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Have you ever thought about what you want to be in the future? An engineer, a news caster, a teacher, an accountant, a chef - the possibilities are endless!

Girls in grades 4-12 are invited to join Girl Scouts of Western New York to learn about careers through fun activities presented by women who currently work in various fields like education, STEM, medicine, law, and the arts. It’s so much fun to explore what you can be!

The cost is $5 for registered Girl Scouts or $10 for non-registered Girl Scouts. Registered Girl Scouts can sign up on eBiz. Non-registered Girl Scouts can sign up by emailing programs@gswny.org. Questions about signing up? Call 1-888-837-6410.

The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, November 5, so don’t delay! Learn more or register at gswny.org.

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Contact Us!Parents and Kids Magazine

125 State Street, Suite 300Rochester, NY 14614

585.232.2242info@parentsandkidsmagazine.com

O

Dear Readers:

Here at Parents and Kids Magazine we have some incredible, DIGITAL

news! We are going to be Rochester’s first and only STRICTLY DIGITAL

PUBLICATION. We are focusing our efforts in our upcoming issues to focus on our

online and social media presence so check us out on Facebook and Twitter and be on the

lookout for the Parents and Kids Magazine App where you can download and read all

of our issues! Even past issues will be available for your viewing and reading! No more

hanging onto old magazines searching for an article, it will ALL be available via the

Parents and Kids Magazine App or on the website. You spoke, and we listened. Oh…

and in line with our mission to preserve the one and only earth that we will ever have, we

are obviously the GREENEST publication in the Roc!

Welcome Fall and chilly temps! Please check out our FB costume contest

and send us your pics. We also love viewing and sharing pictures of Rochester kids

and Rochester families! Send us your pics (that you own and have rights to…no

professional or copyright photos please) and give us permission to share. You and your

family might just be featured on our FB page or our website!

Happy Thanksgiving from our Family to yours!

~ Heidi

From the Editorur Team

PublisherAMA Advertising

EditorHeidi LaDuca

Assistant EditorMaxine Paredes

Layout Design/Art DirectorMaxine Paredes

Accou nt Manager Heidi LaDuca

Accou nt ExecutivesHeidi LaDuca

Nicholle FarkasBill Hu nter

Heidi LaDuca, Daughter Ella and Uncle Ron

Cover Photo courtesy of Michael RossOwner of Ross Studios &

Ross Weddings, Penfield NY.

in every issue

What’s Inside

About Our TeamHeidi LaDuca

Heidi LaDuca is a 1991 graduate of Youngstown State University and a 1994 graduate of Capital University Law School. She has practiced law in the Rochester area for 19 years, has been a fitness instructor with the YMCA of Greater Rochester for 16 years. She has owned an operated Characters Corner Vacation home since 2002 and has been an Advisor with Advocare since May of 2013. She enjoys teaching spinning classes at the Bayview YMCA, is a Disney fanatic (especially with respect to runDisney) and loves to travel with her family. Most importantly, she is the proud mom of four children, John, 18, Hannah, 17, Jared, 15 and Ella Grace, 6 and loves to spend time with her husband, Tony, and her children.

Michael RossMichael and his wife, Rebecca, own and operate Ross Weddings and Ross Studios, located in Penfield, NY. Ross Studios specializes in wedding, babies & family and corporate photography. Visit www.ross-studios.com for more information and to book your session.

Dave Calus Dave Calus is the owner of Total Lifetime Solutions, LLC. and creator of Kitchen Recovery™. Dave is a Nutrition Consultant, wellness ambassador, health and fitness enthusiast, health coach and Lifestyle Transformation Specialist. Total Lifetime Solutions, LLC. is a Health Consulting practice and is not licensed by any medical organization.

Jan PierceJan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and freelance writer who specializes in parenting and family life articles. Find her at www.janpierce.net.

Sarah Jane CliffordSarah Jane Clifford owns and operates The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester, Inc., 2051

Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd., Penfield, NY 14526.

