LancMoms - April 2011

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LancMoms.com| April 9, 2011

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Allergies

MOMS

THE WORD:Cant Stopthe Clock

Mom of

the monthMELISSAVOLER

A N A D V E R T I S I N G S U P P L E M E N T O F T H E I N T E L L I G E N C E R J O U R N A L / L A N C A S T E R N E W E R A


2/12

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I waited in the car-pickupline outside my daughterselementary school. I broughtalong a latte, one crosswordpuzzle and nearly 30 minutes tospare early arrival a must ifI was to get a good spot towardthe front of the idling queue.

It is, after all, the Mondayroutine. Upon school dismissal,my daughter waves goodbye tofriends, jumps into the car andreaches for the seat belt with onehand and a snack with the other.Then she pins her long hair intoa knot as I focus on getting her

to ballet on time.But this day was different.

The buses pulled away from thecurb, and the walkers and carriders spilled onto the sidewalk.From my seat behind the wheel,I scanned the students for mydaughters face. The cellphonerang.

Im sorry, Mom, but Iforgot, she said. Im on the

bus.I looked toward the street,

and watched as her bus turnedthe corner and proceeded outof sight but toward our house,where we met a few minuteslater.

On a typical Monday, I wouldhave been annoyed.

But I saw the incident for whatit was: a simply perfect snapshotof our lives today. There I sat,quite comfortably, outside theschool that has become a homeaway from home these past sevenyears. Meanwhile, my daughtercaught a ride into the worldbeyond, leaving me behind.

There are two lastingbequests we can give ourchildren, reminds a quoteattributed to author HoddingCarter Jr. One is roots, the otheris wings.

Im OK on the former, but

working on the latter.Kids grow up, and theres

nothing we can do to changethat bittersweet fact. Then again:Would we really want to?

On a not-so-long-agoMonday, I would have parked ina lot, walked past the pickup lineand stood on the sidewalk so mydaughter could easily nd mewhen she emerged from school.

There would have been a hug,even if nearby classmates werewatching. Id have gripped herhand before leading her throughthe crawling trafc. My ngerswould have opened the cardoor that hers were too small tomanage. Shed have climbed intoa safety seat, and munched on a

pre-sliced apple while we madeour way to dance. Upon ourarrival, I would have twisted herhair into a bun while she tried tograb the brush and bobby pins.

A mom friend recentlyconded that shes put offregistering her youngest daughterfor fall kindergarten. Shell doit, she says. Eventually. Just notyet. Shes not ready to let go. Iget it.

Meanwhile, Im pretendingthat my daughter wont be aseventh-grader next year. Shecant wait. I can.

Other parents are preparingtots for preschool. Some arebracing for drivers educationor senior week or a childsgraduation into adulthood. Still

Youngster jumps out o a mobile, infatable planetarium at

One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure. Children learn

about science, math and dierent cultures. See page 11.

Photo by Jeff Ruppentha

Cant stop the clockBarbara Hough Roda

- continued on page 5

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Mom of theMonth

Melissa VolerBy Maureen LeaderSpecial Features Writer

Melissa Voler is a stay-at-homemom to three girls: Rebecca, 13;Olivia, 12 and Kathryn, 10. The

oler girls said they all workedtogether to ll out the applicationfor their mother to be Mom of

the Month.For the question, What are

the two best things about thismom? They answered, Sheis always there to help us andloves helping others. They alsoadded that their mom likesgardening, cooking, volunteeringand spending time with herchildren.

That list can seem prettymuch run of the mill stuff forany mother. And in talking to

oler you learn that she doeshat all stay-at-home mothers

do: keep house, cook, chauffeurthe children to their activities,and try to help at their schools.But what sets Voler apart is that

she takes what many of us see asmundane and she mixes it up.

Voler is not afraid to try newthings and challenge herselfevery day. And she does thisconstantly with the knowledgethat her daughters are alwayswatching and always learningfrom her.

Voler and her husband,John live in Denver, PA intheir very girly household.They have been married for17 years. The couple met on ablind date set up by her family.

Everyone in my familyknew him except me, sheremembers. Three years into theirmarriage they decided to starta family. Voler was a buyer forDoneckers and always plannedto be a stay-at-home mother.

To hear all that Voler does forher family and her communitymakes one wonder if there isanything she cant do. But Voler

Melissa Voler with her daughters, left to right: Olivia, Kathryn, and Rebecca.


* Voler graduated Dickinson College with a degree in ArtHistory.

Volers favorite thing to cook is dessert and her favorite foodis anything chocolate particularly chocolate lava cake.

The Volers only go out to eat occasionally.

In the girls playhouse in the yard, Voler painted a beautifulmural with a castle and fairies. In a previous house Voler painteda large mural of a circus and titled it, The Voler Circus. Whenher family moved she painted the new familys name on it forthem.

The Voler family loves to travel. Volers parents recently moved in next door. They see each

other often and the girls love it.

Melissa Volers favorite television show is The BarefootContessa or Giada on The Food Network.

John and Melissa Voler will soon have their rst vacationalone since the girls were born. They are going to Bermuda.

Volers Favorite season is spring.

Voler admits she is at her happiest when she is doing thingsfor other people.

Though her daughters are very musical, Voler says she isnot. It skips a generation, she said.

Mom details

L PVISIT LANCMOMS COM APrIL 9 2011


4/12


By Dr. Pia FenimoreSpecial to LancMoms.com

As I write this in early March,the pollen count in LancasterCounty is slowly creeping up.For those who suffer fromseasonal allergies, the counts arelike a poisonous ooze that seepupward and make us more andmore miserable.

