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Moms Weigh In"Rules of Thumb" to avoid sick days home from school

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FREEJANUARY 2014FREEJANUARY 2014FREEJANUARY 2014

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Tips & Tricks to keep your little ones

healthy

National Bath Safety MonthGet your rubber duckies ready!

p13Listen up!Ragtime music that appeals to all ears

2 • January 2014 • www.annarborfamily.com

WHERE WILL

YOUR KIDS LEARN?Make sure you are a part

of February’s Education Guide,where parents turn to find the

best schools for their kids!

EDUCATION GUIDEIssue Date: February 1reserve ad/edit spaceby January 15

CALL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE! 734.668.4044

Parent Takes a Stand for Mott FamiliesParent Takes a Stand for Mott Families

3www.annarborfamily.com • January 2014 •

Listen up!Ragtime music

that appeals to all ears

5 community snaps

6 what’s briefly happening

7 new kids on the block

8 tween the lines

8 exceptional families

14 healthy kids

17 calendar — compiled by Marisa Rubin & Chloe Rothschild

19 marketplace

departments15 mother mayhem Keep Calm and Carry On Hoping for a frazzle free New Year —by Mary Helen Darah

15 parent profile Parent Takes a Stand for Mott Families Heather Parent lives up to her name —by Heather Burcham

16 food fight Fired Up for Pizza Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza turns up the heat —by Katy M. Clark

commentary feature

Maddi, 1.5, Plymouth

Volume 19 • Issue 1 January 2014

Special thanks toTrudi Lynn Photographyfor our beautiful cover pic!

Online exclusives“Get everyone to help at home with Laura Carter’s advice on how to make chores fun. See our online exclusive to find out how to get your kids to drop their cellphone and pick up the broom!”

Your Kid Could Be On The Cover!IMPORTANT!Please include theirName, Age, & Your City

Send us your best highresolution photos!(High Resolution = 300 DPI)

SEND PICS TO: [email protected] ISSUES INCLUDE:

Call forCOVER KIDS!

Taco party! Chela's Restaurant & Taqueria's authentic Mexican cuisine

Back to basicsAmanda Uhle brings joy to learning at 826MichiganBattle of the bulge Mother Mayhem conquers the cookie jar

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FREEFEBRUARY 2013

FREEFEBRUARY 2013

FREEFEBRUARY 2013

THE EdUcAtiON GUIDE

FAVORITES

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p15 Old-school tastes Delicious dinners at Wolverine Grille

Sweet tooth A Dexter mom brings her Brazilian treats to

your kitchen

Foreign relationsMother Mayhem masters the art of the Chinese exchange

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FREEMARCH 2013

FREEMARCH 2013

FREEMARCH 2013

FAVORITES

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&Child care

Pizza ItalianoWe try the pies at the new NeoPapalis

Treadmill talkA promising Down syndrome therapyp8 p22

FREEApril 2013

FREEApril 2013

FREEApril 2013

LASTCHANCETO VOTE!

FAVORITES

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Experts tell the best TIPS & TRICKS to keep your little ones healthy

recycle this paperFor our children's future ...

LOG

ON FOR GREAT GIVE-AWAYS

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Local Moms share their advice on how to keep your kids happy and healthy

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Brrrrr...Baby

it’s cold outside!

Advertising/General Info: For advertising and general information, call (734) 668-4044

or fax (734) 668-0555. E-mail ads to [email protected]

Ann Arbor Family subscriptions are available by mail for $30 per year at Ann Arbor

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Entire contents © 2014 by Adams Street Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohib-

ited without the written permission of the publisher.

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Publisher/Editor in ChiefCollette Jacobs ([email protected]) MODERATION

Co-publisher/Chief Financial OfficerMark I. Jacobs ([email protected]) ExERcIsE AND MORE ExERcIsE

EditorialAssignment Editor:Nadine Akra ([email protected])DREssINg IN lAyERs

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Staff Writer:Griffin Messer-Kruse ([email protected])EAT lOcAlly gROwN ORgANIc

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Graphic Design: Brittney Koehl ([email protected])ApplEs AND JIf-TO-gO pEANuT BuTTERMegan Anderson ([email protected])DREssINg fOR ThE wEAThER. sOMETIMEs AT ThE ExpENsE Of fAshIONJameson Staneluis ([email protected]) wAlk EVERy DAyKyle Iwanicki: ([email protected])A VEgETARIAN DIET & cOpIOus AMOuNTs Of BMx

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December 22-January 19By Sue Lovett

They come into the world wide-eyed and calm. They love to be touched and express their feelings openly. As toddlers they walk around looking really smart, sometimes making you feel they know more than you do. They are curious and eager to be helpful, especially to older peo-ple. In school they are teacher’s pet and often tell their classmates and friends how to behave. They make sure they have your atten-tion by touching you and looking you straight in the eye. Then they talk, talk, and talk some more.

This time of year they en-joy traditional activities such as handling antique decorations and attending family gatherings. They love clocks and watches and anything that makes a tick-ing noise. They are climbers and like to be on the top of the couch looking down at everyone else in the room. They enjoy helping you plan menus and going with you to grocery shop. Give them responsibilities.

KIDS HOROSCOPE

“What’s your rule of thumb for keeping yourself and your family healthy throughout the winter?”

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COMMUNITYSnapsBrrrrr...Baby

it’s cold outside!

Ivy Belen, 6, Logan Sargent, 5, and Lily Belen, 3, Ann Arbor

Cute in the community

We love to see what our readers are up to! We asked for photos of your kids and you answered

with lots of happy faces.

Carter Bristoll Coon, 3, Saline

Lane Zagar, 3, Ann Arbor

Bridget Kerber, 2, Ann Arbor


what’s happening...brieflybrieflybrieflyCompiled by Mary Helen Darah

Happy New Year to the

TreesThe Jewish Community Cen-ter (JCC) of Greater Ann Arbor is hosting a family Tu B’ Shevat program. The holiday tradition-ally celebrates the “New Year” for trees as they wake from their winter slumber in Israel to once again bear fruit. Today the holi-day is regarded as a day of eco-logical awareness in Israel and in the United States. The JCC Tu B Shevat family celebration will be-gin with a dinner. Following the meal, children will have an op-portunity to participate in games and activities relating to nature and of course giving a shout out for trees and all that they pro-vide. While the children are busy with activities, adults will hear a lecture by Dr. Raymond Young, from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. The evening will include a chance to purchase trees to be planted in Israel in honor or memory of loved ones. “This program is very exciting because it is an opportunity for families to study and learn about the environment together,” says Noreen DeYoung, JCC of Great-er Ann Arbor program director, “and to become more ecologi-cally aware.”

Thursday, January 16. Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2993 Birch Hollow Dr. For more informa-tion on this public event, contact Noreen

DeYoung at 734-971-0990, email [email protected] or

visit jccannarbor.org.

