Leigh Anne Woods law@growingupinthevalley.com Ryan, Krystal, Braydon, Kailey, Rome, and Sage’s Aunt
Shelley Sawyer shelley@growingupinthevalley.com
Troy and Tucker’s Mom
Sierra Lewis sierra@growingupinthevalley.com Johnathan’s Mom
Writers
Photographers
Laura Wade
Kim Castner
Katie Lewis
Heidi Blackwelder
April Collini
Teresa Martin
Amanda Powers
Rachel Robinson
Courtney Cutright
Jessica Farmer
Amanda Robinson
We welcome reader comments, submissions and the support of advertisers.
We reserve the right to refuse or edit any materials submitted to us that we deem inappropriate for our audience. Please include a self addressed stamped envelope with any submission to be returned. We do not accept responsiblity for unsolicited materials.
Southwest and Central Virginia’s Premier Family Resource!
Summer is over. I know you do not want to read that, but it is the truth. The kids are back in school and we are getting closer to Christmas then we are to the end of last school year!
It has been an amazing last few months here at Growing Up In the Valley. We have opened an office, been featured on 5 different television segments and had an awesome article written about us by Ralph Berrier at the Roanoke Times!
So how do we top all of that? Simplethrow the only fundraiser in the region for local schools! We are proud to be organizing the Run For Education at Fallon Park on November 1st.
Here is how it works. You sign up your school to particpate (PTA , booster clubs, etc are welcome). We give you forms and posters to promote the event and you have your students sign up runners and walkers.
For each participant you sign up your school will get $6! The rest of the money we raise through the event, minus expenses, will be awarded to the top participating schools in 5 categories; preschool, elementary, middle, high, and private.
The first 500 people (ages 6 and older To sign up) will also get an entry into the world’s largest laser tag game. Which will hopefully make it into the Guiness Book of World Records! You can be part of history simply by helping us raise money for schools in the Valley!
In addition, each school will receive a
Evelyn, Zoe, Ava and Anika Cousin vacation time!
To Nominate: info@growingupinthevalley.com Events
Growing Up In the Valley and Growingupinthevalley.com are published by MoFat Publishing. Growing Up In the Valley is published monthly. The views and the opinions expressed by the writers and advertisers do not necessarily represnt those of Growing Up In the Valley, it’s staff or contributors. The information presented here is for informational purposes only and although every effort has been made to present accurate information, we do not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of, or consequences from the use of this information or for the businesses and organizations presented herein. We urge all parents to confirm any information given herein and consult with a doctor or an appropriate professional concerning any information or question. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written consent of the publisher.
Phone: 540-251-1660
Fax: 540-977-1433
Mail: 2116 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24015
To Reach the Editor: andrea@growingupinthevalley.com
To Request Magazines: josh@growingupinthevalley.com
To Advertise: natashia@growingupinthevalley.com
Visit our website for new posts daily
Family Membership to the Virginia Museum of Transportation to award to a student any way they see fit. This can be used as a fundraiser incentive, a raffle or some other exciting way to get kids and parents excited.
We live and work in this community, and we’d like to do our part to invest in it’s future. We are proud to be a part of such a great region and we know that the education system does not always get the kind of funding it deserves. By creating this event, we hope to raise, money, have fun and get families active.
Even if you do not run, there will be TONS of activities for you and your kids. So make plans to come out and support education in the Valley!
- The Eagan Family
Andrea, Josh, Anika and Evelyn
To Submit An Event: sierra@growingupinthevalley.com
September: The Birthday Issue
Stars of the Valley
13 Roanoke Sister Cities
6 Party Planning 101
From cake to invites, we help with everything you need
Education Station
20 They Grow Up So Fast
How to parent a self sufficient Teenager
10 Path of Passion & Purpose
Learn how to find your passion in life
The Guide
22 Media Mommy
Reviews on the latests movies and books
35 Family Calendar
Find fun events to do this summer with your family!
33 Kids Eat Free
Find out all the details where kids dine for free
On The Cover: Thomas Sova, 8 (pictured with Mom, Dad & brother Ben)
Family Fun
8 Crafty Corner Calm Down Glitter Bottles
16 Avoid the Birthday Meltdown It’s their party and they’ll cry if they want to!
Family Living
19 Presents on a Budget Create lovely gifts at home
31 Save This - Buy That Growing Up in the Valley & Member One Credit Union’s weekly meal plan
Kidz Corner
40 Kid’s Games Mazes, word scrambles & Sudoku!
8
3 DAYS ONLY! October 3 – 5 • Greater Richmond Convention Center
Returning to Virginia!
The extremely popular LEGO® KidsFest offers LEGO lovers an exciting, interactive experience — packed with activities and creative fun for the entire family!
Wow! Challenge Zone & Big Brick Pile
Cool large-scale models built entirely of LEGO bricks
“Swim” in the Big Brick Pile
Planning a Birthday Party 101
As I write this story, I am planning a birthday party for my two-year-old daughter, who loves to watch Nickelodeon’s Bubble Guppies.
I spent an hour on a Sunday afternoon using Google’s search for images and a word processing program to create invitations we could email. This shindig is on a budget that does not include printing and mailing charges -- and my technological savvy-ness is limited.
I was looking over the guest list and thinking about whose email addresses I still needed, when it dawned on me to check evite.com for a Bubble Guppies template. Gulp!
There it was – perfectly designed and just waiting to be filled in and electronically delivered. Too bad I can never get back that lost hour.
Needless to say, planning a party takes time. In fact, it can be downright time consuming. Hopefully the tips, tricks, and how-tos contained here will be helpful as you arrange your child’s special day.
Kristy Thomas of Vinton said she began planning more than three months before her two-year-old twins’ birthday.
“Start with the basics: date, time and theme,” Thomas said. “Decide on how many people to invite, and the
rest will begin to fall into place.”
Choosing a venue
Deciding where to hold the party was difficult for Thomas, who said she learned from the girls’ first birthday celebration that adequate space for the toddlers to play was crucial.
birthday celebration is slated for Fa mous Anthony’s Vinton location, where Thomas has reserved two sections of the restaurant.
“Start with the basics: date, time and theme. Decide on how many people to invite, and the rest will begin to fall into place.”
Aside from finalizing the list of guests, booking a venue seems to be the most difficult part of party planning. In my case, our home could not (comfortably) accommodate the number of guests we wanted to invite. Our guests would be a mix of family, adult friends, and children, which meant we needed seating for the adults as well as space enough for the tots to play.
We opted to use the facilities at our church for the past two years, which is doubly advantageous. It provided the space we needed, and we, as members, were able to use the space free of charge.