It is not a myth that LancasterCounty is a terrible place to liveif you suffer from allergies. Infact, it made the top 100 worstplaces in the U.S. for allergysufferers. Why? We have a triple

hammy:

A fairly large volume ofindustries, which translates intopoor air quality.

Lots of farmland, whichallows for increased pollentransport and ragweed growth.

Soil type, which allows theso called pollinating trees(maple, oak, beech) to thrive.

Before you move fromour beloved Lancaster to thetundra, remember there is polleneverywhere. So dont uproot;instead, get smart and tackle theallergies with the following tips.

Choose your time to be

outside carefully. Allergysuffers should spend their timeoutdoors in the morning becausethat is when pollen counts arethe lowest. Choose moist, coolerdays to play or work outside. A

arm, dry, windy day will exposeou to the most allergens.

Dont cut the grass, if youare an allergy sufferer. And donot allow children who suffer

from allergies to play in freshly

cut grass.Dont breathe in pollen

while you sleep. Shower orbathe before bed, includingwashing hair where pollenloves to hang out. Sleep withthe windows closed and the airconditioning on, if possible. Andmake sure that the lter in yourair conditioner has been changedrecently.

Avoid hanging clothes orsheets outside to dry duringallergy season.

The allergy counter at yourlocal pharmacy can be a bitoverwhelming. And that is just thetip of the iceberg since there aremany prescription medicationsavailable, as well. They fall intoseveral categories:

Antihistamines

Histamine is a chemicalreleased from mast cells inthe body, which causes thesymptoms associated with anallergic reaction. Antihistaminesattempt to block the releaseof histamine, and thereforeblock the symptoms causedby histamine. There are shortacting antihistamines (Benadryl,diphenhydramine) and longacting antihistamines (Zyrtec,

loratadine, Claritin, Allegra).Some are approved down toage six months, but all of themshould only be used with advicefrom a health care provider.

Nasal Sprays

There are many studies thatsuggest that nasal sprays are moreeffective than oral medicationsfor allergy symptoms. This isespecially the case for chronic

runny nose, itchy eyes and

sneezing. They are appealing tohealth care providers becausethey put the medication exactlywhere it is needed. They donot get absorbed into yourblood stream, and thereforehave minimal side effects. Stayaway from decongestant nasalsprays, which can cause reboundcongestion. Nasal Crom is a mast

cell stabilizer and is an OTC (overthe counter) spray, which canhelp. There are also OTC salinesprays, which help by ushingout allergens from the nose. Butmost of the allergy nasal spraysrequire a prescription (Nasonex,Flonase, Patanase, etc).

Eye Drops

The itchy, red eyes are thenumber one most annoying

symptom for people. There areOTC eye drops, and there areprescription strength. They allhelp to relieve the itch. But mostof them do not last long enough.Many people have more successtreating their eye symptomswith an oral medicine or a nasalspray.

Alternative Treatments

Your local natural foods storewill have some therapies thatmay help as well. Lycopodiumand sulphur, two agents foundin some homeopathic allergysupplements, have been studiedand show some promisingresults in treatment of allergysymptoms. Herbs that are usedinclude echinacea and alliumcepa (onion). Specic foods havebeen shown to thin upper airwaymucus and they are typically the

spicy foods: cayenne pepper,garlic, hot ginger and onion.

Since the tiny pollen fragments

like to hang out in your nasalpassages and cause trouble, aneti pot or other nasal washmechanism can be very helpful.These nasal washes are safe inchildren, if done properly, andhelp to remove offending agents.Dont discount this just becauseits messy; it works, and there areno side effects.

So when do I need anallergist?

The Lancaster County areais blessed with many excellentphysicians trained specicallyin allergies. Your primary doctormay refer you or your childto one if: it is difcult to nda medication regimen whichworks for you; there are otherproblems, like asthma; or, itwould be helpful to have moretesting.

Allergists can do skin testingor scratch testing, which is aprocess by which they identifythe specic triggers for yourallergies. This is helpfulinformation for understandingthe seasonality of your symptomsand for eliminating the offendingagents. And, an allergist canprescribe allergy shots.

Allergy shots are no longerconsidered the last resort;today, many people decide to

get this type of immunotherapas a way to avoid long termmedication use. The shotsprovide a low level of consistenexposure to the allergen with theeffect being a desensitizatioof the patient. The key to theirsuccess is consistency. Thismeans that the patient musreceive a shot once a week durin

the initial build up phase, whiclasts 6-12 months. Then theenter the maintenance phase,which means one shot every fourweeks for three to ve years.

Children as young as age vecan start allergy shots. Your chilis ready for allergy shots, if shehe can communicate symptomsclearly and can tolerate a shot oncea week without too much fear.

Its springtime ... kids need to gooutside, stretch those muscles, climbtrees and roll down grassy hills.

These activities may lead toallergy symptoms. Dont fret,just make a few adjustments,get help from your healthcareprovider, if needed, and dont leallergies hold your child back.

Go play!

Dr. Pia Fenimore, o

Lancaster Pediatric Associates,is a contributor to the LancMoms.com Ask an Expert feature.

Spring allergies

Dr. Pia Fenimore

There are a few things to watch out for in kids when it comesto allergies. They are:

The allergic salute is when a child is constantly taking thepalm of their hand and pushing up on their nose to attempt toitch away the allergies. This leads to an allergic crease, if it is

done chronically; that is when there is a horizontal crease acrossthe bridge of the nose. This crease goes away with time, if thenose is left alone and the allergies are treated.

Ear infections can be related to allergic symptoms. Anythingthat causes increased mucus production can block the eustaciantubes and cause an ear infection. It is much better to have yourchild on a daily allergy medication than to have them on lots ofantibiotics.

