Kidsville News April 2010

Proudly sponsored by Denton Publications and

HEY! THIS PAPER BELONGS TO: ©

Small Bank. Big Ideas.

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 2010 More fun at www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

ENJOY APRIL WITH EARTH DAY & ARBOR DAY! Our Sponsors

Support Education & Make Kidsville News Possible

A Denton Publication

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

denpubs.com 34106

If you care about education and literacy and would like to help support Kidsville News, please call 518-873-6368

MARK E. THOMSON DDS, PC SPECIALIST IN ORTHODONTICS

561-3380 Your Smile Is Our Specialty!

D r. Th o m s o n & Staff Sally, Don, Jamie, Paula, Andrea, Lisa, Lori, Teresa 34214

The Treats with Truman Winner for April!

I received a GREAT letter from Tyler Perry from Northern Adirondack’s 3rd grade class! Boy he really enjoys class!

Your Friend Truman Congratulations Mrs. Peck

PAGE 2

59156

Treats with Truman!

Hey Kids!

Be sure to ask your school when I am coming for a visit!

I’ve got a great Activity Book for you!

Hey Kids!

Do you think your teacher is the best teacher ever?

Well here’s your chance to tell everyone!

Write me a one page essay about your teacher and why you think he or she is the greatest! Also include your full name your, I can’t teachers name and wait to the name of your school read (no abbreviations please) I’ll choose one them! winner each month and bring treats to you and your classmates. And I’ll give your teacher a st! r is the Be really cool My Teache certificate, too!

Sponsored by:

Send your essays to: Kidsville News Attn: Treats with Truman PO Box 338 Elizabethtown, NY 12932 21849

34205

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

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,

April is all about spring for me. I really like to be outside, and this is the perfect time of year for it. Flowers are starting to bloom, and the birds are out making music. I just love waking up to the sounds of spring! In April, you can celebrate spring by joining in the celebration of Earth Day. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Arbor Day is another great day to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate spring.

I’m going to invite my family on a hike and take pictures of the different trees that we see. We might even plant a new tree in our backyard!

National Library Week is the second week of April, so you might want to visit your school or community library to read up on Earth Day or Arbor Day. Be sure to say “Thank You” to your librarian!

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

Have an awesome April!

Your friend,

27760

34224

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 3

Adirondack Medical Center

2233 State Route 86 Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Tel: 518-891-4141

Excellent Health Care Close to Home

For employment opportunities: log on to www.amccares.org 20592

Kidsville News!

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! Millions of people from Poughkeepsie, New York, to Papua, New Guinea, will take part in events to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this April 22.

But the story behind the first Earth Day begins with a single individual. In the early 1960s, when Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconsin, first hatched the idea that began the modern environmental movement, there was little public awareness about the damage being done to the planet.

Nelson had been working to bring attention to environmental issues for several years. He even persuaded President John F. Kennedy to go on a five-day, 11-state “conservation tour” in 1963. In 1969, while he was a U.S. Senator, Nelson came up with the idea for a “teach-in” on environmental issues. The idea caught on, and the first Earth Day was coordinated by Nelson and Denis Hayes and held on April 22, 1970.

In 1995, Nelson (who also served as Governor of Wisconsin) was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honor given to U.S. civilians —

in recognition of his role as the founder of Earth Day. One person — like Gaylord Nelson — can make a difference!

More and more people are making earth-friendly habits, like recycling, part of their daily lives.

Through the joint efforts of the U.S. government, organizations and citizens, what started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our global environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we are all making a difference. In fact, the nation’s air and water are much cleaner today than they were 40 years ago.

The EPA has a special Web site just for students and kids, with lots of neat projects and information. Visit www.epa.gov/ students or www.epa.gov/kids for fun activities just for you.

Information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, The Wilderness Society and www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

©

All about Easter Easter is a religious holiday that honors the resurrection, or rising, of Jesus Christ from the dead. Easter also celebrates the coming of spring and the new life seen in flowers, gardens and animals.

The term “Easter” comes from the Anglo-Saxon, or old English, goddess named Eostre. The goddess Eostre represented “light,” another sign of spring, and every April, in the past, the Anglo-Saxon tribes would hold a celebration in her honor.

Today Easter is celebrated on or after the first full moon after March 21. The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22 and the latest is April 25.

In the Christian Church, Easter comes at the end of Lent. Lent is a 40- day period that begins traditionally on Ash Wednesday and goes until Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, people will often get ashes on their foreheads to represent regret for their sins and recognition of their human lives. During Lent, people often practice fasting, special church services are held and folks often give up something they enjoy. Fasting means not to eat any food or to eat only certain kinds of food and is usually practiced for religious purposes.

Every Easter, churches, businesses and other organizations hold Easter egg hunts, where eggs full of candy, toys, secret messages or pictures are hidden and people go and find them. The egg is a symbol of rebirth and new life.

How to Decorate Easter Eggs • With an adult’s help, hard-boil an egg or multiple eggs in water inside a pot on the stove for 10 minutes.

• After boiling for 10 minutes, have the adult empty the hot water into the sink and pour cold water into the pot. Leave eggs in the pot.

• Let the eggs sit for 5 minutes, and then dump out the cold water, still leaving the eggs in the pot.

• Have the adult mix any color of food coloring (about 5 drops) and a cup of warm water in a bowl. Two tablespoons of white vinegar will help the color stick to the shell better. Gently place the cooled boiled egg inside the cup to sit.

• Allow the egg to sit for 5 minutes or until it is the shade you like.

• Take a serving spoon and pick the egg up out of the cup and gently place it on a plate or paper towel to dry.

• Be sure to wash any food coloring off your hands with soap and warm water. Once the egg is dry, you can decorate your egg with stickers, markers, plastic jewels or any number of things. Refrigerate the eggs until you are ready to use them. Be sure to handle your eggs carefully because even though they are hardboiled, they can still crack. Have fun!

Ashley Young is a contributing writer for Kidsville News. Sources: The World Book Encyclopedia and Dictionary.com. Image: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

The Best Health Care For Me & My Whole Family!

Adirondack Medical Center AMC - Mercy Nursing Home Tupper Lake, NY 12986 Tel: 518-359-3355

PAGE 4

AMC - Uihlein Nursing Home Lake Placid, NY 12946 Tel: 518-523-2464

Adirondack Dental Center Lake Placid, NY 12946 Tel: 518-523-1122

Lake Placid Health Center Lake Placid, NY 12946 Tel: 518-523-1717

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

Mountain Health Center Keene, NY 12942 Tel: 518-576-9771

Tupper Lake Health Center Tupper Lake, NY 12986 Tel: 518-359-7000 20593

APRIL 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?

