Family First - October 2019

OCTOBER 2019 | VOL. 1 • ISSUE 8

FREE

FAMILY FIRST

2

OCTOBER 2019

GREG LEBLANC

GregLeBlanc.com

JOIN JOIN US US FOR FOR FOOD, FOOD, FUN, FUN, GAMES, GAMES, CRAFTS, CRAFTS, FALL FALL PHOTOS PHOTOS & & FACILITY FACILITY TOURS! TOURS!

OCTOBER 26TH • 10AM - 2PM

AT THE NEW HOUMA FAMILY DENTAL OFFICE • CORNER OF HWY 311 & POLK ST

PRESENTED PRESENTED BY BY

H F

D

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing EDITORIAL

Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director Mary Ditch Managing Editor Drew Miller Associate Editor CREATIVE

Amber Duplantis Senior Designer Nicholas Boutte Graphic Designer COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Erica Seely ADVERTISING

Bonnie Rushing Sales Manager Deanne Ratliff Senior Account Manager Elise Falgout, David Gravois, Linda Pontiff

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

AVERI AND QUINN SEELY

It’s Fall Y’all!

It’s officially fall, y’all! Sweater weather will soon be here, I just know it! I am ready for temps to cool down so we can start hitting up our favorite festivals!

Fall means festival season to me and we are proudly raising a little festivalgoer in our household! My husband and I have brought our son along with us to festivals since he was a tot, packing up our wagon and blanket for a fun-filled day. He loves the music and the crafts. He also has never said no to a delicious fair burger!

We hope you enjoy all that fall has to offer, from festivals and fairs, to dressing up as your favorite character and collecting candy from neighbors. Boo to you!

MARY DOWNER DITCH

OCTOBER 2019 • ISSUE 8

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AUGUST 2019

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HOMEROOM HAPPENINGS Pictures from the classroom

FUN FOR THE FAMILY Local event calendar

PUMPKIN DECORATING Ideas for decorating pumpkins

OFFICE/CIRCULATION MANAGER

Michelle Ortego CUSTOMER SERVICE

Kimberly Ross SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Emily Rini CONTACT

Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com FAMILYFIRSTHOUMA.COM

FALL BUCKET LIST Enjoy all things fall with your family

HEALTHY BITES WITH TGMC Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

SYNERGY CENTS WITH PENNY Penny Shares Money Facts

6160 W. Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 • 985.868.7515

S.T.E.A.M. WITH HOUMA FAMILY DENTAL Plaque Attack

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GET MOVING WITH THIBODAUX REGIONAL

22

GETTING SPOOKY AT YOUR LIBRARY

24 26 28 31

AT THE LIBRARY

Sports 101

Book reviews Terrebonne Library event listings

ALL TRICKS, NO TREATS Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK Plan your Home Escape

FUN AND GAMES Win $25 courtesy of South Louisiana Bank

Family First Magazine is a free publication.

The entire content of this publication is copyrighted by Rushing Media, with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Family First Magazine is published monthly by Rushing Media.

Registration for eLearning Academy is now open for the 2019-2020 session in our Thibodaux and Houma locations!

Now enrolling PK3 & PK4 at our Houma location • BESE Approved and Nationally Accredited K-12 private school • Personalized education plan for every student • 1 to 6 teacher-pupil ratio • Blended learning - work at home, or onsite, or a blend of both

Thibodaux: 806 N. Acadia Rd. • 447-5994 | Houma: 220 Civic Center Blvd. • 223-9077

s e s r Pu and

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presented by

promises

a girls' night out for children's literacy

featuring Gently used and new designer purses

silent auction, live auction, food, wine, prizes, and more!

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houma friday courtyard nov. 1 marriott

proceeds benefit dolly parton's imagination library

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homeroom happenings

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

Send your accomplishments to us at mary@rushing-media.com to see your class in print!

DULARGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mrs. Boudreaux’s 1st graders used watercolor paints after reading “The Tale Of Peter Rabbit” to illustrate Peter Rabbit munching on veggies from Mr. McGregor’s garden!

