WNCParent May 2012

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W N C P A R E N T . C O M 3

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c o n t e n t sThis months features

In every issue On the cover

Hiking ruleNo. 1: Lie.Asmy family has hiked more and more, I find stretching the

truth to be essential. As in fibbing to children about 1) how farwere going in the first place; 2) how far we have left to travel toour destination or the turnaround; and 3)whether I knew the trailwas really this long.Stretching the truth didnt become a re-

quired element of our hikes until a hike inWyoming turned, unintentionally, from acasual stroll into a seven-mile trek up amoun-tain.Didwe knowwed be hiking sevenmiles?No.Wouldwe have done it anyway?Probably.Would the kids have protested that?Absolutely. As a friend says, its easier to askfor forgiveness than permission.This issue celebrates the outdoors. Living

around Asheville, families have no excuseswhen it comes to getting outside and beingactive. Start simple:Head to Carrier Park,one of the gems of Asheville.We look at what the facility offers onPage 15.If you want to go hikingwith your kids, plus the family dog,

read our story on Page 10 from hiking-with-dogs expertKarenChavez. She gives great tips on how andwhere to hike.Looking for organized outdoor events? The story on Page 13

highlights a few upcoming races and goings-on for families.May is also a time to celebrate moms,withMothersDay on

May 13. I visitedwith some lovely ladies at Biltmore BaptistsMOPS group to seewhat they dreamed of for the holiday, and Iloved their answers. Check them out on Page 20. Perhaps yourswould be similar (such as no diapers, no cooking and time alone).Nextmonths issuewill have results from our Family Choice

Awards. See you then!

Take family time outsideKatieWadington, editor

Kids Voices .....................18

ArtistsMuse ...................28

Nature Center Notes ........32

Growing Together............34

Home-School Happenings.38

Librarians Picks ...............41

Story Times .....................41

Divorced Families ............42

F.E.A.S.T. ..........................46

Kids Page ........................59

Puzzles............................60

Calendar .........................62

Gear upLocal experts offer adviceon outdoors equipment.

Outdoor skillsGroups, classes teach kids torespect and enjoy theoutdoors.

Dog-friendly hikesTake your pet along as youhit the trail.

Mark your calendarMay is full of kid-friendlyraces and contests.

A park andmoreAshevilles Carrier Park ishome to a playground andbeyond.

New attractionDollywood opens a newbreed of roller coaster.

First name?Last name?Just how should a childaddress an adult?

Versatile quicheQuiche isnt just forladies lunches.

ZestymealsLemons add a happytang to spring meals.

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Kayla Sampayan, by AmandaPrince Photography,www.aprincephoto.com

WNC PARENT EDITORKatie Wadington [email protected]

FEATURES EDITORBruce Steele

[email protected]

P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802828-232-5845 |www.wncparent.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERRandy Hammer

ADVERTISING/CIRCULATIONTim (Bo) Head 232-5860, [email protected]

CALENDAR CONTENTDue byMay 10. E-mail [email protected]

ADVERTISING DEADLINEAdvertising deadline for the June issue isMay 15.


The mildwinter we enjoyed inWesternNorth Carolina, plus theearly arrival of spring, have many families itching to get outdoors.These bonus weeks of goodweather offer opportunities for hiking,camping, biking and paddling for families looking to create fun andlasting memories.But what do you really need to make your time in our beautiful

mountainsmore enjoyable, comfortable and safe?Weve askedsome local outdoor experts for their opinions on the must-have gear

GEAR UPOUTDOORS

By Betty Lynne Leary, WNC Parent contributor

Kurt Shoemaker, a buyer andmanager at Black DomeMountain Sports,with his son Rowan,who rides in the Deuter ChildCarrier. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT/

for gettingLocal outfitters canequip families witheverything theyneed to be active

Continues on Page 6

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for the season.We recommend taking along a day

pack and a hydration pack, says SarahMerrell, marketing manager withDia-mond Brand Outdoors in Arden. Ourfavorites are the Camelbak Scout hydra-tion pack and theDeuter Junior Pack.Merrell notes that quality footwear for

hiking is also amust.If your feet hurt or get wet, you wont

have any fun, she says. For kids,werecommend theKeen Pyrenees water-proof hiking boot, and dont forget a goodpair of merinowool hiking socks.Since theweather can be unpredictable,

Merrell suggests packing a good rain shellsuch as theNorth Face Resolve Jacket forkids and theNorth Face Venture Jacketfor parents.If youre ready for some paddling ac-

tion on the river,Diamond Brand also sellswater shoes that are quick drying, durableand come in fun colors kids love. The Pata-gonia Cap 1 Stretch Tee is also a greatchoice as it offers 50+UPF sun protection.If camping is on your agenda,Merrell

recommends theMountainHardwareMountainGoat Adjustable sleeping bagfor kids.

This bag grows with your child thanksto an internal drawstring, she explains.And stay comfy sleeping outdoors withthe Big Agnes Air Cord Pad.Merrell notes that since kids tend to

grow quickly,Diamond Brand offers aTradeUp Program. When your kids out-grow a product, just bring it in, andwelladd it to our clothing donations, she ex-plains. In return, youll save 35 percentoff the new version of the product for yourchild.Baby backpacks are always a hot item

in outdoor gear stores, andKurt Shoemak-er has foundwhat he calls the most com-fortable carrier in the industry.Shoemaker, amanager and buyer for

BlackDomeMountain Sports on TunnelRoad in Asheville, is the father of Rowan,who, as a baby, enjoyed the outdoors fromthe comfort and safety ofDads back.

TheDeuter Child Carrier has a fit thatis comparable to a real backpacking pack,and it completely opens from the side, hesays. Itmakes for amuch easier transi-tion in and out for both of us. Shoemakerand his son also love a good paddle butnever leave shorewithout their PatagoniaPFDs for safety and their Patagonia BoardShorts for comfort.

Patagonia is an environmentallyfriendly company thatmakes some of thebest outdoor apparel on the market for allages and their products are guaranteed forlife, he says.

Books andmoreIf your kids are old enough to get in-

volved in the planning of your outdooradventures, consider a bit of reading be-forehand.Brianna Simpson, manager at REI in

the Biltmore Park Town Square, suggestsOutdoor Parent, OutdoorKids, by Eu-gene Buchanan, a guide to getting yourkids active in the great outdoors, orCampout! the ultimate kids guide

from the backyard to the backcountry.REI also carries a family adventure

journal that has suggestions for kid-friendly hikes, Simpson says. Kids candownload a Kids Adventure Journal fromour websitewhere they record their ad-ventures.

TransportingOnce you have all your gear in order,

how do you get it to the river, campgroundor trailhead? Loran and Sue Evans, ofRightlineGear in Candler, have two col-lections PackRight and CampRightdesigned to help you get into the greatoutdoors with ease.

We originally designed the CampRight

Diamond Brands SarahMerrell suggests families take a day pack and hydration pack ontheir adventures. The Camelbak Scout hydration pack is shown at center and the DeuterJunior Pack is at right. CarleighWhitemodels with the packs and other gear available atthe Arden store. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

GEAR UPContinued from Page 5

TOP 10 ESSENTIALS FOR FAMILY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIESPack a daypackwith theseessentials and keep it handyso you can grab it for spurof themoment outings.Youll never be caughtwithout a critical item if itsalready in the pack!

1.Map2. Compass3. Sunglasses andsunscreen4. Rain gear/extrasocks5. Flashlight

6. First aid supplies7. Fire starter8.Matches9. Knife10. Extra food

SOURCE: BRIANNA SIMPSON, REI

LOCAL OUTFITTERS Diamond Brand Outdoors,www.dia-mondbrand.com Black DomeMountain Sports,www.blackdome.com REI,www.rei.com Rightline Gear,www.rightlinegear.com Second Gear,www.secondgearwnc.com

GREAT AMERICANBACKYARD CAMPOUTPut your gear to use on June 23, theGreat American Backyard Campout.Visit www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Great-American-Backyard-Campout.aspx. For other upcoming family friendlyclasses and events, check out www.rei.com.


pop-up tent as an easy tent for kids whiletheir parents were truck tent camping,explains Loran Evans. But it has turnedinto away of camping for the entire fam-ily. You can take a few pop-up tents andhave a camping village set up in just a fewminutes.Their SUV Tent with screen room is an

option for thosewith pickup trucks orother SUVs. This tent fits snugly onto theopen back end of the SUV and extends to alarge family camping tent that can accom-modate everyone.Mom andDad sleep offthe ground in the comfort of their vehiclewhile the kids have the run of the tent. Thescreened room is perfect for playinggames, eating or relaxing away from thebugs.

Our Car TopDuffle Bag is also a newproduct with some buzz, Evans adds.You load this largewaterproof duffle bagwith your gear then attach up to three ofthem to the roof of your vehicle even ifyou dont have roof racks.

Saving on gearConsignment stores are a great way to

find the gear you need to outfit the entirefamily at a fraction of the cost.Eric Smythers ismanaging partner at

SecondGear, a consignment shop special-izing in outdoor gear and clothingwithlocations offHaywood Road inWest Ashe-ville and in a new downtown location.SecondGear has a kids section at theHaywood store, featuring clothing, shoes,boots and gear, he says.

Consignment is a natural fit for kidsbecause the stuff is expensive to purchasenew, he says. Children grow out of theseitems so quickly.Smythers adds that baby backpacks are

always a big seller because once kids out-grow them, they are of little value to par-ents.

You can frequently find lightly-useditems in our store especially because someparents are overly optimistic about howmuch they will be hikingwith their weeone, Smythers says. Lots of new parentsare so eager to be active again, they thinkthey can jump right back into the sameactivities they did pre-children.He suggests following the Boy Scout

motto of Be Prepared and being realisticabout what you and your family can do.

Havewater, snacks, rain gear andmaps, Smythers suggests, and know theweather forecast, the terrain, elevationand length of your hike.All of these preparations, plus some

practical gear,will ensure youmake themost of your time in thewoods and on thewater.