“Price was a definite factor in choosing a venue, but we also wanted something close to our home and close to the store in case we forgot anything,” Thomas said.
The twins’ Minnie Mouse-themed
Last year, for Lennox’s first birthday, we had a larger-scale event featuring a luau cookout, so we needed the full kitchen and outdoor dining area. This year, we scaled it back a bit and used to a smaller gathering space to serve birthday cake.
If you are looking for an off-site location, and you are not a member of a religious congregation, you may consider contacting your local parks and recreation department about available spaces. Roanoke County, for instance,
has a variety of meeting rooms at its recreation facilities, in addition to the numerous picnic shelters at its parks, all of which can be rented for a birthday party.
Summertime lends itself well to outdoor party, including swimming venues. But for those of us with birthdays during the other nine months of the year, there is a plethora of indoor venues in the Roanoke Valley. From go-kart tracks and miniature golf courses to bowling alleys and roller skating rinks, there are a number of local establishments (including our magazine!) that offer birthday party packages.
Now that the magazine has moved into new digs on Colonial Avenue in Roanoke, there is space for parties of up to 12 children. The package includes pizza, crafts, and photos. Cupcakes from Viva La Cupcake are available as an add on.
What “sets us apart from other local birthday party places is our photo booth,” explains magazine designer Tracy Fisher.The photo booth will allow the birthday boy or girl to be featured on his or her own personal cover of the magazine. Two-hour party packages start at $149.
Invitations
I already touched on the fact that this can be a costly category in your planning. You do not have to be technology whiz to order custom invitations online from Etsy or Vistaprint, or use the discount stores’ photo websites to create invitations to be picked up in the store. Those are going to be the more expensive options. Packs of invitations to be handwritten can be picked up at the dollar or discount stores for a more reasonable price. But both of the options require postage. While I prefer the old-fashioned postage-stamped invite, it can become expensive depending on the size of your guest list. One way around this is to hand-deliver at least some of the invitations, if the alternative is practical.
Websites, such as Facebook or Evite, allow you to electronically invite guests by using email addresses. Most
of the sites are free, and it is helpful to return to the invitation to see who has confirmed and which stragglers have not RSVP’d.
Decorations
Party decorations and paper products can be another costly part of your party budget, depending on how much emphasis you put on these items. For my daughter’s first birthday, I went way overboard on luau decorations. Even though my purchases were made at Dollar Tree, I bought way more than I needed. Dollar and discount stores are great places to shop for decorations, plates, napkins, and more, especially if your child has chosen a popular theme that is easily available.
The TV series The Bubble Guppies is a couple years old and not nearly as popular as Minnie Mouse or Frozen. I had to search online to shop for Guppies-themed items instead of being able to shop in brick and mortar stores. I spent enough to qualify for free shipping without overbuying as I did the year before.
Dessert
This is the category in which I tend to splurge. My hips and waist can attest. We buy birthday cakes from a family friend, who is on the cusp of launching her own business. She bakes the cakes from scratch and spends hours crafting delicate decorations from fondant. At our celebrations, the birthday girl received a lot of attention but the cakes got the rest. This year’s delicacy was a three-tier yellow cake decked out with Bubble Guppies characters and buttercream icing.
For other birthday celebrations, I have baked cupcakes and bought storemade sheet cakes. A family favorite is Dairy Queen’s ice cream cake.
Again, for the budget-conscious this is an expenditure you can cut back as needed by doing it yourself.
No Presents Policy
As a parent of two kids who have too many toys and gadgets, I have pondered the etiquette of slapping “no gifts please” on the party invi-
Stars of the Valley
tations. But then I feel torn between short-changing my child and offending my guests – so we just end up with more toys and trinkets.
Laurie Minnix of Troutville was really pleased when her daughter, Ellie McClung, who was turning seven at the time, asked for donations for Saint Francis Service Dogs in lieu of birthday presents. St. Francis is a Roanoke County-based nonprofit that trains and partners service dogs with individuals with disabilities.
“It’s a great idea. Ellie totally initiated it on her own,” Minnix said.
Ellie’s birthday celebration guests were primarily family, and Minnix said all were supportive of her request. Many donated money directly to the charity, while others brought items for Ellie to deliver herself.
“The physical things that we delivered seemed to make more of an impact initially,” Minnix recalled. Ellie “was all smiles dropping off the donations.”
“She was very proud and honored to be able to contribute to the animals who could in turn contribute to kids or families in need,” Minnix said.
This year, around the time of Ellie’s eighth birthday, the nonprofit organization sent the family a letter soliciting support.
“Ellie happily gave more of her birthday money. It is a great snowball effect,” Minnix said.
Courtney Cutright is a Roanoke Valley native, who loves to sing the praises of all this area of Southwest Virginia has to offer. She teaches English to high school students in Roanoke County and formerly worked as a Roanoke Times reporter. Courtney, her partner and their two children live in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke County. When she isn’t mothering or teaching, Courtney enjoys reading, writing, trying new recipes, shopping with coupons and toying with technology.
Crafty
Corner Presents: Calm Down Glitter Bottle
Use these soothing & relaxing glitter bottles to help a child calm down after a meltdown or use it as a timer for time out. Try using different water color/ glitter combos for fun effects. (Our editor is partial to hot pink water with purple and silver glitter!)
Supplies
Water Bottle Water
Glitter
4 oz ClearTacky Glue
Goo-Gone
Super Glue
Food coloring (if desired)
Instructions:
1. Use an empty water bottle (about 1 liter in size) and remove label with Goo-Gone.
2. Fill bottle 2/3 with warm water, add in clear Tacky Glue. Add in glitter, then fill rest of bottle with warm water.
3. Shake Bottle to dissolve glue and distribute glitter.
4. Use Super Glue to seal cap to bottle.
Article by: Andrea Eagan
Photos by: Tracy Fisher
On the Path of Passion and Purpose
You have discovered your top 5 passions after taking The Passion Test in the last few issues. So now what? How does knowing your passions help you live a passionate, purposeful life?
There are 3 keys to living a passionate life. They are:
Intention:
Consciously choosing what you want
Attention:
Putting your energy, time and resources toward that which you intend to create
No Tension:
Doing your part and then letting go of attachment to the outcome
3 Keys to Creating a Life You Love
Intention is deciding what it is youwant most. This is about gaining clarity around what is most important to you right now, and is the step outlined in a previous issue when you wrote down your passions and prioritized your top 5 passions.
Once you know what you desire to create, it is time to put your attention on creating it.
“What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life,” says Janet Attwood, co-author of the NY Times best-selling book The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose.