Recycling Family FunKids will look at garbage in a whole new way. The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and its Ecology Center education team are offering a free day of family-friendly fun courtesy of the city of Ann Arbor. Make your own unique “robot” or other artistic creation with recycled colorful scraps. Materials will be provid-ed onsite, however visitors may bring their own used materials for construct-ing their “robot”. “The robot recycling craft is a new one this year,” says Laura Holladay, education director and coordinator of the MRF Ecology Center, “and we hope that the imaginative use of simple recyclable objects will inspire some great ‘robot’ sculptures.” Adults and kids can gear up in safety vests, hard hats, and safety goggles for a behind-the scenes guided tour of the recycling plant to answer questions during the visit. When you throw something away, it has to go somewhere -- and we have important choices to make about where it goes.

Saturday, January 11 from 10am-noon. The MRF is located with Ann Arbor's Compost Center and closed landfills at 4150 Platt Road, Ann Arbor.

Groups of five or more please pre-register. For additional information or to register, visit ecocenter.org/education/mrf-open-house or call 734-369-9272.

Unfortunately, bullying is every-where--at school, on the bus and, in the school-aged generation, online. How can kids react to bullies? An engaging rock musi-cal performed by the Children’s Theater Network demonstrates for kids and parents how to avoid bullying behavior. The Children’s Theater Network brings educa-tional performances directly to school auditoriums thanks to a collaboration between Ann Arbor public schools, Linda Sprankle, and an anonymous donor. Big Bully: A Rock Musical uses laugh-ter and catchy, toe-tapping music to demonstrate lessons of how to combat bullying. The musical journey teaches kids the four im-portant steps in battling a bully: Set a good example, help them get away, tell a trusted grownup and be a friend. “This is a show that teaches kids preventative mea-sures for bullying behavior, while they enjoy excellent music,” says Marissa Kurtzhals of the Perfor-mance Network Theater.

Saturday, January 25 at 1pm. Geared for children K-8, tickets are $10, under age 16, $7. Children’s Theater Network at the Performance Network Theater, 120 E. Huron St.., Ann Arbor. Advance

ticket orders call 734-663-0681 or visit performancenetwork.org. Tickets are

also available at the door.

Whooo’s at the Swan Theater?The Wild Swan Theater has

been delighting audiences for close to three de-

cades. Their produc-tions are geared

toward young people and are performed by a troupe of adult

actors, musicians and dancers. Sign

Language perform-ers will also bring to life many children’s classics and provide young people with their first introduc-tion to theater. Their latest endeavor is a collection of stories brought to the stage based on the popular children’s book Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel. He also wrote and illustrated the well-loved children’s books, Frog and Toad and Mouse Soup. The performance, part of the Kid’s Classic Series, is appropriate for children ages three to nine.

Thursday, January 23 at 10am and 1pm, Friday, January 24 at 10am and 1pm and Saturday, January 25 at 11am. Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building on the Washtenaw

Community College campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor. Tickets $8/youth and senior and $12/adults. A $3 “lap pass” is also available for children two and under. Call the

Wild Swan Theater office at 734-995-0530 or online at wildswantheater.org. Tickets are also available 30 minutes before curtains open, depending on availability.

For additional information email, [email protected].

Photo courtesy of Performance

Network Theater

Big Bully: A Rock Musical


The latest addition to the Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, Dexter Wellness Center, found its home in Dexter with a mission to “improve the health and well-ness of the communities it serves.”

Visitors will be one step closer to a healthier body when they enter the 48,000 square foot facility, equipped with cardio and strength machines, an indoor track, free weights, swimming pools and a full-court gymnasium. But that’s just the be-ginning of the services they provide.

“From the minute the member walks into our facility, they’ll notice that we have a different look and feel,” said An-gela Sargeant, center director.

Taking a medically integrated ap-proach is their mantra and when mem-bers join, the DWC team offers a detailed fitness assessment and equipment orien-tation to make sure that they’re comfort-able. They help people determine key metrics, such as their body composition, cardiovascular strength, flexibility, and resting heart rate, and then get them go-ing on a program to ensure success.

“There are a lot of people that have never set foot in any type of exercise fa-cility, so we really want to make sure that

they have the right support and tools to be successful with their fitness goals,” An-gela explained.

Adults aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of all the gym has to offer. There is plenty of programming for kids and January’s schedule is packed with opportunities for kids to grow, learn and work out. Also, a daycare center filled with games and gadgets for children, “Kids in Motion,” is available for members’ chil-dren while the parents work out.

“For a lot of people, making a com-mitment to get into a facility is the most important step,” Angela said. “There’s a lot of variety from swimming to exercise classes to cardio and weight machines. Having options for your workout helps keep motivation going. Our goal is to be a part of this community and to provide an opportunity for people to stay healthy and well. We want to get people moving.”

Monday-Thursday from 5am-9:30pm, Friday from 5am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7am-6pm. Dexter Wellness Center, 2810 Baker Rd., Dexter. For more information and membership rates call 734-580-2500 or visit www.dexterwellness.org.

FREE enrollment promotion running from January 2 to February 14, 2014.

Work your Way toward Wellness

Dexter Wellness Center opens to get people moving

By Nadine Akra


advice for parents with children 10-16

Let’s Talk Sensory Issues over Coffee

Clonlara School offers free program By Mary Helen Darah

It can be difficult to identify sensory issues from transitional, behavioral or emotional problems. The Clonlara School in Ann Arbor hosts a free discus-sion, January 9, that is open to the pub-lic to address parental concerns regard-ing their child’s behavior. The Clonlara School, a fully-accredited non-profit home-based program serving students K-12, also has a campus program, open since 1979. Both programs nurture and assist children who have difficulties fit-ting into a traditional classroom envi-ronment.

The informative program will discuss the sensory system and its effects on child development and classroom per-formance. Besides the commonly known senses of taste, smell, hearing, touch and sight, the sensory system consists of seven categories - proprioceptive, tac-tile, vestibular, visual, auditory, gusta-tory and olfactory. Children who exhibit clumsiness, tantrums, and immaturity could be struggling with sensory pro-cessing issues in one of these areas.

“The main reason we hold this com-munity event is that it connects knowl-edgeable experts with parents in need of support. It also serves as a professional development opportunity for our staff. It is our hope that the informative and interactive gathering will address the specific needs and concerns of parents and their children,” says Martha Rho-des, campus director.

Parents of children with sensory issues may notice their child has an aversion to light and noise or complain that their clothing or shoes feel too tight or irri-tating. Often parents may witness their child being focused in a quiet setting and quickly shift to an extreme tantrum if too many visual or auditory stimuli are present. Many children with sensory issues are labeled “picky”, “overly sen-sitive” or “stubborn”. For parents, it is troubling to be perceived as “coddling” or ineffective at controlling the behavior of their children.

The goal of the program is to assist parents in identifying whether their child’s behavior stems from emotional issues or if other factors need to be ad-dressed. Parents will learn how the body receives sensory information from the environment and how it organizes and utilizes that data. Parents will also have an opportunity to meet others who are dealing with similar issues—and enjoy a little bonding over coffee.