20591

AR UND THE W RLD Thailand

In Thailand, April 13-15 is a public holiday for the New Year’s festival, or Songkran Festival, also known as the “Water Festival.” Songkran is a Thai word which means “move” or “change place” as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. The day before the festival, the people do a spring cleaning. On April 13, the image of Buddha is bathed with holy or fragrant water, and the people celebrating splash water on each other and have a big water fight.

The people of Thailand believe that the water will wash away bad luck.

American Samoa

In American Samoa, April 17 is celebrated as Flag Day. Samoa is a small group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean and is a territory of the United States.

Flag Day is a national holiday commemorating the first raising of the American Flag in what used to be known as Eastern Samoa in 1900. To celebrate, they have parades with singing and dancing. They also hold the Fautasi Long Boat Race.

Iceland

Well, it’s not summer in the U.S. yet, but in Iceland, they celebrate April 24 as Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, or “first day of summer.”

This public holiday is celebrated with many festivities, including parades and street dances. It is held every year on the Thursday between April 19 and 25.

There is no school for the children, and they receive “summer gifts.” Iceland is the second-largest island in the North Atlantic Ocean and is dotted with mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls.

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 !

Fu n Att ra ct io n s!

Camp Fun Spot Fun Facts... d nclud e i n o i t e& ort a T rans p Lak e G eorgools ! from s bury s ch Q ueen “Thanks for all of the great things that you do with the kids!

This is the best daycare program we have ever had.”

- S.D. (Campers Parent)

1035 Rt .9 ,Queens bury,N Y 12 8 04 For information 518-792-8989•thefunspot.net

• Licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services • Monday - Friday (while school is in • Snacks • Homework time session) • School dismissal time until 5:45 PM • Structured activities (extended care available upon request) • Fun Spot attractions • Creative, fun-filled, enriching • Children placed in age appropriate experience groups Financial Assistance Available through Warren County Social Services.

Reasonable Rates Five days a week - $50; Four days a week - $44; Three days a week - $36 Additional Children Five days a week - $45; Four days a week - $39; Three days a week - $32 ($10 non-refundable registration fee applies) 34211 21842 21842

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 5

Tricky Adventures in the Dark

What’s the Difference?

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

GARDENINGgWORD FIND April is National Garden Month! See how many gardenrelated words you can find in this word search.

BACKYARD COMPOST FERTILIZER FLOWER

I R F K W A T E R R I D T F O

Z Y R T G W J E S E J S C L R

G B L V B G L K C Z Y A F O G

D N G I F D M C E I C F T W A

PAGE 6

GARDEN HERBS MULCH ORGANIC

T W I C R B U K S L M T T E N

L Y B T E R E E L I Q J I R I

D V P P N L Z C G T F W S O C

U R L U M A B Y X R S B R E H

M S A K T W L A F E O Q K I O

PLANTING SEEDS VEGETABLE WATER

P L D Y J O O P T F N V I F V

K G C I K K C G X E H I J D Z

H C L U M C Z L W G G P V B N

S D E E S Y A U C Z C E Y B E

T S O P M O C B P W J T V U R

O D Z X Y O I N G A R D E N I

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night, opened your eyes and couldn’t see a thing?

Somebody forgot to turn on the night light! This could make your trip to the bathroom a tricky adventure.

Astronomers have a similar problem. Out in deep space, in the vast realm between stars, it’s as dark as your bathroom at midnight. They can’t see a thing.

Yet there is “stuff” out there. Dwarf stars, faint clouds of gas and dark asteroids are just a few of the cool objects waiting to be discovered. But how?

The answer is “Herschel.” That’s the name of a new space telescope launched into orbit last May. With Herschel on duty, it’s as though someone walked into the room and turned on the lights.

Herschel is an infrared telescope. You know how soldiers use The Herschel Space Observatory sees infrared nightthings in space that are very dark and far vision goggles to away.

That is because it “sees” in infrared see things in the and has a huge mirror for gathering light dark? Herschel from very faint objects. works in much the same way. It detects the infrared “body heat” of distant stars, planets and asteroids.

“The sky looks much more crowded when you look in infrared wavelengths,” says George Helou, director of NASA’s Herschel Science Center. “We can’t observe the infrared universe from the ground because our atmosphere blocks infrared light. That’s why we need a space telescope like Herschel.”

Herschel uses a mirror to focus infrared radiation into a picture — and what a mirror it is! The reflecting reflecting surface is 6.5 meters wide. That’s almost 20 feet. If your mom stood on your dad’s shoulders, and then your grandma climbed up on your mom’s shoulders, this stack of three people still wouldn’t be quite as tall as Herschel’s mirror.

Herschel’s big mirror has a collecting area 16 times greater than any previous infrared space telescope. That means the telescope can see things that are extremely faint, dark and far away. Astronomers expect big discoveries in the months and years ahead.

As for the bathroom, you’re going to have to find find that on your own. Herschel is occupied.

Play the infrared astronomy typing game, “Sign Here,” at The Space Place, spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spitzer/signs.

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

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

What’s it like to be...

A CHILDREN’S MUSICAL ENTERTAINER?

I love music, and I love having fun. Lucky for me, I have the chance to meet exciting people all of the time, and I just met someone hat combines music and fun! And, it’ s her JOB! Shana Banana was born in Hilo, Hawaii, and grew up in the Hawaiian Islands until high school. (She went to school at Punahou in Honolulu — the same school as President Obama!)Then she moved to Florida, where she still lives. Shana went to Eckerd College and earned a Master’ s and Ph.D. Candidacy in Oceanography from the University of South Florida. But she has always loved music, and once she began entertaining for children, she found her calling! Her other hobbies include cooking, meditation, yoga, exercise, hiking and outdoorsy stuff with her husband and two young children.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a children’ s musical entertainer? grown-ups! So, I eventually committed to SHANA: Three things: 1) A totally genuine enjoyment of and drive for being a full-time children’s artist. positively infl uencing kids, 2) a love of performing and 3) a good education. TRUMAN: Why a banana? Is that Not necessarily an education in the arts, music or theater — mine is in your favorite fruit? oceanography — but a well rounded education in which you learn good SHANA: My dad gave me the fundamentals of reading, math, science, the arts, nutrition, fitness, social nickname “ Shana Banana” when I was studies and more. Why? Because as a children’s entertainer, you are relating very small, mainly because it rhymes. As directly to children, hopefully inspiring and motivating them for whom they the years went on, my dad just called me are. It is an awesome responsibility to be able to touch “ Banana,” and to the lives of children, and so you want to be able to relate this day, I still turn to all children equally, whether they are destined to my head in the produce section at the someday be rocket scientists, accountants or movie stars. grocery store if someone happens to utter the word. My You want to make sure that all sister calls me “Nanner,” and my best friend calls me children feel honored and respected and that you are “Nana.” “Shana Banana” was the obvious choice for a coming from a background that qualifi es you to sing to performance name, and it’ s a really fun theme, too. And, and with them at that level. When I sing about so many incidentally, I do love bananas, but not when they are too different topics, it’ s because I had a good education and green or too brown. know about those topics, or at least know how to TRUMAN: What kind of things do you write about? research them. For example, my song “I Want to be a SHANA: Whatever you can think of that is interesting to Dinosaur” won “Best Children’ s Song in the Country” kids. In fact, most of my songs came as suggestions from in 2004. I spent an afternoon in the library just children. My fi rst two CDs are an assortment of songs researching facts on dinosaurs before I wrote that song. I ranging from brushing your teeth to pretending to eat learned how to research and communicate facts because your house to wearing chicken pants to getting an owie.

