Bits & Pieces

Zonta International Food Festival

Saturday, August 13, 6:00-8:00 p.m. National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds Tickets: Adults $35, Children $25 Facebook @ZontaofDothan Your tastebuds will thank you for the flavors you will experience during the International Food Festival. The International Food Festival will be bringing you flavors of as many countries as possible. Scotland, Pakastan, Japan, Cuba, Jamaica are just a few on the list. All you can eat until it’s gone! Zonta Club of Dothan is celebrating the 35th year of the International Food Festival and expect it to be bigger than ever before.

Zonta is a 501c3 organization that all proceeds benefit local organizations that empower women and girls through support and advocacy: Girls Inc., Chrysalis A Home for Girls, The Exchange Center Child Abuse Prevention, and House of Ruth. We look forward to having you enjoy an evening full of entertainment and foods from around the World.

Jurassic Quest Comes to Dothan!

August 5-7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. National Peanut

Festival Fairgrounds www.jurassicquest.com Jurassic Quest, the largest & most realistic traveling dinosaur show in North

America, is ROARING through Dothan! Our event features more rides, activities, & dinosaurs than ever before! Fifty-foot-long Megalodon, 60-foot-long, sky-scraping Spinosaurus, the 80 ft. long Apatosaurus and our gigantic LIFESIZE T-Rex. Walking and stationary dinosaur rides. Interactive Baby

Dinosaur and Raptor Training Experience. Don’t miss the giant fossil dig, Triceratots soft play area, science fossil exhibit, and MORE! Advance tickets available online or available at the venue on the day of the event.

Longleaf Pine Interactive Exhibit Opens

Landmark Park, 430 Landmark Dr., Dothan www.landmarkparkdothan.com Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Kids, Members Free Landmark Park, home to Alabama’s Official Museum of Agriculture, is pleased to announce the installation of a brand new exhibit depicting the longleaf pine ecosystem. This interactive exhibit features live animals, taxidermy, a kid-sized gopher tortoise burrow and interpretive panels that showcase the longleaf pine ecosystem.

Frozen Jr. at the CAC

September 22-24, 7:00 p.m. Cultural Arts Center 909 S. St. Andrews St., Dothan Tickets $15 www.seact.com A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure and plenty of humor, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart! Based on the 2018 Broadway musical, Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle come to life onstage. Tickets on sale September 6.

First Saturday Family Day

First Saturday of the Month 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wiregrass Museum of Art 126 Museum Ave., Dothan www.wiregrassmuseum.org Saturdays are the perfect day for children and families to create and explore art together! First Saturday Family Day, one of WMA’s longest-running educational programs, offers free art activities on the first Saturday of every month for lifelong learners of all ages. Be sure to check WMA’s Facebook page for more information.

The Bigfoot Dead-N-Breakfast

August 19-21 Friday at 7:00, Saturday at 1:00 & 6:00, Sunday at 1:00 Cotton Hall Theater 166 Main St., Colquitt GA Tickets $25 Bigfoot sightings are on the rise and reservations are flooding in to The Bigfoot Bed-

N-Breakfast, but the proprietor says there is no room. When someone ends up dead, it’s up to the visitors to decide if the mysterious circumstances point towards the elusive Sasquatch himself, or a suspect a little closer to home. Many will check in, but who will check out? It’s up to you to solve the murder mystery. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at (229) 758-5450 or online at www.swampgravy.com.

Bluegrass Festival

Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. 430 Landmark Dr., Dothan Admission: Adults $10, Seniors/Military $8, Kids $4, Members Free www.landmarkparkdothan.com Join the Landmark Park Bluegrass family! Live bluegrass music all day. Plus, bring your instrument for jam sessions, instrument demos, food trucks, kids activities, historical interpretations, antique tractors, wagon rides, and arts and crafts vendors. DAR will present a September 11 memorial at the start of the festival. No pets or alcohol please. Featuring live music by the Amanda Cook Band, Another Town, Blue Holler and the Byrd Family.

Arty Pants on Toddler Tuesdays

Tuesdays in September, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Wiregrass Museum of Art 126 Museum Ave., Dothan $65 Members; $75 Non-members www.wiregrassmuseum.org

Your little one will enjoy creating art in different ways in these special hands-on classes designed for parents and toddlers. Using your powerful imagination, each day we will explore a new book and medium to create your very own messterpieces! Projects are designed to help develop fine motor and observational skills all while fostering a love for books and reading!

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All Fun. No Filter.

You and your troop. Dreaming up adventures. Making the whole world sparkle with your own personal brand of magic. This is just the beginning of forever friendship and a lifetime of fun.

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Scan here to begin your Girl Scout journey today!

Be a Girl Scout.

Sponsored by Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network

Healthy Habits for the New School Year

Summer vacation is winding down, and families are preparing for school. Back to school can be anxiety-provoking for parents and students alike. With a little preparation - packing bags and lunches the night before, meeting the teacher before the first day of class - getting back in the swing of things doesn’t have to be so difficult. Healthy habits at home can help children succeed in the classroom.

SLEEP: To support healthy growth and development, children need more sleep than adults. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, school-age children need 9-12 hours of sleep nightly, while teenagers typically need 8-10 hours. Children who don’t get enough sleep have trouble learning. Establish a sleep routine one to two weeks before school starts. Turn off electronic devices well before bedtime, have a calming bedtime routine, and go to bed and wake up about the same time every day.

HEALTHY EATING: Hunger has a negative impact on learning. Studies show children who eat a healthy breakfast perform better at school on tasks requiring attention, executive function, and memory. Many schools provide breakfast and lunch. If your child’s school doesn’t, make sure she eats a breakfast with some protein. Dairy, nuts, plant-based proteins, and lean meats are all good sources. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy growth; encourage your children to eat at least five servings each day. Avoid sugary drinks like sodas, sweet tea, and fruit juices.

EXERCISE: Getting enough exercise supports health in so many ways! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children get at least one hour of exercise daily. School sports can be a fun way for kids to be more active and try new things. Before taking the field, see your pediatrician for a sports physical or annual visit. Even if a preparticipation physical is not required, an annual checkup visit is a chance to make sure it’s safe for your children to participate in their chosen extra-curricular activities. If you and your pediatrician decide it’s not safe, your pediatrician can often identify tools to make an activity safer or suggest alternatives. All children need exercise. Finding a safe, fun activity for each child is key.

Addressing these foundations of health at home is a great way to help your child succeed at school. But if school is still a struggle, call your pediatrician. Pediatricians can often provide resources to address issues like bullying, learning differences, and behavioral issues.

Dr. Adam DeLong is a general pediatrician licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and board-eligible with the American Board of Pediatrics. In August 2022 Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network welcomed Dr. DeLong as a pediatrician at Dothan Pediatric Clinic.