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Andrew Kostecki
Ann Stashak
“Your child will learn more from how you live your life than what you tell them about life.” --Carmen F. Ambrosino, CEO, WVADS, Inc.
Helen Shannon
Imagine forehead gum, curfew whistles and shared (!) bath water
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AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Esther Jumper, Andrew Kostecki, Ann Stashak, Frank Tokash and Helen Shannon, who have many vivid memories of childhood and the old ways of parenting and discipline, play a card game at the Pittston Senior Center.
Remember WHEN … ? By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com
dipping in a creek. Of course, there were chores, too. Maybe helping to hang the laundry on the backyard clothesline or carrying heavy groceries home from the store. And even if the children of yesteryear tried hard to behave, they might occasionally “get a whack” from the teacher or end up wearing a piece of chewing gum on their foreheads. As you peruse this special section in The Times Leader and read lots of modern parent-
ing tips, you might find it interesting to consider the ways childhood has changed. It was a very different experience long ago, a group of senior citizens explained on a recent Tuesday afternoon at the Pittston Senior Center. Because, seriously, who ends up with gum on his forehead nowadays? In case you’re wondering, that was a not-so-unusual puniSee CHANGING, Page 29
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hen the ice man drove through town on hot summer days of the 1930s and ’40s, the neighborhood children would get excited. His job was to deliver blocks of ice to various homes so food would stay cold in the ice boxes, a forerunner to today’s electric refrigerators. Sometimes he’d be kind enough to give youngsters a small wedge of ice.
It wouldn’t be flavored cherry or grape like the Popsicles of today, but it would be cool and refreshing – and they loved it. “Oh, we had fun,” 78-year-old Helen Shannon of Exeter remembered. Some of the fun involved pick-up ball games as opposed to organized sports and the adventure of walking to school instead of getting a ride. “Going swimming” might have meant relaxing in a galvanized-steel tub with your cousin. Or skinny
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Are you missing the best sounds of summer?
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For most of us growing up, going to the dentist was
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shment for chewing Juicy Fruit or Wrigley’s Spearmint, at least in some classrooms. “Our teacher made us put it on the blackboard and write our name underneath, so everyone would know whose gum it was,” said Ann Stashak, 79, who grew up in Glen Lyon. That wasn’t the only way students were punished at her school. Stashak remembers a teacher “whacked” her with a paddle when she was about 7 or 8. Why? “I told a lie,” she said. How did the teacher know it was a lie? “The teacher left the room and put me in charge. When she came back she asked if everyone had behaved and I said ‘Everybody was good’ because I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble.” Later, it became apparent that someone had somehow misbehaved. A ha! So Stashak’s report had not been truthful. The teacher was disappointed. “She whacked me on the behind,” Stashak said. “It didn’t hurt, particularly, but I was so ashamed to tell my mother when I got home.” They grew up in a stricter time, Andrew Kostecki, 82, of Duryea said. “When you were outside playing and you heard the curfew whistle, you knew you had to get home,” he said. “Or you would get a beating.” The curfew sounded about 9 p.m., when it was getting dark in the summer. Some children anticipated the curfew when the street lamps lit up at dusk, and that would be their signal to head home. “We used to play right in the street,” Helen Shannon, 78, of Exeter said. “There was hardly any traffic.” “Nowadays everyone has a beautiful pool or a water park to go to,” Stashak said. “When I was young we used to go ‘swimming’ in a tub in the backyard. My cousin and I would get in, but we didn’t both fit. Somebody’s legs were always dangling out.” It sounds like the same kind of galvanized steel tub people would use to take a bath – indoors, with warmer water.
JIM GAVENUS/TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO
Nowadays food is trucked in or flown in from all over the world. Decades ago, most people had to wait until fruit such as watermelon was in season before they tasted it.
“I took a bath in front of the oven door,” Shannon said. “I was the oldest so I went first,” 82-year-old Arline Fina of Hughestown said, remembering how her siblings bathed in the same water, one after the other, in their steel tub. It was the Depression, and times were tough. “Once I told my father, ‘Daddy, I need new shoes,’ ” Fina said. “And he said, ‘It’s not your turn.’ ” She had to make do with shoes that had holes in the soles, until one of her sisters, who had been waiting longer, got a new pair. Waiting was something children of the Depression had to learn, Fina said, whether they were putting aside $1 a week to buy a dress on layaway or whether they were waiting for food to come into season. “We wouldn’t have watermelon until the Fourth of July,” said Mary Hadley, 86, of Avoca, remembering how food was not flown in from all over the world. Maybe a watermelon tasted better if you had to wait for it to grow in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Still, it would be heavy. All kinds of groceries were heavy, especially if you had to carry them a long way. “We’d take the bus as far as it would take us, but then we had to carry the heavy bags over four more streets to get home,” said Hadley, who grew up in Pittston. “I used to have to carry 10pound bags of potatoes,” Fina said. Today’s parents might seek out
MCCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE
Today’s children might enjoy a Popsicle. Yesterday’s children also enjoyed frozen treats, but they weren’t necessarily flavored.
ways for their children to get some exercise, perhaps by signing them up for a soccer league or basketball camp. Yesterday’s parents didn’t have to think about it. Just getting through the day of chores – “We had to chop wood and pick coal,” Shannon said – would burn a lot of calories. And some kids may not have been consuming all that many calories in the first place, because lots of kitchen cupboards were low on provisions. “I got a job at a store,” one 75year-old senior remembered.
“They paid me $15 a week, and I spent it all on food to bring home to my younger brother and sister.” Hard times taught them responsibility early, the seniors said, but they’re glad times are easier today, and parents can instill a work ethic in a gentler way, maybe by having children wash dishes or feed the dog. “My granddaughter has a chore list up on the wall for her children,” one senior piped up. What else has remained somewhat the same through the dec-
ades? At least some home remedies. Moms and dads are still serving bowls of chicken soup to children who have sore throats and coughs. Rubbing camphorated oil on someone’s chest, however, may not be so prevalent anymore. As for the method Hadley’s family used to ward off a cold, there are still people who swear by the healthful properties of onions. “My father would have us eat an onion sandwich,” Hadley recalled. “He said it would keep us from getting sick.”
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ly shredded carrots or diced broccoli will boost the nutritional value of a ground-meat dish without changing the flavor. • Baby food, baby. If you want to save yourself the trouble of finely chopping and sautéing all the veggies, stock up on those cute little Gerber jars, even if your tribe is long past all
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work your way up to chard and other stronger, heartier greens. 4-5 ounces penne rigate pasta 1-2 tablespoons olive oil 8 cups greens, washed and chopped or torn into small pieces Salt and pepper, to taste Pinch red pepper flakes, optional 1-2 cloves minced garlic 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 1. Fill a stockpot with water and bring to a boil. Add a pinch or two of salt, then add
the pasta and cook according to package directions, usually 12-13 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the greens and use tongs to stir the greens until they wilt. Add salt, pepper and pepper flakes, and continue stirring 1-2 minutes more. Keep the greens on the heat longer, if you want them to wilt more. 3. Take the skillet off the heat and add garlic. Stir until fully incorporated, allowing the residual heat of the greens to cook the garlic without burning it. 4. Drain the pasta, add a splash of olive oil, stir and put back in the pasta pot. Add the greens and cheese, and stir. — Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, “Suffering Succotash,” (Perigee, $15, 240 pages) Get your copy of our Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens in America today. That’s why I want every parent to have a copy of the Allstate Foundation Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. It gives important tips on how to talk to teens about driving safe. And lets parents and teens agree on the ground rules and consequences together. Call me or come in today for your free copy.
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ice pops, with far less sugar. • Mashed “potatoes”: Trying subbing cauliflower for the spuds. As long as the cheeses are flavorful and you use milk and maybe some low-fat sour cream, you have a good chance of getting this dish past the young judge and his or her jury. Hint: The texture may be a bit chunkier than you’re used to, so if you think that will be an issue with the little folk, pull out that blender. • Chips, anyone? Potatoes aren’t the only vegetables you can turn into chips. Try kale. No, seriously. Stem
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FUN in the SUN
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By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com
unburns. Broken bones. Swimming accidents. With children likely to spend more time outdoors in the summer, any of those problems can crop up. But is that a reason to urge the young folks to stay inside and play video games? No, no, no.
“To fight childhood obesity, I’m all for going outside,” said Dr. Rudy Carbaugh, a pediatric hospitalist from Geisinger, adding: “It should be supervised. You should at least have the child in your line of sight.” By taking a few precautions, Carbaugh said, children can enjoy a safe and active summer, one with plenty of exercise that strengthens their muscles, increases coordination and helps them stay healthy in all sorts of ways. Swimming, hiking, skateboarding and chasing a soccer ball through a field are good for young hearts and lungs and for bones – in ways you might not have thought. “The sun is one of the best ways we get Vitamin D,” Carbaugh said. “Losing that sun exposure decreas-
es the vitamin D levels.” Here are a few tips on keeping your children safe as they enjoy their summer. Dr. Carbaugh • Examine playground equipment such as swings and sliding boards to make sure they are in good repair and don’t have sharp or broken edges that could cause scrapes and cuts. • Any sunburn can lead to skin damage and skin cancer, so make sure to apply sunscreen. “I’m a little bit protective,” Carbaugh said. “I don’t think any child should be protected with less than a 30 SPF. Younger children and infants, some-
thing like a 50.” • Make sure children stay hydrated before, during and after outdoor activities, perhaps taking breaks every 15 minutes to drink. “Water is wonderful, and sports drinks are an acceptable substitute. High-sugar sodas and fruit juices are not as good.” • A lot of injuries are preventable. If you’re going skateboarding, remember to wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. • Teach children how to float, tread water and swim so they respect the water without fearing it. According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people, two of them children age See FUN, Page 10
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that “staged” food. There are at least 50 ways to sneak extra nutrients into otherwise-guilty after-dinner treats, such as brownies and blondies, simply by dumping in a jar of baby food before baking. Google it. You’ll be amazed. • Shakes and smoothies. If it’s fruit that gives your picky eater pause, you can puree that, too. Puree, or juice, it, and toss it into a low-fat milkshake, and bam. Something pretty and healthy. Plus, you can have all kinds of fun experimenting. Alternative: Pour whole fruit juices into ice-cube trays and make your own
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Take it from EXPERIENCE By WENDY DONAHUE Chicago Tribune
T
Tricks of the mom trade
Local mothers offer tips to fix a host of messes quickly
I
nevitably, during life with a child, you probably will hear an “oops!” or an “ouch!” more than a few times. No matter what their age, children are bound to get into (and cause) messes. Fortunately, local moms are able to offer some tricks and tips for easy fixes no matter the problem.
By SARA POKORNY/spokorny@timesleader.com
• Put the scissors away “Gum in the hair can be removed by using either peanut butter or ice. Rub enough peanut butter around the area to coat the hair and make the gum movable. Ice is less messy and helps to freeze the gum so the stickiness is gone.” – Erica Stacy, 31, Dunmore • Somebody has colorful clothes “For crayon marks on clothes or if they were left in pockets and the clothes went through the washer and dryer, spray WD-40 on the spot, and it will wash out. Then use a rag with WD-40 sprayed on it and wipe down
the dryer drum to get any crayon residue off.” – Colleen Martin Jarnicki • What a sticky situation! “Kids that love stickers put them everywhere, especially in places they have no right to be. Before even touching a sticker I’d hit it with my hair dryer on high heat for about a minute, which would loosen that goo on the back. After that, it should be easy to peel off.” – Jamie Forlenza, 38, Larksville • Seeing red “Blood stains are common when you have active little boys, so I learned
pretty quickly to soak whatever clothing has the blood with peroxide. It bubbles up. Let it sit for a little bit, then run it under water to wash it out before throwing it in the washer.” – Heidi Walters, 43, Wilkes-Barre • Bye-bye boo-boo “I think one of the worst things about when a child falls is to hear them cry so hard. An easy way to not only help that but also make the boo-boo feel better is to use an ice pop on the wound. It’s got the same effect as an ice pack and your child can eat the treat afterwards.” – Erin Ewing, 26, Dallas
he first time Erica Reid, author of “The Thriving Child: Parenting Successfully Through Allergies, Asthma and Other Common Challenges,” covered her son’s aching ear with a steamed white onion, her music-mogul husband, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, worried more about her health than the boy’s. “He was giving me the cuckoo look, like it was voodoo or something,” she said, laughing. But the ache went away and stayed away. She continued to experiment with homeopathic treatments while shifting her son and daughter away from a typical meal of chicken fingers, pasta and peas to turkey burgers, brown rice and kale. A litany of allergies, asthma and infections — one of which landed her son in emergency surgery when he was 3 — eased. Months of steadily improving health led to years.