The Coffee Talk will be held on January 9, 9:15-10:30am. The Clonlara School, 1289 Jewett St., Ann Arbor. Call 734-926-4617 for additional information

or visit www.clonlara.org. The event is sponsored by Clonlara School Leaps and

Bounds Therapy Services.

Scoring Touchdowns Onand Off the Field

Willy Clark is a playmaker in the game of giving back

By Jeff Berry

When he’s not knocking helmets on the football field, Ann Arbor Skyline ju-nior Willy Clark is a playmaker in the game of giving back.

“I’ve gotten a lot of push at home from my mom. She’s always been a big advo-cate for helping other people out and not just trying to get ahead yourself. I feel good when I help out other people,” Willy said.

He is a calculus student and math tutor in the Math Mentoring Program (MMP), and an active member in Rising Schol-ars, a program partnership between U of M Center for Educational Outreach and Ann Arbor Public Schools which works to give underserved, but high-achieving students an opportunity to build leader-ship abilities, receive college prepara-tion, and participate in team-building activities. Willy spends his volunteer time helping underclassman better un-derstand math or visiting nursing homes to sing Christmas carols. He enjoys the

simple task of giving back and encour-ages others to do the same. He cites his brother, Jack, as his biggest inspiration, while striving to beat his GPA.

“Growing up, my dad hasn’t been around and my brother looked after me. He used to walk me to school every day and as we got older, he became a role model for me. He graduated with a 3.8 GPA, which I’m trying to beat, and [re-ceived] all sorts of awards for academ-ics and character…He showed me what a model teen really looked like,” Willy said.

Although he doesn’t have his mind set on a particular college, he’s weighing the options with his football career in mind. “I don’t really know what I want to do yet, but I know I want to go to an aca-demically prestigious school.”

One thing is for certain--academics rates high on his list when considering to which school this sure-handed philan-thropist will apply.

Creating a sense of community to understand children’s sensory issues


2013

TOP DOCS Special Advertising Section TOP DOCS Special Advertising Section

We all know how hard it can be to get kids excited about veggies instead of

French fries, outdoor activities instead of video games, and keeping their pearly whites, well, pearly. Ann Arbor Family

asked medical experts in the area to help you help your kids to be healthy!

By Jeff BerryHealthy is Hip

Wurtzel Family DentistryWe all remember our parents forcing us to brush our teeth before going to bed; after consuming our fair share of candy, chocolate or whatever else was available in the pantry. Now it’s our turn to encourage our kids to take care of their mouths. Dr. Donald Wurtzel tells us why kids need to learn healthy dental habits early on.How does dental hygiene affect one’s overall health? “There’s a lot of data out there now regarding the link between cardio-vascular disease and gum disease. If you have gum disease, you have an infection in your mouth that can enter your bloodstream and go through your whole body. Good dental hygiene is good for the overall health of the individual.”How can parents motivate their children to take good care of their teeth? “That’s tough. I really like the electric toothbrush, but it has to be a good one. Those dollar ones just don’t work well. Sonicare, Oral B make some very good electric toothbrushes. That may be something that may motivate them and they actually do a better job than manual toothbrushes…one of the reasons is people brush longer with an electric toothbrush. The average time a person brushes their teeth is 39 seconds or less with a manual brush. It’s the amount of time you leave the brush in your mouth that’s important.”

theannarbordentist.com 4554 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-971-2675

Continued on p. 10



Affordable Vet Services of Ann ArborAs if their friendly, furry faces are not enough, pets at home can have profound benefits for children. Caring for a pet teaches kids responsi-bility, compassion and it serves as a great source of physical and mental activity. Dr. Bill MacArthur explains why cuddly companions are impor-tant members of the family.“Children often bond very tightly with pets—they give kids a sense of security in many instances or a friend that’s on their level. Children are under the direct su-pervision of their parents, as are the pets, so it’s kind of like a kindred spirit. Many times I see pets making children more relaxed. Also…I see parents giving the child responsibilities of feeding the pet or walking them; it gives the child an early sense of responsibility—they don’t want to let the pet down. I see lots of positive benefits of children having pets, from security, to a friend, to responsibility.”

affordablevetservices.com 2117 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; 734-926-0114

Nutritional Healing CenterA healthy diet is essential for a child’s overall health. And, unfortunately, when they’re not sitting at your dining room table, it’s hard to make sure they’re eating the right things. Dr. Darren Schmidt tells us how to encourage kids to make good choices for themselves.“Once the parent has a healthier diet, the kids eat better. It all comes down to the parent…The ideal diet for a child is the same as an adult—plenty of healthy fat, organic meat, healthy vegetables, reduction of high carbohydrates such as bread or pasta; no junk food or very rarely. It’s funny, a child sometimes gets the worst food ever, but it shouldn’t be that way—they should get the best. The toughest cases are the child or the adult who is unwilling—there’s absolutely no success.”

The ideal diet for a child is the same as an adult—plenty of healthy fat, organic meat, healthy vegetables, reduction of high carbohydrates

such as: bread or pasta.

— Dr. Darren Schmidt, Nutritional Healing Center

thenutritionalhealingcenter.com 3610 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-302-7575

Continued from p. 9


Michigan Vein Care SpecialistsVaricose veins, a symptom of Venous Disease, can be a serious problem for people in their adult years. Dr. Suzanne Jones discusses the misconceptions and preventative measures young adults can take to care for their bodies and legs.“We are varicose vein specialists, and we also treat spider veins and ulcers – really anyone suffering from pain, heaviness, fatigue, cramping or swelling in their legs should be scheduling a visit to our office for an initial consultation with a vein special-ist. It’s a very common misconception that varicose veins are a cosmetic issue– they are typically a symptom of an underlying vein disease known as Venous Reflux which means the valves in your veins no longer work properly causing the pooling of blood and the unsightly blue bulges you typically see with varicose veins. There is no exercise that can fully prevent vein problems from developing or get rid of them once they appear. That being said, walking is great exercise for circulation. People who stand in one place or sit for prolonged periods of time tend to have blood and fluid pooling in their legs. Many women develop vein problems during pregnancy. Often, the busyness of life with small children keeps women from taking care of themselves. Vein prob-lems can easily be treated in our office in a short amount of time, avoiding potentially more se-rious complications. Our non-surgical treat-ments allow moms with young children to resume their busy schedules the same day. Varicose veins are genetic. People who have a family history can take steps when they are young to stay active, maintain a healthy weight, and see a vein specialist early if any signs of varicose veins appear to prevent more serious problems.”


michiganveincare.com 760 W Eisenhower Pkwy #200, Ann Arbor 734-274-5624 Continued on p. 12


Ann Arbor Plastic SurgeryHaving children is one of life’s big-gest blessings. However, the un-wanted problem areas around the chest and stomach area after preg-nancy and breastfeeding, is not. Dr. Pramit Malhotra promises that the ideal you can be a reality.What effects does breastfeed-ing have on female bodies? What are the procedures that can fix this? “Breast feeding, as well as preg-nancy, causes many changes in the female breast. Our patients most commonly are concerned about the loose skin or sagging in their breasts that gives a deflated look. There are several options to the reverse these changes including a breast lift or sometimes using a breast implant alone.”Your practice does something called a “Mommy Makeover.” What does this entail? A “Mommy Makeover” is a combination of a tummy tuck and breast lift. These are often the two areas that have changed the most after having children. We also offer a “Mini-Mommy Makeover” which involves a breast augmentation and a mini-tummy tuck. How common is a tummy tuck procedure for moms and what does a recovery period after this procedure look like? Tummy tucks are very common in our practice. We offer a procedure we call the Power Lipotuck which involves liposuction plus a tummy tuck. We have several patients that have gone down 4 dress sizes. It’s an incredible procedure. Time off from work is about two weeks. What is the approximate cost of a procedure that is not covered by insurance? Most of our procedures range between $5,000 and $7,000; which are all inclusive.What is the biggest misconception of the plastic surgery industry? It seems that a lot of people have the view that only ultra-wealthy people or movie stars have plastic surgery. The fact is that the majority of patients are normal people just like them. Often people have that one thing that has bothered them their whole life and they just decide to do something about it.

