Kidsville News 02-06-2010

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I received a GREAT letter from Jillian Nash from Warrensburg Elementary’s 3rd grade class! Boy She really enjoys class!

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D r. Th o m s o n & Staff Sally, Don, Jamie, Paula, Andrea, Lisa, Lori, Teresa FEBRUARY 2010

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NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER Serving Clinton, Essex and Warren Counties PUBLISHER Gayle Alexander gayle@denpubs.com 518-873-6368 Ext. 207 GENERAL MANAGER Allen K. Dunham aldunham@denpubs.com 518-570-7248 TRUMAN ASSISTANT/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laurie Goff graphics@denpubs.com ILLUSTRATOR Cover & Truman • Dan Nelson MARKETING Brian Gay Brian@denpubs.com 518-873-6368 Ext. 207 NATIONAL EDITOR Joy G. Kirkpatrick kvnews@kidsvillenews.com Kidsville News, Inc. Bill Bowman President For Sponsorship Opportunities Please Call: 518-873-6368 P.O. Box 338, 14 Hand Avenue, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Published Locally By Denton Publications, Inc. Copyright 2009 Kidsville News! Inc., All Rights Reserved. Truman is a service mark of Kidsville News! Inc. and the Kidsville News! logo is a registered trademark of Kidsville News! Inc. No part of this issue of Kidsville News! may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or the copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publisher will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Kidsville News! Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or other material.

Children’s submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.

Truman@denpubs.com EMAIL ME, I LOVE MAIL!

Dear Kids, Roses are red, Violets are blue. Dragons are special, And so are you! Happy Valentine’s Day! February is an awesome month. Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday when we can let the special people we love know that we love them! Sometimes grown-ups do this with gifts like jewelry, so I thought it would be neat to talk to a gemologist about her job. Alison Neumann is also responsible for helping museums put together wonderful exhibits about gems and jewelry. What a job!

And of course, February has other special holidays, like Presidents’ Day, Groundhog Day and National AfricanAmerican History Month. There’s a lot of history in February.

Keep reading this edition to learn more!

For fun and games all month, visit the Kidsville News! Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com/ northernny.

Have a fabulous February!

Your friend,

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Black History Month 2010

February has been proclaimed National African-American History Month, also known as Black History Month. This month is set aside to recognize the achievements and contributions by African Americans. The observance of this special period dates from February 1926, when it was established as Negro History Week by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted African-American author and scholar. Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) in 1915.

He established the week during the period of February, which contains the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the month of February was established as Black History Month.

Frederick Douglass was one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery in the United States decades before the Civil War. During the Civil War, Douglass served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln. He fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that would guarantee voting rights and other civil liberties for African Americans.

Throughout Black History Month, the country remembers and celebrates the accomplishments of notable black figures throughout history. This year, the celebration is more poignant for many due to the historical first year of President Barack Obama — inaugurated last January as the nation’s first African-American United States president.

There are many African-Americans who have made significant contributions to our country. One of the lesser known is Mae Jemison.

Born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956, Dr. Mae Jemison made history shortly before her 36th birthday when she became the first AfricanAmerican woman to enter space. As a mission specialist aboard the Shuttle Endeavour, Dr. Jemison entered space in September of 1992. This was four years after completing her training as a NASA mission specialist. The trip into space was just one of many stops along the way for Dr. Jemison. Her remarkable career in medicine has taken her to a Cambodian refugee camp, where she worked as a volunteer, and to West Africa, where she worked as a volunteer medical officer with the Peace Corps.

George Washington Carver was born a slave but later earned his college degree and became a chemist. He discovered uses for the peanut, the sweet potato and the soybean.

Charles Richard Drew was an African-American physician, surgeon and professor at Howard University. He developed a way to preserve blood plasma for transfusion. He was the director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank.

Images: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

Does Presidents’ Day Exist?

Each February, schools, banks and offices close for a holiday that technically doesn’t exist. Though the third Monday of every February is widely known as Presidents’ Day, the official name of the holiday is Washington’s Birthday. It was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington, whose birthday fell on February 22. It was first celebrated as a holiday in 1796, which was the last year of Washington’s presidency.

Many states began referring to the holiday as President’s Day to honor another great president with a February birthday, Abraham Lincoln. In 1865, the year after President Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President) was assassinated, a holiday was observed to commemorate his birthday (February 12). Because states are allowed to follow their own holidays, many chose to honor Lincoln over Washington. However, some states still celebrate the day as “Washington’s Birthday.”

In 1968, Congress considered legally changing the holiday’s name to Presidents’ Day. While those efforts did not succeed, Congress did decide to move the holiday to fall between both Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. In order to simplify the calendar of holidays and give employees three-day weekends, the observance of George Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday in February. Although the holiday has come to be known as Presidents’ Day and to include Abraham Lincoln and all other presidents, the holiday that we celebrate is still officially known as George Washington’s Birthday.

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FEBRUARY 2010

Hi! I’m Digger Mole and I work for NYCO Minerals.

Did you know that our mineral, called “Wollastonite”, is shipped all around the world?

China This year the Chinese New Year will fall on the same day as Valentine’s Day, February 14.

The Chinese New Year never begins on Jan. 1. It can begin any time from Jan. 21 through Feb. 21. The tradi-tional Chinese lunar year begins at sunset on the day of the second New Moon following the winter solstice. Each year is named for an animal, and every 12 years, the cycle begins again. The Chinese believe that the animal sign during the year you were born infl uences your personality traits. This year marks the year of the Tiger.

Italy

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In Italy, the week of Feb. 14-20 is Carnival Week. On Tuesday and Thursday, they have shows and special events for children. Later in the week, they have parades and parties. Carnival celebrations are held in many other places also. They are similar to the Mardi Gras celebrations held in New Orleans.

These celebrations in clude feasting and festivi-ties before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

February 24 is celebrated as Flag Day (El Dia de la Bandera) in Mexico. On this day in 1821, the Plan de Iguala document was signed proclaiming Mexico as an independent country. On Flag Day, there are special festivities held at the monument to General Vicente Guerrero, the fi rst Mexican soldier to swear allegiance to the fl ag. The fl ag of Mexico has three bands of colors: green, white in the middle and red. The white part in the center has the symbol of the eagle and the snake, which comes from Aztec history.

The Af ter School Program That Kids Never Want To Leave Im a gine pick ing u p t he k id s a ft er w ork .A llt he hom ew ork is d one.T hey ha ve ha d a sna ck a nd ha d t im e t o pla y.You m a k e d inner a nd enjoy fa m ily t im e.A d rea m ? N ot a t T he F u n S pot !