GRAND CAILLOU ELEMENTARY Pre-K students loved visiting the Main Library.

Students learned about checking out books, getting a library card, and were able to have music and story time.

MULBERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ms. Olivier’s 3rd graders rotated through stations working on multiplication and division while playing Glow games.

SAINT MATTHEW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Kindergarten students were excited to check out their first library books from the school library.

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October 27th 4:00pm-7:00pm 4863 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364 • (985) 851-2520 • fbchouma.com

CE

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GREAT PRICEs! GREAT SERVICE!

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19 Serving Terrebonne Parish for 59 years.

For Value & Freshness You Can’t Beat Piggly Wiggly!

594-3076 • 5308 Hwy 56 • Chauvin

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family fun

FUN FOR THE FAMILY

EVENT CALENDAR Kids Fit Fair

October 5, 9-11 a.m.

TGMC Speed Training Facility, Houma The free event invites elementary aged children and their parents to learn about nutrition and fitness in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. The event will include a variety of activities, including obstacle course, smoothie bikes, corn hole, healthy snacks, hydration receipts, fitness games and more. The first 250 kids to attend will receive a free backpack, and all kids will be entered to win prizes including a Fitbit, bicycle or a scooter.

Fall Fest

October 5, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

H.L. Bourgeois parking lot, Gray Hosted by the H.L. Bourgeois Student Council, this crafting festival is fun for the whole family. Admission is free; $1 tickets will be sold for 12 unique crafts. Face painting, bounce houses, food and drinks will also be available.

Family Movie Night

October 5, 5-9 p.m.

Bayou Blue Recreation, Houma Get ready for a fun family movie night featuring the movie “Hocus Pocus”. Face painting and balloon art by Magical Entertainment will be available starting at 5 p.m. The movie begins at 6 p.m. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs. Admission is $2 and includes popcorn and a drink.

Tickets will be sold at the door for face painting, balloon art and concessions.

Bitty Boo-seum

at participating businesses along 3rd and 4th Streets in downtown Thibodaux. Let your little ones get in on some extra fun art at Purple Penguin Art Company with supervised pumpkin painting. The cost of painting is $25/per child. Save a spot for pumpkin painting by registering by at purplepenguinartcompany.com.

October 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Bayou Country Children’s Museum, Thibodaux Come in costume for a ghoulish good time! Experience the magic of the BCCM at this family-friendly Halloween spooktacular with activities for toddlers. Enjoy crafts, face painting, games, treats and more!

Admission is $8 or $5 for members.

Pumpkin Patch

October 18-30, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sundays, 12-6 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Thibodaux The First United Methodist Church of Thibodaux invites you to their 24th annual Pumpkin Patch! Enjoy picking out your perfect pumpkin along with crafts at the Country Store. Playland will be held on October 19 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with crafts, games and food for the whole family. Proceeds benefit missions across the country.

Houma Pumpkin Patch

October 17-31 Mon – Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday: 12-6 p.m.

Living Word Church, Schriever This amazing and free pumpkin patch is an experience for the whole family!

New this year are the Pumpkin Dash 5K on Oct. 19 and the Cajun Cookoff on Oct. 27. Weekend events include hay rides ($5), story time, games, photo spots, live music, family photos ($10) and food (jambalaya and burger combos with drink $5). For more information and details about each weekend’s activity line-up, visit houmapumpkinpatch.com.

October 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Firemen’s Fair Grounds, Thibodaux Enjoy trick-or-treating, games, music, food and more at this annual children’s event sponsored by the Bayou Country Children’s Museum, in partnership with the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. Cost is $8 per person in advance and $10 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or online at bayoucountrychildrensmuseum.org.

Movies in the Park

October 25, 7 p.m.

The Settlement at Live Oak, Thibodaux Join in the fun of Movies in the Park in Live Oak’s Town Square! October’s movie is “The Goonies”. Bring your own snacks, chairs and a friend!