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Maybe you can show your child how to create a spreadsheet withExcel. But can you teach her how to build a fire in thewoods?Learning outdoor skills and becoming self-reliant in thewoods helps

children in many ways, boosting their self-confidence and teachingthem to use theirminds and muscles in new, exhilaratingways. Chil-dren are never too young to start learning how to use a compass andmap, instructors say.

Its really empowering for them, saidLena Eastes, director and a counselor atEarth Path Education, a primitive skillsinstitution nearWeaverville. It buildstheir confidence and helps them feel com-fortable inwho they are. They begin tofeel safe in thewoods. Our culture teacheschildren to have a lot of fear about theunknown in thewoods. But our kids beginto see the unknown as a greatmystery thattheyre excited to learn about.

When Iwas kid, mymother couldntfind me. Iwas out in thewoods splashingin the creek and catching bugs, said Rich-

ard Cleveland, founder and director ofEarth School, awilderness skills schoolbetween Asheville and Candler. Now, ifyou want to find children, all you have todo is find the nearest electrical outlet.

Kids need to know how to take careof themselves. Teaching them how topitch a tent ormake a fire, you see themglow.Unless parents have spent consider-

able time learning how to build sheltersor purify water, theymay not be able toteach the skills that they want their chil-dren to know.

Where to turn?

There are several places inWesternNorth Carolina that teach outdoor skills.Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are excellent

places to learn the joys and disciplines ofbeing outside. Scouts learn knots, knives,fishing, archery, fire-building, outdoor cook-ing,water purification, camping safety,wilderness first aid and how to stay dry,among other skills.Possiblymost important, theyre taught

respect for the outdoors and its caprices.Cleveland has taught survival and self-

reliance skills toNavy Seals and civilians.From time to time at Earth School, one ofhis instructors is VictorWooten, bassist forBela Fleck & The Flecktones and an avidnaturalist.Clevelands Earth School has a Back to

Basics class recommended for ages 8-17accompanied by an adult. Students willlearn fishing, first aid, survival skills, na-ture awareness,wild edible and medicinal

Opportunities aboundforCHILDREN to learnOUTDOOR SKILLS

By Paul Clark,WNC Parent contributor


plants, archery, hunting, outdoor cookingand more.Earth School also offers its Family

Adventure Camp that shows participantshow to build fires and emergency sheltersand collect drinkablewater andwild ed-ible plants, among other skills. Included inthe instruction is teaching children how toavoid getting lost in thewoods.Earth Path Education in the Reems

Creek Valley nearWeaverville holds itsRootsDay Camp during summer to teach

children nature awareness skills basedon Appalachian folkwisdom, ancestralskills and plant lore, among other dis-ciplines. Instructors will highlight plantsthat can be used as food and medicine, aswell as show forest products that can beused in basketry, cordage, clay vessels andnatural paints.

We focus onwhats going on around usin thewoods bird language and how torecognize plants as teachers, Eastes said.Earth Path Education also does rites of

passage for girls 11-16 via nature aware-ness and primitive skills.Events to consider include the Firefly

Gathering on June 21-24, aweekend atCamp Pinnacle inHendersonville ofwild-crafting classes for adults that has a chil-drens component. Young naturalists willlearn things such as fire by friction, firstaid and survival basics andwoodcarving.The American Adventure Service

Corps is an all-year after-school programfor students ages 8-18. Studentsmeet onceaweek to learn outdoor skills that preparethem for wilderness activities that includenavigation, camp-craft, cave explorationand rock climbing. Students and instruc-tors go out oneweekend amonth on ad-venture trips, as well as for a 10-day (ortwo five-day trips for younger students)expedition during summer.In all these programs, students will

learn much more than the outdoor skills.Theyll learn to love being outside.

Nature speaks to us in a differentlanguage, Cleveland said. Looking at themoon on a starry night, you cant help butfeel that you are a part of it.

Kohl Kohlsaat, Skylee Fox Schomber and Grace Rossellwork together on a fire-buildingexercise during last years Roots Day Camp in the Reems Creek Valley. MEGANRICHARDSON/SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

FORMORE INFORMATION Boy Scouts,www.danielboonecouncil.org Girl Scouts,www.girlscoutsp2p.org Earth School,www.lovetheearth.com Earth Path Education,www.earthpatheducation.com Firefly Gathering,www.fireflygathering.org TAASC,www.ashevilletaasc.com

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&ASHEVILLE If you love your dog, and your chil-

dren, youll take them hiking. And if you love hiking,you should definitely take your dog, and your kids,along for the adventure.

Hiking is awonderfulway to expose children to adifferent form of playing outdoors, away fromdigital, beeping boxes and give them a chance to becreative and get exercise and fresh air.

HIKINGis fun, and healthy,forFAMILIES

DOGSBy Karen Chvez, [email protected]

BettyTrexler, of Asheville,and Lila enjoy a hike through Bent Creek.When hikingwith a dog, be sure you have supplies for both of you and know thetrails leash rules. JOHN COUTLAKIS/[email protected]


Taking along the family pet can en-hance the time outside together as a fam-ily, and help your dog burn off energy (soshewont be so apt to chew the furniture athome), and stimulate her doggie sensesthat is, sniffingwoodsy smells, seeingsquirrels and birds and tasting a coldcreek.Before heading out on the trail, make

sure you pick a spot that is welcoming todogs (for instance,Great SmokyMoun-tainsNational Park does not allow dogs ontrails), and know the leash laws.Dogs areallowed on Blue Ridge Parkway trails andinNorth Carolina state parks butmust beon a leash no longer than 6 feet, and own-ersmust clean up after their dogs.Knowing your dogs abilities and tem-

perament will also make a hike more en-joyable. Pick trails that have gentle climbsfor older dogs, or thosewho tire easily, andless-crowded trails for dogs who do notinteract wellwith strange dogs or people.Trails with soft-footing gravel can behard on little paws and hikes with awater feature such as a creek, pond orwaterfall are also enticing to four-leggedfriends.For thosewho dont have dogs, the

OutwardHounds program of the BrotherWolf Animal Rescue has the perfect option

shelter dogs available for hiking loan,either on group hikes or one-on-one.

Its great exercise for the dogs, it of-fers them new stimulus, sights and soundsand its good for them to interact with newdogs and new people, said Beth Stang, a

BrotherWolf volunteer and OutwardHounds hiker.The groupsmeetWednesdays, Sat-

urdays and Sundays formorning jaunts inthewoods near Asheville, and folks whowork can meet upwith a dog in the eve-nings.Whatmakes a good hike for dogs?

Something that catches their eyes, nose ormouth.

We like Bent Creek (ExperimentalForest) for thewater.Dogs canwade in itor put their paws in, andwe like to takehikes inMontreat because its cool andshaded, Stang said.Being preparedwith proper gear can

also make for a safe and fun hike for dogsand their people.Trail maps and a compass or a GPS unit

are essentials in thewoods. But its alsoimportant to have layers of moisture-wicking andwater repellent clothing,drinkingwater and snacks for every-body.Diamond Brand Outdoors sells awide

variety of doggie hiking gear, includingbackpacks, so people can remember tobringwater for their dogs, said market-ing director SarahMerrell.

SAFETY TIPS FOR HIKINGWITH DOGS Bring plenty of drinkingwater for your-self, your children and pets. Carry a map and compass and know howto use them. Don't hike alone. Evenwhen hikingwith buddies, let some-one knowwhere youre going andwhen youplan to return.Inwarmweather, be sure to bring:

Extra snacks and food for yourself andyour pets. Rain jacket (no matterwhat the forecast). Extra insect repellent and sunscreen. Tissues and allergymedication if yousuffer from allergies. If hikingwith a dog, bring a leash,water,collapsible bowl and snacks for the dog andplastic bag for trash or dog poop.

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They come in different sizes fordifferent size dogs and are big enough topack collapsible nylon bowls, drinkingwater and treats, like organic dog treatsby Zukes, that are good for active dogs.Always having a collar with owner

contact information and a leash are im-perative. If youre hiking during huntingseason (which ismost times of year inWesternNorth Carolina), be sure to packa hunter orange vest or jacket for yourdog to distinguish them from game ani-mals.Diamond BrandsWomensHiking

Group meets the third Saturday of everymonth, and on most hikes, they are es-corted by dogs.

Participants arewelcome to bringdogs. I justmake sure that they bring aleash, said hike leader AmyWilliams.Some people dont think about enoughdrinkingwater for their dogs. If you getoff course or dont encounter thewatersource you were expecting, you shouldalways have extrawater for your dog.One of her favorite places to hikewith

her own rescue hounds Bella and Sophie,is the new Bearwallow Trail inHender-son County, a 2-mile roundtrip hike to amountaintop bald on Carolina MountainLand Conservancy land.

Its the highest peak inHendersonCounty, and its bald on top,Williamssaid. It has 360-degree views. Its awon-derful place to take dogs and kids.

Try these local hikes: N.C. Arboretum. The public gardens

just southwest of Asheville are a greathiking spot for families,with 10miles ofwell-maintainedwooded trails.Dogs arewelcome and must be on a leash. BentCreek crisscrosses Arboretum trails, atreat for dogs and kids. The Arboretumalso offers geocaching kits for familieswho can hunt for buried treasuresusing a GPS unit. Take Brevard Road tothe Blue Ridge Parkway entrance, or exitatMilepost 393 if you are on the parkway.The Carolina Mountain Trail,whichcrosses Bent Creek, is a great trail. For amap and more information, call 665-2492or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

Carl Sandburg Home NationalHistoric Site: This national park site inFlat Rock has five miles of hiking andwalking trails.Dogs arewelcome butmust be on a 6-foot leash, must stay on

HIKING DOGSContinued from Page 11

Josh Redman, of Asheville, and his golden retriever Sparkles enjoy the Hard Times Trail areain Bent Creek. Trails in the N.C. Arboretum cross those in Bent Creek, giving hikers andcyclists awider range of options. JOHN COUTLAKIS/[email protected]


How do you get kids away from their computers and cellphones? Letthem getmuddy.May really ramps up the get-outdoors season inWesternNorth Carolina,

especially for parents of kids who have spent too much of thewinter infront of video screens of various sizes.