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Children’s Dental Health Month 1. A soft, strong thread used to clean between teeth a. Floss b. Cavity c. Dentist d. Root 2. A soft, sticky, whitish film attached to tooth surfaces of the teeth. a. Enamel b. Molars c. Plaque d. Gums

6. A paste for cleaning teeth. a. Toothpaste b. Enamel c. Dentist d. Gums 7. The part of the tooth below the gums. a. Toothbrush b. Gums c. Enamel d. Gums 8. The hardest substance in your body. a. Molars b. Cavity c. Plaque d. Enamel

3. A brush For cleaning the teeth. a. Cavity b. Enamel c. Toothbrush d. Molars

9. Large back teeth used for grinding your food. a. Gums b. Molars c. Enamel d. Toothbrush

4. A hole in the tooth caused by tooth decay. a. Cavity b. Root c. Gums d. Molars 5. A person whose profession is dentistry a. Cavity b. Dentist c. Floss d. Toothbrush

“With proper brushing and regular check ups your teeth should last a lifetime”

10. The pink tissue at the bottom of the teeth a. Toothpaste b. Floss c. Cavity d. Gums

Bad Snacks Fruit Snacks Raisins Candy Bars Sticky and Hard Candies

Good Snacks Fresh fruits and vegetables Answers to Questions 1.

3.

5.

7.

9.

a c b d b

2.

4.

6.

8.

10.

c a a d d

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FEBRUARY 2010

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE...

A GEMOLOGIST?

February is the month of Valentine’s Day, and nothing says love like diamonds! This month, I talked with a professional gemologist. Alison Neumann studies all types of gems and jewelry. She is a certifi ed gemologist appraiser and is the content specialist for the collections and research department at the Field Museum in Chicago. This famous museum has over 20 million specimens of all types of things! The Field Museum’s Grainger Hall of Gems has rare jewels and gold objects from around the world. The collection includes the unique Sun God Opal and an Egyptian garnet necklace that is more than 3,400 years old!

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a Graduate their carat weights, their overall Gemologist? beauty and how much the piece is NEUMANN: I received my BFA from the University of Kansas, worth in dollars. and my junior year of college, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job? for met-alsmithing/Jewelry and Art History. To become a NEUMANN: Keeping up with all the paperwork. jewelry appraiser you need to have your Graduate Gemologist TRUMAN: So, what’s the best part of your job? degree. After college, I went to Carlsbad, CA, for school at the NEUMANN: I get to see some amazing pieces of jewelry.

Gemological Institute of America where I received my Graduate Sometimes A GEMOLOGIST?A GEMOLOGIST?clients do not Gemologist degree. I have also taken courses with dif-ferent know what they have. It’s almost like a treasure hunt. organizations to become a more profi cient jewelry appraiser. I TRUMAN: How do you learn about jewelry and metals from am always attending 1,000 years ago, like those on seminars and reading the display at the museums? latest industry news to NEUMANN: There are many keep myself up to date. books on the subject of TRUMAN: When and why ancient jewelry. They discuss did you fi rst become the many techniques used interested in this 1,000 years ago and how profession? people would create jewelry NEUMANN: When I was using gold, silver or base six years old, my parents metals. They will also took me to the Smithsonian educate you on the subject of in Washington, D.C. That is ancient gemstones. Particular where I saw the beautiful cultures used certain and awe-inspiring Hope gemstones in their jewelry.

Diamond. I was This was because one type of mesmerized by this gem-stone could have been necklace, and my parents more valu-able or more bought me a poster of it, meaningfulthan another. which I still have to this TRUMAN: What’s the most day. It was then that my valu-able gem you’ve ever love affair with jewelry worked with? began, and I knew I wanted NEUMANN: Unfortunately, Gemologist Alison Neumann works on exhibits such as this at the to learn more about it. I was I cannot answer that question Grainger Hall of Gems in the Field Museum, Chicago, IL. able to attend the due to my clients’ privacy University of Kansas, which and for security reasons! had a metalsmithing/jewelry program and that is where my TRUMAN: I can understand that. So what’s your favorite career started. gemstone?

TRUMAN: What do you do every day? What is a typical day NEUMANN: Amethyst. I love the color purple! like?

TRUMAN: Me, too! Amethyst is a beautiful stone. Thanks so NEUMANN: I am an independent gemologist/appraiser. I am much for talking with me and teaching me more about your contracted with different museums, such as the Field Museum amazing job! of Chicago, where I am the content specialist for the renovated Grainger Hall of Gems. I am also contracted with different jewelry stores and private clients for different types of jewelry appraisals. I have a Website, www.alisonneumanninc.com, where many people can learn about my company, my credentials and the different types of jewelry appraisals I provide. I examine the jewelry with a microscope, diamondgrading light, millimeter gauges and many more gemological instruments. I can then accurately assess the client’s jewelry, which is determining the type of gemstones set into the piece,

FEBRUARY 2010

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A Stellar Recount How many stars do you see on a clear night? If you live in a big city, you may not see many. The city lights make the faint stars invisible.

If you live far from city lights, you may be able to see thousands of stars.

But how many stars are there really?

That’s one of the big questions astronomers ask. For even with all their high-tech telescopes, they can’t see every single star.

Like the light from the big city, the light from the biggest, brightest stars blots out the fainter light from smaller stars. So astronomers have to estimate how many smaller stars are out there based on how many big stars they can see.

From their years of research, astronomers thought they could estimate the number of invisible small stars based on the number of visible big stars. They Astronomers have recently found that some galaxies have as many as 2000 small stars for every defined a big star as one 20 one massive star. They used to think all galaxies had only about 500 small stars for every one massive star. times as massive as our Sun or bigger. They defined a small star as one the size of our Sun or smaller. They assumed that for every big star, there should be 500 small stars. They thought this relationship was true in all the galaxies throughout the universe.

Well, the Galaxy Evolution Explorer spacecraft has turned this idea upside-down. This spacecraft observes the universe in ultraviolet light, a kind of light our eyes cannot see. Data from this Explorer and from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile have shown that in some galaxies, there could be as many as 2,000 smaller stars for every big star!

So how many stars are there really? Scientists think the universe contains about one billion trillion, or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! But that was before this new discovery. How many more zeroes will they need to add now?

If you think faint stars are hard for astronomers to see, imagine finding faint planets around other stars. Go to The Space Place, spaceplace.nasa.gov, and read Dr. Marc’s answer to “How many solar systems are in our galaxy?” (http://tiny.cc/I2KMa).

This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Story Time with Truman Petey’s Secret Power Chapter Five — Who’s There?

A Quality Serials Story By Mary Maden Illustrated by Tana Brinnand Last Time: Petey Squirrel can’t think of anything to do for the Creative Arts Festival contest.

He is beginning to doubt that he is creative. He goes to see Frannie Fox for help. She explains what creative means and tells Petey to use his imagination.

After talking to the fox, Petey tries once again to think of something creative to do. Petey has no success. He thinks he can’t be creative when a sweet voice tells him it knows just what he needs!

Petey looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

“I’m down here,” said the voice.

Petey looked down. The voice seemed to be coming from the flowers!

“Hello!” Petey yelled into the flowers. “Is anyone there?”

