calendar Independence
PRESERVATION GEOCACHING, through May 31. Search for five historic locations and stamp your history passport. A special prize for completing the quest will be given to all who participate. Free. Download a passport page at www.indepmo. org/comdev/HistoricPreservation.aspx or call 816-325-7419. ANIMALS BEST FRIENDS ADOPT-A-PET, noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, PetSmart, 39th Street and Missouri 291. Independence Animal Shelter dogs will be available for adoption, and ABF dogs may be viewed. “THE MAGNIFICENT MUSICAL TIME MACHINES, demonstration organ recitals, 3 to 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Even Sundays at the Community of Christ Temple, odd Sundays at the Auditorium, Walnut Street and River Boulevard, Independence. Free. Visit www.CofChrist.org/dome_spire. GATHER INN – for seniors, but all adults welcome, Tuesdays, Community of Christ Stone Church Education Building, 1012 W. Lexington Ave. Blood pressure checks, 9:30 a.m.; 10 a.m. Bible study; 11 a.m. program. Noon lunch for $3.50. Call 816-254-2211 or visit www.stone-church.org. GALLERY WALK: Investigate various aspects of western settlement, 2 p.m. Thursdays, National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Free with regular museum admission, $6 for adults; $5 for ages 62 and older; $3 for ages 6 to 17. Call 816-325-7575. NATIONAL MOM’S NITE OUT, the Ultimate Celebration of Motherhood, 4 to 6 p.m. May 5, Independence Center, upper level near Dillard’s. This free event will provide moms with the opportunity to enjoy social networking, fun interactive activities, live demonstrations, food, prize drawings, shopping incentives and more. INDEPENDENCE SHEPHERD’S CENTER “Adventures in Learning,” 8:30 a.m. registration/free blood pressure checks, May 6, Christ United Methodist Church, 14506 E. 39th St. Workshops begin at 10 and 11 a.m., lunch is at noon. Workshop registration, $1; lunch is $4. For lunch reservations, call 816254-0521. “EVERY LITTLE CROOK AND NANNY,” presented by the Encore Theater, 7 p.m. May 6 and 7; 2 p.m. May 8, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Tickets are $7. Call 816-325-7370. TRUMAN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, May 7, Square area. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. farm/flower show; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. trolly rides $1; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Truman re-enactor; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. tourism sites $1; 10 a.m. Dino O’Dell’s live music/stories; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. garage sale at Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave.; 1 p.m. Mad Science with fire, ice and explosions. For more details, call 816-325-7111 or www.visitindependence.com. TAILS ON THE TRAIL, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7. The Tails on the Trail Walk and related events are being held in conjunction with Truman’s Birthday Celebration on the Square. The Walk events will begin on the Square, with the walk leading to McCoy Park, where additional pet dog and pet related events will take place. Call 816-325-7111 or visit www.trailsonthetrailindependence.com. NATURE DOGS – for all ages, 10 to 11 a.m. May 7, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Road. Bring your dog out to explore the beauty of the nature park. Dogs must be wellbehaved, vaccinated and socialized, and dog handlers must be 16. Call 816-325-7843. CAR SHOW, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7, Noland Road Baptist Church, 4505 S. Noland Road. No entry fee, all cars and motorcycles welcome, food and beverage (by donation), dash plaques awarded, and gift certificate drawings for all registered entrants. Call Ken Lee at 816-356-7019. FARMERS/CRAFT MARKET, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7, 14, 21, 28, Truman Road and Main Street. 2 JACKIE
It’s time again for farm-fresh veggies.
{EDITOR’S PICK}
Farmers markets opening in may
www.bounceenergy.com
T
he farmers markets in Blue Springs, Independence and Lee’s Summit open the first week of May.
The Independence Farmers and Craft Market is open from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the corner of Truman Road and Main Street just on the Independence Square. The Blue Springs Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the corner of Main and 11th streets in downtown Blue Springs. The Lee’s Summit Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m. until sold out, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Second and Douglas streets.
HISTORIC TREES BUS TOUR, 1 and 3:30 p.m. May 7, depart from Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Join Charlotte Olejko, city horticulturist, for a one hour tour of the city’s most historic, storied trees. Free. For reservations, call 816-325-7419. NATIONAL TRAIN DAY, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 7, Chicago and Alton 1879 Depot, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Model trains will be set up in the depot. A reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission by donation. Call 816-325-7955. SPRING PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER, 9 a.m. to noon May 7, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 3601 S. Sterling Ave., Independence. There will be vegetable plants (especially heirloom tomatoes), perennials (including Missouri natives), houseplants, seeds, products from the garden and more. Proceeds will be used for St. Paul Community Garden improvements. TRUMAN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, May 8, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24. There’s a 9 a.m. wreath laying, followed by birthday cake and visits with Truman re-enactor at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Free with paid admission, $8; $7 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 15. Call 816-268-8200.
MOTHER’S DAY AT TRUMAN LIBRARY, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8. Free admission all day for mothers. Call 816-268-8200. SKILLBUILDERS – education and support for widows, widowers and caregivers, 9:45 to 10 a.m. coffee, meet, greet, support; 10 to 11:50 a.m. program, Palmer Center, Craft Room, 218A N. Pleasant St. May 10: Making simple home repairs, with Jim Saner, remodeler; May 17: Estate planning and legal matters, with Frank Lewis, attorney; May 24: Potluck. Free. Call 816-325-6200 or 816-333-9200. LUNCH ‘N LEARN, noon to 1 p.m. May 11, Truman Library. Bring a brown bag lunch and listen to Supervisory Archivist Sam Rushay discuss Truman’s involvement in the design, fundraising and building of the library. Free. Call 816-325-7419. TOMBSTONE TALKS, 7 p.m. May 12, National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Museum Director John Mark Lambertson will discuss “Pyramids, Crosses and Shrines: Tombstoning Around the World.” Cost, $6. For reservations, call 816-325-7575. TRUMAN RUN, a benefit for Nativity of Mary School,