“My kids were sick all the time; they were on antibiotics all the time,” she said. “Now, this summer, it will be six years that my children have had no medications. No Tylenol, no Motrin, no Advil. My refrigerator is my medicine cabinet, and our kitchen is our pharmacy. I just turned to food.” Though Reid went on to write “The Thriving Child,” she professes no professional credentials. For each chapter in her book, covering a range of topics from food allergies to discipline, she combines her own experience with perspective from experts. She views her layman status — or would that be laymom? — as an asset in inspiring other parents to do their best for their children. She stops short of zealotry. “Do my kids eat junk food? Absolutely. Do they eat processed food? Absolutely. Do they eat that way 90 percent of the time? No,” she said. “I stopped bringing junk food home. If we’re going to have it, let’s have it out of the
home. I try to make the home where we eat a certain way 90 percent of the time.” Still, upon seeing Beyonce and Jay-Z at Reid’s New York booksigning and Reid’s husband on “The X Factor,” skeptics may attribute her approach to a privileged lifestyle. “But this is not about a woman married to a certain man in a certain income bracket,” Reid said at a Chicago book party at the fashion boutique Ikram, hosted by financial guru Mellody Hobson. “All of us can do this. If we have access to food, it’s just about shopping in a smarter way.” The book ($19.99) includes kid-friendly recipes at the back. Some feature uncommon ingredients such as the seasoning Sea Veg (seaveg.com) but are generally simple. Still, detoxing a child’s diet isn’t easy, Reid acknowledges. “It was a challenge. It’s still a challenge,” she said. “But they eat much better. They are thriving.”
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By JACKIE BURRELL San Jose Mercury News
uccotash, okra, broccoli, the skin on the top of pudding. Everyone has a picky-eater moment when they push back from the table, recoiling in horror from some textural or flavor element that grosses them out. But what happens when an epic picky eater grows up and goes to culinary school? In the case of Menlo Park food writer Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, the result is a book, “Suffering Succotash” (Perigee, $15, 240 pages) that explores the world of picky eating to uncover why we hate the foods we do. (Despite the name, Sylvester, the lisping Warner Bros. cartoon cat, does not put in an appearance. Doubtless, he was too grossed out by the book’s allusions to hirsute peaches and dubious custards.) The book includes tips about hiding tidbits you don’t want to eat. (Let’s just say that after reading this, we will never look at grandma’s urn the same way again.) It’s a funny and fascinating ride through the world of taste-bud analysis
and the biggest bugaboo of picky eaters — “texture violations.” The answer to the picky-eater dilemma, Lucianovic says, lies not in supertaster discussions but in compassion, experimentation and good recipes. Besides, she says, being a foodie is nothing more than “socially sanctioned picky eating.” Naturally, we had questions. Q:Wereyourparentssurprisedtodiscover all the places you’d hidden vegetables as a child? Their bookshelves?! A: Oh, they knew! My mother still finds fossilized stuff in her library. Once (my sister and I) put spinach in the centerpiece, and it mysteriously disappeared — a Christmas miracle. We threw carrots out the window of the bathroom. We tried flushing. We filled a Dixie cup with shreds of toilet paper. The cats found it an hour after dinner, pulled it, and left this trail of succotash on the shag carpet. We were exposed.
Q: Is your toddler a picky eater? A: I’m lucky right now. He’s not overly picky: He eats smoked salmon, cheese. His favorite vegetableisokra,whichmay be because I love okra so much. This could change. Q: But you were an unabashed okra-hater as a child. When did things change for you? A: Through college and young adulthood, I was well aware of the fact that the way I ate was pretty narrow. I was ashamed. When I met my husband, he came from the East Coast, and I came from the Midwest; I felt like he was worldly and I wasn’t. So I tried to choke (different foods) down — and it would turn out that I would like them. He would always order fish, and I would have a few bites from his plate and not be stressed out by this whole plate of food I didn’t want. Q: It’s quite a leap from picky eater to haute cuisine. How did you end up in culinary school?
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A: Wewereeatingoutalot,andIneeded to start replicating what I was tasting. Mymother-in-lawwasafoodie,sopartof me starting to cultivate the interest was to have something in common. I was watching the Jacques Pepin and Julia Child show. I subscribed to Bon Appetit andGourmetandCook’sIllustrated,and I wanted to become a food writer and editor. So when I was laid off from Little Brown, I went to culinary school. It was theculminationofgettingoverpickyeating. Q: There are a lot of theories floating around about supertasters, essentially people with highly sensitive taste buds ... A: People find it an easy explanation, and I think it doesn’t begin to explain enough. I’m not a supertaster. I’m average, so there are other reasons why I’m a picky eater. Plenty of picky eaters have a problem with texture. Temperature for some people is a huge thing.
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CALL IN a special SUBSTITUTE
By SANDRA SNYDER ssnyder@timesleader.com
Andy Vavrek, Dallas, helps his daughter Addison out of a tunnel she had crawled through.
Young Chase Lucas, West Pittston, and Mike Courtright enjoy the bubbles during class time at Gymboree.
Mike Courtright and Jessica Kennedy are happy to see their young son Cameron climbing and tossing balls.
A place to BOND
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hat they don’t know won’t hurt them. Agree? Perhaps it’s better to say what they don’t know won’t only not hurt them but will help them. Help them grow up healthy and strong – and better equipped to take care of us in our old age. OK, just kidding about that last part. Sort of.
The point is it’s easy to say kids are picky eaters, but it’s also kind of easy to trick them – and have them walking away happy you did. Even if they’re never the wiser. Now of course some will argue, and have argued, that this kind of business is a fool’s game and that hiding vegetables won’t do a thing to get children eating vegetables later in life (which is a noble goal), but we say you have to start somewhere. And let’s face it: Some adults are as picky as kids, no matter how hard their parents tried, so these ideas are every bit as adult-friendly as they are kid-friendly.
• Hide veggies in pasta sauce. Plenty of nutrients are in the skin, so it’s a good idea to work toward leaving in small pieces of unpeeled vegetables and having them somehow seem appealing to your little one, but, first, try baby steps. Peel zucchini and carrots, chop finely, sauté in olive oil and then toss into blender with your other sauce ingredients. They’ll never know the difference, we promise. Hint: You also can hide the same finely chopped veggies inside a meatball or in a meatloaf. Broccoli’s another option. Fine-
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RECIPES Continued from Page 24
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Lisa Kolveck, Moosic, encourages her daughter Teagan Rose Kolveck to climb a soft slide during a class of interactive parent-child exercises and activities at Gymboree in Plains Township. By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
A
task of meeting new friends. “Many of the programs are designed not only for social interactions with the children but also geared towards cognitive developments,” Maurita Pascale, owner of Gymboree Play & Music Center in Plains Township, said.
The biggest draw, she said, is what goes on between parent and child. “The time is being put aside for the parent to focus on their child every week, allowing for a special See BOND, Page 10
Zucchini fries
STARFRUIT PUNCH For budding wizards, astronomers or anyone who appreciates a bit of whimsy, here’s a tip from creative mom-of-three Mary Ruth Burke of Wilkes-Barre: Slice starfruit into pieces about 1/4-inch thick so they resemble stars and add them to your favorite punch. A cookie cutter can come in handy here. The punch can be as simple as a mix of fruit drink and lemon-lime soda, or you can this juice-based recipe from allrecipes.com. Ingredients: 1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle apple juice, chilled 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate 1 cup orange juice 1.5 liters ginger ale Mix all the juices in a large bowl, stir until the concentrate is dissolved. Add the starfruit slices, and you can feel as if you’ve concocted something magical. - Mary Therese Biebel
Mock ice-cream sandwiches
‘Magic’ brownies
‘ICE CREAM’ SANDWICHES What kid doesn’t love an icecream sandwich? For that matter, what parent? All the extra calories, however, aren’t necessarily good for either. Enter the mock ice-cream sandwich, “recipes” for which are all over the Internet. The term “recipe” is used loosely, of course. All you need are two, maybe three ingredients, for crying out loud. And there’s no cooking, baking or heat involved at all. Just make a little extra room in your freezer so you can keep several of these on hand. Ingredients: 2 cups fat-free whipped topping 8 chocolate graham crackers ½ cup miniature chocolate chips (optional) Combine whipped topping and chips (if using) in a bowl. Break the graham crackers in half. Spread whipped topping on one broken cracker and top with another. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least a half hour. - Sandra Snyder
‘MAGIC’ BROWNIES Remember that tale about that guy named Jack and that big old beanstalk? Magical, right? So are these brownies. If you get caught adding the secret ingredient – or questioned – why not just say you used magic beans to make these special brownies even more special? Only you, the parent, need to know the special-ness comes from the reduced portion of saturated fat. That’s right, here you omit the oil and the egg, and you still come up with a quite tasty brownie. It might turn out a bit more cakey, so this recipe is best for those who prefer cake brownies to the dense, chewy variety. Ingredients: 1 15.5-oz. can black beans 1 20-oz. package brownie mix (your choice.) In a blender, process UNDRAINED black beans until smooth. Mix in the brownie mix (and only the brownie mix) and bake according to package directions. - Sandra Snyder
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fast-paced world can make finding time to spend with children difficult, but there’s one sure way to set aside precious hours that pro-
mote bonding and stimulate children physically and mentally: Sign up for a class. Locally available sessions come in many forms, from purely exercise to activities dealing with music, learning sign language and simply going through the
and it worked wonders. Ramish used the Weight Watchers’ recipe for Zucchini Fries to get her kids to snack on veggies without even realizing it. Ingredients: 4 pumps olive oil cooking spray 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon table salt 3/4 cup dried plain breadcrumbs, panko suggested 2 medium uncooked zucchini 2 large egg whites, whipped until frothy (almost soft peaks) Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, flour and salt. Place bread crumbs in another small bowl. Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise and then each half into 2 pieces widthwise. Next slice each zucchini chunk into four fries. Dredge a zucchini fry in flour mixture and dip into egg whites; dredge in bread crumbs. Place coated zucchini on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients; liberally coat with cooking spray. Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 12 minutes. Yields about 8 fries per serving. - Sara Pokorny
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FUN but HEALTHY TIMES LEADER STAFF
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hicken fingers and cheeseburgers. Cheeseburgers and chicken fingers. Maybe the occasional hot dog or grilled cheese? If you’re bored with the child’s play on your child’s plate and looking to up not only the excitement but the nutritional value this summer, here are some tried-and-true recipes from Times Leader staffers. We can’t guarantee your little ones will jump for joy, but we can almost promise you even the pickiest young Mikeys in the world might at least willingly give these a try, especially if you “sell” them properly. (Hint: “Look, it’s just like popcorn!”) Yep, the bonus for you is some of these recipes might contain hidden nutrients any young body can use. And, really, these recipes can’t get any simpler.
Popcorn cauliflower is kind of sweet.
POPCORN CAULIFLOWER This is about the coolest way I’ve ever seen vegetables presented – and the tastiest, too. And you really only need a few basic ingredients: a head of cauliflower, some olive oil, salt and pepper and whatever other kind of seasoning you might enjoy. The surest way to get this vegetable dish to appeal to children? Chop the cauliflower small and serve it in a bright red popcorn cup or dish.