Allergies can be a trigger for asthma. If your child hasasthma, make sure his/her allergies are being addressed to preventwheezing.

It takes a few seasons to sensitize to our environment, soallergy symptoms in babies are usually rare. With each seasonthey tend to get worse as your antibody levels to the allergensincreases.

Allergies make you irritable. The itchy ears, nose, andmouth are enough to make any school-age kid cranky; then addin congestion, sneezing and side effects from medicines (mostantihistamines have some drowsiness associated with them),and you have a regular beast in your house. Respond to this byeliminating symptoms when you can, helping your child get moresleep, showering after outside play and nasal washes.

Things to watch for sk an Expert

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L P VISIT LANCMOMS COM APrIL 9 2011


5/12


others wonder how it could bethat their children are 30, 40,even 50 years old.

Are parents ever really at easeith the passage of time. And ase celebrate the joys, does theorry ever stop?My daughter thinks my

anxiety about her growing upis really apprehension about

my own to put it delicately advancing maturity.

You are getting older, Mom,she matter-of-factly reminds me.

True enough.But parenthood, and school

days, have quickened the pace.Its a tough world, and Imlosing control. Not in our home,or over what I can teach her. ButI cant dictate her environment,

and those with whom she comesin contact. No longer does shego, and stay, where I put her.The banda es and kisses that so

easily xed things for childrenwhen they were little, becomeinsufcient salve as they growolder.

Exhilarating adventuresawait. So, too, peer pressure andbullying. Will I have adequatelyprepared her for all that is tocome? Will she be safe? Will sheremember the person she wasbrought up to be?

Just wait until youre amother, my own mom alwaystold me. Now I know what shemeant.

When I quizzed my daughterabout the appeal of middle school,the answers were simple enough:lockers and new friends.

Its a sign Im getting ahead ofmyself and need to chill. I supposeI can enjoy that crossword puzzleand latte while, together, we

ready those 11-year-old wingsfor the test ights to come.

Barbara Hough Roda is momto Faith and managing editorof the Sunday news. She can bereached at 481-7335 and by emailat [email protected]. Checkout her blog at LancMoms.com.

- continued from page 2

Moms the Word

In a previous article, wediscussed autism and I promisedto continue the discussion. TheMayo Clinic denes autismas one of a group of seriousdevelopmental problems calledautistic spectrum disordersthat appear in early childhood,usually before 3 years of age.The autistic spectrum disordersare usually associated with aneven larger diagnostic group,Pervasive DevelopmentalDisorder ( PDD ).

In his book, The Brain ThatChanges Itself, Norman Doidge,

M.D. writes, The mystery ofautism a human mind thatcannot conceive of other minds is one of the most bafingand poignant in psychiatryand one of the most severedevelopmental disorders ofchildhood. It is called pervasivedevelopmental disorder becauseso many aspects of developmentare disturbed: intelligence,perception, socializing skills,language and emotion.

The autistic child hasdifculty connecting withothers socially. They may treatpeople like inanimate objects, inextreme cases, neither greetingthem; or, even acknowledgingtheir presence. At times, it seemsthat they have no sense that other

minds exist almost in a worldof their own. They also havevisual processing difculties and,thereby, often are hypersensitiveto touch and sound, and easilyoverloaded by stimulation. Theneural networks appear to beoveractive.

This, then, brings to mindseveral types of therapeuticinterventions that might be veryhelpful in the development of theautistic child. The most obviousof which is psychological. Andwhile psychological therapy forthe child may be very helpful,

I think parental counseling isequally important. Why, youmay ask. Well, parenting is oneof the most difcult tasks wehave in our lifetime. Yet no oneever teaches us how or why. Nocourses in school are offered,etc. Now parenting a child whohas no problems or is an averagechild is admittedly difcult. Nowthink about parenting an autisticchild, who is completely differentin almost every way. Wilfullmisbehavior? Or, the response ofa child who perceives the worldcompletely differently? Howdoes the parent handle all ofthese confusing issues? Thus, theneed for parental psychologicalcounseling.

Another possible helpful

therapy is occupational therapy.Sensorimotor integration andvarious types of brushingtechniques can be used tohelp the child develop a betterunderstanding of the worldaround them; and, become lesstactile defensive.

Vision therapy, as described

in my book, 20/20 Is NotEnough, talks about thetherapeutic intervention whichteaches children how to interpretthe world around them in a moreefcient way. Processing visualinformation really denes muchof who we are. And, in fact,how we respond and react to the

information that we see. A basictenet of this work is that we alldo not see the same things, eventhough we may be looking at thesame visual data.

Case in point, six peopleobserve an auto accident onDuke Street. The police come

and interview individually thesix people who observed theauto accident. The ofcer isamazed that there are threedifferent accounts of thisaccident reported, as well asmany different details notedand relayed to him by the sixobservers. Therefore, if theautistic child can be taught tovisually interpret the worldaround them, obviously that will

be enormously important in theirdevelopment.

Dr. Temple Grandin wrote inher book, Thinking in Pictures:My Life With Autism, Ifvisual processing problems aresuspected, the child should see adevelopmental optometrist. Thisis a special eye doctor who cando therapy and exercises to helpthe processing problems that are

inside the brain. In many of thesechildren, the eye itself is normalbut faulty wiring in the brain iscausing the problem.

It is vital to understand thachildren with autism may havenormal eyesight (20/20) yebenet from ofce based visiotherapy by a qualied VisioTherapy Fellow.

