W I N T E R 2017
Inside
Idaho Falls Family Starts Movement to Help Others Find Happiness p. 11
Four Simple Tips to Improve Your Health p. 4 The Power of Music p. 13 Making a Difference: The Bread Man p. 16 Make Valentine’s a Family Day p. 17
From the Editor: Our time is valuable. How do we use our time? What do we spend most of our time doing? Are we making the most out of our day, or are we simply wishing for a “new” and “better” one to arrive? We have all been caught asking ourselves these questions once or twice (if not more) during our lives. Maybe the answers aren’t always so obvious, but maybe there is something that can help us find meaning in life that will eventually lead us to our happiness. With each new year comes many opportunities. Opportunities to improve ourselves. Opportunities to love our family and friends. Opportunities to serve those around us. Whatever our duties may be or wherever life may take us, we can always find ways to make a difference in our communities. From shoveling snow for a neighbor, to cooking dinner for a sick friend, to creating a movement like our featured family, there are people, close and far away, that need our help and our examples. From Southeast Idaho Family Magazine, we wish you and your family a happy and safe new year, and invite you to make the most of your time and to look for those service opportunities — small or big — so we can continue to make Southeast Idaho a wonderful place to live.
Schae
What’s INSIDE Featured Stories:
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Buckley
Tips for Getting Your Kids Dressed — p. 5
MANAGING EDITOR Schae Richards
10 Things to Do Inside This Winter — p. 6
EDITORIAL INTERN Melanie Christensen
Creating a Family Mission Statement — p. 8
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Kara Campbell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Emily Buckley Phil Campbell Melanie Christensen Sherelle Christensen Eastern Idaho Public Health Jordyn Haroldsen Sgt. Bryan Lovell Jenny Mathews Breanne Miller Erin Petersen Kate Petersen Aryn Petrus Schae Richards Margaret Wimborne
Live Higher: Local Family Starts Movement to Help Others Find Happiness — p. 10 The Power of Music — p. 13 Make Valentine’s a Family Day — p. 17 Gun Safety Awareness — p. 18 Set the Table for Good Conversation— p. 20
LAYOUT DESIGN Emily Buckley WEBSITE DESIGN Kite Media Southeast Idaho Family Magazine is a free, trusted resource designed to inform, serve and enrich local parents and families throughout Southeast Idaho. Material in this publication is copyright 2017, Southeast Idaho Family Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The views expressed in the magazine are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Please send all editorial correspondence to events@ southeastidahofamilymagazine.com or by mail to PO Box 6831, North Logan, UT 84341. All correspondence is sent on a non-confidential basis and Southeast Idaho Family Magazine shall be free to reproduce, publish, edit and/or use any such communications. All materials become property of Southeast IdahoFamily Magazine.
PHONE (208) 852-6944 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 6831 North Logan, UT 84341 EMAIL events@southeastidahofamilymagazine.com
In Every Issue: Making a Difference: The Bread Man — p. 16 Healthy Families: Four Simple Strategies to Improve Your Health — p. 4 Cut Out the Germs in Your Home — p. 19 Safe Families: Winter Driving and Recreation Preparedness — p. 12 Education: Supplemental Levies Make a Difference for Area Schools — p. 14
WEBSITE idahofallsfamilymagazine.com
Tips to Earn College Credit in High School — p. 15
FACEBOOK facebook.com/ southeastidahofamilymagazine
Around the Table:
INSTAGRAM southeastidahofamilymag TO ADVERTISE call (208) 852-6944 or email ads@southeastidahofamilymagazine.com
From the Farmer’s Wife: Country Scalloped Potatoes — p. 7 Toasted Marshmallow Mini Cups — p. 9
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
FOUR SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO Eastern Idaho Public Health
Improve Your Health
Good health is a key component to a satisfying life. The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and decide what worked and didn’t work and to make decisions about what you would like to improve or change moving forward. Setting goals and having an action plan are key ingredients to your success. The following are four simple things you can do to improve your health in 2017 and achieve the life you desire. 1. Quit smoking. Research shows one out of two smokers will die from a smoking-related illness, like lung cancer or emphysema. Not only does smoking have devastating effects on the body, but on the pocketbook as well. Quitting smoking may be one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life, but the benefits you will reap will be outstanding. There are services available in the community to help you quit cigarettes, E-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Call the East Idaho Public Health Tobacco Cessation Coordinator at (208) 533-3158 to get you started on a nicotine-free life.
2. Get more physical activity. Don’t get worried when you read this. You don’t need to lace up your sneakers and sign up for a marathon. We would simply like you to get up and move more.
Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Simple strategies to move more include parking farther away from the door while shopping, taking the stairs instead of an elevator and taking periodic walking breaks during the day. Small changes in your daily routine can add up to big health benefits over time.
