time with him or her.

Spending time shows that you are committed to your child and the family and that you care. It is a critical first step towards open communication. Spending time together is not only good for communication but adds to life success.

Teens that have dinner with their families at least five nights a week got higher grades, had less stress and better eating habits, and were less likely to misuse substances, according to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA).

If all else fails, stop and think about what you’d like to hear if you screwed up. Most likely, you’d wish for justice and a chance to try again.

Dreaming of Ponies?

Gargot Farms Riding Academy is now accepting students of all ages and abilities • Individual instruction and small group activities • After school and Saturday lessons available • Safe, trained horses and ponies • Indoor and outdoor arenas • Equine-assisted psychotherapy with Dr. Margot Nacy (for children and teens) • NEW! Ponies for Preschoolers! with instructor, Dana Lessie

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This holiday season...

it’s

!

E E R F

}

Recycle youR chRistmas tRee

PlEasE REmovE all dEcoRations FRom youR tREE, including tinsEl, mEtal hooks, and nails. Plastic bags must also bE REmovEd.

dEcEmbER 26, 2011—JanuaRy 17, 2012 (only) When it’s time to dispose of Christmas trees, residents can drop them off at the following City & County sites:

❶ ❷ ❸ ❹ ❺

Edora Park, 1420 E. stuart (Tennis court parking lot) Larimer Cty Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd., Mon.-Sat., 8am-4:30pm Rolland Moore Park, 2201 S. Shields St. (Parking lot, S.E. corner) Streets Facility, 625 Ninth St. (S.W. corner of Vine and Lemay) Wellington Recycling Drop-Off Site (Corner of 6th St. and Grant Ave.) Program Sponsored By: Larimer County Solid Waste Dept. & City of Fort Collins Environmental Services Div., 970.221.6600 • fcgov.com/recycling

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family activities

The great indoors

Take an active excursion this month K A TI E H A R R IS

J

ust because you’re stuck indoors doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in the house.

Bundle up the kids and head to one of northern Colorado’s indoor entertainment centers for fun and exercise, minus the single digit temperatures.

Indoor Inflatable Playgrounds Bound through bounce houses, giant inflatable slides and obstacle courses at these indoor play areas, where you will also find toddler areas and lounges.

• Bounce ww.bounceloveland.com, 1020 S. Lincoln w Ave (Hwy 287) Loveland 80537, 970-5931800, info@bounceloveland.com Hours: M-F: 10-8pm; Sa: 9-9pm; Su:

10-7pm Cost: Ages 4-10: $8; Ages 2-3: $5; Age 1: $3; 0 and adults: free Discount Days: $5 admission for all ages on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Twilight Hours: $5 admission for all ages M-Th, 5-8pm; F-Sa, 6-9pm; Su, 5-7pm.

• Jumpin

ww.jumpin-fun.com, 6065 Sky Pond Dr. Ste. w N118 Loveland 80538, 970-776-9756 jumpin@ourbiz.comcastbiz.net Hours: Su-Th: 10-8pm; F-Sa: 10-9pm Cost: Ages 2-10: $8; Age 1: $4; 0 and

adults: free

Discount Days: $1 off regular entry fee on

Thursdays.

Happy Hours: M-Th after 5pm: Ages 2-10:

$5; Age 1: $3.

Mall play areas Let the kids burn some energy at one of our local malls’ indoor soft play areas.

• Foothills Mall

www.shopfoothills.com, 215 E. Foothills Pkwy, Ste. 220 Fort Collins 80525, 970-226-5555 Hours: M-Sa: 10-9pm; Su: 11-6pm •G reeley Mall www.shopgreeleymall.com, 2050 Greeley Mall Greeley 80631, 970-356-4255 Hours: M-Sa: 10-9pm; Su: 12-6pm 10

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Playhouses Opportunities abound for physical, manipulative, sensory, quiet and pretend play for all ages of children at a local playhouse.

Socks are required.

•C ool Beans www.coolbeansplayhouse.com/ 4019 S. Mason St. #5 Fort Collins 80525 970-266-1135 Hours: M-Sa: 10-6pm; Su: 11-3pm Cost: Monthly Pass: One year upfront:

$240 (equal to $20/month); one year monthly: $30/month; month to month: $36/month; one month only: $45/month Drop-in pass: 0-6 months: free; 6-12 months: $3; 1 year and up: $6 Roller Skating There’s nothing quite like some roller skating to warm up on a cold day!

•R ollerland Skate Center

ww.rollerlandskatecenter.com, 324 South w Link Ln., Fort Collins, 970-482-0497 Hours: T/Th: 6-8pm; W: 10-12pm (ages 6

and under), 1-3pm and 6-8pm; F: 7:3010:30pm (teen night); Sa: 12am-10pm; Su: 1-5:30pm.

Cost: T/Th: $4.50; W: 10-12pm and 1-3pm: $3, 6-8pm: $4.50; F: $6; Sa/Su: $5.50. Roller skate rentals are $1. Roller blade rentals are $3.

Open Gyms These gyms have hours specifically for small children to explore and play.

• Premier Gymnastics of the Rockies www.premiergymnastics.net 174 12th St. SE, Loveland 970-663-3173 Hours: Preschool Open Gym (ages 18

mos-6 yrs.): F: 11:30-1:30pm

F riday Night Open Gym (ages 5-18): F: 8-10pm Cost: Preschool Open Gym: $4; Friday

night open gym: $7 • Windsor Rec Center

ww.ci.windsor.co.us/index.aspx?NID=189 w 250 N. 11th St., Windsor, 970-674-3500

ours and admission vary, see website or H call for schedule.

Bowling Bond over some bowling this winter at a local bowling alley. Try cosmic bowling or ask about youth leagues.

• Chipper’s Lanes

ww.chipperslanes.com/, College Center w location: 830 N. College Ave., Fort Collins 970-484-4777 Hours: Su-Th: 10am-12am; F: 10am-1am;

Sa: 10am-2am Cost: $4.25 per game. Shoe rentals $3.25.

orsetooth Center location: 217 W. Horsetooth H Rd., Fort Collins 970-226-6327 Hours: Su-Th: 9am-12am; F: 9am-1am;

Sa: 9am-2am.

Cost: $4.25 per game. Shoe rentals $3.25.

Preschooler special at both locations: MF until noon: $2 bowling for kids 6 and under.

• Classic Lanes

ww.classiclanesgreeley.com, 2454 8th Ave., w Greeley, 970-353-4275 Hours: M and F: 11am-close; T-Th: 9am-

close; Sa: 10am-close; Su: 12pm-close Cost: T: $2 per game and $2 shoes all day Su: $1 per game and $1 shoes all day All other prices vary. Call for details.

• Highland Park Lanes

ww.highlandparklanes.com, 1900 59th Ave., w Greeley, 970-330-BOWL(2695) Hours: M and F: 9-5:30pm and 9pm-

11pm; T-Th: 10am-11pm; Sa: 3pm-close; Su: 9am-10pm Cost: Adults: $4; Juniors and Seniors: $3.50; Shoes: $3.50 •S weetheart Lanes ww.sweetheartlanes.net, 2320 N. Lincoln w Ave., Loveland, 970-667-3510 Hours: Su: 9am-11pm; M: 10am-1pm, 3-

6pm and 9-11pm; T/W: 10am-midnight; Th: 10-6pm and 9pm-midnight; F: 106pm and 9pm-midnight; Sa: 9am-2am Cost: $4.04 per game; $3.05 per shoe rental.

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11

healthy living

Killing watts

Check out a watt reader and learn about your energy consumption A nne S c h i m ke

I

t all started with a utility bill that said, “You’re wasteful!”

OK. That’s not actually what it said.

It really said we used a lot more electricity than our most energy-efficient neighbors. I was surprised.

Our mediocre “Home Energy Report” from Loveland Water and Power was a wake-up call for me, and the main reason I checked out a watt reader from the library. It’s a little gray device about the size of a camera that measures the energy consumption of appliances, electronics and other devices that plug into wall outlets.

In addition to the Loveland Public Library (300 N. Adams St.), watt readers are available from the City of Fort Collins Utilities Department (customer service office, 117 N. Mason St.). Both locations lend the devices out for one week.

Using the watt reader was easy: Plug it into an outlet and plug whatever device you’re testing into the watt reader.

Press the “watt” button and the watts used by the device are displayed. (The watt reader doesn’t save the information though, so you have to write it down before unplugging it.) A few quick calculations will convert the watt reading into a monthly cost for that device.

After checking our power users, I found that most of my findings were about what I expected. For example, items like the fridge, computer and TV/DVD/stereo were among the biggest power users in the house. (I have no doubt that my dryer is also a major hog, but its plug is incompatible with the watt reader so I didn’t test it.) One surprise was that the microwave and hairdryer used lots more watts than anything else I tested. Although since they’re typically on less than five minutes a day, they don’t consume a lot of electricity over the course of a month.

The biggest benefit of the watt 12

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reader experiment was that it made our energy use a lot easier to understand and quantify. Now, for example, I know our TV/DVD/stereo uses about .095 kilowatts for 120 hours a month for a total monthly cost of about 79 cents. My first reaction was, “Wow, that’s cheap.”

In fact, Gretchen Stanford, customer relations manager for Loveland Water and Power, says that the relatively low cost of electricity makes it easy for people to take it for granted. But small changes add up, she says. “The watt reader is such a good educational tool for people.”

As for my energy conservation efforts, I’m opting for the bite-size-pieces approach. For example, turning off the computer when I go to bed is a nobrainer. The baby monitor and printer are two other items that fall into the “always-on” category even though we use them a fraction of the time.

The Energy Guide that came with my watt reader provides dozens of other energy-saving ideas for every room in

the house. Some of them I’ve already implemented, like scraping but not rinsing dishes headed for the dishwasher, doing more laundry on the cold setting and reducing cold drafts coming into the house. Others, like hanging my laundry to dry, adding an insulated blanket to the water heater, and cooking more often with a crock-pot (instead of the stove), are in the works. One of these days, we may even get promoted to the “energy efficient neighbors” group on our utility report card.

Electricity reduction tips •M ake sure your refrigerator is running efficiently by cleaning filters and

keeping the doors shut. Also, consider replacing it with an Energy Star refrigerator, especially if it is from 1993 or older.

•T urn off your computer when you are not using it, especially overnight.

•U se a smart power strip for your home entertainment system to help switch your devices on and off automatically.

Beyond watt readers

If you’re interested in moving to the next level of energy conservation, consider a home energy audit. Both Loveland and Fort Collins offer the audits, which test your home and appliances to identify areas where you’re losing energy. They also provide estimates for energy-saving home improvements. Residents of Fort Collins can call 970-212-2900 for more information about “Home Efficiency Audits”($60).