Ingredients: One head cauliflower, cut into small florets. 6-8 tablespoons olive oil Salt, pepper to taste Optional: sugar, paprika, garlic salt, turmeric Preheat oven to 450. Combine spices and mix well into oil. Arrange cauliflower florets on baking sheet and drizzle with spiced oil. Roast, uncovered for at least 35 minutes, until a golden-yellow hue is achieved. Leave in longer to achieve browning. Note: Roasting vegetables releases the natural sugar and completely changes the somewhat bitter taste of cauliflower in its natural state. Serve in popcorn bowl and expect squeals of delight. - Sandra Snyder ZUCCHINI FRIES Say the word “fry,” and kids will be all over it. At least that’s what Mary Ann Ramish of Moosic thinks. She tested this theory with her daughters Gail, 6, and Alice, 8, See RECIPES, Page 25
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BOND Continued from Page 8
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Damiana Schmidt of Wilkes-Barre gets a push on the Coal Street Park swings from her dad, Allen Schmidt. Outdoor activities can be a fun way to exercise in the summer.
FUN Continued from Page 5
14 or younger, die from drowning every day in the United States. “Children can start to swim within the first year of life,” Carbaugh said, adding that it’s essen-
tial to supervise the youngest children whenever they are in or near water. • Use insect repellent to fight mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus, as well as ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. “I don’t have a preference regarding (a repellent that contains) DEET vs. natural, as long as it’s effective,” he said.
emotional bond to form, which is really what this is all about.” Joanne Austin, supervisor of the Osterhout Library’s North Branch, runs the weekly “My Grownup and Me” story and play time at the library. “Parents can get an idea of what other parents are doing, and kids can experience what other children are like,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation.” Jessica Kinsey, 26, of Wyoming, agrees. She finds not only bonding time with her 6-month-old son Kashius, but time for him to become well-adjusted to others at a young age. She takes him to the Water Babies class at Sno Cove weekly. “I like that the class is geared
towards kids in his age bracket because it’s a calming way for him to meet others, as well as get used to the water,” she said. Several different classes are offered around the area for children up to 5 years old that range in types of activity. • Gymboree, 1159 Route 315, Plains Township. 208-2908. New-member fee $40. Play and Learn classes are categorized by levels, depending on the child’s age. Zero to six months is Learn 1, 6 to 10 Learn 2, 10 to 16 Learn 3, 16 to 22 Learn 4, 22 to 28 Learn 5 and 28 to 36 Learn 6. A school-skills class is available for children 3 to 5 years of age. Open gym time also is available. For complete schedule and class descriptions visit www.gymboreeclasses.com/wbarrepa.site. • Toddler Time, Danko’s AllAmerican Fitness, 3 N. River St., Plains Township. 825-5989. 10:30 a.m. Fridays. $4 for chil-
dren 2 to 5 years old. • Water Babies, Sno Cove, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton. (800) 468-7669. For ages 2 and under. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays until Aug. 23. $5 per session for one child and one parent/guardian. • Mommy and Me, Kingston Recreation Center, 655 Third Ave., Kingston. 287-1106. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. $4 per child up to 5 years old. • Wiggles, Squiggles and Grins LLC, 601 Pittston Ave., Scranton. Several different sessions are available, from potty training to sign language. For most current classes visit wsgrins.com or call 878-5598. • My Grownup and Me, story and play time for ages 1 to 3. North Branch of the Osterhout Free Library, 28 Oliver St., Wilkes-Barre. 10 a.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 14. Reservations: 822-4660.
“The time is being put aside for the parent to focus on their child every week, allowing for a special emotional bond to form.” Maurita Pascale
AMUSE Continued from Page 21
compared with the usual $5, $10 and $20 per book. Additional discounts can be found on the website. • Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park, 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun. (800) 768-9653. www.greatwolf.com/poconos/waterpark. Monthly ticket deals can be found online. Great Wolf employees have described the ticket process as working almost like an airline, which means deals may change from day to day, depending on the number of tickets bought. Google “Great Wolf coupon codes” for a chance at an extraspecial deal. These are hit-andmiss, and links found online are sometimes not valid, but it’s worth an effort. • Crayola Experience, 30 Centre Square, Easton. (610) 5158000. www2.crayola.com/factory. Admission is $12 per person. Children 23 months and under are admitted free. • Camelbeach Mountain Wa-
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ter Park, One Camelback Road, Tannersville. 629-1661. www.camelbeach.com. General admission for those 48 inches or taller is $36.99 on-site or $32.99 online. Tickets for children under 48 inches or seniors 65 and older are $24.99, both on-site and online. Children age 2 and under get in free. Bonus Night tickets, which include twilight admission plus the next-full-day admission, are available on-site only for $36.99 general admission and $24.99 for children under 48 inches and seniors 65 and over. Twilight passes are available for $18.50 general admission and $12.50 for children under 48 inches and seniors over 65. Twilight passes are valid for the last three hours of the day at the ticket window, but if you buy them online, they are valid for the last four hours of the day until Sept. 3. • Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Place, Langhorne. (215) 7527070. www.sesameplace.com/ sesame2. Various ticket packages are available online. AAA also offers online and instore discounts. On aaa.com, you’ll need to enter your member number to shop for Sesame Place tickets.
SPECIAL SECTION, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012
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AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Aubrey Weitz, 18 months, tries to get in on the crafting fun with some of the older children at A.C. Moore.
Arts-and-crafts projects a good outlet for imagination
I
By SARA POKORNY / spokorny@timesleader.com
t’s possible that when you set your child up at the kitchen table with something as simple as scissors and construction paper to make a craft, you’re also setting him up for a career later in life. “I’ve seen it happen, when we have kids try different sorts of crafts and they tend to favor a particular one. As they get older they realize they might want to turn that into a profession,” Sandy Butch, activities director at A.C. Moore in Wilkes-Barre Township, said. “It goes from anything like painting and drawing to architecture.”
Local craft stores A.C. Moore and Michael’s aim to help children discover such passions through weekly craft classes. A.C. Moore classes run from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays until Aug. 15. Michael’s runs friendship-bracelet, scrapbooking and cakes-for-kids classes. Inquiries about class times and
dates can be made at the store at the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township or by calling 819-1145. If parents need a project in a pinch, though, they can use some of these ideas from local craft experts, who know the perfect pair of scissors when they see it.
• Angry Birds, by Sandy Butch Materials: • 2-inch Styrofoam ball • Wiggly eyes • Colored duct tape (depending on what bird you want to make – red, blue, black or yellow) Simply cover a Styrofoam ball with
the duct tape of your choice. Glue on wiggly eyes and cut eyebrows from black duct tape and a beak from yellow duct tape. The process is simple, as are all the shapes involved, making for an easy, fun craft. See CREATIVE, Page 12
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Getting CREATIVE
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CREATIVE Continued from Page 11
• Wood painting, by Jenn Chesney, manager at Michael’s Michael’s has an array of wooden figures and objects to choose from, from birdhouses and lighthouses to tiny decorations such as stars and hearts that can be glued on picture frames. All that’s needed to complete the project is acrylic paint for the wood, the perfect way to let young imaginations run wild. • Paper dinos, by Sandy Butch Materials: • Yellow and green construction paper or card stock • A sponge • Yellow and green acrylic paint Cut dinosaur shapes out of green and yellow construction paper or card stock Cut a sponge into various-size circles. Dip the sponge into green paint and dot onto yellow dinosaurs. Dot yellow
paint onto green dinosaurs. Use a black Sharpie to make an eye and mouth on the dino. To add more to the dinosaur, cut triangles out of construction paper and glue along its back to make a spine, much like a stegosaurus’s. • Foam fun, by Jen Chesney The fun literally comes in buckets with the variety of foam shapes Michael’s sells. The large plastic tubs contain everything from dinosaurs to castles and have easy peel-off backs so children can rip and stick the decorations wherever they please. • Clay figures, Sandy Butch Butch said clay is a popular material right now because of its simplicity. She recommends Crayola’s Model Magic clay, which comes in various colors. It’s non-crumbling and non-staining and can be attached to plastic, wood, cardboard and other materials. A way to prolong the project, she said, is to make figures out of white clay and then, after the 24-hour drying period, paint them.
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AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Juliana Konnick 4, puts the fine touches on her visor, pressing a foam letter to the cap while participating in an A.C. Moore class in Wilkes-Barre Township.
• Discount ticket websites: Several websites, such as amusementpark.com, specialize in selling discounted theme-park tickets. Another surefire way to find a deal quick is simply to use the Google search engine. WHERE TO GO: • Dorney Park & Wildwater TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO Kingdom, crossroads of Interstate 78 and the Northeast Exten- Knoebels in Elysburg has both sion, Allentown. www.dorney- high-flying and little-folkpark.com. Single-day regular friendly rides. tickets are $49.99 at gate and $39.99 in advance. 437-7439. www.hersheyparkDiscount tickets for specified .com. Regular admission prices days and specified times can be are $28.95 and up, depending on picked up at Burger King in package. Monthly discounts can Wyoming, to name just one loca- be found on the website, and coution. pons can be picked up at Wendy’s The AAA auto club also offers and Dairy Queen in Wilkes-Barre discounted tickets in stores and and at select Burger Kings. online: Members can save $10.49 Burger King in Wyoming has on adult tickets and $5.24 on ju- coupons for $10 off regular adnior/senior tickets. Visit aaa- mission in July and $8 off for Au.com. gust and September. • Hersheypark, 100 West HerAAA members can save $8.95 sheypark Drive, Hershey. (800) on adult tickets and $1.95 on ju-
BILL TARUTIS FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Joey Gambarony, 7, of Brick, N.J., splashes at the end of the Coyote Cannon water ride at Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun.
nior/senior tickets. Visit aaa.com. • Knoebels Amusement Resort, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elys-
burg. (800) 487-4386. www.knoebels.com. Admission is free and rides are priced individually. Monday through Friday tickets
are discounted, running at $4.50, $9 and $18 per ticket book as See AMUSE, Page 23
Ballet • Tap • Jazz Lyric • Hip Hop Ages 3 to Adult Competition Program Zumba® Classes Mon-Wed 10:00am-10:45am & Tues & Thurs 5:00pm-5:45pm
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SPECIAL SECTION, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012
DEALS for the BIG BOYS
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By SARA POKORNY and SANDRA SNYDER spokorny@timesleader.com ssnyder@timesleader.com
musement-park hopping is a mainstay of summer, but the plaintive cry of parents everywhere is often this: Why, oh why, are tickets so expensive? One of the priciest ways to spend a day in a popular park with your family is to walk up to the gate and buy tickets there, without having done any research in advance. A better way is to scout around, ask around and look around before you hit the road. Area credit unions usually have all kinds of coupons, as do grocery stores and fast-food restaurants, and these can vary from location to location, so call ahead and see who’s offering the best deal. Buying online usually helps
you save a buck or two, as well, if not 10 or more. Family-friendly websites also offer guidance on saving even more money. Howtodothings.com, for example, offers the following tips on making a park foray a bit more affordable: • Save soda cans: Many soda companies, especially Coca-Cola, will offer discounts to popular theme parks. By collecting soda cans, you can generally save $5 to $10 per entry ticket to the park. • Go to outside online sources: Search for cheap tickets and vouchers on eBay.com, a popular online marketplace. Craigslist also is becoming a popular way to snag discounted tickets; just stay aware of scams. BILL TARUTIS FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
See AMUSE, Page 21
The SandStorm at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark in Tannersville is a crowd-pleaser.