Fall Picture Books for Cozy Read-alouds

Featured Article

They say a child should have heard five hundred read-aloud books before entering kindergarten. It’s from hearing, looking and following along as an adult

reads that a child learns the basics of books. They see that words move from top to bottom and left to right. They see those squiggles on the page translate into words and that the words have meanings. They begin to pick up the rhythms of words and the fact that letters make up the words. They learn words can convey emotions and that stories can be funny, sad or exciting. Reading aloud to young children is a must. And once they start school, there’s no reason to stop read-aloud times. Nothing encourages growth in reading skills more than interacting with books from a wide variety of genres.

Picture books for young children are typically about 32 pages long. There are few if any chapters, and the pictures carry much of the meaning. Because of this, you will usually find rich, colorful pictures which can be scanned and examined by reader and child for even more enjoyment as the book is read. Typical fall topics for picture books are the outdoors; leaves, pumpkins, apples, changes in weather and gathering in the harvest. You can expect to see illustrations that are both beautiful and informative. Following are some excellent examples of fall picture books your children from babes up to age five will love. Some of these books are part of a series on the seasons and most are from well-known children’s authors and illustrators. They are a lovely way to spend an afternoon with your child.

By: Jan Pierce

Fall by Maria Ruis

It’s Fall by Linda Glaser

The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson

Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Why Do Leaves Change Color? By Betsy Maestro

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

The Pumpkin Patch by Elizabeth Berg

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell

Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor

Hello Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

Waltz of the Scarecrow by Constance W. George

Picking Apples and Pumpkins by Amy Hutchings

The Little Scarecrow Boy by M.W. Brown

The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

These and many other beautiful fall books wait for you at your local library or bookstore. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy cozy fall reading times with your young children. Just before naps or at bedtime are often the best times. You’ll be building strong pre-reading and reading skills and a love for books that will benefit your chil-dren for a lifetime.

Child Safety: Lost at Walt Disney World

Gosh, what I would give to be lost at the most magical place on earth, as an adult it sounds like a dream come true, if you’re a Disney dork like me.

But if it involves a missing child, it’s the scariest place on earth for both parent & child.

In this article I’m going to give you suggestions on “what to do” if your child gets separated from you at Walt Disney World. It can easily happen; you turn away for a second to pay for your Mickey Bar, look back and your child is gone. What can both the parent and the child do, if something like this happens?

Preparation is the key, make a plan. Before heading to Walt Disney World, make sure you talk to your child about “what to do” if they get lost while visiting. For a young child this may involve learning Mom or Dad’s cell phone number, or for an older child picking a designated spot to meet if lost.

* Here’s a tip- when you arrive at the Magic Kingdom- go to City Hall/Guest Relations and have a tag made for your child, it can attach to their belt loop & they can chose to have Mickey or Minnie on it. Tell them it’s a very special safety souvenir.

Here are suggestions for parents, if your child is missing:

* Don’t scream, try to stay calm. I understand the desire to scream or go berserk, but please remain calm; screaming won’t help you find your child, but I can guarantee it will make you look berserk, lol (sorry serious topic.)

* Go directly to the nearest Cast Member & inform them.

* If your spouse is with you, have them stay in the location you last saw your child, maybe they will return. Other suggestions for spouse or family member- Call out their name while listening for a response. Search bathrooms or maybe a favorite store.

* Have current pictures of your children.

* Keep a fully charged cell phone.

By: Dawn Gosdin

Have K ids, Will Travel

* Have pertinent Disney/important phone numbers stored in your cell phone.

If your child is lost this happens: Walt Disney World realizes that children go missing, no matter how many precautions a parent can take; they have a system in place for just this situation. When a Disney Cast Member finds a lost child, the Cast Member contacts Lost Children and registers any information that they have, including name, age, location and a parent/guardian name.

The child will be taken to the Lost Children Center. The Lost Children center is a comfy furnished room that has a play table and Disney videos to entertain the child until the parents are found. Parents and children are brought back together by description and names, so it is important that your child knows your name, phone number, etc.

They usually direct you to the parks official meeting points:

* At the Magic Kingdom, check the Baby Center and City Hall, where logs of lost children are kept.