Loveland audits, include installation of energy-efficient light bulbs, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads ($70), call 1-866-973-9268.

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13

community news

Recycle your Christmas tree Help save landfill space by recycling your Christmas tree instead of throwing it in the trash. This holiday season, residents of Fort Collins and Larimer County will once again have the opportunity to recycle their postholiday, undecorated Christmas trees.

From Dec. 26 through Jan. 17 residents will be able to take their trees to one of four designated dropoff locations in Fort Collins, plus one in Wellington. The Tree Recycling Program is a free service to the community and is jointly sponsored by the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County.

Trees that are collected weekly from this residential program will be processed into wood mulch suitable for landscaping and gardening projects. Later in the spring, the mulch will be offered to the public for free at the Larimer County Landfill.

It’s extremely important for all lights, string, wire, ornaments, tinsel, fake snow and bags to be removed before taking your tree to any of the drop-off locations; otherwise these decorative materials are ground up and become mixed in the final mulch product, which degrades its value and usefulness. Here’s a listing of all drop-off locations: • Edora Park, 1420 E. Stuart St. (Tennis court parking lot) • L arimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd. (MondaySaturday, 8am to 4:30pm) • Rolland Moore Park, 2201 S. Shields St. (Parking lot, S.E. corner) • S treets Facility, 625 Ninth Street (S.W. corner of Vine & Lemay) • Wellington Recycling Drop-Off Site (corner of 6th Street and Grant Ave.) For more information on this program and additional reasons for recycling your tree, look for the Spotlight section “Wondering Where to 14

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the equipment. City staff will begin removing equipment after the first of the year. It is anticipated the playground at Bittersweet will be open to the public in the spring of 2012.

Greeley has 30 community and neighborhood parks and during construction, city staff encourage use of Greeley’s other park facilities, such as Greeley West Park, 2220 41st Ave; Centennial Park, 23rd Ave and 22nd St; Woodbriar Park, 29th Ave and 19th St; Brentwood Park, 24th Ave and 22nd St; Westmoor Park, 39th Ave and 6th St; Sherwood Park 29th Ave and 13th St. For additional information, please contact Sarah Boyd at 970336-4180 or watch the “Park Construction News” link located on the City’s website www.greeleygov.com.

Recycle Your Xmas Tree this Holiday Season?” at www.fcgov.com/recycling.

Two Greeley parks undergo renovations The City of Greeley’s Public Works Department will be initiating construction at two of Greeley’s favorite park locations beginning early in 2012.

At Sanborn Park the safety surfacing at the playground will be removed and replaced with a new drainage system and safety surfacing.

It is anticipated that the playground will be closed for a period of two weeks Jan. 3-17 to allow for completion of the project.

The playgrounds at Bittersweet Park will undergo a near complete renovation with the removal of 90 percent of the play equipment. New equipment will be installed along with a drainage system and engineered wood fiber for safety surfacing under

PVHS, Colorado Choice Health Plans launch health benefits program Poudre Valley Health System and Colorado Choice Health Plans, on Dec. 1, launched a program to offer health benefit plans to small businesses in Larimer and Weld counties.

The program, Peak Health Solutions, began enrolling companies with coverage starting Jan. 1. The program allows participants to see any contracted healthcare provider.

Carl Smith, vice president of PVHS payor relations, said Peak Health Solutions was developed throughout 2011 as part of a PVHS plan to address a major issue facing health care in northern Colorado and elsewhere in America: lack of coverage or inadequate coverage for employees of small businesses.

“PVHS and Colorado Choice Health Plans worked in collaboration to provide a solution for small businesses so they can have affordable choices and options for coverage, benefits and preventive care services for employees and their families,”

Smith said.

Peak Health Solutions products offer choices of deductibles; customized plan options; choices of co-payments or co-insurance for office visits, professional services and emergency room visits; choices of pharmacy, dental and vision benefits; and high-deductible health plans that include health savings accounts.

Smith said the program also focuses on health management to help keep participants well. The health management component addresses 29 chronic-care conditions and provides educational programs, healthcare updates and nurse support.

Peak Health Solutions products also provide an online service where members can assess their own health information, record family health histories and personalize their ongoing care. “We want people to actively participate in the management of their own health conditions,” Smith said.

Colorado Choice Health Plans, headquartered in Alamosa, Colo., is a nonprofit organization that has provided health plans since 1972.

“We’re excited about our relationship with a quality organization like PVHS,” said Cynthia Palmer, Colorado Choice Health Plans CEO. “Together we’ve developed a program that will benefit many people in northern Colorado.”

Winter Farmers Market doubles SNAP benefits Be Local Northern Colorado announced a new Market Match program, beginning at the Winter Farmers Market on November 12.

The Market Match program will offer double Market Coupons for all SNAP (food stamp) recipients up to $20 per person per Market.

“We’ve been inspired by other farmers markets around the country that are providing incentives for people receiving food assistance,” said Hill Grimmett, Executive Director of Be Local Northern Colorado. “The Market Match program provides an inventive way for people to use some of their SNAP benefits for fresh, lo-

Chelsea Glanz from Grants Farm helps pick out a fresh carton of eggs for a customer at a Winter Farmer’s Market in the Opera Galleria in Old Town, Fort Collins.

cal, healthy food.”

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and is the official name for what used to be called Food Stamps.

“We’ve been soliciting donations to support this program,” said Grimmett. “We expect we can continue through the holiday season at least.

And if people continue to step up and contribute, we’ll carry it on through the rest of the season.” The number of households receiving SNAP (food stamp) assistance has risen sharply since the recession. More than 8,500 households in Larimer County received assistance in 2010.

Be Local is working with other groups in the community who are interested in food security and food access for low income residents, including the Larimer County Farmers Market and CanDo (the Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity). The groups are working on raising funding to expand the Market Match program year-round, as part of both the Larimer County market,

which runs all summer, and the Be Local market in the winter.

This is the sixth season for the Be Local Winter Farmers Markets.

There will be two Markets a month through April 7 at the Opera Galleria, 123 North College in downtown Fort Collins. The Markets open for business at 10 AM. The Winter Farmers Markets feature more than 50 vendors at each market, selling produce, eggs, meat and poultry, wine and cider, cheese, bread and baked goods, coffee, tea, locally-made food specialties and crafts and other locally-produced gift items.

Since the first Winter Market in 2006, the markets have grown from a single event to 12 markets this season, held on Saturdays beginning at 10 AM. The remaining Winter Farmers Market dates are Dec. 10 and 17, Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, Mar. 10 and 24 and Apr. 7. Markets through December are 10am to 3pm; after Jan. 1, they are 10am to 2pm.

Visit www.BeLocalFirst.org for complete details on the Markets. r m pa r e nt

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Happy baby, happy parents

By Lynn Utzman-Nichols

Getting your life back after baby arrives

N

ewborns may look powerless, but don’t let their cute, drool-covered faces fool you. They’re actually superheroes in disguise as helpless little beings. Their secret power? To turn their parents’ worlds upside down instantly.

The moment they’re born, they cast a spell and make parents believe nothing else matters—careers, money, free time, showers, laundry—except for making sure baby is happy and well. Fulfilling these orders is the only way parents can regain balance and some sense of control.

The trick? If your baby is sleeping well, eating well, and getting comfort when she or he cries, you’re well on your way to getting some of your life back. Here are some tips to make that happen.

Soothe baby with the 5 S’s and cease the crying Looking for a way to calm your fussy baby? Take advice from nationally known baby expert Harvey Karp, founder of Happiest Baby on the Block (see box for local classes). “Karp calls the first three months after a baby is born the missing fourth trimester. He believes that by mimicking the environment of the womb through the five S’s, parents can flip on a newborn’s natural calming reflex,” says Kristin Glenn, Community Health Instructor for Poudre Valley Health System.

The five S’s? It sounds complicated, but it’s not. The five S’s include swaddling, swinging, shushing noises, sucking and side-lying. “The trick to swaddling is getting a big enough blanket—at least 40 inches across—and swaddling babies 18

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tight with hands by their sides. We think it’d be confining, but to them it’s not,” says Glenn. This eliminates babies waking themselves up by poking or scratching themselves. Plus, it mimics the tight space of the womb. “With swinging, think of it more as jiggling rather than a back-and-forth motion. Babies are used to a bouncy, shaky movement in the womb,” she adds. Shushing noises can be mimicked with white noise machines at night and keeping the house noisy during the day. “It goes against our instincts, but newborns sleep better when it’s noisy.

Studies show that in the womb mom’s body noises are about 90 decibels, that’s like having a vacuum cleaner two feet from your head,” says Glenn. Sucking is simply for comfort. Finally, sidelying and spending time on their tummy while awake decreases the startle reflex in babies. “When sleeping, babies should be on their backs, but when carrying baby, try laying her face down on your forearm.

This can be soothing,” adds Glenn.

The good news is that you can pick up your baby anytime he cries. “Until three months, babies are not neurologically advanced enough to form habits,” says Glenn, who gets great feedback on her “Happiest Baby” classes. “Parents find these methods empowering. It gives them more options beyond feedings, naps and diaper changes,” she concludes.

Don’t worry, your baby’s getting enough food Making sure newborns are getting enough food and gaining weight is a

major new-parent worry. Just know there are lots of ways to make sure your newborn is getting enough food.

“Newborns usually are up to their birth weight by two weeks of age. Then we expect them to gain one-half to one ounce per day for the first few months,” says Dr. Amy Driscoll, pediatrician with the Peakview Medical Center in Greeley, Colorado. If babies are not gaining this amount, Driscoll checks how well the baby is eating. Is formula being mixed properly? Is baby eating every two to three hours, with possibly more frequent feeding in the evenings?

If breastfeeding, is baby getting enough milk? “Usually breastfeeding goes well but occasionally a mom doesn’t produce enough milk but that’s often just at first when mom and baby are learning to nurse. Other issues might be if baby is too sleepy and doesn’t stay latched-on long enough.” If you are breastfeeding, consider joining a local breastfeeding support group where you can get tips on breastfeeding techniques and have your baby weighed at each visit (see side box). “It’s important that newborns get enough calories because their brains and bodies are growing so rapidly,” adds Driscoll. If you have any concerns, make an appointment now rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit. But don’t compare your baby to a friend’s baby: “Babies are like people, we all come in different shapes and sizes. Low weight might be fine for a short baby but a concern for a longer baby,” adds Driscoll.

Some markers to keep in mind: typically

babies double their birth weight by four months and triple it by one year.

A last word of advice: “Don’t start cereals or food too early. I hear about grandparents saying to put cereal in the bottle and that feeding cereal at night helps the baby sleep through the night.