St. Clement and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 165 Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 824 - 3227
Now accepting registration for...Fall 2012 • Daycare • Infants • Younger Toddlers • Older Toddlers • Preschool • Adv. Pre-K Come To Our Open House Monday, August 13 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm Infant & Young Toddler Registration Wednesday, August 15 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm Older Toddler & Pre-School Registration
Also, Afternoon & Evening Appointments Available Upon Request
DIVE into a BOOK “N By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
ot every reader is a leader, but every leader is a reader.” – Harry Truman Hoyt Library Outreach Librarian Carol Dalmas loves this quote. She has watched children of all ages come and go at the library, finding much worth in the words before them. “Reading can transform your life in a second,” she said. “You never know what you will read that will inspire you. Books educate, develop our minds and initiate creativity.” Getting a child hooked on reading at a young age can prove beneficial in numerous ways. While there are plenty of books to choose from, local librarians have suggested some they think are the most valuable to a young reader, from the classics to new releases. • The “Bad Kitty” series, by Nick Bruel “It’s not hard to fall in love with the main character, who I think every child should know.” - John Roberts, Wyoming Free Library director • “Green Eggs and Ham,” by Dr. Seuss. This was recommended by both the Hoyt and Osterhout libraries for
the lessons it imparts and because it’s a breeze to read. • “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak “It’s a classic children’s monster story with exquisite illustrations.” - Elaine Rash, Youth Services Coordinator, Osterhout Free Library • “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault “This book does the alphabet with kids and teaches them the difference between lowercase and capital letters in a fun way.” – - Melissa Szafran, Hoyt Library director • “Pete the Cat and His four Groovy Buttons,” by Eric Litwin
“This is a newer title that combines music, subtraction and the lesson that ‘things will come and things will go.’ ” - Elaine Rash • “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems Also recommended by both Hoyt and Osterhout, this book relies on expressive illustrations to attract readers. • “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type,” by Doreen Cronin “Kids love animals, and this book has every animal on the farm. It also teaches the lesson to stand up for what you want in life.” - Melissa Szafran PAGE 13
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By AMY LONGSDORF For The Times Leader
rom dazzling animated treats to “Spy Kids” adventures to life lessons from “The Lorax,” plenty of DVDs make great viewing for the entire family. Check out the titles listed below, a select crop of eight DVDs and Blu-rays guaranteed to keep you and your children entertained and enlightened. 1. “DOLPHIN TALE” (2011, WARNER, PG, $28): A welcome message that no wounded animal (or person) is beyond repair buoys this family film about Winter, a dolphin without a tail who learns to swim again with the help of a lonely Florida tweener (Nathan Gamble), a marine biologist (Harry Connick), a prosthetics designer (Morgan Freeman) and a wounded soldier (Austin Stowell.) Sure, it has some sappy moments, but there’s no resisting the charms of Winter, a scene-stealer played by the actual dolphin whose story inspired the movie. 2. “FELICITY: AN AMERICAN GIRL ADVENTURE” (2005, WARNER, UNRATED, $20): Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants”) stars as a horse-loving, Williamsburg, Va., tweener who discovers she’s made of strong stuff after vowing to tame the copper-colored mare belonging to an abusive neighbor. The acting is solid and the themes worthwhile, and the backdrop of the Revolutionary War provides a great history lesson for children interested in the conflict between the colonies and the Crown. 3. “YELLOW SUBMARINE” (1968, CAPITOL, UNRATED, $35): The Fab Four go hi-def in the Blu-ray debut of their loony ’toon triumph. The first Beatles Blu-ray release sets the bar very high, thanks to a frameby-frame restoration job that makes the film’s already bright pop-art colors even brighter. With the Blue Meanies threatening to take over Pepperland, it’s up to John, Paul, George and Ringo to save the day. And they do, with sublime songs, tricky humor and that yellow submarine.
4. “SPY KIDS” (2001, LIONSGATE, PG, $20): Director Robert Rodriguez might be best known for his splatter operas “Desperado” and “Once Upon a Time In Mexico,” but arguably his most satisfying film, now on Blu-Ray, was made for children. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino star as retired spies who get kidnapped by the bad guys and have to rely on their resourceful offspring (Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara) to save the day.
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
J.J. Mullin gives his son Brady, 5, a helping hand and a fast spin on one of the play pieces at Community Park in Duryea.
5. “DR. SEUSS’S THE LORAX” – DELUXE EDITION (2012, WARNER, UNRATED, $20): The feature-length adaptation of the Seuss book is arriving on DVD on Aug. 7 but it’s hard to beat the original half-hour ’toon for its succinct storytelling. The environmental message is woven beautifully into the tale of the greedy Once-ler who decides to hack down all of the beautiful Truffala Trees in the name of progress. Can the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, save the day and the make world safe for the Brown Bar-baloots and the Humming-Fish? 6. “LEMONADE MOUTH”: EXTENDED EDITION (2011, DISNEY, UNRATED, $27): In this energetic Disney Channel movie, five highschoolers (Bridgit Mendler, Adam Hicks, Hayley Kiyoko, Naomi Scott and Blake Michael) meet in detention and, in a moment worthy of “Glee,” form a ridiculously polished pop band. “Lemonade Mouth” isn’t going to make anyone forget the more forceful “High School Musical” movies, but there’s a refreshing message about the importance of questioning authority among the bright, shiny tunes. See MOVIES, Page 15
AIMEE DILGER FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Jacob Kincher-Brea runs through the water at Coal Street Park.
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PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
It’s hard to miss the Mega Tower at the Duryea community park.
767135
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MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP MEMORIAL PARK
Where: Memorial Park Road, Mountain Top How to get there: Take WilkesBarre Boulevard toward Route 309 in Mountain Top, which eventually turns into North Mountain Boulevard. Make a slight left onto Main Street, then turn left at Memorial Park Road. Features: This park is tiny but treasured, largely due to the manmade swimming hole, complete with a sandy shore. There’s also a concession stand and fields to play in nearby. What our readers said: “We used to drive to the beach at Hickory Run all the time, but this is so much easier. It’s literally in our backyard. With everything there is to do, not just the beach, we could actually spend a whole day out here, and the kids would never get bored.”
FRANCES SLOCUM STATE PARK
Where: Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming How to get there: Take PA 309 North to a right turn on Carverton Road. Continue to West 8th Street. About a mile up the road turn left onto Mount Olivet Road, and the park entrance is one mile on the left. Features: Tons to do here, from boating on the lake to hiking through the woods or enjoying the swimming pool, several open fields, picnic pavilions and a playground. What our readers said: “It’s a very safe environment, with a lot to do. We swim, we hike, we play games. It’s a perfect place to relax.” – Pam Dymond, Wilkes-Barre
SOUTH ABINGTON PARK
Where: Northern Boulevard, Routes 6 and 11, Clarks Summit
How to get there: From WilkesBarre, take 81 North toward Scranton, getting off at exit 194 for US-6 W/US-11 toward Clarks Summit. Merge onto I-476 N/ US-6 W and exit onto US-11 N/ US-6W/Northern Boulevard toward Binghamton/Towanda/ Clarks Summit/PA-407 N. Turn right onto S. Abington Road/ State Route 4021. Turn left onto Parkwood Avenue, left onto US-11 S/US-6 E/Northern Boulevard, and the park will be on the left, next to the elementary school. Features: This park has an area of six geysers that shoot water at random intervals to keep little ones cool and guessing where the spray will come from next. Walking trails and playground equipment add to the fun. What our readers said: “They’re never bored when they’re here. I don’t see how they could be. There’s a lot to do and plenty of space to run around. This is one of those times I don’t mind when he asks if a bunch of his friends can come along to play, because this park keeps them busy for me.” – Jane Langley, mother of Victor, Scranton
MOVIES Continued from Page 14
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Brady Mullin, 5, makes his way through the Webscape at Community Park in Duryea.
7. “TANGLED “(2010, DISNEY, PG, $30): For this animated spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Disney delivers a delightful movie full of romance, comedy, action and music (supplied by Alan Menken, of “Beauty and the Beast” fame). Home-bound Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is longing to break free of her devious mother (Donna Murphy), so when mischievous thief Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) appears, the pair hit the road for an adventure that encompasses a bossy horse, a bar full of scruffy hooligans and a loyal chameleon named Pascal. Disney’s 50th full-length cartoon is a keeper. 8. “ICARLY: THE COMPLETE 4TH SEASON” (2012, PARAMOUNT, UNRATED, $20): Still a ratings winner for Nickelodeon, this sitcom about a high-schooler (Miranda Cosgrove) with her own web series manages to balance crazy humor with some surprisingly realistic teen dilemmas. For every wild yarn about Carly and company hacking into a government website or hiring assistants they can’t afford, there’s an episode like “iQ” in which Carly tries to impress her brainy new boyfriend by pretending to be smarter than she is. 9. “STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.” (1928, KINO, UNRATED, $30): Buster Keaton’s last great film is 73 minutes of pure bliss. In addition to serving up plenty of laughs, the acrobatic comedian pulls off a handful of jaw-dropping stunts, including riding an uprooted tree in the middle of a cyclone and escaping a collapsing building through an open window. And he gets the girl, too. There’s no better way to in-
FOTOLIA.COM PHOTO
troduce your children to the joys of silent movies than by giving them a glimpse of the Great Stoneface. 10. “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” (2010, DISNEY, PG, $30): Has there ever been a filmmaker better suited to adapting Lewis Carroll than Tim Burton? For the latest version of the rabbit-hole adventure, Burton pulls out all the visual stops, littering the screen
with a flame-haired Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), a big-headed Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), a blue-striped Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and assorted talking dogs, rabbits and frogs. Not only can Burton razzle-dazzle you with scenes that mix up creatures, both human and digital, but he never loses sight of Alice’s (Mia Wasikowska) journey from bashful teenager to brave hero. Wonderful.
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– Theresa Myers, 42, Fairview Township
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Time to play
Get the skinny on what area parks have to offer By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
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hildren shouting and running, basketballs flying about, the sun glaring down … Don’t worry, though. All parents need to do is sit back in the shade and relax while the little folks entertain themselves. Parks and playgrounds are plentiful in Northeastern Pennsylvania, from those with towering play structures to others with not-so-imposing equipment that pack the same sense of fun. Some have water, others have walking trails, but no matter what they have, these parks are guaranteed to infuse a bit of enjoyment into any summer day. Here’s an assortment of play spots Times Leader readers have recommended as among the best of the best:
ACADEMY STREET PARK
Where: Academy Street, Warrior Run How to get there: Take South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre to McGovern’s Hill and make a left. Continue to Front Street and turn right on Academy Street. Features: You can’t miss the giant horse-shaped climbing apparatus at the park’s entrance or the fire-truck-shaped one. This park also sports rock-climbing walls and a section of colorful barrels that provide a drumming area. What our readers said: “A while ago they made the decision to separate the basketball court by moving it across the road, which is really nice. It was a way to keep the big kids and the little kids separate, and it makes for a more comfortable environment. The kids can do what they want without interfering with each other.” – Dyann Welsh, 29, Warrior Run
COAL STREET PARK
Where: Coal Street, WilkesBarre How to get there: Coal Street Park sits between Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and North Sherman Street. Features: The newest feature is a splash pad instead of a pool. Playground equipment also has been spiffed up as the Coal Street corridor undergoes a makeover. What our readers said: “We have a pool at home. Maybe if we didn’t we would want a city pool for the kids.” – Dawn Kruszka, 38, of WilkesBarre, mother of Alyssa, 9, and C.J., 3.
DURYEA COMMUNITY PARK
Where: Stephenson Street, Duryea
DON CAREY FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Vinnee Paternoster and Brian Ulrich have a good time cooling off in the swimming hole at Fairview Township Memorial Park.
“A while ago they made the decision to separate the basketball court by moving it across the road, which is really nice. It was a way to keep the big kids and the little kids separate, and it makes for a more comfortable environment.”
How to get there: Take Route 11 toward West Pittston and turn right at the Fort Jenkins bridge. Turn left at the end of the bridge and continue on Route 11 until a left turn on Stephenson Street. Features: This park has one of the biggest play places in the area, a Mega Tower with five slides, rock walls and even a section of signs that teaches children Spanish and sign language. Also look out for the Webscape, a weblike structure on which your friendly neighborhood Spidermen can have a blast. What our readers said: “It makes you feel like you’re in a big spider web. It’s hard, too, because if you’re not careful you’ll get stuck, but that’s kind of a fun thing to do.” – Mary Bruin, 10, of Old Forge, on the Webscape See PARKS, Page 18
Brady Mullin, 5, makes his way down one of the many slides at the community park in Duryea.
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Connor Welsh, 2, traipses on the swings at the Academy Street Park in Warrior Run.