Suddenly, a fat, sassy bee flew out from the flowers and hovered in front of Petey. The bee had a big, friendly smile on its face.

“Hi!” the bee said. “My name’s Honey!”

“Nice to meet you, Honey,” Petey replied.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help hearing what you said,” Honey Bee explained. “I know just what you need!”

“You do?” Petey asked.

“Sure!” Honey Bee said, smiling her big, sweet smile.

“You need inspiration!”

“What’s that?” Petey asked.

“Inspiration is something that helps you be creative,” Honey explained. “It’s something that stimulates your mind and encourages your creativity.”

“So, if I have inspiration,” Petey reasoned, “then I can think of something creative to do for the Arts Festival contest?”

“That’s right,” Honey answered.

“That sounds easy enough,” Petey said. “Thanks, Honey!”

“Glad to help,” Honey replied.

“Are you going to enter the contest?” Petey asked the bee.

“Oh, yes!” Honey said. “All the bees are buzzing about it. I’m going to play the violin for my entry.”

“Wow! What are you going to play?” Petey asked. “‘Flight of the Bumblebee,’ of course,” Honey replied. “Petey, I hate to rush off, but I have to get busy. I want to hurry and fill my pollen basket so I’ll have time to practice my violin. The pollen doesn’t gather itself you know!”

As quick as a wink, Honey Bee flitted among the wildflowers. The industrious bee darted from flower to flower on her quest for pollen.

“Thanks again, Honey!” Petey called down to the busy bee.

“You’re welcome,” Honey replied. “Good luck finding your inspiration!”

Honey waved goodbye and quickly buzzed away to find another patch of colorful flowers. Petey watched Honey until she was just a tiny speck in the sky.

Feeling much better, the little squirrel started on a quest of his own.

Eagerly, he set out to find inspiration!

Petey hurried along as fast as he could. Before he had gone very far, he realized something important. He didn’t know where to look!

Petey spotted a big hollow tree. The tree had a large round hole in the center of its trunk. Maybe he could find inspiration in there! The little squirrel stuck his head into the big hole. It was so dark that Petey couldn’t see a thing.

“Hey! Don’t you have any manners?” someone yelled at Petey. “You should always knock before sticking your head in someone’s home!”

“Sorry!” Petey apologized. “I didn’t know anyone was in here.”

Petey quickly pulled his head out of the hole. A big skunk stuck its head out of the hollow tree to talk to Petey.

“That’s okay,” the skunk said. “Just be careful next time. I almost sprayed you.”

“I will,” Petey agreed. He was really glad that the skunk didn’t spray him!

“What did you want?” the skunk asked.

“I was looking for something,” Petey replied. “I’m trying to find inspiration.”

“Well, there’s no inspiration in here,” the skunk said.

“You might try looking over there.”

The skunk pointed to a big pile of rocks. “You never know what you’ll find under a rock.”

“Thanks!” Petey said.

“No problem,” the skunk replied.

The skunk ducked back into his home, and Petey skittered over to the pile of rocks.

The little squirrel picked one of the rocks up and looked underneath. He didn’t find anything but three fat wiggly worms.

“No inspiration here,” Petey said, looking under another rock. “Or here.”

Petey turned over more and more rocks. The squirrel left no rock unturned, but he still didn’t find inspiration!

Petey spied a tall pine tree. The little squirrel tilted his head back and looked up at the tree. It was the tallest tree Petey had ever seen.

Maybe he could find some inspiration way up there!

The agile squirrel scampered up the trunk of the pine. He climbed higher, and higher, and higher. Finally, Petey reached the top. He looked and looked, but he didn’t find any inspiration. Discouraged, the little squirrel scurried back down the tree.

Petey looked high and low, but he still couldn’t find inspiration! Petey decided to call it a day. Besides, it was getting dark, and the forest could be dangerous at night.

The little squirrel hurried down the forest trail. Only a sliver of a moon lit his way. Suddenly, a dark shadow crossed his path. Petey froze in his tracks.

“Who’s there?” Petey whispered.

“Who!” a strange voice responded.

“I asked you first,” Petey insisted.

“Who!” the voice repeated.

Petey was beginning to feel scared. Who — or what — could be out there?

Next Time: Petey’s Secret Power A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this eight-chapter story is available on the Kidsville News! Web site at www.KidsvilleNews.com.

Copyright 2009 by Mary Maden. All rights reserved. Mary Maden is an award-winning author. Visit her on the Web at www.marymaden.com.

Meet Truman’s Friend

Roo the Reader She likes to talk to K-1 kids about reading!

Roo gives away free books!

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties

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Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin works with people who want to learn to read. Our primary mission is to help adults who need to upgrade literacy skills, learn English as a Second Language, or work on their GEDs. Literacy Volunteers provides free instruction by trained volunteers to these adults to help them acquire self-esteem and achieve aims in the areas of education, family, employment, and the community.

During summer, read a book in your favorite nature spot. Crack open a field guide! Learn about nature and the environment by reading! Raise your GREEN IQ!

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Red, White & True Mysteries Leader in Woman’s Suffrage Known Best by Nickname Margaret Tobin (1867 – 1932) was an interesting lady.

She always did things her way, regardless of what society considered proper back in her day.

She was born in Hannibal, Missouri. Her parents, John and Johanna, were Irish immigrants. Margaret would later become known by her nickname – a nickname which was given to her after she died.

Growing up relatively poor, Margaret went to work at age 13 to help support her family. In 1886, at age 19, she followed her half sister to Leadville, Colorado. Later that year she married James Brown (no, not that James Brown), whom she met at a Catholic church picnic, and she became Margaret Brown. James and Margaret would have a son and a daughter together.

She had originally planned to marry for money rather than love. James did not have much money, but Margaret fell in love with him and chose to marry for love instead. Their fate changed seven years later when James, while working as a superintendent for the Ibex Mining Company, created a way to reduce the number of cave-ins in the mines by using baled hay and timbers.

His method allowed miners to reach gold at the bottom of the mine, and James was awarded 12.5% of the company stock and a seat on the Board of Directors. When the mine produced a huge quantity of gold, the Browns became wealthy overnight.

The discovery was considered to be the world’s richest gold strike at the time. They moved to Denver the following year.

Margaret Brown was known as a socialite, philanthropist and activist. She was a champion of human rights. One of her achievements was to help women win suffrage, which sounds like a bad thing but is actually a good thing. Working with a

local judge, she helped establish the first juvenile court in the United States. She was also one of the first women to run for Congress when she ran for the Senate in 1814, which was eight years before women had the right to vote.

Let’s see…what else can I tell you about Margaret Tobin Brown without giving away her identity?

Oh, there was one other thing that I almost forgot. She survived a deadly accident on a ship in 1912 in the Atlantic Ocean.

Part of her nickname is based on the fact that she survived. The other part of her nickname was given to her by playwright Richard Morris in 1960 for a Broadway musical. She was never called by this nickname during her life.