Studies show this isn’t true and also show that starting cereal or food before four months is linked to a higher risk of obesity as children grow older,” says Driscoll.

Get sleep (glorious sleep!)

If your baby’s not sleeping well neither are you. That’s why those first few weeks are so hard when babies need to eat every few hours. Find comfort in knowing that as each week passes, your baby’s on her way to sleeping longer. The best advice in the early weeks is to sleep when baby sleeps: “A newborn sleeps a lot during the day but parents fight the idea of sleeping when their baby sleeps. It’s hard for us to resist the urge to check items off the To Do List.

Knowing it’s a relatively short time in our lives—six to eight weeks until babies sleep longer stretches during the night—can help,” says Glenn. She advises parents to lower their expectations and standards during this early time, meaning let your house get messy, and don’t beat yourself up for not returning phone calls right away or meeting social obligations. Let go and give in. For now, baby rules.

But not forever. In the not so distant future, you will get a full night’s sleep (if you consider 6 hours a full night, and believe me, after getting up every 2 to 3 hours, you will)! “By 8 weeks, babies that are eating well and gaining weight can usually extend the time between feedings to five or six hours. Some sleep all night, but that’s not very common. Most will wake up at least once to be fed and some might still wake up every three hours,” says Driscoll. By 12 weeks, many babies are sleeping at least six hours a night.

Here’s a tip to get to that point a bit faster: “If your baby is close to eight weeks old and you hear him fussing (not crying) during the night wait and see if he can get himself back to sleep before going to him,” suggests Driscoll. That’s because babies’ naturally cycle through lighter and heavier sleep periods every three hours. At three hours, he might come into a lighter sleep and wake a bit

but if he’s not stimulated, he may fall back into a deeper sleep on his own. As he ages, falling back to sleep on his own may become a habit.

And remember, babies can’t form habits until three months so do whatever it takes to get your baby to sleep. Hold her, rock her, put her in a swing, or take her for a drive. Or wear her in a baby pack all day long: “When a baby is fussy in the evening, I suggest that parents carry them more during the day,” advises Driscoll, who says it can take up to three weeks for newborns to learn the difference between night and day. “When mom was pregnant, she was active during the day and that’s when her baby slept.

When mom sat down, the baby would get active. So a baby’s natural pattern

before birth was to be active when quiet and sleep when moving. It takes a bit for newborns to make the switch.”

Lastly, make sure to put your baby to sleep on her back at night or during naps.

“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is still a major cause of death for young babies, but putting them to sleep on their backs reduces the risk of SIDS by approximately 50 percent,” says Driscoll. SIDS is most common among babies who are between two and four months old.

With that said, give your little superhero a high-five for good growth and sleeping longer periods as weeks go by. Soon enough, he’ll be able to give one back.

Poudre Valley Health Systems sponsored this article.

Want to Learn More? Attend a Class

Our community has several great resources for baby care and breastfeeding support. Here are a few upcoming classes offered by Poudre Valley Health System:

Happiest Baby on the Block Learn to calm and soothe crying infants with the 5 S’s developed by nationally known pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp. Classes designed for expectant parents or parents of newborns. Fee includes parent kit.

January 4, 6:30 – 8:30pm, Poudre Valley Hospital, Indian Paintbrush Room, 1024 South Lemay Ave, Fort Collins Pre-registration is required: 970-495-7500 $40/family Can’t make this date work? Don’t worry, Happiest Baby on the Block classes run regularly. Call for future dates or visit www.pvhs.org.

Baby Care 101 Prepares expectant parents in the basic care of newborns for the first few months.

Topics include signs of illness, safety, development, and parent adjustment.

Jan. 14, 9am. – noon OR Feb. 14, 6– 9pm OR March 6, 6– 9pm, Poudre Valley Hospital, Indian Paintbrush Room, 1024 South Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, Preregistration is required: 970-495-7500, $30/family This class is also offered at Medical Center of the Rockies on Feb. 11. Call for details. Also, ongoing free-of-charge breastfeeding support groups are held at both MCR and PVH locations every Wednesday; call 970-495-8283 for more information.

Classes offered by Banner Health System Bright beginnings for infants Families are provided with health, safety, development, play and community resource info.

Jan. 16 OR Feb. 20 OR March 19, 11:15am-12:15pm , McKee Medical Center, Loveland, to register, call 970-495-7528, free

Prepared Childbirth A great forum to ask questions and help you make informed decisions about key issues surrounding the birth of your baby.

Jan. 5, 7-9pm OR Jan. 23 6:30-8:30pm, North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR.7-9pm., 970‑378-4044; www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu

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Bad touch Confronting child sexual abuse by S

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Kim Sharpe

exual abuse. The term evokes horrible images and perhaps worse memories. When the victims of sexual abuse are children, reactions are heightened, because having sexual relations with a child is heinously wrong on every level possible. Neither religion, cultural background nor political affiliation makes sexual conduct with a child okay. Unfortunately, talking about it doesn’t seem to be okay either, which is so contradictory in a society that has no problem infusing sexual content–often crudely–into every form of media and entertainment. And advertisers use sex to sell everything from cars to toothpaste.

Recent allegations of sex crimes involving children by former Penn State College’s assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky (and witnessed by then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary) and the Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine forced people to talk about child sexual abuse for a few days, but that chatter seems to be taking on hushed tones again. Most of the time, discussing this base behavior is taboo and off limits, because it makes people squirm.

Another disturbing human behavior related to crime is what’s termed “bystander effect.” It’s “the societal phenomenon where people are reluctant to get involved…” explains Jackson Katz, Ph.D., internationally recognized genderviolence prevention specialist. One reason people exhibit bystander behavior is because they believe intervening or speaking up could jeopardize their status or position (which explains, but doesn’t excuse, why McQueary and others turned a blind eye to the criminal behavior they witnessed or knew about). Katz said that often, “a man who breaks the informal code of silence runs the risk of committing social suicide.”

The results of not speaking up also carry ruinous consequences. Victims who do not receive help, and even some who do, have a higher chance of experiencing feelings of depression, humiliation and shame, substance abuse, violent behaviors and relationship problems. They also might engage in prostitution or other criminal behavior, and sometimes commit suicide. All too often, they also go on to become perpetrators themselves.

What constitutes child sexual abuse?

The Colorado Revised Statutes defines child sexual abuse as any case in which a child is subjected to sexual assault or molestation, sexual exploitation or prostitution. It occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of another.

Stop It Now!, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, spells it out in very specific terms: Child sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child by an adult or adolescent [or older child]. These acts can include sexual touching (e.g., touching a person’s penis or vagina, oral sex, or intercourse) and sexual behaviors that do not include touching (e.g., peeping, flashing, or showing pornography to a child).

How common is it?

Sergeant John Feyen with the Larimer County Sheriff Department believes “child sexual abuse is a problem in every community and ours is no different than any other. If people say we don’t have a problem here, they’re lying and foolishly deluding themselves.”

Across the board, 67 percent of all reported sex crimes are against children.

Nationally and locally, one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the age of 18 years. The median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old.

In Weld County in 2010, 4,211 child abuse cases were reported and 1,984 were investigated. Two hundred and ninetynine (299) individual children were determined to be victims of sexual abuse.

In the same year, the Larimer County Department of Human Services received nearly 5,800 referrals for all types of child abuse; about 3,000 were assessed.

Two hundred and eighty-nine of those were investigated for child sexual abuse.

The investigation results determined that 189 of the reports were unfounded, 43 were founded and 48 were inconclusive.

While these statistics are unsettling, perhaps most disturbing is that only 10 percent of sex crimes committed against children are actually reported. Perhaps this is because most perpetrators are family members, friends or known adults in a position of trust, such as a coach or teacher. People resist “causing trouble” in their family and are inclined

to “mind their own business.” When a perpetrator is an older child, a common explanation is that “he/she is just exploring.” Ninety-seven percent of teens who are sexually assaulted are assaulted by a friend, date or partner.

Laura Hunt, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) serving Larimer County says, “Child sexual abuse crosses all socio-economic boundaries, age groups, genders and races.” Men most often commit sex crimes against children, but women sexually abuse children, too. And juvenile perpetrators comprise as many as one-third of the offenders.

What are signs of abuse?

Chris Sarlo-Bergmann, forensic interviewer at the CAC, says children who’ve been sexually abused may begin wetting their bed, not sleeping through the night and have other unexplained, sudden changes in behavior. They also don’t have the “innate personal space boundaries that other kids do.” They may immediately hug someone they are meeting for the first time or want to sit on his lap, and tend to be clingy.

Jane Bradley, executive director of ChildSafe, a nonprofit in northern Colorado that provides comprehensive treatment to victims of child sexual abuse and their non-offending family members, says “kids who are abused may be labeled as having ADHD, or they may act out and have other behavior problems like extreme anger, hitting and kicking. Sometimes children will confide in one another when they’re being abused, but often, abuse is very secretive in families and kids know they shouldn’t talk about it.”

What should you do?

If abuse is suspected, professionals who work with children, such as health and childcare providers, teachers, police officers and counselors are required by law to report it. Private citizens legally are not required to report suspected abuse, but “they have a moral and ethical obligation to do so,” says Sarlo-Bergmann.

To anonymously report suspicions in Larimer County, call Larimer County Department of Human Services, Child Protection at 970-498-6990. In Weld County, call Weld County Department of Human Services at 970-352-1551, ext. 6211.

To protect their children from becoming victims of child sexual abuse, parents should do the following.

Trust your gut. Humans are born with innate protection systems that modern society seems to squelch. But if a situation doesn’t seem right to you, it probably isn’t and you should be cautious. For example, if you’re uncomfortable with the thought of your child spending the night at someone’s home, even a family member’s home, trust that feeling and don’t allow the sleepover.

In an open letter to parents in response to the Penn State revelations, the Heath Evans Foundation, which focuses on hope and healing for child abuse victims, states: “If you sense that something is amiss, do not stifle your gut instinct.”

Be involved with your kids

“Normal parents want to know where they’re kids are and who they’re with,” Sarlo-Bergmann says.

“Don’t put your children in situations where they could be abused,” says Hunt.

If they’re invited to a new friend’s house, call the other parents and set up a time to meet them. Ask questions to determine if the home is safe. Ask who will be in the home when your child is there.”

And with the advent of social media and plethora of communication tools, the means and methods for child sexual abuse broaden substantially. According to the Fort Collins Police Department and the CAC, one in five children and teens has experienced unwanted sexual solicitation on the Internet. Only 25 percent of them have told a trusted adult about the solicitation.

Relative to the Internet, “I think communication amongst families is vital to keep kids safe online,” says Fort Collins Police Detective Jaclyn Shaklee. “I see a trend in parents who want to be friends with their kids and respect their privacy by not looking at their cell phone activity or snooping on their Facebook page. I believe that these avenues for socializing should not be a secret within families. Make your kids friend you on Facebook!”