Hometown Pharmacy of Ann ArborFlu shots are one of the most debated remedies for the dreaded seasonal cold and flu. Parents and children alike are usually not thrilled by the idea of getting poked by a needle, regardless of the benefits. We asked Pharmacist Steve Evans about the pros and cons of having your young ones receive the immunization.“The risks of getting the flu shot are minimal- it is just a mild case of the flu while without the vaccine the possibility of death from the flu is real. Just like any other vaccination, it’s a positive thing to do for your kids— two years and older. Keep your kids active, drink lots of fluids, and wash your hands on a regular basis be-cause that cuts down on transmission.”

hometownpharmacy.com 2355 E. Stadium Blvd #1, Ann Arbor; 734-662-3143


annarborplasticsurgery.com 2300 Washtenaw #100, Ann Arbor

734-913-5100

Continued from p. 11


Ann Arbor Family asked local moms what they do to keep themselves and their families healthy during the dreaded cold and flu season.

Veronica Terry and her son, Gabriel, 5

Q: What do you do during the winter to keep your child from get-ting sick? “He gets a flu shot every winter. It keeps him from getting really sick. He still gets colds, but nothing major.”

Q: How do you get your child to eat healthy? “There’s a rule in my house—my child has at least one vegetable with every meal that he has to eat before he gets up from the table. He used to fight it, but now accepts it. Also, I’m a fan of moderation. I let him have French fries and chicken nuggets, but he doesn’t have it every day.”

Q: What do you do during the winter to keep your child from getting sick? “I do stock up on orange juice when it starts to get colder—to keep up the Vitamin C as opposed to getting the flu vaccine. I don’t want to pump his system with a flu vaccine, when he most likely won’t get it in the first place. If we eat right and take good care of our bod-ies, our immune system will do that work on its own.”

Q: How do you get your child to eat healthy? “I don’t buy any sweets. And if I do, I make sure it remains a treat—it’s not every day that he eats sweets. He prefers fruits over candy—that helps, but that’s because I introduced it to him when he was young.”

Shawna Springer and children, Olivia, 1, Padma, 6, and Makayla, 11

Q: How do you get your kids to eat healthy? “I get them healthy snacks such as: applesauce cups and fruit cups. They don’t drink soda at all. They do drink juice and Kool-Aid, but I limit them to one cup a day. The rest of the day they drink water. A great way to keep my kids drinking water is getting them a water bottle of their choice. They tend to drink water if it’s in a bottle; they say ‘it tastes better.’ I don’t argue with them because I win in the end.”

Judith Burt and her children, Marty, 7, and Charlie, 12

Q: What do you do during the winter to keep your child from getting sick? “I use Emergen-C—it’s a combination of zinc and Vitamin C. It boosts the immune system. When I see them start to get sick, I give them a teaspoon of Elder-berry Juice every morning before school. It is natural and it helps to boost the immune system. When they start getting the sniffles, I cut down on their milk intake.”

What do you do to keep your family healthy and happy during the winter?By Jeff Berry

Emily Porter and her son, James, 6

healthy kidsSEVEN BATH TIPS

Keep your kids safe in the waterBy Meagan Ruffing

Bath time serves many purposes. It’s a time to get your kids clean. It’s a time for your kids to splash around in shallow water and it’s a time for make believe sea water rescues and mermaid tea parties. Kids love the freedom that water has to offer and parents love to soak up their sweet smelling children wrapped up in warm, fluffy towels just before bedtime. With all of the great things there are to adore about bath time there can also be dangers if kids are left unattended. It may be tempting to leave the kids in the tub while you run to the laundry room “for just a second” or to grab your phone “real quick” but accidents can happen in those few seconds.

These 7 tips will help you create a safe environment and give your kids the freedom to splash around.

Make sure the temperature of the water is not too hot or too cold. Test it on your wrist first for a more accurate feel. Better yet, buy one of those bath toy ther-mometers to help you figure out the correct temperature. Newborns get cold quicker since their skin is thinner.

Children can get cut very easily on the water spout. Be sure to cover it up with an inflatable cover to protect your kids from hitting up against it or acci-dently standing up and scraping their backs on it.

The best bath toys are those that do not have any holes in them. Water can get inside and mold can grow; making the bathtub a breeding ground for germs. You should wash bath toys regu-larly or toss the ones that do have holes in them after a few months of play.

Do not fill the bath so high with water that your kids could fall under and be completely submerged. Just a few inches of water will do for infants and about waist high for toddlers.

Always stay with your children while they are bathing. Accidents can happen in seconds and if your child is not old enough to know how to lift their head out of the water – drowning can occur.

Encourage your kids to play in the tub but leave jumping for outside of the bathtub. Toddlers like to test their boundaries and they like to splash, jump and watch the water fly out of the tub. Slipping in the bathtub can lead to a serious injury. Be sure to keep them seated in the tub or supervised while standing to wash.

Keep little fingers out of the drain. The drain holes are usually very small but small fingers can easily get stuck if you are not watch-ing your child closely. Bath time should remain fun while being safe. Encourage your children to use their imagination and explore their surroundings. Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Meagan Ruffing is a freelance parenting writer. She loves bath time just as much as her kids do and enjoys finding fun and creative ways to make bathing more fun.

January is National Bath Safety Month


Parent Takes a Stand for Mott Families

Advocate for families with sick children By Heather Burcham

There is a parent watching over chil-dren at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital—Kelly Parent, Patient and Family Cen-tered Care (PFCC) Program Manager at Mott. Parent works to foster partnerships between healthcare providers and pa-tients and their families in an effort to provide safe, quality care at the renowned children’s hospital. “My role,” Kelly ex-plains, “is to prepare staff to engage the voices of patients and families into health care decision making and care planning, and to teach patients and families the im-portance of participating in care, as well as how to participate effectively.” Kelly’s work has helped to improve services and programs for children at Mott by encour-aging open communication and transpar-ency between staff and families.