I went to school. Now, because I choose music and Now I am working on an ocean-themed CD called dance and performance to communicate to kids, I also “Banana Beach Party.” took lots of special classes in voice, guitar, acting, TRUMAN: What do you do every day? What is a typical writing, elementary education and music theatre, so I can day like? do the best job possible sharing knowledge with kids, SHANA: There several parts to my work: Live teachers, parents and families in a FUN way! performances, studio work, TV work, educational work, TRUMAN: When and why did you fi rst become training and “running the business.” The first is pretty obvious: I show up at a concert venue, get set up, interested in this profession? welcome folks in, go completely bananas and do a SHANA: Music and performance had always been a concert for an hour, hang out and get to know everyone serious hobby for me. I was in the Honolulu Children’ s after the show, sell CDs and DVDs, sign autographs, pack Choir and was their lead mezzo soprano. I performed in up and go home. Sometimes I do a couple of shows a day, school musicals and played guitar from about second Shana Banana loves creating music sometimes a couple of shows a week and sometimes a grade on. I took acting and singing and dance classes and entertaining kids! few shows a month. Some days I am focused in the because it was fun, and I couldn’t get enough. But I studio. Some days I am going through records and receipts. Some days I am stuck never considered doing this as a career till much later in life. My dad was a on the phone or the computer answering emails. There is no routine to this job, marine biologist, and he took me everywhere with him, so I went to school but the days are certainly not boring! for marine biology. I was working on my Ph.D. in Oceanography and TRUMAN: So far, what has been the highlight of your career? playing a lot of Americana and blues music at festivals and coffee houses to help pay my bills and have fun. As I got more into marine biology, I had less SHANA: Sharing it all with my family. Performing at the White House.

Realizing that despite the fact I’ ve been doing this for umpteen years, there is time for music. I missed music a lot, so I took a year off just to play music.

So many kids came to some of these shows that I started learning how to do much more still to come. children’s songs, like Raffi or Sesame Street songs. Then something amazing TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this happened. People started asking me if I would come and do concerts just for profession?

SHANA: Follow your bliss. If I may quote Fred Rogers: “The thing I remember kids. I started writing my own children’s music. My phone started ringing, and soon I was being invited to do kids’ concerts everywhere! At the time, I best about successful people I’ ve met all through the years is their obvious thought it was just a temporary thing, but it kept growing, and I loved it SO delight in what they’ re doing, and it seems to have very little to do with worldly much. I got hooked and created “Shana Banana” officially. Writing songs for success. They just love what they’ re doing, and they love it in front of others.” kids is a songwriter’s dream because there is so much to write about. And for TRUMAN: That’ s a great quote! Mr. Rogers was really wise. Thanks, Shana the first time, I felt as though I was doing work that actually could help Banana! There is so much more to talk about, but not room for it all on one improve the world by being a good example for the next generation. And page. Read the complete interview with Shana Banana on our Web site at performing for and with kids can be WAY more fun than performing for www.kidsvillenews.com!

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 7

Adirondack for Kids is a foundation established by the Adirondack Family of businesses to offer grants to nonprofit organizations supporting youth activities in the areas where Adirondack operates.

20584

Story Time with Truman Petey’s Secret Power Chapter Seven — The Switch

A Quality Serials Story By Mary Maden Illustrated by Tana Brinnand Last Time: Petey meets Wise Owl in the forest. The owl helps Petey by giving him a special acorn that has a secret power. With the acorn, Petey is confident that he can come up with the most creative entry for the big contest and win first prize.

As Petey slept soundly in his bed, his cousin Santos tossed and turned in his. The small squirrel was wide-awake. He couldn’t stop thinking about the tasty acorn. Santos’ stomach growled. He sure was hungry!

“I just need a little bite of something to eat,” Santos said to himself. “Then I can go to sleep.”

Santos got out of bed and quietly crept over to Petey’s nest. The hungry squirrel peered in. Petey was curled up inside. He was snoring softly, the acorn clutched in his paw.

Careful not to wake his sleeping cousin, Santos broke off a twig from the nest.

Gently, he tickled Petey’s side with the twig.

Petey wiggled and turned over, loosening his grip on the acorn. Gingerly, Santos grabbed hold of the nut. Little by little, Santos slid the acorn from under Petey’s paw. Once the tasty nut was free, Santos picked it up.

“I’ll just take one little bite,” Santos whispered to himself. “Then I’ll put it back.”

The small squirrel bit into the nut. “Boy, this sure is a tasty acorn!” Santos said. “I’ll just take one more small nibble.” The hungry squirrel took another bite. The acorn was delicious! Santos couldn’t help himself. He took another bite. And another. And another. Before he knew it, he had eaten the entire thing!

“Uh, oh!” Santos cried, realizing what he had done. The small squirrel scratched his head and thought of what to do. He knew that Petey would be very upset with him. Suddenly, Santos had an idea. If he could find another acorn just like the one he ate and replace it before Petey woke up, his cousin would be none the wiser.

Quickly, Santos ran in search of a replacement. He hurried to his favorite oak tree. There were dozens of acorns underneath. Santos picked up one of the nuts. It was too big! He couldn’t resist taking a bite of the acorn before tossing it aside. Santos picked up another acorn. It was too small! He had to find one exactly the same size as Petey’s acorn. After hours of looking, Santos finally found an acorn that was just right.

Santos grabbed the acorn and dashed back. Quietly, he sneaked back into Petey’s nest. Petey was still fast asleep. Cautiously, Santos scooted the new acorn under Petey’s paw. With the switch made, Santos scurried back to his own nest.

Santos went back to bed, but he couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned.

Santos felt bad about what he had done. It was wrong to eat the acorn.

And it was wrong to deceive Petey. To make matters worse –– he had a

terrible tummy ache! The sun was already up when Santos fell into a restless sleep.