* At Epcot, check Baby Services near the Odyssey Center.

* At Disney-MGM Studios, check Guest Relations at the entrance, near Hollywood Boulevard.

* At the Animal Kingdom, try the Baby Center on Discovery Island. 90% of children will be found within 2 hours at the meeting point.

* Disney has an internal communication system and will issue an all-employee bulletin.

Tips for a safe & magical trip

* Matching shirts: For families traveling with small children, consider choosing a single color for each day, making it easier to spot one another in a crowd.

* Keep track of small children when entering and leaving attractions: Large Disney theme park attractions can let hundreds of people into or out of a theater at one time, making it easy to

lose track of your little ones. Carry your child in huge crowds, or hold on tight when exiting busy, show style attractions.

* Note the location of exits for bathrooms and rides: Some restrooms and Disney theme park rides have multiple exits and your kid could come out an entirely different location than you expect.

* Choose a meeting place: Take a second to choose a meeting place in each Disney theme park, and make sure every member of your family knows where to go if they are lost. This is particularly important for kids who are old enough to wander off, but don’t have a cell phone.

* Tell your kids how to find help: If your child is lost, he or she should stay put for a few minutes, to give you time to find them. Staying near the last ride or attraction you visited makes it easy for you to spot them.

Older kids Safety: Have a plan in advance, I have teenagers and still have one in place:

* Make a note of what every child in your party is wearing; or take a picture with a digital camera/cell phone each morning.

* When entering the park, introduce your child to a Cast Member. Tell your child to go to the nearest Cast Member if he or she becomes separated. Cast members can easily be found at every snack place, shop, restaurant, kiosk, attraction line-up, etc. Likewise, parents should immediately inform a Cast Member if a child is missing.

* Both parties have a charged cellphone or walkie talkies.

* If kids are old enough, choose a “go to place” a landmark, or maybe a special favorite spot, where you will meet up if separated. Actually go together to the place! Don’t just say “Cinderella’s Castle.” Do that at each park.

* If your child goes to the restroom by him/herself, pay attention to whether that restroom has multiple exits.

* Don’t get distracted during parades and fireworks; keep small children close by or in strollers during these spectacles.

* Also be vigilant when your part of crowds entering or exiting one of the live shows in the Disney theme parks. Fantasmic is especially dangerous, not well lit & horribly crowded entry & exit.

* Be aware of your surroundings at all times, don’t let your guard down just because it’s WDW, don’t be fooled, dangers exist everywhere, even Disney.

* Use the buddy system, stay with a sibling or friend-don’t separate.

* Don’t talk to strangers & tell them you’re alone or without adult.

* Make sure the GPS locater on cellphone is active.

* Periodic check in calls & with description of where the teenager is currently located and I have them send me a picture with them in it, time stamped.

* Stay with large crowds.

* Don’t veer from a plan that you were given permission to do (like if you said you were going to Space Mountain—go to SM.)

* Meet up every few hours to make sure safe.

* Have a secret password that only you & kids know, in case some nut-job says “Your mom said to come with me” and have the person tell you the password or NO DICE! That’s what I did to my kids when they were little, I scared them to death about strangers for safety sake—a real funny messed up password is always great (keeps the weirdo’s on their toes, lol!)

Extra Tips:

* Safety Tat (www.safetytat.com) is a great company that makes temporary tattoos that you put on your kiddo’s skin. I would suggest not adding there name, just phone number of parent in case of emergency.

* Many people use the WDW luggage tags on their kid’s belt loops.

* Make tags at the pet store - the little engraved ones with the parent cell phone number on them, tie them to their shoestrings or on a necklace.

* Try a sticker with a phone number on the kid’s shirt. Also remember to put the tag or sticker on the outside of the child’s clothing, Cast Members are not allowed to look under or lift up a child’s clothing.

Hopefully these suggestions will give your family the oomph to make a “what to do” strategy of your own. Therefore, keeping Walt Disney World as “The Most Magical Place on Earth!”