The result of developing the relation-ship between staff and patient families is remarkable. “There have been numer-ous wonderful enhancements to patient care and family support,” Kelly shares, “including a welcome book written by families for families, a book for families who have lost a child written by families who have experienced such unimagi-nable loss, and creation of healing walls,’ which are art forms on walls that engage and distract children as they make their way for tests and procedures.” The feed-back from patient and family advisors was also instrumental in the design of the new Mott Hospital. As well, an ongoing effort has brought the patient and family perspective to committees dedicated to reduce the risk of error. As a direct result of the family and patient voice, policies and programs that impact the services children receive have been enhanced.

Compassionate Heart and Valuable Advice

The most valuable gift Parent offers families is her compassionate heart and valuable advice—born from experience. Parent’s own daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, at only nine-years-

old. “Hearing the words that ‘your child has cancer’ was horrendous. It was a very dark time and we were (and still are) very fortunate to have good medi-cal insurance, a wonderfully support-ive network of friends and family, and a diagnosis whereby there was hope for survival,” Kelly confides. Families often take comfort in Parent’s understanding presence, opening up to her about their hopes, fears, and daily struggles. Being there for other families who are now fac-ing what she went through helps Parent on her own personal journey as well. “There is great healing that comes from helping others to navigate dark times,” Kelly wisely relates.

Advocating for Pediatric Oncology

Traveling to Capitol Hill to advocate for pediatric oncology funding and im-proved healthcare for children and taking on the role of PFCC Program Manager at Mott are the ways that Parent has dedi-cated her life to helping other children in their battle against serious illness. As the PFCC Program Manager at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, Parent manages the volunteer advisor program, “consisting of hundreds of patients and families who have gained wisdom… through their own healthcare journeys” who share valuable feedback to make hospital services bet-ter. “I do what I do because of what hap-pened in my daughter’s life,” Kelly says. “Make no bones about it....I would give back her cancer diagnosis in the blink of an eye if I could, but since I cannot, I have chosen this work.”

Parent has made an incredible impact in the lives of countless families at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, taking a dev-astating personal experience and using it to shine a light onto other families’ hard-ship. Mott families can rest assured that they have Parent on their side.

Keep Calm and Carry OnHoping for a frazzle free New Year

By Mary Helen DarahI experienced an English tea room

recently while visiting my Uncle Tom in New Orleans. He took me there because the Queen of England shares my birthday of April 21. Many think that her day of birth is in June. Don’t be fooled. She celebrates in June because the weather is more desirable to ride her horse around the square. I guess being queen, she can call the shots. I ate a lovely lunch on fine china and drank tea with an ex-tended pinky- that led to many trips to the loo the remainder of the day- and left me feeling content and cultured. The “takeaway” moment for me, howev-er, wasn’t the delectable scones, (well a bit of a take-away consid-ering some of the scone left in my purse) but the memory of dining under a sign that boldly stated “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON”.

According to our server the poster’s origin dates back to London at the be-ginning of the Second World War. It was intended to raise morale in the event of bombings, and explosions that could oc-cur. Obviously, my issues are insignificant in comparison- although there is a lot of gas in a house with teens- it has become my new mantra and I plan on using it of-ten in the year ahead.

New mantra in useLittle did I know that I would be recit-

ing it over and over again so soon after leaving my uncle’s. I left for the airport from his home at 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning and arrived home Sunday at 5 p.m. Mind you, I am a grateful that we live in a world where it takes hours and not months to arrive at a desired destina-tion and that there is little fear of a tribal attack or getting some freaky disease, but is was still daunting. Apparently, I chose to fly during one of the worst storms in decades. I experienced THE most hor-rific landing of my life. You know you are in trouble when the retired Royal Air Force pilot sitting next to you grabs your arm and says, “Hang on love. Things are going to get a bit wild.” After my initial disappointment from realizing that a man has never said that to me in another venue, I took a deep breath as we skidded down the runway and quietly repeated “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON”. I used my new mantra numerous times that day; on the runway in a little prop plane that never was able to take off; while in line for three hours waiting to get another

connecting flight home; and in my Super 8 Hotel room where the weather condi-tions forced me to spend the evening. I discovered a full size fridge. Thankfully it contained leftover Chinese food and an

unrecognizable alcoholic beverage instead of a body. Oddly, I was at peace that day, while my fellow trav-ellers were less than com-posed, seeming to believe that the United Airways staff personally brewed up the storm to make their lives miserable.

Keeping calm at home

Now that I am finally home safe and sound, I use my calming chant daily— sometimes hourly.

On the occasions when I find myself sit-ting in the passenger seat with my driver in training teen, I calmly explain that A. We are not in London and the right side of the road is the way to go and B. Turns are best taken at speeds less than 35 mph., I KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. When my furnace dies, the water heater has a leaky nipple (tough to keep a straight face with that one) and apparently there is moisture in my crack—in the basement that is—I KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. Upon hearing, “Mom, I kind of dropped your phone in pumpkin muf-fin batter,” or “Mom, Maggie (the pooch) just ate a Fiber One Bar from the pantry,” again, “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON”. Of course, my new found mantra has its limits. As a cancer survivor, during a recent scan, I resorted to “KEEP CALM- take an Ativan- AND CARRY ON”, but it did help.

A friend and fellow cancer survivor uses a visual to maintain her serenity. She imagines herself floating down a stream. Of course, life has a way of throwing some heavy currents her way, and when it does, she doesn’t fight the turbulence. She moves with the current and has faith that tranquil waters are up ahead. How-ever, these are my words of summation not hers. My buddy Virginia would say, “GIRL, what are you thinking, swim-ming so hard? All you have to do is float through the rough stuff until you get to the smooth waters? By the way, you have too much sh** in your stream.” Either way, whether you choose to visualize or chant again and again and again, as long as it takes, I wish you a frazzle-free, un-ruffled year ahead with smooth waters. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!


THE SHORT COURSEKid-friendly YesTo avoid wait Shouldn’t be a prob-lem. They have a large seating area.Noise level High due to polished concrete floors and the exposed ceiling.Bathroom amenities No changing tablesHigh chairs YesGot milk Yes. Lemonade and pop are also available.Kids’ menu Not at this location. Personal pizzas are sized right for kids, though.Anything healthy for kids Try a salad with romaine, red onion, Roma tomato and your choice of dressing.Food allergy concerns They can accommodate allergies. Advise your server of specific concerns and the cooks can wipe everything down, use separate utensils, and cook food separately.

Tony Sacco’s CoalOven Pizza980A West Eisenhower ParkwayAnn Arbor, MI 48103Phone: (734) 995-2625Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pmFri-Sat 11am-11pmwww.facebook.com/tonysaccosannarbor

Fired Up for Pizza Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza turns up the heat

By Katy M. Clark

Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza opened its doors in Ann Arbor last spring near the corner of Eisenhower and Ann Arbor Saline. Home to a custom-built, 1,000 de-gree anthracite coal-burning oven, Tony Sacco’s might want to literally open its doors, too, to let the heat out.