As Santos was sleeping, Petey was waking up. He rubbed his eyes and jumped out of bed. Petey was excited. Today was the big day! Petey grabbed his special acorn and rushed to the Big Forest Creative Arts Festival and Extravaganza.

When Petey arrived at the festival, there was a huge crowd. Petey had never seen anything like it! All the animals were rushing to and fro. They were all unsure about what to do or where to go. It was total chaos!

As Petey pushed his way through the crowd, he bumped into three squirrels. The squirrels twittered excitedly.

“Sorry!” Petey apologized.

“That’s okay,” all three squirrels answered in unison. “Do you know where the bands go?

We’re the Treetop Trio.”

“I see Bubba Bear over there,” Petey replied. “He might know.”

“Thanks!” the Treetop Trio called as they scurried away.

“Excuse me,” Petey asked a passing chipmunk. “Where do I sign up for the contest?”

“Over there, I think,” the chipmunk replied, pointing to a long table with an even longer line. “Did you see a rattlesnake slither by?”

“No,” Petey answered.

“If you happen to see one,” the chipmunk said, “tell him we need to practice our entry before the contest.”

“Okay,” Petey agreed, wondering what the chipmunk and the rattlesnake were planning to do.

Petey was headed to the sign-up table when he heard someone calling his name. Petey turned around. Weaving through the mass of animals was Santos!

“Petey, wait up!” Santos yelled as he caught up to Petey. “I have to tell you something.”

“I don’t have time right now,” Petey told Santos. “I have to enter the contest.”

“You have to listen,” Santos pleaded. “I did something bad.”

“What do you mean?” Petey asked.

The small squirrel told Petey the whole truth about how he had eaten the acorn and replaced it with another one.

“I’m sorry!” Santos apologized. “Please don’t be mad. I replaced your acorn, so everything’s okay. Right?”

Stunned, Petey dropped the acorn. What was he going to do without his special secret power!

Next Time: The Real Winner 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.

In 1988 we started as a small oil company in the Malone area.

In 2010 we have expanded our service area by opening an environmentally friendly facility in Plattsburgh, allowing us to serve customers in Clinton and Essex counties. We don’t just deliver fuel, but also provide service, and sell boilers, stoves, and furnaces.

20585

PAGE 8

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

Red, White & True Mysteries Jean Charbonneau Made His Mark on America by Age Two

Probably more than any other person in America, a boy named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau got to watch history being made firsthand without actually contributing to it. Best of all, he got to do this by the time he was two years old. But, like most two year-olds, his story doesn’ t end there. Around 1797, eight years before his son Jean was born, a French- Canadian explorer and trader named Toussaint Charbonneau had purchased two captured Shoshone Indian women and taken them as his wives; one was known as Bird Woman while the other was known as Otter Woman.

Bird Woman gave birth to Jean Baptiste Charbonneau in 1805 at Fort Mandan, North Dakota. Fort Mandan was the place where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stayed in the winter of 1804-1805. In fact, Lewis and Clark hired Toussaint Charbonneau to serve as an interpreter to the Hidatsa Indians, and they allowed him to bring along his pregnant wife, Mrs. Charbonneau (a.k.a. Bird Woman).

Toussaint Charbonneau spoke no English and did not speak the Hidatsa language very well either, but his wives spoke it well. As a result, one of the wives — the one known as Bird Woman — went along on the Lewis and Clark expedition and was of more value to Lewis and Clark than Toussaint was.

Meanwhile, the infant boy Jean Charbonneau got to watch history unfold right before his little eyes. His mother became very important in

their journey while his father was generally not well liked or respected by the rest of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and most Americans have never heard of Toussaint Charbonneau or Bird Woman. Jean was the youngest member of the 30-person expedition.

They took Jean Charbonneau halfway across the country when he was just a toddler — and they made the entire trip without the luxury of a plane, train or automobile, at a time when most of the United States beyond the Mississippi River was still unknown.

Then from the time he was 18 until age 24, he traveled throughout Europe and northern Africa with the nephew of King Wilhelm von Wurttemberg of Germany.

When he was 44, he participated in the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau remains the only infant whose image ever appeared on any United States currency. He achieved this historical feat with his mother when they were depicted on a coin in 2000.

In fact, while the name of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau or Toussaint Charbonneau might not ring a bell with you, his mother became so wellknown that you don’ t even need her last name. Most people have never even heard of her last name. The name by which you know her was Sacajawea. But you knew that all along, didn’ t you? © 2009 Paul Niemann. This story is part of the Red, White & True Mysteries series by author Paul Niemann. For more information, please visit www.Invention Mysteries.com.

BOY’S CONCERN FOR NEGLECTED ANIMALS PROMPTS FUNDRAISING EFFORT Lane and his parents Kirsten and Kelly An 11-year-old boy who’s an contacted businesses, who donated goods accomplished go-kart racer has a and services for a silent auction held at the strong love of animals.

Uno fundraiser. Businesses donated But he’s also got a big heart — everything from chain saw accessories to a which prompted him to accomplish pearl necklace to boiler repair or basement something unusual for his age. waterproofing work.

After watching television commercials Uno Chicago Grill donated a portion of their depicting neglected animals, Lane revenue from the dinners served to Lane’s Saville was troubled, and he talked charity. with his mother Kirsten about his In addition to Truman prompting plenty of concerns. smiles, Deejay John Gelheiser of South Glens She replied by asking Lane a question.

Falls conducted a trivia contest while movies “Is there anything you want to do to of Lane’s racing victories played on a screen help out?” she said.

Go-kart racer Lane Saville, age 11 (right), explains to Truman of Kidsville on the restaurant’s back wall.

Lane answered with action.

News how his concerns for neglected animals grew into a campaign that For those who wish to boost Lane’s charitable raised well over $600 to help out efforts of the regional SPCA. His He planned and conducted a fundraiser for the area SPCA, holding mother Kirsten Saville (left) listens to Lane during the fundraiser, which effort, CD’s of his racing action are available Photo by Thom Randall through his website, it in February at the Uno Chicago Grill is likely to become an annual event. www.99savilleracing.com. in Queensbury —to raise money to pay for food and shelter for Kirsten Saville said Lane is neglected animals. planning to make his And Truman of Kidsville News, of course, applauds kids who not only fundraiser an annual event. care, but kids who act on their thoughts and take action to help others.

“Lane’s got a very kind So Truman stopped in at the fundraiser and greeted the children and heart,” she said. adults attending, and paid tribute to Lane and his campaign.

“I hope that every year, At the event, Lane explained to Truman how he was moved to raise this fundraiser gets bigger well over $600 for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. and better than ever.”

“Everybody forgets about the animals and what they need,” he said, noting that he loves his two cats at home that were adopted from the SPCA. “Animals don’t have voices of their own, so we have to look out after them.”