Our society is definitelymore obese than it has been in the past. Any-thing that we can do that can promote physical activity is needed at thispoint, saidHeather Boeke, executive director ofHands On! A ChildsGal-lery, a downtownHendersonville experiential learning center for children.

MadMountainMud RunHands On! is the beneficiary of pro-

ceeds fromMadMountainMud Run onJune 2-3, billed as the dirtiest event inWNC.From 5-7 p.m. June 2, children of all

ages and their parents can participatein muddy games and a small mudrun at Berkeley Park inHen-dersonville. Registration($15 per person) includessupper from Chick-fil-A.

Its an event withmud pits and mudpuddles and obstaclesthat you have to accom-plish, Boeke said. Its all aboutfun and getting dirty.TheMadMountainMud Run, for

people at least 12 years old, is June 3. Foradults, too, the 3.5-mile mud-filled obsta-cle race at Berkeley Park is designed forparticipants with varying levels of abil-ity. The 15 obstaclesmust be scaled, tra-versed ormaneuvered successfully un-less participants opt to take a time penal-ty if the challenge proves too difficult.

Im expecting to get really dirty,said Carson Bockoven, a 13-year-oldHen-

dersonville resident. Id neverheard of amud run before, but itsounds pretty cool. It definitelylooks like fun.

This coursewill make you grityour teeth and push yourself, but itwill also make you smile and laugh,course designer AndyHayes said.For details, visit www.madmoun-

tainmudrun.com.

Enticing kids outdoorsis easy with these

SPECIAL EVENTSBy Paul Clark, WNC Parent contributor

trails and ownersmust clean up dogwaste. Entrance to the park is free,with safe parking andwell-maintainedtrails ranging from the nearly half-mile trail around Front Lake to amorestrenuous 1.5-mile climb up to BigGlassy Summit. For information, call693-4178 or visit www.nps.gov/carl.

MountMitchell State Park. Thisis a great place to go hikingwith dogsand children in the summer since itshigh elevation, cool and has spectac-ular views. From Asheville, take theBlue Ridge Parkway north about 30miles toMilepost 355.Drive to thepark office, park and take theMountMitchell Trail about 2miles up and 2miles back to the the 6,684-foot-highsummit,which is the highest peak eastof theMississippi River. Trail mapsare available at the park office. Callthe park at 675-4611 or visitwww.ncparks.gov.

Sam Knob-Flat Laurel Creek.This is another high-elevation hikingarea that is pleasant inwarmermonths. In PisgahNational Forest,access the trailhead amile south of theGraveyard Fields area on the BlueRidge Parkway. Turn right onto ForestService Road 816 and go to the end ofthe road. SamKnob tops out with 360-degree views at an elevation of 6,040feet, and connects with the Flat LaurelCreek Trailwith plenty of river cross-ings for dogs to drink from and play in.Pick up amap or call theU.S. ForestServices Pisgah RangerDistrict of-fice at 877-3265.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail: This trailtraverses the entire 1,000-milewidthofNorth Carolina.Hop on and off atthese spots: Blue Ridge ParkwayMile-post 382 at the Folk Art Center inAsheville for a short out-and-backhike; Rattlesnake Lodge atMP 376 fora trailwith springwildflowers andhistoric building remains;GraybeardTrail atMP 363 just north of CraggyGardens on the parkway, 20milesnorth of Asheville, for cool, high-eleva-tion hiking andwild blueberry pickingin the summer. Formore, visit Friendsof theMountain-to-Sea Trail atwww.ncmst.org or call the parkwayVisitor Center at 298-5330, Ext. 304.

Outdoors writer Karen Chvez is the authorof Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina,(Mountaineers Books). Follow her on Twitter@KarenChavezACT or on her blog CITIZEN-TIMES.com/girlsgoneoutdoors.

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GNARAhead of theMud Run, kids will have a

chance to get down and dirty during theinauguralGnarliestKids Adventure Raceat Camp Pinnacle inHendersonville onMay 18.Beginning at noon, kids ages 5-14work-

ing in teams of twowill navigate a variety

of challenges thatmay include (thecourse is top secret!)wall climbing,mountain biking, a low ropes course andother problem solving events. Therewill be many surprises that event volun-teer Ellen Seagle said she couldnt talkabout (the kids will find out at theevent), as well as a big, fancy finale.

Theres really nothing like this forkids, she said. Its all about gettingdirty and having fun.A benefit forMountain CommunitySchool inHendersonville,GNARwillbeginwith instructions and a safetybriefing by the race director. Com-petitors will be divided into threegroups based on age andwill start atset intervals. Tailored to each teamsage and ability, the race ismeant toencourage teamworkwhile promotingactive, healthy lifestyles.Registration is limited to 100 teams;

cost per team is $50 (there is also anadult/child team category).Formore onGNAR, visit www.ac-

tive.com/adventure/hendersonville-nc/gnar-the-gnarliest-kids-adventure-race-ever-2012.

TheMountain Sports Festival overMemorialDay weekend in Asheville haslots of kids events, nearly all of them atthe Festival Village.The freeKeen IronKids events let kids

test their strength in noncompetitiveclimbing, sprinting, basketball shootingand other activities. The festival also hasrelay races, a youth ultimate tournament, akids duathlon and night hikes. Therewillalso be a kids obstacle course, a bike raceand a wacky golf tournament.The festivalwill have a Rise n Shine

5K race hosted byGirls on the Run ofWNC, a curriculum-based, character-de-velopment program that helps girls ingrades three to eight train for a 5K race.

When Iwas in school, therewas onechubby kid in my class. And now, unfortu-nately, there are a lot, said Rachelle So-rensen-Cox,who founded theWNC chapterofGirls on the Run. Kids live very indoor,sedentary lives.We need to give them safeplaces to run.To that end,Girls of the Run

(www.gotrwnc.org) is also holding itsGirls on the Run 5K onMay 19 at Bilt-more Park Town Square. Primarily forgirls who are part of the program, thenontimed event is absolutely open toall girls, Sorensen-Cox said.For details onMountain Sports

Festival, visit www.mountainsportsfestival.com. Find information onGirls on the Run at www.gotrwnc.org.

Mountain Sports Festival

Ramble RunOnMay 12,Mothers

Day weekend, the RambleRun is expected to drawmore than 1,000 runnersandwalkers to BiltmorePark in South Asheville.In its second year, it has

a new feature an ex-panded mother/child cate-gory in the 5K and 12Kraces formoms and kidsyounger than 18.The event also includes

a rarity for races freechild care. Parents RaceOut opens at 7:15 a.m. forchildren ages 12 andyounger. It closes at 10:30a.m. That gives parentstime to run one race andthen participate in theGreat Beginnings Pediat-ric Dentistry andHalde-man OrthodonticsKidsKilometer Fun Run, a half-mile run around one ofBiltmore Parks quietneighborhoods. The FunRun starts at 10 a.m.For details and to regis-

ter, visit www.ramble-run.com.


Those of you who dont live on thewestside of Asheville might be missing out onthe coolest park in town.Built on the site of the old Asheville

Motor Speedway, Carrier Park may be themost heavily used park in the Ashevillepark system. Located at 220 Amboy Road,the 31-acre park serves all age groups,from tiny tots that play in the playgroundto families that ride their bikes along thetrail that unravels beside the FrenchBroad River.

Theres a lot of space for kids to runaround and just be kids, said FrankMcGowan, superintendent of businessservices at Asheville Parks, Recreationand Cultural Arts. For parents whowantto see kids getmore exercise and be ac-tive, its a great place to take them.During the day, the park fills with par-

ents walking their children in strollersalong the trail that runs by river. In theafternoons after school, parents take theirchildren to soccer, basketball, baseball orsoftball games there.Many walk along theparks wetland interpretive and educationtrail, part ofwhich is boardwalk out overthewetland, awonderful place for chil-dren to look at the plants and bugs in thewater.The parks inline skating rink is a big

hit among kids and adults who play in theAshevilleHockey League. And there arevolleyball courts and pavilions for picnicsand gatherings.Mike Smith lives 20minutes by bike,

10minutes by car from the park. An avidbicyclist, he rides around to the velodromethere, called theMellowdrome because of

Kids canrun andROAM atCARRIERPARK

By Paul ClarkWNC Parent contributor


16 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

its softly banked track.Its really nice to get out there, he

said. The city has been really great work-ingwith the cycling community to keep itgoing.Starting at 6 p.m. everyWednesday

night, from April to September, there areraces at the track, oneweek for streetbicycles and the next for track bikes(fixed gear, no brakes). Smith has seen asmany as 80 cyclists turn out onWednesdaynights. On Saturdaymornings, there areoften asmany as 30 cyclists going roundand round on training rides. Often thereare people on the pedestrian bridge overthe track, taking photos of the riders.Inside the track, Smithwatches chil-

dren playing on the elaborate playground(built in five days by 1,000 volunteers).Hes seen lots of people playing on thebeach volleyball court.Next to the track isthe lawn bowling pitch. It sure lookstempting, he said.HansMomkes is president of the Ashe-

ville Lawn Bowling Club,which hasmore

CARRIER PARKContinued from Page 15

The trails around Carrier Park are ideal for a family outing of bike riding, walking or running.ERIN BRETHAUER/[email protected]


than two dozen members who bowl there threetimes aweek. Affiliatedwith theU.S. LawnBowling Association, the club is one of only twoinNorth Carolina (the other is in Pinehurst).The lawn attracts visitors from all over thecountry who,when they visit Asheville, get intouchwith the club to arrange a few games,Momkes said.Lawn bowling is a gamewherewomen and

men can competewith each other or againsteach other, he said, explaining that lawn bowl-ing is a game of finesse and skill, not strength.The seven lawns are also used by people play-ing bocce, he said.Once or twice aweek,Momkes visits the

park just towalk his dog. Carrier Park is usedvery, verymuch, he said. You see a lot ofpeople therewalking, playing or picnicking. Itsa very well laid-out park.The French Broad RiverGreenway links the

park to two other Asheville parksHominyCreek and French Broad River parks. Thetwo-mile trail follows the river along an asphalttrail that is open thewholeway to biking andwalking. Some people use it to inline skate over.