Family Fun Day

October 26, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Houma Family Dental Get ready for Family Fun Day presented by Houma Family Dental!

Bring the family for food, fun, games, crafts, fall photos and facility tours at the NEW home of Houma Family Dental.

PoV Pop-Up: Thibodaux Tailgate

October 18, 6-9:30 p.m.

The Settlement at Live Oak, Thibodaux Gather your friends & family and join us for PoV Pop-Up: Thibodaux Tailgate! Our premiere tailgating event includes food trucks, live music by Kerry Thibodaux and Ben Labat, games, activities for the kids, and a marketplace featuring tailgate essentials for the whole family. For more information, visit povpopup.com.

Dance Party Fundraiser

October 19, 9:30-11 a.m.

The Rendezvous, Thibodaux Join Team Anna Banana Awesome Sauce for a Dance Party Fundraiser to help raise money for Annabelle’s 3rd Annual Holiday Gift Drive, a Christmas Party Event at Ochsner Hospital for Children. Come out and get a great workout with Dance 2 Fit with Heather Benoit and Shake it Up with Brittany for a great cause! Admission is $10; children 10 and under are free with an adult.

Monsters on Main

October 18, 6-8 p.m.

Downtown Thibodaux Head to downtown Thibodaux to enjoy a great evening filled with tons of Halloween fun! Trick-or-treat FAMILY FIRST

Night at the BOO-Seum

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OCTOBER 2019

18th Annual “Hallelujah” Harvest Festival

October 31, 5-8 p.m.

1900 East Tunnel Blvd., Houma Join the First Assembly of God Houma for their 18th annual Hallelujah Harvest Fest. It is a night full of free games, prizes, treats, and more, to provide a safe place for children and families on Halloween night. Enjoy a TrunkOr-Treat, pumpkin patch, hayride, bounce houses, family fall photos, a maze and more.

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Training Starts January 14, 2020

CHANGE A CHILD’S STORY Volunteer

www.casaofterrebonne.org

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PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS

THAT DON’T INVOLVE CARVING! STAFF REPORT

We absolutely love decorating pumpkins at my house.

What we don’t love is breaking out the sharp knives or messing with pumpkin guts. So instead, we break out the paint and glitter and go to town.

You can turn your pumpkin into anything you can image with a little paint and a creative thought. Maybe it’s your favorite book or favorite movie character? The sky is the

limit. While washable poster paint is our first choice, have fun exploring other paint options! Puffy glow in the dark paint is on our list this year!

How else do you decorate your pumpkin? Share your creations with us on Facebook or email mary@rushingmedia.com.

Other ideas for decorating pumpkins: Mr. “Pumpkin” Head

Use the pieces from an actual Mr. Potato Head toy and push directly into your pumpkin. Need to make your own accessories? Cut eyes, mustaches and more out of card stock and glue to golf tees.

Crayon Art

Use a white or very lightly colored pumpkin. Grab your standard crayons out the box and just let your child scribble away! The crayons work just as easily as paint and leave no mess!

Looking to step this one up a notch with older children?

Glue cracked or broken crayons around the top stem of your pumpkin. Take your hair dryer on the hottest setting and point it downward, over the crayons. As the wax melts, watch your fingers, and just let the colors run.

Mod Podge Collage

Choose a few sheets of scrapbooking paper that you really love and tear into strips. Use Mod Podge and a foam brush to apply the strips all around your pumpkin.

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Ribbon

Take lengths of ribbon (use different styles and width such as ric-rack, grosgrain, satin, or even glitter) and glue along the creases of your pumpkin, from top to bottom.

Felt or Foam dĂŠcor

You can buy felt or foam pieces already cut out to resemble eyes, mouth, ears and more. Simply glue in place!

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OCTOBER 2019

family fun

FALL

bucket list

We love lists here at Family First! It helps us to always have something to look forward to and takes some of the guesswork out of what to do on the weekends. Don’t feel like you have to check off every item! Pick the ones that most interest your family and set a goal to complete one a weekend until winter. Good luck and have fun!