Kids Activities

Kids Activities

Kids ActivitiesWord Search

Scavenger Hunt

thanksgiving dayneighborhoodscavenger huntWalk off that turkey dinner while findingall of the items on our list.

A family playing football

A turkey hung on a window or door

A Thanksgiving-themed yard decoration

6 or more cars parked in front of one house

A pile of leaves

Something with a pilgrim on it

An ear of dried corn

A pumpkin or squash

A pet waiting to be let in

Smoke rising from a chimney

Another family on a walk

A black bird

Chrysanthemums

An acorn, pine cone, or other nuts, seeds, or cones

Early Christmas decorations

Add your own items here:

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©Disneyspoonful.com

Petacular Parties!Create lasting memories when you celebrate your child’s special occasion at Lollypop Farm!

Book your party today! (585) 223-1330 x139

www.lollypop.org/parties

Have fun on the farm with special guest appearances by our furry friends, a behind-the-scenes tour, and more!

Sports Drinks and Kids

As a parent of young athletes, and a Certified Health Coach with a passion for proper nutrition,

I do not recommend sports drinks for children. No matter the brand, flavor or color, these products are NOT the healthy recovery drinks that they are touted to be. When I discuss this topic with clients/parents, it is apparent how effective the product marketing is and how addictive they are to our children, a controversial subject to discuss for sure.Let’s consider who manufactures these drinks – it’s NOT a health food company or a vitamin supplement company. The popular brands on the shelf today are manufactured by the soda beverage industry, known for adding copious amounts of sugars, sweeteners, preservatives and col-orings to their bottled beverages.

Gatorade (owned by PepsiCo) Powerade (owned by Coca-Cola)

Vitamin Water (also owned by Coca-Cola)

They spend MILLIONS of dollars in research, development and market-ing creating an addictive product, that has nothing to do with our health. Their marketing tactics have been per-fected over time and designed to appeal to the parent trap – giving our kids what they WANT vs. what they NEED. In my practice, I ask parents, ‘WHY do you give your kids sports drinks?’ 9/10 parents respond ‘to replace

By: Dave Calus

Feature Article

electrolytes.’ My next question is – “Do you know what an electrolyte is?” 9/10 people answer ‘not really’. Basic rea-soning begs the question – if we don’t know what it IS….then WHY do we assume it’s safe to feed to our children? What are electrolytes? Do young athletes need them in sport drink form? In simple terms, electrolytes are essential minerals: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium (the top 4 minerals added to most sport drinks). Are they necessary for a healthy body? YES! Are they needed after physical activity? The short answer is YES, these minerals are important in the re-hy-dration process after physical activity. A lack of water, essential minerals and a complex mix of other vitamins and macro-nutrients, could result in dehydration, exhaustion, cramp-ing, dizziness, vertigo and possible black outs. That said, these miner-als – aka electrolytes, can be found in more natural and whole food sources.

What if we removed the miner-als (electrolytes) from these drinks? After all, they are added as forti-fied ingredients, according to a specified formula. What is the nutri-tional value of what’s left in the bottle?

Here’s a list of common ingredients:

HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup):

HFCS is a ‘hyper-sweetener’ used as a

glucose (sugar) substitute in food man-ufacturing. HFCS is highly refined and processed and in chronic con-sumption, HFCS can be toxic to your child’s liver. This liver toxicity is known as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. HFCS can also create insu-lin resistance and hyperinsulinemia which can lead to pre-diabetes and Type II Diabetes in children (Lustig).

SUGAR: (reference: American Heart Association)

The average American consumes about 130-150 pounds of sugar every year. The American Heart Association recommends that children should ONLY consume 12 grams of ADDED sugar per DAY. Check product labels and see how much added sugar is in a sport drink (note the serving size and num-ber of servings per bottle and do the math). Excessive consumption of sugar can lead to weight gain, hyperactivity, hypertension, ADD, increased triglycer-ide levels, hyperinsulinemia, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart Disease, Obesity.