Its a beautiful park,McGowan said, andright now,with a lot of foliage in bloom, its abeautiful place to gowalk and take in the natu-ral beauty of the area.

The park provides a pretty diverse groupof activities. And the parking is free.

Asheville Hockey League teams play at Carrier Park in spring and fall. ERINBRETHAUER/[email protected]

18 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

Kids can stay active for hours when they get outdoors.We asked fifth-graders in severalclasses at Charles T.Koontz Intermediate School in Skylandwhere they like to spend timeoutside andwhat they like to do.Here is a selection of their answers:

I like to spend time outdoors bybiking at Bent Creek. I especiallyenjoy biking on the black diamondtrails because they give me a chal-lenge towork toward. I also likeseeing the large variety of plants andanimals as I ride by.Chloe Bruns, 10

One of my favorite places to spendtime outdoors is in my yard because Ihave lots of beautiful gardens. In mygarden, I have a plum, a pear and anapple tree. Also, I have strawberries,blueberries and raspberries.ZacharyMoss, 11

My favorite place to spend timeoutdoors is the tennis court because itis fun. Iwork hard to get better andplay with my friends. I love to playthe sport.NoahDohle, 10

My favorite place to spend timeoutdoors is the BiltmoreHouse.Mainly I like to visit the animals atthe farm.My favorite animals arethe chickens. Thenwe sit on thepatio and have ice cream.McCarty Shingleton, 10

My favorite place to spend timeoutdoors is Triple Falls. I like to seethewaterfalls. Thewater is cold andloud. I go on lots of hikes.NicholasHemanchandra, 11

My favorite place to spendtime outdoors is at Chimney Rock.I like hiking there because I findinteresting animals. I likewildlife.Octavius Brown, 11

When I get the opportunity tospend time outdoors, I like to go toLakeKeowee. I like going to thelake because I get to swim andhang outsidewith my familywhile having a cookout.Juliza Montiel, 11

My favorite place to spendtime outdoors is the basketballcourt. I like the basketball courtbecause basketball ismy life. Ireally enjoy the sport.DevinDickens, 11

I like spending time outdoorsin my grandfathers forest be-cause it is full ofwildlife andnature.Gabriel Reece, 11

My favorite place to be out-doors ismy neighbors yardbecause they have a big yardwhere my friends and I can playsoccer.Chris Pinon, 11

kids voices

Best outdoor spots


I love spendingtime atmy AuntRachels farm ...because she hashorses that I rideand she has foursmall dogs. I loveto ride horses andit is so fun. This iswhy this ismy favorite place inWest-ernNorth Carolina.Madison Penix, 10

If I could chooseone place to go inWesternNorthCarolina, it wouldbe the Blue RidgeParkway. I chosethis place becausein the afternoon thesunset is beautifulover the moun-tains. Also the view ofNorth Caroli-nas gorgeousmountains and trees cantake your breath away.DrueDonatiu, 11

My favoriteplace inWesternNC is probablyLake Julian. Eventhough you cantswim in the lake, Ilove looking at thescenery! I also liketo look at all thelife living there.Bugs, ducks, fish, amazing! Even justlooking at the lake itself is so beauti-ful, lovely, amazing!Olivia Soosaar, 11

My favoriteplace outside isGrandfatherMountain. I enjoyhiking there be-cause it has chal-lenging trails formy dad and I tohike.ConnorDavis, 11

20 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

What does the perfectMothersDay look like?We visited theMOPS group thatmeets at Biltmore BaptistChurch to ask moms just that.Heres what they described.

My perfectMothersDay would be to spend apicnic in the parkwithmy family that I didnthave to prepare the mealfor and not having tochange diapers all daylong.KCHart, of Arden,

mom of one

My idealMothersDay would be justspending the entire daywith my kids and myhusband, doingwhat-ever they chose to doforme.Angela Bailey, of

Arden, mom of two

ForMothersDay,Iwould love to have agetaway with myhusband, just him andI, so I could be a bet-termother.Jackie Brown, of

Fairview, mom of four

My perfectMoth-ersDay would be tosleep in and have a latebreakfast in pajamaswith my whole familyand just hang out athome all day.Mandy Brown, of

Candler, mom of two

As I think aboutmyidealMothersDay, its not... a certain gift or a cer-tain act, but its thatmychildren and my husbandwould enjoy doing it. Iwould love for them tolove on me and it not be aburden, just a simplething that no one has towork on too hard. LeAnnMoffitt, of Candler, mom of two

Be able to go gro-cery shopping bymyself that would be myperfectMothersDay.Trista Lozano, of

Asheville, mom of three

moms voices

Mothers Day dreams


My idealMothersDay would start offwithbreakfast cooked forme, a sweet loving cardfrommy 3-year-olddaughter and a goodhug, my husband takingcare of our newborn boyin the morning. Andthen being surprised bya spa treatment where (my husband) says,You go out, spend the day by yourself, ifyou want, buy yourself something nice,and to return to a house thats not chaoticand a husbandwho doesnt look like hesabout to pull his hair out, and awell-cooked meal for dinner, and then forDadto continue to do bath time and bedtime. Isthat asking too much?

Jana Martin, of Fletcher, mom of two

Iwould like mychildren to make mebreakfast in bed, and Iwould like to sleep andread all day bymy-self.

Rebecca Nicholas,of Candler, mom ofthree

22 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. Dolly Par-ton does not do roller coasters. Shelltell you she has too much to lose. Likeher wig.She makes no exceptions.Not even

for the newest ride,Wild Eagle,whichrecentlymade its debut at the enter-tainers namesakeDollywood theme

park.Not even if it cost a cool$20million, the most ever spent on asingle attraction in the parks history.And not even if its the first so-calledsteel-wing coaster in the entireUSA.

I definitely aint ridin that, shesays, as the first carload of 28 ridersbegins the slow, steep, 21-story ascentand abruptly plummets out of sight.You dont want to seewhat a real baldeagle looks like.Tim Baldwin, 49, does do coasters

more than 900 different ones, at last

count. In fact, byDollywoods openingday in lateMarch, hes already takenthe plunge on theWild Eagle 25 times

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

Dollywoodleads the cl

imb

of revolutionary coaste

rs


while doing live TV and radio interviews.The elementary school teacher from theDallas area is also editor of RollerCoaster!magazine, published by American CoasterEnthusiasts.His next stop: Six FlagsGreat America

in Chicago,where a similar wing coastertakes off in mid-May. A different variationopens atHershey Park inHershey, Pa., onMay 26.You have to be the sort of personwho

knows a zero-G roll from a giant flat spinto understandwhy these new coasters aresuch a big deal. But after a two-minute,22-second spin on theWild Eagle, even ahesitant rider begins to get it.

Whatmakes it special

The primary design difference in thecoasters is that riders are seated onwings on either side of the trackwithnothing but air above and below them. Thelack of underpinnings or overhead equip-ment enhances the sensation of flying.Add to that an initial 13-story drop intoassorted spirals, curves and loops, and theWild Eagle fulfills its extreme-thrill-rideaspirations.

Whatmakes a satisfying coaster is itsextremeness, but also its grace. This onehas elements of both, saysDavid Lip-nicky, 48, another coaster enthusiast in

from theDallas area for the opening. Be-cause theres no track above or below you,you get these panoramic views. I couldhave sworn I heard the angels singing.Thewing coasters are also buzz-worthy

among hard-core fans simply becausetheyre theNext Big Thing.

Enthusiasts like us have ridden every-thing, says Baldwin. Its big to find any-thing different. And this isnt a copy ofanything.My favorite parts were the sec-ond and fourth inversions that have yourotating around the track like awindmill.You see thewholeworld revolve around

Visitors enjoy the new $20millionWild Eagle roller coaster onopening day of the Dollywoodtheme park season in PigeonForge, Tenn. MICHAELPATRICK/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL/


24 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

your point of view.The first wing coaster rolled out last

year in Italy. A second premiered inMarch in Englands Thorpe Park,wheretest-run photos showed mannequins re-turning to the station sans limbs. Retiredfighter pilots were recruited to take theirplace.Upon hearing that news from a report-

er, Parton gasps, exclaiming, Oh, my! Ivegot kin on that ride!An assistant assures her the maimed

dummies were merely part of a cheekypublicity stunt. (It isnt the first one. Thesame park last year hired an exorcistbecause of paranormal activity aroundone ride, generating a flurry of newsmedia coverage.)

Take a $750 spin for charityDollywood took amore charitable ap-

proach in drumming up advance interest.The first 52 rides were auctioned online

for about $750 a pop and sold out in lessthan 12 hours. The $37,000 in proceedswill benefit the American Eagle Founda-tion,which rehabilitates birds of preyand is headquartered atDollywood.Among thewinning bidders was Jason

Taylor, 35, ofWhite Plains,N.Y.,whohappily forked over $750 or about$5.28 per second for a fleeting taste ofWild Eagle. The inaugural riders alsowere granted ameet-and-greet with Par-ton,which to some, like Taylor, made theevent particularly worthwhile. This rideis the first of its kind in America, hesays. Besides, this isDolly andDolly-wood.As a regular season-pass holder,Karen

Talley,who drove five hours from herhome in Lebanon, Ohio, may have spentlessmoney on the venture, but her timeinvestment is considerable. The 65-year-old teachers aide arrived at the park at7:30 a.m.,waited for the gates to open andinched her way along in line, finallyclimbing aboard theWild Eagle morethan four hours later.Exiting the coaster after her second

ride of the day, Talley is positively giddy.Ill be back inMay, she declares.