3. Eat more fruit and vegetables. People who eat more fruits and vegetables are more likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of your body. The following are great tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help you eat more fruits and vegetables: • • •
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season. They cost less and are likely to be at their peak flavor. Buy fruits and vegetables that are easy to prepare. This will increase the likelihood of you eating them. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. It is easy to get bored when you eat the same thing over and over again.
Boredom, as with any activity, can increase the likelihood that you will quit all together. Choosing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables can help you stay on track and continue to eat these essential food items.
If you are looking for a program that will help your family eat more fruits and vegetables, check out Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a special supplemental nutrition program for qualifying families. WIC helps eligible families save money, eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy at no cost to the family. Visit eiph.idaho.gov/WIC/wicmain.html to see if you qualify.
4. Go to the doctor. Many people go to the doctor only when they are sick. By doing this, you are missing the opportunity to be prescribed life-saving preventative and early detection services, such as cancer screenings. Together, you and your healthcare provider can make a plan to keep you healthy in 2017 and beyond.
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DE-STRESS YOUR MORNINGS: TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR KIDS DRESSED Aryn Petrus, owner, Uptown Boutique
When it comes to fashion, are you finding it hard as a mother or single father getting your child dressed in the morning? Are you constantly battling with your children over what they want to wear verses what you want them to wear? Are you embarrassed sometimes because you may give into your child’s wants? If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, then you will want to finish reading. I have been a nanny for 10 years, and I have helped raise my nieces and nephews along the way. I have learned that there is no difference in the war of getting ready for the day no matter the children, no matter the age. Like most parents, even though I do not have any children yet, I have used all the tactics and tricks just to get a child ready in 20 minutes, but it always turns into a two-hour process. I finally learned a trick that took me a while to realize. You see, for us it is about the outfit (at least getting it to match) and for the kids it is about freedom, making a choice and independence. What I am about to share with you is a winwin scenario. I am going to use my 3-year-old niece as an example. You can choose nights or mornings to use this idea. I usually have time in the mornings, and this is how we make the mornings easier. I pick out three complete outfits and lay them on the bed. When she gets done brushing her teeth, she will walk into her room and choose the outfit she wants to wear. She is happy and so am I. Is it really this simple? Yes, but again, they are kids and like to throw curve balls at us. The biggest one is your child wanting to wear something you didn’t pick out. Here are two options in that scenario. Option A: My niece wants to wear an entire outfit she put together herself. I tell her she can pick two items from her uniquely put together outfit. She picks her two favorite pieces and I get to make an outfit for her from those two pieces. Option B: To help my niece forget about her un-matching outfit, I tell her if she picks one of the three outfits off her bed, she can help pick out mine. I then go through the same process I did with her three outfits. I lay out three matching ones for me on my bed and she chooses the one I will wear. I hope these ideas will help your mornings go a little smoother. It has made my mornings easier knowing that I have plenty of time to get ready, too.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
10 THINGS TO DO INSIDE DURING THE WINTER Melanie Christensen, editorial intern
friends, if you like — invitations to a tea party one afternoon. Invite them to dress nicely. Serve hot chocolate or apple cider in a tea pot, put fancy toothpicks in your sandwiches and have pastries for dessert. Use the party as an excuse to teach manners. 6. Visit a museum or tourist attraction. Most people visit museums and tourist attractions in the summer. Why not avoid the crowds and visit them during the winter? Choose a museum or attraction in your hometown and take a day trip. 7. Make musical instruments. Use household items — rubber bands, toilet paper rolls, oatmeal containers, tin cans, etc. — to craft your own musical instruments. All you really need is a guitarist, a drummer and a singer to form a band, and you’ll be jamming Beatles (or One Direction) covers before you know it.
Snowman building and sledding sound like ideal winter activities, except for one problem: It’s cold outside! When temperatures start dropping into single and negative digits, your kids may end up running back inside with frozen toes faster than it took you to bundle them up in boots and gloves. For moments like these, it doesn’t hurt to have an arsenal of indoor winter activities to keep the little ones entertained. Here are a few ideas: 1. Camp indoors. Build a blanket fort — or igloo, if your building material of choice is pillows. When it’s finished, use it as a place to play card games or read books together. Finish the cozy afternoon with s’mores or hot chocolate. 2. Make a new recipe. Give the kids a chance to help in the kitchen by letting them choose and help make a recipe. Pull out your cookbooks, or try this simple three-ingredient snow ice cream: just combine 8 cups
of fresh snow, one can of sweetened condensed milk and one tablespoon of vanilla. Top it with cool whip, sprinkles or berries for a yummy winter treat. 3. Make a winter craft. Make classic snowflakes out of construction paper, or make a snow globe using a mason jar, liquid glycerine, figurines and glitter. You could also draw pictures of snowmen and snowflakes with white crayons, then paint over them with blue watercolor for simple winter artwork. 4. Visit the library. Check out new books and movies, or attend a free storytime or craft event. Check with your local library or look at the Southeast Idaho Family Magazine events calendar to see what events are coming up. 5. Host a tea party or fancy lunch. Put flowers and a tablecloth on the table. Give your kids — and a few of their
8. Do a home improvement project. If you’re feeling brave, start a home improvement project. Install hardwood floors, paint a bedroom or hang curtains and enlist the kids to help. They’ll be grateful one day that they learned these skills from you, and in the meantime, you’ll enjoy some good bonding time over a project that will benefit your family. 9. Have a dance party. Being stuck inside all day can make kids antsy. Get the wiggles out by having a dance party! Turn up some Disney music or catchy kids tunes, or play some music on the piano or guitar if you have the skills. Young kids in particular will love having some highenergy time with the adults. 10. Have an indoor snowball fight. Roll up socks or use giant pom-poms as snowballs. Encourage the kids to make barrier forts with pillows and blankets. Snowball fights are still possible — and maybe just as fun — without the cold, icy snow!