Doug Birdsall, another one of the CAC’s forensic interviewers, adds, “Parents should be mindful of whether or not a child is secretive about their communications. If a family sits down at the dinner table and a child has to leave to reply to a text, monitor that. Every once in awhile, parents should take their child’s phone and r m pa r e nt

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check who they’re communicating with.”

Talk early, talk often“Talk to kids early and often about healthy safe touch, and unsafe touch, about boundaries,” recommends Elisabeth Slatt, prevention education director for the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center located in Fort Collins.

Sergeant Feyen also feels it’s important to use biologically correct terminology when talking with children about their bodies. “We call a finger a finger and a foot a foot, so it’s okay to call a penis a penis and a vagina a vagina. Call them what they are. If we get kids in the habit of talking about their sex organs differently, they’re more likely to think it’s okay to treat them differently.”

Besides, “it’s much easier to talk with your teenagers about sexual issues if you start talking about those issues when they’re young,” says Hunt. Child sexual abuse is not a pleasant topic of conversation, but talking about it openly and factually is exactly what we need to do more of.

To help parents talk with their young children (7 years and under) about appropriate and inappropriate touch, Hunt recommends a book by Jon Holsten, veteran police sergeant with the Fort Collins Police Department, called The Swimsuit Lesson (www. swimsuitlesson.com).

She also recommends parents take the research-based class offered through the CAC called Stewards of Children: Adult Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training. The two and one-half hour course teaches parents seven steps to protecting their children and other children in their lives. It costs $15, which covers the expense of training materials. “For every adult trained, 10 children in our community are better protected,” says Hunt.

Classes are scheduled for Jan. 17 and Feb. 21, 6-8:30pm, and Jan. 26, 9-11:30am.

Visit www.larimercac.org for more information; call 970-407-9739 to register.

The SAVA Center offers education programs that teach about healthy relationships and encourage open discussions. Information about their programs can be found on the organization’s website at www.savacenter.org.

“We’ll never stop abuse, says Feyen, but through education, awareness and open dialog, “we can reduce the incidence of it and help heal the damage it causes.”

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Warning Signs in Children and Adolescents of Possible Child Sexual Abuse*

Any one sign doesn’t mean that a child was sexually abused, but the presence of several suggests that you begin asking questions and consider seeking help. Keep in mind that some of these signs can emerge at other times of stress such as: During a divorce • Death of a family member or pet • Problems at school or with friends • Other anxiety-inducing or traumatic events

Behavior you may see in a child or adolescent • Has nightmares or other sleep problems without an explanation • Seems distracted or distant at odd times • Has a sudden change in eating habits

Refuses to eat

Loses or drastically increases appetite

Has trouble swallowing • Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, insecurity or withdrawal • Leaves “clues” that seem likely to provoke a discussion about sexual issues • Writes, draws, plays or dreams of sexual or frightening images • Develops new or unusual fear of certain people or places • Refuses to talk about a secret shared with an adult or older child • Talks about a new older friend • Suddenly has money, toys or other gifts without reason • Thinks of self or body as repulsive, dirty or bad • Exhibits adult-like sexual behaviors, language and knowledge

Signs more typical of younger children • An older child behaving like a younger child (such as bed-wetting or thumb sucking) • Has new words for private body parts • Resists removing clothes at appropriate times (bath, bed, toileting, diapering) • Asks other children to behave sexually or play sexual games • Mimics adult-like sexual behaviors with toys or stuffed animals • Wetting and soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training

Signs more typical in adolescents • Self-injury (cutting, burning) • Drug and alcohol abuse • Running away from home • Suicide attempts • Compulsive eating or dieting

• Inadequate personal hygiene • Sexual promiscuity • Depression, anxiety • Fear of intimacy or closeness

Physical warning signs Physical signs of sexual abuse are rare. If you see these signs, bring your child to a doctor. Your doctor can help you understand what may be happening and test for sexually transmitted diseases.

• Pain, discoloration, bleeding or discharges in genitals, anus or mouth • Persistent or recurring pain during urination and bowel movements • Wetting and soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training *Reprinted from the Stop It Now! website: www.stopitnow.org.

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thompson school district news

TSD receives Legacy Foundation grant

Hands of clay—Ceramic artist Carolyn Pearce of Loveland helped create an art installation at Garfield Elementary School. The piece is titled “The Future.” Carolyn helped students trace their hands on slabs of clay, the hands were then glazed and fired. Some of the hands are still in the process of being finished.

The Colorado Legacy Foundation (CLF) selected Thompson School District as one of the Colorado Integration Project Partner Districts who will work to significantly improve the number and rate of students who graduate from Colorado high schools ready for college or work.

In addition to Thompson, the Integration Districts are: Centennial School District, Denver Public Schools, Eagle County School District and San Juan BOCES (9 school districts in the Southwest corner of the state).

“We believe every school should have an effective leader, every classroom should have an effective teacher and every student should be healthy and ready to learn,” says President and CEO of the Colorado Legacy Foundation, Dr. Helayne Jones. “These Integration Districts will help us learn quickly and early what does and does not work in the effort to support our educators in successfully meeting this higher bar for performance outcomes.”

The Colorado Legacy Foundation will partner with the Colorado Department of Education and the Integration Districts to accelerate and integrate implementation of new educator performance evaluation systems and the Colorado Academic Standards using instruc24

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tional tools aligned to those standards.

The tools developed and lessons learned from those sites will be shared statewide.

The Integration Districts will receive funding and technical assistance over the 3-year grant period.

In exchange they have committed to implement the new Colorado academic standards using a number of new tools that respond to local teacher needs, participate in the early implementation of Colorado’s new educator performance law, and develop systems to ensure that those two efforts are “integrated.”

Collectively, the Integration Districts serve over 100,000 students. The participating districts range in size from 65 to 79,000 students. Each was selected because they demonstrated a strong commitment to implementation of the state initiatives. In addition, the size, geography and student demographics of the participating districts are reflective of the 178 school districts across Colorado.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded this work and Colorado was chosen for funding in large part because current statewide education efforts provide a strong framework for the proposed work. The Integration District work will be conducted in parallel with two other pilot programs through CDE.

Legacy for Lu a success The Thompson Education Foundation raised more than $10,000 for sponsorships of 14 paintings prior to or at the Legacy for Lu event on Nov. 17 at Studio Vino. Paintings by the late teacher and artist Lu Haskew are being donated by her son, Denny, to be hung in each of the district’s schools.

Lu was a teacher in the Thompson School District for more than 20 years.

She was also a prolific and popular artist. She passed away in 2009. Money raised through the sponsorships will be placed in a fund to provide grants for art supplies and projects.

The foundation continues to seek sponsors for paintings at all of the schools. Schools sponsored so far are: B. F. Kitchen, Carrie Martin, Ivy Stockwell, Laurene Edmondson, Mary Blair, Monroe, Ponderosa, Truscott, Winona, Erwin, LHS and TVHS. Two donations are undetermined. People who want to contribute any amount to a “Friends of Lu” sponsorship may also do so as well – that fund has $275 thus far. Sponsorships are $500 for elementary schools, $750 for middle schools and $1,000 for high schools. Contact Melissa Adams at 613-5011 for more information.

Educator of the year nominations The Thompson Education Foundation’s fourth annual Educator of the Year Awards recognizes outstanding Thompson School District staff members.

Community members are invited to share in this recognition program by nominating a Thompson School District educator for excellence in education through his or her ability to empower, challenge, and inspire. Criteria for selection for the awards include a candidate’s dedication to his or her work, a high level of skill and ability to inspire others.

This year, Educator of the Year award winners will be honored at the beautiful Brookside Gardens in Berthoud, CO, on Feb. 17. Nominations close on Jan. 9.

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poudre school district news

Coordinator says volunteers are awesome

Ashlee Derbes loves volunteering at Lopez.

Poudre School District has over 16,000 volunteers, consisting of parents, grandparents, seniors and community members. Managing that many volunteers in 48 schools is quite a feat! Helping the PSD’s Volunteers & Partnerships office manage the multitude of volunteers at each school site is a Volunteer Building Coordinator (VBC). These dedicated volunteers donate many hours to ensure the volunteer program at their school is a success. Some have done it for many years, starting in elementary schools, and continuing in this volunteer position even after their children move on to junior high and even high school!

In the spring of 2009, Ashlee Derbes started in the position of Volunteer Building Coordinator for Lopez Elementary, along with co-coordinator, Melissa Fuerte. With her daughter starting kindergarten in the fall, and two younger children at home, Derbes knew she could commit to this position. They had just bought a house close to the school and knew that they would be in the Lopez community for quite some time.

“I very much enjoy the position, and I love volunteering my time at the school,” says Derbes. She has partici26

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pated in three book fairs, helped the art teacher, coordinated the school pictures for two years, helped with vision screenings, teacher appreciation lunches, class parties and field trips, and helped with the school carnival last spring. She spends one morning a week in each of her children’s classrooms helping with reading groups and small group centers.

She is also the room mom this year for her daughter’s class. But, she says, “There are still volunteers at the school who do a lot more than I do!”

“Lopez volunteers are awesome.

There are a certain number of them that I have worked with repeatedly that are just fantastic people. Some of my now closest friends are the ones I have made through the school,” Derbes says.

Everyone works very hard to help make his or her school and community run.

People are always available that she can count on for help and they make all of the events happen. “I never run across a situation where I am struggling to find help or I don’t have enough volunteers.

Aside from school, Derbes says they are a pretty active family! She teaches a cross fit class at the Fort Collins Club one morning a week, and is the captain of her tennis team. She enjoys running, hiking, biking, skiing and participating in book club. Her children are involved in gymnastics and soccer, and her husband enjoys mountain biking and hiking with her.

Explore the options for kindergarten Kindergarten is an important step for both you as a parent and for your child. No one knows the learning style of your child better than you do. For that reason, parents should explore the educational options available in Poudre School District.

Information and orientation meetings for parents of kindergarten students have been scheduled at elementary schools. For a complete schedule, please visit the PSD website at www.psd schools.org, click on the School Regis-

tration under Quick Links.

Kindergarten registration for students entering school in fall 2012 is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2012. Registration will be held from 7am to 6pm at all elementary schools (unless otherwise noted; see attached schedule). Children who will be 5 years of age on or before Sept. 15, 2012, are eligible to register.

On the day of registration, parents should bring their child’s birth certificate (original or certified preferred), emergency contact information, and immunization records.