Determining what therapeuticinterventions are most importan

is critical in aiding theautistic child to develop. Theaforementioned are targetina better understanding aninterpretation of the world thelive in, as well as the behavioralaspects of themselves and theirinteraction with others.

Dr. Arthur Seiderma(Leola, PA) an optometrist anpsychologist, who is a graduateof The Gesell Institutes programof Child Developent at YaleUniversity, has written severalbooks, lectured throughout theUSA, Canada, and Europe.His work has been translateinto six languages. He taughgraduate level courses at PenState University for manyyears, is a past president oThe Disabled Reader Group

of The International ReadinAssociation (IRA), anmaintains his private practicein Leola.

utism

Dr. Arthur Seiderman

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Lancaster PaVISIT LANCMOMS COM APrIL 9 2011


6/12


By Amy BalestierLancMoms.com moderatorChris Younger never pays for

toothpaste.And she rarely pays for

deodorant, shampoo, conditioner,soap, lotion, Band Aids ordishwashing liquid. To name justa few.

Her secret? Clipping coupons.o, she certainly is not one of

those slightly unhinged couponfanatics you may have seen onTLCs Extreme Couponing.(Did you see the dumpster-diving episode???) Shes simplya mom looking to get the biggestbang out of her shopping bucks.

She wants to help you do thesame.

On her new blog Clippinith Chris on LancMoms.

com, Younger will advisereaders on how to maximizethe use of coupons in order tosave the most money possible.If you follow her guidance, youtoo might be able to slash yourgrocery bill in half.

Yes, in half.The problem is that simply

using a coupon does notnecessarily mean that you got agreat value, Younger explains.The trick is to match a coupon

ith a sale for that same itemhen purchasing the things thatour family needs or likes. Its a

matter of timing.And thats where Younger

steps in. Using the coupons thatare found within the Sunday

ews inserts (and occasionally

online, in magazines and a fewother places), Younger matchescoupons with the best sales in the

Lancaster area, so readers knowexactly where they will nd thebest deal. It saves them not justmoney, but also time.

Youngers interest in couponsgoes way back. Ive alwaysused coupons, she says. WhenI was a teen, my mom let me usecoupons to go grocery shopping,and I got to keep whatever Isaved. It was a good lesson tolearn coupons are money.

The idea to share her newfound fortune with others camemore recently. While a youngboy sat on Santas lap this pastChristmas, his mother condedto Younger that the $50 talkinggarbage truck he wanted Stinky the Garbage Truck was simply too expensive to

purchase.I felt bad because I knew

she couldve gotten it for $30,Younger recalls. It made merealize that I wanted to helppeople save money.

The amount of money thatYounger saves might make onethink she has turned this into afull-time job. Not so. Youngerswears she spends no more thantwo to three hours per week oncouponing. And that includestaking stock of what she needs,planning meals, and doing theshopping.

The amount. of moneyyou save is worth [the effort],she explains. If you organizeyourself, it will cut back on thetime you shop because you knowexactly what you are going infor.

Getting organized is the rststep to nding that pot o goldat the end the checkout counter.

Younger advises to make a list ofthe things your family likes anduses, as well as what you have instock. She uses an Excel sheet torecord her familys favorite mealsand the ingredients she needs tomake them. That way, she knowshow to ll her pantry.

I have to be organized, she

says. She ticks off the reasonswhy: she has three children(Jasmyn, 13, Samantha, 5,and Jane, 3); a full-time jobas a realtor; and a propertymanagement company that sheruns with her husband, Joe. Andwe have to have time for fun.

Stocking up is also part ofthe program. The idea is to buyas many items as you can at the

best price so you have enough instock until the sale comes aroundagain, and you need more of thatparticular item. According toYounger, the sale

cycle is six to eight weeks;what you nd on sale now willagain go on sale about a monthand a half later. If you nd youhave too much, she suggestsdonating the extras or give awayto family and friends.

Younger admits that forpeople who love to make thingsfrom scratch, nding coupons

for whole foods our, sugar,eggs, etc. is tough. She ndsthat her biggest savings comesfrom toiletries and cleaningsupplies. The money she savesgoes towards buying her freshveggies, fruits and cookingstaples.

What will you do with themoney you save?

To contact Younger, yocan submit a comment to herblog or message her througher LancMoms.coms account,username ClippinwithChris.

- continued from page

Clippin with Chris

on LancMoms.com

Tips from Clippin with Chris:

Give your e-mail address each time a clerk asks you atcheckout. Youll get identied as a frequent shopper and more

coupons or deals will come your way.

Create a separate e-mail account to use for your couponing

activities; that will keep spam out of your personal account.

Start small. Pick one store one grocery and onedrugstore and stick to it.

Get to know a stores coupon policy. Some stores, likeTarget, allow you to stack coupons, combining a manufacturers

coupon and a store coupon for the same item. Others, likeStauffers and Giant, double the manufacturers coupons.

Think ahead. Anticipate what youll need in the coming

months sunblock in the summer, cold medicine in the

winter and buy enough of it to last the season when it goeson sale.

Lancaster Pa VISIT LANCMOMS.COM APrIL 9 2011


7/12


By Rochelle A. ShenkSpecial Features Writer

Middle Creek WildlifeManagement Area is one ofour areas gems. Owned by thePennsylvania Game Commission,this 6,254-acre facility createdin 1973 straddles Lancaster andLebanon counties and is set aside

for the protection, propagation,management, preservation andcontrolled harvest of wildlife. Itincludes a 400-acre man-madelake, an oak-hickory forest andopen meadows.

It can be an outdoorextravaganza for those who loveor would like to learn aboutnature. There are 20-miles ofhiking trails, picnic areas anda driving trail around the lake.