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S LOW CO O K E R
Country Scalloped Potatoes When life gets busy, my slow cooker is always a go-to appliance. Whether we have been out skiing or working outside on the farm, it’s always nice to have a warm meal in the evening. I love to prep food in the mornings when doing my chores, and these delicious potatoes are one of my favorites. They provide a hearty side when grilling steak or chicken, and can even serve as a meal on their own. Being married to a potato farmer, I love using potatoes in as many recipes as I can, and this simple recipe never disappoints with its delicious flavor and simple list of ingredients.
Sherelle Christensen, Christensen Family Farms sherellechristensen.typepad.com
Potato Base 7-8 large Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1 large onion, sliced 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated Sauce 6 Tbs. butter 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4-1/2 cup flour 2 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 Tbs. grated or powdered Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp. dry mustard Pepper and seasoning salt
Instructions Melt butter over medium heat in a medium sauce pan. Add garlic and enough flour to make a semi-thick paste. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Add stock, milk, cream, dry mustard and Parmesan cheese. Add seasonings. Stir over medium-high heat until sauce becomes thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray and layer with half of potatoes, onion, cheese and sauce. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 5-6 hours. Serve when potatoes are tender and cooked through.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
Creating a
FAMILY MISSION STATEMENT
Jenny Mathews, contributing writer
If you think about it, families are a lot like businesses. One or two people kind of run the show, overseeing each department but keeping their focus on the big picture, while each person has their unique and important role to play. The whole is working together toward….. what exactly? Does your family need a “family mission statement?” Imagine each family member is on vehicle in a caravan. The route is lined with enticing detours and distractions: “scenic byway,” “historical site,” or “the world’s largest candy corn.” If there is no ultimate destination or common meeting place, the party could very easily be separated and/or lost. In Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, he relates family life to a journey, “When your destination is clear, you can keep coming back to the plan time and time again. In fact, the journey is really part of the destination. They are inseparably connected. How you travel is as important as where you arrive.” My first reaction to the idea of creating a family mission
statement was that it sounded “cheesy.” However, the older I get, the less “cheesy” it seems. At childdevelopmentinfo.com, Jay Davidson writes that the process of creating a family mission statement, “engenders a sense of belonging to the group, as all the members work toward the same goals.” He suggests gathering the family to define their goals, discuss core values and outline ways that each member might help the family succeed. He states, “Keep in mind that the earlier these values are discussed and established within the family, the easier they will be able to follow as children grow into their teenage years.” Aha moment! How can we expect our family to achieve our goals and adhere to our values if they’ve never been clearly articulated? Ok, so how do we get started? An image search of “family mission statement” reveals that there is no ONE way to do this. Image after image of anything from
Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
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one line statements to abstract art to many pages of detailed content. Your imagination is the limit. Here are some simple suggestions for structuring your mission statement: 1.
Ask your family a series of questions: What / words best describe our family? What is most embarrassing about our family? What are our strengths? What are our weaknesses? What makes you want —or not want — to come home? What would you like others to say about our family? And so on...
2.
Think categorically: After you have outlined your family’s core values, you can structure the mission statement using those values as paragraph headings or categories. Expound and set goals for each category.
3.
Express your creativity: Have each member create artwork that depicts their ideology. You can either display these as a collage or use them to design a more cohesive piece. Have a poet or graphic artist in the family? Let the members of the family contribute how-ever they do best.
Toasted Marshmallow Mini Cups Chocolate milk, toasted marshmallows and a bit of a sticky mess! Sounds like the perfect recipe for some family fun. Try out this recipe from Cheri AlbertsSalcedo at thewateringmounth.com. Cook time 1 min. // Cooling time 5 min. // Total time 6 min.