There is no tuition for half-day kindergarten programs; full-day programs are $2,100 per year. The first payment is due at time of registration; the remainder is due in nine monthly installments from Aug. 1, 2012–Apr. 1, 2013. Full and partial scholarships may be available; parents need to check with the individual school for eligibility requirements.

One-way transportation is provided for kindergarten students attending a half-day program who live more than one mile from their neighborhood school.

Round-trip transportation is provided for students in an all-day program who live more than one mile from school.

School choice option PSD’s School Choice program allows families to select the school that best meets their child’s educational needs.

Nearly 70 percent of PSD families choose to send their children to a neighborhood school, the school located in the attendance area in which they live.

Parents may choose from a neighborhood school, a school close to work, allday or half-day programs, before- and after-school care, and various programs and curricula.

Neighborhood schools teach PSD’s rigorous standards-driven curriculum, along with gifted, enrichment, and accelerated options. Specialized schools offer a different curriculum, focus area,

Now enjoy RMParent magazine at your leisure or on the go with our new digital flip issues. Viewable on your tablet, smartphone or computer, our monthly issues bring you all the information you expect from RMParent Magazine in an easy-to-navigate and fun format!

Coming January 15, 2012

.com One hour from Fort Collins 970-881-2450

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6th Annual Pond Hockey Tournament Febuary 3rd, 4th, and 5th

Snow Tubing Park with Tow Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides Lift and Six Runs of Fun Winter Horseback Riding Ice Skating Lodging Snow Shoeing Restaurant & Lounge Cross-Country Skiing

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CenturyLink makes a generous donation to the McKinney Backpack program.

or method of instructional delivery than neighborhood schools.

To determine which school is your neighborhood school, visit the PSD website at www.psdschools.org, under School Resources -> School Locator.

School Choice Applications Online - The online school choice application can be accessed on the PSD website at www.psdschools.org under the School Registration quick link. Families that do not have computer access at home can visit any PSD school or the district administrative office, 2407 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins to apply.

First consideration deadlines for the 2012-13 school year, school choice application process: Jan. 27, 2012 Secondary, 6-12th grade Feb. 10, 2012 Elementary, Kindergarten-5th grade School Choice students are accepted on a space-available basis, and transportation is the responsibility of the parent.

ery Thursday morning at the First Presbyterian Church, 531 S. College, to fill bags of food and deliver them to PSD schools, where a school-based McKinney contact distributes them to students. In one week, 230 students benefited from the program.

“For some students, this is the only food they will get over the weekend,” said Jan DeLay, PSD assistant director of English Language Acquisition and federal programs.

CenturyLink recently decided to support the local program with a $5,000 donation and a truck-load of needed food items. “We strongly support education and kids can’t learn if they are hungry,” says Edie Ortega, CenturyLink state and local government affairs director. “We are excited to contribute to this great program.”

The McKinney Backpack program, which began in 2007, distributed 825 backpacks of food to students at 28 schools in September 2011. The program served even more students in October 2011.

McKinney Backpack Program provides food to students Students and their families are less likely to go hungry over the weekend thanks to Poudre School District’s McKinney Backpack program.

The McKinney Backpack program, a partnership between PSD and the Larimer County Food Bank, distributes backpacks of food for the weekend to students in need. Community volunteers gather ev-

PSD donates turkeys to Larimer County Food Bank Students and staff rounded up 1,557 turkeys (a total of 22,689 pounds), $170 in cash donations, and 321 miscellaneous items during Poudre School District’s Turkey Roundup event that benefits the Food Bank of Larimer County.

More than 2,500 turkeys are needed each year for holiday food baskets in Larimer County. Each year the Food Bank

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provides services to 40,000 residents in Larimer County. Many Food Bank clients are PSD students and their families.

Bacon Elementary was the top elementary school that rounded up the most turkeys, collecting 253 turkeys for a total of 4,356 pounds. McGraw Elementary, an International Baccalaureate School, earned the second place spot, collecting 188 turkeys for a total of 2,526 pounds.

Fort Collins High School was the top secondary school that collected the most turkeys, collecting 153 turkeys for a total of 2,027 pounds. Lesher Middle School, an International Baccalaureate School, won second place, collecting 112 turkeys for a total of 1,638 pounds.

Most PSD schools and sites participated in the district-wide service project.

At Lopez Elementary, they expanded the Turkey Roundup, which historically has been just a staff event. This year, Lopez’s 5th grade leadership class took on event and asked the entire Lopez school community to participate.

“We are excited this year about the level of excitement and participation we are seeing in the Lopez community,” says Deon Davis, interim principal at Lopez Elementary. “Our 5th grade students and teachers dressed up as turkey wranglers and stood at the front of the school to accept donated turkeys and build awareness of the event. I’m excited by the donations we received this year, and predict that they will even double next year!”

PSD Calendar of Events Jan. 9

S tudents first day back at school following winter break.

Jan. 10 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Ave. Jan. 16 M artin Luther King Day, NO SCHOOL Jan. 24 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting and work session, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Ave.

Individualized assessment and treatment of speech delays, expressive and receptive language disorders, reading delays and more.

Socials skills groups for children with autism, ages 4-6 Preschool and Kindergarten speech and language groups

Sliding-scale fees and scholarships available.

www.csrckids.org 970-419-0486 FREE speech, language and literacy screens More Than Words速 program for parents of young children with Autism.

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greeley-evans district 6 news

Brentwood earns $10,000 in music contest Twentieth Century Fox Television, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the National Association for Music Education announced the national winners for the “GLEE Give a Note” campaign – that started over 3 months ago – and Brentwood Middle School is among the second-place winners who will each receive $10,000 to support music education at their schools.

In all, 73 schools nationwide will receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to help support music programs.

“We are so excited,” says Brentwood principal Dr. Rachel Heide. “This award will really help support our wonderful music programs.”

At Brentwood, 62 percent of students are in band, choir and/or orchestra.

For the competition, Brentwood students prepared a video in September that highlighted how students from all backgrounds and with a variety of academic and personal interests at their school are brought together through music. Brentwood’s video can be viewed at www.gleegiveanote.com/vote_details. php?id=285.

In October, the eligible entries were posted on www.GleeGiveANote. com and put up for public vote for one month. A panel composed of NAfME members conducted a final round of judging and, together with the public vote, determined the winning programs.

For more information and to view the submissions, visit www.GleeGive ANote.com.

Snow closure make-up day set The day of school that was canceled on Wednesday, Oct. 26, because of weather conditions, will be made up later this school year, on Friday, Apr. 6.

That day was previously scheduled on the calendar as a non-school day for students; however it was designated as a potential make-up day in case of a closure. It will now be a regular school day for students and staff.

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Open enrollment applications School District 6 offers students the opportunity to “open enroll” into schools outside of their neighborhood or home boundaries, and the district also welcomes out-of-district students into its schools. In both cases, families simply need to complete an Open Enrollment Application to begin the process.

The window for open enrollment requests for the 2012-2013 school year will continue through Jan. 20.

Open Enrollment Applications will be available at every District 6 school office, at the district’s main office at 1025 Ninth Ave., and at www.greeleyschools. org under the “Parents” tab. Completed applications must be submitted by 4:30pm on Jan. 20, at the district’s main office, at your child’s current school, or at the school you are requesting your child to attend.

While the district is able to accommodate the vast majority of open enrollment requests, requests for enrollment in schools (or specific grade-levels in a school) that are at or above capacity may be declined.

Students who are currently attending a school under open enrollment or transfer will automatically be re-enrolled into the school for the 2012-2013 school year, and those parents do not have to complete a new open enrollment application.

Open enrollment applicants will be notified in February of their application status. Parents of open enrollment students must provide transportation to

and from their approved school.

For more information about open enrollment, please consult the district website, www.greeleyschools.org, or call 348-6265.

Latest Star Student video The latest installment in a series of videos highlighting star students from District 6 is now available for viewing on the district’s website, www.greeley schools., and Comcast cable channel 16 in the Greeley and Evans area.

This month’s Star Student video highlights Yessica Rodriguez www. greeleyschools.org/site/default.aspx?Pag eType=3&ModuleInstanceID=92&Vie wID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D 8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&Flex DataID=5785&PageID=1> , an eighthgrader at Brentwood Middle School.

Yessica has a passion for music and plays violin, piano, clarinet, and alto sax. She is in band and orchestra at Brentwood, and is already planning to take music at Greeley Central High School next year.

After that, her goals are to get into Harvard or Juilliard. For now, at Brentwood, Yessica balances her academics, music and friendships, making the most of her school experience.

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lunch box Poudre School District: Elementary student lunches are $2.O5, secondary student lunches are $2.30 and reduced lunches are $0.40. Entrees offered daily: Elementary—a variety of fruits and vegetables, milk and juices; Secondary--hot and cold sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, deli salad and pizza. .

Elementary school 9 Yogurt, cheese & fruit; rib-a-que sandwich; nachos 10 Beef & bean bruuito; chicken nuggets; PBJ 11 Chef salad; cheeseburger; corn dog 12 Veggie wrap; Teriyaki chicken dippers; chicken patty sandwich 13 Turkey & cheese wrap; cheese pizza; Philly cheese steak sandwich 16 No school!

17 Yogurt, cheese & fruit; mac n’cheese; hot dog 18 Chicken quesadilla; cheeseburger; PBJ 19 Enchilada bake; ham & cheese deli; chicken nuggets

20 Veggie wrap; pepperoni pizza; cheese raviolis 23 Beef and bean burrito; chef salad; pancake & sausage 24 Grilled cheese sandwich; chicken patty sandwich; yogurt, cheese and fruit 25 Chicken & broccoli Alfredo; PBJ; chicken nuggets 26 Veggie wrap; BBQ chicken sandwich; cheese pizza 27 Hummus and veggies; Italian lasagna; beef tacos 30 Sloppy Joe sandwich; turkey & cheese deli; chicken nuggets 31 Yogurt, cheese & fruit; chili w/ cinnamon roll; cheeseburger

Secondary SCHOOLS 9 Nachos; pasta w/sauces and chicken; cheeseburger 10 Teriyaki chicken dippers; beef tacos; beef hamburger 11 Chicken nuggets; chili w/cinnamon roll; hot dog 12 Philly cheesesteak sandwich; orange chicken w/rice; hamburger 13 Chicken fajita w/rice; green chile burrito; rib-a-que sandwich 16 No school!

17 Chicken nuggets; green chile burrito; bacon cheeseburger 18 Enchilada bake; pasta w/sauces; hamburger 19 Baked potato bar; yogurt, cheese &

fruit; cheeseburger 20 Turkey gravy & potatoes; chicken taco; hamburger 23 Spaghetti; chicken quesadilla; meatball deli 24 Chicken nuggets; beef tacos; rib-aque sandwich 25 Lasagna; nachos; cheeseburger 26 Green chile burrito; baked chicken; hamburger 27 Hummus and veggies; Italian lasagna; beef tacos 30 Mac n’cheese; Asian rice bowl; cheeseburger 31 Chili cheese fries; chicken taco; hamburger

Thompson School District: Elementary lunches are $2.25. Secondary school lunches are $2.50. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Offered daily: PBJs & fruit.