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8 a.m. May 14, former Sunshine Center building, 607 W. Lexington Ave. Post race festivities include music, food and prizes from sponsors. For information, call Scott Beck at 816-6458480 or Kim Feltz, 816-588-3873. TRUMAN HERITAGE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INFORMATION SESSION, noon to 1:30 p.m. May 14 and 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 16, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. You must attend info session to get prequalified. Call 816-461-6551. “HATS OFF TO HARRY” puppet show, 11 a.m. May 14, Truman Library. Created in partnership with the Puppetry Arts Institute, this show uses vignettes from Truman’s childhood to introduce children to this Missouri farm boy who would become president. Free with museum admission. Call 816-2688200. PRESENTATION ON THE NOLAND HOME, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14, Truman Visitor’s Center, 223 N. Main St. Join Mike Ryan, chief of interpretation and education, for a program on the construction progress of the Noland Home. Free. Call 816-254-9929. ART SHOW SILENT AUCTION AND TEA, 1 to 4 p.m. May 14, Summit Grove Community of Christ, 411 S. Lee’s Summit Road. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the church’s ministries. Tea and cupcakes will be served. View artwork at www.summitgrovecofc.org. PANCAKE DAY FUNDRAISER, sponsored by the Optimist Club, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14, 16999 E. 23rd St. HOT ROAST BEEF SANDWICH FUNDRAISER, 4 to 6 p.m. May 14, Glenwood Park United Methodist Church, 10000 E. 23rd St. Enjoy a hot roast beef sandwich/mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, salad and dessert for a $6 donation. Proceeds will help send the youth to work camp in St. Joseph. FAMILY ARCHERY DAY – for ages 8 and older, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (parent/child); 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (youth only), May 14, George Owens Nature Park. Call 816-325-7843 to register. CAR SHOW AND SILENT AUCTION, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14, Fort Osage Church of the Nazarene, 19333 E. U.S. 24. Bring your street rods, custom, vintage, Rat-Rods, bikes, basically any car/bike you are proud to show off. There will be music, giveaways and 15 awards given out. No cost; donations accepted. Proceeds benefit the youth ministry. Call 816-796-5879. POETRY READ-A-ROUND, 6:30 p.m. May 17, Hidden Valley Christian Union Church, 17500 Hidden Valley Road. Bring poems to share. Call 816-373-3416. LUNCH ‘N LEARN, noon to 1 p.m. May 18, Truman Memorial Building, 416 W. Maple Ave. Bring a brown bag lunch and samples of family papers and photographs for a mini workshop on practical preservation. Refreshments and dessert provided. Free. Call 816-325-7419. ANIMALS BEST FRIENDS FUNDRAISER, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 18, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, 1531 E. 23rd St. When purchasing a pizza, let them know you want your purchase to go toward the ABF fundraiser, and Papa Murphy’s will donate 25 percent of the proceeds. Coupons may not be used. ENGLEWOOD ART WALK, 5 to 9 p.m. May 20, 10900 E. Winner Road. Seven galleries in the Englewood Station Shopping District, Winner Road and Sterling Avenue, open their doors to art lovers. See artists in action, demonstrations, and enjoy live music. Free. Call 816-252-3372. CHILDREN’S ART PROGRAM, 2 p.m. May 21, Truman Home, 219 N. Delaware Ave. James McGill, National Park Service park ranger, will conduct a children’s art program highlighting the Truman Home’s historic architecture and importance of preserving historic resources. Free. Call 816-254-9929. PETS IN THE PARK, 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21, Waterfall Park, 4501 S. Bass Pro Drive. This event for pets and their families, features pet contests, vendors, demonstrations, micro-chipping and rabies shots, “speed trap,” concession and
calendar a pet parade. Free admission (there is a charge for micro-chipping, rabies shots, speed trap and concession. ANIMALS BEST FRIENDS DAZZLING DOGS AND DINNER fundraiser, 5 to 8 p.m. May 21, National Guard Armory, 2323 S. Crysler Ave. Enjoy a barbecue dinner, dessert and drink for $10. A canine fashion show with ABF dogs will follow dinner. Raffles throughout the evening. FAMILY CREEK HIKE – for ages 6 and older, 1 to 3 p.m. May 21, George Owens Nature Park. Join a park naturalist on a special aquatic hike at the park. Call 816-325-7843 to register. “JUST SO STORIES,” Aesop’s Fables puppet show, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 21, Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road. The $5 cost includes seeing the museum and a finger puppet for children. For reservations, call 816-833-9777. LUNCH ‘N LEARN, noon to 1 p.m. May 25, Truman Memorial Building. Bring a brown bag lunch and join Kathy Pickering and panel to hear about the history of Fairmount Park. Refreshments and dessert provided. Free. Call 816-325-7419. EVENING WAGON RIDE AND SWALES WALK, 6:30 p.m. May 26, Trails Museum. Weather permitting. Cost, $12 for adults; $10 for ages 6 to 17. For reservations, call 816-325-7575. “WIZARD OF OZ” exhibit, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays through May, Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty St., Independence. Cost, $6 for adults; $5 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 16. Call 816-325-7430. “MELT IN YOUR MOUTH – NOT IN YOUR HAND,” a collection of M&M memorabilia, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, through May, Bingham-Waggoner. Admission, $6; $5 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 16. Call 816-461-3491. “WATERCOLORS,” Anne De Young artwork display, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday; 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, through May, Chicago & Alton 1879 Depot. Donations welcome. Call 816-325-7955. “STEAMBOATS TO STEAM ENGINES: George Caleb Bingham’s Missouri from 1819-1879,” through Sept. 8, Truman Library. Free with paid museum admission, $8; $7 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 15. Call 816-268-8200 or 800-833-1225. PUBLIC SKATE, Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway. Public sessions are open to skaters of all ages and skill levels. These sessions take place at various times and are usually two hours long. Cost, $5; $3 for 12 and under and 55 and older, non-residents add $1 to each price. Skate rental, $2. For times, call the Skating Hotline: 816-795-7577. “IT IS NOT NOISE, IT IS MUSIC: TRUMAN’S RECORD ALBUMS” exhibit, through May 30, Harry S. Truman Home National Historic Site Visitor Center, 223 N. Main St. Exhibit features more than 250 albums and will highlight the importance of music in the lives of the Truman’s. Free. Call 816-254-9929. “HAZELLE’S COMPETITORS,” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through Aug. 31, Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road. Exhibit of puppets made by other companies that competed with the Hazelle Rollins Kansas City factory. Cost, $3, $1.50 to age 16. Call 816-833-9777. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING has grief survivors meeting second Monday in Independence. Help for bereaved or injured victims, volunteers accepted. For time and location, call Michelle Fordemwalt, 816-295-1545. LA LECHE LEAGUE, Jackson County A.M. Group, 10 a.m., second Thursday, Trails West Public Library. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 816-254-5992. WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT GROUPS, sponsored by the Child Abuse Prevention Association, 6:30 to 8:30 Mondays. For locations, call Karen Costa, 816-252-8388, Ext. 16. WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 816-4046460 or 257-2335.