– Dyann Welsh, on Academy Street Park in Warrior Run
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Time to play
Get the skinny on what area parks have to offer By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
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hildren shouting and running, basketballs flying about, the sun glaring down … Don’t worry, though. All parents need to do is sit back in the shade and relax while the little folks entertain themselves. Parks and playgrounds are plentiful in Northeastern Pennsylvania, from those with towering play structures to others with not-so-imposing equipment that pack the same sense of fun. Some have water, others have walking trails, but no matter what they have, these parks are guaranteed to infuse a bit of enjoyment into any summer day. Here’s an assortment of play spots Times Leader readers have recommended as among the best of the best:
ACADEMY STREET PARK
Where: Academy Street, Warrior Run How to get there: Take South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre to McGovern’s Hill and make a left. Continue to Front Street and turn right on Academy Street. Features: You can’t miss the giant horse-shaped climbing apparatus at the park’s entrance or the fire-truck-shaped one. This park also sports rock-climbing walls and a section of colorful barrels that provide a drumming area. What our readers said: “A while ago they made the decision to separate the basketball court by moving it across the road, which is really nice. It was a way to keep the big kids and the little kids separate, and it makes for a more comfortable environment. The kids can do what they want without interfering with each other.” – Dyann Welsh, 29, Warrior Run
COAL STREET PARK
Where: Coal Street, WilkesBarre How to get there: Coal Street Park sits between Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and North Sherman Street. Features: The newest feature is a splash pad instead of a pool. Playground equipment also has been spiffed up as the Coal Street corridor undergoes a makeover. What our readers said: “We have a pool at home. Maybe if we didn’t we would want a city pool for the kids.” – Dawn Kruszka, 38, of WilkesBarre, mother of Alyssa, 9, and C.J., 3.
DURYEA COMMUNITY PARK
Where: Stephenson Street, Duryea
DON CAREY FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Vinnee Paternoster and Brian Ulrich have a good time cooling off in the swimming hole at Fairview Township Memorial Park.
“A while ago they made the decision to separate the basketball court by moving it across the road, which is really nice. It was a way to keep the big kids and the little kids separate, and it makes for a more comfortable environment.”
How to get there: Take Route 11 toward West Pittston and turn right at the Fort Jenkins bridge. Turn left at the end of the bridge and continue on Route 11 until a left turn on Stephenson Street. Features: This park has one of the biggest play places in the area, a Mega Tower with five slides, rock walls and even a section of signs that teaches children Spanish and sign language. Also look out for the Webscape, a weblike structure on which your friendly neighborhood Spidermen can have a blast. What our readers said: “It makes you feel like you’re in a big spider web. It’s hard, too, because if you’re not careful you’ll get stuck, but that’s kind of a fun thing to do.” – Mary Bruin, 10, of Old Forge, on the Webscape See PARKS, Page 18
Brady Mullin, 5, makes his way down one of the many slides at the community park in Duryea.
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Connor Welsh, 2, traipses on the swings at the Academy Street Park in Warrior Run.
– Dyann Welsh, on Academy Street Park in Warrior Run
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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP MEMORIAL PARK
Where: Memorial Park Road, Mountain Top How to get there: Take WilkesBarre Boulevard toward Route 309 in Mountain Top, which eventually turns into North Mountain Boulevard. Make a slight left onto Main Street, then turn left at Memorial Park Road. Features: This park is tiny but treasured, largely due to the manmade swimming hole, complete with a sandy shore. There’s also a concession stand and fields to play in nearby. What our readers said: “We used to drive to the beach at Hickory Run all the time, but this is so much easier. It’s literally in our backyard. With everything there is to do, not just the beach, we could actually spend a whole day out here, and the kids would never get bored.”
FRANCES SLOCUM STATE PARK
Where: Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming How to get there: Take PA 309 North to a right turn on Carverton Road. Continue to West 8th Street. About a mile up the road turn left onto Mount Olivet Road, and the park entrance is one mile on the left. Features: Tons to do here, from boating on the lake to hiking through the woods or enjoying the swimming pool, several open fields, picnic pavilions and a playground. What our readers said: “It’s a very safe environment, with a lot to do. We swim, we hike, we play games. It’s a perfect place to relax.” – Pam Dymond, Wilkes-Barre
SOUTH ABINGTON PARK
Where: Northern Boulevard, Routes 6 and 11, Clarks Summit
How to get there: From WilkesBarre, take 81 North toward Scranton, getting off at exit 194 for US-6 W/US-11 toward Clarks Summit. Merge onto I-476 N/ US-6 W and exit onto US-11 N/ US-6W/Northern Boulevard toward Binghamton/Towanda/ Clarks Summit/PA-407 N. Turn right onto S. Abington Road/ State Route 4021. Turn left onto Parkwood Avenue, left onto US-11 S/US-6 E/Northern Boulevard, and the park will be on the left, next to the elementary school. Features: This park has an area of six geysers that shoot water at random intervals to keep little ones cool and guessing where the spray will come from next. Walking trails and playground equipment add to the fun. What our readers said: “They’re never bored when they’re here. I don’t see how they could be. There’s a lot to do and plenty of space to run around. This is one of those times I don’t mind when he asks if a bunch of his friends can come along to play, because this park keeps them busy for me.” – Jane Langley, mother of Victor, Scranton
MOVIES Continued from Page 14
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Brady Mullin, 5, makes his way through the Webscape at Community Park in Duryea.
7. “TANGLED “(2010, DISNEY, PG, $30): For this animated spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Disney delivers a delightful movie full of romance, comedy, action and music (supplied by Alan Menken, of “Beauty and the Beast” fame). Home-bound Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is longing to break free of her devious mother (Donna Murphy), so when mischievous thief Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) appears, the pair hit the road for an adventure that encompasses a bossy horse, a bar full of scruffy hooligans and a loyal chameleon named Pascal. Disney’s 50th full-length cartoon is a keeper. 8. “ICARLY: THE COMPLETE 4TH SEASON” (2012, PARAMOUNT, UNRATED, $20): Still a ratings winner for Nickelodeon, this sitcom about a high-schooler (Miranda Cosgrove) with her own web series manages to balance crazy humor with some surprisingly realistic teen dilemmas. For every wild yarn about Carly and company hacking into a government website or hiring assistants they can’t afford, there’s an episode like “iQ” in which Carly tries to impress her brainy new boyfriend by pretending to be smarter than she is. 9. “STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.” (1928, KINO, UNRATED, $30): Buster Keaton’s last great film is 73 minutes of pure bliss. In addition to serving up plenty of laughs, the acrobatic comedian pulls off a handful of jaw-dropping stunts, including riding an uprooted tree in the middle of a cyclone and escaping a collapsing building through an open window. And he gets the girl, too. There’s no better way to in-
FOTOLIA.COM PHOTO
troduce your children to the joys of silent movies than by giving them a glimpse of the Great Stoneface. 10. “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” (2010, DISNEY, PG, $30): Has there ever been a filmmaker better suited to adapting Lewis Carroll than Tim Burton? For the latest version of the rabbit-hole adventure, Burton pulls out all the visual stops, littering the screen
with a flame-haired Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), a big-headed Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), a blue-striped Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and assorted talking dogs, rabbits and frogs. Not only can Burton razzle-dazzle you with scenes that mix up creatures, both human and digital, but he never loses sight of Alice’s (Mia Wasikowska) journey from bashful teenager to brave hero. Wonderful.
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– Theresa Myers, 42, Fairview Township
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By AMY LONGSDORF For The Times Leader
rom dazzling animated treats to “Spy Kids” adventures to life lessons from “The Lorax,” plenty of DVDs make great viewing for the entire family. Check out the titles listed below, a select crop of eight DVDs and Blu-rays guaranteed to keep you and your children entertained and enlightened. 1. “DOLPHIN TALE” (2011, WARNER, PG, $28): A welcome message that no wounded animal (or person) is beyond repair buoys this family film about Winter, a dolphin without a tail who learns to swim again with the help of a lonely Florida tweener (Nathan Gamble), a marine biologist (Harry Connick), a prosthetics designer (Morgan Freeman) and a wounded soldier (Austin Stowell.) Sure, it has some sappy moments, but there’s no resisting the charms of Winter, a scene-stealer played by the actual dolphin whose story inspired the movie. 2. “FELICITY: AN AMERICAN GIRL ADVENTURE” (2005, WARNER, UNRATED, $20): Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants”) stars as a horse-loving, Williamsburg, Va., tweener who discovers she’s made of strong stuff after vowing to tame the copper-colored mare belonging to an abusive neighbor. The acting is solid and the themes worthwhile, and the backdrop of the Revolutionary War provides a great history lesson for children interested in the conflict between the colonies and the Crown. 3. “YELLOW SUBMARINE” (1968, CAPITOL, UNRATED, $35): The Fab Four go hi-def in the Blu-ray debut of their loony ’toon triumph. The first Beatles Blu-ray release sets the bar very high, thanks to a frameby-frame restoration job that makes the film’s already bright pop-art colors even brighter. With the Blue Meanies threatening to take over Pepperland, it’s up to John, Paul, George and Ringo to save the day. And they do, with sublime songs, tricky humor and that yellow submarine.
4. “SPY KIDS” (2001, LIONSGATE, PG, $20): Director Robert Rodriguez might be best known for his splatter operas “Desperado” and “Once Upon a Time In Mexico,” but arguably his most satisfying film, now on Blu-Ray, was made for children. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino star as retired spies who get kidnapped by the bad guys and have to rely on their resourceful offspring (Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara) to save the day.
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
J.J. Mullin gives his son Brady, 5, a helping hand and a fast spin on one of the play pieces at Community Park in Duryea.
5. “DR. SEUSS’S THE LORAX” – DELUXE EDITION (2012, WARNER, UNRATED, $20): The feature-length adaptation of the Seuss book is arriving on DVD on Aug. 7 but it’s hard to beat the original half-hour ’toon for its succinct storytelling. The environmental message is woven beautifully into the tale of the greedy Once-ler who decides to hack down all of the beautiful Truffala Trees in the name of progress. Can the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, save the day and the make world safe for the Brown Bar-baloots and the Humming-Fish? 6. “LEMONADE MOUTH”: EXTENDED EDITION (2011, DISNEY, UNRATED, $27): In this energetic Disney Channel movie, five highschoolers (Bridgit Mendler, Adam Hicks, Hayley Kiyoko, Naomi Scott and Blake Michael) meet in detention and, in a moment worthy of “Glee,” form a ridiculously polished pop band. “Lemonade Mouth” isn’t going to make anyone forget the more forceful “High School Musical” movies, but there’s a refreshing message about the importance of questioning authority among the bright, shiny tunes. See MOVIES, Page 15
AIMEE DILGER FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Jacob Kincher-Brea runs through the water at Coal Street Park.
Clean Reliable Professional Healthy Animals
We specialize in young children’s birthday parties and pony and craft summer day camp.
Ponies and Petting Zoo are also available for events and fundraisers.
Pony Party Paradise 813 Winding Road • Shickshinny, PA 18655 570-864-3807
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PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
It’s hard to miss the Mega Tower at the Duryea community park.
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DEALS for the BIG BOYS
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By SARA POKORNY and SANDRA SNYDER spokorny@timesleader.com ssnyder@timesleader.com
musement-park hopping is a mainstay of summer, but the plaintive cry of parents everywhere is often this: Why, oh why, are tickets so expensive? One of the priciest ways to spend a day in a popular park with your family is to walk up to the gate and buy tickets there, without having done any research in advance. A better way is to scout around, ask around and look around before you hit the road. Area credit unions usually have all kinds of coupons, as do grocery stores and fast-food restaurants, and these can vary from location to location, so call ahead and see who’s offering the best deal. Buying online usually helps
you save a buck or two, as well, if not 10 or more. Family-friendly websites also offer guidance on saving even more money. Howtodothings.com, for example, offers the following tips on making a park foray a bit more affordable: • Save soda cans: Many soda companies, especially Coca-Cola, will offer discounts to popular theme parks. By collecting soda cans, you can generally save $5 to $10 per entry ticket to the park. • Go to outside online sources: Search for cheap tickets and vouchers on eBay.com, a popular online marketplace. Craigslist also is becoming a popular way to snag discounted tickets; just stay aware of scams. BILL TARUTIS FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
See AMUSE, Page 21
The SandStorm at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark in Tannersville is a crowd-pleaser.