And that disastrous accident in 1912 in the Atlantic Ocean? Well, that was the sinking of the Titanic. Margaret Tobin Brown was “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

But you knew that all along, didn’t you?

Her strong, independent personality was evident during the Titanic disaster when she helped other passengers into her lifeboat. When there were only two men available on her lifeboat to row it away from the Titanic – and one of the men was full of despair – she realized that it could get caught up in the suction effect caused by the sinking of the Titanic. So she took charge and grabbed a set of oars and helped row the passengers to safety.

Altogether, there were 23 passengers with her that she helped rescue. While roughly 20% of all the passengers who escaped the sinking Titanic would later die from exposure to the cold, everyone on Margaret (Molly) Brown’s boat survived. © 2009 Paul Niemann. This story is part of the Red, White & True Mysteries series by Author Paul Niemann. For more information, please visit www.InventionMysteries.com.

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Jordan Deyo Kindergarten Cumberland Head Elementary

Tabitha Im ondi Age 11, 5 th Grade Momot Elementary

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Courtney Brow n Age 12, 6th Grade Chazy Central

FEBRUARY 2010

Hope Boland Age 8, 2nd Gr ade Warrensburg Elementary

February FEBRUARY 2010

SUNDAY

MONDAY

1

National Freedom Day

TUESDAY

2

Groundhog Day

Robinson Crusoe Day

7

Super Bowl XLIII

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Boy Scouts' Day Founded, 1910

WEDNESDAY

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Elmo's Birthday Sesame Street Character.

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Susan B. Anthony born, 1820

Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger)

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Washington Monument dedicated, 1885

Create a Vacuum Day

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FRIDAY

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Weatherman's Day

Vietnam War Ended, 1973

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Hershey's Chocolate Founded, 1894

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Umbrella Day

Mardi Gras Always 47 days before Easter; also known as Fat Tuesday.

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Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

National Inventors' Day - Thomas Edison's birthday

National Weather Service Established, 1870 National Gumdrop Day

THURSDAY

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Abraham Lincoln 16th President born, 1809

White T-Shirt Day

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Random Acts of Kindness Day

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Mr. Roger's Neighborhood Debuted, 1968

SATURDAY

6

Babe Ruth born, 1895 Monopoly Board Game Goes on Sale in Stores, 1935

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Get a Different Name Day

First Public School established, 1635

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John Glenn first person to orbit the Earth in 1962

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George Washington born, 1732

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International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

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Quiet Day

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International Polar Bear Day

World Thinking Day

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Public Sleeping Day

The World Awareness Children's Museum WORLD TOUR: Clothing, Music, & Masks & 2010 Art Teachers Invitational Exhibition

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JANUARY 22-FEBRUARY 27 SEND YOUR EVENTS TO KIDSVILLECALENDAR@DENPUBS.COM

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FEBRUARY 2010

AR T GALLERY Thomas Cole & The Hudson River School Asher Durand. After that, his fame quickly grew.

Thomas Cole was a 19th-century landscape artist.

Continuing to paint his landscapes, Thomas collaborated with other He founded the Hudson River School, an American art artists also interested in capturing the unique natural beauty of the United movement comprised of landscape painters who paintStates. Although each artist had his own unique style, they came together to ed realistic natural settings with a romanticized twist. form the Hudson River School, painting romantic landscapes of the Northeast, Thomas Cole was born on February 1, 1801, in particularly around the Hudson River area. While other Lancashire, England, and artists in the movement focused on lighting or intimate spent most of his childscenes, Thomas chose to paint landscapes filled with hood there. When Thomas symbolic images and oftentimes pieced together what he was 17, his family moved saw in front of him with what he imagined should to the United States and be there, creating awe-striking visions of pristine settled in Ohio. Thomas natural beauty. had always been interested Thomas spent several years painting in Europe in reading, writing poetry in the early 1830s and again a decade later. However, and studying art but had most of the remainder of his life was spent painting in not received much formal his beloved Catskill Mountains. Beginning in 1827, he art training as a child. In maintained a studio at a farm named Cedar Grove in Ohio, he took painting Catskill, New York. In 1836, Cedar Grove became his lessons with a traveling family home. portrait painter named “View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton Thomas died on February 11, 1848. In 1999, Cedar John Stein. After that, he Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm” by Thomas Grove was listed as a National Historic Site, and three worked for a few years as a Cole, 1836. Also known as “The Oxbow.” years later, it opened to the public as a living tribute to portrait artist, moving first from Ohio to Pittsburgh in 1823 and then to Philadelphia the following year. Thomas did not have much the artist. luck painting portraits and eventually became more interested in landscapes.

Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works In 1925, he moved to New York and discovered the beauty of the Catskill as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and Mountains. He immediately set to work painting, filling canvas after canvas other education-related companies. Sources: Cedar Grove, The Thomas Cole National with images of the Catskill wilderness. Exhibiting his collection of small paintHistoric Site: Biography of Thomas Cole, http://www.thomascole.org/learn_biograings in the windows of a New York bookstore, Thomas came to the attention of phy.htm; Thomas Cole on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cole. a group of wealthy art collectors, including Col. John Trumbull and fellow artist

Answer Is Spring Around the Corner?

Corner

?

Heart Word Find

February is American Heart Month! See how many heartrelated words you can find in this word search.

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ARTERY ATTACK BEAT BLOOD

K B L T Z H H Z I U B U X C L

C C E C E T M X P F E O C Q Y

K U C A W L V V D W O H D F U

CHOLESTEROL DIET EXERCISE HEALTH

R T H R T A F V W S E O T P V

E I O M L E D Q X A E P L H W

A X L F J H N L R P C Z T F E

M U E O L I T T P L N Z R A B

M H S R E Q U Y U N M H S W L

A U T V C Y A P L V Y U B W T

X S E Y V I K J S C N Q O O O

H N R I H C S E E X K S T Y B

HEART PULSE RHYTHM VEIN

C E O Y A R V E P V O P K G C

Y Z L T D U M F E K T X G E G

A R T E R Y H N U G I L F K Z

C A S D I E T R G U D O O L B

What’s the Difference?

?

There are five things different between picture A and picture B. Can you find them all?

Answers: 1. missing one side of bow, 2. extra apple, 3. missing “tooth” on toothpaste, 4. boy’s shirt is solid color, 5. girl’s hair is short

Answers: 1. cardiac 2. ventricles 3. cholesterol 4. fatty

FEBRUARY 2010

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The Groundhog May Tell Since the eighteenth century, the tradition of Groundhog Day has been observed. However, it hasnít always centered around a groundhog or been called by that name.

Groundhog Day actually has origins as ìCandelmas Dayî and began in Germany.