Consider including some of the following categories in your family’s discussion: • The importance of education • The way money will be saved and spent • The amount of family time you will spend together • Extracurricular activities • Maintaining the home and each member’s responsibilities • Volunteer and service endeavors • Church or spiritual practices Don’t be surprised if you learn a lot about your family during this process. Herein lies another example of where knowledge is power. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, says, “…The more any organization knows about itself, the better it’s able to deal with life.” Pick a spot where your mission statement can be seen often. Display it proudly — cheesy or not. In the end, as Stephen R. Covey said, “The goal is to create a clear, compelling vision of what you and your family are all about…. This process will help unite your family around a common sense of purpose and mission. You’ll strengthen your children and family members in a turbulent world.”
Ingredients • 4 marshmallows, regular size • 2 ounces chocolate milk (hot liquid will melt the marshmallows) • 2 forks • Electric or gas burner Instructions 1. Turn on your electric burner to red-hot high. 2. Gather four marshmallows that are perfect in shape and proportion (the better the shape, the better chances you have of it staying together). 3. Stick a fork in the top of a marshmallow, being careful not to pierce the bottom. 4. Hold the marshmallow side 2-3 inches over the burner. When it begins to smoke and brown, turn it again. Brown all sides of the marshmallow evenly, excluding the top where the fork is. Use the second fork to hold the marshmallow on while browning the bottom. 5. Slide the marshmallow onto a plate and cool completely. While cooling, the inside will implode naturally. 6. Pour chocolate milk into the cooled marshmallow and drink immediately. If you wait too long, it will soak through the marshmallow. 7. Eat the messy marshmallow.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
LIVE
Higher
LOC AL FAM I LY STA RTS MOV E ME N T TO HEL P OT HERS F I ND H A P P I NE SS Schae Richards, managing editor
Steven and Maria Hatch love to serve together with their six children. You might see them helping a family pull their car out of the snow or delivering cookies to a neighbor. You would also find them serving each other inside their own home. This foundation of love and service is what inspired Steven to create his own legacy. His values combined with his desire to serve stirred the idea to start the LIVE Higher movement that focuses on teaching important life principles that can help people find their purpose in life. When referring to the “core” of the movement, Steven quoted writer, Mark Twain, who once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” He said LIVE Higher is a way for people to find that purpose, and ultimately, to find their happiness.
In his previous career, Steven traveled to more than 20 countries where he was able to train and be trained by some of the greatest minds. The principles he learned and the stories that came from others created a strong desire to share them with his family, friends and neighbors. When Steven transitioned into real estate, he took that desire once step further, and started sending out regular newsletters to his clients and friends. “As much as I love real estate, I am even more passionate about life,” he said. “I wanted to wanted to help people see the higher potential and experience more.” Steven also started a blog, LIVE Higher, around the same time as another way for him to share these principles with others. Last year, Steven took some of that same content from his blog and started using social media as a way
Steven will present The War Within – Win the Battle for Greatness at TEDx Idaho Falls (and independently organized TED event) at the Colonial Theater on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available online at tedxidahofalls.com/tickets
Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017 to reach more people. He selects a single principle to share and produces a three to four-minute video to teach people how use that principle in their lives. He has produced videos on Born to Succeed, Sow a Thought, The Importance of Journaling and several others. “We hope these videos will strike a chord with people — that they will feel inspired to the point they change their lives for better.” People have responded positively to these first few videos. Steven has interviewed with a local news station on the LIVE Higher movement, and other people from and outside of the community have reached out for personal coaching. “A man living in Iowa reached out to me after watching the videos, and asked me to help him with his life goals and aspirations,” he said. “This wasn’t the intent of starting the movement, but people throughout the community have trusted me to help them with their goals and to find their purpose in life.” Steven said one of ways for people to find happiness is to get lost in the service of others. “When we center our lives around our needs and wants, we focus too much on ourselves and not enough on others,” he said. “True joy and purpose in life can be found when we start serving others. This is a key step to finding our purpose.” This same principle is taught in the Hatch home. Steven and Maria agree
that service has made a huge impact on their children as they go to school, do their chores and look for their own purpose in life. For example, their daughter, Rachel, gave her dad a list of 65 acts of kindness that she had done as a Christmas gift this last year. Each of their children share this same desire to serve. Maria said these acts of service are what help us find true meaning in life. “It’s
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the small things that make a difference, especially within our families,” she said. “You need that foundation of love before you can serve others.” No matter what stage you are in their life, it’s never too late discover your purpose. Whether you’re just married, recently graduated or near retirement, LIVE Higher can help you find that happiness you are looking for.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
Winter Driving AND RECREATION PREPAREDNESS
Sgt. Bryan Lovell, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office
Eastern Idaho has an abundance of outdoor activity during the cold winter months. Our deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers have rescued numerous people who were unprepared for the weather and road conditions just since Thanksgiving. Whether you are experienced or not in winter driving or recreation, we recommend you always plan for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. 1.