PRESERVATIVES:

Anything that prolongs the shelf life of a food product is considered a preservative. If it is chemically preserv-ing the food, imagine what it is doing to your body. 2 common sport drink preservatives are - Monopotassium/Potassium Phosphate, which are also used as a fertilizers and fungicides. Another preservative seen in some energy and sport drinks is - calcium chlo-ride, which in some studies were proven to cause esophagus and throat burning, as well as stomach irritation and ulcers.

*Any recommendations to improve ones health should be taken as advice and not prescription. Always check with your physician before making any dietary changes.

FOOD PAINT(Reference: http://www.foodsafetynews.com)

“The food industry dumps over 15 million pounds of dyes into the food supply each year. 3 of the dyes carry known carcinogens, and 4 can cause serious allergic reactions in some consumers. New studies show that 7 of them contributed to cancer in lab animals, including brain and testicular tumors, colon cancer, and mutations.”

When it comes to your child’s overall health, I would err on the side of caution and health and avoid these sport drinks. Read the labels, educate yourself on what you are feeding your children. Don’t implicitly trust big business and the market-ing magic that has been engineered to appeal to you as a consumer.

Your children are not pro-fessional athletes nor are they marathoners or tri-athletes, let alone LAB ANIMALS. Therefore, they do not need the rainbow col-ored chemical soup, that is touted as ‘necessary electrolyte replacement.’

A simple substitute and health-ier solution for these drinks is water, water and more water. The min-erals (electrolytes) lost in physical activity can be replaced with fruits like bananas, apples, oranges and grapes….natural sources of ‘elec-trolytes’ without the preservatives, food paint and chemical soup ingre-dients. It really is as simple as that.

What word comes to mind when you think of your child at play? Did you say "toys"? If you did, your answer is very common in today's market-

driven world. Perhaps a better way, however, to think of play is through the word activity. What will your child do as he plays? What will your child say as she pretends?

We know today that child's play is not merely play, it's the child's work. It's the way children interact with the world around them and the way they grow in any number of social, emotional and educational skills. And, while some children will choose imaginative play over television or computer games, most will need a nudge in that direction. It's not enough to select mostly educational toys because as great as they are, the real need children have to create, explore, pretend and design is found in play without lots of man-made materials. They need interaction with the simplest objects such as water and cups, play dough, or rice and containers. They need to play with found objects such as rocks and sticks. They need practice with imaginative play using their stuffed animals or dolls.

Here are some very simple tips for creating the kind of creative environment that a young child needs and will learn to love if it's available.

Create an Arts and Crafts Center Store a variety of simple household goods and supplies

Feature ArticleCreativity in your Child

By: Jan PierceFour Ways to Encourage Creativity in Your Child's Play

to encourage creative play. These supplies will include cardboard boxes, paper of all kinds, art materials, play dough or a homemade version of it, fabric and old clothing, etc..”

Ask Leading Questions Suggest play scenarios to get the creative juices flowing. You might say to your child, "Why don't you build a racetrack for your cars?" Or "What's happening at your farm today?" "What are the animals doing?" or, "I wonder if you can make a fort with all those blankets over there?"

Set the Stage Get involved with your child's play by creating play money, gathering kitchen containers, cartons, and boxes. Before you know it all the pieces are in place to play store. Or gather a supply of paper, pencils, markers, and envelopes and you’re ready to play at post office. Gather all the stuffed animals and play going to the zoo.

Clear Creative Play Time Limit "screen time" in the home. There are wonderful television shows to enjoy and there are great educational opportunities on the computer too, but be sure to monitor the time spent on those activities to protect a quiet home environment encouraging the creative play so necessary to healthy child development.

It's actually delightful to set the stage for creative play and then sit back to observe what children do. They'll create characters, conflict, and dialogue. They'll work out problems and design new worlds. Your walls and shelves will be filled with original pieces of art and your children will be accomplishing the tasks they were designed to do - their work - creative play.

Local Business of the Month

10 North Avenue • Webster, NY 14580

www.artstopllc.comPhone: (585) 872-5710

Email: artstop@frontiernet.net

The Art Stop

Congratulations to our Local Business of the Month

Since opening their doors in 2003, Owner Cindy Corrigan has been providing Art Instruction, Classes, Camps, Parties and more! The Art Stop, LLC. offers fine art supplies as well as great gift items and creative items for adults and children alike.