Elementary schools 9 Chicken nuggets; grilled cheese sandwich 10 Chicken parmesan; baked potato 11 Rib nibblers; rice & bean burrito 12 Nachos; baked potato 13 Orange chicken; fruit & yogurt plate 16 No school!

17 Pizza stick w/sauce; baked potato 18 Chicken patty sandwich; rice & bean burrito 19 Quesadilla; baked potato 20 Country fried steak fingers; fruit &

yogurt plate 23 Turkey breast w/mashed potatoes; grilled cheese 24 Cheese pizza; baked potato 25 Burger; rice & bean burrito 26 Burrito grande; baked potato 27 French bread boat w/sauce; fruit & yogurt plate 30 Pancakes w/sausage; grilled cheese sandwich 31 Spaghetti w/meat sauce; baked potato

Secondary SCHOOLS 9 Chicken nuggets; Sloppy Joe 10 Chicken parmesan; spicy chicken patty sandwich 11 Pork rib patty; hamburger 12 Nachos; meat lasagna 13 Orange chicken; French bread boat 16 No school!

17 Pizza stick w/sauce; Cuban wrap 18 Chicken patty sandwich; nachos 19 Quesadilla; spicy chicken patty 20 Country fried steak fingers; honey bbq chicken

23 Turkey breast w/mashed potatoes; pretzel w/cheese 24 Cheese pizza; chicken fajitas 25 Cheeseburger; chicken parmesan 26 Burrito; meatball sandwich 27 French bread boat w/sauce; hot ham & cheese sandwich 30 Chicken breast strips w/mashed potatoes; bbq pulled pork sandwich 31 Spaghetti w/meat sauce; country fried steak sandwich

Greeley - Evans District 6: To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.15, and middle school lunches are $2.40, reduced-price lunches are $.40. Offered daily: PBJ. Elementary schools 9 Hamburger/cheeseburger; turkey & cheese hoagie 10 Taquito pi chicken salad sandwich 11 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ 12 BBQ chicken; ham & cheese hoagie 13 Pepperoni pizza; tuna salad sandwich 16 No school!

17 Tacos; chicken salad sandwich 18 Chili w/cornbread; PBJ 19 Herb chicken; ham & cheese hoagie

20 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich 23 Roast pork; turkey & cheese hoagie 24 Bean burrito; chicken salad sandwich 25 Lasagna; PBJ 26 Chicken sandwich; ham & cheese hoagie 27 Pepperoni pizza; tuna salad sandwich 30 Sloppy Joe sandwich; turkey & cheese hoagie 31 Chicken quesadilla; chicken salad sandwich

Middle schoolS 9 Hamburger/cheeseburger; club wrap 10 Taquito pie; chicken salad sandwich 11 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ 12 BBQ chicken; turkey & cheese hoagie 13 Pepperoni pizza; Italian wrap 16 No school!

17 Tacos; chicken fajita ranch wrap 18 Chili w/cornbread; PBJ 19 Herb chicken; Tuscan bagel sandwich

20 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich 23 Roast pork; club wrap 24 Bean burrito; chicken salad sandwich 25 Lasagna; PBJ 26 Chicken sandwich; turkey & cheese hoagie 27 Pepperoni pizza; Italian wrap 30 Sloppy Joe sandwich; ham & cheese hoagie 31 Chicken quesadilla; chicken fajita ranch wrap

Windsor School District: Price for elementary lunch is $2.25, for middle school students, $2.30. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Salad bar is served daily with entrees. Offered daily: PBJ and yogurt.

Elementary schools 4 French toast w/ sausage 5 BBQ sandwich 6 Pizza dippers w/sauce 9 Hot dog 10 Lasagna 11 Bean & cheese burrito

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12 Turkey noodle soup 13 Cheese pizza 16 No school!

17 Hamburger 18 Chicken taco 19 Potato bar w/chili, broccoli & cheese 20 Big Daddy’s pizza 23 Soaring dragon

noodles 24 Chicken Alfredo 25 Taco 26 Turkey pot pie 27 Cheese or Hawaiian pizza 30 Chicken tenders 31 Mac n’cheese

Secondary SCHOOLS 4 French toast w/ sausage 5 BBQ sandwich 6 Meatball sub 9 Weiner wrap 10 Lasagna 11 Bean & cheese burrito

12 Turkey noodle soup 13 Steak n’ cheese sandwich 16 No school!

17 Hamburger 18 Chicken taco 19 Potato bar w/chili, broccoli & cheese 20 Hot & spicy chicken

sandwich 23 Soaring dragon noodles 24 Chicken Alfredo 25 Taco 26 Turkey pot pie 27 Cheeseburger 30 Chicken tenders 31 Mac n’cheese

Protect your indoor air quality with Zero-Interest Loans* * Best to apply before 12/15/11

Don’t let your savings go up in smoke, protect your family from raDon! Install a radon mitigation system (up to $1,500) • Upgrade gas or pellet stove, or remove old wood stove (up to $3,000) Fort Collins Utilities customers can apply for a zero interest loan and receive up to $3,000 interest-free for air quality improvements.

Call (970) 224-6085, or visit fcgov.com/airquality

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nutrition

Nutrition resolutions

Make the New Year a healthy one...gradually R ICH A R D K E LL A R

N

ew Year’s Resolutions are a timehonored tradition around the world. Usually they involve setting a goal at the beginning of the year that seems attainable at first, then dissolves into nothing but regrets and excuses by the start of February. Many of these resolutions are connected to health, including switching your family to a more nutritious diet. In order to start this particular promise off right and keep it going throughout the year, here are some tips to consider.

Go slow The most important word of advice is to not make your desired changes all at once. There is no written rule that says you must clear out your refrigerator and pantry at 12:01am, January 1 and re-stock them with healthy alternatives. If you do, the potential increases of having a grumpy bunch of kids stomping around the house all day complaining there’s nothing to eat.

The best thing to do is sit down with your family before the new year begins and talk about your plans. Have them go through the cupboards and pick what they think should stay and what should go. For products that they can’t seem to let go of, such as sugary cereals and full-fat yogurts, try to provide some alternatives that taste the same but contain healthier benefits. And when they finish their favorite chocolaty snack or frosted pop tart during Christmas break, don’t rush out to the store to buy more.

Start slowly once the new year begins, working with individual food groups.

For grains, replace white bread with whole wheat, ensuring the first ingredient listed is whole grain or whole wheat flour.

Also switch from white to brown when it comes to rices. On the shelves containing your stockpile of cereal, toss or finish everything that lists sugar as one of the top three ingredients. Replace these with 36

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whole grain cereals, such as Cheerios, which are only lightly sweetened.

Dairy choices For dairy, have the kids drink up the last of the whole milk and spoon out the remaining full-sugar yogurts. Replace the cow juice with skim milk or, if your children think this has the flavor of chalk, up the fat content to one percent. Also consider a substitute, such as soy or almond milk, which have the same flavor as full-fat milk but much less of the bad stuff. For yogurt,

have the kids choose light varieties with 15 grams or less of sugar. Greek yogurt is also a good alternative as it’s not only low in fats and sugars, but has a thicker consistency, making it good to mix in fruit and granola. The healthiest alternative is plain yogurt. While flavorless, it gives kids the opportunity to freshen it up with their favorite fruits and low-calorie flavorings.

Meat resolutions Moving over to the meats. While your little ones may dislike the smell, adding

fresh fish to their diet once a week will provide them with large doses of Omega3 fatty acids and vitamins D and B2. Skinless chicken breast is another good source of meat that is high in protein and low in fats and sugars. If the kids are dying for hamburgers or meatballs, bypass ground beef, with its high fat content, and substitute ground turkey.

You may also want to consider going meatless for several meals, replacing a fish or chicken dish with a grain or vegetablebased casserole. Not only does this offer

more variety in your children’s diet, but can also reduce the amount of money spent on groceries. And don’t worry about losing health benefits in the substitution.

Many vegetables, grains and lentils provide the same, if not more, essential vitamins and minerals, as well as protein and fiber, than a regular serving of meat.

By doing this gradually, your family won’t realize it’s been eating healthy until months later. Which is when they’ll thank you for all the energy and muscle they now have.

Fight Child Hunger! YOU CAN HELP! You’ve watched the news reports on television...especially this time of the year and it can feel pretty overwhelming! The fact is, there are hundreds of kids in our community who are at risk and literally, don’t get enough to eat! You can make a difference!

The Food Bank for Larimer County (FBLC) has initiated the Kids Cafe which serves 400 meals and 1000 snacks per day to kids in Larimer County. In fact, they project in 2011, they will serve 70,000 meals to at risk kids between the ages of 3-18 through their seven Kids Cafe locations. Here is the cool part! The FBLC is part of a national food bank network that makes their food buying power huge! The picture to your left gives you an idea what it looks like. In fact, the FBLC can feed 4 children a nutritious (made from scratch) meal for only $1! Isn’t that amazing?

Here’ s where you come in!

Just think....for the price of that morning latte, you could provide 16 meals! Maybe as a family you want to give a Holiday Gift this year of $25 (100 meals), $50 (200 meals) or more. What a great way to make a difference!

Partner with ToothZone and Kids Cafe to fight child hunger in our communities!

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE...make a DONATION! GO TO www.toothzone.com for information and how to donate online OR stop by any TOOTHZONE location with your donation. Toothzone will match the first $500 donated to this great cause!

Proud Partner of the KIDS CAFE!

ToothZone Locations: 1220 Oak Park Drive & 383 D k R d F C lli (970) 223 8687 r m pa r e nt

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calendar

JANUARY 2012 Ongoing January 7-February 5 The 39 Steps Presented by OpenStage Theatre. Imagination runs wild as Hitchcock meets hilarious in this ingenious theatrical invention. Combining a spy thriller with farcical comedy and a touch of romance, this is an engaging, quick-fire whodunit that celebrates the magic of theatre.

Lincoln Center, 417 Magnolia Ave., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

January 12-March 11 Anything Goes All Aboard for Cole Porter’s Tony Award-winning musical romp across the Atlantic. When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the porholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course of true love. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. 970-7443747 or www.coloradocandlelight.com.

January 13 & 14 STOMP Back with new surprises, STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The 8-member international percussion sensation uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, and hubcaps.