Plan ahead before you travel. Road conditions can change rapidly depending on the weather and the area. When traveling make sure you plan a little extra time to get to your destination so you don’t have to hurry. Drivers who are in a hurry and without patience for other traffic or winter conditions tend to be involved in or cause unnecessary crashes. Go online or call area transportation districts to check the road conditions before you head out and plan your route accordingly. Pay attention to what you are doing and avoid distractions like your cell phone. Don’t assume that just because other vehicles are traveling faster than you that the roads are less slick or hazardous. Always, no matter the conditions, make sure you and the other passengers in your vehicle are buckled up.
2.
Store emergency kit in your vehicle. It doesn’t hurt to carry several emergency items in your vehicle in the event you have a mechanical issue and are without heat, slide off the roadway or are involved in a crash. Extra clothing or blankets stashed somewhere in your vehicle can mean the difference in avoiding hypothermia and frostbite. A small amount of extra water, snacks or non-perishable food items are also handy if you find yourself delayed with no convenience stores in sight. You can use your cell phone in an emergency situation as long as you have enough battery life and phone signal. If you find yourself in an area without signal you may end up out in the cold waiting for help.
3.
Tell someone where you’re going. Anytime you travel, tell a family member or friend where you are going and when you plan to return. If you plan to snowmobile, ski or snow shoe in our backcountry areas this is particularly important in the event you get stranded
and fail to return. Bonneville County is 1,900 square miles, most of which is outside of populated areas, so a place to send help your way is very important. If you find yourself stranded or lost in the back country don’t try to walk out. The best thing you can do is stay where you are, find or build shelter and stay dry and warm.
4. Pack emergency items for outdoor activities. Carrying a few necessities during your backcountry adventure can help you avoid injury or death due to harsh winter weather. A small shovel and some fire starter, along with extra water and food can get you through and unanticipated lengthy stay in bad weather. Wear appropriate clothing, such as multiple loose layers, that will help keep you dry. Learn to start a fire and build a temporary emergency shelter. We recommend that if you carry a cell phone to power it off until you need it. It’s also a good idea to carry a flashlight, whistle or some other signaling device to aide in your rescue. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of Search and Rescue volunteers from our county, first responder fire, ambulance and quick response units that work with our deputies when emergencies occur. Accidents happen, and the more prepared your are the better chances you have of being rescued quickly, safely and hopefully without unnecessary injury.
Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
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THE
Power Music OF
the brain by monitoring musical experiences in real time. “When people are hooked up to these machines, tasks such as reading or doing math problems each have corresponding areas of the brain where activity can be observed. However, when researchers got participants to listen to music, they saw fireworks,” said Anita Collins, PhD, an award-winning educator and researcher in the area of music education. “It turns out that while listening to music engages the brain in some pretty interesting activities, playing music is the brain’s equivalent of a full-body workout.”
Emily Buckley, editor-in-chief The options of things you can enroll your child in are endless. Between dance or soccer and scouts or robotics club, your school-age child’s schedule is overflowing. If you are on the fence about wanting to add music lessons to the mix, you may want to consider the strong benefits that experts say come with signing your little one up for guitar or piano lessons. He may not become the next Mozart, but she may actually have an easier time learning math, practicing patience and becoming a team member. Teachers have long observed the benefits that music education can have on students, but recent research is showing just how impactful learning music can be on a child’s development. Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, neuroscientists have made breakthroughs in understanding how music affects
Music therapist Heather Overly, MT-BC, has observed the same thing. “With my own kids and students, music education improves their critical thinking skills in all areas,” she said. “They hit challenges in music. Their music studies get hard, just like math gets hard. But they learn that if they keep working it gets better. It does take practice and time, but it gives them an edge in school and in life.” Dr. Collins went on to explain that playing music has also been found to increase the volume and activity in the brain’s corpus callosum, the bridge between the two hemispheres, allowing messages to get across the brain faster and through more diverse routes. “This may allow musicians to solve problems more effectively and creatively, in both academic and social settings,” Dr. Collins said. “Because making music also involves crafting and understanding its emotional content and message, musicians often have higher levels of executive function.” Further, Heather says that music education gives kids a way to express themselves in a world where so much of our technical communication doesn’t leave room for emotion outside of emojis. “Kids can let emotions out musically and then have an easier time talking about them,” Heather said.
Most experts agree that children who study music may benefit in the following ways: •
It improves academic skills. Music and math are highly intertwined. By understanding beat, rhythm, and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions, and recognize patterns. It seems that music wires a child’s brain to help him better understand other areas of math. As students grow they’ll start calling on their short- and long-term memory to recite songs.
•
It develops physical skills. Certain instruments, such as percussion, help children develop coordination and motor skills; they require movement of the hands, arms and feet. Kids with high energy may especially benefit from playing percussion instruments. String and keyboard instruments, like the violin and piano, demand different actions from your right and left hands simultaneously. Enhancing coordination
and perfecting timing can prepare children for other hobbies, like dance and sports. •
It refines discipline and patience. Learning an instrument teaches children about delayed gratification. Many instruments have a steep learning curve. Playing an instrument teaches kids to persevere through hours, months and sometimes years of practice before they reach specific goals.