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 9

PAGE 10 LOGAN TOUCHETTE Age 9, 3rd Grade North Warren

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

MARISSA YOUNES Age 6, 1st Grade North Warren

Roses are red…

Violets are blue….

I like to write poetry, How about you?

Send me a poem, It could be about you or your home, Believe it or not You could win a gift certificate to Get out your pens and pads, Ask your moms and your dads, Write your poem in a hurry, It could even be about your dog Murry,

3w To be a inners nno the M unced in ay iss ue

Please send your original poem to Truman at Poetry Contest P.O. Box 338 Elizabethtown N.Y. 12932

So get them in fast, You sure don’t want to be last!

Deadline April 15

APRIL 2010

CASEY BEITZ Age 10, 4th Grade St. Joseph's

AIDEN DE MURO Age 10, 4th Grade ElizabethtownLewis

APRIL 2010

APRIL SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

1 www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

4

EASTER First U.S. flag approved, 1818

5

National Read a Road Map Day

6

North Pole Discovered In 1898.

U.S. entered World War I, 1917

11

12

Author Beverly Cleary born, 1916

13

Space Shuttle Columbia First Launched - 1981 Paul Revere's Famous Ride, 1775

18 Pet Owner's Day

25

World Penguin Day

19

Humorous Day

Revolutionary War began, 1775

26

Hug a Friend Day

PAGE 11

National Pretzel Day

3rd President Thomas Jefferson born, 1743

20 27

Tell a Story Day

7

No Housework Day

April Fool's Day One Cent Day

8

FRIDAY

2

International Children's Book Day

SATURDAY

3

FindARainbow Day Pony Express established, 1860

Encourage a Young Writer Day

10

9

National Sibling Day

World Health Day, established 1948

Webster's Dictionary Published, 1828

14

15

Income Tax Day

16

Aviator Wilbur Wright born, 1867

17

Artist/Inventor Leonardo Da Vinci born, 1452

21

Kindergarten Day The first kindergarten was founded

by Friedrich Froebel in Germany in 1837.

28

22

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day

23

Earth Day established 1970

24

PERU HEAD START DAY CARE Library of Congress EVENT established, 1800 11:00

National Jelly Bean Day Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day

29

Zipper Day, patented

by Gideon Sindback in 1913.

International Sing Out Day

30

Arbor Day National Honesty Day

SEND YOUR EVENTS TO KIDSVILLECALENDAR@DENPUBS.COM

Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day

AR T GALLERY James Ensor: An Oddball Artist

people. At first, nobody liked his work. By the late 1880s, he had begun painting James Ensor was a 19th-century Belgian artist. Best religious themes with his signature style and his work was considered scandalknown as a painter and printmaker, James was highly ous at the time. But, James refused to stop painting and refused to stop exhibiting innovative for his time and has had a great influence on his works. Eventually, his critics came around to modern art through his embrace his style, and he was not only accepted, unique painting style. but also honored in the art world.

James Ensor was By the 1920s, James was showing his paintborn on April 13, ings in major exhibits. In 1929, King Albert of 1860, in the seaside Belgium named him a baron, making James a resort town of Ostend, nobleman. Although he was earning fame and Belgium, where he spent recognition, James was beginning to paint less and nearly all of his life. His his style had softened. Even so, his work was still parents sold souvenirs very different from the way other artists of his day and antiques to visiting were painting, and his odd style served as a strong tourists, and as a child, influence for 20th-century artists like Paul Klee.

James spent many hours His work even inspired a 20th-century rock song roaming the sandy dunes and several movies! around him and playing James died in his hometown of Ostend on with the seashells and November 19, 1949. By the time of his death, the other trinkets he found in James Ensor’s painting The Intrigue (1890) “oddball artist” was considered somewhat of a his family’s shop. James national treasure. was not a very good student, but he loved art. When he was 15, he left school to train full-time with two local painters. His passion for art grew, and he eventuWritten by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works ally returned to school to study art. At 17, he left home and enrolled at the Royal as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and Academy for Science and the Arts in Brussels. other education-related companies. Sources: James Ensor Biography at Art in the After three years of intense schooling, James returned to Ostend and set up Picture, http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/James_Ensor/Biography; James an art studio in his parents’ house. In 1881, he had his first art exhibit. Although Ensor on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ensor; “Skull and Bones: his paintings were of seemingly realistic scenes bathed in gentle light and filled The Haunted Art of James Ensor,” Time, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ with vibrant, inviting colors, the human subjects he painted wore carnival masks article/0,9171,1910970,00.html. It is believed that the use of this image qualifies instead of faces, or were painted to look like skeletons or clowns instead of regular as fair use under United States copyright law.

34225

PAGE 12

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

COMECOME OUTOUT AND ANDPLAY! PLAY!

ExtremeKiting: Kiting: Don’t Try This at Home!

Extreme Don’t Try This at Home!

ing. Also known as land kiteboarding or flyboardApril is National Kite Month! ing, this sport is a combination of kitesurfing and Although no one knows the exact origin of kites, they have been around skaeboarding. The rider uses a landboard, which is like a large skateboard with for thousands of years. The first recorded use was about 200 B.C., wheels and footstraps, and of course a when Chinese general Han Hsin used a large sail-type kite. The kite pulls the rider across the ground, and the rider kite for military purposes. Over the years, kites have been used for a wide variety of things, like delivering mes- tries to “get some air.” The rider can do different tricks in the air, like board grabs, rotasages, measuring the weather, photographing the Earth, catching tions, flips and jumps. fish and even lifting people into the sky. Today most kites are flown Snowkiting is similar to kitesurfing, for pleasure and sport. but on snow or ice instead of water! This The windy spring days of April are perfect for kite sport uses a large kite and a snowboard or flying — but did you know there are many extreme skis. Snowkiting is different from skiing sports that use kites? Here are a few sports NOT to or snoboarding because, depending on try at home! the wind, the rider could go uphill!

Kitesurfing and kiteboarding use the wind to pull These days, there’s a lot more to a rider through the water on a surfboard. The rider kiting than just flying a kite! But flying a can also use a kiteboard, which is similar to a wakeregular kite in your backyard or local park board. Kitesurfing is usually more like wave riding, can still be lots of fun! For more informaand kiteboarding is more of a freestyle sport with tion about National Kite Month and local jumps, tricks and board grabs. They use events, visit www.nationalkitemonth.org. different types of boards and kites to suit the rider Photo contributed by the photographer, and the wave conditions.

Kitesurfing off Mokuleia on the north shore Eric Guinther, through Wikipedia.

And if there are no waves, there is kite landboard- of O‘ahu. Photographer: Eric Guinther.

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

Adirondack Medical Center

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.