Visit a pumpkin patch Bob for apples Go hiking Try a corn maze Decorate your porch Bake a pumpkin pie Make candy apples Eat pumpkin seeds Decorate a pumpkin Go to a football game “Mummy-wrap” a friend with toilet paper Jump in a pile of leaves Go on a hay ride Make s’mores Build a scarecrow Cook a chili Collect colored leaves Drink apple cider Make pumpkin bread Try something pumpkin-flavored Knit a scarf (or wear a scarf!)

Go on a fall picnic Visit a fall festival Go stargazing Make your own costume Watch a movie outside Visit a farmer’s market Boo your neighbors and friends Collect unique pumpkins or gourds Thrift shop for a cozy sweater Go on a moon walk Bake and decorate cookies Watch the sun set Donate food to the food pantry Create leaf rubbings Make placemats for Thanksgiving dinner Make a “thankful” jar full of things you are thankful for Make a pine cone bird feeder Check out a Fall book from the library Drink hot cocoa FAMILY FIRST

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 • 6-9:30 PM THE SETTLEMENT AT LIVE OAK • 1888 HWY 308, THIBODAUX LIVE MUSIC BY KERRY THIBODAUX & BEN LABAT FOOD TRUCKS • LAWN GAMES • SHOPPING RAFFLE TO BENEFIT BAYOU COUNTRY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Presented By

BAYOU FIRE FOODS

Entertainment Game Sponsor Sponsor

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OCTOBER 2019

ROUX C L O T H I N G C O M PA N Y

HEALTHY BITES WITH TGMC | BY BREA DOMINIQUE, DIETETIC INTERN AND MICHELLE BRICENO, MS, RD, LDN

LET’S GIVE THEM PUMPKIN TO TALK ABOUT!

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN BARS Many people associate pumpkins as a Halloween decoration or a delicious dessert during Thanksgiving, but behind the haunted smile of a Jack O’ Lantern and the delicious pie, lies one of the most nutritious vegetables.

Pumpkins are nutrient-dense; being high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Studies show these nutrients support your immune system, eye health, skin health, and heart health while lowering your risk of cancer. The high fiber content of pumpkin aids in digestive health as well as helping you feel full between meals. Due to their low number of calories, pumpkins are weight loss friendly too. Pumpkin seeds are also high in minerals, fiber, and protein. Pumpkin seeds also contain a substance that may help lower cholesterol. So the next time that you want to carve a pumpkin, don’t waste the inside. Eat it!

DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat a 15 x 10 x 1-inch rimmed baking or jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

STEP 2 Whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, pecans, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined.

STEP 3 In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin, oil and milk until blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

STEP 4 Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before slicing into (30) 2 x 2 ½-inch bars.

INGREDIENTS • 1 c. all-purpose flour

• 4 large eggs, beaten

• 1 c. whole-wheat flour

• 1 15-ounce can 100-percent pure

• 1 c. pecans, very finely chopped

pumpkin

• 3/4 c. granulated sugar

• 1/2 c. canola oil

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/4 c. low-fat milk

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/2 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

chips

• 1/2 tsp. salt FAMILY FIRST

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OCTOBER 2019

For maximum freshness, store leftovers in a plastic container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator.

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SYNERGY BANK PRESENTS SYNERGY CENTS WITH PENNY D. PELICAN

PENNY SHARES MONEY FACTS Money is fun to spend and save, but have you ever thought about the way money looks? Study any bill, and you’ll see for yourself that money is a work of art. In fact, it takes a whole team of paper makers, artists, engravers, and printers to produce it!

The U.S. Bureau of Engraving prints our money using highspeed presses that can print more than 10,000 sheets of paper every hour! About 25 million notes or bills are printed every day with a face value of about $560 million dollars. The newly printed money replaces torn or worn bills. A $1 bill is used the most, so it only lasts about 6 years before it has to be reprinted.

The $100 bill lasts the longest, usually about 15 years.

For more fun facts about money, visit uscurrency.gov.