“What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life,”
It is vital that you focus on what you DO want, not what you don’t want. For example, if you want a loving relationship with your spouse, you would focus on the qualities you love about him rather than the things he does that you find annoying. Sometimes, this can be a challenge, especially since our society tends to focus on the negative.
- Janet Attwood
For example, there tends to be more news about violence and crime than about peace and compassion even though there are many acts of kindness happening each day. The more we put our focus
on corruption and drama, the more we tend to see it unfolding in our lives. The same is true when we look for the good in others; the more we put our attention on the stranger who rescues someone from a burning car, or the friend who brings us food when we are too sick to care for ourselves, the more we notice when people are compassionate and generous. As Wayne Dyer, author of I Can See Clearly Now and TheArt of Manifesting: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way, says, “You’ll see it when you believe it.”
What does your ideal life look like when you are living your passions? Keep your focus on that. Does that mean it will work out exactly how you picture it? Not necessarily, but you are much more likely to begin to create the life you envision if you keep it in sight than if you worry about the things you don’t want to have happen.
An added bonus is that we tend to be happier when we focus on the things we love than when we focus on what we don’t like or fear.
Mark Victor Hanson, co-creator of The Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says that “energy flows where attention goes.” When you put your attention on something, you will find the people and resources showing up when and where you need them. Thus, the third step in creating a life you love which is no tension.
Once you have done the work, both the internal work of stating your intention and the external work of putting your energy into action, it is time to trust that it will unfold and be all you desire or more. Divine timing and order come into play. You may not anticipate how things happen or understand why, but if you trust that you have followed your heart and taken inspired action, you can let go of your attachment to the outcome, knowing that all is as it is meant to be on your journey.
How do you keep your attention
on what you want?
Affirmations are one tool you can use. I recommend checking out Lou ise Hay’s work or The Success Prin ciples by Jack Canfield for detailed information on using affirmations. Another great way is to write your top 5 passions on index cards. At the top, write “I am so happy and grateful now that I am….” and list your top five passions. At the bottom, write “This or something better!” to acknowledge that you are open to something you may not have even imagined yet, knowing that your dreams are unfolding. To get the most value out of this tool, do the following three things:
Keep a card by your bed so you can read it each morning upon awakening and each night before bed.
Put one with your calendar so you can plan your days based on what you are passionate about, and really want your life to be about.
1 2 3
Carry one with you so you can refer to it any time you are trying to make a decision. The more often you say “yes” to what your heart desires, the more joy and fulfillment you will experience!
Laura Wade is a mother of three, including twins. She is a Life Align ment Educator, Certified Passion Test Facilitator, speaker, and writer. She is passionate about helping other people discover their passions and align their lives with their purpose. Laura is available for meetings, keynotes and workshops, and would love to help you live a more joyful life! She offers individual coaching and group sessions to support you in discovering and living your dreams, and can be reached at 540-793-1902 or laural.wade@yahoo.com
Money for your school!
Run For Education
November 1, 2014 • 1:00PM-6:00PM • Fallon Park
5K Race
$20/Child
$26/Adult
1 Mile Race $10/Runner
Includes: Custom Race T-Shirt
World’s Largest Laser Tag Game Free Post-Race Snack Live Music & Entertainment Children’s Activities
After the race, participants will be part of the WORLD’S LARGEST LASER TAG GAME! There will also be food, entertainment, live music, games, & children’s activities at the park- all available to everyone.
Hosted by:
Sponsored by:
Sister Cities of Roanoke
“If you get to know people person to person, you get closer to world peace.”
- Jack Tompkins, Roanoke Sister Cities Executive Director
“If you get to know people person to person, you get closer to world peace,” Roanoke Sister Cities Executive Director Jack Tompkins said. This philosophy is the basic underlying principle that led to the creation of Sister Cities International, which came out of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1956 conference on citizen diplomacy. It wasn’t until 1964, however, that Roanoke established its first sister city relationship.
that the two cities are similar, both being mountainous railroad communities. With Kim’s connection, it was a perfect match.
in Wonju, too.
article by: Katie Lewis
Tompkins explained that this is greatly credited to Young U. Kim, a Korean doctor who completed his residency and served as a physician in Roanoke. After the Korean War, Kim volunteered to return to Wonju, Korea to help build a medical community and became the head of what is still the largest hospital in Wonju today. Upon returning to his home country, when discussion of developing a sister city relationship came up, he had the perfect suggestion in Roanoke. Tompkins explained
Tompkins explained that Dr. Kim is credited as being the grandfather of Roanoke Sister Cities, while Dr. Robert Roth is the father. Roth, a medical missionary, served as the only plastic surgeon in South Korea. It was there that he met Dr. Kim. When Roth returned to the States in the 1960s due to a family emergency, he brought with him the official agreements that established Roanoke and Wonju as sister cities. After finishing up his missionary work in Korea, Roth ended up starting a practice in Roanoke. Both doctors still reside in Virginia: Kim is in Roanoke and Roth splits his time between Williamsburg and Smith Mountain Lake. Wonju and Roanoke have shared much over their 50-year relationship. About ten years ago, a hospital exchange took place with Lewis-Gale and Wonju. Now, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine has a growing relationship
In 2010, visiting artist Kuk-Hyun Park, a South Korean potter, worked with students at Salem High School and donated several pieces to be used for fund-raising. Middle school students from Korea also spend a few weeks in Roanoke on a regular basis.
It would be awhile before the other six sister city relationships were developed. In 1976, Kisumu, Kenya was the next city with which a relationship was formed. The late Greta Evans, a long time Channel 10 personality, and Roanoker Mr. Bill Robertson, who became Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, helped develop this relationship. Roanoke Sister Cities supports the Agape Boys Home in Kisumu that houses abandoned youngsters. Because there is no one to take care of them, “these young boys become street children,” Tompkins said. “They are literally starving to death. They breathe glue to take away the feeling
Roanoke Sister Cities
of hunger, so we are helping rescue them.” They have also contributed funds to put some young men through college. Tompkins explained that the cost for a whole year of higher education in Kenya is only $1,100.
Wonju, Korea
Kisumu, Kenya
Pskov, Russia
The other five sister cities were added in the 90s, with Pskov, Russia being next. Natasha Petersen, a former Russian teacher for Roanoke City Schools, helped develop this relationship.
The relationship has resulted in an agreement between Ferrum College and Pskov Pedagogical Institute, allowing students to study at the alternative sites.
A relationship with Florianòpolis, Brazil was established in 1995. Roanoke Sister Cities helped develop the first women’s retirement homes there. They also support Loves Little Nest, an orphanage for HIV-positive children. Furthermore, the group and Roanoke Churches helped build a dental lab at the orphanage, at the request of a dentist, who agreed to make after-hours visits.