34216

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 13

20589

Monarch Butterfly

Every year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from North America to Mexico. This amazing migration has been recognized as an endangered biological phenomenon. That means that measures are being taken to help preserve the environment where the butterflies spend the winter in Mexico so that the remarkable migration can continue.

Kingdom: Animalia Why is this migration so special? The monarch Phylum: Arthoropoda butterfly is the only butterfly that migrates north Class: Insecta and south like birds do. And no single monarch is going to survive the entire round trip. Usually, Order: Lepidoptera adult monarchs live only four or five weeks, but Family: Nymphalidae each year as fall approaches, a special generation Genus: Danaus of butterflies is born. This migratory generation will live seven or eight months. This generation of Species: D. plexippus butterflies performs the incredible migration from Canada and the United States to central Mexico.

They travel 50 to 80 miles per day for two months until they reach the pine- and fir-tree forests. Here they hibernate for the winter. And then, they head back north again! Along the way back home, the butterflies will mate, and their offspring will continue the journey north to their original location.

The life cycle of a monarch includes four stages for a complete metamorphosis. An egg is laid, and a caterpiller hatches from it after four days. The caterpillar stage lasts about two weeks. Then the caterpillar creates a silk pad from which it hangs in the pupa or chrysalis stage. The caterpillar undergoes changes, and about two weeks later, the butterfly emerges to begin its short life!

Sources: Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org; World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org. Images: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

PAGE 14

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

This page brought to you by...

KNIGHT AUTOMOTIVE 383 ROUTE 3 • PLATTSBURGH • 563-2000

33831

ParentTown’s KidsSmart What Every Parent Should Be Teaching Their Children About Money First and foremost, the lesson that you teach your child about money is that it is a tool. A tool that we use to provide for our basic everyday needs, such as providing a roof over our head, food and clothing. It is also a tool to get the things that we want, such as a DVD of our favorite movie, a video game or the hottest new toy. Be sure to explain the key differences between a need and a want to your child.

A need is something we cannot live without and is essential to everyday living; a want is anything outside of that. Here’ s a worksheet you can go through with your child to help him understand: Needs Wants Toothbrush Electric Toothbrush Backpack Baseball Cards Clothes/Shoes Designer Clothes Shoes Food Candy Water Bottled Water The next lesson is how money can be earned. Following are examples.

As adults, we know we must work everyday to earn a regular paycheck.

With this explanation, your child will wonder, how can I earn money? Well, here are a couple of ways to answer that question: First, children can earn a weekly allowance by performing chores around the house. Let’ s not forget that they can earn money by setting up a lemonade sand during the summer, babysitting and shoveling snow or raking leaves for the neighbors. Finally, although not “earning” it, they could receive a cash gift for their birthday or a special holiday such as Christmas.

Remember the four money buckets? Spend, Save, Invest and Give Back.

Don’ t forget to review that lesson with your child. Each time he receives any type of income, he should split it among the four buckets. This way, it has more places and opportunities to grow. Think about it, if you spend all your money when you receive it, how will your money grow? Example, if you focused only on one part of your school studies, how could you be well rounded in all the subjects like math, science, arts, music, etc. It is the same with money. It should be working in several areas to get the most of it.

The bottom-line question then becomes: Do you have a “Hill of Green” or a “Mountain of Green?” The choices we make everyday with our money will dictate how we answer that question.

READERS: Please send your questions about kids and money to kvnews@kidsvillenews.com. We hope to start a new Q&A format for this section. Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofi t based in Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money between parents and their kids in households across America. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids across the country. Born To Save grants shares of stock to kids who register on our Web site at www.BornToSave.org.

APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 15

TM

A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth?

Author/Illustrator: Robin Koontz, Bob Dacey (Illustrator), Debra Bandelin (Illustrator) Publisher: Picture Window Books

Age Range: 6-10 This new “What’s the Difference” series from Picture Window Books has several interesting titles: a Frog and a Toad, a Leopard and a Cheetah, an Alligator and a Crocodile. What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth? is a colorful, beautifully illustrated book that details the things that distinguish one from the other. Side-by-side spreads compare and contrast the two insects. Callout boxes highlight new vocabulary and fundamental facts. The back of the book features a diagram that covers the highlights discussed in the book, as well as a glossary, fun facts and suggestions for other books and Web sites to visit. —JK

Author: Gary Kowalski, Rocco Baviera (Illustrator) Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association Age Range: 4 to 8 From the Publisher: Children and adults will delight in Earth Day, a litany of gratitude that celebrates Earth’s diverse species, from apricots to groundhogs to junebugs, from quahogs to zinnias, zucchini and zebras with bright and whimsical illustrations. In alphabetical order, the wonders of nature arise from the page, reminding readers that every day is a reason to give thanks and that miracles are as simple as ABC.

? ?

Gardening Word Find

April is National Garden Month! See how many gardenrelated words you can find in this word search.

The Story of the Easter Robin

BACKYARD COMPOST FERTILIZER FLOWER

Author/Illustrator: Dandi Daley Mackall, Anna Vojtech Publisher: Zonderkidz

Age Range: 4 to 7 From the Publisher: In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. “Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?”

“We’ll have to leave that one to the Creator,” Gran said.

Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother’s house! Tressa is thrilled — and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins’ nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear — a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin. Brought to life with colorful, tender illustrations, The Story of the Easter Robin will captivate and teach your child about compassion and faith.

PAGE 16

Earth Day: An Alphabet Book

I R F K W A T E R R I D T F O

Z Y R T G W J E S E J S C L R

?

? ?

G B L V B G L K C Z Y A F O G

D N G I F D M C E I C F T W A

GARDEN HERBS MULCH ORGANIC

T W I C R B U K S L M T T E N

L Y B T E R E E L I Q J I R I

D V P P N L Z C G T F W S O C

U R L U M A B Y X R S B R E H

M S A K T W L A F E O Q K I O

PLANTING SEEDS VEGETABLE WATER

P L D Y J O O P T F N V I F V

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

K G C I K K C G X E H I J D Z

H C L U M C Z L W G G P V B N

S D E E S Y A U C Z C E Y B E

T S O P M O C B P W J T V U R

O D Z X Y O I N G A R D E N I

?

?

Answer Corner

What’s the Difference?

? ?

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

Answers: 1. missing hat 2. missing fishing lure in hat 3. two flowers in soccer girl’s hair 4. darker hair on garden girl 5. missing shovel

APRIL 2010

? ?