Lincoln Center, 417 Magnolia Ave., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

January 13-March 17 Avenue Q Join us for this Broadway smash-hit, featuring a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risqué and downright entertaining way. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3750 South Mason St., FC. 970-225-2555 or www.adinner theatre.com.

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January 28-March 4 Trying Sometimes when generations rub up against each other, the frictions can warm your heart. This shares how a feisty 25year-old girl and her employer, a crusty, aristocratic, octogenarian judge, manage to bridge the generation gap. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. 970498-8066 or www.basbleu.org.

Sunday, January 1 Happy New Year!

Tuesday, January 3

Warrior Cats Gathering Are you a fan of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter? Join your fellow paws to become a full-fledged warrior. Your knowledge of the ancestors, hunting skills, and the battle prowess will all be tested in a friendly all-clan contest.

Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nurturing interactions will support brain and emotional development. Poudre Valley Hospital, 1025 Garfield St., FC. 1011am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Thursday, January 5

Warrior Cats Gathering Are you a fan of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter? Your knowledge of the ancestors, hunting skills, and the battle prowess will all be tested in a friendly all-clan contest. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 2pm. 970221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Prepared Childbirth This class provides you with a great forum to ask questions and helps you make informed decisions about key issues surrounding the birth of your baby. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 7-9pm. 970‑378-4044 or www.Ban nerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Friday, January 6

School’s Out Movie: Cars 2 Join us for free popcorn and a showing of Cars 2 (G). Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 10:30am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Scrabble @ Your Library Have you wanted to play but could not find a partner? Please join us. Players of all abilities and experience levels are welcome. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am. 970-2216740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

School’s Out Movie: The Chronicles of Narnia Join us for free popcorn and a showing of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (PG).

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Family Game Night Kid-A-Round Children’s Resale Boutique will sponsor several family fun games that will be raffled and donated to charity in the spring! Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlay House.com.

Wednesday, January 4

Saturday, January 7

Interesting Reader Society Meeting We are looking for teens to join the IRS! No, it doesn’t mean working with taxes, it means working with books, and lost more. We meet monthly to talk about books, movies, music, and other topics of interest. We plan exciting teen library programs and activities, serve as members of a decision-making team, promote the library at school and to the rest of the community, and provide teen feedback for the library staff. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

Kathleen Madigan In her 22 year career, Kathleen Madigan has won the American Comedy Award for “Best Female Comedian,” the Phyllis Diller Award for “Best Female Comedian,” and has had countless appearances on several late night shows, HBO and Comedy Central. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 7:30pm. 970-2216730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Boot Camp for New Dads For men, taught by men! You will be oriented to all of the aspects of new fatherhood by the experts. Learn about the gatekeeper phenomenon, troubleshooter’s guide to crying babies, caring for your baby “dad style”, caring for the new mom, and balancing work and family. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-Noon. 970‑3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NC MCFamilyLifeEdu. Breastfeeding: Off to a Good Start Designed for expectant parents who are considering breastfeeding. Learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, how breast milk is produced, pumps, returning to work, how to get off to a good start and avoid common difficulties. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-Noon. 970‑378-4044 or www.Ban nerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu. Spirit Girls & Moms Too: Growing Up Healthy and Happy Going through puberty is a lot easier when you and your daughter know what to expect! You have an important task

ahead and the better you prepare your daughter for those upcoming changes.

Join us for a visit with family physicians, pediatricians and gynecologists. Windsor Recreation Center, 250 N 11th St., Windsor. 9:30-11am. www.banner health.com/NCMCspirit.

Big Birds of River Bluffs Open Spaces Join Naturalist Carl at the newest Larimer County Open Space, for a look at the larger-than-life birds that use this river corridor. River Bluffs Open Space, West of the I-25/Windsor interchange off of CR 32E, Colorado. 10am. 970-679-4489 or www.larimer.org/naturalresources.

The Backbone in Winter Come for a fascinating afternoon of winter ecology. Join Naturalists Caroline and Jay for a trip around the Wild Loop to learn how the animals and plants make it through their toughest season and what to look for on your winter excursions. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of LV off of Hwy 34, LV. 1pm.

970-679-4489 or www.larimer.org/ naturalresources.

King Arthur’s Quest Presented by Missoula Children’s Theatre. Come see this classic tale. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 4:30pm. 970-356-5000 or www.UCSTARS.com.

Sunday, January 8

Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals.

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Moon Over My Open Space: The Moon in Myth and Legend Join Naturalists Jay and Caroline for a moonlit walk around the Wild Loop.

You will be dazzled by legends and myths of our most familiar celestial body. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of LV off of Hwy 34, LV. 5pm. 970679-4489 or www.larimer.org/natural resources.

Monday, January 9

Keep Your New Year’s Financial Resolution Discover ways to keep on track and avoid financial set-backs. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

Soil Savvy: A Key to Successful Front Range Gardening Learn how to assess the properties of your soil and how to use knowledge of soil properties as an important landscape management tool to improve both soil and plant health. Presented by Jean Reeder, a consultant for the CSU Soil Testing Lab. High Plains Environmental Center, 1854 Piney River Dr., LV. 68:30pm. 970-669-7182.

Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. 910am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy and safe environment for the active twos. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. 1011am.970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Girl Talk For girls and their mothers to explore the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Poudre Valley Hospital, Indian Paintbrush Room, 1024 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 6:30-8:30pm. 970-495-7500 or www.pvhs.org.

Tuesday, January 10

Kevin Cook: At Home in the Trees Hotel Ponderosa This year-long serie examines how trees support wildlife by considering a single idealized tree as if it were a hotel where animals, fungi, and even other plants can check in to live their lives. Through the tree they interconnect as community.

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. Noon. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

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International Night Jeff and Janet Wright will present a multi-layered program, describing Janet’s work in the West Bank, training Arab therapists in the use of EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing, a therapy effective in treating the effects of trauma) sharing their understanding of the current conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, and setting the context with pictures of the Holy Land. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Labor and Birth Teens This class was created for pregnant women ages 19 and under and their support partner. Discussion topics include labor and birth preparation, breathing, relaxation, and comfort techniques. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 4-6pm. 970‑3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NC MCFamilyLifeEdu. OB Anesthesia, Hard to Spell, Hard to Understand Learn all about your options for anesthesia during labor and birth. A great opportunity of have your questions answered by the experts at NCMC. Whether you have given birth previously, or if this is your first time, spend an hour with the NCMC Anesthesia Department! North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 7-8pm.

970‑378-4044 or www.BannerHealth. com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Wednesday, January 11

Keep Your New Year’s Financial Resolution Discover ways to keep on track and avoid financial set-backs. Coloradoan Office, 1300 Riverside, FC. Noon. 970221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Colorado Raptors - Falcons: Fast Flyers of the Air Join Carin Avila from the Colorado Raptor Center for a program on falcons. She will bring some of the falcons from the Raptor Center for us to view up close. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 6:30pm.

970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

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Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Poudre Valley Hospital, 1025 Garfield St., FC. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Friday, January 13

American Girl Doll Skate Come celebrate the American Girl!

Bring your favorite doll and learn how to skate with our certified instructors in a group setting. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 1:45-3:15pm. 970-350-9402 or www.greeleyicehaus.com.

Family Game Night Kid-A-Round Children’s Resale Boutique will sponsor several family fun games that will be raffled and donated to charity in the spring! Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

The Winter Farmers Market This market features more than 50 vendors at each market, selling produce, eggs, meat, poultry, wine and cider, cheese, bread and baked goods, coffee, tea, locally-made food specialties and crafts.

Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 10am-3pm. www.BeLocalFirst.org.

Saturday, January 14

Green Adventures: Winter Explorers Join us as we head outside and explore nature’s winter wonderland! We’ll identify animal tracks, make a natural bird feeder for our wintering feathered friends and make our own healthy snack. High Plains Environmental Center, 1854 Piney River Dr., LV. 9am-Noon.

Ages 5-12. 970-669-7182.

Infant Massage Your baby will benefit physically and emotionally from the massage techniques, while providing you with an opportunity to spend time with your baby.

This class is designed to be taken after your baby is born; however, a doll can be used in order to learn the techniques if classes don’t coincide with your due date.

North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9-10am. 970‑378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMC FamilyLifeEdu.

Sunday, January 15

Chess @ Your Library Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join us for these informal drop-in chess games. Chess boards are available or you may bring your own.

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Spanish Prepared Childbirth To receive a flyer printed in Spanish, call 970-378-6709. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-1pm.

970‑378-4044 or www.BannerHealth. com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu. Survival Skills for New Parents This class addresses many topics including: signs of illness, when to call the doctor, crying and sleeping, safe baby products, starting solid foods, bathing and daycare. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-1pm.

970‑378-4044 or www.BannerHealth. com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Game Day @ Your Library Do you like to play games? Have you wanted to play a game but couldn’t find a partner? Have a group and no place to play? Join us for Game Day @ Your Library. Play a board or card game from our collection or bring a favorite from home. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 1pm. 970-2216740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Wales: Land of Songs Presented by Monty and Marsha Brown. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 2pm. 970-356-5000 or www.UCSTARS.com.

Tuesday, January 17

Labor and Birth Teens This class was created for pregnant women ages 19 and under and their support partner. Discussion topics include labor and birth preparation, breathing, relaxation, and comfort techniques. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 4-6pm. 970‑3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NC MCFamilyLifeEdu.

Milnor ORTHODONTICS

Creating beautiful smiles

Without even saying a word, School readineSS beginS at birth.

Our programs prepare children for success starting at one year of age!

Check out our home-like downtown Toddler Learning Center today!

See our schedules at www.youngpeoplesLC.com

your child’s smile can express so many different things. At Milnor Orthodontics we want your child to have a smile that makes them feel great about themselves!

FREE EXAMINATION Dr. Milnor would like to invite you and your child for a FREE EXAMINATION. Your Child’s needs will be evaluated and explained. Dr. Milnor’s office also offers discounts of up to 10% OFF and reasonable payment plans to fit your budget. Please call for an appointment.

milnororthodontics.com

Laura D. Milnor DDS, MS

970-484-3214

1103 S. Shields St. • Fort Collins

Protect your indoor air quality with Zero-Interest Loans* * Best to apply before 12/15/11

Don’t let your savings go up in smoke, protect your family from raDon! Install a radon mitigation system (up to $1,500) • Upgrade gas or pellet stove, or remove old wood stove (up to $3,000) Fort Collins Utilities customers can apply for a zero interest loan and receive up to $3,000 interest-free for air quality improvements.

Call (970) 224-6085, or visit fcgov.com/airquality

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Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nurturing interactions will support brain and emotional development. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. Noon; McKee Medical Center, 2000 N. Boise Ave., LV. 11:15am. 970495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wednesday, January 18

Bring a Buddy Skate Come with a friend and have fun!

Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 6:15-7:45pm. 970-350-9402 or www. greeleyicehaus.com.

Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nurturing interactions will support brain and emotional development. Poudre Valley Hospital, 1025 Garfield St., FC. 1011am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Thursday, January 19

Jumpstart Your Rewrite Rewriting is not always an intuitive process, and this class offers an extensive list of sound craft questions that jumpstart your rewriting process. We’ll address all the essential storytelling elements, from learning how to pinpoint your plot’s key event to evaluating whether your characters encounter substantially tough obstacles. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 5:30pm. 970221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Tail Tale Story Time Presented by the Larimer Humane Society. At each session, we’ll read a book that focuses on animals and developing humane values such as kindness, empathy, and responsibility. Afterward, participants will complete an animalrelated craft, have a visit with a shelter animal and discuss how children can help animals in need. Larimer Humane Society Shelter, 6317 Kyle Ave., FC. 1011am. Ages 3-6. 970-226-3647 or www. larimerhumane.org.

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Friday, January 20

YES Family Concert The Fort Collins Symphony presents Beethoven Lives Upstairs, a fantastical musical drama about a young boy who befriends the renowned composer. The production features Beethoven’s music, cleverly woven into the program’s storyline, which is based on real events from composer’s life. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Family Game Night Kid-A-Round Children’s Resale Boutique will sponsor several family fun games that will be raffled and donated to charity in the spring! Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Saturday, January 21

Origami 101 Adults will learn the Japanese art of paper folding. The origami techniques learned will then be used to create traditional (crane) and modern figures (dollar bill origami) at various levels of difficulty. Enjoy tea and good conversation while learning a new skill. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

Infant Massage Your baby will benefit physically and emotionally from the massage techniques, while providing you with an opportunity to spend time with your baby.

This class is designed to be taken after your baby is born; however, a doll can be used in order to learn the techniques if classes don’t coincide with your due date.

North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9-10am. 970‑378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMC FamilyLifeEdu. Skate School Bonanza Come celebrate National Skating Month with the Greeley Ice Haus Skate School and Mountain View Skating Club! Cookies and punch will be served.

Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 11:30am-1:30pm. 970-350-9402 or www.greeleyicehaus.com.

Wintertime Plant Walk Join Naturalist Kathy as she explains how plants handle the harsh winter season, and will point out some species that just won’t quit! Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of LV off of Hwy 34, LV. 9am. 970-679-4489 or www.larimer. org/naturalresources.

Big Birds of River Bluffs Open Spaces Join Naturalist Carl at the newest Larimer County Open Space, for a look at the larger-than-life birds that use this river corridor. River Bluffs Open Space, West of the I-25/Windsor interchange off of CR 32E, Colorado. 10am. 970679-4489 or www.larimer.org/natural resources.

Sunday, January 22

Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals.

For children in grades K-5. 40-60 minutes. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Tuesday, January 24

Labor and Birth Teens This class was created for pregnant women ages 19 and under and their support partner. Discussion topics include labor and birth preparation, breathing, relaxation, and comfort techniques. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 4-6pm. 970‑3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NC MCFamilyLifeEdu.

Wednesday, January 25

Beginners A man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover. Beginners explores the hilarity, confusion and surprises of love that brings father and son closer than they ever were. The Rialto Theater, 228 E 4th St., LV. 7pm. 970-962-2120 or www. cityofloveland.org/rialto.

Pilobolus Pilobolus is a unique American arts organization of international influence.

It has not, however, forsaken its original impetus, and it remains a deeply committed collaborative effort with three artistic directors and over twenty-five full and part-time dancers contributing to one of the most popular and varied bodies of work in the history of the field.

Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Shai Wosner and Jennifer Koh Violinist Jennifer Koh continues to dazzle audiences with playing that combines intensity of temperament with a patrician poise and elegance. She’ll be joined in a program featuring the delightful music of Bartok and Brahms by acclaimed Israeli pianist Shai Wosner.

Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy and safe environment for the active twos.

Poudre Valley Hospital, 1025 Garfield St., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www. pvhs.org.

Thursday, January 26

Photography Workshop SLRs, those with a simple point and shoot camera will learn how to take better pictures. Bring your camera and manual with fresh batteries and space on your memory card. Class is free.

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org. eTown Live Radio Show Taping with The Jayhawks & Justin Townes Earle Don’t miss this special ‘on-the-road’ live radio show taping with influential alt-country legends, The Jayhawks, and Americana darling Justin Townes Earle. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

Friday, January 27

History Comes Alive: Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart was a true pioneer for women and aviation. She became the first woman ever on a flight across the Atlantic.

She was the first woman and second person to fly solo across the Atlantic. She disappeared while attempting the first flight around the world. Amelia will be with us to tell about her extraordinary life up to her disappearance. FRCC, Longs Peak Student Center, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

2012 Father/Daughter Dance Fathers and Daughters of all ages are welcome! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to spend an evening with your favorite girl. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 6pm. 970-350-9402 or www. greeleyicehaus.com.

Family Game Night Kid-A-Round Children’s Resale Boutique will sponsor several family fun games that will be raffled and donated to charity in the spring! Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlay House.com.

Pilobolus Dance Company Pilobolus is a unique American arts organization of international influence.

It has not, however, forsaken its original impetus, and it remains a deeply committed collaborative effort with three artistic directors and over twenty-five full and part-time dancers contributing to one of the most popular and varied bodies of work in the history of the field. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-356-5000 or www.UCSTARS.com.

Saturday, January 28

Photography Workshop Even though the emphasis will be on SLRs, those with a simple point and shoot camera will learn how to take better pictures. Bring your camera and manual with fresh batteries and space on your memory card. Class is free. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

Avian Appreciation Day Join us to learn about birds and the beautiful homes they build. You will even have the chance to build a nest of your own. Bath Garden Center, 2000 E. Prospect Rd., FC. 10am-4pm. 970-4911661 or www.csuelc.org.

The Winter Farmers Market This market features more than 50 vendors at each market, selling produce, eggs, meat, poultry, wine and cider, cheese, bread and baked goods, coffee, tea, locally-made food specialties and crafts. Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 10am-3pm. www.BeLocal First.org.

2012 Father/Daughter Dance Fathers and Daughters of all ages are welcome! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to spend an evening with your favorite girl. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 1pm & 6pm. 970-350-9402 or www.greeleyicehaus.com.

Wintertime Wildlife Where do the wild things go when things get cold and the snow starts to blow? Find out on this guided hike with Naturalist Bob. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of LV off of Hwy 34, LV. 10am. 970-679-4489 or www.larimer. org/naturalresources.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Cinderella Tale When a great African king desires a wife, only the most perfect maidens in the land are invited to meet him. Combining authentic African drumming, powerful and majestic choreography and thrilling original music, the splendor of Zimbabwe will burst onto stage in this Caldecott Award winning Cinderella tale! Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 2pm & 6pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue Come enjoy the show! Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-356-5000 or www.UC STARS.com.

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time out

A day indoors Or why Billy can’t run or jump or kick SCOTT TITT E R I N G TO N

This is a reprint from May 2008.

W

hile reading through the stories for this issue, I noticed a common theme of trying to keep our children and ourselves connected with the natural world—whether through environmental education, understanding organic foods or encouraging our kids to play outdoors. I had also just finished reading a book of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut from the ‘50s and early ‘60s.

These ideas all came together one morning and the following short story emerged.

“It’s time for soccer practice, Billy, get hooked up,” says his mom from the screen on the wall. Ten-year-old Billy reaches down and clicks on the transceivers at the ends of his “soccer” shoes, then slips on his sensor gloves and directional goggles. He scrolls through the schedule to find his team and presses the remote.

Most of the team is already standing around as the coach talks to them about the game. Billy recognizes most of the players from school, but some of his teammates go to other schools. A couple of them even go to a school building.

On the weekends those kids can use the school’s archaic hardwire virtual hookups for the game. It’s usually pretty easy to get around them if you know which ones aren’t wireless.

Parents line the side of the field. He sees his mom talking to another parent. She smiles and waves, with a little scrunching, the way moms do when they know they’re embarrassing their kids. Billy’s higher-end system keeps the motion pretty smooth. He’s been practicing his moves and can make most of them without watching the full-wall screen in his room. He’s learned to “run” and “dodge” by rolling the floor-ball with his foot.

While they’re waiting for the game to begin, Harry walks over and talks to Billy. Harry’s a b&m, bricks and mor44

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tar, kid. The ref blows a whistle and the game begins. Billy sees the game from his perspective on the screen in front of him. His practice pays off as he cuts and dodges around three players and gets a shot off. He’d picked out one b&m kid and knew he could beat him. The game ends and Billy gets his mother’s attention.

“What does grass feel like?” he asks.

“What?”

“Harry says this isn’t like real soccer at all and that I don’t even know what real grass feels like.”

“Oh Honey, he’s just jealous because he doesn’t have a nice system at home like you do.”

“Mom…can I play soccer outside sometimes? Harry says that running and kicking with your legs is totally awesome.”

“Oh Honey, I don’t know. Your asthma might kick up or you might hurt your ankle. Do you really think it’s worth it?”

“But Harry says I think I know everything but that I don’t know anything like what it feels like to really ride a bike with the wind and the smells and stuff.”

“Well Harry doesn’t know what it’s like to race his super-chopper through Africa and up Mount Everest, does he?”

“I guess not, still…”

“Hey, how was school today?”

“Borrrring, as usual. I got in trouble. Sam texted me something mean during math so I switched to my ninja avatar and whipped out my numchucks.

I cracked him good on the side of the head. Then he pulled out his plasma blaster and went nuts. It took Ms. Harper fifteen minutes to get everyone quiet again. I had to unplug for an hour and just sit here and watch the lesson on my screen.”

Billy pulls off his goggles and gloves, switches off his shoes, and returns to the reality of his room. A quiet

beach scene fades onto the wall screen and gentle wave sounds fill the room.

He calls for his mom and she appears on the screen.

“Mom, I want to go outside and do something, like Harry does.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…just check it out.”

“But you have it all right here and you’re much safer this way, and you don’t even have outdoor clothes.”

“But don’t I have to go out sometime.”

“I think by the time you’re that old they’ll have it all figured out so that people with good systems don’t have to go outside at all, ever.”

“I have an idea, Billy. Do you want to go kayaking this weekend on the Poudre?”

“Outside? Mom, you know that river’s been dried up for years.”

“I know, but I bought the new Poudre River module. We can fish and kayak and raft, and everything! It’ll be so much fun and we don’t even have to get wet or cold or tired or hurt….”

“Maybe. I think I’ll see if Sally wants to go ice skating tonight.”

Visit us at: www.rmparent.com

follow us on facebook.com/RockyMountainParent

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