Also, in 1995, a sister city connection was made with Opole, Poland. While the local Sister Cities chapter began in Roanoke City, Roanoke County showed interest in
Florianòpolis, Brazil
Opole, Poland
Saint-Lô, France
Lijang, China
getting involved, and sponsored Opole. Roanoke’s Youth Symphony Orchestra has visited Poland and on September 7 at 3 p.m., piano students form the Chopin School of Music in Opole will be presenting a free musical performance at Center in the Square.
In 1996, a relationship with Lijiang, China was developed. Plans are currently in the works for art students from Lijiang to send over artwork to display in Roanoke.
In 1998, the final city with which a relationship was formed was SaintLȏ, France. The late Bob Slaughter, D-Day veteran who led the efforts to build the National D-day Memorial in Bedford, helped initiate this relationship. As a result of this relationship, an exchange program has been developed, allowing high school students to visit the alternate country. The group also holds an annual Bastille Day Picnic each summer.
Under the umbrella organization of Roanoke Valley Sister Cities, Inc., each Sister City has its own committee that develops events and projects unique to the paired cultures. “There is something for everyone, depending on their interests,” Tompkins said. “If we could get the word out there, people would find something that interested them. It’s a great way to meet people and to have international experiences. You can host middle school Korean kids, send your kids to France, or talk with visitors from around the world in family settings.”
The aforementioned events are just a small sampling of the cultural connections the program has brought to the Valley over the past 50 years. Physical
evidence of the Sister City relationships is visible around the Valley as well. Each Sister City’s flag waves above Friendship Fountain at the Church Avenue entrance to Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke. At Century Plaza, across from Fire Station 1 in Downtown Roanoke, columns featuring each sister city line the walkway. Tompkins said that Virginia Western is extremely supportive and displays signs as well. And, of course, Wonju Street in Southwest Roanoke City was named in honor of the first sister city relationship. In turn, Wonju, Korea has a street named Roanoke Street, where its City Hall is located.
Fifty years after the Wonju relationship was developed, Roanoke Sister Cities is preparing to celebrate its anniversary with a gala on October 15. “It’s a friend-raiser rather than a fundraiser,” Tompkins said. “We kept the price low so that people will come.” The event will feature ethnic food, décor, music and displays from all of the cities. Prior to the event, there will be free entertainment including musicians, Chinese dragon dancers, and other types of outdoor entertainment from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The actual event, which costs 45 dollars for adults and 40 dollars for students, will be held at 7 p.m. on the roof of the newly renovated Center in the Square. Tompkins explained that plans are still in the works, but they hope to have visitors from all of the Sister Cities present at the event. You can find more information about joining Roanoke Sister Cities or get tickets for the gala by visiting www.rvsci.us or e-mailing rvscinfo@yahoo.com.
Avoid The Birthday Meltdown
by: Tracy Fisher
A house full of happy children, brightly colored decorations, balloons all over, maybe even a funny clown making balloon animals and squirting water from a fake flower. These are all signs of a great birthday party. However, to some kids, and even some parents, all of these things can be over-stimulating and lead to tears and a meltdown. Follow these simple tips to help keep everyone happy and smiling so your party can make great memories for everyone involved.
1. Limit the Guests
An overcrowded house or party place can make anyone feel a little anxious or over-stimulated. Sit down with the birthday child and make a list of guests, focus on close friends and family.
2. Have a schedule
You don’t need to plan out every minute, but judge how long the entertainment and games shoud last, when you’ll be serving the cake, when you’ll be opening presents etc. This lets the birthday child know what is planned and when to expect all the fun on the party day!
3. Skip Traditions
Does your child hate having everyone’s eyes on them? Skip the public opening of the presents (but make sure you back it up with thank you cards!) You can even skip singing “Happy Birthday” to very sensitive children.
4. Lose the party
Sometimes your children’s favorite memories will be just when you are focused on them. Instead of a birthday party, your child might prefer a day out at a museum or going to the movies with just you!
Composed by LORI LAITMAN
Libretto by DANA GIOIA
Conducted by SCOTT WILLIAMSON
Directed by BETH GREENBERG
Commissioned
Birthday Presents on a Budget
Birthday parties are great fun! Kids look forward to attending parties, meeting up with their friends, and socializing in a new place that allows them to have a lot of fun. In today’s budget conscience world though, birthday gifts can add up, especially when you have multiple children attending more than one birthday party on any given weekend. Since times are tight, and most every family is looking for ways to save some hard earned money, here are some easy ideas to help the entire family save money on gifts but still give really neat presents to the birthday girl/boy:
When all else fails, just remember, birthday gifts don’t have to be expensive to make an impact. Your kids will learn important saving lessons and the birthday boy or girl will be really grateful to have something that really interests them! 1 9 8 7 5 6 4 3 2
Try to always stay away from buying birthday cards. We encourage our girls, 7 and 10, to make and design their own birthday cards for friends. It usually saves us at least $3.00 and the girls get to show off their artwork.
Kids love to draw and create. Every student in my classes has enjoyed having time to craft/draw/or design something. A simple blank notebook and a really cool set of colored pencils or markers can be a great inexpensive gift. Origami paper and an inexpensive how to book is also great for upper elementary kids.
Do your kids know how to knit? How about sew? Can they make duct tape purses? These all make really neat gifts for their friends. Your kids get to be proud of their skills and their friends will want to learn how to make them as well.
An inexpensive gift card to a place like the Co-Op, Barnes and Noble, or even the movies can be a fantastic gift. My girls love gift cards because it gives them a chance to choose their own gifts.
Card games also make great gifts. Besides playing the game, kids really love making card houses out of them! My mom and oldest daughter spent an entire day making card houses.
Consider donating to Mill Mountain Zoo or a local charity in the child’s name. This is a great way for kids to learn the power of giving and they’ll be happy their gift went to a great cause. Several friends have had parties for their children where they specifically requested no gifts- just donations to places like Angels of Assisi or the Southwest Virginia Food Bank. Helping others is always a fantastic idea.
If the birthday girl or boy loves to cook, give them a few inexpensive cooking tools (i.e. a wisk, mixing bowl, cheap rolling pin). An inexpensive cookbook would work well too!
Consider giving a lesson of some sort. Music, drawing, pottery, or skateboarding are just a few suggestions. The birthday boy or girl would love to try something new!