Never fear, though, the only thing smoking hot on the night my family of four ventured to Tony Sacco’s was the op-posing team beating our team in the foot-ball game on the TVs overhead. Besides the TVs, other things give Tony Sacco’s a bar-and-grill feel. It has exposed ceilings, inviting cherrywood chairs and tables topped in dark granite with an extended bar area.

The large coal oven where the pizza is cooked is prominent against the back wall, and serves as the mainstay at Tony Sacco’s. Sauce is made from scratch with plum tomatoes. Quality mozzarella is used as well as filtered water for their dough and sandwich bread. Besides piz-za, the restaurant offers appetizers, like garlic bread bites and wings, and entrees such as calzones, oven-baked sandwiches, and gluten-free wraps.

Fit for kids: food and entertainment

Tony Sacco’s has locations in the Midwest, North Carolina and Florida. While the corporate website lists a kids’ menu, the Ann Arbor location does not yet offer one. The personal pizzas with six slices were good fits for my kids, though. My ten-year-old son selected pepperoni ($6.95) while my six-year-old daughter chose cheese ($5.95). My husband and I decided to share a large antipasto salad ($10) and the Napoli specialty pizza with tomato sauce, meatballs, ricotta, and pro-volone ($17.95).

After ordering, my daughter and I headed to the glass partition near the coal oven to watch the cooks create our pizzas. She sat on a bar stool as we watched them knead and toss the dough before swirling pizza sauce, adding toppings and placing the pizzas into the coal oven, where the pies were periodically shuffled around with paddles until done. It was an en-tertaining way to pass the time until our food arrived.

The full-size antipasto salad was pretty to look at—and pretty big. Copious amounts of romaine were topped with green olives, Roma tomatoes, and pin-wheels of pepperoni, capicola, ham and provolone. Italian dressing was served on the side. Everything tasted fresh. I particularly liked the salty tang of the olives with the Italian dress-ing. Our kids munched on the meaty pinwheels and happily ignored the lettuce.

Creamy, cheesy goodness

The kids’ pizzas arrived five minutes before ours. Our server explained this was because the smaller pizzas cook faster. At least it wasn’t the kids waiting while we ate. When the Na-poli arrived, we found that dollops of creamy ricotta complimented the cheesy goodness of the provolone. The meatballs were savory. The coal oven had cooked the thin crust perfectly while the toppings tasted flavorful, not overcooked. Fresh basil sprinkled on top added season and color. The large size was generous and we took half home.

“How’s your cheese pizza?” I asked my daughter.

Her reply was nonverbal. Her lips smacked, her eyebrows raised, and her head nodded up and down.

“How’s your pepperoni?” I inquired of my oldest.

“Yum, yum.” Filled by the salad and pizza, and still

taking half a pie home, we passed on des-sert. Tony Sacco’s offers shortcake baked in the coal oven, filled with mousse and topped with fruit and whipped cream. Maybe next time.



January 2014

2 THURSDAY

Winter Break Movies - Come to the library and enjoy watching a movie. Today’s movie is Escape From Planet Earth. 3pm. Ypsilanti Library: Whittaker, 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti. 734-482-4110. ypsilibrary.org Free

Special Storytime with Drew! - The Michigan Theater’s Drew Waller will be the featured story teller. A lover of fun, color-ful picture books himself, Drew will bring the latest children’s books you see on the

Prehistoric tear-jerkerSunday, January 12Have you ever wondered if a movie about dinosaurs can make you cry? This one absolutely can. The Land Before Time follows Littlefoot, a baby dinosaur orphaned in a T-rex attack. He and a motley crew of adolescent dinosaurs journey to the Great Valley, while an extinction event—and bloodthirsty predators—threatens their survival at every turn. This animated classic was directed by unsung visionary Don Bluth, who depicts the extinction of the dinosaurs as a beautiful, and haunt-ing post-apocalyptic landscape. This is a children’s movie with some teeth! 1:30pm. $10; Free for children under 12. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8397. michtheater.org —JS

shelves to life with this entertaining way to take a worthwhile time out with your little ones. 11:30am. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com

3 FRIDAY

New Year Nonsense - Gear up for the New Year with musician Rosalie Koenig and storyteller Laura Pershin Raynor for silly stories and songs to usher in a festive new year. There will be tales and tunes to tickle the whole family! This event is geared

Some of the best mu-sic for children is music that is not for children; or, more accurately, music that was not cre-ated specifically for children.

The River Raisin Ragtime Revue’s new CD, “Animal Fair” is a great example. R4, a 12-piece ragtime theater orchestra based in Te-cumseh, Michigan, has been performing and recording ragtime clas-sics and related genres of American music since its founding in 2002. They have played at, among other venues, the Hen-ry Ford Museum, the DIA, Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater and at historic Green-field Village. They have also recorded three critically acclaimed CDs of ragtime and other early American popular mu-sic classics. “Animal Fair” is their fourth CD, and their first for children. But you wouldn’t necessarily think that from lis-tening. There’s no simplifying or dumb-ing down here; the music on Animal Fair is performed to the same exceptionally high standards that R4 set on their three previous recordings which were aimed at an adult audeince. What’s childlike and child appropriate about Animal Fair is the infectious exuberance and abandon with which the R4 musicians play these tunes.

The cover of Animal Fair is the perfect opening nod to this recording’s younger target audience. Diane Rosecrans Pem-

berton’s acrylic painting of a whimsical septet of animal musicians, squir-rel to elephant, jam-ming on a variety of in-struments, all gathered around a calico cat on the keys of a piano, sets just the right tone. The liner notes contain sev-eral more of her fanciful paintings of animals il-lustrating a brief history of ragtime, written by R4 co-founder and musical director, William Pem-berton. And while Pem-berton’s notes are totally

age-appropriate, he does not shy away from describing the virulent racism that many of ragtime’s African American cre-ators faced at the turn of the 20th century in America.

But despite, or perhaps in response to that culture of prejudice and segregation in which the music and the musicians grew up, ragtime in general, and cer-tainly most of the animal titled pieces on Animal Fair, are often lighthearted, even joyous. And R4 is clearly having a blast playing them. They rip into nearly cen-tury old tunes like Rooster Rag and Barn-yard Blues, or brand new ones like R4 co-founder William Hayes’ Elephant Rag and R4 pianist, Catherine McMichael’s Warthog Stride, with energy, ease and a great sense of fun.

Their instrumentation, the standard one for orchestras of ragtime’s period, is comprised of a string quartet, plus flute/piccolo, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba, piano, banjo and drums. R4’s im-peccable research, and their reliance on original scores of the period allows them to prominently feature the huge variety of tonal colors available from these in-struments.

Ragtime is arguably America’s first popular music, the first that was not pri-marily a European import, and the music that became one of the primary precur-sors of jazz. It is heartening that R4 is pre-serving and presenting ragtime, and now with the Animal Fair CD, for all ages, as lively, living, music that can serve both as a reminder of our past and a celebration of our present.

The River Raisin Ragtime Revue’s 3rd Annual Ragtime Extravaganza, which William Pemberton rates at, “about a PG13” due to some burlesque, will take place at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater on January 18 at 8pm. There will be a

free children’s show at noon in the Michigan Theater lobby featuring the Moanin’ Frogs and Zeemo the magician/juggler to introduce kids to

the vaudeville era.