MONEY MATCH

Can you match the faces below to their correct bills?

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

GEORGE WASHINGTON

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

ANDREW JACKSON Find game solutions at banksynergy.com/penny.

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OCTOBER 2019

Color the Halloween picture using the number key below.

1 = YELLOW 2 = BLACK 3 = PURPLE 4 = PINK 5 = WHITE 6 = GREY 7 = BROWN 8 = ORANGE 9 = RED Find game solutions at banksynergy.com/penny.

JOIN US FOR

A NIGHT AT THE

BOO-SEUM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 • 5:30-8:30 PM THIBODAUX FIREMEN’S FAIRGROUNDS

FUN GAME AND PRIZ S ES! FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS, VISIT BAYOUCOUNTRYCHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG FAMILY FIRST

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OCTOBER 2019

S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY WITH HOUMA FAMILY DENTAL

PLAQUE ATTACK Using this interactive experiment, your young scientist can measure, mix and watch the bubbles grow! As the yeast feeds on the sugar, a chemical reaction occurs and it releases a gas called carbon dioxide making tiny bubbles. Much like sugar in our mouths creates plaque too, this visual is sure to make a lasting impression. Common ingredients you probably already have in your home make this experiment easy and entertaining.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 2 tsp. yeast

• cup

• 1 cup of warm water

• spoon or whisk

• 1 Tbsp. sugar

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WHAT TO DO: STEP 1 Add yeast to the cup.

STEP 2 Add warm water to the cup and gently stir.

STEP 3 Add sugar to the cup and gently stir again.

Call today to schedule your appointment at our new location at the corner of HWY 311 & Polk St.

STEP 4 Sit back and enjoy the action!

Tips: • Make sure the water is warm, but not hot; this will properly activate the yeast.

985-868-5699

• Do the experiment on a surface that you don’t mind getting wet! It just keeps growing!

From your first tooth... to your last.

• After testing both utensils, the whisk mixes the mixture more thoroughly and produces faster results, so use a whisk if you have one.

H F

D

JOIN JOIN US US FOR FOR FOOD, FUN, GAMES, FOOD, FUN, GAMES, CRAFTS, CRAFTS, FALL PHOTOS & FACILITY FALL PHOTOS & FACILITY TOURS! TOURS!

SPONSORED BY OCTOBER 26TH 26TH • 10AM OCTOBER 10AM--2PM 2PM www.houmafamilydental.com FAMILY FIRST

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OCTOBER 2019

GET MOVING WITH THIBODAUX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

SPORTS 101

KEEPING CHILDREN MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION Children need to move! Their health depends on it and what is a better way than to take an adventure or learn a new sport! Here are a few tips to keep your children mentally healthy while getting them physically moving and building skills to last a lifetime!

Help Make The Sport Fun For Your Child It is proven that the more fun a child is having, the more they will learn and the better they will perform. Fun must be present for this to happen at every level of sports from youth to world class competitors! When a child stops having fun and begins to dread practice or competition, it’s time for us as parents to become concerned! An easy rule of thumb: If your child is not enjoying what they are doing, nor loving the heck out of it, investigate! What is going on that’s preventing them from having fun? Is it the coaching? The pressure? Is it me as a parent? Keep in mind that being in a highly competitive program does not mean that there is no room for fun.

Remember The Importance Of Building Self-Esteem Children of all ages and levels perform in direct relationship to how they feel about themselves. When your child is in an athletic environment that boosts self-esteem, he/ she will learn faster, enjoy themselves more and perform better under competitive pressure. One thing we all want as children and never stop wanting is to be loved and accepted, and to have our parents feel good about what we do. This is how self-esteem gets established.

When your interactions with your child make them feel good about themselves, they will, in turn, learn to treat themselves this very same way. This does not mean that you must constantly compliment your child for a great effort after they have just performed miserably. In this situation being empathic and sensitive to his/her feelings is what’s called for.

Self-esteem makes the world go round. Make your child feel good about themselves and you’ve given them a gift that lasts a lifetime.

