Women who've had a sister with breast cancer can make a difference in the fight against the disease by joining The Sister Study (http://www.thesisterstudy.org/), an important new nationwide effort to find the causes of breast cancer. Study directors are looking for 50,000 women, ages 35-74, who have not had breast cancer themselves, and who come from all walks of life.
Upon being accepted in the trial, the women will complete a questionnaire and then submit a health update each year over 10 years.
Researchers will compare study members who go on to develop breast cancer with those who do not develop the disease to learn about possible environmental and genetic causes for the disease, as well as ways to prevent breast cancer.
A major challenge in studying breast cancer and the environment has been the lack of useful data gathered before diagnosis about exposures and lifestyle factors. The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences will provide the funding needed to collect this important information. Two NIEHS scientists, Dale Sander, PhD, and Clarice Weinberg, PhD, are the principal investigators for the Sister Study.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women except for non-melanoma skin cancer, and while there's been great improvement in breast cancer treatments and survival rates, about 40,000 US women are still expected to die from the disease this year.
What causes one woman to develop the disease instead of someone else?
Researchers know that alcohol use, early onset of menstruation, and a few other factors may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, but for more than half of the 215,000 new cases each year occur in women with no known risk factors.
Women who want to support The Sister Study of possible causes of breast cancer have three choices:
Enroll. Learn whether you are eligible at www.sisterstudy.org or call 1-877-4SISTER (877-474-7837).
Spread the word to encourage others to enroll.
Become a Sister Study volunteer in your community.
It's especially important that women from all races and ethnic groups, and those over age 60 participate, so the results of the study will help all women in the battle against breast cancer.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue. To read the article in the guide visit:http://baystateparent.com/
Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Exclusive Halloween CD from Girl Authority at iParty stores
Boston’s tween princesses of pop, Girl Authority (www.girlauthority.com ) recently released a new CD -- Girl Authority – Halloween Party Songs, which is sold sold exclusively at New England iParty (www.funatiparty.com) stores.
Girl Authority is also headlining iParty and Boston Medicals Center's Halloween Town 2007 (www.halloweentownboston.com) on Oct. 27 & 28h at The Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Halloween Town 2007 is a two-day, fun-filled family event that benefits the Kids Fund at Boston Medical Center. For ticket information, visit http://www.funatiparty.com/halloween/halloween_town.asp
The Girl Authority Halloween CD is comprised of six classic, spooky hits:
Monster Mash
Thriller
I Want Candy
Purple People Eater
Celebration
Ghostbusters
Thriller
I Want Candy
Purple People Eater
Celebration
Ghostbusters
To celebrate the release of the CD, Girl Authority will be making an appearance at the Natick iParty store, located at 321 Worcester Rd. (Route 9) on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m.. The girls will be signing autographs and mingling with fans.
Girl Authority is a group of nine girls (ages 10-15) each with an individual "identity" that ties in with their personalities: Tarr (Rock-n-Roll Girl), Alex (Fashion Girl), Jacqueline (All-Star Girl), Carly (Glamour Girl), Jess (Boho Girl), Gina (Urban Girl), Crystal (Country Girl), Kate (Party Girl) and Zoë (Preppy Girl). They go to school, are Girl Scouts, cheerlead, play sports, play instruments, have fun sleepover parties and…just happen to make hit records in their spare time (100,000 copies sold, and counting, of their eponymous 2006 CD).
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, iParty Corp., is a premier multi-channel party supply and party planning company that includes 50 iParty retail stores and www.iparty.com, an online destination.
Saturday, Oct. 13: REI Celebrates 20 Years in New England with a Family-Friendly Event
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) is celebrating 20 years in New England with an event that features a cooking competition, a Kids Mountain Bike Rodeo, giveaways, and more.* A Jetboil “Iron Stove” Outdoor Cooking Competition that will pit 10 outdoor chefs in a head-to-head battle to create the ultimate camping culinary creation. Each contestant will be given 45 minutes to prepare their dish from a list of “secret ingredients” given to them one week prior. No “ready-made” camping food will be allowed; all dishes must be made from scratch. Final creations will be judged by three randomly selected members of the audience and will be rated on taste, presentation and creativity.
* The New England Mountain Bike Association will sponsor a Kids Mountain Bike Rodeo that will test kids’ skills on an outdoor course as they run through various obstacles. REI and the Reading Police Department will offer cycling safety seminars in conjunction with these events. All kids who participate will receive a free gift from REI and the Mountain Bike Association.
The event takes place at REI's Reading store, located at 279 Salem Street, off Exit 40 off Route 128, on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
REI is a national outdoor retail cooperative that offers products from the top brands in all types of outdoor recreation, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. In the Boston area, REI’s commitment to the community included hosting 13 service projects involving more than 452 volunteers in 1,950 hours of service in 2006. REI operates four stores locally, Reading, Boston, Hingham and Framingham.