By:
Kimberly Castner
They Grow Up So Fast (But they still need their parents)
I typically don’t mind being short. Sometimes I can’t reach things on the top shelf at the grocery store and finding pants that are the right length can be a challenge, but it’s never been a big deal. Until recently. Suddenly I have come up with a new disadvantage. Being short means my kids grow up faster. I know this is only a perception, but it’s a perception that is very real to me. My seventh grade son will probably surpass my five foot two stature by the end of the school year. I feel small when I put my arm on his shoulder. I feel small when he sits beside me. I feel small, and he feels big. I keep thinking, maybe if I was taller, it wouldn’t seem like he was growing up so fast. But the fact is, he is growing up at an incredible rate. Since I don’t have a choice, and it’s probably better for both of us, I am learning to accept this. And to be honest, I love the age he is at. So often, we dwell on no longer having babies or toddlers with our “they grow up too fast” mentality and take for granted how wonderful the pre-teen and teen years are. Yes, I said it. They are wonderful. I love the conversations I have with my son. I love watching him develop into a young man. I must say, the changes that came from elementary to middle school were huge, but not necessarily bad. I remember telling a friend that I felt that my son no longer needed me. But before the thought was able to fully bring me to tears, I realized just how false it was. In fact, he just might need me more than ever. One of his biggest needs might be space, but that is still a need I need to accept. You can give your child space, while still establishing strict boundaries. It’s so easy to allow that need for space and independence to distance your relationship. But space doesn’t mean no more fun, no more hugs, no more kid stuff. It also doesn’t mean that you are off the hook with your child’s education.
I’m a high school teacher, yet I fell victim to this last year. I gave my son a little too much educational freedom. My son maintained A/B honor roll, and I was proud of him for that. For most of the year, he worked extremely hard to earn those grades. However, there was one particular grading period where an A slipped to a B unnecessarily. Not because he was struggling, not because the teacher was unfair, but because, when I assumed he was doing everything he should be, he was being a little lazy. When I assumed he had it under control, he was thinking
Article by: Katie Lewis
“but it reminded me that my son, who is almost as tall as me, still needs me in all aspects of his life.”
more about summer. When I became complacent, so did he. I wished I had been more active, followed up with him more, encouraged him to go the extra mile. It ended up alright, but it reminded me that my son, who is almost as tall as me, still needs me in all aspects of his life.
I encourage you, as the school year is just underway, to stay involved in your child’s education through upper elementary, middle and high school. I definitely see a correlation between student success and parental involvement. There are exceptions, of course, but typically students with involved parents have a stronger desire to succeed. With that said, hopefully this is not
simply out of fear of grounding or other punishments. I hate when a student approaches me and says, “What can I do to pull up my grade. I’m going to be in so much trouble at home.” I would love for a student to actually say, “What can I do to pull up my grade? I want to learn. I want to succeed. I want to prepare for my future.” Rather than threats or punishments, start with instilling the importance of education in your child while they are young and explain to them how lucky they are to have such an opportunity. Instead of saying things like “I can’t believe you have so much homework” or “What is the purpose of that assignment?” try to support your child’s teachers… unless, of course, something seems extremely irrational or out of place. And talk to them about school daily. Not the “you better have finished your homework” kind of
talk, but a more encouraging kind. I know every child is different and needs to be approached in a different way, but taking an interest and being supportive can go a long way in every child’s life.
Most parents don’t miss their child’s sporting events, dance recitals, or band concerts even as they get older, but as kids grow, attending conferences and educational involvement seems to fall by the wayside. This makes it seem as if parents’ priorities are not on education; why should the kids care, if the parents don’t? Chances are, your child will not become a professional football player or ballerina, but their educational background will affect their future no matter what they end up doing. Doesn’t that make it something worth investing your time and energy?
Media Mommy
If I Stay
2009
by Gayle Forman Grades 8 - 12
Seventeen-year-old Mia lives in Portland, Oregon, and comes from a family of musicians...punk rock musicians, that is. So when she is inexplicably drawn to the cello as her instrument of choice, her parents are bewildered. But they support her passion for the classical genre and it soon becomes evident that Mia is a prodigy.
Halfway through high school, Mia meets Adam. Adam is cool in that effortless, self-actualized way. He’s the lead singer and guitarist in a local band, and he’s as passionate about punk rock as Mia is about Beethoven. Though they start out as just friends, it’s not long before the two of them fall in love.
Now, with her audition for Juilliard (a world-renowned school for the performing arts in New York City) behind her, Mia can relax and the waiting begins. But as she’s about to find out, life can change in an instant.
On the way to her grandparents’ house on a snow day, her family is in a serious car accident. Both of her parents are killed instantly, but somehow Mia seems to be okay…until she finds her own body lying on the ground. Not dead, but in a coma. Her spirit is stuck in some kind of limbo between life and death, where she can see what’s happening but is unable to interfere.
Out of My Mind 2010
by Sharon M. Draper Grades 5 - 8
Eventually, Mia realizes that the choice is up to her, whether she stays in this world or moves on to the next. How can she stay, when her parents are gone? But how can she leave without Adam?
If I Stay is a moving, heartfelt narrative told in both present and the past, as Mia reminisces about her life before, and wonders what happens after.
by: Heidi Blackwelder
Melody is an 11-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. She can’t walk, talk, or even feed herself, but the worst part about it is that her mind is fine. Actually, she’s pretty sure she’s a genius with a photographic memory. But because she can’t talk, she can’t tell anyone this. Her mother is one of the only people who seems to understand her. Well, and Mrs. V who lives next door. In fact, it was Mrs. V who set Melody up with her “word board”, a tray attached to the front of her wheelchair with all the important words and phrases they could think of, so Melody can point to the words she needs to get her ideas across. Though this has been tremendously helpful for Melody’s ability to communicate, she’s still limited to just the words on the board.
When her friend Rose is showing off her new laptop at school one day, the thought occurs to Melody that what if there were a computer that could be just for her? One that could put her thoughts into words and speak them to the people around her? With the help of her aide, Catherine, she learns about a device called the Medi-Talker, a computer that does just that, and it arrives just in time for Christmas. Now armed with her very own voice, Melody is ready to show the world what she’s made of. She wants to try out for the Whiz Kids, her school’s quiz bowl team. The problem is, they all think that Catherine is helping her cheat. How can she prove to them that the Medi-Talker’s words are her own?
Written from the perspective of Melody, Out of My Mind is a poignant story about overcoming prejudice and gaining understanding; about a girl
who is trapped in her own body, and how she finally breaks free.
Muppets Most Wanted
2014
directed by James Bobin
The Muppets are back together at last! At the insistence of his friends but against his better judgment, Kermit agrees to hire Dominic Badguy as their manager. Dominic’s first order of business is to schedule The Muppet Show for a European tour, which sounds great! Things seem to be going swimmingly at first, but gradually it becomes more and more obvious that their new manager is undermining Kermit’s every decision and opinion. Unfortunately, none of Kermit’s friends seem to notice or care. After all, they’re selling out their shows and getting rave reviews! What could possibly be wrong?