St. Clement and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 165 Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 824 - 3227
Now accepting registration for...Fall 2012 • Daycare • Infants • Younger Toddlers • Older Toddlers • Preschool • Adv. Pre-K Come To Our Open House Monday, August 13 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm Infant & Young Toddler Registration Wednesday, August 15 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm Older Toddler & Pre-School Registration
Also, Afternoon & Evening Appointments Available Upon Request
DIVE into a BOOK “N By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
ot every reader is a leader, but every leader is a reader.” – Harry Truman Hoyt Library Outreach Librarian Carol Dalmas loves this quote. She has watched children of all ages come and go at the library, finding much worth in the words before them. “Reading can transform your life in a second,” she said. “You never know what you will read that will inspire you. Books educate, develop our minds and initiate creativity.” Getting a child hooked on reading at a young age can prove beneficial in numerous ways. While there are plenty of books to choose from, local librarians have suggested some they think are the most valuable to a young reader, from the classics to new releases. • The “Bad Kitty” series, by Nick Bruel “It’s not hard to fall in love with the main character, who I think every child should know.” - John Roberts, Wyoming Free Library director • “Green Eggs and Ham,” by Dr. Seuss. This was recommended by both the Hoyt and Osterhout libraries for
the lessons it imparts and because it’s a breeze to read. • “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak “It’s a classic children’s monster story with exquisite illustrations.” - Elaine Rash, Youth Services Coordinator, Osterhout Free Library • “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault “This book does the alphabet with kids and teaches them the difference between lowercase and capital letters in a fun way.” – - Melissa Szafran, Hoyt Library director • “Pete the Cat and His four Groovy Buttons,” by Eric Litwin
“This is a newer title that combines music, subtraction and the lesson that ‘things will come and things will go.’ ” - Elaine Rash • “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems Also recommended by both Hoyt and Osterhout, this book relies on expressive illustrations to attract readers. • “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type,” by Doreen Cronin “Kids love animals, and this book has every animal on the farm. It also teaches the lesson to stand up for what you want in life.” - Melissa Szafran PAGE 13
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CREATIVE Continued from Page 11
• Wood painting, by Jenn Chesney, manager at Michael’s Michael’s has an array of wooden figures and objects to choose from, from birdhouses and lighthouses to tiny decorations such as stars and hearts that can be glued on picture frames. All that’s needed to complete the project is acrylic paint for the wood, the perfect way to let young imaginations run wild. • Paper dinos, by Sandy Butch Materials: • Yellow and green construction paper or card stock • A sponge • Yellow and green acrylic paint Cut dinosaur shapes out of green and yellow construction paper or card stock Cut a sponge into various-size circles. Dip the sponge into green paint and dot onto yellow dinosaurs. Dot yellow
paint onto green dinosaurs. Use a black Sharpie to make an eye and mouth on the dino. To add more to the dinosaur, cut triangles out of construction paper and glue along its back to make a spine, much like a stegosaurus’s. • Foam fun, by Jen Chesney The fun literally comes in buckets with the variety of foam shapes Michael’s sells. The large plastic tubs contain everything from dinosaurs to castles and have easy peel-off backs so children can rip and stick the decorations wherever they please. • Clay figures, Sandy Butch Butch said clay is a popular material right now because of its simplicity. She recommends Crayola’s Model Magic clay, which comes in various colors. It’s non-crumbling and non-staining and can be attached to plastic, wood, cardboard and other materials. A way to prolong the project, she said, is to make figures out of white clay and then, after the 24-hour drying period, paint them.
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AMUSE Continued from Page 20
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Juliana Konnick 4, puts the fine touches on her visor, pressing a foam letter to the cap while participating in an A.C. Moore class in Wilkes-Barre Township.
• Discount ticket websites: Several websites, such as amusementpark.com, specialize in selling discounted theme-park tickets. Another surefire way to find a deal quick is simply to use the Google search engine. WHERE TO GO: • Dorney Park & Wildwater TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO Kingdom, crossroads of Interstate 78 and the Northeast Exten- Knoebels in Elysburg has both sion, Allentown. www.dorney- high-flying and little-folkpark.com. Single-day regular friendly rides. tickets are $49.99 at gate and $39.99 in advance. 437-7439. www.hersheyparkDiscount tickets for specified .com. Regular admission prices days and specified times can be are $28.95 and up, depending on picked up at Burger King in package. Monthly discounts can Wyoming, to name just one loca- be found on the website, and coution. pons can be picked up at Wendy’s The AAA auto club also offers and Dairy Queen in Wilkes-Barre discounted tickets in stores and and at select Burger Kings. online: Members can save $10.49 Burger King in Wyoming has on adult tickets and $5.24 on ju- coupons for $10 off regular adnior/senior tickets. Visit aaa- mission in July and $8 off for Au.com. gust and September. • Hersheypark, 100 West HerAAA members can save $8.95 sheypark Drive, Hershey. (800) on adult tickets and $1.95 on ju-
BILL TARUTIS FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Joey Gambarony, 7, of Brick, N.J., splashes at the end of the Coyote Cannon water ride at Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun.
nior/senior tickets. Visit aaa.com. • Knoebels Amusement Resort, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elys-
burg. (800) 487-4386. www.knoebels.com. Admission is free and rides are priced individually. Monday through Friday tickets
are discounted, running at $4.50, $9 and $18 per ticket book as See AMUSE, Page 23
Ballet • Tap • Jazz Lyric • Hip Hop Ages 3 to Adult Competition Program Zumba® Classes Mon-Wed 10:00am-10:45am & Tues & Thurs 5:00pm-5:45pm
Dolphin Plaza • 1159 Hwy. 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (570) 208-2908
SPOTLIGH SPOTLIGHT
Dance Studio 570-540-5910 135 South Main St. • Pittston
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s Join u for a lass! Free C
Please call to register
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Aubrey Weitz, 18 months, tries to get in on the crafting fun with some of the older children at A.C. Moore.
Arts-and-crafts projects a good outlet for imagination
I
By SARA POKORNY / spokorny@timesleader.com
t’s possible that when you set your child up at the kitchen table with something as simple as scissors and construction paper to make a craft, you’re also setting him up for a career later in life. “I’ve seen it happen, when we have kids try different sorts of crafts and they tend to favor a particular one. As they get older they realize they might want to turn that into a profession,” Sandy Butch, activities director at A.C. Moore in Wilkes-Barre Township, said. “It goes from anything like painting and drawing to architecture.”
Local craft stores A.C. Moore and Michael’s aim to help children discover such passions through weekly craft classes. A.C. Moore classes run from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays until Aug. 15. Michael’s runs friendship-bracelet, scrapbooking and cakes-for-kids classes. Inquiries about class times and
dates can be made at the store at the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township or by calling 819-1145. If parents need a project in a pinch, though, they can use some of these ideas from local craft experts, who know the perfect pair of scissors when they see it.
• Angry Birds, by Sandy Butch Materials: • 2-inch Styrofoam ball • Wiggly eyes • Colored duct tape (depending on what bird you want to make – red, blue, black or yellow) Simply cover a Styrofoam ball with
the duct tape of your choice. Glue on wiggly eyes and cut eyebrows from black duct tape and a beak from yellow duct tape. The process is simple, as are all the shapes involved, making for an easy, fun craft. See CREATIVE, Page 12
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Getting CREATIVE
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BOND Continued from Page 8
PETE G. WILCOX FILE PHOTO/THE TIMES LEADER
Damiana Schmidt of Wilkes-Barre gets a push on the Coal Street Park swings from her dad, Allen Schmidt. Outdoor activities can be a fun way to exercise in the summer.
FUN Continued from Page 5
14 or younger, die from drowning every day in the United States. “Children can start to swim within the first year of life,” Carbaugh said, adding that it’s essen-
tial to supervise the youngest children whenever they are in or near water. • Use insect repellent to fight mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus, as well as ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. “I don’t have a preference regarding (a repellent that contains) DEET vs. natural, as long as it’s effective,” he said.
emotional bond to form, which is really what this is all about.” Joanne Austin, supervisor of the Osterhout Library’s North Branch, runs the weekly “My Grownup and Me” story and play time at the library. “Parents can get an idea of what other parents are doing, and kids can experience what other children are like,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation.” Jessica Kinsey, 26, of Wyoming, agrees. She finds not only bonding time with her 6-month-old son Kashius, but time for him to become well-adjusted to others at a young age. She takes him to the Water Babies class at Sno Cove weekly. “I like that the class is geared
towards kids in his age bracket because it’s a calming way for him to meet others, as well as get used to the water,” she said. Several different classes are offered around the area for children up to 5 years old that range in types of activity. • Gymboree, 1159 Route 315, Plains Township. 208-2908. New-member fee $40. Play and Learn classes are categorized by levels, depending on the child’s age. Zero to six months is Learn 1, 6 to 10 Learn 2, 10 to 16 Learn 3, 16 to 22 Learn 4, 22 to 28 Learn 5 and 28 to 36 Learn 6. A school-skills class is available for children 3 to 5 years of age. Open gym time also is available. For complete schedule and class descriptions visit www.gymboreeclasses.com/wbarrepa.site. • Toddler Time, Danko’s AllAmerican Fitness, 3 N. River St., Plains Township. 825-5989. 10:30 a.m. Fridays. $4 for chil-
dren 2 to 5 years old. • Water Babies, Sno Cove, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton. (800) 468-7669. For ages 2 and under. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays until Aug. 23. $5 per session for one child and one parent/guardian. • Mommy and Me, Kingston Recreation Center, 655 Third Ave., Kingston. 287-1106. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. $4 per child up to 5 years old. • Wiggles, Squiggles and Grins LLC, 601 Pittston Ave., Scranton. Several different sessions are available, from potty training to sign language. For most current classes visit wsgrins.com or call 878-5598. • My Grownup and Me, story and play time for ages 1 to 3. North Branch of the Osterhout Free Library, 28 Oliver St., Wilkes-Barre. 10 a.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 14. Reservations: 822-4660.
“The time is being put aside for the parent to focus on their child every week, allowing for a special emotional bond to form.” Maurita Pascale
AMUSE Continued from Page 21
compared with the usual $5, $10 and $20 per book. Additional discounts can be found on the website. • Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park, 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun. (800) 768-9653. www.greatwolf.com/poconos/waterpark. Monthly ticket deals can be found online. Great Wolf employees have described the ticket process as working almost like an airline, which means deals may change from day to day, depending on the number of tickets bought. Google “Great Wolf coupon codes” for a chance at an extraspecial deal. These are hit-andmiss, and links found online are sometimes not valid, but it’s worth an effort. • Crayola Experience, 30 Centre Square, Easton. (610) 5158000. www2.crayola.com/factory. Admission is $12 per person. Children 23 months and under are admitted free. • Camelbeach Mountain Wa-
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ter Park, One Camelback Road, Tannersville. 629-1661. www.camelbeach.com. General admission for those 48 inches or taller is $36.99 on-site or $32.99 online. Tickets for children under 48 inches or seniors 65 and older are $24.99, both on-site and online. Children age 2 and under get in free. Bonus Night tickets, which include twilight admission plus the next-full-day admission, are available on-site only for $36.99 general admission and $24.99 for children under 48 inches and seniors 65 and over. Twilight passes are available for $18.50 general admission and $12.50 for children under 48 inches and seniors over 65. Twilight passes are valid for the last three hours of the day at the ticket window, but if you buy them online, they are valid for the last four hours of the day until Sept. 3. • Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Place, Langhorne. (215) 7527070. www.sesameplace.com/ sesame2. Various ticket packages are available online. AAA also offers online and instore discounts. On aaa.com, you’ll need to enter your member number to shop for Sesame Place tickets.
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FUN but HEALTHY TIMES LEADER STAFF
C
hicken fingers and cheeseburgers. Cheeseburgers and chicken fingers. Maybe the occasional hot dog or grilled cheese? If you’re bored with the child’s play on your child’s plate and looking to up not only the excitement but the nutritional value this summer, here are some tried-and-true recipes from Times Leader staffers. We can’t guarantee your little ones will jump for joy, but we can almost promise you even the pickiest young Mikeys in the world might at least willingly give these a try, especially if you “sell” them properly. (Hint: “Look, it’s just like popcorn!”) Yep, the bonus for you is some of these recipes might contain hidden nutrients any young body can use. And, really, these recipes can’t get any simpler.
Popcorn cauliflower is kind of sweet.