The Art Stop has a studio on the 2nd floor where art lessons are available for both adults and children. There is also a gallery where local artists can display their work along with a custom frame shop.

The Art Stop is located in the Village of Webster, New York, just South of Dunkin Doughnuts near the corner of Main Street and North Avenue Village parking lot, next to Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Featured Article

Holiday Information Bulletin

Thanksgiving DinnersCameron Community Ministries 48 Cameron Street, Rochester, NY(585) 254-2697November 27th, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PMAll Are Welcome, No carry-outCost: Free

Community Lutheran Ministries, Inc. 942 Joseph Avenue, Rochester NY (585) 338-2420Saturday November 22nd

Community Place of Greater Rochester145 Parsells Avenue, Rochester NY (585) 288-0021November 20th, 4:00 – 6:00 pmServing 14609, parts of 14605, 14607, 14610, and parts of 14621Cost: Free

Open Door Mission 210 West Main Street, Rochester NY (585) 454-6696November 27th, 4:00 - 7:00 pmReligious Service 6:00 - 6:30 pmAll Are WelcomeCost: Free

St. Martin’s Place55 Ontario Street, Rochester, NY (585) 325-6500November 27th, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PMAll Are WelcomeCost: Free

St. Peter’s Kitchen Basement of 681 Brown Street, Rochester, NY (585) 235-6511November 27th, 12:00 -1:00 pmAll Are Welcome, No carry-outCost: Free

Salvation Army (987-9500)100 West Avenue or 70 Liberty Pole WayNovember 23rd, service at 12:30 – 2:30 PM, with meal followingAll are WelcomeCost: Free

Christmas Food & Toy BasketsT he following agencies are accepting

applications for Christmas food baskets and/or toys for needy families.

All agencies require an interview and clients MUST present the following documentation for proof of eligibility: proof of income; identification for each family member, including social security number; and photo identification, proof of current address for the head of household. Not all agencies cover every area of the city; be sure to check each listing for Zip Codes covered. For additional information, contact the appropriate agency at the number given.

Baden Street Settlement 152 Baden Street Rochester, NY(585) 325-4910 ext. 131 or 132Serves E. Ridge Road (north), Inner Loop (south), St Paul Street (west), Portland Avenue/Carter Street (east); portions of 14605, 14604 and 14621 Apply between October 29th - December 1st, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm or 2:00 - 4:30 pm, M-FFood and Toys

Community Place of Greater Rochester 145 Parsells Avenue Rochester, NY57 Central Park Rochester, NY(585) 288-0021 or (585) 327-7200Serves 14609, parts of 14605, 14607, 14610, and 14621 Cost: noneChristmas food basketsBreakfast with Santa

Saturday, December 13, 10:00 AM Open to children 12 and under, and parents Register by December 1 Cost: $2.00 per person

Maplewood Edgerton (MEEK) 121 Driving Park Avenue, Rochester NY(585) 458-4682Serving 14613, 14615 and portions of 14608 Call starting November 17th, M-T, Th-F 9 am – 11:30 amCost: Free (Food baskets only)

Salvation Army100 West Avenue, Rochester NYServes all of Monroe County Apply November 10th-14th. M-F 9 am - 4 pm, Wed until 7 pm Food and Toys Cost: Free SWEM Community Services 350 Chili Avenue, Rochester NY(585) 235-4494 Serves 14428, 14514, 14546, 14559, 14606, 14608, 14611, 14614, 14619, parts of 14623 (west of Genesee River), 14624 Call between November 3rd – 21st, M – F 10 am – 2 pmFood Baskets Only Cost: Free

Togetherness in Love 1443 East Main Street, Rochester NY(585) 244-2840Food and toys Serves all of Monroe County Sign up in person Oct. 31st - December 12th, 9:30 - 11:30 am & 1:00- 2:30 PMCost: Free

Dmitri House 102 North Union Street, Rochester NY(585) 325-1796Serves 14604, 14605, 14607 and 14609 Call beginning October 31st,9 am – 5 pm, M – Th Food Only (Baskets are first come first)Cost: Free

D o n a t i o n sThose who wish may donate money, food, or toys to the following:

Baden Street Settlement Accepts donations of new unwrapped presents, toys, clothing and food baskets. Money donations are also accepted. 152 Baden Street, Rochester, NY 14605

Catholic Charities of RochesterMake checks out to Annual Christmas Appeal and mail to: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, Christmas Appeal, 1150 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624.