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Ragtime Music Appealing to All EarsAnimal Fair CD offers ragtime

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CONTINUED ON P. 18

Animal Fair is available on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon, and also at Nicola’s Books, and Mudpuddles in Ann Arbor. You can also order it online and see R4’s schedule at ragtimeband.org.


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Critters Up Close - Every month, Friends from Leslie Science and Nature Center will bring different live animals into the museum. There will also be special, animal-oriented hands-on activities. While you’re here, pick up the Critters-Up Close passport and start collecting stamps for this year-long series. Also on January 12. 1-4pm. Museum admission: $11 for adults and children, babies ages 0-23 months. Ann Arbor Hands On Museum: Michigan Nature Gallery, 220 E. Ann St. 734-995-5439. aahom.org

12 SUNDAY

Parent/Child: Potsticker Party - This class is for children 6 years old and up and an adult. You’ll make pork & scallion, tofu, ginger, chicken, mango potstickers with a soy ginger dipping sauce. Tell the rest of your family to order out because these dainty two-bite appetizers will disap-pear before your eyes! You will get to take the leftovers home (feel free to bring a con-tainer) and a recipe packet. Registration is required; call Ann Arbor Cooks! or register online. 1-3:30pm. $65 for Parent + 1 child/$85 for Parent + 2 children. Ann Arbor Cooks!, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. annarborcooks.com

Family Friendly Film: Land Before Time - Come to the Michigan Theater to watch the Land Before Time. Advance tickets are available at ticketweb.com. 1:30pm. Children ages 12 and under are free. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. 734-668-8463. michtheater.org

13 MONDAY

Airbrush Painting Demo - Join Cliffnote, Detroit artist, graphic novelist and hip-hop musician, for a demonstration of the work he does at his business, Aired Out Customs, and a conversation about his life as an artist and the author of the book and CD, Path to Notification. This is the first session of the weekly Monday night Creativity Lab! This program is for teens. 6:30pm. Ypsilanti Library: Michigan, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. 734-482-4110. ypsilibrary.org Free

18 SATURDAY

Writing Workshop: The Fundamentals of Plot - Local science fiction writer Margaret Yang will discuss how to structure a novel or shorter work, how to see the “big picture”, story arc, how to start and end a story in the right place. She will explain how to avoid com-mon writing traps like infodumps and other dull spots.This program is for teens (grades 6 and up) and adults. 2-3:30pm. Pittsfield Branch: Program Room, 2359 Oak Valley Dr. 734-327-4200. aadl.org Free

Kids’ Sushi-Making! - This impressive and healthy food can be served as an appetizer or made into a meal. Loaded with technique and delicious ingredients, each student will work on their own to cre-ate and roll the sushi. Ann Arbor Cooks!

will have lots of vegetables to choose from and some shrimp, krab and sushi grade salmon to design your own personal sushi. You can take any leftovers home (feel free to send a container) and a recipe packet. This class is for kids only: 8 years old and up. Registration is required; register by call-ing Ann Arbor Cooks!, or online. 2-4pm. $50 per child. Ann Arbor Cooks!, 5060 Jackson Rd. 734-645-1030. annarbor-cooks.com

19 SUNDAY

Friends in Song and Story - San and Laz of Gemini and AADL’s Laura Pershin Raynor join forces for a musical storytelling program that will entertain the whole fam-ily. The concert will include Gemini’s songs for children and collaborative storytelling with their long-time friend Laura. This event is for children in preschool-3rd grade. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 2-2:45pm. 734-327-4200. aadl.org Free

20 MONDAY

MLK Day Family Swim - Includes crafts, a snack, and of course swimming! Noon-1:30pm. Free for all members/ $5, per person, no more than $15 per family for non-members. Goldfish Swim School, 2107 W. Stadium Blvd. 734-864-5555.

MLK, Jr. Day Celebration - Come to the library for crafts. Followed by the You Can’t Stop Me Project at 6pm, where students perform inspirational and self-empowering songs. 5:30-8:30pm. Ypsilanti Library: Whittaker, 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti. 734-482-4110. ypsilibrary.org Free

23 THURSDAY

Special Storytime with Drew - The Michigan Theater’s Drew Waller will be the featured story teller. Drew will bring the latest children’s books to life. 11:30am. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave. 734-662-0600. nicolasbooks.com

Things you need To KnoWFor more events, or to submit your own, go to www.annarborfamily.com. It's FREE!

Create an account by clicking My Account and fill-ing out the necessary information. Don't worry, it's effortless! Then select My Events to start adding or editing entries.

To be considered in prinTSubmit your events by the 14th of the month prior to the month when the event takes place. Entries are subject to editing for style and omission. The deadline for January events in print is Thursday, December 14.

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All calendar events are subject to change, cancella-tion, and limited size. Calling ahead for confirmation is recommended.

for children in preschool-third grade. 2-2:45pm. Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-4200. aadl.org Free

Movie and Popcorn for Kids - Bring your kids to the library to watch Monster’s University. 11am. Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St., Dexter. 734-426-4477. dexter.lib.mi.us Free.

5 SUNDAY

Metal Folk Art - Back by popular demand! Make an artistic keepsake by imprinting a drawing onto special tooling foil. Add colors for a shiny metallic finish that will impress everyone. Registration required. This event is for youth ages seven-eighteen years old. 2-3pm. Ypsilanti Library: Whittaker, 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti. 734-482-4110 ext. 1340. ypsilibrary.org Free

6 MONDAY

Tiny Tots: Rainbow of Colors - Let’s enjoy the colors all around us! Participants will match and sort the colors of the rain-bow through both indoor and outdoor activities and crafts. Then individuals will take a hike to look for the different colors of the forest. Register for this event online, by calling LSNC, or pay at the door. This event is for children 1-3 years old, and their caregiver. Siblings are welcome. 10-11:30am. $7 per child. Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd. 734-997-1553. lesliesnc.org

7 TUESDAY

Young Rembrandts Drawing Class & Demo - Students ages 5-15 will have fun at this drawing class and demo taught by Kathy Baker, instructor for the Young Rembrandts program offered through Saline Community Education. Registration required. 6:30-7:30pm. Saline Library, 555 N. Maple Rd., Saline. 734-429-5450. saline.lib.mi.us Free

First Tuesday LEGO Club - Kids ages 4+ are invited to spend an afternoon mak-ing their own LEGO creations while visiting with old friends and making new ones. Everyone is welcome. LEGOS will be pro-vided by the Library. 4-5pm. Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St., Dexter. 734-426-4477. dexter.lib.mi.us Free

9 THURSDAY

Coffee Talk Series: Sensory Issues in Children - Sensory Processing: More than just 5 senses. Sometimes it can be dif-ficult to differentiate between the areas of concern. This discussion will help identify the root of the issue; whether it is sensory-based, related to a behavioral or emotional issue, or if there are difficulties with being able to transition. 9:15-10:30am. Clonlara School, 1289 Jewett. 734-926-4617. clonlara.org Free