•
It boosts self-esteem. Lessons offer a forum where children can learn to accept and give constructive criticism. Turning negative feedback into positive change helps build selfconfidence. Whether you plan to become a professional musician or not, presenting yourself in public is an important skill that music education helps develop.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
Supplemental Levies Make a Difference For Area Schools
Phil Campbell, director of public relations Bonneville Joint School District 93
Voters in Bonneville Join School District 93 will be asked to approve a supplemental levy March 14. Supplemental levies have become a critical part of education funding in the state of Idaho, but it hasn’t always been this way. In fact, fewer than half of the districts in the state needed supplemental levies a decade ago. Today, more than 80 percent of the school districts in Idaho depend on them. A supplemental levy helps pay for things that are not fully funded by the state, such as utilities, mandatory health insurance for employees, extracurricular activities and other programs for students. Even with the recent increase in funding from the state legislature, education funding is now just catching up to the level it was 10 years ago. In 2007, voters in District 93 approved the current supplemental levy to help with the rapid growth in student enrollment and facilities. A few years later, cuts in state funding created massive budget reductions, and local funds from the supplemental levies became even more critical for school districts. Today, local funding for our schools is just as important as ever. District 93 is still recovering from a five-year stretch in which funding from the state was reduced by approximately $8,000,000 each year. How will the supplemental levy impact property taxes? Property taxes are determined by both the levy rate and the assessed value of the property. The supplemental levy will not change the tax levy rate, which will remain at $5.79 per $1,000 of taxable value. The supplemental levy was renewed in 2014. Why are we being asked to vote on it again? District 93 patrons have
approved the supplemental levy four times since 2007. By law, supplemental levy funding is only valid for two years. When the levy expires, an election is required to renew the funding. How many school districts in Idaho have supplemental levies? Ten years ago, fewer than half of the districts in Idaho had supplemental levies. Today, 93 school districts have supplemental levies to offset the decline in state funding.
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TIPS TO EARN Margaret Wimborne, director of communications and community enforcement Idaho Falls School District 91
There are few things more exciting than listening to a child’s dreams.
IN HIGH SCHOOL
She may want to be an engineer with designs on building better roads or creating more efficient cars. He may be driven by science with hopes of curing disease or cleaning up oceans. She may be thinking about a future as a police officer, a nurse or a firefighter where she can save lives. Making those dreams come true won’t be easy, but parents can help their children by ensuring they have the educational foundation they will need to be successful, and making sure they take advantage of every program they can in high school. “There are so many more opportunities available now than when parents where young,” said Sarah Sanders, director of secondary education for Idaho Falls School District 91. High school students still have the chance to explore traditional interests and passions, but they have plenty of chances to earn college credit. If they enroll in one of the district’s many College Technical Education programs, for example, they can earn college credit and the certifications needed to land a good job as a certified nursing assistant or pharmacy tech straight out of high school. With Idaho’s new advanced opportunities program, every student in grades 8-12 enrolled in one of Idaho’s schools receives $4,125 to pay for college credits, Advanced Placement tests or certification exams (learn more at ifschools.org). The middle school and high school registration process gets underway in District 91 in February, and it’s a wonderful time to talk to your child about his or her interests, and what they want to do after high school.
If his sights are set on being an engineer, he may want to consider the preengineering program at Skyline High School. If she’s an entrepreneur, Skyline’s Academy of Finance or Compass Academy’s High School of Business might be a good fit. If it’s auto mechanics that sparks his interest, Idaho Falls High School has an auto program. No matter their plans post graduation, parents should make sure they’re familiar with the district’s graduation requirements to ensure their children are taking all the classes they need to stay on track. They should also review their child’s four-year plan and help them design their 9th and 10th grade years, so they have the flexibility to take advantage of a myriad of special opportunities as juniors and seniors. If they have already chosen a specialty, make sure they check on pre-requisites. Parents should also encourage rigorous classes, where students can sometimes earn college credit. “Take a risk and find something your child may have an aptitude for and encourage him or her to take a challenging path,” Sanders said. In District 91’s high schools, the two most common routes to earning college credit
are taking dual enrollment classes or AP classes. With AP classes, students complete a rigorous course and then take a national exam. If they receive a high enough score on that exam, usually a 4 or 5, they will receive credit toward the college the chose. In dual-enrollment classes, students take a high school course taught by a teacher who also is certified by a college or university. If they want to earn college credit, the teacher will help them register for that class with the college or university. When they complete the class, students receive a high school grade, a college grade and college credit. Any dual enrollment credits a student earns will appear on their college transcript, and any school that a student applies to will generally request those transcripts, so students need to take those classes seriously. The key for parents during this process is to stay engaged and encourage their children to dream big. “Allow your child to grow academically, socially and emotionally by being a good listener, an encourager and a guide when they need one,” Sanders said.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
The ‘Bread Man’:
SERVING OTHERS ONE LOAF AT A TIME Jordyn Haroldsen, contributing writer
Each morning, Orland Bailey goes to Albertsons, Perkins, Smiths and Mrs. Powell’s and collects day-old bread and baked goods. From there, he makes stop after stop to deliver that food to different places around the Idaho Falls area. Orland Bailey, known as the “Bread Man” has done
this every morning for the last 15 years. He is 89 years old and doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon. This daily adventure began after Orland retired from the railroad and needed something to do with his newly found free time. After working for 40 years, he wanted to give back to the community somehow. During a trip to Albertsons with his wife, he noticed a man in the parking lot with a basket heaped full of bread and pastries. The man explained that he would bring the bread to Reginald Reeves, another man who does a lot of volunteer work in the community, to distribute. Orland was intrigued by this idea and asked if he could help. When Orland first began, the bread would fill up the back of his car’s trunk. Now it fills the back of his pickup truck. Over the years he’s found new locations to deliver these baked goods. Right now Orland delivers to The Haven, the Head Start preschool program, the soup kitchen and St.