A look at the trains,whichwill hold up to 28 people, for the new DollywoodWild Eagleride, as they were being built in January. The coaster has a floorless design that positionsriders, seated four across,with two on each side of the wings as they cruise along the3,127-foot track through four inversions and speeds topping 60mph. CURT HABRAKEN/THEMOUNTAIN PRESS

DollywoodContinued from Page 23


WILMINGTON,Del. These are sup-posed to be their golden years. Theyworked hard, earned a decent living andraised their family.Now its time torelax and reap the benefits of a lifewelllived.But not for thosewho have had to

take on the responsibility of raisinggrandchildren. Their golden years havebeen put on hold as they have begunanother cycle of child-rearing.Delores and LarryKling have been

parenting their 8-year-old granddaugh-ter, Amber, since shewas an infant. TheKlings son and the childsmother aban-doned their baby and have yet to re-member her on birthdays and holidays.While Amber is a loving childwho

does well in school, her grandmotherworries howmuch the situationwith herbiological parents has affected her andis seeking counseling to help them allcope.

Its heartbreaking, saidDeloresKling. Im sure its on hermind all thetime.The number of grandparents who

provide primary care for their grand-children is growing.Nationwide, morethan 2.5 million grandparents are takingon the responsibility of raising grand-children inwhat the AARP calls grand-families.Although grandparents raising

grandchildren is not new, the percentageis the largest seen in the past 40 years.Grandparents are the new safety netand its not going to change, said JudyPierson, a licensed clinical psychologistfrom Rehoboth Beach,Del.Grandparents are facedwith the

responsibility of raising their grand-children for a variety of reasons, in-

Moregrandparentstake on roleof parent

By Christine FaccioloGannett


26 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

cluding parental death, substanceabuse, incarceration, mental healthissues, military deployment, teenpregnancy, abandonment, abuse orneglect.

The economy has also played arole. The rate of unemploymentamongworkers ages 22-34 is doublethat of 55- to 64-year-olds.

Grandparents often assume therole of parents to keep the childrensafe and out of foster homes. Indeed,the 2008 federal Fostering Connec-tions Act says statesmust first look tokinwhen a child is removed from ahome because of abuse or neglect,allowing grandparents to be consid-ered a replacement when the familyhas experienced a crisis.

Being called upon to parent onsuch short notice creates challengesfor grandparents. There may be fi-nancial constraints asmany grandpar-ents live on a fixed income.Moreover,retirement nest eggs have shrunk as a

Grand familiesContinued from Page 25

Delores Kling helps her granddaughter, 8-year-old Amber Anuszewski,with her homework.Amber lives with the Klings. BOB HERBERT/GANNETT


result of the economic downturn.Behavioral problems can also be an

issue. Children may act out because theydont understandwhy they cant bewiththeir biological parents.

Psychologists call it externalizingproblems where theyre going to be resis-tant and really difficult to dealwith, saidPat TannerNelson, a professor and certi-fied family life educator at theUniversityofDelaware.

Demands and fearsGrandparent caregiversmay feel they

cant keep upwith their grandchildrenbecause they are in poor health or becausethe children are so active. Kids are hardenough to raisewhen youre younger butwhen youre older, said the 64-year-oldKling,who lives inDover,Del.Grandparents raising grandchildren

must also dealwith awelter of emotions,including anger, resentment and guilt.For one thing, all of their plans for retire-ment go out thewindow, Pierson said.Theymay also feel they have been

robbed of the traditional grandparentingexperience. If the kids are going to growup healthy, they have to add that additionallayer (of discipline),Nelson said. It

makes it less fun.And grandparentsmay feel that they

themselves have failed as parents. Theymay feel a sense of shame andworry thatit says something about the parenting ofthat (adult) child, Pierson said.Raising grandchildren can also cause

difficulties with other familymembers.The other adult children may resent theirparents that are putting outmoney and

resources to take care of the siblingwhois not living up to their responsibilitiesand theymay feel that those grandchil-dren are more important to the grand-parents, Pierson said.

Support is essentialBecoming a parent again can be an

overwhelming experience, but it can alsobe a rewarding onewith the proper sup-port. Experts agree that grandparentscan benefit from sharing their concernsand needs with others in support groups.Experts also recommend that grand-

parents take care of their health andmake time for themselves.They should also reach out to family

and friends for help. Even peoplewholive far away can do some things likemake phone calls about resources orsend a coupon for amassage, Piersonsaid.Grandparents who assume the re-

sponsibility of raising their grandchil-dren have a unique opportunity to playan important role in their grandchil-drens lives. Were talking about shap-ing another human beings life and giv-ing these kids a chance at having amorepromising future, Pierson said.

QUICK TIPS Acknowledge your emotions and findsafeways to express those feelings. Take care of yourself and try to get somealone time every day. Make time for your spouse or partner. Consultwith an attorney and financialplanner. Set limits and rules for your grand-children and teach them interpersonal skills.Consider counseling to help them copewiththeir feelings. Ask family and friends for help andutilize existing resources.Source: Judy Pierson, licensed clinical psychologist

28 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

Sometimes itdoesnt get anybetter than tape,paint and paper. Asan art educator, it iseasy to overcompli-cate things; I try topull in too manythemes, artist references, teachingpoints, artisticmaterials, etc. As aparent, I do the same thing.What Iplan as a simple activity is quicklyunleashed into an entire weekendundertaking!During a recent project inspired

By Ginger HuebnerWNC Parent columnist

artistsmuse

Be creative and place tape on diagonals as well as an orthogonal grid. Then paint. PHOTOSBY GINGER HUEBNER/SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

Keepingit simple


by artist PietMondrionswork, students arrangedtape on pieces of paper cre-ating an orthogonal griddesign. Then they painted inbetween the tape. They let itdry and could not wait topull the tape off! The nextday, many of them requestedto do it again. I found outlater that some studentswent right home to try itwith their parents and sib-lings. I was struck that sucha simple project had such adraw for the students.Sometimes the act of

creating is just that. It doesnot need to be driven byspecialized materials, adetailed lesson plan or evensome amazing idea that youare trying to harness. Find-ing a way to use a simplepalette of common materialscan result in someone find-ing their creative outlet andwanting to do more. It alsooffers something that can bedone again and again in dif-

ferent settings: at home,school orGrammys house!For this project, you need

a heavyweight paper orcanvas, different widthpainters or artists tape,paint (you could use acrylic,tempera or watercolor),brushes and water cups.Start by putting strips oftape all the way across thepaper either horizontally orvertically. Choose colors topaint in between the tape.You can paint on the tape (itwill be pulled off later). Youcan go with any color or youcould choose to use primarycolors, complimentary col-ors, etc. Let the paint dry,and pull off the tape!A few ideas for varia-

tions: Place the tape at diago-

nals, not just orthogonal Paint the paper or can-

vas first with a backgroundcolor or design, then it willbe revealed after peeling thetape. When the paint dries, peel off the tape to reveal a design.

30 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2


INDIANAPOLIS Hey. WazUp? Hiya. Good afternoon,Mr. Jones.A simple greeting can speak volumes

about the person offering the salutation.Some people say that a greeting like

a first impression is awindow to a per-sons values, culture and upbringing.So,what does it say when a child ad-

dresses an adult by first name? Or by themore formal title ofMr./Mrs.?Andwhy are there so many different

opinions about how a child should addressan adult?Like many habits, its a learned behav-

ior influenced by theworldwe live in anenvironment filledwith varied personalitytypes, said BethGoering, an associateprofessor of communication at IndianaUniversity-PurdueUniversity Indianapo-lis. Specializing in the areas of intercultur-al communication and organizational com-munication,Goering observes that Amer-icans in general are less formal than peo-ple of other countries.

You definitely see this in thework-place,where people are addressed by firstnames. Thats unheard of in many othercountries, saidGoering. And from a his-torical perspective, theworld of technol-ogy has evolved into textmessages andemails replacing the personal callingcard of yesteryear.

Communication is fast and informal.Its like aworld of shorthand,Goeringsaid. So, Hello,Mrs. Sanders becomesHi, Julie.There are a few institutions thatmay

always define hierarchy based on title.Kristin Seed, ofWanamaker, Ind., start-

ed her parentingwith amore informalapproach to children addressing adults;that is, until her children entered parochi-al school.

It seemed to bewhat the school com-munity expects, said Seed, 39, the motherof three children, ages 9, 10 and 12. Theymade the switch to formal titles whentheir eldest daughter started school.

It was hard because therewere adultsin our neighborhood and our close friendsthat had always been called by their firstnames, Seed said. But now, if I hear

other kids call me bymy first name, I takeoffense and correct them.Seed views titles as away to demon-

strate a clear division between student/child and disciplinarian.

It shows respect and allows you to bethe authority figure, Seed said.Shes not alone.Many adults think that

whether its a teacher, neighbor or parent,all should be addressed by formal title as acourtesy.

With title come authority, responsibil-ity and reverence. A doctor or a lawyerearns that title, and so do parents. Theyhave paid their dues, said Linda Clemons,founder of Sisterpreneur, a sales and body-language consulting business.

It doesntmatter if you are in a college

interview or you are meeting yourmoth-ers friend, you should always addresssomeone by Mr. or Mrs., said Clemons,54.

It is about age; its about culture; itsabout a lot of things, Clemons said. Wehave younger parents now raising babies,and they want to be their childs friend, butlookwhat happens when they become afriend. It creates an equal level.Clemons believes that first names,

like nicknames, are an earned privilege.I have peoplewho call me Diva, and

peoplewho call me Chi-Chi, but thosepeople have earned my trust, Clemonssaid. I have given them permission tocome into that emotional circle. You havetowin people past hello.