Oct. 23: Free Gathering of Parents of Kids with ADHD
The Pediatric Behavioral Health at 148 Worcester St. in West Boylsyon with host a gathering for parents of kids with ADHD on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Meet others and exchange tips and stories. A pediatric psychologist and a child and adolescent psychiatrist will be on hand to answer questions about assessment and medical and behavioral treatments for ADHD. This is a FREE event. For more information visit http://www.pbhealth.org/
Meet others and exchange tips and stories. A pediatric psychologist and a child and adolescent psychiatrist will be on hand to answer questions about assessment and medical and behavioral treatments for ADHD. This is a FREE event. For more information visit http://www.pbhealth.org/
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
RECALL: Children's Plastic Cups from Starbucks Due to Choking & Laceration Hazards
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Starbucks Coffee Company of Seattle, Washington, today announced a voluntary recall about 250,000 Starbucks Children’s Plastic Cups. If the cup is dropped, the colorful face on the cup can break off and leave small parts or sharp exposed edges that can pose a choking or laceration hazard to young children.Starbucks has received seven reports of the cups breaking, including two reports in which a child began to choke on a broken piece. No injuries have been reported. The recall includes four styles of Starbucks children’s plastic 10-ounce cups. Styles include: “Dot” Red Ladybug; “Dash” Green Turtle; Bunny Pink; and Chick Yellow cups. They were sold exclusively at Starbucks stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2007 for about $6 and manufactured in China.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled cups away from young children and contact Starbucks for instructions on returning the cups for a refund. Starbucks is also offering a complimentary beverage as an incentive to return the recalled cups. For additional information, contact Starbucks at 888-288-4008 anytime or visit http://www.starbucks.com/
Special Needs Legislation Hearings - Tuesday, Oct. 16
The Joint Education Committee will conduct a special education hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. in room A1, where testimony will be presented on special education bills that have been filed this session.
Bay State parents are invited to come and testify if you would like to speak in support of any of the bills that have been filed.
For a complete listing of bills call the Joint Education Committee at 617-722-2070 or see link at the bottom of this post.
The state government understands how committed parents of children with disabilities are to their children's education. However, it also realizes how difficult it can be for parents of school-age children to come and testify at Beacon Hill at 1 p.m. and be home in time for your children. If parents are unable to attend the Oct. 16 hearing, you can submit written testimony, and you can call the members of the Education Committee. Phone calls and letters are extremely effective.
S. 286: An Act to Maintain Transition Age Requirements for Students with Disabilities
This bill would maintain the requirement to initiate special education transition planning and transition services at age 14, rather than waiting to age 16 as now permitted under federal law. Transition services arecritical to facilitate a student's movement to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. Delay beyond age 14 (waiting until the middle of high school) is too late to facilitate the most effective transition planning for youth with disabilities. (Sen. Augustus is the lead sponsor).
H. 391: An Act to Provide Access to Information for Parents' Evaluators
This bill would amend the state's special education law to ensure that parents and independent evaluators are provided access to observe the student's current or proposed special education programs. Although state regulations currently provide parents the right to observe the school district's proposed program, school districts often place unreasonable obstacles in the way of parents, and their expert consultants' observations. Parents are entitled to full participation in the process of developing an IEP, but, without access to observe their child's school programs, they cannot obtain the information they need to fully and effectively participate with school personnel in the consideration and development of appropriate IEP's for their child. This bill will help to avoid litigation, encourages ettlement, and requires no appropriation. (Rep. Balser is the lead sponsor)
H. 547: An Act Relative to Special Education Due Process Costs
This bill addresses the impact of a Rehnquist decision by the US Supreme Court (Buckhannon, 2001) which has effectively created a two-tier system, barring many low and middle-income families from accessing special educationrights and services. This bill would reinstate parents' rights to recover attorney fees for settlements obtained as a result of litigation, as previously available prior to 2001. This is critical to encourage prompt resolution and settlement of disputes, reduce litigation costs for families and school districts, reduce the lengthy delays which harm children deprived of essential services for months and sometimes years, and help ensure that children of all income levels receive equal educational opportunities. (Rep.Sannicandro is the lead sponsor).
S.278: Act to Improve Teacher Training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
This bill will help to ensure that teachers receive training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods necessary to educate children with disabilities who are nonverbal or who have limited speech. Thousands of children (including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury), rely on AAC methods to interact with others, and many students are now being included in regular education. The bill directs the Board of Education to revise regulations for educator licensure so that all teachers are adequately prepared in methods of communication other than speech to facilitate interaction, to ensure that students with such disabilities can access the general education curriculum and to facilitate inclusion. (Sen. Antonioni is the lead sponsor).
S.311: An Act to Maintain Short Term Objectives for Students with Disabilities
This bill would require school districts to continue the current practice of including and maintaining short term objectives in the IEP's of students with disabilities. A recent change in Federal law removed the requirement for short term objectives, and this bill would ensure that the state practice will continue by codification in State law. The inclusion of short term objectives in IEP's is important to maintain accountability and assist in measuring the student's progress. (Sen. Creem is the lead sponsor).