34213

At the Movies

At the Movies

The Last Song (In Theaters March 31) Miley Cyrus plays Ronnie Miller, a budding musician who leaves her New York home to spend the summer with her little brother Jonah (Bobby Coleman) at her dad Steve’s (played by Greg Kinnear) Southern beach house. Meanwhile, Ronnie’s mom Kim (Kelly Preston) is making plans to remarry. Romance is in the air with a soundtrack that naturally includes songs performed by Ms. Cyrus. The Last Song is an optimistic coming-of-age story based on a novel

by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook). Rated PG for thematic material, some violence, sensuality and mild language (Touchstone Pictures/Disney)

Clash of the Titans (In Theaters April 2) Super-mythic monster action hits the big screen when men take up arms against kings, and kings attack the gods that rule their universe. Perseus (Sam Worthington), like Percy Jackson of the Lightening Thief fame, was raised as a human but was kin to the gods. Perseus volunteers to go on a journey deep into the underworld to conquer Hades and steal all power away from Zeus (played by Liam Neeson). If this sounds like a beefed-up version of last month’s Percy Jackson, well it is. Expect a lot more spectacle, done with a darker and more serious tone. Everyone knows that monsters are fun. The monsters of Greek mythology are the scariest and most powerful of all. Just the name Medusa conjures up one of the scariest visions of all time. Don’t look into her eyes, or you’ll turn to stone. Ralph Fiennes joins the cast of this bombastic fantasy movie for older kids. Not rated at press time. (Warner Brothers)

Furry Vengeance (In Theaters: April 30) The Perfect Game (In Theaters: April 16) “You can’t run, you can’t hide, you can’t escape the furry.” And by “furry,” Here’s a sweetly mannered sports movie with lots of heart that’s ideal for we mean the furry little woodland creatures in the wooded area of Rocky introducing baseball traditions and vocabulary to young baseball fans. The Springs, Oregon, where an ambitious real estate developer named Dan setting is 1957 Monterrey, Mexico, where former Cincinnati Reds ballboy Sanders (played by Brendan Fraser) plans on replacing the forest nature Cesar (Clifton Collins Jr.) expresses his love for baseball by coaching a lopreserve with a shopping mall with a forest theme. All the money in the cal group of ragtag child ballplayers to play in the Little League World Seworld doesn’t stand a chance when the live-action raccoons, bears, turries. The Perfect Game is based on a true story of the only “perfect game” keys, skunks and assorted beasts turn into the biggest group of animal in the league’s championship history. A “perfect game” in baseball happens protesters you’ve ever seen. Brooke Shields plays Dan’s wife Tammy in when a pitcher never allows a runner from the other team to ever get on this slapstick animal romp with music by Blondie. Rated PG for some rude base. Rated PG for some thematic elements. (Lionsgate) humor, mild language and brief smoking. (Summit Entertainment) Movies on DVD Beatles Collection Beatles fans of all ages can explore three cities in which the Fab Four spent time in. The first of three documentaries is The Concise Beatles Liverpool,which traces important sites in the band’s hometown. A trip to the homes of John, Paul, George and Ringo are highlights included here.

The second documentary follows the band’s steps around foggy London town, with a visit to Abbey Road, Decca studio where the boys failed their audition, and to their London homes. The last documentary goes to Manhattan, where John Lennon lived with Yoko Ono. Even if you’ve never even heard of the Beatles, you know their music from songs like “Yellow Submarine.” This three-DVD collection is like a going on a Beatles vacation without leaving your home. Not Rated. (Arts Magic)

Send It!

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

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.

APRIL 2010

City

State

Zip

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

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 17

ParentTown is sponsored by your locally owned

McDonalds

20595

P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE Camp Tips for Parents Spring is here, and thoughts are already turning to summer vacations and camps. But how do you choose a camp and prepare your child? Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country, offers these tips for parents and their children.

Q: When should I start researching for a summer camp for my child(ren) to attend?

A: In the fall (but NOW is good, too!). Start by getting on camp mailing lists and researching Web sites. Most camps start the application and enrollment process in the winter and spring. Make sure to complete applications and return them by their due dates.

Q: What resources are available to select a good, quality camp?

A: The American Camping Association (ACA) lists all camps and their descriptions. These camps have been accredited by the ACA, www. americancampingassociation.org.

Camps are accredited based on health, safety and program quality.

Also, www.campparents.org is a great resource for parents.

Q: What items should I pack for my child to take to camp? How should I dress my child for camp?

A: While packing lightly is encouraged, it is always best to be fully prepared. Anticipate rain, chilly nights and heat. Also expect your child to get wet and dirty, so extra sets of clothes are a must. If the camp is seven days long, I would recommend packing for nine-10 days. Pack comfortable clothes and shoes. Make sure to find out if there are special “dress up” occasions at camp, such as a dance or talent show. Pack bedding, towels, hygiene products, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlight, disposable camera, envelopes and stationery. Also pack comfort items, such as a nightlight, stuffed animal or photos of family members. All medications and inhalers should be sent to the camp director as well. Valuables should NOT be sent to camp. And be sure to label all of your child’s belongings.

Q: Can I interview the camp staff? What kind of questions should I ask?

A: Yes, it is important to feel comfortable with the camp director before sending your child to camp. Find out what the camp philosophy is and whether you agree with it. Ask what the director’s background is and how staff are selected and trained. A director should be trained in safety, emergency procedures, behavior management and child abuse protection. Ask what kinds of activities are available at camp and what the normal daily schedule is like. Ask about the disciplinary policies and whether they coincide with the expectations

of your family. Ask about the ratio of staff to campers. The ACA advises one adult per six children and one adult per 10 teens.

Q: How much do summer camps cost? Is there any type of financial assistance offered for summer camp?

A: The average cost for one week at an overnight camp is $390, and the average for one week of day camp is about half of that. However, many camps are significantly less expensive or even free. Contact the camp director to find out if the camp offers financial assistance. Many camps offer discounted rates for early enrollment or for families enrolling multiple children.

Q: How should I help my child prepare for camp for the first time?

A: Practice sleepovers away from home. Involve your child in choosing the camp. Discuss camp activities with your child and have a positive family attitude about camp. Have your child practice activities that he might participate in at camp, such as sleeping in a sleeping bag, getting into a pool, taking showers instead of baths and writing letters.

Q: How should we cope with homesickness?

A: Send care packages and letters to children at camp. Avoid using phrases such as “Just try it for one day and you can leave” or “If you stay until Wednesday, then we will come and get you.” If your child calls from camp, be calm and reassuring. You know your child best, so if you feel that your child should come home, make arrangements promptly. In that case, focus on the positive and try camp again next year.

Q: How do I know if my child is ready to go to camp?

A: If your child is younger than seven years old, you may want to start with a day camp.

You can evaluate whether your child is ready for camp by observing his behaviors. Does he normally have positive overnight experiences away from home? Does your child bring up the topic of camp and express desires to attend camp?