First name or formal title?By T.J. BanesGannett

JANET SCHNEIDER/GANNETT

Childrens greetings of adults reflect the culture

32 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

Summer ismade for children to getoutside. The sunny weather, the richcolors, the beautiful landscapesnatureis in a riot of life.Childrenwho visit theWNCNature

Center are encouraged to not only look atwildlife but to interact with their naturalenvironment throughWild Child Packs.Thanks to a grant from REI, the Center isable to provide a fun and educationalactivity for kids.With a paid admission,Wild Child

Packs are available at no extra charge tobe checked out at the front desk of theNature Center (first come, first served).Each pack is brimmingwith real fieldtools used to monitor native ecosystemsas well as activities for kids to complete.Soil and field thermometers allow kids tolearn how shade and sunlight, proximity

towater and more affect the temperatureof the soil, thereby determiningwhat canlivewhere.Magnifying glass, measuringtape, pocket scope and compass give kidsfree reign to create their own experimentsand adventures as they find interestingrocks,weird insects or wild plants. Thereseven a field guide to songbirds, in case abudding birdwatcher spies one of themany species that regularly visit the Song-birdGarden.Wild Child Packs are designed to en-

gage children of all ages and encouragethem to spare more than a passing glanceto theworld around them.Get close, getinvolved and learnwhile respecting thehabitats and delicate balances of the envi-ronment thats what being outside is allabout!

Learn more about wildlife found inWNC at theWNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Ashe-ville, andwww.wncnaturecenter.com.

Backpacks help kidsexplore nature in detailBy Jill SharpWNC Parent contributor

nature center notes

WNC Nature CentersWild Child Packscontain real field tools used to monitornative ecosystems as well as activities forkids to complete. IAN JENSEN/SPECIAL TOWNCPARENT

WASHINGTON Looking for volun-teers? The person most likely to say yes isamarriedwhitewoman between 35 and 44whos a college graduate,works part-timeand has at least one child under 18, accord-ing to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.Formillions ofwomenwho fit that

profile, the findings, released recently, areno surprise. They know the social pressureto help out as classroommoms, PTA volun-teers, sports team coaches, snack moms atsoccer games, cookie sale coordinators fortheGirl Scouts and amultitude of otherself-sacrificing assignments.In the 12months that ended Sept. 30,

the rate at which Americans volunteerrebounded by half a percentage point to26.8 percent after falling the year before.The reason for the uptick:women.Their volunteerism rate of 29.9 percent

was six-tenths of a percentage point high-

er than in 2010.Women of all ages, educa-tional levels and races volunteermorethan menwith the same demographiccharacteristics.Men volunteered at a rate 6.4 percent-

age points lower. And their participationwas almost unchanged from the year be-fore.Sowhy the gender gap?Diane Luftig, 42, ofNew Rochelle,N.Y.,

said her husband, Larry,would volunteermore, but doesnt have the time.Heworkslong days as a banker, heading out at 5:30a.m.weekdays to commute to lowerMan-hattans financial district.AllisonDiMarco, 40, of Rochester,N,Y.,

cites the same issue longwork hoursas the major obstacle for her husband,whoworks in construction. The men have tobe the breadwinners, she said.JohnGomperts recalled that when he

ran Experience Corps, a national programthat seeks people 55 and older to serve astutors and mentors in urban schools, about

80 percent of the volunteers werewomen.Gomperts, now director of AmeriCorps,

said onewoman told him, Women step outin faith and guys hang back.

Whether you buy the language or not,shewas hitting on something fundamentalabout theway people do engage, he said.He also said the key to getting anyone

to volunteer is to ask them, andwomen areasked more frequently.Thats what happened toDiana Luftig

when a friend asked her to co-chair theannual fundraising dinner for the BoysandGirls Club ofNew Rochelle. It helpsthat Luftigs children are in school. I havea little bitmore of a structure to my life asopposed towhen my kids were 10monthsand 3, she said.The Bureau of Labor Statistics report

found the greatest variation in volunteerrates was based on education. The volun-teer rate for peoplewithout a high schooldiplomawas 9.8 percent. It was 42.4 per-cent for peoplewith a bachelors degree.

Women drive surge in volunteerism ratesBy Brian TumultyGannettWashington Bureau

34 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

Theworld hasno shortage ofparenting advice.If youve been amom formorethan 30 seconds,someone has of-feredwell-mean-ing nuggets ofwisdom (or not) intended to help.But few of those messengers base

their ideas in science. Almost noneoffer what I see as the best advice ofall: Trust your instincts, love yourchild and give them your best.

(And there you go. I offered advice.Sorry.)I had the pleasure of interviewing

Mayim Bialik last year. She is famousfor her roles on TVs Blossom and as

Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big BangTheory. She is also totally withoutpretense. She struck me as a passionatemomwho loves her babies andwantsothermoms to feel empowered.In short, I liked her a lot.I thinkwe mothers are too quick to

judge and even quicker to open ourmouths.What all moms and especial-ly newmoms need is encouragementto trust themselves with their babies.Bialik offers that in her new book, Be-yond the Sling.While I dont agreewith every

choice shesmade, thats OK. Shewouldnt agreewith all of mine, Imsure. The realwisdom of this book is itsnonjudgmental tone that empowersparents to dowhat they think is best fortheir child, as well as its grounding ingood science. (Bialik holds a doctoratein neuroscience. And no, its not anhonorary degree.)

While Bialik uses an attachmentparenting approach co-sleeping,breast-feeding, baby wearing hermessage ismuch broader. You weremade to be a parent. Everythingwith-in you prepared you for this season ofyour life.There are thosewho think this ap-

proach is permissive, resulting inspoiled rotten kids. If I had a nickelfor everyonewho told me babies needto cry it out, well, Iwould have lotsof nickels. That feels horribly wrongto me, to let a new person learn theworld alone and crying,when I knowin my heart that babies dontmanip-ulate and cant be spoiled by contactwith the people they love most in theworld.According to Bialik (and me, but I

only have 19 years experience as aparent, not a degree in neuroscience),babies dont really need much, just

Some advice is worth heedingBy ChrisWorthyWNC Parent columnist

growing together


milk, their parents arms and a fewother simple things.Its not rocket science but it is hard

work. It also provides the most re-warding results you can imagine.There is nothing glamorous aboutnursing a baby at 3 a.m.Nothing. Itbecomes even less sowhen that babywants to eat again an hour later.Momsneed to know thats OK. Thats part ofthe dealwhen you get the positivepregnancy test.We conform to them.Their schedule becomes ours. Theirneeds are primary.Its just for awhile, I promise.Light years fromHollywood drivel,

Beyond the Sling is a book of en-couragement, a pat-on-the-back guidefor parents who are in the trenches ofinfanthood. Bialiks book is a gift formoms who are finding judgment andcriticism at every turn, instead of thesupport they deserve.Read it and take it to heart. Tuck it

inwith that next baby shower gift. Ithink the next generationwill be allthe better for it.

Worthy is an attorney who took down hershingle to be a stay-at-homemom. Contact herat [email protected].

36 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

38 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

Several monthsback, Iwrote anarticle aboutmydesire to changethe name home-schooling to new-schooling. I havegiven this a lot of thought and spenttime observing many home educatingfamilies. I really believe that asmoreand more families leave traditionalschool and enter the home educationrealm, the face of home-schooling ischanging. I think this is formany rea-sons.What I observe in the home-schooling

community, both online and in our localsetting, is an evermore in tune par-ent. Parents are taking the time to learnabout how children learn, about whychildren struggle and have an under-

standing that just because a child strug-gles in a traditional school setting, he orshe is not defined by this struggle.Add to this the fact that while many

families are comfortablewith a limitedintimacy and interaction, that is some-times a result of everyone having manyresponsibilities and demands outside ofthe home that keep them apart frequent-ly. An equal push back is occurring there.Many families feel that oneway they canemphasize the importance of familycloseness and parent/child relationship isto cut out the middle man that traditionalschool sometimes becomes, thereby cre-ating an environment where family rela-tionships trump the peer relationshipsthat sometimes become more importantin a school setting.In stepwith these changes, I have

observed the ever-changing and oftencreativeways inwhich home-educatingparents are getting the job done.Of course, there are still the home-

schooling families whommany non-home-schoolers reference, families likeTVsDuggar family,who primarily homeeducate to pass along their particularreligious values on to their children.But, there is awhole new breed of

home-schooler, onewho enters the homeeducation realm knowing that they willbe choosing carefully every class theirchild attends or participates in, based onthat childs individual learning style,strengths,weaknesses and interests.Research has shown that children learnand retain more enthusiastically whenthey are involved in the choices and areinherently interested in the subjectmat-ter.Id like to take some time, over the

next several columns to introduce you tosome of the services available for thistype of home-schooler inWNC.Thismonth, Iwould like you to meet

Convenient Tutor, a tutoring servicestarted by James Foust, former Asheville

By NicoleMcKeonWNC Parent columnist

home-school happenings

The changing face of home-schooling


Christian Academy teacher.Wewere very excited to meetMr.

Foust and relieved to find that therewasa placewherewe could find the assis-tancewe needed to continue into ad-vanced mathematics.North Carolina lawstates that the parentmust be the pri-mary teacher. Convenient Tutor offerscourses that allow the parent to maintaina lead teacher role,while supplementingthe learning that takes place at home.Mr. Foust, a public high school gradu-

ate, holds amath/computer degree fromMessiah College.His company offersclasses ranging frommiddle and highschool math to Latin, art to screenwrit-ing. In addition to classes, they offerprivate tutoring and PSAT/SAT classes.While most of the classes that take placeduring the day hold homeschool students,Convenient Tutor also offers tutoring andclasses for traditionally schooled kids.Mr. Foust and all the teachers employedat Convenient Tutor have many years ofboth tutoring and teaching experience. Itis a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere,and there is also a great understandingthatmany students strugglewith somearea of learning, so they are flexible andproactive in arranging the classes toaccommodate all learning styles.