Fishing is permitted withina designated area, and non-motorized boats are permitted

May 16 through Sept. 14. Wealso have a lot of activities forfamilies at the Visitors Centerincluding a scavenger huntfor children and a variety ofworkshops, says Al Keith,visitors center coordinatorfor the Pennsylvania GameCommission.

Middle Creek is a popular

spot for bird watchers, so Keithsays be sure to bring binoculars.Nesting islands have been builtin the lake for Canada geese, soa large population can be seenyear-round. In mid-Februarythrough March, its a haven forocks of migrating snow geeseand tundra swans. The lakeand elds may by covered withthousands of these beautifulcreatures who stop here on

their 4,000-mile one-way ightbetween their winter home in thesouth and their breeding areas in

the Artic Circle.People always ask when the

snow geese and tundra swanswill be here. Theres reallyno specic date they couldarrive anywhere between mid-February to late-February. Wetell people: if you look outsideyour window and see a coveringof snow on the lawn, its not time,

but if the snow has melted andthere are patches of clear area,you may want to take a drive toMiddle Creek. They like to be onthe lake, and the elds offer bothfood and shelter for them, Keithexplains.

While thats a tip to keep inmind for next winter, theresplenty to see at Middle Creekright now. Keith says that MiddleCreek currently has nesting bald

eagles. The best time to seethem is mid-April. The leaveson the trees will not yet be out,

so youll have a clear view ofthe nest, and the young will begetting older and are more easilyvisible. Children are alwaysfascinated by nesting birds, andbald eagles are really neat towatch, he comments.

In the spring and summer itspossible to see wading and shorebirds including great blue herons,little green herons, Americanegrets. Throughout the year youmay also see ringneck pheasant,bobwhite quail and rabbits in thefarmland areas and songbirds,whitetail deer, ruffed grouse(PAs state bird), or woodcock inthe forest or along its edges.

If youre walking or hiking

the trails, be sure to bring water,and wear appropriate clothing.Also be aware of poison ivy.

There are also three picnic areaslocated throughout the facilitas well as a covered pavilioat the observation point at theend of the Willow Point Trail,a level path which is handicapaccessible so feel free to pack

lunch to enjoy with the family.Two trails are perfect forchildren. The ConservatioTrail is a 1.4-mile loop fromthe Visitors Center, upridge, through forest, eld anwetlands. Spicebush Trail is0.7-mile trail that starts oppositeSunsh Pond Dam, followssmall stream through wetlanand forest.

An Interpretive Guide is

available for both of these trails.About 9 miles of Horseshoe

Day TrippinEnjoy the outdoors at

Middle Creek




8/12

,

By Amy BalestierLancMoms.com moderator

If only your child cameith a manual. How often has

that been said? Sure, parentingmanuals are great, and certainlyin abundance, but there is no onemagic road map to navigatingthe twisty (sometimes bumpy)ourney of rearing children. Each

child is different. Each has theirown road map.

Thats just the thing thatKirsten Freitag Murray contributor to LancMoms.comsAsk an Expert feature wantsparents to understand.

You need to know whatmakes your child tick, FreitagMurray explains when talking

about how parents can betterunderstand their children. In

hich setting is your childconfdent and calm or agitated.

nd, you have to stay on top oftheir developmental changes.

As a LancMoms expert,Freitag Murray hopes to guideparents in building strongrelationships with their children.

Shell feld questions on socialand developmental issues, suchas bullying and risky behaviorin teens, tantrums and timeoutsin younger children and siblingrivalry that can sometimes arrivewith a new baby.

Freitag Murray has made acareer out of understanding whatmakes children tick. In additionto raising three children of herown Sam, 21, Elise, 17, andJulia, 15 with her husbandMichael, she was formerlya Family Life EducationSupervisor at COBYS and anelementary school teacher.

Currently, she facilitates theclass Strengthening FamiliesProgram 10-14 as a ParentingDevelopment Coordinator with

Compass Mark, Inc. The freeclasses bring together parentsand their 10- to 14-year-olds forcommunication building, familycooperation development,goal setting, and identifyingexpectations and boundaries.

Creating a positiverelationship with your child, asFreitag Murray advocates, is not

just as simple as spending timewith your child.

Its about spendingintentional time, where yourepursuing a deeper relationshipwith the child, she says. Forexample, discovering their likesand dislikes, which are notalways so obvious, is one step

towards gaining that specialunderstanding.

And knowing your childincludes knowing what theyare up to at all times. Whenparents decide this is too hard,Freitag Murray says, thatswhen we see things fallingapart.

Most young teens are

perpetually working towardsindependence. But, she cautions,its not time to let them facetough choices alone; the brainisnt anywhere close to beingable to make big decisions at 13-or 14-years-old. Parents need tobe a part of the decision-makingprocess.

Theyre not ready to do iton their own, [but] they need thepractice, she explains.

Additionally, Freitag Murraydisregards the old notion thatrisky behaviors are just part ofgrowing up.

I still see a prevalent attitudeamong parents that usingtobacco, alcohol and marijuana

are a rite of passage, shesays. Its a gateway to moredangerous behaviors. Parentsneed to take a stand on it.According to Freitag Murray,use of these types of drugs caeventually lead to truancy, sex,low self-esteem and a disconnec

with family.But, Freitag Murra

emphasizes, lets not forget allthe good thats going on outhere. There are loads and loadsof parents who are doing a greajob, and tons of teens makingood choices, she adds. Thatsnot said enough.

The issues that Freitag Murrawill address within her Ask

an Expert column are issuesthat are confronting parentsand children everywhere. Anshe hopes that parents in theLancaster area will open up anshare their struggles.