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Avoid Comparisons And Respect Developmental Differences Comparisons are useless, inaccurate and destructive. Each child matures differently; for example, two 10-year-old boys may only have their age in common! One may physically have the build and perform like a 14-year-old while the other, a late developer, may have the physical size and attribute of an 8-year-old. Performance comparisons can prematurely turn off otherwise talented athletes on their sport.

Stress The Process, Not The Outcome When learning to perform at any sport, a child is totally oblivious to the outcome and instead is completely absorbed in the here and now of the actual performance.

Keep this mentality for life! Focusing on the outcome, which is completely out of the child’s control, will raise their anxiety to a performance inhibiting level. So, if you truly want your child to win, help get their focus away from how important the contest is and have them focus on the task at hand. Try supporting by de-emphasizing winning and instead stress learning the skills and playing the game.

Winning And Losing Is Not Success And Failure One of the main purposes of the youth sports experience is skill acquisition and formation of friendships. When a child performs to their potential and loses, focusing on the outcome becomes critical. If a child plays their very best and loses, parents should help them feel like a winner!

Similarly, when a child or team performs far below their potential but wins, this is not cause to feel like a winner. Let’s help children make this important separation between success and failure and winning and losing. Remember, if you define success and failure in terms of winning and losing, you may be playing a losing game with your child!

SPONSORED BY

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OCTOBER 2019

at the library

BY NAOMI HURTIENNE MAGOLA,YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN

GETTING SPOOKY AT YOUR LIBRARY

Pumpkins, black cats, and bats–oh my! October is here and that means it is time to get spooky at your library!

From crafts and story times to slime and movies, there is something for monsters of all ages to enjoy. Be sure to check out our calendar to see what ghastly events are happening in your neighborhood.

Looking for something a little less beastly? Be sure to check out our Carnival Night at the Main Library on Tuesday, October 29th from 6-7:30p.m. There will be a

special circus-themed story time followed by carnival games, prizes, and treats. It’s fun for the whole family, and it’s all free, so get dressed up in your best costumes and come on down!

In the meantime, check out one of these spine-tingling books to get you in a creepy mood. All three books are available through the Terrebonne Parish Library System, and you can reserve a copy today at www.mytpl.org.

Preschool

K-3rd

Go Away Big Green Monster!

Creepy Carrots

Written by Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Peter Brown

Written and Illustrated by Ed Emberley

If kids are made of sugar and spice or snails and puppy dog tails, then what are monsters made of?

You’ll find out just what it takes in Ed Emberley’s classic book. Watch as the monster grows bigger and

tougher and scarier. Do you have what it takes to stand up to the monster and tell him to go away?

Jasper Rabbit’s favorite treat is carrots. Specifically the carrots from Crackenhopper Field. What he thought was a free tasty treat turns out to be something a bit more... sinister. One day as he is enjoying a snack, he hears

Moving to a new place can be hard, but one thing that is fun is exploring your new home. When Coraline sets off she finds that there are fourteen doors in her new apartment, one of which is locked.

When she figures out how to open it, she steps into a world that is remarkably like her own, only everything is better--the food, the bed, the parents. But when she finds other children trapped in the new place, she discovers that things may not be quite as good as they seem.

4th-6th

Coraline

Written by Neil Gaiman

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FAMILY FIRST

something following him. Is it true? Can it possibly be real?

Is he being followed by creepy carrots?!? From that day on he finds himself being followed by creepy carrots everywhere.

What can he do to stop them?

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OCTOBER 2019

Bayou

Autism Society Bayou’s Mission: To promote and advocate for the general welfare of persons with autism, to support the families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and to raise awareness of all aspects of autism which affect the families.