But then Dominic convinces Kermit to go on a walk to clear his head, and Kermit comes back...different. He still mostly looks like Kermit, but he’s acting strange and has mysteriously picked up a Russian accent…
Meanwhile in Siberia, the world’s #1 most dangerous criminal, Constantine, has escaped from a top security prison. A criminal who, coincidentally, also happens to be a frog…
Sadly, no one notices the imposter Kermit except for Animal, who no one believes. And so with Constantine under disguise and Kermit shipped off to jail in his place, Dominic’s evil plan begins to come to fruition.
In typical Muppet fashion, what happens next is a silly adventure full of slapstick comedy, fun songs, and more celebrity cameos than you can count. Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey, Muppets Most Wanted will have the whole family laughing and singing along for years to come.
Why ?
When you are making the choice for your child to attend a preschool or child care program, there are many factors to consider. You’ll want to think about whether you prefer individual or group care, the program’s location, hours of operation, and of course, the cost. All of this information is critical to determining whether a program will meet your child care needs.
But, there is another important factor to consider. Because a child’s experiences during the earliest years have the potential to impact the trajectory of his or her entire life, the quality of preschool and child care settings is extremely important. In fact, the quality of a program is what determines how much your child will benefit from participating. Children’s experiences in the early years- both at home and in child care- lay the foundation for children’s academic and social skills when they enter school and continue into adulthood.
Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, and because almost 400,000 Virginia children live in dualincome or single working parent households, the issue of child care quality is even more important.
The issue of quality has been central to early childhood researchers over the past decade. While early studies focused on the benefits of preschool for children who face multiple risk factors, we now know that preschool can have a positive impact on school readiness for children from all backgrounds. However, these early education experiences must be of high quality in order to have an impact.
Certain aspects of preschool and child care programs are most likely to positively impact children’s academic and social skill development, and these elements are used to evaluate the quality of a program. Aside from the safety, the most critical features of a preschool or child care program are the nature of the interactions between adults and children and the use of an effective curriculum to teach language, literacy, math, and social-emotional skills.
Young children’s learning and development is dependent on the quality of the interactions they have with the adults in their lives. When children spend their days in a classroom or program with a warm, responsive teacher, they are more likely to feel supported and confident. A positive environment with a respectful teacher encourages children to develop pro-social relationships with their classmates as well as skills that promote lifelong learning such as curiosity, persistence, and initiative. Teachers in high quality programs are also skilled at supporting children’s learning through interactions. Rather than simply providing toys and monitoring behavior, skilled early childhood professionals can encourage higher level thinking skills by asking thought provoking questions and providing opportunities for children to make choices and show leadership in the classroom.
In Virginia, information is available to families about the quality of interactions in preschool and early education settings. Programs who volunteer to receive a rating through Virginia’s quality rating and improvement system, the Star Quality Initiative, agree to have their program observed for high quality interactions and for those results to be posted online for parents to review. Go to www.smartbeginnings.org/qris for a list of rated programs.
The Monarch Musical
and
By: Angie Yates, Creative Starts
As summer comes to a close and autumn begins to cool the days, the amazing monarch butterfly will begin to migrate and fly over 2,500 miles to over-winter in a warmer climate. The monarch butterflies of Virginia will fly to Mexico to hibernate in fir trees. Once spring returns they will head back north to find plants such a milkweed in which to lay eggs for the next generation of monarch butterflies to hatch.
Explore the life cycle of the monarch by combining music and science to create a fun musical adventure with your child. Children learn and retain information best when they actively engage in dramatic and creative play. Make the monarch instruments below and act out the life cycle of the monarch with the music “Butterfly Waltz” by the composer Brian Crain.
You can find this song on iTunes, Spotify or http://youtu.be/YcsdJJjgheQ.
Let’s set the stage for “The Monarch Musical”
Egg shaker – Fill a plastic egg with rice.
Caterpillar Kazoo – Paint a toilet paper tube to look like a monarch caterpillar. Cut out a piece of wax paper large enough the cover one end of the tube and cut two tiny slits in the center of the paper. Attach the wax paper with a rubber band. You can add antennae by twisting pipe cleaners around the rubber band. Sing the sound “do” into your kazoo to make music.
Chrysalis Cozy – Cover your Caterpillar Kazoo with green paper, felt or a scarf.
Butterfly Castanet – Fold a piece of orange card stock in half. Cut out the shape of butterfly wings. Paint or color your wings on the outside of the folded wings. Twist two pipe cleaners together at one end. Place the wings between the two pipe cleaners and twist the other end of the pipe cleaners. Curl the leftover ends to make the antennae. Lastly, attach 4 bottle caps or buttons to the inside of the wings using doubled-sided foam tape or glue. Flap the butterfly’s wings to play your castanet.
Article
Photos
Dental Care is Crucial During the First Year of Life
Proper care for baby teeth is imperative as they serve several critical functions, including:
•Fostering good nutrition by permitting proper chewing
•Aiding speech development
•Helping proper development of permanent teeth by saving space for them
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend a dental visit for children by age one.
Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six and 12 months.
The associative pain of tooth decay can prevent a child from eating correctly, impacting overall health and development. Additionally, undetected and untreated tooth decay can lead to infection, loss of teeth and expensive and mostly preventable emergency and restorative interventions.
A scientific paper in the journal Pediatric Dentistry revealed that children who wait to have their first dental visit until age two or three are more likely to require restorative and emergency visits.
Benefits of the Year
One Dental Visit
Visiting a pediatric dentist by the time the first baby tooth appears enables the child to begin a lifelong preventive dental care program to minimize tooth decay and cavities.
Pediatric dentists can detect early tooth decay, provide parents with information on proper oral and facial development, determine fluoride needs and more.
The year one dental visit can actually save money. A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.
Recommended
Athome Dental Care
During Year One:
Even before baby teeth appear, infants need proper oral care and fluoride supplements to help developing teeth grow strong and avoid early childhood caries.
duced.
Parents should be encouraged to have infants drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Infants should be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of age.
Baby teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with an aged-appropriate sized toothbrush using a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste.
1 + 1 = ZERO. ONE dental visit when there’s ONE tooth can equal ZERO cavities.
Parents should clean infant mouths and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water.
Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride.
Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent.
Infants and young children have other unique caries-risk factors including development of dietary habits and childhood food preferences. Breast-feeding at will should be avoided after the first primary tooth begins to erupt and other dietary carbohydrates are intro-
You can find additional information at www. PediatricDentistryRoanoke.com or contact our office at (540)-989-3639. This information is provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Corey J. Sheppard, D.D.S., Pediatric Dentist. Anderson & Sheppard Pediatric Dentistry.