POPCORN CAULIFLOWER This is about the coolest way I’ve ever seen vegetables presented – and the tastiest, too. And you really only need a few basic ingredients: a head of cauliflower, some olive oil, salt and pepper and whatever other kind of seasoning you might enjoy. The surest way to get this vegetable dish to appeal to children? Chop the cauliflower small and serve it in a bright red popcorn cup or dish.
Ingredients: One head cauliflower, cut into small florets. 6-8 tablespoons olive oil Salt, pepper to taste Optional: sugar, paprika, garlic salt, turmeric Preheat oven to 450. Combine spices and mix well into oil. Arrange cauliflower florets on baking sheet and drizzle with spiced oil. Roast, uncovered for at least 35 minutes, until a golden-yellow hue is achieved. Leave in longer to achieve browning. Note: Roasting vegetables releases the natural sugar and completely changes the somewhat bitter taste of cauliflower in its natural state. Serve in popcorn bowl and expect squeals of delight. - Sandra Snyder ZUCCHINI FRIES Say the word “fry,” and kids will be all over it. At least that’s what Mary Ann Ramish of Moosic thinks. She tested this theory with her daughters Gail, 6, and Alice, 8, See RECIPES, Page 25
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CALL IN a special SUBSTITUTE
By SANDRA SNYDER ssnyder@timesleader.com
Andy Vavrek, Dallas, helps his daughter Addison out of a tunnel she had crawled through.
Young Chase Lucas, West Pittston, and Mike Courtright enjoy the bubbles during class time at Gymboree.
Mike Courtright and Jessica Kennedy are happy to see their young son Cameron climbing and tossing balls.
A place to BOND
W
hat they don’t know won’t hurt them. Agree? Perhaps it’s better to say what they don’t know won’t only not hurt them but will help them. Help them grow up healthy and strong – and better equipped to take care of us in our old age. OK, just kidding about that last part. Sort of.
The point is it’s easy to say kids are picky eaters, but it’s also kind of easy to trick them – and have them walking away happy you did. Even if they’re never the wiser. Now of course some will argue, and have argued, that this kind of business is a fool’s game and that hiding vegetables won’t do a thing to get children eating vegetables later in life (which is a noble goal), but we say you have to start somewhere. And let’s face it: Some adults are as picky as kids, no matter how hard their parents tried, so these ideas are every bit as adult-friendly as they are kid-friendly.
• Hide veggies in pasta sauce. Plenty of nutrients are in the skin, so it’s a good idea to work toward leaving in small pieces of unpeeled vegetables and having them somehow seem appealing to your little one, but, first, try baby steps. Peel zucchini and carrots, chop finely, sauté in olive oil and then toss into blender with your other sauce ingredients. They’ll never know the difference, we promise. Hint: You also can hide the same finely chopped veggies inside a meatball or in a meatloaf. Broccoli’s another option. Fine-
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See TIPS, Page 28
RECIPES Continued from Page 24
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Lisa Kolveck, Moosic, encourages her daughter Teagan Rose Kolveck to climb a soft slide during a class of interactive parent-child exercises and activities at Gymboree in Plains Township. By SARA POKORNY spokorny@timesleader.com
A
task of meeting new friends. “Many of the programs are designed not only for social interactions with the children but also geared towards cognitive developments,” Maurita Pascale, owner of Gymboree Play & Music Center in Plains Township, said.
The biggest draw, she said, is what goes on between parent and child. “The time is being put aside for the parent to focus on their child every week, allowing for a special See BOND, Page 10
Zucchini fries
STARFRUIT PUNCH For budding wizards, astronomers or anyone who appreciates a bit of whimsy, here’s a tip from creative mom-of-three Mary Ruth Burke of Wilkes-Barre: Slice starfruit into pieces about 1/4-inch thick so they resemble stars and add them to your favorite punch. A cookie cutter can come in handy here. The punch can be as simple as a mix of fruit drink and lemon-lime soda, or you can this juice-based recipe from allrecipes.com. Ingredients: 1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle apple juice, chilled 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate 1 cup orange juice 1.5 liters ginger ale Mix all the juices in a large bowl, stir until the concentrate is dissolved. Add the starfruit slices, and you can feel as if you’ve concocted something magical. - Mary Therese Biebel
Mock ice-cream sandwiches
‘Magic’ brownies
‘ICE CREAM’ SANDWICHES What kid doesn’t love an icecream sandwich? For that matter, what parent? All the extra calories, however, aren’t necessarily good for either. Enter the mock ice-cream sandwich, “recipes” for which are all over the Internet. The term “recipe” is used loosely, of course. All you need are two, maybe three ingredients, for crying out loud. And there’s no cooking, baking or heat involved at all. Just make a little extra room in your freezer so you can keep several of these on hand. Ingredients: 2 cups fat-free whipped topping 8 chocolate graham crackers ½ cup miniature chocolate chips (optional) Combine whipped topping and chips (if using) in a bowl. Break the graham crackers in half. Spread whipped topping on one broken cracker and top with another. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least a half hour. - Sandra Snyder
‘MAGIC’ BROWNIES Remember that tale about that guy named Jack and that big old beanstalk? Magical, right? So are these brownies. If you get caught adding the secret ingredient – or questioned – why not just say you used magic beans to make these special brownies even more special? Only you, the parent, need to know the special-ness comes from the reduced portion of saturated fat. That’s right, here you omit the oil and the egg, and you still come up with a quite tasty brownie. It might turn out a bit more cakey, so this recipe is best for those who prefer cake brownies to the dense, chewy variety. Ingredients: 1 15.5-oz. can black beans 1 20-oz. package brownie mix (your choice.) In a blender, process UNDRAINED black beans until smooth. Mix in the brownie mix (and only the brownie mix) and bake according to package directions. - Sandra Snyder
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fast-paced world can make finding time to spend with children difficult, but there’s one sure way to set aside precious hours that pro-
mote bonding and stimulate children physically and mentally: Sign up for a class. Locally available sessions come in many forms, from purely exercise to activities dealing with music, learning sign language and simply going through the
and it worked wonders. Ramish used the Weight Watchers’ recipe for Zucchini Fries to get her kids to snack on veggies without even realizing it. Ingredients: 4 pumps olive oil cooking spray 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon table salt 3/4 cup dried plain breadcrumbs, panko suggested 2 medium uncooked zucchini 2 large egg whites, whipped until frothy (almost soft peaks) Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, flour and salt. Place bread crumbs in another small bowl. Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise and then each half into 2 pieces widthwise. Next slice each zucchini chunk into four fries. Dredge a zucchini fry in flour mixture and dip into egg whites; dredge in bread crumbs. Place coated zucchini on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients; liberally coat with cooking spray. Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 12 minutes. Yields about 8 fries per serving. - Sara Pokorny
SPECIAL SECTION, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012
By JACKIE BURRELL San Jose Mercury News
uccotash, okra, broccoli, the skin on the top of pudding. Everyone has a picky-eater moment when they push back from the table, recoiling in horror from some textural or flavor element that grosses them out. But what happens when an epic picky eater grows up and goes to culinary school? In the case of Menlo Park food writer Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, the result is a book, “Suffering Succotash” (Perigee, $15, 240 pages) that explores the world of picky eating to uncover why we hate the foods we do. (Despite the name, Sylvester, the lisping Warner Bros. cartoon cat, does not put in an appearance. Doubtless, he was too grossed out by the book’s allusions to hirsute peaches and dubious custards.) The book includes tips about hiding tidbits you don’t want to eat. (Let’s just say that after reading this, we will never look at grandma’s urn the same way again.) It’s a funny and fascinating ride through the world of taste-bud analysis
and the biggest bugaboo of picky eaters — “texture violations.” The answer to the picky-eater dilemma, Lucianovic says, lies not in supertaster discussions but in compassion, experimentation and good recipes. Besides, she says, being a foodie is nothing more than “socially sanctioned picky eating.” Naturally, we had questions. Q:Wereyourparentssurprisedtodiscover all the places you’d hidden vegetables as a child? Their bookshelves?! A: Oh, they knew! My mother still finds fossilized stuff in her library. Once (my sister and I) put spinach in the centerpiece, and it mysteriously disappeared — a Christmas miracle. We threw carrots out the window of the bathroom. We tried flushing. We filled a Dixie cup with shreds of toilet paper. The cats found it an hour after dinner, pulled it, and left this trail of succotash on the shag carpet. We were exposed.
Q: Is your toddler a picky eater? A: I’m lucky right now. He’s not overly picky: He eats smoked salmon, cheese. His favorite vegetableisokra,whichmay be because I love okra so much. This could change. Q: But you were an unabashed okra-hater as a child. When did things change for you? A: Through college and young adulthood, I was well aware of the fact that the way I ate was pretty narrow. I was ashamed. When I met my husband, he came from the East Coast, and I came from the Midwest; I felt like he was worldly and I wasn’t. So I tried to choke (different foods) down — and it would turn out that I would like them. He would always order fish, and I would have a few bites from his plate and not be stressed out by this whole plate of food I didn’t want. Q: It’s quite a leap from picky eater to haute cuisine. How did you end up in culinary school?
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A: Wewereeatingoutalot,andIneeded to start replicating what I was tasting. Mymother-in-lawwasafoodie,sopartof me starting to cultivate the interest was to have something in common. I was watching the Jacques Pepin and Julia Child show. I subscribed to Bon Appetit andGourmetandCook’sIllustrated,and I wanted to become a food writer and editor. So when I was laid off from Little Brown, I went to culinary school. It was theculminationofgettingoverpickyeating. Q: There are a lot of theories floating around about supertasters, essentially people with highly sensitive taste buds ... A: People find it an easy explanation, and I think it doesn’t begin to explain enough. I’m not a supertaster. I’m average, so there are other reasons why I’m a picky eater. Plenty of picky eaters have a problem with texture. Temperature for some people is a huge thing.
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TAME your picky EATER S
SPECIAL SECTION, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012
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Take it from EXPERIENCE By WENDY DONAHUE Chicago Tribune
T
Tricks of the mom trade
Local mothers offer tips to fix a host of messes quickly
I
nevitably, during life with a child, you probably will hear an “oops!” or an “ouch!” more than a few times. No matter what their age, children are bound to get into (and cause) messes. Fortunately, local moms are able to offer some tricks and tips for easy fixes no matter the problem.
By SARA POKORNY/spokorny@timesleader.com
• Put the scissors away “Gum in the hair can be removed by using either peanut butter or ice. Rub enough peanut butter around the area to coat the hair and make the gum movable. Ice is less messy and helps to freeze the gum so the stickiness is gone.” – Erica Stacy, 31, Dunmore • Somebody has colorful clothes “For crayon marks on clothes or if they were left in pockets and the clothes went through the washer and dryer, spray WD-40 on the spot, and it will wash out. Then use a rag with WD-40 sprayed on it and wipe down
the dryer drum to get any crayon residue off.” – Colleen Martin Jarnicki • What a sticky situation! “Kids that love stickers put them everywhere, especially in places they have no right to be. Before even touching a sticker I’d hit it with my hair dryer on high heat for about a minute, which would loosen that goo on the back. After that, it should be easy to peel off.” – Jamie Forlenza, 38, Larksville • Seeing red “Blood stains are common when you have active little boys, so I learned
pretty quickly to soak whatever clothing has the blood with peroxide. It bubbles up. Let it sit for a little bit, then run it under water to wash it out before throwing it in the washer.” – Heidi Walters, 43, Wilkes-Barre • Bye-bye boo-boo “I think one of the worst things about when a child falls is to hear them cry so hard. An easy way to not only help that but also make the boo-boo feel better is to use an ice pop on the wound. It’s got the same effect as an ice pack and your child can eat the treat afterwards.” – Erin Ewing, 26, Dallas
he first time Erica Reid, author of “The Thriving Child: Parenting Successfully Through Allergies, Asthma and Other Common Challenges,” covered her son’s aching ear with a steamed white onion, her music-mogul husband, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, worried more about her health than the boy’s. “He was giving me the cuckoo look, like it was voodoo or something,” she said, laughing. But the ache went away and stayed away. She continued to experiment with homeopathic treatments while shifting her son and daughter away from a typical meal of chicken fingers, pasta and peas to turkey burgers, brown rice and kale. A litany of allergies, asthma and infections — one of which landed her son in emergency surgery when he was 3 — eased. Months of steadily improving health led to years.