S.280: An Act Relative to Special Education and Parent Advisory Councils
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and administer,subject to appropriation, a grant program to provide financial support toparent advisory councils to support their duties. (Sen. Antonioni is the lead sponsor)
A complete list of bills is posted at: gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark">http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark>gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark
Bay State parents are invited to come and testify if you would like to speak in support of any of the bills that have been filed.
For a complete listing of bills call the Joint Education Committee at 617-722-2070 or see link at the bottom of this post.
The state government understands how committed parents of children with disabilities are to their children's education. However, it also realizes how difficult it can be for parents of school-age children to come and testify at Beacon Hill at 1 p.m. and be home in time for your children. If parents are unable to attend the Oct. 16 hearing, you can submit written testimony, and you can call the members of the Education Committee. Phone calls and letters are extremely effective.
S. 286: An Act to Maintain Transition Age Requirements for Students with Disabilities
This bill would maintain the requirement to initiate special education transition planning and transition services at age 14, rather than waiting to age 16 as now permitted under federal law. Transition services arecritical to facilitate a student's movement to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. Delay beyond age 14 (waiting until the middle of high school) is too late to facilitate the most effective transition planning for youth with disabilities. (Sen. Augustus is the lead sponsor).
H. 391: An Act to Provide Access to Information for Parents' Evaluators
This bill would amend the state's special education law to ensure that parents and independent evaluators are provided access to observe the student's current or proposed special education programs. Although state regulations currently provide parents the right to observe the school district's proposed program, school districts often place unreasonable obstacles in the way of parents, and their expert consultants' observations. Parents are entitled to full participation in the process of developing an IEP, but, without access to observe their child's school programs, they cannot obtain the information they need to fully and effectively participate with school personnel in the consideration and development of appropriate IEP's for their child. This bill will help to avoid litigation, encourages ettlement, and requires no appropriation. (Rep. Balser is the lead sponsor)
H. 547: An Act Relative to Special Education Due Process Costs
This bill addresses the impact of a Rehnquist decision by the US Supreme Court (Buckhannon, 2001) which has effectively created a two-tier system, barring many low and middle-income families from accessing special educationrights and services. This bill would reinstate parents' rights to recover attorney fees for settlements obtained as a result of litigation, as previously available prior to 2001. This is critical to encourage prompt resolution and settlement of disputes, reduce litigation costs for families and school districts, reduce the lengthy delays which harm children deprived of essential services for months and sometimes years, and help ensure that children of all income levels receive equal educational opportunities. (Rep.Sannicandro is the lead sponsor).
S.278: Act to Improve Teacher Training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
This bill will help to ensure that teachers receive training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods necessary to educate children with disabilities who are nonverbal or who have limited speech. Thousands of children (including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury), rely on AAC methods to interact with others, and many students are now being included in regular education. The bill directs the Board of Education to revise regulations for educator licensure so that all teachers are adequately prepared in methods of communication other than speech to facilitate interaction, to ensure that students with such disabilities can access the general education curriculum and to facilitate inclusion. (Sen. Antonioni is the lead sponsor).
S.311: An Act to Maintain Short Term Objectives for Students with Disabilities
This bill would require school districts to continue the current practice of including and maintaining short term objectives in the IEP's of students with disabilities. A recent change in Federal law removed the requirement for short term objectives, and this bill would ensure that the state practice will continue by codification in State law. The inclusion of short term objectives in IEP's is important to maintain accountability and assist in measuring the student's progress. (Sen. Creem is the lead sponsor).
S.280: An Act Relative to Special Education and Parent Advisory Councils
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and administer,subject to appropriation, a grant program to provide financial support toparent advisory councils to support their duties. (Sen. Antonioni is the lead sponsor)
A complete list of bills is posted at: gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark">http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark>gov/legis/legis.htm#hear_mark
RECALL: 1.6 Million Cub Scout Patches Due to Lead Paint Hazards
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Kahoot Products of Roswell, Georgia, today announced a voluntary recall 1.6 million Cub Scouts Totem Badges. The surface paints on the badges contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported incidents or injuries. The recalled Cub Scout Totem Badges measure 4½ inches x 3 inches with a square portion measuring 2¼ inches x 2¼ inches. The Boy Scout emblem is printed on the badge along with a wolf and bear. “PROGRESS TOWARD RANKS” is also printed on the badge. They were sold at Boy Scouts of America retail outlets nationwide from January 2000 through September 2007 and manufactured in China.Parents should immediately remove the badges from clothing and keep the badges away from children. Contact the firm for instructions on obtaining a free replacement badge. For additional information, contact Kahoot at 770-552-2921, or visit http://www.kahoot.com/
Oct. 19: Story Hour & Chinese Wishing Tree Craft Time in Cambridge
Barefoot Books at 1771 Massachusetts Ave., in Cambridge will host a Motherbridge of Love story hour & Chinese Wishing Tree Craft with author Xinran Xue on Friday, Oct. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Best-selling author and Chinese cultural correspondent Xinran Xue will speak to families about bridging the gap between eastern and western cultures, and read from her new project with Barefoot Books book celebrating international adoption, Motherbridge of Love. Afterwards families will have the opportunity to create a Wishing Tree.