Blue Springs
FARMERS MARKET, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7, 14, 21, 28, Main and 11th streets. HERITAGE PHILHARMONIC YOUNG ARTIST SHOWCASE, 7:30 p.m. May 7, Blue Springs High School Performing Arts Center, 2000 N.W. Ashton Drive. This concert will feature the talent of the winners of the Young Artists Scholarship Program. Free. CAR CRUISE NIGHT, 5 p.m. until dark May 7, downtown Blue Springs, on Main Street between 10th and 12th streets. There will be custom cars, muscle cars, truck and hot rods. Concessions available. Call 816-228-0137. INTRODUCTION TO MARTIAL ARTS, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks & Recreation, for ages 4 to 6, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays/Wednesdays May 9-June 15; for ages 7 and older, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays/Thursdays May 10-June 16, Karate for Kids, 629A Mock Plaza. Fee for either class, $45. Call 816228-0137 to register. BIRDING – for all ages, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road. Call 816-2283766 to register. COMPUTER CLASSES, beginning Microsoft Word 2003, 2 to 4 p.m. May 10 and 11; intermediate Windows XP, 1 to 3 p.m. May 12-13; beginning Microsoft Excel 2003, 9 to 11 a.m. May 17-18; navigating the Internet/email, 9 to 11 a.m. May 19-20, Vesper Hall, 400 N.W. Vesper St. Cost, $35 per class, or take three different classes for $90. Call 816-228-0181 to register. BELLY DANCE CLASSES, basic belly dance, 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays May 11-June 15; basic belly dance technique, 5 to 6 p.m. Fridays May 20-June 24, Vesper Hall. Cost for either class, $60. ABC’S OF SAFE SLEEP, 6 to 8 p.m. May 12, University of Missouri Extension Center. Child care providers will learn about SIDS, reducing environmental risks in infants’ sleep, safe positioning and more. Cost, $18. To register, call 816-252-5051. FISHING DERBY – for ages 5 to 14, 8:30 a.m. registration; 9 to 11 a.m. fishing, May 14, Rotary Park at Railroad Lake. The lake will be stocked with Catfish, Sunfish and Bluegill. Winners from each age division receive prizes. Free. Bring a fishing pole and bait. Call 816-228-0137. FISHING – for families, 9 to 11 a.m. May 14, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center. Attendees age 16 to 64 must have a valid fishing license. Call 816-228-3766 to register. POOCHES ON THE PARKWAY, a Fun Walk and Dog Expo, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15, Young Park, 1200 S.E. Adams Dairy Parkway. There will be exhibits, games, activities, including an agility course and Canine Good Citizen Test, contests for dogs, sheep herding and more. To register for Fun Walk, Citizen Test and Agility Course, or for more information, call Blue Springs Parks & Recreation at 816-228-0137. GUITAR LESSONS, beginner ages 10 to 15, 5:30 to 7 p.m., beginner adult, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m., Thursdays May 19-June 23; intermediate ages 10 to 15, 5:30 to 7 p.m., intermediate adult, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays, May 17-June 21, Vesper Hall. All classes are $49, plus a $5 book fee. Call 816-228-0181 to register. NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY & STORYTIME IN THE PARK, 11 a.m. May 21, Blue Springs Park, 19th Street and South Avenue. Event is designed to empower children and encourage adults to visit national, state and local parks. Celebration Armed Forces Day and listen to colorful stories at Rotary Park, 600 N.W. Vesper St. Shelter 1 will have a bounce house, stories, rhymes and songs provided by Blue Springs South Mid-Continent Library (register at 816-229-3571). MISSOURI’S WILD MUSHROOMS – for all ages, 1 to 3 p.m. May 21, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center. Meet the author of “Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms,” Maxine Stone. Call
816-228-3766 to register. ADULT SLOW-PITCH SUMMER SOFTBALL DOUBLEHEADER LEAGUES, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, beginning May 22 at Young and Blue Springs parks. Coed play is Mondays and Tuesdays and fees are $380. Registration deadline: May 18. Call 816-228-0137 to register. CATCHIN’ CRAYFISH – for families with children 4 and older, 1 to 2 p.m. May 28, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center. Call 816-228-3766 to register. “MUSIC IN THE PARK” – Krazy Kats will perform, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 29, Rotary Park at Railroad Lake, Missouri 7 and Vesper St. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Free. Call 816-228-0137. START SMART SOCCER – for ages 3 to 5, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays/Thursdays May 31-June 16, Hidden Valley Park, 6500 N.E. Valley View Road. Registration deadline: May 24. Cost, $60; $45 for returning participants with equipment. Call 816-228-0137 to register. FEED THE CRITTERS on exhibit at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center at 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Call 816-228-3766. WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 816-2201007. TOUGH LOVE Blue Springs/Lee’s Summit support group, for families dealing with unacceptable adolescent behavior, 7:30 to 9:40 p.m. Tuesdays, First Christian Church. 913-492-1200. MOM TO MOM LUNCH CLUB, a support group for new moms, 1 to 2 p.m., first and third Tuesday of each month, St. Mary’s Medical Center Professional Building, 300 Mock Ave. Call 816-655-5585. LA LECHE LEAGUE of Blue Springs, 7 p.m., third Tuesday of each month, Parkview Church. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 254-5992 or Stephanie, 816-833-0250.
Sugar Creek
FRIENDS OF SUGAR CREEK BENEFIT BARBECUE, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 18, Mike Onka building, 11520 E. Putnam. Enjoy a smoked brisket, pork or ham dinner for $7. All proceeds benefit the Sugar Creek Historical Society.
Lake Tapawingo
PLANT AND BAKE SALE, sponsored by the Lake Tapawingo Women’s Club, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 7, at the Clubhouse. There’ll be a wide selection of nursery plants and homemade baked goods, with proceeds going to local scholarships for high school seniors and other philanthropic endeavors.
Lee’s Summit
FARMERS MARKET, 7 a.m. until sold out, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Nov. 5, Second and Douglas streets. 2466598. BIG TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT SHOW, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14, Lee’s Summit Airport (weather permitting). Event features food, city vehicle and equipment displays, airplane rides for the kids and more. Visit www.cityofls.net.
Kingsville
POWELL GARDEN activities: JURASSIC GARDENS, through Aug. 14. Journey back to the prehistoric world, when more than 20 dinosaurs and oversized ancient insects return to the Gardens. Free with Garden admission. MAY CLASSES, May 6, “Tough as Nails” succulent dish garden
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($54; members $47); May 7, Mushroom Hunting 101 ($52; members $44); May 7, container gardening with perennials ($40; members $34); May 7, bottomless tomato planter ($34; members $24); May 15, growing heirloom tomatoes ($24; members $17); May 20, Gourmet yardening: Gardening Edging 101 ($45; members $39); May 21, Honeybee Keeping 201 ($24; members $20). To register, call Linda at 816-697-2600, ext. 209. PLANT SALE, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6-8. Garden admission applies. “ON FIRE FOR PHLOX: A Natural History and Gardener’s Guide,” 10 a.m. May 7 in the Missouri Barn. James Locklear, author, presents an overview of phlox ecology. Free with Garden admission. BONSAI SOCIETY WEEKEND, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7 and 8. Some 50 plants will be on display, plus a slide show on the origins of this “living” art and much more. Free with Garden admission. MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH & MUSIC, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 8. Enjoy a brunch at Cafe Thyme, or bring a picnic, and enjoy a live concert by the Brookside Brass from 1 to 3 p.m. For brunch reservations, call 816-697-2600, Ext. 209. Powell Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Regular museum admission is $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors, and $4 for ages 5-12. Visit www.powellgardens.org for more activities and details.
Kansas City
ALICE IN WONDERLAND mother/daughter tea party, 2 p.m. May 7, John Wornall House, 6115 Wornall Road. Cost, $15 per mother/daughter team; $5 for each additional female. Advance tickets strongly recommended. Call Kandice, 816-444-1858. – Jillayne Ritchie
Jackie Contact Us Phone: 816-350-6365 Fax: 816-254-0211 (news) 816-836-3805 (advertising)
Publisher: Steve Curd steve.curd@examiner.net Editorial: EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Sheila Davis sheila.davis@examiner.net MANAGING EDITOR: Karl Zinke karl.zinke@examiner.net Advertising: Director of Advertising: David T. Lammers dave.lammers@examiner.net Director of Marketing: Sharon Dankenbring sharon.dankenbring@examiner.net New media: New Media Manager: Emilee Bilyeu emilee.bilyeu@examiner.net Web Site: www.examiner.net Jackie is created monthly by GateHouse Media Inc., The Examiner's parent company. © 2011 gatehouse media • All rights reserved
Cover photo by karen Hacker at The Portrait Gallery, 124 S. Main St., Independence, 816-461-5400. JACKIE
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a word from jackie
Thinking of the merry, merry month M
ore than a century ago, Ed Haley, an American musician and composer, penned the lyrics to “The Fountain in the Park” and forever deemed the month of May as “merry.” The song, also known as “While Strolling through the Park One Day” is one of the most familiar and repeated tunes in musical history, calling to memory the simple enjoyment of taking a leisurely walk on a lovely spring day. The bouncy tune – which you are probably humming right now – and charming sentimental lyrics have proved their indelible mark on American culture time and time again. The original song and its many variations have appeared in countless films, stage productions and television shows, sung by such icons as Mickey Mouse and
4 JACKIE
written by
Jackie
Bugs Bunny. In December of 1972 astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan performed an ad lib rendition of the classic on the moon during the Apollo 17 space mission. Schmitt, presumably giddy with the delight of the treading on the moon's surface, broke into song singing, “While strolling on the moon one day…” Picking up on the catchy melody, Cernan joined in with “…in the merry month of… DECEMBER”. Had May been immortalized in song or not, there is certainly something special about this month. When you think of a
perfect day that is sunny and warm, don’t you conjure a day in May? It is the month of weddings and celebrations and motherhood. The end of the month signals the last days of school and the unofficial kickoff to summer. The pools open and vacations are scheduled. No other month has its own day where tradition calls for secretly delivering little baskets of gifts and flowers to your neighbors. Something about May inspires kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. Although we normally pair “merry” with “Christmas,” May is much more suited for merriment than chilly December and the pressures of preparing for the winter holiday. May has its own demands but of the pleasurable sort. Mowing the lawn at twilight, coaxing fragile little flowers and plants out
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of a long hibernation, planning prom parties and graduation celebrations, and taking a day to remember and appreciate your Mom. May’s gaiety is about hope, gratitude and the achievements that come from patience and perseverance. It is a time to say “job well done” and give yourself a well-earned pat on the back for your accomplishments whether they are the successful wintering over of a prized plant, the reward of seeing your child don a cap and gown or the pride in knowing that in choosing motherhood you volunteered for the world’s most important job.