When German settlers came to America and primarily took up residence in Pennsylvania and beyond, they brought the traditions of Candelmas Day with them. Candelmas Day falls midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition was that if the weather on Candelmas Day was stormy, the second half of winter would be fair. I fit was fair and sunny on Candelmas Day, winter would stretch on with more cold weather. As the German saying goes (and variations from other European countries): For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow swirl until May. For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day, So far will the sun shine before May. Early European Christians would also celebrate Candelmas Day, when clergy would distribute candles during the dark of winter. In Germany, a badger or even a bear was used for prognosticating the

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upcoming weather. In Pennsylvania, another hibernating mammal was relied upon ó the woodchuck or groundhog. Perhaps that was also because native Delaware Indians who settled around Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, regarded the groundhog as an honorable ancestor of Mother Earth. Punxsutawney comes from the Indian name ponksad-uteney, which means the town of the sandflies.

Pennsylvaniaís first official celebration of Groundhog Day took place on February 2, 1886.

The groundhog used in the festivities was given the name ìPunxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary. He has since been called simply Punxsutawney Phil. Philís first prediction was an early spring. Since then, he has been right about 40 percent of the time, according to statistics. Groundhog Day festivities now take place at Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded hill with a beautiful view. Phil rests in a heated burrow beneath a fake tree stump before making his prediction each February 2 at 7:25 a.m.

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COME OUT PLAY! COMEAND OUT AND PLAY!

Join the Join Great BirdBird Count the Backyard Great Backyard Count

It’s not exactly a sport, but bird watching is a great hobby and a good way to get outside and explore nature. This month, bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010. Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing — and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun and help birds — all at the same time,” said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. “Even if you can only identify a few species, you can provide important information that enables scientists to learn This picture of the red-bellied more about how the environment is chang- Woodpecker was taken by Linda Pizer, a participant in the 2009 ing and how that affects our conservation Great Backyard Bird Count. priorities.”

Why count birds? Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

Birding Tips The following tips from the National Audubon Society will help you get started with this fun activity.

• Pick a time of day for your walk when birds are most plentiful — usually early morning or late afternoon works best.

• Start nearby. Walk through your yard or neighborhood or a local park.

As you become more interested in birding, you can explore wilder places.

• Making a simple bird feeder for your backyard will attract some new feathered friends to your yard.

• Bring along a field guide to help identify the species you are spotting.

Information from The Great Backyard Bird Count, www.birdsource.org/ gbbc and Audubon, www.audubon.org. The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.

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FEBRUARY 2010

Where is Haiti?

Haiti is an island nation located in the Caribbean Sea, south of the United States.

Understanding How People Were Hurt In Haiti How do earthquakes happen?

When you crack the shell of a haed-boiled egg, you get a lot of separate pieces or plates of shell. The crust of the earth is like the shell of a hardboild egg. It is broken up into plates, too. But, unlike the pieces of hard-boild egg the plates of the earth’s crust move

Measuring Earthquakes An earthquake is one of the most powerful forces on earth. On January 12, 2010 a major earthquake near Haiti’s capital city Port-auPrince destroyed buildings throughout this tiny nation. Thousands of lives were lost

Try This

American Red Cross

UNICEF

The American Red Cross provides help to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies www.redcross.org 1-800-HELP-NOW

UNICEF is helping in Haiti by providing children with clean water, food and emergency security services www.UNICEF.org 1-800-FOR-KIDS

CARE

Oxfam

CARE is providing emergency food, shelter, and medical aid following the largest earthquake to strike Haiti in over 200 years www.care.org 1-800-521-2273

FEBRUARY 2010

Scientists use an instrument called a seismograph to measure earthquakes. Try this activity with a friend to find out how a seismograph works.

After disaster like the Haiti earthquake, disease can spread quickly without proper sanitation and clean drinking water which Oxfam helps to provide www.oxfam.org 1-800-776-9326

1. On a table place a small toy car on a piece of paper.

2. One person holds a pencil with the lead lightly resting on the paper.

3. The other person moves the paper back and forth very slowly. What kind of line does the pencil make? Does the car move?

4. Now move the paper so that the car starts to slide around. What kind of line does the pencil make now?

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PAGE 17

WHERE IN WORLD THE WORLD IS WHERE IN THE IS... ... HAITI? HAITI?

It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located.

Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Find longitude 72º W and latitude 19º N, and you will find Haiti. It is located in the Caribbean on the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola.

The Dominican Republic takes up the eastern two-thirds of the island. The island is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

Although the country is very small — even smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland — over nine million people live there. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The official languages in Haiti are French and Creole.

The island was explored and claimed by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492 and became a very important base for the Spanish as they began to conquer the Caribbean and the American Mainland.

In the 1500s, the French inhabited the western end of the island, and in 1804, it became the Republic of Haiti. The Haitians conquered the whole island in 1822 and held it until 1844, when the Dominican Republic was established on the eastern part of the island.

The climate is tropical, and the temperatures do not change much based on time of year. Seasons are defined more by the amount of rainfall than the temperature. The rainy season runs from May through November and the dry season from November through April. The terrain of Haiti is mostly mountainous. The country lies in the middle of the hurricane belt, and severe storms are common between June and October.

On January 12, the country was devastated by an earthquake. Tens of thousands of people died and thousands of buildings collapsed. Loving and generous people from all over the world are coming to the aid of Haiti. Donations for the relief effort can be made to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-435-7669) or visiting www.redcross.org.

Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Richard A. Haggerty, ed., Dominican Republic: A Country Study; Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989.

Send It!

Valentine’s Day: A Lovely Tradition!

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a day when people exchange cards, candy, gifts, flowers, stuffed animals, jewelry and other items with loved ones, friends and family. In many schools, teachers allow students to make their own Valentine’s Day cards using decorations like lace; red, pink and white construction paper; macaroni noodles; ribbon; beads and glitter. When finished, the students often exchange cards with friends or family. And, you can always start your own tradition. Here’s an idea: Make up a new poem for your mom each Valentine’s Day. Then, when you are grown up, she’ll have a collection of all the sweet poetry that you have given her! A common figure representing Valentine’s Day is Cupid. Cupid was the god of love in Roman mythology. (Mythology is a collection of stories that are believed to be true by a certain group of people.) Prior to the mid-300 A.D., Cupid was seen as a strong, handsome, young man. After the 350s, however, Cupid was depicted as a plump, naked baby with wings and a bow and arrows in his hands. If someone was struck with one of Cupid’s golden arrows, then that person would instantly fall in love.

A lot of debate exists over what actually started Valentine’s Day. Still others claim that Valentine’s Day comes from spring being the season of romance. Regardless of its origin, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated worldwide on February 14. In Great Britain, children sing Valentine’s Day songs and exchange gifts like fruit, money or candy. People from Italy have a special Valentine’s Day meal. Throughout history, Valentine’s Day has been seen as holiday where love and warm thoughts are exchanged among friends and family. That tradition continues to this day. Written by Ashley Young, contributing writer.

Sources: The World Book Encyclopedia, Britannica Encyclopedia Online.

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P.O. Box 338 Elizabethtown, NY 12932

Hint: Send your work in color and on unlined paper!