About Motherbridge of Love: This beautiful poem celebrates the bond between parent and child in a special way. Through the exchanges between a little Chinese girl and her mother, Motherbridge of Love offers a poignant and inspiring message to parents and children all over the world. Text royalties from the sale of this Barefoot book will be donated to Mother Bridge of Love, a charity that reaches out to Chinese children all over the world in order to develop a connection between China and the West, and between adoptive culture and birth culture.
For more information visit www.barefootbooks.com
About Motherbridge of Love: This beautiful poem celebrates the bond between parent and child in a special way. Through the exchanges between a little Chinese girl and her mother, Motherbridge of Love offers a poignant and inspiring message to parents and children all over the world. Text royalties from the sale of this Barefoot book will be donated to Mother Bridge of Love, a charity that reaches out to Chinese children all over the world in order to develop a connection between China and the West, and between adoptive culture and birth culture.
For more information visit www.barefootbooks.com
Oct. 18: Multicultural Event at Barefoot Books in Cambridge
Barefoot Books at 1771 Massachusetts Ave. in cambridge invites families to join them for an evening celebrating diversity! The Multicultural event features a lecture by best-selling Chinese author, and cultural advocate Xinran Xue, as well as music, drinks, snacks, and some early-holiday shopping to benefit The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center! The event will held on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Best-selling author and Chinese cultural correspondent Xinran Xue will speak about bridging the gap between eastern and western cultures, and her new project with Barefoot Books book celebrating international adoption, Motherbridge of Love. A portion of sales to benefit the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
Best-selling author and Chinese cultural correspondent Xinran Xue will speak about bridging the gap between eastern and western cultures, and her new project with Barefoot Books book celebrating international adoption, Motherbridge of Love. A portion of sales to benefit the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
Oct. 20: Free Dance Class in West Newton
The Joanne Langione Dance Center on Border Street in West Newton will host a FREE Dance class on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children ages 4-10.
Children will have the opportunity to try several different dance styles taught by local professionals. Reservations are requested. For additional information and to register call 617-969-8724 or visit http://www.jldancecenter.com/
Children will have the opportunity to try several different dance styles taught by local professionals. Reservations are requested. For additional information and to register call 617-969-8724 or visit http://www.jldancecenter.com/
Oct. 14: Dance Me A Story Free Event in West Newton
The Joanne Langione Dance Center on Border Street in West Newton will host a FREE Dance Me A Story ballet class, based on traditional fairy tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, and Swan Lake. The free event is for children ages 5-7. Time to be announced.
The storybook ballet class taught by dance professionals will begin with a story reading, ballet movement in costume and includes a tracing of the ballet's main characters to be crayoned in by class members. The goal of Dance Me a Story is to allow young children to experience age-appropriate story ballets, through music and movement. No prior dance training necessary. Pre-registration is suggested by calling 617-969-8724 or visiting http://www.jldancecenter.com/
The storybook ballet class taught by dance professionals will begin with a story reading, ballet movement in costume and includes a tracing of the ballet's main characters to be crayoned in by class members. The goal of Dance Me a Story is to allow young children to experience age-appropriate story ballets, through music and movement. No prior dance training necessary. Pre-registration is suggested by calling 617-969-8724 or visiting http://www.jldancecenter.com/
Oct. 13: Worcester Animal Rescue League's Yard Sale
The Worcester Animal Rescue League is hosting its fall yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 139 Holden Street in Worcester.
Donations are being accepted through Oct. 12th for the sale. Items may be dropped off at the shelter from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No clothing, please. Large items may be picked up. Please call the shelter with any questions or to schedule at pick up at 508-853 0030.
Volunteers are also needed the day of the sale. If interested, contact Doreen Currier at Petsavr@aol.com
All proceeds from the yards ale will benefit the homeless animals of the Worcester Animal Rescue League. All donations are tax deductible.
Donations are being accepted through Oct. 12th for the sale. Items may be dropped off at the shelter from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No clothing, please. Large items may be picked up. Please call the shelter with any questions or to schedule at pick up at 508-853 0030.
Volunteers are also needed the day of the sale. If interested, contact Doreen Currier at Petsavr@aol.com
All proceeds from the yards ale will benefit the homeless animals of the Worcester Animal Rescue League. All donations are tax deductible.