What’s Trending:
From charity challenges to mobile games, we keep you in the know of the month’s coolest trends!
#IceBucketChallenge
It’s the viral video challenge that is making a difference. Unlike it’s predecessors the Cinnamon Challenge and the ill-advised Fire Challenge, The Ice Bucket Challenge asks participants to dump a bucket’s worth of ice water on their head or donate $100 to the ALS association. (ALSA.org) This viral phenomenon has swept across the world! There have been celebrity particpants, whole sports teams, college mascots, and even Roanoke’s very own mayor got soaked! As of writing this, the ALS association has received over $41 million and there have been over 1.2 billion videos tagged with the challenge uploaded on to social media sites since the challenge’s
beginning in New England at the end of June 2014.
SpellFall
iOS, Free
You play as a young wizard trying to save the country from evil monsters that have taken over the land. You match magical gems to create powers, earn money and buy weapon & armor upgrades. In-App Purchases available.
Crayola
Nail Party
iOS, Free Crayola brings their vibrant colors to a popular new nail painting simulation game. Not only do they have great colors to choose from, but also stickers, glitter and gems to add to your child’s designs. In-App Purchases available.
Y We Apps
The last Harry Potter book was released over 7 years ago, and the final movie was 3 years ago, but fans are still looking forward to new stories from their beloved authorJ.K. Rowling. Rowling has confirmed
Harry Potter Continues ...sorta
that she is working on a new movie triology in the wizarding world based on the school book of Hogwarts Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them.
“Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards...‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the ‘Harry Potter’ series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the ‘Harry Potter’ books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry’s gets underway.” the first movie is due out November 18, 2016.
Sago Mini
Ocean
iOS &Android, Free Sago Mini has hit it out of the park again, with their new app- Ocean. You control a fun little fish and have adventures in his part of the ocean. It’s a great app for preschoolers who cannot yet read the instructions for other games.
The Line
iOS, Free
The premise is simplekeep your finger on an everscrolling line. You’ll hit special blocks that give you abilities that help you stay on the line longer. The longer your finger stays on the line without bumping into the wall, the higher your score.
Ingredients:
1 2-Liter of Cola 8 lb of Boneless Pork 1 Bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce
• 8 slices of bread
• 4 oz of grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 6 slices of center cut bacon
• 1 large sliced red onion
$2.16/serving
• 2 cups of spinach leaves
• 1 large sliced tomato
Directions:
Directions:
• 1 chopped garlic clove
• cooking spray
Place pork in crockpot and cover with Cola. Cook on low for 8 hours or until shreds easily.
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Coat the pan with cooking spray. Add 1 cup sliced onion and garlic; cook for 10 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons grated cheese over 4 of the bread slices. Top each slice with 1/2 cup spinach, 2 tomato slices, 2 tablespoons onion mixture, and 1 1/2 bacon slices. Sprinkle each with remaining 2 tablespoons grated cheese; top with the remaining 4 bread slices.
3. Place sandwiches in heated skillet, coat with cooking spray again, and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cheese melts.
Remove pork, drain remaining cola and shred pork. Place back in crockpot with entire bottle of BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 1 – 2 hours. Stir occasionally. Enjoy!
Kids Eat Free
Here is our list all the Kids Eat Free (or cheap!) meal deals from all around the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Know of one we’re missing? We’ll list it for free!
Lil Cucci’s • Daleville • All Day Town Center Tap House • Daleville • All Day
Crumb & Get It • Radford • All Day
Sharkeys • Radford • All Day
Thursday Friday
The Roanoker • Roanoke • 4-6PM
Lil Cucci’s • Daleville • All Day
Macado’s charges $1 per child on Tuesday
Wednesday
Lil Cucci’s • Daleville • All Day Cork & Crust • Roanoke • 5PM- Close
Weekend
Lil Cucci’s • Daleville • All Day •Saturday• Lil Cucci’s • Daleville • All Day Steak N Shake*** • Roanoke • All Day Famous Anthony’s • All Locations • 12PM-Close •Sunday• Lil Cucci’s
are subject to change without notice!!! We do our best to keep our Kids Eat Free listings up to date• but often restaurants often change their promotions based on location and without notice. P lease call ahead of time to confirm that the deal is still taking place. This listing does not serve as a guarantee by us or the restaurant to any discount!
Family Calendar
Autumn is definitely starting to creep in. Many local farms have opened up for the season! Check out our full event calendar at Growingupinthevalley.com/calendar
Moms Night Out
September 18, 6:30 PM
Growing Up in the Valley 2116 Colonial Ave Roanoke VA 24015
Sometimes mom just need a night away! Growing Up in the Valley is proud to team up with Jamberry representative Kim Castner and offer ladies of the valley a free night out. We will show off some great Jamberry designs, snack on some light refreshments and enjoy a night away from the kids! Can’t come that night? No problem- you can still order some long lasting nail decor through our Facebook pagefb.com/growingupinthevalley
We will be accepting the first 15 RSVPs sent to tracy@growingupinthevalley.com
Birthday Party Showcase
September 6th and 20th, 4:00 -6:00 PM
Growing Up in the Valley -2116 ColonialAve Roanoke VA
Growing Up in the Valley is offering birthday parties now! We know planning a birthday is hard but with our parties, parents just sit back and enjoy the day. In our showcase children will be able to try out our crafts, strike a pose in our free photobooth where you can then see your child on their own cover of the magazine, as well as food samples! Try out a party before you book your very own! This showcase will be open from 4PM6PM, no invites necessary, but space is limited.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Share your own event for free on Growingupinthevalley.com
September 5-7
Franklin County Civil War Days
Lakewatch Plantation, SML
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM
All Ages
$5/ Ages 12+
$2/ Ages 5-11
Free/ Under 5
Take a step back in time as you explore history, discover camp life and relive stories from the front lines at the fourth annual Franklin County Civil War Days. The event will feature military demonstrations with notable re-enactors, including portrayals of General Jubal A. Early and General Robert E. Lee, living history presentations, battlefield polo, a fashion show and tea, a church program, a variety of vendors including artisans, authors, food and more. This event is coordinated by the Franklin County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee in conjunction with the Franklin County Office of Economic Development.
Saturday • September 6
FREE Growing Up in the Valley Birthday Party Showcase
4:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Growing Up in the Valley 2116 Colonial Ave
All Ages
Free
Sample a Growing Up in the Valley birthday party and then book your own! There will be free crafts, games, photo booth & light refreshments. Also on September 20th!