Jackie
wine 101
Your Partner on the road to
Port wines grew from a time of war Can you explain port wines to me? A: Port wine is fortified wine, meaning that during fermentation, it has another grape spirit added to it, usually brandy to halt the fermentation. This leaves the wine sweeter and stronger in alcohol content. This wine is sometimes also referred to as a dessert wine. Most people like to sip it after dinner or use it as the dessert. Port pairs well with cheddar cheese, Stilton, bleu cheese and also pairs very well with chocolate. Port first came about during the war with France and England, the British couldn’t get French wines anymore and looked for another avenue. They found a place in Portugal called Duoro Valley and it proved to be a perfect place to grow the grapes for wine. However in seafaring days, they found that bringing wine back to England in a ship never worked. It would always be bad when they got home. They came up with the idea of adding grape spirits (brandy) to the wine to make it last longer and endure temperature changes on the long voyages. The English had fallen in love with this fortified wine, and it was named port. Ports can be white or red and vary from dry to sweet. Standard ports are to be drunk young and consumed within 24 hours of opening; normally these do not have full corks, sometimes just a rubber stopper. Ruby ports are young ports; these are the most common ports. They
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are blended with several grapes and several vintages. These ports will have a lot of berry flavors and slight tannins. Tawny ports are aged in small oak barrels for several years. This imparts a nutty caramel flavor to the wine. They are usually labeled 10 year or 20 year. A 10 year port may have vintages as young as 8 years and some as old as 12 years. That number 10 is an “average.” Same with other “year” ports. Tawny Ports are generally sweet. Vintage ports simply mean that this port has only grapes from one year. A 2000 vintage port only has the grapes from the year 2000 harvest in it. This wine needs to be aged in your cellar from 10 to 30 years for it to develop the best flavor. Whatever you pick in a port, you will be pleased. These wines are rich, fruity and can be quite high in alcohol content. Pour them from a decanter into a narrow glass and only fill the glass half full so the alcohol doesn't overwhelm the other flavors. Chill this wine to about 65 degrees for best results, and enjoy with cheese or chocolate or with friends and family! Cheers! MAY 2011
JACKIE
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cover story
MOM times ten
By Stephanie L. Boothe | Special to The Examiner
Professional mom, practice mom, loving mom. Darby Rusher is all of these things, but to her only one part of the titles matters – Mom. At 28 years old, Darby is the mother of four teenagers, two 12-year-olds, an 11-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 2-year-old and she has a baby due in July. All but one teenager and the baby on the way are boys. She has been a loving wife to her husband, Brad, for seven years – six of them spent as house parents at Andrew Drumm Farm, an Independence-based organization that provides stable, long-term family homes for children whose parents are not able to take care of them. “We very much don’t treat it like a group home,” Darby said. “It’s just our family.” Darby and Brad have adopted three of the children in their care over the years, and even though they will have two birth children by the end of this summer, the couple considers all the children in their care their kids. “We’ve been provided so much at Drumm and have been able to provide so much for the children, it seems selfish to think about having a normal family,” Darby said.
Professional mom
With an education degree, Darby came with Brad to Independence after he accepted a job as a relief parent at Drumm Farm. Relief parents stay in the houses the
(Left) Darby Rusher and her 2-year-old son, Oliver, sit at the top of a slide on the playground at Drumm Farm. (Right) Darby Rusher plays with some of the Drumm Farm children in the family's living room. | THE EXAMINER/Adam Vogler 8 JACKIE
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SPECTRUM/ Darby Rusher Highest high Marrying my husband. He’s my best friend, and it marked a new chapter in my life.
Lowest low Whenever I was faced with the decision to leave teaching to be here. I wanted to give 100 percent to my teaching job, and I wanted to give 100 percent here. In the end, Drumm had to come first.
Most important mentor Several of the ladies for (the Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Agency). They have offered a lot of support and guidance for me and Brad on how to survive these teenage years. A lot of teenagers don’t like their parents, let alone ones who haven’t been with you forever.
Achilles’ heEl I worry sometimes. I tend to spend energy worrying when I should spend that energy on something else.
Moment of epiphany
Darby Rusher has love to spare two weekends a month that the house parents have time off – each house at Drumm farm has an apartment for the house parents to stay in during their off weekends. Brad knew early in college that he wanted to do something that involved working with children, and Drumm Farm was a perfect fit. “The reason we came was (Drumm Farm) is a great organization,” Brad said. “We felt the Lord was feeding us this way… I knew I wanted to impact kids. This is exactly what I wanted.” After a year as relief parents, the Rushers came on as full-time house parents and now live in Beals Hall and have anywhere from five to eight foster children in their care. Darby’s days are filled with various appointments – doctor’s appointments, counseling sessions for the children, meetings with case workers, and others. They make
a point to have a family dinner every night with all their children. It’s a 24-7 career and one Darby made the transition to over time. She worked as a teacher in Grain Valley for a while, a job she loved. She loved children and loved teaching, but she knew something wasn’t right. She wanted to be able to give 100 percent to her students and 100 percent to her family and Drumm Farm, and she knew she couldn’t do both. “In the end, Drumm had to win,” Darby said. With nine children in her home, Darby still uses her education degree almost daily. It gives her useful insight when talking about her children to their teachers, it helps her work with the children in their homework, and she also tutors through the school district. Darby has also home schooled two of their children. “Her being at home with me really hurts
the education system because she was such a great teacher,” Brad said. Darby doesn’t regret the change. For her, giving her children a stable, loving home life is more important than anything she could accomplish professionally. “We feel like this is a place where we can make a big difference in children’s lives,” Darby said. “Honestly, we can’t see ourselves anywhere else.”
Practice mom
At any given time Darby and Brad could have anywhere from 10 to 13 children in their home. Their mission is to prepare the children to be successful in families once they leave Drumm Farm – whether that means the children return to their birth families or are adopted. It’s up to Darby and Brad to show the children what it means to be in a successful
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Whenever Brad and I came to the realization that we were supposed to adopt those first two kiddos. When you’re young and first married you have that picture (of your family), but it was a relief to see how that picture was going to look.
Smartest thing I ever did Deciding to throw caution to the wind and go to the same college my boyfriend (Brad) was going to.
Dumbest thing I ever did I think I was kind of a dumb teenager. It was probably pretty stupid to give my parents more grief than they deserved for no good reason.
What I thought I’d be doing at this point at my life I probably thought I’d be teaching, living in a single family home, maybe a kid or two. It’s still kind of true on a much larger scale.
What I still really want to do I think that at some point I’d really like to take all our kids out of the country and go somewhere really big.