Saturday, Oct. 13: Town-Wide Yard Sale in Southbridge
The 2nd Annual Southbridge Town-Wide Yard Sale will take place Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is held rain or shine. Maps will be available on the common between 7:30 to 8 a.m. There will be yard sales on the common as well as area homes. This is a free public event. If you have questions, please call 508-765-8800.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
MFA Will be Pink Next Week
The Museum of Fine Arts will be illuminated in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month from Oct. 9-13. Organized by the Estée Lauder Companies, pink illumination raises awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. The company has illuminated hundreds of famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Kensington Palace, and the St. Louis Arch.October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue. To read the article in the guide visit:http://baystateparent.com/
Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
Friday, October 5, 2007
WEEKEND PICK: Saturday: Fundraiser for Emerson Hospital at Verill Farm
Verrill Farm is hosting a Harvest Festival tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 6) to benefit the Pediatric Care Unit at Emerson Hospital in Concord. The event starts at noon & ends at 4 p.m. Festival fun includes farm activities and music by Southern Rail.
There will also be activities, some cost a small fee: Hay & pony rides, a treasure hunt, cookie decorating, face painting, baseball speed pitch, rubber duck ring toss, and more. Activity and raffle tickets are 5 tickets for $10 and 12 tickets for $20.
The pick-your-own -pumpkin fields will be open and there will be special fall vegetable tastings.
Verrill Farm is located on Route 2 at the intersection of Sudbury and Wheeler Roads in Concord. For more information visit http://www.verrillfarm.com/PDF/Harvest_Flyer_07.pdf
There will also be activities, some cost a small fee: Hay & pony rides, a treasure hunt, cookie decorating, face painting, baseball speed pitch, rubber duck ring toss, and more. Activity and raffle tickets are 5 tickets for $10 and 12 tickets for $20.
The pick-your-own -pumpkin fields will be open and there will be special fall vegetable tastings.
Verrill Farm is located on Route 2 at the intersection of Sudbury and Wheeler Roads in Concord. For more information visit http://www.verrillfarm.com/PDF/Harvest_Flyer_07.pdf
WEEKEND PICK: 33rd Annual Newburyport Fall Festival
Although it is to late to put an entry into the annual scarecrow contest at this Newburyport event; families can view the entries beginning at noon on Sunday. 
Winners will be announced at about 3 p.m.Families should also take in a performance scheduled at the Kids Korner over the two-day festival, which continues on Monday. Kids Korner activities are sponsored by Honey Dew Donuts of Melrose, Newburyport Mothers Club, and Mary Jane & Janey Baby store. The area will also feature face painting and crafts.
On Sunday performing are:
* Brain Doser at 11 a.m.: Nothing but straight ahead music to get your child up and dancing. Be careful, you may find yourself singing along and not minding it!
* Madeline from Itsy Bitsy Zone at 12 p.m.: itsy bitsy zone emphasizes early childhood development using music, movement, art, and sign language as the vehicles.
* Rick Goldin at 2 p.m.: Kids like to have fun, and that's what Rick Goldin's music is all about. His songs feature lots of movement and child participation, and surprises and unexpected twists that keep even his youngest listeners paying close attention. Rick's performances and recordings are lively and interactive.
On Monday performing are:
* Master Puppeteer Martha Dana at 11 a.m.
* Local musician Peter Sheridan at noon
For more information, visit http://www.newburyportchamber.org/Fall_Harvest.shtml#Kid's%20Korner%20Scheduled%20Activities
RECALL: TOYS R US Children's Decorating Sets Due To Lead Paint Violation
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with CKI Toys of Honk Kong, yesterday announced a voluntary recall about 15,000 Children’s Toy Decorating Sets sodl exclusively at Toys “R” Us. Surface paint on the back of the recalled mirror contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported injuries or incidents. These Totally Me! – Funky Room Décor Sets are designed to make various room décor projects and includes a clock, clock movement, satin fabric, round box, door hanger, mirror, paper mirror frame, glitter glue, sticker sheet, foam shapes, sequins, seed beads, elastic cord, fabric flowers, and gem stones. The part containing lead is the mirror. They were sold at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com from May 2007 through September 2007 for about $10 and manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take the recalled products away from children and return the item to the nearest Toys “R” Us store for store credit. For additional information, contact Toys “R” Us toll-free at 800-TOYSRUS/869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit http://www.toysrus.com/
WEEKEND PICK: Free Open House at MFA on Columbus Day
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is hosting a FREE open house Monday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. This event will focus on the art of movement. As part of a collaboration with the Boston Ballet, the Museum will feature performances by Boston Ballet soloists John Lam and Melissa Hough as they reinterpret works from the MFA’s collection through dance. In conjunction with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum will also highlight dance from the Caribbean as a celebration of the exhibition America’s Paradise and ‘Isla Del Encanto’: Contemporary Art from the American Caribbean. The MFA’s Open House is part of Opening Our Doors! 2007, Boston’s largest annual free day of cultural activities, organized by the Fenway Alliance, a consortium of arts, cultural, and academic institutions working to enhance the vitality of the Fenway area of Boston.