Hey Kids! Truman wants your original artwork, letters, poems, and stories! He may want to print them in an upcoming issue of Kidsville News! or put them up on the website. Just have your parents fill out this form and send it along with your work.

Name School

Age Grade

Phone#

Address City

State

Zip

Your Signature (This is your own work) Parent’s Signature (Permission)

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FEBRUARY 2010

Solenodon

The solenodon is one of the only venomous mammals on the planet. Others are certain kinds of shrew and the platypus. But the solenodon is special for other reasons — it is very rare and elusive and may be related to ancient animals that lived during the time of the dinosaurs!

It was believed that the Hispaniolan solenodon was almost extinct, but in the summer of 2008, the animal made the news. The secretive mammal was actually captured on fi lm by researchers in the Dominican Republic. The Hispaniolan solenodon is only found in the Dominican Republic and its Kingdom: Animalia neighbor Haiti. The Cuban solenodon species was Phylum: Chordata thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2003.

The Hispaniolan solenodon is one of the animals Class: Mammalia highlighted in the Edge of Existence program. This Order: Soricomorpha program, through the Zoological Society of London, focuses on conservation for animals that are one of Family: Solenodontidae a kind and in danger of becoming extinct. In a BBC report, Dr Sam Turvey, a Zoological Society Genus: Solenodon of London researcher, had this to say about the solenodon. “It is an amazing creature — it is one of the most evolutionary distinct mammals in the world.... It is the only living mammal that can actually inject venom into their prey through specialised teeth.” The solenodon resembles an overgrown shrew. It’s about the same size as a large rat, but it has a large head and a long snout. It has black or brown fur, except on its tail, nose, ears and feet, which are mostly hairless. Although the solenodon doesn’t see very well with its small eyes, it does have a good sense of smell and hearing. It has powerful claws for digging, which it uses to fi nd the spiders and insects that it likes to eat. Research studies show that the solenodons separated from all other living mammal groups an incredible 76 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. Fossil evidence shows that similar insectivores existed in North America 30 million years ago.

Sources: Zoological Society of London, www.edgeofexistence.org; BBC News, news.bbc.co.uk; Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenodon. Photo: Preserved specimen, taken by Frank Wouters, Flickr.

Gee Thanks!

Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls (518) 798-9966 Farzad Sani, DDS

We would like to thank all of our Kidsville News! in Education Program Sponsors for helping to provide Kidsville News! to Northern NY schools and all area children K-5.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties Our mission is to create a fun, engaging, educational newspaper and web site for all elementary age children, their parents & teachers, that encourages reading as a lifelong habit and promotes literacy & education.

When it comes to literacy & child development, if we are to help develop a child’s habits, truly affect the way they think and act, to help develop their minds, we must start at a young age. We hope that you will consider partnering with us too! Together we can take childhood learning to the next level and have a positive impact on our community and our future leaders.

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FEBRUARY 2010

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At the Movies Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (In theaters Feb. 12) Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) directs this mythic fantasy story based on Rich Riordan’s novel for children. Percy Jackson (played by Logan Lerman) is the 12-year-old son of the Greek God Poseidon, and as such is half-human and half-god. Percy can do amazing things, like stay underwater for seven minutes at a time. Still, Percy will discover many more things he’s capable of doing while on a mission to retrieve a lightning rod stolen from the Greek God Zeus.

Worse yet, some Gods think it was Percy who took the lightning rod in the first place. Pierce Brosnan plays the Greek God Chiron, Uma Thurman plays Medusa and Rosario Dawson plays Persephone in this action spectacle fantasy movie for lovers of mythology. (20th Century Fox) No MPAA rating at press time.

Alice in Wonderland (In Disney Digital 3DTM) (In theaters March 5) Based on the timeless fantasy novel

by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (also known as Lewis Carroll), filmmaker Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) takes us into a magical land full of mystery, danger and beauty.

Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter, and 19-year-old Mia Wasilkowska plays Alice. Alice shrinks down very tiny and goes on a mission of weird events, personal discovery and wild dreams.

Along the way, Alice meets Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat and the famous White Rabbit who has an obsession with time and appointments. Anne For only the third time since 1900, the Chinese New Year will fall on the same day as Valentine’s Day. The Full Moon in February (Feb. 28) is also called the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon.

Native American tribes in New England and the Great Lakes called it this because there is heavy snowfall

PAGE 20

Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Timothy Spall and Christopher Lee all play roles in this kooky ride down the rabbit hole, where all sorts of fantastic creatures await. Look for Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland to become an instant classic of children’s fantasy movies. Johnny Depp is amazing as the strangely dressed Mad Hatter. (Walt Disney Pictures) No MPAA rating at press time.

Movies on DVD Disney’s Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition (Feb. 9) Visit the natural world through the curious eyes of the Little Einsteins. Our gang of happy world explorers go from the Great Lakes to the Great Barrier Reef and on to the far reaches of India to play at an elephant festival. Disney’s Little Einstein movies are designed to promote learning through a mix of animation and real-life action.

Little ones can share the kids’-eye spectacle that the filmmakers create.

Lighthearted and full of respect for all that Mother Nature has to offer, Disney’s Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition is like a mini travel vacation for kids. Not Rated (Disney) Ice Castles (Feb. 9) Director Donald Wrye remakes his own 1978 Oscar-nominated romantic drama Ice Castles. Here, real-life championship figure skater Taylor Firth plays Alexis, a 16-year-old professional skater with big dreams and lots of talent. But Alexis falls and suffers a tragic injury that threatens to ruin her ice skating career forever. Alexis’s boyfriend and father come to her aid to help her start all over again to become a top-ranked ice skater. February is a perfectly cold month to watch a movie about professional ice skating with your family and friends.

Rated PG (Sony Pictures) Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world,” has been a film critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn. this time of year, and hunting is difficult.

February is the only month that can pass without a full moon because it has only 28 days (usually!).

One in every four years is a Leap Year! This means that the year has one more day than the 365 days that a common year has. The extra day is February 29. The next leap year is in 2012.

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FEBRUARY 2010

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A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

BOOKSHELF

The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes

leaving eleven-year-old Sally in charge of nine-year-old Abe, the children have to face the hardships of the frontier alone.

In a novel full of the power of adventure and the poignancy of family love — and in time for the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth — Mazer gives voice to a girl who helped shape the life of one of this country’s greatest presidents.

Author/Illustrator: Kenneth Libbrecht, Vanessa Sorenson Publisher: MBI Publishing Company

Age Range: 8 to 12 Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht is a professor of physics at Caltech, where he studies how crystals grow. And, he has an unusual hobby: He looks at snowflakes under a microscope and takes photographs of what he sees. The results are amazing photos revealing beautiful snow crystals that look like flowers, ferns and stars. But this unique book is more than pretty pictures — it also explains the science behind snowflakes. Why do snowflakes form such different shapes? Why are no two alike? From the birth and growth of a snow flake to the right way to make a paper snowflake, Dr. Libbrecht provides clear, interesting information.