Central Library, Information Center Mitten Tree Accepts donations of mittens, gloves hats and scarves for children and adults. The tree will be located on the first floor of the Bausch and Lomb Public Library Building, 115 South Avenue, Rochester NY. November 3rd – December 14th.

Community Place of Greater Rochester Accepting donations of clothing, games, toys, food or money. Items cam be dropped off at the office through December 5 or call 288-0021, for more information. Checks can be made out to Community Place of Greater Rochester and sent c/o Family Services Unit, 145 Parsells Avenue, Rochester, NY 14609.

DePaulDonate generic items such as scarves, hats, gloves and personal care items. Monetary donations are always welcome. Gifts should be dropped off by December 4, at 1931 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624.

YWCA Adopt a Family ProgramDonations needed for gifts to women taking part in YWCA’s Housing and teen program. For more information, call 368-2261.

Rochester Family MissionAccepts donations of children’s gifts or non-perishable food items. Money donations are also accepted. Checks should be made payable to Rochester Family Mission Holiday Project and mailed to 388 Tremont Street, Rochester, NY 14608. For more information, call 436-7523.

Dimitri HouseAccepts donations of non-perishable food items or money. Mail checks to 102 North Union Street, Rochester, NY 14605. Items can be dropped off M - Th, 9 am – 12 pm and 1- 5 pm. For more information, call 325-1796.

Hillside Family of Agenci e sSeeking “Special Santa’s” to purchase gifts for youth and their families enrolled the many programs or services offered by Hillside Family of agencies. To learn more about the Hillside Special Santa’s program and the gift wishes of our youth, please visit www.hillside.com/specialsantas or call 585-256-7630. Deadline for gift donations is December 15th.

Third Presbyterian Church Accepts donations of new toys and non-perishable food items. Items can be dropped off at the church office, M-F, 9 am - 4pm, by December 8. 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, NY 14607. For further information call Rev. Rod Frohman 271-6537, ext. 106

Togetherness in Love Accepts donations of new toys and non-perishable food items. Deadline is December 15th. Money donations accepted. Make checks payable to Togetherness in Love and mail to 1443 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14609. For further information, call 224-2840

Toys for Tots (Salvation Army) Groups in churches send a request on letterhead stationary indicating the ages up to 12 and gender of the children. Requests should be addressed to Major Charles Dietrick, P.O. Box 4120, Rochester, NY 14604. To Adopt a Family call Chris Dinottia 987-9540, ext 2233.

Information provided by the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County 115 South Avenue, Rochester NY 14604

FALL & WINTER PROGRAMS

www.billgraysiceplex.com585-424-4625

WWW.BILLGRAYSICEPLEX.COM

At Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex, we're so much more than just ice! Offering avariety of programs and event year round, we are Rochester's home of familyfriendly entertainment with a focus on healthy lifestyles. For more information

on all we have to offer, visit our website.

We're More Then Just Ice!

K ids and SportsFun “Sports” And Facts For Thanksgiving

Forget about the football and the parades on TV. The following fun Thanksgiving-themed “sports” will help keep the kids

and their guests active while Mom and Dad are putting the finishing touches on dinner. With special thanks to the Disney Website, “Spoonful,” as well as “Family fun Magazine,” here are several games kids will just gobble up!

Chopstick Pass-AlongThe leisurely pace of Turkey Day can be challenging for small celebrants. Keep spirits high with this fun game. The dexterity test fills downtime between courses (and may have kids hunting for runaway game pieces).