Vincent de Paul, among others. Each delivery route takes Orland about two and a half hours to complete driving about 20 miles each day. He’s kept track over the years and estimates that he spends at least $200 per month to deliver this bread. However, it hasn’t just been time and gas money that Orland has sacrificed to deliver this bread to the community. On one delivery, he was broadsided by a pickup truck who ran a red light, but this accident didn’t stop Orland. He went back to delivering bread as soon as he could. Orland’s family has been involved as well. His grandkids help him when they come to visit and his son, Rob comes with him on his days off. He’s had people offer to help, but it’s a daunting task, so help has come and gone. Orland has recently gotten help from the food bank to distribute his food, but for a long time did this all on his own. Orland has a sense of compassion and commitment that is inspiring to others. When asked why he does this he said, “I’ve been so blessed with such a special family and my wife. I just like to help people.” Humble and unassuming Orland said, “I hope it helps the community.” Orland’s message to the people of Idaho Falls is, “We’re blessed to have what we have. Try to help other people.” This is a message that Orland, the Bread Man, lives every single day. This article is dedicated to the memory of Orland’s wife, Elmoyne Bailey, who passed away Dec. 31, 2016.
Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
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Make Valentine’s Day a Family Day
Breanne Miller, contributing writer
Valentine’s Day is a holiday dedicated to showing our love to others by showering them with flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals and fancy date nights. While I’m not one to turn down chocolate, we could do better on showing our love through actions rather than gifts. With this in mind, I have gathered some low-cost and fun family activities to help us show our love to those who matter most to us. 1. Make mailboxes for each family member. You can make the mailboxes as a fun family activity by decorating them together. Have a stack of paper and pencils nearby, so you can share a kind thought or a special “thank you” and put it in their mailbox. Who doesn’t love getting a box full of love? It will help your family notice those acts of kindness, and then they will do special things for each other. 2. Bake cookies with your family. I know this may not seem that special, but my kids particularly love spending time with me in the kitchen. Let’s be honest:
This takes patience and usually makes a little more mess, but it is worth it! Once the cookies are finished (and a few have been eaten), share the rest with others. Deliver them to a nursing home or to a family in need. Use this time to teach your children that service is a great way to show love for others.
3. Spend one-on-one time with each family member. This can be done at any time during the year. Read a book, play a board game or take them out for some ice cream or hot chocolate. It doesn’t have to cost money — just give them some individual attention. Also remember to sneak in lots of hugs and “I love you’s.” This will mean more to your kids than a stuffed animal, and will be a memory you both can treasure. Valentine’s Day is a fun time of year for families, and I hope this gives you some fun ideas to do together. But, let us remember: We don’t need St. Valentine to share our love for each other. Let’s use this time to create habits of showing love all year round.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
Moms Demand Action:
Gun Safety Awareness
Kate Petersen, contributing writer
Last month marked the four-year anniversary of the school shooting that took the lives of 20 students and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In an effort to help prevent gun violence among children in the future, an organization called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (momsdemandaction.org) was founded by Shannon Watts, a stay-at-home mother of five and former communication executive. The organization’s goal is “to fight for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence.” A similar group of Americans are working together to end gun violence and build safer communities through an organization called Everytown for Gun Safety (everytown.org). Sadly, the number of school shootings occurring in America is still incredibly high, and according to Everytown, “Since 2013 there have been more than 200 school shootings in America — an average of nearly one a week.” Chapters for both groups are established in every state with more than 3 million supporters. You can learn more and join these organizations by visiting their websites.