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She’s a mom extraordinaire at Drumm CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
family and to demonstrate how successful families work together in loving, healthy environments. “We try really hard to make life as normal as possible for a house with 10 to 13 children in it,” Darby said. “We try to keep everyone exactly the same. My expectations for all my kids are the same. We don’t like excuses to get in the way of our children being successful.” The children come to Drumm Farm for a variety of reasons, and she has seen her children through a lot of often sad circumstances. But regardless, Darby continues to remind herself of one important fact. The families her children come from are still their families – they are still a part of the child and a part of the person that child will become. “These people, they love their children,” Darby said. “But they don’t know how to express it or don’t have the resources.” Darby admits she had a harsher outlook on some of the birth families when she first came to Drumm Farm, but even with the three children she and Brad have adopted, she still tries to emphasize the importance of a child’s birth parents. She understands that her children may want to be in contact with their birth families and accepts that desire. “We have had the opportunity to reach out to their birth parents,” Darby said. Just like a birth parent is always a part of a child’s life, Darby said once a child walks through the doors a Drumm, he or she is always a part of the Drumm family. The staff at Drumm Farm will continue to be involved in that child’s life – whether adopted or returned to their birth families. For Darby there is always room for a little bit more parental love. She said both families – the Drumm family and the forever families – have to work together to ensure the well being of the child. “It’s almost like if you were a divorced family,” Darby said. Another way to get positive role models in a child’s life is through a mentorship program. Community members will mentor a Drumm student. The mentor is simply a person who can provide a positive influence on the child’s life. Understandably, Darby said, they are selective about the people they let come into their children’s lives. It has to be someone who will be consistent and appropriate with their involvement for a long time. 10 JACKIE
Mentors take the children to baseball games or arcades, for example. One takes the children to her house so they can ride their bicycles. Mentors come from churches or elsewhere in the community, and Darby and Brad have selected each for their kids. “They just do anything that’s catered toward each of the kids,” Darby said. “Things that are just physically impossible for us to do (with this many kids).” Another benefit, Darby said, is the mentor program gives the child a taste of what it’s like to live a healthy, productive life. “Their picture of success is very different,” Darby says of the children. “It gives them more resources when they get older.” Being a Drumm mom means Darby has a lot of resources to draw from in her quest to be the best mom she can to all her children – including her own family. Her parents treat all of her children as if they are part of the family, buying Christmas presents for each of them. Her parents will also come and watch the children if Darby and Brad need a weekend away (about once a year). When Darby and Brad go to visit their parents out of town, they always make a point to bring all of their children. There is no distinction between their children. They are simply family.
Loving Mom
Darby met Brad just before her senior year of high school at a camp for children with special needs. They were both counselors, and Brad was getting ready to go off to college. “Three weeks later, I was spending some time with her, and I knew I really liked her,” Brad recalled. “As I was leaving, without thought or planning, I said ‘Bye, I love you.’ I was completely overwhelmed because I knew it was true.” That was the moment Brad knew Darby was the woman he would marry. Brad doesn’t shy away from saying his wife could have gone anywhere to college, but she decided to follow him to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. They dated all through college and married one year before moving to Drumm Farm. “She had a lot of faith in me,” Brad said. “I knew we were moving toward a whole life.” Brad said that from the moment he met Darby he had his best friend with
“We try really hard to make life as normal as possible for a house with 10 to 13 children in it.” Darby Rusher
him. He’d had close friends and childhood friends, but Darby was the first person he could truly classify as his best friend, and that was the way it stayed. For him that friendship is an important part of making their marriage successful. “You have to have a deeper relationship than just that surface relationship,” Brad said. “That friendship has strengthened our relationship.” In their professional roles as full-time parents, Brad and Darby are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ability to maintain a strong friendship is important to the success of that family dynamic. And their relationship is what sets the tone for their whole family. Darby hopes that building a relationship around their faith will set an example to all their children. And Brad agrees. “For them to see a strong healthy relationship is the most important thing they can see,” Brad said. “It shows the boys, ‘This is how you treat a woman.’” And teaching the children is one of the most important things Darby does daily. When a child has had an unsuccessful visit with a birth family or is dealing with a lot of pain, Darby tries to help them learn how to deal with their emotions in a healthy manner. “We really just try to draw on it’s OK to be angry but how are we going to process this in a way that is safe and doesn’t hurt
MAY 2011
anyone else,” Darby said. “When you’ve learned a certain way to express your emotion, it’s hard to change.” Darby admits that being a Drumm parent isn’t for everyone. Even when Darby and Brad have a weekend off, most of the time they are still around all of their children. They try to use those weekends to spend a little bit of extra time with the three children they’ve adopted without alienating all the other children in their home. Brad will still spend an afternoon outside playing with the boys, and their 2-year-old biological son, Oliver, looks at all the boys and girls in his home as just his brothers and sisters. Darby strives to ensure there’s always a sense of normalcy and consistency in the Rusher home. “We view them as our children. It would be odd to just leave them and not be worried that they’re getting taken care of,” Darby said. A proud moment in the life of a Drumm Farm family is watching the special graduation ceremony the staff has for seniors in the spring. Each spring, Drumm Farm hosts a banquet fundraiser and the staff recognizes the students who will be graduating from high school, officially welcoming them to the Drumm Farm alumni. “It’s always a really proud moment for all the house parents,” Darby said. “They have a uphill battle to fight when they come
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children’s activities
In the saddle Horseback riding can offer lifelong lessons
“
Lifelong lessons that are gained from horses are patience, living in the moment, balance, confidence, being a good listener, avoidance of procrastination and greediness, how to be firm without being angry, and how to just be a true, kind human being. – Vicky Rhaesa, horse trainer & instructor
”
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children’s activities By Molly Logan Anderson | GateHouse News Service
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or some children, horseback riding is something they read about in fairy tales or watch in the movies. For others, the desire to ride starts early. While the sport’s benefits are great, the risks can be high as well. Spring Hill, Kan., horse trainer and instructor Vicky Rhaesa answers common questions raised by those new to horseback riding.
Q. When looking for a horseback riding training facility, what kind of things should folks focus on? A. Learning to ride can most certainly be fun, but it can also be very dangerous. Horse facilities are like any other business: There are good ones, and then there are some that are not so good. Locate a facility in one’s area, visit the facility, ask questions, observe a few lessons and talk to the instructor. If a person were to find accident rates to be high, I would move on. Observe how the facility deals with safety, such as wearing helmets and appropriate shoes, and the quietness of the horses being used. Check out the care of the horses. Check out how the barn and grounds are maintained. If a facility makes a person feel uncomfortable, then I would probably walk away and find another. Q.At what age can children start to take horseback riding lessons? What can riders expect as far as early lessons? A.I’ve taught children as young as 5 or 6, but children of this age do not have a very long attention span. I would probably say 8 or 9 would be a better age. Young students can be taught such items as grooming and possibly helping tacking up the horse and being led around during initial lessons. Slightly older novice riders will do the same but will most likely be able to start steering, stopping, walking and trotting. MAY 2011
Q.For those learning to ride, what are the benefits that they can expect, physically and mentally? A.Horseback riding is a very physical sport. Physically speaking, riders use all parts of their body from head to toe, not to mention their minds. It is also a very demanding sport mentally. A rider needs to use his mind to tell his individual body parts to do certain things to cue a horse to perform a certain maneuver while staying focused on everything around the rider, such as other riders and all other stimuli that might create a negative reaction for the horse. Lifelong lessons that are gained from horses are patience, living in the moment, balance, confidence, being a good listener, avoidance of procrastination and greediness, how to be firm without being angry, and how to just be a true, kind human being. Q. Equine therapy is all over the news in helping people successfully battle things like addiction, emotional issues and even autism. What is it about horses that people so deeply connect with? A. Horses only understand their language; therefore, people with physical or mental challenges do not concern horses as long as pain is not inflicted upon the horse. People can truly be themselves without worrying whether the horse is going to judge them. I believe horses are beautiful, graceful, athletic, smart, have great memories and, most importantly, they don’t lie to us! Horses are very simple as far as their needs. If a horse learns to trust you and your abilities, he will certainly let you know. What a wonderful feeling for anybody to be able to experience.