With sharing, comes support,even if its by answering onequestion at a time.

If you are interestein learning more abouparticipating in Compass Marks

Strengthening Families classes,please contact Kirsten FreitaMurray at [email protected] Strengthening Familiesis supported through granmoney in partnership witElizabethtown Area MiddleSchool, Elizabethtown AreCommunities That Care anCompass Mark, Inc.

,

Ask an expert

Kirsten Freitag Murray

(ARA) Bicycle ridingis a favorite pastime for allages during the warm weathermonths.

Whether you have had yourbike in storage or it hasnt had arecent tune up, spring is a greattime to make sure your bike is ingood working order.

There are a few simple stepsou can take to make sure you

have a pleasant ride.

Wheels and tires Checkour tires for wear, cracks and

proper ination. Bicycle tires areno different than car tires, andshould be replaced if the treadis worn or the rubber is crackedor dry-rotted. Clean between thesprockets using a rag or a proper

cleaning tool.Using a dry rag, wipe down

the hubs, spokes, and rims on

both wheels. If its hard to clean,use mild soapy water. Never usea hose or harsh cleaners to cleanyour bike.

Frame Clean the bikeframe and components startingat the handle bars and work yourway back. Use mild soapy waterto loosen hard-to-remove grime.

As youre cleaning, inspectthe frame for any cracks ordamage. If you see any cracks,you should take your bike to abike shop for repair. Be sure toalso inspect your brake and shiftcables.

Lubrication Apply a lightlubricant to the inside of yourcable housings and all of thepivot points on your brake and

shift components. Avoid gettingany oil on your brake pads, andwipe off any excess.

Brakes Check your brakepads. If they are worn beyondthe indicator line, they will needto be replaced.

Bolts Make sure all of thebolts on the bike are tightened,but be careful not to over tighten.This includes your handlebars,seat, pedals and shifters.

Clean the chain Oneof the last items in your bikemaintenance would be to cleanand lubricate the chain. Cleanthe chain of dust and dirt witha solvent-soaked rag. Afterinspecting the chain, use a chainlubricant

Test drive The fnal step inyour spring bike prep is taking atest ride. Check the gears and

brakes. Make adjustments ifnecessary and then get yourhelmet and enjoy the bike ride.

Understanding

our children

Bike maintenance

Lancaster, Pa. VISIT LANCMOMS.COM APrIL 9, 2011 9


9/12

, ,

By Maureen LeaderSpecial Features Writer

Rango, from ParamountPictures, is animated, rated PG

and it even features furry littleanimals, including a sweet littlelizard. Because of this youmay be tempted the next rainySaturday afternoon to pack upthe kiddos in the minivan andtake them to see it. You mayeven start looking on the shelvesof your local store for stuffedtoys of the Rango characters.

But before you do all that

know that Rango gives audiencesmore than meets the eye in theadvertising trailers.

This movie is like an onion.Rango has many, many layers.

nd each layer will appeal toa different audience member.Theres a layer that kids wouldlike. There is a layer that fansof western movies would like.There is a layer that philosophers

ould like. There is a layer that

cinematographers would like.nd, of course, there is the layer

that Johnny Depp fans wouldlike.

Luckily for audiences, Rangoorks well on all these layers.Johnny Depp, or Johnny

Depps voice, stars in Rango.His voice is the voice of Rango,the main character, a chameleon

ho was living a rather plush

life as a family pet in a terrarium.That is, until he fell out of thecar while his family was moving

and he nds himself alone in thedesert. While trying to regroup,he happens upon a westerntown called Dirt inhabited byall kinds desert creatures. Dirt isthe perfect name for this dustylittle town. There is a severe and

mysterious water shortage there.Rango, Dirts new stranger,becomes sheriff and he mustget to the bottom of just exactlywhat and who is behind the lackof water.

Children will probably likethe residents of Dirt. But somemay be a little scared by them.The characters are extremelywell done every detail, everyhair on the animals face is thereon the screen. Though the lmis animated as in any other kids

lm the characters are not thesweet and cute types we are usedto. The characters in Rango arecraggy desert varmints who areliving in a rundown town in themiddle of a depressing drought.The lm makes no apologies

for this. It doesnt pretend tobe a Toy Story, Despicable Meor Shrek. Though those movieshave their villains, they all havesome sort of redeeming qualityabout them that endears themto young audiences. The castof Rango does not play thisgame. Parents need to know thatsome kids may not be altogethercomfortable with them especially the character with thearrow sticking out of his eye.

Along with the realistic

animals comes the realisticscenery. The prairie where Rangotakes place is very dark and verygloomy. It is dry. It is grimy. Itis depressing. It is Dirt. Again,the lm makes no apologies forwhat it is.

As far as Johnny Depp goesas the voice of Rango, he nailsit. He does not have a cartoon-y voice to entertain the kiddies.Rango is a softspoken character.He is sensitive and caring andDepp portrays that.

Rango is uncomfortable.He doesnt like standing out(Remember, he is a chameleon!)

He is unsure but plunges on. Hedigs deep within himself. Deppportrays that, also.

Throughout the movie thereare many subtle references to

many famous western movies.The references will go over theheads of most of the kids.

At one point, Rango is told bThe Spirit of the West, a ClinEastwood type character, Noman can run away from his owstory. And so Rango forceshimself to continue. He helpsthe residents of Dirt gure outhe mystery of the drought.

The typical kids movie giveslessons like Reach for yourdreams, always do the righthing, girls can do anything.

As an adult reecting oRango, it was the No macan run away from his owstory line that stood out to me.Hmmm.

Dont blend in.Face your fears.Stand up to your foes.