In linewith the number of home-schoolers inWNC, Convenient Tutorhas seen its student numbers increase,so much so, that they will be movinginto a larger facility in the BiltmoreForest area by June.While the currentfacility is great, they have definitelyoutgrown the space.The cost involved is $50-$60 per

month for classes,with individual tutor-ing prices in the evening at an averageof $40 per hour. Additionally, studentscan start tutoring or classes immedi-ately,with no pretesting requirement,and no long-term commitment re-quired.Convenient Tutor does very little

advertising, and most people find outabout the services throughword ofmouth,which says a lot about the qual-ity of the service.You can contact Convenient Tutor at

www.convenienttutor.com to see all theservices that are offered.I look forward to sharing other won-

derful homeschooling opportunitiesover the next several months!

NicoleMcKeon is a home-schooling mom andowner of Homeschool Station in Fairview. Emailher at [email protected].

40 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2


The lives ofU.S. presi-dents are an endless sourceof inspiration for childrenswriters. Childrens bookshave beenwritten aboutnot only the presidents, buttheir wives, children, pets,and vegetable gardens.Perhaps none of the presidents are moreperennially popular thanGeorgeWashingtonandAbraham Lincoln.According towww.an-swers.com, more than 16,000 books havebeenwritten aboutAbraham Lincoln.Morethan 3,000 have beenwritten aboutGeorgeWashington.With so many books about thesetwo esteemed gentlemen, is there a need formore?When the books are as outstanding asthese two new ones, the answer is a resound-ing yes.The first book is George:GeorgeWash-

ington,Our Founding Father.Written byFrankKeating and illustrated byMikeWim-mer, it is not a play by play ofWashingtonslife, but is a tribute to his beliefs on how tobehave. In an introduction,Keating explainsthat by the timeWashingtonwas 15, he hadhandwritten for himself the Rules for Civili-ty andDecentBehaviour in Company andConversation. For the rest of his life,Wash-ington shaped his deportment around thesebeliefs.Each two-page spread presents a vignette

inWashingtons life. For eachvignette,Keating includes afew sentences of description.One ofWashingtons rules isincluded as well. For instance,whenKeating describesWash-ingtons years as a school boy,the accompanying rule reads,Rule 73: Think before youspeak. Pronounce not imper-fectly nor bring out your wordstoo hastily, but orderly anddistinctly.Wimmers illustrations are

magnificent.Rendered in oilpaint on canvas, each illustrationis composed so that it appears the reader isan eye-witness to the events.Wimmersattention to historic detail and his use ofdramatic lighting make each image look as ifit is a photograph.Author and illustratorMaira Kalman has

an altogether different approach for her newbook about Lincoln, Looking at Lincoln.The book is a balance of facts about LincolnandwhatKalman imagines about Lincoln.Shewonders about Lincolns private mo-ments with his family. In the illustrationKalmanmodeled after the famousMathewBrady portrait that shows a lost in thoughtLincoln seated at a desk,Kalman suggests,Hewas thinking about freedom and doinggood formankind.Andmaybe hewas alsothinking about getting a birthday present forhis little son.Maybe awhistle.Or pick up

sticks. This approach encourages youngreaders to think about not just Lincoln thepresidential icon, but Lincoln the husbandand father as well.Kalmans gouache paintings are lively

with broad, thick brush strokes, bright colorsand bold black lines.A proliferation of eclec-tic colors bright pink, lime green, pumpkinorange do not represent reality so much asthey represent life, energy, andmovement.Both titles are dynamic supplements to

the existing body of biographies about theseimportantmen.Both titles are availablethrough theBuncombe County Public Librar-ies.Visit www.buncombecounty.org/libraryformore information.

These books are available in the Buncombe Coun-ty Public Libraries. To learn more, visitwww.buncombecounty.org/library.

By Jennifer PrinceBuncombe County Public Libraries

librarians picks

Lively tales of two U.S. presidents

Buncombe CountyLibraries

Visit buncombecounty.orgBlackMountain, 250-

4756Preschool: 10:30 a.m.

WednesdayMother Goose: 11:30 a.m.

TuesdayToddler: 10:30 a.m. Thurs-

dayEast Asheville, 250-4738Preschool: 11 a.m.Wednes-

day and SaturdayEnka-Candler, 250-4758Preschool: 10:30 a.m.

WednesdayToddler: 10:30 a.m. Thurs-

dayFairview, 250-6484

Preschool: 10:30 a.m. Thurs-day

Leicester, 250-6480Mother Goose: 11:30 a.m.

TuesdayPreschool: 10:30 a.m.

WednesdayNorth Asheville, 250-

4752School age: 3:15 p.m.

ThursdayPreschool: 11 a.m.Wednes-

dayToddler: 10 a.m.Wednes-

dayOakley/South Asheville,

250-4754Mother Goose: 11 a.m.

ThursdayToddler: 11 a.m.WednesdayPreschool: 10 a.m.Wednes-

dayPackMemorial Library,

250-4700

Preschool: 10:30 a.m.Mondays

Mother Goose: 10:30 a.m.Tuesdays

Toddler: 10:30 a.m. Thurs-days

School age: 3:30 p.m.Wednesdays

Skyland/South Bun-combe, 250-6488

Preschool: 10:30 a.m.Thursday

Toddler: 10:30 a.m.Wednesday

Swannanoa, 250-6486Preschool: 11 a.m. Thurs-

dayToddler: 10 a.m. ThursdayWeaverville, 250-6482Mother Goose: 11 a.m.

WednesdayToddler: 11 a.m. ThursdayPreschool: 11 a.m. TuesdayWest Asheville, 250-

4750Mother Goose: 11 a.m.

MondayToddler: 11 a.m.Wednes-

dayPreschool: 11 a.m. Thursday

Haywood CountyPublic Library

Visitwww.haywoodlibrary.org.

Waynesville, 356-2512 or356-2511

Baby Rhyme Time: 9:30a.m.Mondays

Ready 4 Learning: 11 a.m.Tuesdays

Family story time: 11 a.m.Wednesdays

Movers and Shakers: 11a.m. Thursdays

Canton, 648-2924Family story time: 11 a.m.

TuesdaysRompin Stompin Story

Time: 10 a.m. Thursdays

Henderson CountyPublic Library

No programs inMay. Visitwww.henderson.lib.nc.us.

Barnes & NobleAshevilleMall, 296-733511 a.m.Mondays and 2

p.m. SaturdaysBiltmore Park Town

Square, Asheville, 687-068111 a.m. Saturdays

Blue Ridge Books152 S.Main St., Waynes-

ville, 456-600010:30 a.m.Mondays for

ages 3 and younger.

area story times

42 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

WesternNorthCarolina is heaven.It truly is.Whereelse can you imagineliving inwhich youare 10minutes fromhiking, camping,fishing, biking, rockclimbing or kayaking?As a child growing up in Atlanta, I

dreamed of being in a place like this. Ilived insteadwithin the suburbs withsomewoods, so I still got to build fortswith my friends, play in the creek andcollect bugs, but I didnt get that fullDaniel Boone experience that Iwanted.You know,where you can split a treewithone hatchet throw and have a CherokeeIndian named Mingo as your bestfriend.Not that I can do that hatchet thing

now that I live here. I have become suspi-cious that the stunt by Fess Parker wasactually a TV special effect.More disappointing than Fess Parker

ismy belief that fewer children aregrowing upwith much interest in theoutdoors.Most of the children Iworkwith, especially boys, profess to havestronger interest in video gaming. Allother interests seem to pale by compari-son.When I am out on the parkway or

attempting to fish at Bent Creek (only tohear the trout laughing as they swim bymy bait), I rarely see other childrenaround, just adults.When I talk to scoutleaders and people involvedwith 4-H, Iget the impression that theirmembershipis declining.So,what is going on?I think that whether you are married

or single, many parents are being pres-sured by the same thing: lack of time.Like fast food, video is cheap, easilyavailable, peer encouraged and stimulat-ing. It keeps kids quiet for hours whetherthey are in an after school program,staying in the basement while the adultshave time upstairs or being transportedin a car for long distances.And just look at the portable devices

we have to pick from, including smart

phones (one child I saw today just got oneand told me he couldnwait to start loadinggames on it), iPods, iPod Touches, iPads,Kindles,Nooks, multiple handheld gamesoffering 3-D capacity (the latter carrying awarning thatmore than 45 minutes ofstraight playing could result in brain dam-age), computer notebooks and laptops.Meanwhile, at homewe have ever-growingflat-screen TVs with high definition and3-D capacity, quad core computer towersystems or all-in-one-screen touch comput-ers.And these are developments that are

only a few years old. Can you imaginewhat the next decade holds for us?So,what canwe do?What shouldwe do?

Here are a few semi-radical, but workablesolutions:

As a parent, become active in yourlocal PTO, child care and/or after schoolprograms. Put pressure on all thesegroups to limit or eliminate video andreplace themwith activities such as orga-nized sports, running/fitness clubs, andnature exploration, learning music ordancing.

At home, turn all video off one day aweek. Video includes ALLmediums suchas gaming systems, TV, movies, comput-ers, pads and pods, and smartphones. Readabout what is out there and plan trips ac-cordingly.Do activities such as bikingtogether as a family. Pre-cook a familydinner together and have a picnic. Come toBent Creek and scare the trout so they run

head long into my bait. Start a hobby ofstar watching and being able to name thevarious planets and constellations.

Make a rule that on pretty days onlyto allow one hours worth of video thenkick everyone out of the house. Set upbasketball goals or skateboard ramps foreveryone to play. Challenge everyone as towho can build the best fort or collect themost bugs towin a prize of going for an icecream.

Take one day aweek to go to thelibrary to pick books that could be readoutside. Another excuse for a picnic!I could go on and on as I think there is a

lot at stake here. I believe video games canbe fun and useful in moderation, but inexcess they seem to function as a drug.Kids lose their ability to be patient and areeasily bored.Why do housework, home-work or classwork? It is boring. Andwhichparent hasnt gotten into a fight with theirkid just over the statement, Turn thatgame off.If any of this alarms or scares you, then

it should. I encourage all parents to be-come as smart as they can be about theirchilds interests in electronics and to per-sistently push for alternative interests, atleast to get things in balance as to howpersonal and family time is spent.