With its beautiful photography, readers of all ages will love this book. —JK

My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln’s Story Author/Illustrator: Harry Mazer Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Age Range: 8 to 12 From the Publisher: What was it like to be the sister of the boy who would grow up to become president of the United States?

Sally Lincoln’s voice has never before been heard. Now she tells her own story of an unsettling time for the Lincoln family, which changed and influenced both children forever.

Forced to leave their home in Kentucky, the family begins anew

FEBRUARY 2010

America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders Author: Nancy I. Sanders Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Inc. Age Range: 9 to 12 From the Publisher: History books are replete with heroic stories of Washington, Jefferson and Adams, but what of Allen, Russwurm and Hawley? America’s Black Founders celebrates the lesser known but significant lives and contributions of our nation’s early African-American leaders. Many know that the Revolutionary War’s first martyr, Crispus Attucks, a dockworker of African descent, was killed at the Boston Massacre. But far fewer know that the final conflict of the war, the Battle of Yorktown, was hastened to a conclusion by James Armistead Lafayette, a slave and spy who reported the battle plans of General Cornwallis to George Washington. Author Nancy Sanders weaves the histories of dozens of men and women — soldiers, sailors, ministers, poets, merchants, doctors, and other community leaders — who have earned proper recognition among the founders of the United States of America. To get a better sense of what these individuals accomplished and the times in which they lived, readers will celebrate Constitution Day, cook colonial foods, publish a newspaper, petition their government and more. This valuable resource also includes a time line of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online and Web resources for further study.

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ParentTown is sponsored by your locally owned

McDonalds

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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE

H

ere’s something to sink your teeth into — each stage of life brings a new stage of oral care.

The arrival of the first tooth is a heralded milestone for a baby. Then, the loss of baby teeth is celebrated by a visit from the Tooth Fairy; but as we get older, we work hard to prevent the loss of teeth. Additionally, our pursuit of the perfect smile often starts as a teenager with the wearing of braces and continues into adulthood as we work to make our teeth whiter. And throughout it

all, we spend countless hours brushing, flossing, rinsing and visiting the dentist to prevent cavities from marring our teeth. In honor of February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, read on for useful information and tips.

Ageless Tips for Healthy Teeth

Infants and Children

Brush at least twice a day for two minutes.

Remember to floss daily, too — it helps remove particles between teeth.

Visit a dentist at least yearly — and preferably twice a year — for a professional cleaning and check-up.

Replace toothbrushes or brush heads every 3 months to prevent against worn bristles.

Avoid too many sugary sweets, as well as sticky foods that can damage your teeth.

Drink heavily acidic beverages (colas, tea, coffee, soda) in moderation as they wear teeth down.

Ensure your diet has enough calcium as calcium helps teeth and bones grow strong.

Get little ones started off right.

Most babies’ first teeth appear between three months and one year after birth. As the teeth push through the gum line, it’s quite common for babies to experience symptoms such as drooling, irritability, restlessness and inflamed gums.

Adults

A simple home remedy for teething pain is giving the baby something cold and firm to chew on as the hard surface provides relief through pressure while the coolness soothes tender gums.

Another solution is a teething pain medication, which can be applied quickly to tender gums to provide instant relief.

It’s important, too, for parents to begin cleaning their baby’s teeth and gums every day at an early age. While fluoride is important for good oral health, swallowing too much fluoride at a young age can also cause fluorosis, which can lead to spotting on future permanent teeth. Until your child is able to spit out toothpaste, parents should consider using a fluoride-free alternative as a way to clean teeth and gums gently.

As children get old enough to brush by themselves, they should learn proper techniques, such as holding the brush at an angle and using short, clean strokes. To encourage kids to brush the dentistrecommended two minutes, parents might try these tips:

Encourage kids to hum a song while brushing — or even count to 100 slowly in their head.

Bring along a “friend” to the bathroom sink, such as a loved stuffed animal or doll who will keep the child company and make the experience more fun.

Consider purchasing a children’s battery-operated powered toothbrush. Research shows that kids brush 38 percent longer with a powered brush than a manual brush.

As you grow up — your oral care habits need to grow up, too.

It’s time to join the power toothbrush revolution and give your old manual toothbrush the heave-ho. After all, power toothbrushes deliver a deeper, superior clean than manual brushes, and the newer power brushes are priced better than ever.

Upgrade from your manual brush and you’ll find that a powered toothbrush removes up to 70 percent more plaque in hard-to-reach places than a manual brush.

A recent innovation in power toothbrushes is the sonic brush, which is defined by the high rate of speed that the brush head vibrates. The brushes deliver up to 16,000 brush strokes per minute and offer dynamic fluid action to help dislodge food and remove plaque between the teeth.

Of course, adults don’t want their teeth just to be clean and healthy — they also want them to look great and as white as possible!

Dentists use dental-grade baking soda to whiten and clean their patients’ teeth because they know that dental-grade baking soda gently polishes enamel for whiter teeth, loosens plaque for easier and more complete cleaning and neutralizes acids from foods and food debris for fresher breath. An effective at-home option for getting whiter brighter teeth is using a toothpaste with baking soda, which will provide that “fresh from the dentist” clean feeling.

Older Adults Your oral care needs have changed ... so should your oral care routine.

As we age, it becomes even more important to care for our teeth to ensure that they stick around as long as we do! But it can be a challenge for older adults as they encounter new obstacles.

For example, their good habit of regularly brushing their teeth may be altered due to arthritis or other maladies that make it difficult to grip a toothbrush or squeeze a tube of toothpaste.

Older adults are also at risk for oral-care issues because they often don’t get to the dentist as often as they should. For example, some patients lack good transportation options to get to dental appointments. For others, insurance to cover such visits may not be as good as it was when a person was employed full-time.

In addition, years of aggressive brushing and acidic foods can lead to enamel erosion and discoloration. There are special toothpastes, such as ARM & HAMMER Age Defying Toothpaste, that are formulated with fluoride and Liquid Calcium (i.e., amorphous calcium phosphate) to help rebuild enamel and strengthen teeth.

Information courtesy of Family Features and Arm & Hammer.

