News You Can Use
by Kate Wallace
Atlanta Parent’s Beautiful Baby Contest at the Fair IS YOUR CHUBBY-CHEEKED SMILING BABY the cutest thing ever? Then consider entering your tot in the North Georgia State Fair’s Beautiful Baby Contest sponsored by Atlanta Parent magazine. Parents are invited to show off their little ones, ages 0-36 months, in this “tiny tots pageant.” Dress your child in any sort of outfit, from “Sunday best” to bumblebee costume. Informal judging will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. Registration is one hour earlier. There is no cost to enter, but fair admission is required: adults, $5; ages 7-18, $2; children 6 and younger, free. Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta. 770-528-8989.
Suwanee: Tops for Families THE NORTHERN ATLANTA SUBURB of Suwanee was recently named the third best city in the U.S. to raise a family, according to a ranking by Kiplinger, the business and financial advice publisher. The top 10 cities were selected based on household income, cost of living and crime rate. Schools with strong funding and high graduation rates also played a factor. Suwanee, with an average annual family income of about $104,000, landed just behind Richland, Wash., and just ahead of Thousand Oaks, Calif., largely because of its high percentage of families with children – about 40 percent. In order of desirability, here are the top 10: Omaha, Neb.; Richland, Wash.; Suwanee, Ga.; Thousands Oaks, Calif.; East Grand Rapids, Mich.; Appleton, Wis.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Middletown, N.Y.; Corona, Calif.; Stamford, Conn.
Hello, Caroline! Walk or Run For Literacy SIGN UP FOR THE 5K RUN/WALK in Decatur on September 29 to support the Literacy Alliance of Metro Atlanta’s mission to achieve 100 percent literacy among Atlanta adults and families. Visit literacyallianceatlanta.org to receive the early registration fee of $20 per individual and $60 for a team of four. Seventy percent of each registration fee goes to the charity of the registrant’s choice; the remaining 30 percent goes to strengthen LAMA’s coalition efforts. More than 1,500 children, families and volunteers are expected to come out for this event to bring awareness to reading.
10 percent
of the world’s population is lefthanded. Presidents Obama, Clinton, Bush the elder, Reagan and Ford were all left-handed too!
SEPTEMBER 4 MARKS THE DEBUT of Caroline Abbott, the 13th heroine to join American Girl’s family of collectible historical dolls. Caroline’s story is set 200 years ago, during the second war for American independence, also known as the War of 1812. Her story of courage and kindness is intended to inspire girls today “to stay steady and believe in themselves in difficult times.” The American Girl store in Alpharetta’s North Point Mall has planned craft activities – on Sept. 4, 8 and 9 – to celebrate Caroline’s arrival on the scene; details in our Calendar, Page 72. Like Samantha, Felicity and other dolls in the collection, Caroline sells for $105 (doll and book only), or $124 (doll, book and accessories). For more information: americangirl.com.
Websites Worth Visiting n fiveminutesformom.com If five minutes is asking too much, then try to spend three looking over this resourceful site that puts moms in touch with other moms. The site hosts a wealth of articles, deals, recipes, job opportunities and more.
10 Atlanta Parent September 2012
n Postagramapp.com From the new company Sincerely Inc., the Postagram website (and app) lets users choose photos from their Instagram, Facebook or photo albums, turn them into postcards, and mail them directly from their smart phones. Postagrams cost 99 cents and usually arrive within two to five business days.
atlantaparent.com