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holiday
Armed Forces Day
All about
Meanwhile, harbors nationwide hosted ships from World War II that were open for public inspection. GateHouse News Service 2. The first Armed Forces Day came durSince 1949, Armed Forces Day has been ing a time of global tension. Some events that celebrated across the U.S. The Department happened during the week of the first Armed of Defense’s website says the day, which falls Forces Day, according to the Department of on May 21 this year, was created to replace Defense, include: Army, Navy and Air Force days and came • Police in La Paz, Bolivia, stopped an “alafter all branches of the military were unified leged” revolutionary communist-led general under the Department of Defense. strike. Here are a few more facts about the day: • Cuba celebrated the 48th anniversary of 1. The first Armed Forces Day was marked its republic being formed. • Britain stopped rationing all foods with with parades and air shows. According to the the exception of meat, margarine cooking fat U.S. Department of Defense, 10,000 troops from each military branch marched in Wash- and butter. • Congress approved extending the draft in ington, D.C. In New York City, about 33,000 the U.S. participants launched the day “under an air cover of 250 military planes of all types.” 3. The president prepares a proclamation By Erinn Hutkin
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that names the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day. Last year’s proclamation from Barack Obama read: “America’s Armed Forces represent the very best of our national character. … On Armed Forces Day, we pay tribute to these patriots who risk their lives, sometimes giving their last full measure of devotion, to preserve the vision of our forebears and the freedoms we enjoy,” according to whitehouse.gov. 4. Today, Armed Forces Day is marked with
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events such as parades and motorcycle rides. In Hawthorne, Nev. – a small town in the northern part of the state with a long military history – the day has been celebrated for 60 years and has become a Mardi Gras of sorts. The celebration includes a parade and an arm-wrestling contest, according to travelnevada.com. This year’s celebration will also be marked with the arrival of the Vietnam Wall replica, according to mineralcountychamber. com.
MAY 2011
save money.
gift ideas
Grad gifts Useful, practical ideas for those starting college or the ‘real world’
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By Carolyn Sperry | GateHouse News Service
For the ultra-hip • Most any grad would be thrilled with the much-soughtafter Apple iPad 2. This tablet is lighter, thinner and faster than the first iPad and starts at $499. Personalize it with special polyurethane or leather covers in an array of colors.
For the business-type • For those who prefer the real keyboard or the software of a laptop rather than a tablet, the HP Pavilion g6x series is a popular choice for PC aficioSTOCK.XCHNG nados and starts at $549.99. • Mac users, on the other hand, may covet the MacBook, starting at $999. MacBooks include the built-in iSight camera so users can take photos, make and share video and video-conference with up to three people at a time.
So you have to do better than a troll doll in a cap and gown. Keep their interests, personality and career path in mind as you choose a present. What do they really want in 2011? Beyond sports cars and wads of cash, good ideas can range from sentimental to purely practical.
For the sentimental • Among young women, charm jewelry has experienced a resurgence in popularity. A trendy choice is the Pandora bracelet, which offers a huge variety of charm options. Grads can add to it and personalize it in any way they want, from commemorating their new WIKIMEDIA career to celebrating a fabulous trip with friends — and someday even marriage and children. Starter bracelets come in a variety of finishes, starting at $69. • Digital photo frames are a great way to display cherished photos of loved ones and new friends. Luckily, prices have come down on these, and you can find a nice frame for less than $100.
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For the adventurous • “Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences” is a bucket list book aimed at young people that just might inspire them to chase adventures across the globe. • Also, many major airlines offer gift cards for air travel, so your grad can visit someplace he’s always wanted to go, or just fly home for the holidays.
LONELYPLANET.COM
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hat do you give that special high school or college graduate? You want to choose a gift that helps outfit them for that next phase of their life, or maybe commemorate the path they’ve already walked. And this is a great chance to show them just how proud you are.
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SUMMER CAMPS Gear up for fun!
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family activities
Grab life by the handlebars Biking is a fun and healthy activity for the whole family By Melissa Erickson GateHouse News Service
What better way to keep active as a family than going for a bike ride? It’s fun, healthy, environmentally friendly and a great way to get around. “May is National Bike Month. It’s a great time for a bike ride,” said Meghan Cahill, director of communications for the League of American Bicyclists. “Biking together can be a terrific bonding experience for families,” Cahill said, but before heading out, parents need to first consider a few safety issues. “First of all, make sure your child’s bike is in good shape and appropriate for their age and size. Be sure to teach them traffic safety and the rules of the road. You can look on our website (www. bikeleague.org) for tips on riding better and safer.” In addition to a well-maintained bike and a helmet, parents need to plan the best place to bike with their kids, whether it’s on the road or a designated bike or multi-use path. During National Bike Month, many communities will be hosting special events, such as bike parades and community bike rides, that will help your kids get excited about biking in a safe group environment. To make the experience even more fun, consider a bike trip outside your community. Pack up the bikes and head to a local forest preserve or consider a vacation that includes a bike trip. “Biking makes for a good vacation because it’s relatively cheap, if not free, and brings the family together in one simple activity that can last an entire day with stops for picnics,” said Lissa Poirot, editor of Family Vacation Critic. “I still remember well all the family bike rides I took as a kid on vacations, MAY 2011
Parents should consider the best places to bike with kids, whether it’s on the road or a designated path. STOCK.XCHNG
just laughing and talking to my parents and racing my brother and sister on lazy days,” Poirot said. Here are three suggestions that Poirot says “are all in great family destinations where paths are filled with casual bikers”: The Cape Cod Rail Trail in Massachusetts is 22 miles of converted train tracks (now a paved trail) that runs through the National Seashore and some quintessential Cape Cod villages for seaside and cranberry bog views. The Leelanau Trail in the lakeside Traverse, Mich., area is a 15.5-mile paved trail that runs through forests and meadows, as well as lakes, ponds and streams between Traverse City and Suttons Bay. Hilton Head, S.C., has more than 50 miles of bike paths and nature trails with marsh, sea and forest vistas in its laidback island setting. “As biking is outdoors, it’s more popular with families who want to be outside together. It’s even something you can do as a nice break from city and theme park activities,” Poirot said. “For example, you can still spend a weekend in Manhattan and see all the museums and sights but take a nice afternoon bike ride through Central Park for another side of New York.”
how-to
Build a
tree house Connect to nature with this timeless family project By Dan Rafter GateHouse News Service
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ete Nelson has devoted his life to tree houses. He runs Fall City, Wash.-based TreeHouse Workshop, where he builds tree houses for kids and adults. He’s written five books about tree houses. And as a child, he says, he built hundreds of his own tree houses. He understands, then, why building backyard tree houses has become such a cherished ritual for families across the country. “Trees are very attractive to us humans,” Nelson said. “Trees are the places that exemplify nature at its best. I have the utmost respect for trees. I am in awe of trees. “I read a great quote once: ‘When you go into a tree house, your heart rate drops. You’re just relaxed.’ ” Building a tree house is one way that parents can drag their children away from their video games, smartphones and iPods, Nelson said.