Meet your challenges.Stand up and stand out.I nd these lessons have

little more meat and give a littlemore to talk about with mchildren.

And at the end of the day isnthat a little more important thajust buying the movies toys?

Movie Review: Rango

Trail, which is open to bicyclesand horses as well as hikers, crossMiddle Creek. This over 130-miletrail begins at Valley Forge NationalPark and ends at the Appalachian

Trail north of Hershey.Keith says the Visitors

Center is a must-see for families.Theres a please touch area

ith animal skins, antlers, aturtle shell and other itemsthat will appeal to a childscuriosity. Theres also a displayof preserved birds and othernative animals. The wall facingthe lake is a glassed observationarea tables equipped with

binoculars and bird and animalidentication guides are placedin front of the windows.

Monthly wildlife lectureprograms are presented free ofcharge on Thursday eveningsbeginning this month throughSeptember a program listing isavailable online. Keith notes thatwith advance notice the GameCommissions educators willalso present special programs forschool groups.

Middle Creek also hosts anannual Wildlife Art Show inAugust and a Wildfowl Show inSeptember. Kids really enjoythe retriever demonstrations andthe duck calling contest at theWildfowl Show, Keith says.

Connect with nature andspend some time at Middle CreekWildlife Management Area.The operation and maintenanceof Middle Creek are paid for

entirely from hunting licensemonies. Information aboutMiddle Creek and the VisitorsCenter are available through alink in the Pennsylvania GameCommissions website: www.pgc.state.us.

Middle Creek- continued from page 7

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Lancaster, Pa.VISIT LANCMOMS.COM10 APrIL 9, 2011


10/12

By Cathy MolitorisSpecial Features Writer

Its the dreaded four-wordphrase no parent wants to hear:Hey Mom, Im bored. Youcan be sure your children willnever utter those words whenou have plenty of ideas in

mind to keep them entertained.o matter what your budget is,

theres tons of family fun aroundLancaster. Check out these ideasfor banishing boredom fromour home.

THE STEAL:LANCASTER CREATIVEREUSE

Most kids love doing craftsand sometimes, its the messierthe better! But buying craftsupplies can get expensive andbefore long, craft materials cantake over your house. Theres abetter way and its located rightin downtown Lancaster.

Lancaster Creative Reuseopened in the fall of 2010, witha mission to connect communityexcess to anyone who can use itcreatively.

The business collectsitems that might otherwise bediscarded from area businessesand individuals and providesone-stop-shopping for all yourcraft and project needs.

A project of the nonprotKeystone Art & Culture Center,Lancaster Creative Reuse offersopen business hours whenindividuals can come in and shopfor supplies as well as specicnights such as First Fridays when a craft table is set up

ith a particular project anyonecan complete and take home.

In everything it does,Lancaster Creative Reuse inspirescreativity, increases access to thearts through affordability andencourages everyone to focus onreuse.

THE DETAILSLancaster Creative Reuse is

located in the lower level of theStahr Center, 438 N. Queen St.,Lancaster. Hours are Mondays,10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays,10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays, 9a.m. to noon; and First Fridays,5 to 9 p.m. On the Web: www.lancastercreativereuse.org orphone: 341-4850.

WHAT THE KIDS SAYLancaster Creative Reuse

is a treasure trove for children.My girls eyes lit up when theysaw the amount and varietyof materials waiting for them.From tiny buttons to wallpapersamples, fabrics, glass jars,plastic containers and more,there was plenty here to satisfytheir creativity.

We spent almost two hoursworking on projects at thecraft table and each girl camehome with something uniquethat reected her style andpersonality. They cant wait tovisit again.

WHAT MOM SAYSSome places say they offer

affordable products, but thereseems to be a big range in whatpeople consider that word tomean. At Lancaster CreativeReuse, affordable ts mydenition perfectly. Most itemscost less than $1, with some only10 or 25 cents. My girls wereable to complete their projectsfor less than $5 each.

If you have a Girl Scout troopor Sunday school class, or anyother group of children, thisplace is perfect for picking upample amounts of supplies for alow cost.

Along with a free craftoffered every First Friday,Lancaster Creative Reuse willbe participating in the 101

The Rose-sponsored EasterEGGstravaganza at OverlookActivities Center, to benetMarch of Dimes, April 16 from9 to 11 a.m. On April 30, thebusiness will have a craft boothat the Humanity Fest in MusserPark in conjunction with theYWCA Race Against Racismfrom 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

THE SPLURGE: PAINT-YOUR-OWN POTTERY

The calendar may saySpring but there are stillplenty of cool, damp days aheadof us. When its too nasty tohead outside, bring your broodindoors at any of the paint-your-own pottery places locatedthroughout the county.

Star Glazers, located inCenterville, The Pottery Works,located in downtown Lancaster,Jens Pottery Den, located inthe Village of Olde Hickory,and Cygnet Studios, located inElizabethtown, offer plenty ofinspiration for creating one-of-a-kind painted pieces.

Each location provides alarge selection of plain bisquepieces. Visitors are invited tochoose a piece, select a varietyof paint colors, and get to workputting their mark on the pottery.When youre done painting, thebusiness keeps your piece forkiln ring and you can pick upthe nished product in about aweek.

THE DETAILSStar Glazers is located in

the Western Corners ShoppingCenter, 3027 Columbia Ave.,Lancaster; On the Web: www.star-glazers.com or phone: 299-4787.

The Pottery Works is located at16 W. Orange St., Lancaster; Onthe Web: www.thepotteryworks.com or phone: 299-9963.