Join us at 10am on the 3rd Saturday of each month at the North Branch Library in Gray. (Across from H.L. Bourgeois) For inquiries, please contact Dawn Spinella at 985-397-3812, or email BayouAutism@yahoo.com BAYOUAUTISM.ORG

Jennifer Rodrigue, PNP

Kenneth J. Cruse, MD, FAAP

Accepting New Patients In network with most Commercial Insurance and Medicaid

Henry M. Peltier, MD, FAAP

Micah Callais, FNP

• Free expectant parent consult • Routine/Wellness Care/Sports Physicals • Immunizations • ADD/ADHD Screening/Management • Same Day Appointments

604 N Acadia Rd, Suite 200 & 200B • Thibodaux, LA 70301 • 985-448-3700 5040 W Main St • Houma, LA 70360 • 985-851-2000 • www.centerfp.com FAMILY FIRST

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OCTOBER 2019

AT THE LIBRARY

FUN AT THE LIBRARY

EVENT CALENDAR Family Movie “Aladdin”

Spooky Spelling Bee! Think you know all the spooky vocabulary there is? Come test your skills at Spooky Spelling Bee!

OCTOBER 5, 2-3 P.M. NORTH BRANCH

OCTOBER 19, 3:30-5 P.M. NORTH BRANCH

Tea Light Planets OCTOBER 9, 4-5 P.M. MONTEGUT BRANCH

Spider Web Craft OCTOBER 21, 4-5 P.M. MONTEGUT BRANCH

National Cake Decorating Day Mini Cake Decorating Workshop for PreK - 3rd OCTOBER 10, 3-4 P.M. BOURG BRANCH

Spooky Spiders Finger Painting Ages 2-8 OCTOBER 23, 4-5 P.M. DULAC BRANCH

Carnival Night Step right up and join us for the library’s Annual Carnival Night! There will be a story time, games, prizes, and more for the whole family to enjoy.

Thriller Chiller Thursday Come in and take a picture with your favorite horror movie villain! (All Ages)

OCTOBER 29, 6-7:30 P.M. MAIN BRANCH

OCTOBER 24, 5-8:30 P.M. EAST HOUMA BRANCH

Fall and Halloween Activities

DIY Halloween Masks OCTOBER 28, 4-5 P.M. MONTEGUT BRANCH

Fall tree art with dyed pumpkin seeds PreK - 3rd grade OCTOBER 2, 3-4 P.M. BOURG BRANCH

Halloween Story/Craft Time OCTOBER 28, 4:30-5:15 P.M. DULARGE BRANCH

Pumpkin Seed Craft OCTOBER 2, 4-5 P.M. MONTEGUT BRANCH

Ghost Wind Sock Craft Program OCTOBER 29, 2-2:30 P.M. GIBSON BRANCH

Fall Story/Craft Time

Halloween Cat Craft PreK - 3rd grade

OCTOBER 7, 4:30-5:15 P.M. DULARGE BRANCH

Halloween Craft Oreo Spiders and Graveyard Parfaits. Registration is required for this event!

OCTOBER 12, 3-5 P.M. NORTH BRANCH

OCTOBER 29, 4-5 P.M. BOURG BRANCH

Paper Plates Bat Craft OCTOBER 29, 4-5 P.M. CHAUVIN BRANCH

Pumpkin Painting Must bring your own pumpkin.

Spooky Stories and Urban Legends Storytelling Session All ages welcome.

OCTOBER 30, 4-5 P.M. MONTEGUT BRANCH

OCTOBER 16, 4-5 P.M. DULAC BRANCH

Trick or Treat at the Library

“Hocus Pocus” Family Film (All Ages) Costume Contest to follow! PreK-3rd graders allowed to participate in contest.

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OCTOBER 2019

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expert advice

ALL TREATS, NO TRICKS!

TRICK-OR-TREAT SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS STAFF REPORT

Are you planning on going trick-or-treating in your neighborhood this year? It’s important to be safe as well as have fun while out and about after nightfall.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office offers the following safety tips to parents and trick-or-treaters to make the process safer for all involved:

Make your child’s costume distinguishable and safe.

Ensure your child can easily walk in the costume and that the fabric is flame retardant. Use glow bracelets/ sticks, reflective tape, and flashlights. With store-bought costumes, change or add something to make your child distinguishable from others.