Woodard is a licensed family andmarriage thera-pist and a clinical member of the N.C. AssociationofMarriage and Family Therapists. Contact him at606-8607.

Turn off gadgets, and tune in to outdoorsBy TripWoodardWNC Parent columnist

divorced families

Oneway to be amore active family: Pick a day and shut off anythingwith a screen. Thenpack a picnic and take the family outside. BILL SANDERS/[email protected]


E.B.Whites childrens novel about anoble spider, naive pig and determinedfarmgirl marks its 60th anniversaryrecently.In a foreword to a new edition of

CharlottesWeb, out lastmonth, award-winning chil-drens authorKateDiCamil-lo celebratesthe booksmiracle:Howsomethingterrible,somethingunbearablehappens. Andyet,we bearthis unbear-able thing.And in the endwe even rejoice.Heres a look at the book by the num-

bers: 25million: Copies sold, in more

than 30 languages. 514: Eggs in Charlottes sac, my

magnum opus the finest thing I haveevermade.

31: Age at whichDiCamillo finallyread CharlottesWeb. As a kid, shethought the pig on the cover, drawn byGarthWilliams, lookedworried, and thegirl seemed stoically resigned towhat-ever it was that the pigwas worriedabout a tableau that virtually guaran-teed the reader some sort of misery.Later, shewished someone had told her:It turns out beautifully, I promise.

5:Words Charlotteweaves in herweb: Some Pig! Terrific. Radiant.Humble.

2:Movie adapations: a 1973musicalanimation, detested byWhite,who diedin 1985 at age 86, and a 2006 live-action/computer animationwith Julia Robertsas the voice of Charlotte.

1: Rank in Scholastic Parent & Childmagazines recent list of the 100 greatestchildrens books.

CharlottesWeb at 60By BobMinzesheimerUSA TODAY

44 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2


Vehicle back-seat designs can make ithard to install child-safety seats correctlydespite changes required a decade agoto make the process easy, according to areport out lastmonth.Just 21 of 98 vehicles tested met all of

the requirements for ease of use, says thereport by the Insurance Institute forHigh-way Safety and theUniversity ofMichiganTransportation Research Institute. Sevenof the 2011 vehicles didntmeet any re-quirements.The attachment system, known as

LATCH (for Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children),wasmandated a decade agobecause inspections frequently foundchild-safety seats were installed incorrect-ly. A 2004 report by theNationalHighwayTraffic Safety Administration found threeout of four child seats and booster seatshad critical misuse problems that could

increase the risk of injury.Cars, SUVs and pickups were tested

based onwhether the child-seat anchorswere visible, easily accessible and usablewithout excessive force. For example, ifmore than 40 pounds of forcewas neededto secure the seat, the vehicle didnt passmuster.Parentsmay blame themselves, but

often these days, the problem lies withthe vehicle, not the user, said IIHS seniorvice president of research and study co-author AnneMcCartt.The study found belt buckles or other

seat hardware can get in theway of thechild-seat connectors, or the anchors canbe buried so far in the seat that theyrehard to reach. The researchers also foundmost parents fail to use the upper tetherthat is designed to secure the top part ofthe car seat in the event of a crash. Thesestraps prevent front-facing child seatsfrommoving forward too much in a crash,which can cause head or neck injuries.

Child-safety seat studypasses only 21 of 98 vehiclesBy Jayne ODonnellUSA TODAY

People often think cooking has to be complexand tricky to be good.

If you watch cooking shows, you see chefsunder a lot of pressure to make amealwith asecret ingredient, under the pressure of theclock or with obstacles in theway. In away,cooking as a parent is like these cooking shows,

just without the reallynice cooking equipment.

We have to make ameal but soon realizethat we forgot to pur-chase the key ingredi-ent, our children aremelting into the kitchenfloor because they areso hungry they can nolonger stand up or hold

a reasonable conversation, or we got home laterthan expected. It is pretty common for ev-eryday life to get in theway of cooking healthymeals for our families.

Cooking can be fun, easy and affordable,even for the busy family.We all have differentlikes and dislikes.What tastes good to me maynot taste good to you; but by changing one thingin a recipe, it becomes what you like. You cantake the same five foods and make five differ-entmeals just by changing the seasoning.

FEAST classes teach individuals how to usea recipe as a guide in cooking.We rarely havethe exact ingredients for amealwe are making,so everyone is comfortablewith finding sub-stitutions for the missing foods.

If you look in a cookbook or online for arecipe you will find specificmeasurements,foods and sometimes even brands of foods touse. Andwe thinkwe have to follow it exactlyor it will not turn out.

Here is a recipe,written as you would find itin a cookbook. But next to each ingredient anddirection youll find substitutions, asmany ascouldwork for this recipe.

Kate Justen is the program director of FEAST FreshEasy Affordable Sustainable Tasty, a program of SlowFood Asheville. Contact her at [email protected] orvisit www.slowfoodasheville.org.

By Kate JustenWNC Parent columnist

Asian rice salad3 cups cooked and cooledbrown rice (any kind of rice,any kind of pasta)

1 carrot, peeled and cut inround discs (sweet bellpepper cut any way)

1 zucchini, julienned(cucumber or summersquash cut any way youlike)

1/2 small red onion,chopped (any onion, leeks,scallions, shallots)

1bunch kale, chopped(spinach, any cabbage, anydark leafy greens)

1 cup snow peas (greensweet peas, sugar snappeas)

1/2 cup green beans,cleaned and cut in 1-inchpieces (any green bean,broccoli)

1 cup cooked chicken(lentils, tofu, tempeh,shrimp, crab, lobster, fish,pork, beef, turkey), cubed(shredded, crumbled,chopped)

Dressing:2 tablespoons peanut oil(olive oil, coconut oil,canola oil)

1 tablespoons sesameoil(sesame tahini, peanut

butter, almondbutter)

1 clovecrushed garlic(freshly gratedginger)

1/4 cupchopped freshcilantro(basil,parsley, chives or herbs ofyour choice, or 1 T driedherbs)

3 tablespoons rice vinegar(any vinegar canwork)

2 tablespoons soy sauce(tamari)

1 teaspoon sugar (honey,agave or sweetener of yourchoice)

Combine dressing ingredi-ents in a plastic jar and shakewell for 2minutes. (Or mix inblender, food processor, in abowlwith awhisk, spoon orfork.)Combine all ingredients, stir

in salad dressing and let sit for 10minutes to 4 hours before serv-ing.Topwith chopped nuts (any

nut you like, or sesame or sun-flower seeds, or finely choppeddried or fresh hot peppers).

THINKSTOCK

Cooking withoutgoing by the book

46 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2


Real men dont eat quiche. At leastaccording to the satirical title of the 1982book that delivered a black eye to a dishwith a distinguished 1,000-year history.True, sports bars and ballparks arent

known for quiche, but theres nothingunmanly about this baked egg dish.Quiche with its light pastry crust,

creamy egg filling and such additions assausage, ham, bacon, peas, chiles, seafoodand asparagus appeals to egg lovers ofboth genders.

Theres nothing particularly feminineabout quiche. You can make it as light orheavy as you want. The eggs are like ablank canvas that easily pairs with somany different foods and flavors, saidLinda Hopkins, owner of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Les PetitesGourmettes CookingSchool and prolific food blogger.

Its hard to beat quiches versatility.Sex appeal aside, quiche took another

hit in the 1980s with the cholesterol scare.Its true that eggs are packedwith choles-terol, butmedical researchers now saythat dietary cholesterol isnt nearly asdangerous as oncewas thought. Only someof the cholesterol in food ends up as cho-lesterol in your bloodstream, and if yourdietary cholesterol intake rises, your bodycompensates by producing less cholesterolof its own.Meanwhile, the governments latest

dietary guidelines allow for an egg a day.One egg has about 75 calories and 6.25grams of protein, plus vitamins A andD,

QUICHEREVISITED

By Karen FernauGannett

WHETHER LIGHT ANDLADYLIKE OR MEATY ANDMANLY, THIS VERSATILE EGGDISH IS MORE THAN ITSCRACKED UP TO BE


48 W N C P A R E N T | M A Y 2 0 1 2

folic acid and calcium, and less than 1gram of carbohydrates.With its rehabilitated image and re-

vised dietary profile, this full-flavored eggdish enters springwith renewed popular-ity.Quiche begins with a crust. The origi-

nal in the medieval kingdom of Lothring-en, underGerman rule,was called ku-chen, or cake, andwas typicallymadewith bread.When the French took over thekingdom and renamed it Lorraine, thecrust evolved into early versions of theshort or puff-pastry crust.Whatever the crust,Hopkins recom-

mends parbaking to prevent it from ab-sorbing raw eggs and becoming soggy.Anothermust is tempering, or slowlymixing eggs with heat, to prevent the eggsfrom curdling.Freshness also matters. A fresh egg is

heavy and should feelwell-filled. Alwayskeep eggs refrigerated and attempt to usewithin a fewweeks.Formore recipes, check out www.Les-

PetitesGourmettes.com.

Basic quiche crust11/4 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsaltedbutter, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons icewater,more or lessdepending on the dryness of theflour

Blend flour and salt in food processor.Cut in butter using the pulse button untilthemixture resembles coarsemeal. Addenough icewater to just bring doughtogether. Gather dough into a disk.Wrapin plastic and refrigerate for 30minutes.Roll out dough on a lightly floured

surfacewith a lightly floured rolling pininto a 13-inch round. Next, fit dough intoan 11-inch tart pan and trim off the excessdough. Chill until firm, about 30minutes.Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line crust

with foil. Fillwith pieweights and bake for15minutes. Remove foil andweights andreturn to oven until crust is golden, forabout 10minutes.Makes one 11-inch prebaked crust.

Source: Linda Ho

Documents

WNCParent May 2012