What you’ll need:ChopsticksUnshelled walnutAcornCranberryPeaSmall plate

How to play:Give each player a set of chopsticks and place an unshelled walnut, an acorn, a cranberry, and a pea on a small plate next to the oldest player. He or she begins by using the chopsticks to pass each object, from largest to smallest, to the person on her right, who receives it with chopsticks and passes it along to the next player. The object is to try to get all four objects back to the starting plate without dropping any of them. Players unable to manage the chopsticks can use a teaspoon instead.

Gourd GamesThink pumpkins are just for carving into jack-o’-lanterns and baking into pies? Guess again. After the second helping of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, get up and get moving with these great-for-all-ages games. They make the most of these roly-poly icons of autumn, whose

By: Sarah Jane Clifford

uneven shapes can result in some erratic itineraries! Be sure to use small to medium-size pumpkins; large ones are too heavy.

How to play:Pumpkin Bowling - Arrange a triangle of 10 empty plastic 1- or 2-liter bottles. Players take turns gently rolling a pumpkin into the pins, with three chances to knock them all down.Pumpkin Roll - Determine a starting line and a finish line. Set 2 pumpkins on their sides at the start and have the racers line up behind them. At “Go,” each pair of challengers uses sturdy brooms to propel the pumpkins over the finish line.

Wall Football

Bring the thrill of the gridiron to your living room wall with this pigskin version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

What you’ll need:Poster boardBrown card stockWhite opaque paint markerPoster tacksBlindfold

How to play:For the game pieces, first create a goal post from two-inch-wide strips of poster board. (The uprights and the crossbar are each 20 inches long, and the post is 6 inches tall.) You can attach them to the wall using poster tacks or tear-away tape.

For the footballs, cut 5-inch-long shapes out of brown card stock. Some scrapbook aisle at craft stores carries card stock that looks like football leather. Use a white opaque paint marker to decorate and add players’ names to the footballs. Put a blob of poster tack or tear-away tape on the back of each one.

Players line up about six feet away from the goal. One at a time, each player is blindfolded, spun around three times by another person, and set loose to try to stick their football between the uprights. (No reaching out the empty hand to feel the wall.) Play several rounds with 3 points awarded for each field goal. Highest score wins.

Printable Thanksgiving TV BingoShould your gang happen to fall into a pie-induced television stupor, here’s a fun way to liven up your tube time.

What you’ll needBingo game board templatesPennies, for markersHow to play:Download the necessary number of themed bingo boards and calling cards for your game by going to: http://www.makingfriends.com/fallcrafts/thanksgiving_bingo.htmPrint Calling Cards on white cards stock. Cut out on lines. Print bingo cards 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Cut around heavy line on each card.

To play, caller puts all calling cards upside down in front of him or her. Each player has one card and 15 markers. Caller turns over a card and calls out the picture. Any player with that image, lays a marker on top. Play continues until someone gets four in row in any direction including diagonally and shouts out BINGO!

The Birdie of GratitudeThis year, put a playful twist on a popular holiday sport telling what one is thankful for.How to play:Simply decorate a badminton shuttlecock with permanent marker. Have someone toss the birdie of gratitude to someone else; as each person catches it, he names something he’s thankful for, then tosses it to another player. The birdie is lightweight enough that holiday china should be safe.

Fun Thanksgiving Facts

All right, you played your games, watched a parade and some football and eaten (probably overeaten) a big meal.

Top off the day by providing the kids with some interesting Thanksgiving facts. Maybe they can add some of their own.Here’s a few to start with:• The Pilgrim leader, Governor William

Bradford, organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast.

• The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

• Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving’s feast table.

• Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.

• The pilgrims didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.

• •Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

• Although, Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.

• •The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.

• The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

• Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

• Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise.

• •A large group of turkeys is called a flock.• •Turkeys have poor night vision.• It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a

30-pound tom turkey.

If you have information, ideas, comments or sugges-tions for “Kids And Sports,” please contact Sarah Jane Clifford at 585-388-8686 or gtc@frontiernet.net.