“My kids were sick all the time; they were on antibiotics all the time,” she said. “Now, this summer, it will be six years that my children have had no medications. No Tylenol, no Motrin, no Advil. My refrigerator is my medicine cabinet, and our kitchen is our pharmacy. I just turned to food.” Though Reid went on to write “The Thriving Child,” she professes no professional credentials. For each chapter in her book, covering a range of topics from food allergies to discipline, she combines her own experience with perspective from experts. She views her layman status — or would that be laymom? — as an asset in inspiring other parents to do their best for their children. She stops short of zealotry. “Do my kids eat junk food? Absolutely. Do they eat processed food? Absolutely. Do they eat that way 90 percent of the time? No,” she said. “I stopped bringing junk food home. If we’re going to have it, let’s have it out of the
home. I try to make the home where we eat a certain way 90 percent of the time.” Still, upon seeing Beyonce and Jay-Z at Reid’s New York booksigning and Reid’s husband on “The X Factor,” skeptics may attribute her approach to a privileged lifestyle. “But this is not about a woman married to a certain man in a certain income bracket,” Reid said at a Chicago book party at the fashion boutique Ikram, hosted by financial guru Mellody Hobson. “All of us can do this. If we have access to food, it’s just about shopping in a smarter way.” The book ($19.99) includes kid-friendly recipes at the back. Some feature uncommon ingredients such as the seasoning Sea Veg (seaveg.com) but are generally simple. Still, detoxing a child’s diet isn’t easy, Reid acknowledges. “It was a challenge. It’s still a challenge,” she said. “But they eat much better. They are thriving.”
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ly shredded carrots or diced broccoli will boost the nutritional value of a ground-meat dish without changing the flavor. • Baby food, baby. If you want to save yourself the trouble of finely chopping and sautéing all the veggies, stock up on those cute little Gerber jars, even if your tribe is long past all
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work your way up to chard and other stronger, heartier greens. 4-5 ounces penne rigate pasta 1-2 tablespoons olive oil 8 cups greens, washed and chopped or torn into small pieces Salt and pepper, to taste Pinch red pepper flakes, optional 1-2 cloves minced garlic 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 1. Fill a stockpot with water and bring to a boil. Add a pinch or two of salt, then add
the pasta and cook according to package directions, usually 12-13 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the greens and use tongs to stir the greens until they wilt. Add salt, pepper and pepper flakes, and continue stirring 1-2 minutes more. Keep the greens on the heat longer, if you want them to wilt more. 3. Take the skillet off the heat and add garlic. Stir until fully incorporated, allowing the residual heat of the greens to cook the garlic without burning it. 4. Drain the pasta, add a splash of olive oil, stir and put back in the pasta pot. Add the greens and cheese, and stir. — Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, “Suffering Succotash,” (Perigee, $15, 240 pages) Get your copy of our Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens in America today. That’s why I want every parent to have a copy of the Allstate Foundation Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. It gives important tips on how to talk to teens about driving safe. And lets parents and teens agree on the ground rules and consequences together. Call me or come in today for your free copy.
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ice pops, with far less sugar. • Mashed “potatoes”: Trying subbing cauliflower for the spuds. As long as the cheeses are flavorful and you use milk and maybe some low-fat sour cream, you have a good chance of getting this dish past the young judge and his or her jury. Hint: The texture may be a bit chunkier than you’re used to, so if you think that will be an issue with the little folk, pull out that blender. • Chips, anyone? Potatoes aren’t the only vegetables you can turn into chips. Try kale. No, seriously. Stem
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and shred a leafy green head, rinse shreds in cold water and pat dry. Spread kale shreds on a cookie sheet, coat with a bit of oil and top with sea salt. Bake at 350 or roast at 450 until your kale takes on the crunchy, crispy texture of a chip you can pick up with your fingers. As far as nutrients go, kale is a contender for king. And, we swear, these “chips” are GOOD! Alternative: Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven and top leaves with fresh lemon juice. Return to oven and bake 15 more minutes.
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FUN in the SUN
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By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com
unburns. Broken bones. Swimming accidents. With children likely to spend more time outdoors in the summer, any of those problems can crop up. But is that a reason to urge the young folks to stay inside and play video games? No, no, no.
“To fight childhood obesity, I’m all for going outside,” said Dr. Rudy Carbaugh, a pediatric hospitalist from Geisinger, adding: “It should be supervised. You should at least have the child in your line of sight.” By taking a few precautions, Carbaugh said, children can enjoy a safe and active summer, one with plenty of exercise that strengthens their muscles, increases coordination and helps them stay healthy in all sorts of ways. Swimming, hiking, skateboarding and chasing a soccer ball through a field are good for young hearts and lungs and for bones – in ways you might not have thought. “The sun is one of the best ways we get Vitamin D,” Carbaugh said. “Losing that sun exposure decreas-
es the vitamin D levels.” Here are a few tips on keeping your children safe as they enjoy their summer. Dr. Carbaugh • Examine playground equipment such as swings and sliding boards to make sure they are in good repair and don’t have sharp or broken edges that could cause scrapes and cuts. • Any sunburn can lead to skin damage and skin cancer, so make sure to apply sunscreen. “I’m a little bit protective,” Carbaugh said. “I don’t think any child should be protected with less than a 30 SPF. Younger children and infants, some-
thing like a 50.” • Make sure children stay hydrated before, during and after outdoor activities, perhaps taking breaks every 15 minutes to drink. “Water is wonderful, and sports drinks are an acceptable substitute. High-sugar sodas and fruit juices are not as good.” • A lot of injuries are preventable. If you’re going skateboarding, remember to wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. • Teach children how to float, tread water and swim so they respect the water without fearing it. According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people, two of them children age See FUN, Page 10
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TIPS
that “staged” food. There are at least 50 ways to sneak extra nutrients into otherwise-guilty after-dinner treats, such as brownies and blondies, simply by dumping in a jar of baby food before baking. Google it. You’ll be amazed. • Shakes and smoothies. If it’s fruit that gives your picky eater pause, you can puree that, too. Puree, or juice, it, and toss it into a low-fat milkshake, and bam. Something pretty and healthy. Plus, you can have all kinds of fun experimenting. Alternative: Pour whole fruit juices into ice-cube trays and make your own
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shment for chewing Juicy Fruit or Wrigley’s Spearmint, at least in some classrooms. “Our teacher made us put it on the blackboard and write our name underneath, so everyone would know whose gum it was,” said Ann Stashak, 79, who grew up in Glen Lyon. That wasn’t the only way students were punished at her school. Stashak remembers a teacher “whacked” her with a paddle when she was about 7 or 8. Why? “I told a lie,” she said. How did the teacher know it was a lie? “The teacher left the room and put me in charge. When she came back she asked if everyone had behaved and I said ‘Everybody was good’ because I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble.” Later, it became apparent that someone had somehow misbehaved. A ha! So Stashak’s report had not been truthful. The teacher was disappointed. “She whacked me on the behind,” Stashak said. “It didn’t hurt, particularly, but I was so ashamed to tell my mother when I got home.” They grew up in a stricter time, Andrew Kostecki, 82, of Duryea said. “When you were outside playing and you heard the curfew whistle, you knew you had to get home,” he said. “Or you would get a beating.” The curfew sounded about 9 p.m., when it was getting dark in the summer. Some children anticipated the curfew when the street lamps lit up at dusk, and that would be their signal to head home. “We used to play right in the street,” Helen Shannon, 78, of Exeter said. “There was hardly any traffic.” “Nowadays everyone has a beautiful pool or a water park to go to,” Stashak said. “When I was young we used to go ‘swimming’ in a tub in the backyard. My cousin and I would get in, but we didn’t both fit. Somebody’s legs were always dangling out.” It sounds like the same kind of galvanized steel tub people would use to take a bath – indoors, with warmer water.
JIM GAVENUS/TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO
Nowadays food is trucked in or flown in from all over the world. Decades ago, most people had to wait until fruit such as watermelon was in season before they tasted it.
“I took a bath in front of the oven door,” Shannon said. “I was the oldest so I went first,” 82-year-old Arline Fina of Hughestown said, remembering how her siblings bathed in the same water, one after the other, in their steel tub. It was the Depression, and times were tough. “Once I told my father, ‘Daddy, I need new shoes,’ ” Fina said. “And he said, ‘It’s not your turn.’ ” She had to make do with shoes that had holes in the soles, until one of her sisters, who had been waiting longer, got a new pair. Waiting was something children of the Depression had to learn, Fina said, whether they were putting aside $1 a week to buy a dress on layaway or whether they were waiting for food to come into season. “We wouldn’t have watermelon until the Fourth of July,” said Mary Hadley, 86, of Avoca, remembering how food was not flown in from all over the world. Maybe a watermelon tasted better if you had to wait for it to grow in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Still, it would be heavy. All kinds of groceries were heavy, especially if you had to carry them a long way. “We’d take the bus as far as it would take us, but then we had to carry the heavy bags over four more streets to get home,” said Hadley, who grew up in Pittston. “I used to have to carry 10pound bags of potatoes,” Fina said. Today’s parents might seek out
MCCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE
Today’s children might enjoy a Popsicle. Yesterday’s children also enjoyed frozen treats, but they weren’t necessarily flavored.
ways for their children to get some exercise, perhaps by signing them up for a soccer league or basketball camp. Yesterday’s parents didn’t have to think about it. Just getting through the day of chores – “We had to chop wood and pick coal,” Shannon said – would burn a lot of calories. And some kids may not have been consuming all that many calories in the first place, because lots of kitchen cupboards were low on provisions. “I got a job at a store,” one 75year-old senior remembered.
“They paid me $15 a week, and I spent it all on food to bring home to my younger brother and sister.” Hard times taught them responsibility early, the seniors said, but they’re glad times are easier today, and parents can instill a work ethic in a gentler way, maybe by having children wash dishes or feed the dog. “My granddaughter has a chore list up on the wall for her children,” one senior piped up. What else has remained somewhat the same through the dec-
ades? At least some home remedies. Moms and dads are still serving bowls of chicken soup to children who have sore throats and coughs. Rubbing camphorated oil on someone’s chest, however, may not be so prevalent anymore. As for the method Hadley’s family used to ward off a cold, there are still people who swear by the healthful properties of onions. “My father would have us eat an onion sandwich,” Hadley recalled. “He said it would keep us from getting sick.”
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Andrew Kostecki
Ann Stashak
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AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Esther Jumper, Andrew Kostecki, Ann Stashak, Frank Tokash and Helen Shannon, who have many vivid memories of childhood and the old ways of parenting and discipline, play a card game at the Pittston Senior Center.
Remember WHEN … ? By MARY THERESE BIEBEL mbiebel@timesleader.com
dipping in a creek. Of course, there were chores, too. Maybe helping to hang the laundry on the backyard clothesline or carrying heavy groceries home from the store. And even if the children of yesteryear tried hard to behave, they might occasionally “get a whack” from the teacher or end up wearing a piece of chewing gum on their foreheads. As you peruse this special section in The Times Leader and read lots of modern parent-
ing tips, you might find it interesting to consider the ways childhood has changed. It was a very different experience long ago, a group of senior citizens explained on a recent Tuesday afternoon at the Pittston Senior Center. Because, seriously, who ends up with gum on his forehead nowadays? In case you’re wondering, that was a not-so-unusual puniSee CHANGING, Page 29
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hen the ice man drove through town on hot summer days of the 1930s and ’40s, the neighborhood children would get excited. His job was to deliver blocks of ice to various homes so food would stay cold in the ice boxes, a forerunner to today’s electric refrigerators. Sometimes he’d be kind enough to give youngsters a small wedge of ice.
It wouldn’t be flavored cherry or grape like the Popsicles of today, but it would be cool and refreshing – and they loved it. “Oh, we had fun,” 78-year-old Helen Shannon of Exeter remembered. Some of the fun involved pick-up ball games as opposed to organized sports and the adventure of walking to school instead of getting a ride. “Going swimming” might have meant relaxing in a galvanized-steel tub with your cousin. Or skinny
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