RECALL: Baby Einstein Blocks Due to Lead Paint Violation
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Kids II Inc. of Georgia, yesterday announced a voluntary recall about 35,000 Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks. Surface paint on the blue block contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported injuries or incidents. The recall involves the blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. The blocks are made of soft textures and come in different colors. Only date codes of GE7, GF7, and GG7 are included in this recall. The model number and date code are printed on the labels affixed to the green-colored block. They were sold at various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June 2007 through September 2007 for between $10 and $13 and manufactured in China.Consumers should take the recalled blue block away from children immediately and contact Kids II to receive a free replacement of the affected block. For additional information, contact Kids II toll-free at 866-203-6788 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.kidsii.com/
RECALL:KB Toys Wooden Blocks Due to Lead paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, yesterday announced a voluntary recall about 10,000 Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons, Wooden Pull-Along Learning Blocks Wagons, 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts, and Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks all imported by KB Toys Inc. of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There have ben no reported injuries or incidents. The Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons and Learning Blocks: Wagons The recalled wooden toy wagons have 28 blocks and a pull string. The wagons measure about 7½” x 13” and have blocks with letters, wor
ds, numbers, or pictures on them. “First Learning” or “My Kidz” are printed on the products’ packaging, in addition to UPC #834162002158 or #834162002165. 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts: The recalled activity carts are three dimensional learning toys with various activities. The cart measures about 17¼” x 16½” x 7¾”. “First Learning” and UPC #834162002127 are printed on the products’ packaging. Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks: The recalled wooden toys have blocks that flip with letters, words, numbers, and pictures on them. The toy measures about 10 1/8” x 10¾” x 2¾”. “First Learning” and UPC #834162001212 are printed on the products’ packaging.All were sold at KB Toys stores nationwide. The Pull-Along Wagons were sold from August 2005 to August 2007 for between $9 and $13. The 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $30. The Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $7. All were manufactured in China.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and return them to any KB Toys retail store for a store credit. For additional information, contact KB Toys toll-free at 888-843-9520 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.recall.kbtinfo.com/
RECALL:Frankenstein Tumbers due to Lead Paint Violation
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dollar General Merchandising of Tennessee, yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 63,000 Frankenstein Tumblers. Surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups can contain high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. They were sold at Dollar General stores nationwide in September 2007 for about $1 and manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take these tumblers away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement product. For additional information, contact Dollar General at 800-678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.dollargeneral.com/
Tiger Home Inspection Offers Free Lead Paint Inspection of Toys
Tiger Home Inspection in Braintree is offering to provide FREE inspections of toys to determine if they are contaminated with lead paint.
Principals Carl Pucci, Sean Rizzo and Jay Rizzo said that increased publicity about lead contamination in toys, imported products in particular, led them to make this offer. Although Tiger Home Inspection does not offer lead paint inspection as part of its ongoing services, they have retained the services of an independent, licensed lead paint inspector to make this offer possible. There is no charge for the service; it is open to anyone who has a concern that a child’s toy may be contaminated with lead paint.
Individuals may bring the toys to the Tiger building at 969 Washington Street, Braintree, anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program will run through the end of October; inspection results will be available within three days.
Rizzo noted that recent newspaper articles citing the dangers of toys, particularly Chinese-manufactured products, have caused great concern among area parents. News reports cited announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that there have been multiple recalls of 600,000 Chinese-made toys, due to lead paint content. While the U.S. banned lead paint from painted toys nearly 30 years ago, toys manufactured in other countries, including China, are not bound by the same restrictions. The largest concern over lead paint contamination has come from imported toys, and there have been more than 50 individual recalls. (Bay State Parent magazine has a list of the latest recalls at: http://baystateparent.blogspot.com/search/label/recall)
“We are pleased to be able to offer this service,” said Rizzo. “We hope that people will take advantage of this. There is absolutely no obligation, there are no strings attached. Our business is about providing inspections, reassurance and peace of mind, and we are fortunate to have the resources available to us to help out in this time of concern.”
About Tiger Home Inspection
Tiger Home Inspection is one of the largest inspection companies in the Northeast, employing more than 40 full-time inspectors and 10 marketing representatives throughout Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire. The company conducted more than 20,000 inspections last year. A menu of inspection services is available, with traditional home inspection beginning as low as $315. The firm maintains central offices at 969 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184. Tiger Home Inspection was named to the “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine in 2007. For additional information on services provided by Tiger Home Inspection, visit www.tigerhomeinspection.com
Principals Carl Pucci, Sean Rizzo and Jay Rizzo said that increased publicity about lead contamination in toys, imported products in particular, led them to make this offer. Although Tiger Home Inspection does not offer lead paint inspection as part of its ongoing services, they have retained the services of an independent, licensed lead paint inspector to make this offer possible. There is no charge for the service; it is open to anyone who has a concern that a child’s toy may be contaminated with lead paint.