Grandparent’s Day at VMT
Virginia Museum of Transportation
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
All Ages
$5/person
$2/ Train Ride
Celebrate Grandparent’s Day at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. There will be train rides, crafts, scavenger hunt, and lots more family fun!
FREE Spectacular Saturdays
Taubman Museum of Art
10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
All Ages Free
Bring the family out for a day at the Taubman! Featuring gallery hunts, arts and crafts, and special guests! Make EVERY saturday spectacular!
Virginia’s Big Ol’ Baby Shower
Roanoke Civic Center
10:00 AM- 2:00 PM
All Ages
$5/Person
At this giant baby shower event there will be goody bags, materntiy clothing exchange, photos, cake tasting, daddy zone, play area for little ones, vendors, and tons more all related to pregnancy and baby!
Sunday • September 7
Grandparents Day
Mill Mountain Discovery Center
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
All Ages
$6/person (Grandparents are free!) Registration required.
Are you looking for a fun way to spend time with your Grandparents on this special day? Bring them to the Discovery Center for a guided nature walk and make a craft together as a treasured momento. Register by September 4th at playroanoke.com
Friday • September 12
Me at the Museum
O. Winston Link Museum
10:00 AM
Ages 3-5 Free for members
This 45-minute program is designed not only to expose your child to history in a fun and creative way, but to provide an opportunity to create meaningful experiences that will promote lifelong learning. We will read a story and do a couple of activities relating to a monthly theme that your little one will take home!
Travel the world through books
Tuesday, August 13
10:30 am Melrose Library
ursday, September 4
10:30 am Raleigh Court
Tuesday, October 28
11:00 am
Valley View Mall Kiosk
Enjoy a special story time with
Growing Up
Saturday • September 13
Bill Engvall
Roanoke Civic Center
5PM & 8PM Shows
All Ages
Admission starts at $31/person
The thing that makes any entertainer successful is the ability to connect with an audience. It’s the quality of sharing the humor in everyday situations that has made Bill Engvall one of the top comedians today.
Engvall recently competed on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”. Bill’s tremendous work ethic and ability to add humor to any situation made him an instant fan favorite.
Olde Salem Days
Main Street, Salem VA 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
All Ages Free
Olde Salem Days attracts over 400 artists and crafters, food vendors, classic cars exhibitors and entertainers each year. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic guests attend Olde Salem Days in search of handcrafted gifts, culinary delights as well as entertainment. Features: over 400 artists, crafters and participants, food court located in the Farmer’s Market, antique car show featuring over 150 vehicles, live music at the Farmer’s Market, Kid’s Fair at Library Square.
The Black Dog Music and BBQ Festival
Nancy Morrisette Field, Floyd VA 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
All Ages
$25/ Adult advance ticket
$35/ Adult at the gate
$20/ Ages 13-20
Free/Children 12 & under
Back by Popular demand, The Greencards will open the show at 11:00 AM followed by Mountain Heart at 2:00. Join us for a great time, fabulous music and delicious food. Festival includes music, winery tour, tasting and souvenir wine glass. Concerts are held rain or shine.Well behaved pets on a leash are always welcome. No picnic baskets, or outside food & beverage permitted. Please bring your own seating.
Tuesday • September 16
Collecting Rocks Day
Mill Mountain Discovery Center
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Ages 5-12
$8/Person
We will celebrate Collecting Rocks Day by searching for (and returning) cool rocks on Mill Mountain. We will provide some awesome rocks for starting your own collection. Register by Sept 12th at playroanoke.com
Saturday • September 20
Breakfast with the Animals: Partake with the Predator
Mill Mountain Zoos
8:30 AM- 10:30 AM
All Ages
$15/non-member adult
11/non-member child
$45/non-member family of 4
$12/member adult
$8/member child
$35/member family of 4
Come enjoy a light breakfast buffet and the chance to meet some of the zoo animals. The zoo keeper will be there to answer questions and you can also see them prepare breakfast to feed to the animals. For more info: visit www.mmzoo.org or email education@mmzoo.org
Friday • September 19
FREE Roanoke Greek Festival
September 19-21
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Friday and Saturday: 11AM-10PM; Sunday: 12PM-7PM
All Ages
Free
Come, be Greek for a day! Join the thousands of participants who visit this joyous cultural festival each fall. We look forward to sharing our food, music and our joy for life with you. Presented by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. There will be special event times such as, dance exhibitions and musical performances.
Roanoke City Libraries
Saturday • September 20
FREE 37th Annual Boones
Mill Apple Festival
Boones Mill, VA
10:00 AM
All Ages
Free
19th Fall Home Show
Salem Civic Center
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
All Ages
$6/Adults
Free/Under 18
19th Annual event featurng a great variety of vendors showcasing products and services related to building or remodeling, and enhancing your home, garden & life. And don’t miss: Art Gallery featuring top local artists; Home Show University classes on helpful homeowner topics. This event is sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association. For more information, see their website www.rrhba.com
41th Annual Wilderness
Trail Festival
Saturday: 9:00 AM-4:00 pm -- Rain or Shine-- West Main Street Christiansburg
Come celebrate history, culture, and tradition with the Kiwanis Club of Christiansburg at the Kiwanis Wilderness Trail Festival!
Saturday • September 27
Sinkland
Farms Pumpkin Grand Opening Festival
Sinkland Farms, Christiansburg VA
10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
All Ages
$10/adults
$5/ages 2-16
You are sure to find something for everyone...hay rides, pony rides, rocket launches, air launchers, face painting, art, fall decor, farm animals, corn maze, food, ice cream, and much, much more!!
Roanoke Whovians Meet Up
16 West Marketplace
16 Church Ave SW, Roanoke
6:00 PM
All Ages Free
In all of time and space, this is a place for those who love the Doctor to meet and enjoy each others company. We welcome adults of all ages, from 18 years to 826 years.
Sunday • September 28
JDRF Walk
Virignia Transportation Museum
2:00 PM
All Ages
Race Registration Required
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is an impactful way to raise money for critically needed type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and show your support for the millions of people affected by this serious disease. This year, Roanoke will host a walk on Sunday, September 28 beginning at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Registration begins at 12pm and the walk begins at 2pm. You can choose either 1 mile or 3 miles! Together, we will turn Type One into Type None!
Water Slide Maze
Can you find where the swimmers on top will come out in the pool?
Find the Match Unscramble
Can you find the pair of matching piles of birthday presents?
2 4 3 5 4 6 1 5 4 6 Fill the empty cells with numbers between 1 and 6 but each number can appear only once on each row, column and region.
Unscramble the letters below to reveal the birthday words