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2174 SARANAC AVE LAKE PLACID, NY 12946 (518) 523-3761

DEMARS BLVD 569 LAKE FLOWER AVE, RT 9 N & 74 RT 9 EXIT 23 SARANAC LAKE, NY 12983 TUPPER LAKE, NY 12986 TICONDEROGA, NY 12883 WARRENSBURG, NY 12885 (518) 359-7133 (518) 891-2566 (518)585-771 8 (518)623-3323 20559

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KIDSVILLE KITCHEN Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

Hearts Hearts & & Bodies Bodies

T IV E ZO N E C RE A T E ArunNninAg inCthe ho use ” rul e, you If you hav e a “no r m on ths . d tha t for the w inte m ay hav e to am en bre aka ble an d of e fre a are an Try set ting asi de aro un d w he re kid s can m ove da ng ero us ob jec ts exp lain , licy po use ho in ng e ea sily. If this is a cha of the ost m in ply es stil l ap tha t w hile the old rul ne ’s phy sic al ryo eve of e sak ho use , for the re na ting on e are a w he he alth , you are de sig aro un d. l rol d an p, jum , the y are fre e to run

While most people associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, you can throw your own Fat Tuesday fest wherever you live. Mardi Gras is actually part of a larger celebration, Carnival, that begins 12 days after Christmas (January 6) and ends on Fat Tuesday, 46 days before Easter, so the celebration can extend beyond just one day. This Mardi Gras, celebrate New Orleans-style by jazzing up your menu with a traditional dish of jambalaya. Of course, don’t forget to wrap up the party with a King Cake — whoever finds the toy baked inside is king or queen of next year’s celebration!

S TAYING F IT & A CTIVE D URING T HE W INTER M ONTHS

W inter is here, w hich (depending on w here you live) m ay m ean m onths of rain, snow, and bone-chilling cold. A perfect excuse for adults and kids to lim it their exercise to reaching for the T V rem ote, clicking on the m ouse, or m aneuvering the joystick, right? W rong!

D on’t let the m iserable w eather derail your fam ily’s physical fitness plan — there are plenty of options both inside and outside the house to keep everyone active during the w inter m onths. S taying fit is im portant for children, both physically and m entally. M any studies have show n a link betw een physical activity and academ ic achievem ent. A n inactive lifestyle can also lead to health problem s such as high blood pressure and joint problem s.

TRY THESE FUN GAMES

THE BIG EASY JAMBALAYA WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 cup chopped onion • 2 bell peppers (preferably one yellow and one green), diced • 1 can (14.5 ounces) fireroasted diced tomatoes, undrained • 3/4 cup water • 1 package (8 ounces) Zatarain’s Reduced Sodium Jambalaya Mix (or other store brand) • 1 package (12 ounces) fully cooked smoked andouille sausage, sliced • 1 pound peeled and deveined uncooked large shrimp, thawed if frozen • 1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)

You don’t need too much room to play indoor games and your family will be having so much fun they won’t even realize they are exercising.

Sardines ... A variation on hide-and-seek. This game can be played indoors or outside. One person hides. Everyone else tries to find him. When you find the person who is hiding, you hide with him. The last one left looking gets to be the one to hide in the next round of the game.

Sneaky Patty ... One person sits blindfolded with her back to the group. A teddy bear or other object is placed behind her or under her chair. Play some music while members of the group, one by one, on their hands and knees, try to sneak up and steal the bear. The blindfolded person, while remaining seated, tries to tag the person who is stealing the bear. If he is successful, that person switches places and puts the blindfold on. The music stops and the blindfolded one tries to guess who stole the bear.

A variation on musical chairs ... Line up one fewer chair than there are players. One person is the “caller” (a good role for a teenager). The caller says something like, “I am especially grateful for people with blue eyes.” Then all the people with blue eyes have to move while the caller takes one chair away. The person left standing is out. The next round the caller might say, “I am especially grateful for people wearing shoes that tie,” and those people move. The last person left standing gets to be the caller in the next round of the game.

HOW TO MAKE IT: • With adult help: Heat oil in large deep skillet or 5-quart Dutch oven on medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers; cook and stir 7 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.

• Stir in tomatoes, water and Jambalaya Mix. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes.

• Stir in shrimp and sausage. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer or just until shrimp turn pink and rice and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

Courtesy of Family Features. For more New Orleans-style recipes, visit www. zatarains.com.

OUTINGS TO INDOOR FACILITIES Leave the house and venture to an indoor facility. Find an indoor pool in your area to swim laps, or play a pool game such as Marco Polo (see the rules at ) or water tag. Make sure to check the pool’s schedule to find out when the pool is open for swimming laps and when it is open for free swim. Bundle up and go to an indoor ice-skating rink or roller rink.

O R G A N IZ E IN D O O R A C T IV O nc e an ar IT IE S ea

ac tiv e an d bu is cle ar ed of sh ar p co rn er s, ke ep sy by or ga niz yo ur kid s Tu rn th e m us ing a ra ng e of ind oo r ac ic up fo r a ga tiv itie s. dif fe re nt da m e of m us ica nc e ro ut ine l ch air s or m s.

T ak e up he re ar e ple ga m es an d ac tiv itie s th nt y of ind ivi at w ill ke ep du al as pla yin g fre th eir he ar t ra ez e ta g or tw te up , su ch fo rg ot te n th irli ng hu la ho e ru les , or w op s. If yo u ha an t so m e ne ve w ide as , ch M ak e ro om ec k ou t . in fro nt of th e te lev isi on ex er cis e vid an d sti ck in eo fro m th e an lib ra ry or vid da nc e or yo eo sto re , su ga vid eo . R ch as a ea d pa re nt vid eo s at . re vie w s of po pu lar kid s’

King Cake — Did Ya Know?

A King Cake is a traditional dessert decorated with sugar sprinkles in the customary Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, which represent justice (purple), faith (green) and power (gold).

The cake is baked with a tiny trinket, usually a plastic baby, inside. The person who finds the baby in his or her piece is considered the king or queen of the party and hosts next year’s Mardi Gras festivities.

When a kiss and a bandaid aren’t enough…

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Caring for the most important people in the world…

your children!

Did you know?

• 1st dental visit is recommended around the 1st birthday • If your local water supply does not contain S D D i, n a fluoride, you should speak Farzad S with your dentist or pediatrician about the possibility of a fluoride … caring for the most supplement important people in the world, • Your child should be your children. At Pediatric assisted with brushing and Dentistry of Glens Falls our doctor and staff are dedicated flossing at least one time until over the age of to helping assist you in making daily eight your child’s smile a happy and healthy one. We specialize in • Snacking or drinking juice or soda frequently can pediatric dentistry in an raise your child’s risk of environment where your child tooth decay feels safe and comfortable.

Pediatric of Dentistry s ll Glens (F51a8) 798-9966

Directions to: 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls • (518) 798-9966 From North: From South: Take I-87 South to Exit 18. Make a left off exit onto Take I-87 North to Exit 18. Make a right off exit onto Main Street. At 4th traffic signal there will be a fork in Main Street. At 5th traffic signal there will be a fork in will be on the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts will be on the road. Continue going straight, Stewarts 1 your right. 88 Broad Street will be 11⁄2 blocks on your your right. 88 Broad Street will be 1 ⁄2 blocks on your right. We are a 2 story brick building. right. We are a 2 story brick building.

We participate with many insurances including GHI. We offer a wide variety of comfort options: laughing gas, mild sedatives, general anesthesia

Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls 798-9966 • Fax: 798-0616 • 88 Broad Street, Glens Falls www.pediatricdentistryofglensfalls.com

Dr. Sani Accepting New Patients!

Saturday ts en appointmle! availab

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