Maintain proper supervision for your children.

TPSO strongly urges parents to supervise their own FAMILY FIRST

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children. If you must entrust your child to another adult, obtain up-to-date contact information. If they are headed out with a group, make sure there is a buddy system in place.

Stay off your smartphone.

Adults should be ever vigilant while supervising children, and no one should be walking along the roadside while looking down or distracted. Carry a standard flashlight instead of draining your smartphone battery by attempting to use the built-in light.

Inspect all treats collected.

Discard anything that is not sealed, has torn packaging, looks questionable, or could be a choking hazard.

Talk to your children about safety.

Remind them to walk (don’t run) on sidewalks or near the OCTOBER 2019

edge of the roadway – never in the center and always facing traffic. Remind them to stay in front of residences giving out candy and NEVER enter a residence. Have a plan for in case you and your child get separated. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

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Authorities also urge residents who want to participate in Halloween to prepare early. Clear sidewalks and pathways of obstacles and put away anything that children may trip over. TPSO also suggests you turn on your lights so that your property is well lit and also to secure any pets that may attack or frighten children.

Motorists are asked to keep their travel to a minimum on Halloween night due to the high number of pedestrians on the streets. Those who must be on the roads are asked to be cautious in residential areas. While it’s always a best practice to eliminate all driving distractions such as smartphones or the radio, drivers are encouraged to pay special attention to their driving on Halloween night.

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OCTOBER 2019

expert advice

STUDENT SUCCESS

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

IS OUR

FOCUS!

STAFF REPORT

ACADEMIC EVALUATIONS

Each October, we recognize Fire Prevention Week. This year’s FPW campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

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National Fire Protection Associat ion® (NFPA) statistics show that in 2017 U.S. fire departments responded to 357,000 home structure fires. These fires caused 2,630 fire deaths and 10,600 fire injuries. On average, seven people died in a fire in a home per day during 2012 to 2016.

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“These numbers show that home fires continue to pose a significant threat to safety,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can

Check out our Facebook page “Sweet Heroes” to join our group and for more information.

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OCTOBER 2019

help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.”

Be a hero

How do you define a hero?

Is it…a person who is courageous and performs good deeds? Someone who comes to the aid of others, even at personal risk?

A hero can be all of those things. A hero can also be… someone who takes small, but important actions to keep themselves and those around them safe from fire.

When it comes to fire safety, maybe you’re already a hero in your household or community. If not, maybe you’re feeling inspired to become one. It’s easy to take that first step – make your home escape plan!

Why planning and practice matter

• Home escape planning and practice ensure that everyone knows what to do in a fire and is prepared to escape quickly and safely.

• Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. • When the smoke alarm sounds in a real fire, it’s too late to start making a plan.

How to make a home escape plan Map it out

Draw or map out the layout of your home, marking two exits from every room (typically a door and a window) and a path from each exit to the outside.

Smoke alarms

Mark the location of all smoke alarms in your home. (There should be at least one on every level, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas.)

Meeting place

Pick a meeting place outside in front of your home where everyone will meet upon exiting.

911

911

Make sure everyone knows how to call 911 or the local emergency number from a mobile phone or neighbor’s phone once they’re safely outside.

Importance of fire prevention

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Since 1922, the NFPA has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

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Capturing today’s precious moments that are tomorrow’s priceless treasures.

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FUN & Games

COURTESY OF SOUTH LOUISIANA BANK

CONNECT THE DOTS AND COLOR

WIN A $25 VISA GIFT CARD

PAGE NUMBERS:

HIDDEN IMAGE:

Find the hidden image shown to the right on the pages of this magazine. Write down the page numbers where you found it to enter the contest. Drop off your answers along with your parent’s name and daytime phone number at our office, 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, or email it to us at mary@rushing-media.com.

A winner will be selected by random drawing November 22.

The winner will receive a $25 Visa Gift Card courtesy of South Louisiana Bank.

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MARCH 2019