11 SATURDAY

Craft: Mini Yarn Monsters - Learn a few tricks to turn yarn into a fun monster you can call your own! This program is for youth in grades K-5. 1-2pm. Traverwood Branch: Program Room, 3333 Traverwood Dr. 734-327-4200. aadl.org Free

CONTINUED FROM P. 17


24 FRIDAY

Howell Nature Center Presents “Creatures of the Night” - This live, nocturnal animal program is for ages 4 and up. Registration is not required. 11-noon. Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St., Dexter. 734-426-4477. lib.mi.us Free

25 SATURDAY

Buhr Blitz DayJoin us for an afternoon of special games, contests, and prizes. 2:30-4:30pm. $5/child, $3 skate rental. Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena, 2751 Packard Rd. Superhero Training Academy - Decorate a mask, perform superhero tasks with Spiderman’s web, super villains, Kryptonite and refuel with Superhero snacks. This program is for children in kindergarten-fifth grade. 3pm. Ypsilanti Library: Michigan, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. 734-482-4110. ypsilibrary.org Free

26 SUNDAY

Falconry Masters - The use of birds of prey for hunting is a tradition first estab-lished by nobility thousands of years ago, and it continues today. Join Leslie Science and Nature Center as they take a closer look. They’ll be inviting local falconers to share their expertise in this living art form. You’ll meet active falconry birds, find out

ANNOUNCEMENTSThe Newcomers coTerie club of ANN Arbor provides a friendly social contact for new and returning residents to the Ann Arbor area, as well as a new social outlet for established resi-dents. Visit www.annarbornewcomersclub.com

AcTiVe boDY chAlleNGe starts Jan 13th - 10 Week Nutrition & Fitness Program, Cash prizes in 4 categories - only $35. www.nutritionby-choice.com or 734-707-7697

fuN free fiTNess! M & W 6:30pm off Packard Rd. All ages & skill levels welcome. www.nutritionbychoice.com 734-707-7697

EDUCATIONAre Your chilDreN iNTeresTeD iN AsTroNomY? Do they like observing the moon, planets and stars? GO TO www.YoungAstronomer.org

homebirTh circles, A social gathering and discussion group for families who are consider-ing homebirth, planning a homebirth or have birthed at home. Sponsored by the Midwives at New Moon Midwifery. Mondays 7:30-8:30pm at the Center for the Childbearing Year ~ 722 Brooks St. Ann Arbor, Mi 48103. Free. For more info call 734-424-0220 or www.newmoonmidwifery.com

HELP WANTEDhealth coaches Needed. Will train the right fit. Call to schedule appointment. Moms, Trainers, and Teachers desired. 734-707-7697

serious moms wANTeD. We need serious & motivated people for expanding health and wellness industry. High speed internet/phone essential. Free online training. www.iworkforfreedom.com

$1,000 weeKlY or more guaranteed salary mail-ing our financial company letters from home. No experience required. FT/PT. Genuine opportunity. Rapid Advancement. Free Information (24/7) : 1-888-557-5539

FOR SALEDell lAPToP comPuTer. Extremely fast, pro-fessional grade model. Excellent condition. Windows 7, Premium software bundle. Perfect for home, school or business. Six month war-ranty. $399. 717-653-6314

GArAGe KiTs AND Pole bArNs - We manufac-ture, we ship direct, you save. www.apmbuild-ings.com 888-261-2488

FREE CLASSIFIEDS: Individuals may receive one free 20-word ad per month (products offered in ads must sell for under $100). Each additional word 40 cents, payment must accompany ad. Free ads run 1 month and are reserved for private-parties use, noncommercial concerns and free services. Ads MUST be typed or neatly printed and MAILED, E-MAILED, or DROPPED OFF to Ann Arbor Family Press. Classifieds by the15th of the month prior to publication.

LINE CLASSIFIEDS: Only $10 per month for 20 words or less. Each additional word is 40 cents each and any artwork will be $5 extra.DISPLAy CLASSIFIEDS: Display classifieds with a box may be purchased for $25 per column inch. Photos are accepted with ads for an additional $5 per photo.

DEADLINES: Ad copy must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication.PAyMENT: Payment must be received before an ad can be placed. We accept checks, cash, money orders and credit cards (Visa/Mastercard).MAIL OR DROP OFF: Ann Arbor Family Press Classifieds, 3003 Washtenaw Blvd., Ann Arbor.PHONE: 734-668-4044 E-MAIL: [email protected]: Sorry, NO REFUNDS given.Misprints: Credit toward future ads.

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what’s involved in preparing for a hunt, and learn how this practice has been car-ried into the twenty-first century. Register online or call LSNC to register. This event is for individuals of all ages. 1-3pm. $8/individual, $30/family. Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Rd. 734-997-1553. lesliesnc.org

27 MONDAY

Clonlara School Visual Arts Display & Open House - Visit Clonlara School to learn program details about home-based education, dual/blended enrollment and the K-12 campus program. Take a tour of the facilities, meet the teachers and advi-sors, and get all your questions answered. There will also be a visual arts display by the campus and home-based education students. Clonlara School’s two educational programs provide services that recognize each learner’s curiosity, strengths, interests and talents as the foundation of his or her educational experience. 6-7:30pm. Clonlara School, 1289 Jewett. 734-926-4617. clonlara.org Free

30 THURSDAY

Chinese New year Activities - Ring in the Year of the Horse by decorating Chinese lanterns, decorating dragons, and creating your own fortune cookies. This event is happening at both the Ypsilanti District Library Superior Library: 8795 Macarthur Blvd. and at the YDL Whittaker Library: 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti. 3-9pm. 734-482-4110. ypsilibrary.org Free

Monday: Baby Playgroups, This is a time for babies up to 2 years and their grownups to gather and play. The sessions will include stories and songs, followed by open playtime. No older siblings, please. 10:30am. Downtown Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave. 734-327-8301. aadl.org Free

Thursday: Toddler Time, Kids will enjoy activities such as group songs, interactive felt board stories, and “group troop” action rhymes. The library's age-specific toys will encourage socialization. Your child will leave thinking the library is a super fun place, all while learning pre-reading skills! 10:30am. Chelsea Library, 221 S. Main St., Chelsea. 734-475-8732. chelsea.lib.mi.us Free

Saturday & Sunday: The Sky Tonight: Star Talk, Bright stars, constellations, planets, and telescopic objects in the current night sky will be discussed in this live “star talk.” Then leave Earth and “fly” out into space to examine the planets in the current sky. 3:30pm. $5. Museum of Natural History, 1109 Geddes Ave. 734-764-0478. lsa.umich.edu

Ongoing: Secret Life of Birds, Birds are everywhere you look—and many places you don’t. What are they up to? What are they concealing? Enjoy this unique and creative exhibit through January 31. Monday-Saturday, 9am-5-pm; Sunday, Noon-5pm. Free (groups 10 or less people)/suggested donation of $6. Museum of Natural History, 1109 Geddes Ave. 734-764-0478. lsa.umich.edu

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