Utah State Senator Todd Weiler recently passed a bill entitled, S.B. 43 Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, which makes funding available for all Utah schools to either bring in live presenters or show a video to teach students what to do if they come in contact with a firearm, and what to do in active shooter situations. To respond to the frequency of guns in the media and the curiosity of children, a campaign called Be Smart (besmartforkids.org) provides resources for parents, educators and community members to help teach responsible gun storage and gun safety awareness. Kids Health states, “Guns are in more than one-third of all U.S. households, making it extremely important to talk to our kids about the potential dangers, and what to do if they ever come in contact with one. A child as young as 3 has the finger strength to pull a trigger.” Let’s all do our part to help keep our kids safe by following these tips from Kids Health and Safe Kids Worldwide. Talk to your kids and their caregivers.
Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017 • Explain how a gun on television or a video game is different from a gun in real life. For example, you could say, “A gun, in real life, can seriously injure and even kill a person.” • Teach them to never touch a gun and immediately tell an adult if they see one. • Talk to them about safe gun storage. Teach kids to follow these rules if they come into contact with a gun. • Stop what they’re doing. • Do not touch the gun. • Leave the area where the gun is located. • Tell an adult immediately. Many kids are raised with guns in their home, particularly if hunting is a part of family recreation. If you keep a gun in your home, it is important to teach your kids to act in a safe and responsible way. Ensure the safest possible environment. • Take the ammunition out of any gun stored in your home. • Lock guns with an effective child-resistant gun lock and keep them out of reach and sight of children. Hiding guns is not enough. • Store ammunition in a secure place apart from the gun. • Store the keys for the gun and ammunition safes in a different area from where you store household keys. Keep the keys out of reach. • Secure gun-cleaning supplies, which are often poisonous. Never leave the gun unattended when handling or cleaning it. • If you decide you no longer need to have a gun in your home, dispose of it safely. Consult with law enforcement in your community on how to do this.
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C UT OU T the germs in YOUR HOME
Erin Peterson, owner Erin’s True Grit Cleaning
The dreaded cold and flu season is here. You can fight back by doing a few simple things. Get your favorite all-purpose cleaner and a warm washcloth. Go around and clean all your doorknobs, light switches, cabinet knobs and appliance handles. Remember, hands spread germs, so look around your house at everything that gets picked up or touched with hands (i.e., remote controls, cell phones, computer keyboards). These things should be disinfected frequently to cut down on germs in your home. When you are finished blasting the germs away, remember to put the rag in the laundry. Don’t save it to use tomorrow, those germs will still be there and they will multiply. Fight the cold and flu season by making this a weekly routine, and remember to involve the whole family to make it quick and easy.
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Southeast Idaho Family Magazine | Winter 2017
Set the Table for Good Conversation
MAKING THE MOST OF FAMILY MEALTIME Schae Richards, managing editor
Can you recall the last pin-dropping moment at the dinner table? Either you don’t know what to say, or the conversation comes to a halt. You could ask those obvious questions like “How was your day?”— or you could just keep quiet. These awkward moments can sometimes make dinnertime a dreaded part of the day. Here are six tips to make the dinner table a fun place to spend time together. 1.
Set the right tone. First consider everyone at the table. Who is there? What do they like to talk about? Knowing your audience will help you keep a strong conversation going. If your family
has a hard time starting a conversation, pick a fun theme or topic ahead of time to center your discussion around.
2. Make it interactive. Make it a livelier conversation by creating question cards or another visual that will help everyone stay in tune. Even a fun story or game can turn a “boring” conversation into a fun family activity. Remember to include everyone. Take turns contributing information and steering the discussion. It’s never fun to listen to just one person.
3. Ask good questions. Replace some of those standard questions with ones that require a detailed answer (see examples in the box at right). This will set the table for a deeper conversation and will tap into your kids’ creativity, allowing them to think beyond normal limits. 4. Educate your kids. You can always find teaching opportunities during conversations with your kids. Dinnertime is no exception. Share a personal story with an important message at the end, or do something more formal like choosing a word of the week and taking turns using it in a sentence. 5. Set a family goal. Take this opportunity to set a challenge or goal. Maybe there’s something you want to improve as a family or want to accomplish within that next week. Then you can report back to each other on your progress. You can also offer some sort of award or incentive to make it more fun for the little ones. Whatever the goal, it gives your family a chance to work toward something and build strong relationships away from the dinner table. 6. Try something new. Don’t feel like you have to stick to the same routine. Mix it up every day to keep the conversation fresh and exciting. This will help you avoid those I-don’t-know what-to-say moments, and help you have successful family dinners.
10 Fun Questions to Ask Your Kids at Dinnertime: • In what way did you help someone in need today? • If you could change anything about your day, what would it be and why? • What is a skill or trait you want to develop and why? • If you could be any book character, who would it be and why? • What one word would you use to describe yourself? • If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you bring with you? • What is a talent or ability you have that someone doesn’t know about? • If you could travel back in time, when and where would you visit and why? • What superpower would you choose to save the planet and why? • What do you most admire about your favorite person?