Jens Pottery Den is located in

the Village of Olde Hickory, 711Olde Hickory Road, Lancaster;on the Web: jenspotteryden.com

or phone: 581-1427.Cygnet Studios is located at336 S. Market St., Elizabethtown;On the Web: conewagocoffee.com or phone: 367-6140.

WHAT THE KIDS SAYWe cannot drive past a paint-

your-own pottery place withoutmy children clamoring for avisit. No matter how manytimes we go, they just cant getenough. The large selectionof pieces makes it easy to ndsomething for all ages andthe relaxed atmosphere (andstaff members) keep energeticchildren contained for the lengthof the project. When wevevisited, Ive seen children fromtoddlers to teenagers enjoyingthemselves and having fun.

WHAT MOM SAYSPainting pottery isnt just for

children. Adults will enjoy it too,especially if youre with a chilwho can take care of herself, sobe sure to budget for a piece foryou, too.

If youre looking forsomething unique to do, all threelocations offer birthday partiesand a variety of special eventsthat change monthly.

Beyond pottery, Jens PotterDen offers opportunities to createa mosaic plaque or glass fusenecklace, along with the chanceto try your hand at a clay potterwheel. The Pottery Works alsohouses The Bead Works, a create-your-own jewelry adventure.

Cygnet Studios providesfull range of art activities, fromdrawing classes to pottery-wheelopportunities.

Hey Mom, Im bored!

Birthday parties are great at Lancaster Creative Reuse.

Check out what other Lancaster Moms (andDads) are doing and saying. Forums, blogs,questions, and answers all can be found atLancMoms.com. Get a LancMoms.comcard, good for discounts and services.

Visit LancMoms.com

Need a recipe?Check out LancMoms.coms Recipe Finder

Try Bacon n Cheese Mufnsand Bacon Artichoke Dip.

Celebrate special spring daysIf there werent enough

reasons to celebrate the springseason, all of the holidays andspecial days of remembrancethat take place during this timecould provide reason enough.

In addition to budding owersand warmer weather, spring

ushers in several major (andminor) holidays that can providereasons to get together with

friends and family.

* Passover: A time ofreection for Jewish people.

* Easter: The holiest day ofthe year for Christians.

* Arbor Day: Plant a tree on awarm, spring day.

* Earth Day: Pay homage to theplanet with some environmentalactivities.

* Cinco de Mayo: Celebratethe Mexican victory over theFrench army.

* Mothers Day: Give thanksto Mom for all shes donethrough the years.

* Armed Forces Day: Honorthe military personnel who keep

the country safe.

Lancaster, Pa. VISIT LANCMOMS.COM APrIL 9, 2011 11


11/12

ust shrugs her shoulders anddoesnt see it as a big deal. Shesays that to her being a stay-at-home mother gives her thefreedom to do whatever she wantsfor her family and community

henever she wants. I havethe time, she said. And she usesthat time to put extra effort in athome and in volunteering.

The familys home is beautifuland Voler did all the decorating

ork herself. She made all theindow treatments in her home.o one ever taught her how and

she simply says, It was fun. I likestuff like that. She also workedon nishing their basement byhelping the workmen lay tile andhang drywall.

Again, no one really taught

her how to do it, she just decidedto help and learned a new skillin the process. Voler also loves

to paint and has done muralsfor her homes. Theres alwayssomething to do around thehouse, she said.

Voler also loves to cook. Sheespecially loves to cook veggiesfrom her own garden: carrots,sugar peas, green beans, herbs.One year she even tried to growcorn. I love being outside. I lovedoing yardwork and gardening.

Voler also enjoys trying new

recipes that she sees on The FoodNetwork. There have been manytimes a recipe shes seen on anafternoon cooking show will beserved on the Voler table thatevening. I try not to make thesame meal twice, she added.

Not all of Volers talents arefor the benet of her family,though. Voler is all about givingback to the community. She is

passionate about teaching herdaughters this and involves themin service whenever she can. She

especially enjoys cooking mealsfor others and always enlists helpfrom her daughters in cookingand delivering food.

Currently, Voler is co-president of the PTO at herdaughters school. Last year shewas vice-president. I gure itssomething I can do to help.

Also, for the past ve yearsVoler has been treasurer ofthe Lancaster County Dental

Alliance. She helps support thealliances efforts in low-incomecommunities with programssuch as Brush, Brush Smile andthe distribution of dental healthkits to shelters.

Voler also sells daffodils forthe American Cancer Society.

She is a member of theDenver Womans Club andenjoys the garden club there.

At her church, Faith UnitedEvangelical Lutheran, she helpscoordinate the music program

for the churchs Vacation BibleSchool.

Hearing all Voler is doing nowas a stay-at-home mom you canthelp but wonder what she willbe doing in the future when her

daughters are grown. Voler is noworried about it and says simply,Im never bored. I always haveto be doing something. Im notgood sitter. I am sure I will jusbranch into something else!

- continued rom page 3

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Area children discover the planets and stars in an infatable dome while learning about science, math, and dierent cultures. Its One World, One Sky: BigBirds Adventure, a mobile planetarium tour or ages 4-6 with Elmo, Big Bird, and Hu Hu Zhu a Muppet rom the Chinese co-production o Sesame Street.A part o PNC Grow Up Great a 10-year, $100 million investment in early childhood education the One World, One Sky dome travels to locations wherechildren wouldnt otherwise have the opportunity to visit a planetarium. One World, One Sky: Big Birds Adventure can be seen year-round at LancastersNorth Museum o Natural History and Science. Photo by Jeff Ruppenthal

One World, One Sky

Lancaster, Pa.VISIT LANCMOMS.COM12 APrIL 9, 2011


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