The key to making the experience of building a backyard tree house a good one is for parents to do their research before they jump into the project. Here are Nelson’s tips for a stress-free building experience: Find the right hardware before you start building: Nelson recommends that tree house builders purchase TABS before they start building. These pieces of hardware, known as tree house attachment bolts, can support an incredible amount of weight. They can be found easily on the Internet. Skip the kits: Nelson isn’t a fan of tree house kits. He prefers that families use their imaginations when designing tree houses. But Nelson recommends that families avoid kits for a more practical reason: Every backyard tree is different. Families must tailor tree houses to fit their tree. It’s hard to do this with a standardized kit. Build on the ground: Families should build their tree house walls on the ground and move them into the tree after they’ve secured their tree house’s platform. It’s far easier, and safer, to build this way.
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Use scaffolding, not a ladder: Nelson is not a fan of ladders. They’re too dangerous, he says. He prefers that tree house builders use scaffolding to install their backyard tree houses, whether they purchase this scaffolding from a home-improvement store or they build it themselves with solid 2-by4s and plywood. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: There are plenty of adults who are a danger to themselves and everyone else whenever they pick up a hammer. Nelson recommends that those adults who aren’t handy ask for help from licensed carpenters or handy friends when it’s time to build. Nelson said most people will know someone in their circle of family members and friends who can help them with the basics of tree house building. Watch your budget: Nelson said that most people spend more than they expect when building a tree house. On average, a solid children’s tree house should cost about $1,200 to $1,500, Nelson said. But he’s heard of many people who’ve spent several times that once they let their imaginations take off.
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the cutting edge
Control that curl and frizz with the right techniques S
pring sometimes can bring rainy days. This can be difficult for those of us with curl. Keeping naturally curly and frizzy hair smooth is challenging, to say the least. If you are someone who is always fussing with this type of hair and would like some reprieve, here are few tips that will help: n Begin with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. Redken makes a great line of products called Smooth Down. It seems to be a winner in our salon. Yet, most product lines have something in this category. If you have fine hair, look for lightweight products as well. Medium to coarse hair can handle the heavier stuff and may well need the extra help. Smooth down seems to be right in the middle. n Towel dry by squeezing the moisture from the hair, not by rubbing it – that only roughens up the cuticle and tangles the hair. Next, apply a smoothing gel throughout the hair. n Start styling by blow drying first with a vent brush (this will speed up the drying process). n Once the hair is semi-dry, switch to a round brush. This will help to smooth the hair more and give it a bend. For even more control, at this stage each section can be sprayed lightly with a firm hold spray gel. This will give the hair additional support, as well as resist and add lots of shine. n Now that the hair is completely dry, switch back to the vent brush and go over the whole head one more time using the cold hair shot on the dryer. Not only does this cool the client down but it also closes the cuticle and adds more shine to the hair. Run your fingers through the hair – if areas feel damp to the touch, you will have to redry that specific area. n If you wish, you may use a flat iron to 18 JACKIE
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written by
Mary costanzoschwaller smooth out the hair even more. I always suggest that my clients buy the better ceramic ones. They cost more yet work efficiently. CHI irons are the ones we use. n Follow and finish with an oil based spray (use sparingly) or a bit of a styling crème for the finishing touches and/ or a humidity resistant hairspray. n If you are a curly-headed one and wish to remain that way, try a line for curly hair and refrain from blow-drying your hair. This will allow the curls to stay curly and not frizz out. Don’t forget to use styling products to smooth and sooth. All the new styling crèmes are fantastic for this. They are not as heavy as pomade, yet have defining properties for your curls. n Finally, there are several new services that help to smooth your hair and reduce the frizz and curl a little. They last about three months and are lovely. The service does take quite a bit of time and is costly, but the results are grand. So there you have it. I hope these tips help you along a smooth road to nonfrizzy hair! Have a beautiful day!
Mary
lessons in life / lesson 8
You are what you’re raising B
aby J might be the goofiest baby I've ever met. I can freely call my a daughter a goofball because she's mine. But for the record, she’s also the smartest, prettiest most well-rounded 15-month-old ever born. It’s not her fault that she has a lot of goofy antics – she is my daughter, after all. Case in point – somewhere over the last 15 months, she has developed a slight addiction. And not the normal “we’ll struggle to break her of sucking her thumb” type of addiction. I’m not talking about her pacifier (although I didn’t realize how attached she’d grown to it until the doctor said it was time to start weaning her off it). No, my baby is addicted to cotton. And not just cotton, really, any soft substance she can rub under her nose. She gets quite cranky when there isn’t something readily available to rub under her nose. Most of the time it is either her dollie with felt hair or a piece of cotton. She pulls a piece of the doll’s hair and rubs it under her nose. Her eyes roll into the back of her head and her eyelids start to get heavy. And when she’s not tired, she’ll find a random pieces of cotton (often times, it’s a piece she’s pulled out of a throw pillow) around the house and wedge it under her pacifier so she can still have something rubbing her nose while she has her hands free to move the dog food from one dish to the other. The newest development in this cotton addiction is the cotton eventually makes its way into her ear. We’ve accepted the addiction as one of those “it’s going to be so much fun to embarrass you with this in 15 years” scenarios. But it’s more fodder for us to use in our summation that we’re raising a goofy baby. There are tons of other stories I could tell about how goofy our baby is – like the time she put a pair of shorts on her head and walked into the bedroom door and laughed, but my point is that this nature (let’s call it creative) had to come from somewhere.
written by
STEPHANIE BOOTHE My husband and I were never what the kids in school would classify as “cool.” In fact, he was a band nerd, and I voluntarily spend every summer from freshman year until after graduation in school. We incorporate her name into songs wherever we can and spend a lot of time discussing things like Tyra Banks’ inability to use proper grammar on “America’s Next Top Model.” There is no such word as “towards.” Someone please pass that on to her. I know babies learn from the examples they’re given. The athletic parent will most likely raise the next star quarterback, etc. If football or dancing is what you know, the chance of your child adopting those hobbies is greater. I think there’s an important lesson in here about the examples we set for our children. If I want to raise a healthy daughter, I have to eat healthy myself – teach her early that veggies are our friends and greasy, smothered-in-gravy food are best saved for special occasions. If the worst thing my daughter ever does is run around with cotton stuffed in her ear, I’ll be a lucky mom (I already am a lucky mom, I know), but she has a stubborn streak, for which I blame Grandpa, and I just hope that she will follow Mommy and Daddy’s example and not rebel against her parents too hard. I hope Baby J maintains her fun sense of humor through her life and grows up to be funny like her dad. After all, I am learning she’s more like us every day.
Stephanie
MAY 2011
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food
Be chicken
Cooking on your own isn’t scary with this easy recipe
Easy Chicken is a delicious dish for home meals and dinner parties. It even offers a tasty rehearsal for holiday feasts, where larger chickens and turkeys will be the stars.
story and photos by Margaret Maples | GateHouse News Service
You’re settling into your first official grownup digs, and a big part of this adventure will be cooking – not just PB&Js or hot dogs, but real dinners. Let’s start with chicken. It’s delicious, pretty and fairly simple. Herbs and veggies give this recipe very sophisticated flavor. It’s practical, too. Your mom will be so proud. You’ll have leftover chicken for sandwiches like this one with tomato, Swiss cheese and Romaine leaves on a wheat bun (top right). Turn canned soup into a luxury by adding leftover chicken and a few of the veggies (bottom right). To stretch low-salt soup without thinning the flavor, stir in some defatted broth.