Individuals may bring the toys to the Tiger building at 969 Washington Street, Braintree, anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program will run through the end of October; inspection results will be available within three days.
Rizzo noted that recent newspaper articles citing the dangers of toys, particularly Chinese-manufactured products, have caused great concern among area parents. News reports cited announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that there have been multiple recalls of 600,000 Chinese-made toys, due to lead paint content. While the U.S. banned lead paint from painted toys nearly 30 years ago, toys manufactured in other countries, including China, are not bound by the same restrictions. The largest concern over lead paint contamination has come from imported toys, and there have been more than 50 individual recalls. (Bay State Parent magazine has a list of the latest recalls at: http://baystateparent.blogspot.com/search/label/recall)
“We are pleased to be able to offer this service,” said Rizzo. “We hope that people will take advantage of this. There is absolutely no obligation, there are no strings attached. Our business is about providing inspections, reassurance and peace of mind, and we are fortunate to have the resources available to us to help out in this time of concern.”
About Tiger Home Inspection
Tiger Home Inspection is one of the largest inspection companies in the Northeast, employing more than 40 full-time inspectors and 10 marketing representatives throughout Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire. The company conducted more than 20,000 inspections last year. A menu of inspection services is available, with traditional home inspection beginning as low as $315. The firm maintains central offices at 969 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184. Tiger Home Inspection was named to the “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine in 2007. For additional information on services provided by Tiger Home Inspection, visit www.tigerhomeinspection.com
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Study: Stressful Job Can Increase Woman's Risk to Breast Cancer
Women with stressful jobs could be at greater risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new European study.
A study of more than 36,000 women found that those in demanding, full-time roles with little decision-making authority were 40 percent more likely than average to develop the disease.
(Read the complete story at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/02/nmedical202.xml)
The researchers, whose study was published online in the journal Epidemiology, adjusted their findings for other factors that could alter breast cancer risk such as weight, age, number of children and alcohol units.
They found that those whose professional roles involved high demands were on average 30 per cent more likely to have developed breast cancer during the study period.
According to the published article, participants whose work provided them with little decision-making authority were also 30 percent more likely to develop the disease.
Those with both demanding jobs and little control over decisions were on average 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Previous studies have suggested stress could lead to greater production of oestrogen, which can lead to increased breast cancer risk.
Another possibility is that women with more stressful jobs are potentially more likely to smoke and have unhealthy diets, and less likely to do enough exercise.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue. To read the article in the guide visit:http://baystateparent.com/
Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
A study of more than 36,000 women found that those in demanding, full-time roles with little decision-making authority were 40 percent more likely than average to develop the disease.
(Read the complete story at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/02/nmedical202.xml)
The researchers, whose study was published online in the journal Epidemiology, adjusted their findings for other factors that could alter breast cancer risk such as weight, age, number of children and alcohol units.
They found that those whose professional roles involved high demands were on average 30 per cent more likely to have developed breast cancer during the study period.
According to the published article, participants whose work provided them with little decision-making authority were also 30 percent more likely to develop the disease.
Those with both demanding jobs and little control over decisions were on average 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Previous studies have suggested stress could lead to greater production of oestrogen, which can lead to increased breast cancer risk.
Another possibility is that women with more stressful jobs are potentially more likely to smoke and have unhealthy diets, and less likely to do enough exercise.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue. To read the article in the guide visit:http://baystateparent.com/
Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Mind Lab Open Houses
Mind Lab, a hands-on center in Newton that uses strategic game playing and an innovative curriculum to teach kids HOW to think, is hosting open houses to introduce parents and children to their course offerings. Join them:
Sat, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Wed, Oct. 17, 5 - 8pm
Open Houses are free, open to anyone and will be held at the Mind Lab center at 180 Wells Avenue, Newton. Parents and children can tour the center, play a few games, and learn about the curriculum and courses offered. Enrollment is still open for academic-year courses. For more information, contact Mind Lab at 617-527-1507 or visit them online at www.mindlab-newengland.com
Mind Lab is an innovative hands-on center where we teach kids ages 4-14 HOW to think through interactive play. Using a series of carefully selected international board games, we teach children the fundamentals of planning, problem solving, decision making, teamwork, and communication. Our games appeal to children’s hearts and minds alike, providing inner motivation to expand their thinking abilities and strategies to leverage in everyday life. Come play your way to a brighter future
Sat, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Wed, Oct. 17, 5 - 8pm
Open Houses are free, open to anyone and will be held at the Mind Lab center at 180 Wells Avenue, Newton. Parents and children can tour the center, play a few games, and learn about the curriculum and courses offered. Enrollment is still open for academic-year courses. For more information, contact Mind Lab at 617-527-1507 or visit them online at www.mindlab-newengland.com