Information courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country. Children’s is a not-for-profit organization that benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our community. Operating three hospitals with more than half a million patient visits annually, Children’s is recognized for excellence in cancer, cardiac, neonatal, orthopaedic and transplant services, as well as many other pediatric specialties. Visit the Web site at www.choa.org or call 404-250-KIDS to learn more about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

You want the very

best for your kids,

That’s why we’ve made

quality a top priority.

www.macdonalds.com

1044 RT 11 CHAMPLAIN, NY 12919 (518) 298-3011

PAGE 18

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 20594

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010

NEW!

Willsboro Office 39 Farrell Road Willsboro, NY 12996 (518) 963-4275

Plattsburgh Office

NEW!

Wellness Center

159 Margret Street Plattsbrgh, NY 12901 (518) 561-3377

2885 Essex Rd Essex, NY 12936 (518) 963-8800 Ask about our sliding fee program for the

Accepting New Patients At All Locations!

Healthy H e a l t h y KNOW THE RULES...

For Children Who Are Home Alone!

There are a number of important points families should consider prior to allowing their children to be selfsupervised. Parents and guardians need to assess their children. Does he or she have the personality, selfconfidence, and judgment skills to accept this responsibility? Will the experience be positive and help build and enhance the child’s self-image, or will the experience promote additional anxiety in the child who may be afraid to stay alone? Having a family conference to discuss the arrangement is a good place to start.

House rules, expectations of each family member, and a daily routine should be defined. At the end of the day, parents and guardians may also use the experience to have regular family meetings to help ensure the arrangement is still working and identify any alterations needing to be made. Here are some steps your family may take to help ensure a positive after-school experience.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics 17 percent of kindergartners through eighth graders spend time after school in self-care at least once a week, After-School Programs & Activities: 2005. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, May 2006, www.nces.ed.gov/ pubs2006/afterschool/tables/table_2.asp, accessed July 31, 2008.

Hearts Hearts & Bodies Bodies

KIDSVILLE KITCHEN Enjoy Spring with New Baking Ideas!

* A daily schedule of homework, chores, and activities for your child to follow. * A list kept close to the telephone including numbers for you, law enforcement, the fire department, an ambulance service, your doctor, a poison-control center, and a trusted adult who’s available in case of an emergency. * Written instructions about which, if any, appliances may be used; what to do in case of fire; and how to get out of the house if there is a fire. * A plan if you are detained and what to do if your child’s plans change. * Instructions about watching television, using a computer, talking on the telephone, and inviting friends over when you aren’t home. * Time to discuss the day’s events with your child. Make sure he or she knows it is okay to discuss anything with you, especially something that may have made him or her feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused in any way.

Before allowing your child to go home alone, you should… * Ask your child how he or she feels about being alone. Is your child afraid to be left alone, or does he or she have the maturity and initiative to want to assume that responsibility? * Determine how long your child will be alone and how accessible you or another trusted adult will be in case of an emergency. * Make sure you’ve set specific rules to be followed by your child while he or she is alone, and give your child specific instructions about how to reach you at all times. This should also include information about what to do if your child needs assistance and can’t reach you right away. * Remember you’re in charge, even if it is from a distance.

What Children Need To Know Before They Stay Home Alone I need to know.....

34191

Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

As a parent or guardian, you should make sure you have…

* My full name, address, and telephone number. * My parents or guardian’s full name, the exact name of the place where they work, their work telephone number, and any pager or cellular telephone numbers they may have. * How to make a telephone call to request help in an emergency using 911. * How to carry my key so it is hidden and secure. My name and address should not be on the key, and it may be wise to leave an extra key with a trusted friend or neighbor. * I will not walk or play alone on the way home, and never take shortcuts home. * I need to know what to do if I’m being followed. If that happens I should turn around, run in the opposite direction, and go to a designated place to get help and tell

uninsured.

a trusted adult what happened. * I should always check out the home before entering looking for such things as open, ajar, or broken doors and windows or anything that doesn’t look right. Go to a designated safe place to call for help if something doesn’t seem right. * I must always lock the door after entering and make sure the house is secure. * I need to immediately check in with my parent or guardian upon returning home to let them know I have arrived safely. * I cannot open the door for or talk to anyone who comes my home unless the person is a trusted family friend or relative, that I feel comfortable being alone with, and the visit has been pre-approved by my parent or guardian. * I need to stay alert for true emergencies such as a fire that would require the need to leave the home. * I should check with my parent or guardian or another trusted adult if I’m in doubt about anything.

Rain showers and blooming flowers aren’t the only things that will be kind to your sense of smell this spring. It’s also a great time of year to bake up homemade breads, cookies and moist, crumbly muffins.

This fun confetti cookie recipe is sure to be a new family favorite to celebrate spring. Here are some tips for making yummy treats that will have the entire neighborhood gathering outside your kitchen this spring: * Bake quick breads in the center of the oven rack for best heat circulation. * Use a spring-handled ice cream scoop (No. 20 or No. 24) to fill muffin cups or a melon-ball-sized scoop for mini muffins. * To tell if yeast bread is done baking in the oven, tap the crust. If the bread sounds hollow, it’s finished. * Boost the nutrition level in your cookies by using whole wheat flour. This works really well for drop cookies.

SPRINGTIME SLICE-AND-BAKE CONFETTI COOKIES WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 1/4 cups sugar • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened • 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening • 1 egg • 2 tablespoons milk • 2 teaspoons vanilla • 3 1/4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 10 drops red food coloring • 16 drops yellow food coloring • 9 drops green food coloring • 3 tablespoons pastel-colored confetti candy sprinkles

HOW TO MAKE IT: • With adult help: Heat oven to 375º F. Line bottom of a loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches, with plastic wrap.

• Beat sugar, butter and shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed or mix with a spoon. Stir in egg, milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

• Divide dough into thirds. Knead one food coloring into each dough.

Press one of the colored doughs in the bottom of the pan. Top with remaining colored doughs, pressing each layer firmly to seal. Turn the pan upside down and remove the plastic wrap from the dough. Cut dough lengthwise into thirds. Cut each third crosswise into 16 slices.

• Place about two inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until bottoms are a light golden brown. Cool for one minute, remove from cookie sheet and place on a wire rack.

Courtesy of ARAContent and Gold Medal Flour. Find several favorite recipes to try at www.GoldMedalWholeWheat.com.

When a kiss and a bandaid aren’t enough…

24-HOUR EMERGENCY CARE 75 Park Street P.O. Box 277 Elizabethtown, NY 12932 873-6377 www.ech.org

The Heart of Your Community APRIL 2010

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

PAGE 19

33881

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 (518 S D D ani, 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 Fa) 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

34215

PAGE 20

www.kidsvillenews.com/northernny

APRIL 2010