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Easy Chicken If you start with a frozen chicken, set it on an overturned pan in the sink under the tap. Run tepid water gently over the fryer until it thaws. • 1 whole fryer (about 5 pounds) • 3 teaspoons unsalted butter, divided • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons chopped red onion, divided • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried), divided • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped or pressed • 2 ½ teaspoons salt, divided • 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper • ¾ cup celery sticks (about ½ by 1 inch) • ¾ cup carrot sticks (about ½ by 1 inch) • 3 medium red potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread a 24-by-24-inch piece of foil on a flat work surface. Or connect two 24-inch lengths of 12-inch foil by double-folding them on one of the long sides. Remove the bag of giblets (neck, gizzard, heart and liver) from the fryer’s cavity. Freeze them for later use. Rinse the fryer inside and out; pat it dry and place it on the foil breast side up. Place inside the fryer’s cavity: 1 ½ teaspoons butter, ½ cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary (or ½ teaspoon dried), the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. In a small bowl, mix remaining butter, onion, rosemary and 1 teaspoon salt into a paste. Run your finger between the chicken skin and its flesh. Fill this space with the butter paste. Arrange celery, carrot and potato pieces around the fryer. Salt the vegetables gently. Bring two diagonal corners of foil together over the fryer. Fold these corners together firmly. Bring the other two corners up and double-fold them securely. Place this foil-wrapped fryer in a roasting pan. Cook at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and continue cooking for 1 to 1 ¼ hours. Open the foil. Spoon pan liquid over the bird and cook unwrapped for 30 minutes or longer if necessary, letting the skin turn golden brown. Test for doneness. The pan liquid or broth should be clear or golden. If the fluid is cloudy pink and the inner chicken flesh is pink or red, cook longer. The leg joints should be loose. When you pull gently on the drumstick and thigh, they should move easily. The flesh should be firm and just beginning to pull away from the bone. (Instant-read thermometers are used to test the inner temperature of larger birds.) Let the chicken rest for about 15 minutes before slicing. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
food
Garlic and rosemary are powerful allies in the Easy Chicken recipe. Photos and food styling by Margaret Maples
The Easy Chicken dish will provide leftovers for sandwiches or salads. You’ll also have broth and chicken pieces for homemade soup or for stretching canned soups that are lifesavers on busy days. De-fat the broth by chilling it overnight. The fat will rise to the top and harden there, as if asking to be skimmed off and tossed out. Too bad we can’t remove excess salt the same way. Oversalting is easier to avoid than to correct. Generally, a salt shaker is convenient and spontaneous, but use a measuring spoon. It’ll let you know how much salt you’ve added. This broth has been salted, so use it in low-sodium soup. First, taste the soup. If it seems dull, add a little lemon
Use a measuring spoon to keep track of how much salt you’ve added to a recipe. Try lemon juice to focus flavor and use less salt.
Baking soda and a thermometer might be a fridge’s best friends. Baking soda absorbs odor, and the thermometer helps you keep the temperature low.
juice. Then taste it again and salt if necessary. It’s one way to minimize your sodium intake.
we hope you won’t need: Baking soda has been known to smother small kitchen fires. For a longer list of uses, go to armhammer.com. To protect your delicious leftovers from spoilage, and to discourage mold, buy a refrigerator thermometer and keep your fridge no warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Proper refrigeration will help protect you from foodborne illness. But cleaning is necessary, too. After prepping this chicken, for instance, use hot soapy water to wash all surfaces, containers, tools and your hands. For more on food safety, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets.
After dinner Cooking this chicken will make your place smell wonderful, but in the close confines of a refrigerator, that strong presence might give milk or other foods an off flavor. Baking soda can help absorb powerful odors. Just leave a bowl or open box of bicarb on a shelf and renew it every month. You probably know that bicarb relieves indigestion, but we hope your guests won’t need that. Another tip
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family facts
All about
MOMS
Happy Mother’s Day There were 4.3 million births in the United States in 2007, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Of those, 445,000 were from teens 15 to 19, and 7,300 were from women 45 to 54 years old.
Celebrate mothers across the country this month
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Compiled by Danielle Braff | GateHouse News Service
Utah
2.1
Mothers are making their mark this Mother’s Day. There was an average of 2.1 children per woman in the U.S. in 2007, the latest data available. This marks the second year in a row where the rate has been above replacement level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STOCK.XCHNG
Moms in this state had the largest number of children. Each mother averaged 2.6 children in 2006, the latest state-by-state statistics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vermont moms had the least number of children, averaging 1.7 per woman.
Reality show heaven
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25 That’s the average age at which women gave birth for the first time in 2006. It’s down from 25.2 the previous year, and it’s the first decline since the CDC began tracking age since 1968.
Thank you There’s no excuse for not grabbing a bouquet for the mother in your life. According to the Census Bureau, there are 20,000 flower shops that employ 94,000 people throughout the United States. Flowers not her thing? There are also 126 greeting card companies, 14,200 cosmetic and perfume stores and 27,000 jewelry shops.
There were 18,700 births in 2006 that were the mother’s eighth or more child, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. That’s nothing compared with the wife of Feodor Vassilyev of Russia (1707-82), who gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets, according to the Guinness World Records. We hope she had inhome help. STOCK.XCHNG
Total mothers By age 44, 80 percent of women have had at least one baby, according to a 2006 Fertility of American Women survey. That’s a large drop from 30 years ago, when 90 percent of women had given birth by that age. Today, there are a whopping 83 million mothers living in the U.S. STOCK.XCHNG
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good reads
The
Learning season
By Paul Eisenberg | GateHouse News Service
When packaged together, the words “summer” and “school” inspire dread in children. But keeping kids’ brains engaged during the warm months doesn’t have to be a bad experience, or even a chore, thanks to these fun books.
Fun books that can keep kids reading in summer title/ author
cost
description
“Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11”
$17.99
It may have been more than 40 years since people first set foot on the moon, but the magic in that moment endures. Appropriate for students in kindergarten through grade five, the story is highlighted by large-format illustrations that capture the wonder of space flight and space suits. The author tells the facts of the mission and has a denser telling of the story at the end for students who want to learn more about this historic and scientific breakthrough.
$17.95
It all starts when Kansas doesn’t want to be in Kansas anymore. As it turns out, the rest of the states want to look into living somewhere else, too. What results is that Kansas ends up where Hawaii is supposed to be, Idaho lives where Maine once did and the whole United States becomes discombobulated. Geography, typically an exercise in memorization, gets a lot more humorous and fun when the states have personalities in this book for kids ages 4 to 8.
$8.99
There will be plenty of time to memorize the periodic table of elements when school is in session. Science has a fun and practical (and sometimes impractical) side, too. That side of science is on display in this book for kids ages 9 to 12. It details how to perform science experiments and, in the process, create items like thermometers and flashlights from household items.
$20.85
It may be hard to get kids to eat their vegetables, but once Pollan traces the origins of kid-friendly foods, such as McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, they might reconsider their position. Narrated in a fun rather than preachy voice, this book, recommended for young adults, aims to get readers to think about their food choices, nutrition and the world in general.
$5.99
This collection of stories about people and their inventions, for students in grades three through eight, includes some surprises, including the titular popsicle, which was first invented by a child who left some soda pop mix and water outside, and the ancient origins of dice, which go back about 40,000 years. Some of the other items mentioned include Tinker Toys, jigsaw puzzles, miniature golf and doughnuts.
By Brian Floca
“The Scrambled States of America” By Laurie Keller
“101 Great Science Experiments” By Neil Ardley
“The Omnivore’s Dilemma (Young Readers Edition)” By Michael Pollan
“The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle” By Don L. Wulffson
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