Mind Lab is an innovative hands-on center where we teach kids ages 4-14 HOW to think through interactive play. Using a series of carefully selected international board games, we teach children the fundamentals of planning, problem solving, decision making, teamwork, and communication. Our games appeal to children’s hearts and minds alike, providing inner motivation to expand their thinking abilities and strategies to leverage in everyday life. Come play your way to a brighter future
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
RECALL: Doll Strollers Sold at Pottery Barn Kids After Child's Fingertip Was Severed
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Lan Enterprises of Oregon last week announced a voluntary recall of about 21,000 Mini Zooper Doll Strollers. A child’s finger can become caught in the rectangular metal clip or the black plastic side hinge, and this can sever a child’s finger tip. Also, the strollers pose an entrapment hazard. Pottery Barn Kids has received three reports of serious lacerations, including one partial finger severing on a 2-year-old boy. The Mini Zooper Doll Stroller has a silver metal frame with a bright pink cotton canvas seat cover. “Pottery Barn Kids” is printed on a label on the canvas seat cover. They were sold exclusively at Pottery Barn Kids retail stores nationwide, catalog and Web site from October 2005 through June 2007 for about $50 and were manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take the recalled doll strollers away from children and contact Pottery Barn Kids for instructions on receiving a repair kit. For additional information, call Pottery Barn Kids at 888-367-0144 between 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. ET daily or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.potterybarnkids.com/cust/index.cfm
RECALL: Target Recalls Sports-Themed Rattles Due to Choking Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Target stores today announced a voluntary recall of about 82,000 Plush Boys Rattles. The recalled rattles can break open releasing the small beads inside, posing a choking hazard to young children. There were no reported incidents or injuries. The recalled rattles were sold in three styles: a white baseball with red stitching, a brown football with white stitching, and an orange basketball with black stitching. The tag sewn into the rattle contains: "Reg. No. PA5706(CN), Distributed by Double Nice Co Ltd. 3f-2 No. 325, Wu Chuan Road, Taichung, Taiwan, Made in China." They were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide from March 2007 through May 2007 for about $1 and were manufactured in China.Consumers should take the recalled rattles away from young children immediately and return them to any Target store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at 800- 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central timeT Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.target.com/
RECALL: Model Rockets Due to Impact Injury
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation Estes-Cox Corp of Colorado, today announced a voluntary recall of about 80,000 X-15 Flying Model Rockets. The model rocket’s side or engine retainer ring can separate and cause the rocket to fall without the nose cone separating and the parachute deploying, posing a risk of an impact injury to nearby consumers. Estes-Cox has received seven reports of the side or engine retainer ring separating and the nose and parachute failing to release and 25 reports of the retainer ring being lost during flight, including one report that a consumer was struck in the arm, requiring surgery. This recall involves the X-15 flying model rocket, a 1:44 scale version of the North American Aviation hypersonic rocket plane. The model rockets are about 13.5-inches long and have a wingspan of about 5 inches. The rockets are black and yellow, and have the number 66670 on the tail. The rockets were sold individually (item #1890) and as part of a starter kit (item #1412). The item number is printed on the product’s instruction sheet and above the bar code on the product’s packaging. They were sold at hobby stores and other retailers nationwide from June 2005 through July 2007 for between $16 and $36 and manufactured in China.Consumers should stop using the recalled rockets immediately and contact Estes-Cox for instructions on receiving a replacement product. For additional information, contact Estes-Cox at 800-576-5811 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mountain time Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.estesrockets.com/recallandsafety.php
Monday, October 1, 2007
American Graphic Design Awards
Bay State Parent magazine received three 2007 American Graphic Design Awards.
The magazine won for a self-promotion camp advertisement that appeared in the January & February 2006 issues. It also won for two sales promotion pieces - one on announcements and one on adoption.
The winning entries were created by Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier.
The three decade old competition is presented by Graphic Design USA. It honors outstanding new work of all kinds: print and collateral, advertising and sales promotion, packaging and pointof purchase, Internet and interactive design, broadcast and motion graphics, corporate identity, and logos.
Winners receive an embossed certificate of excellence for each piece selected and become eligible for reproduction in Graphic Design USA's Awards Annual, a 300-page edition book published in December.
The magazine won for a self-promotion camp advertisement that appeared in the January & February 2006 issues. It also won for two sales promotion pieces - one on announcements and one on adoption.
The winning entries were created by Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier.
The three decade old competition is presented by Graphic Design USA. It honors outstanding new work of all kinds: print and collateral, advertising and sales promotion, packaging and pointof purchase, Internet and interactive design, broadcast and motion graphics, corporate identity, and logos.
Winners receive an embossed certificate of excellence for each piece selected and become eligible for reproduction in Graphic Design USA's Awards Annual, a 300-page edition book published in December.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Study: Alcohol Can Increase A Woman's Risk for Breast Cancer
A new study found that all types of alcohol --wine, beer, and hard liquor — add equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women.
Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about whether different kinds of alcohol were more dangerous than others. The researchers, led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif., revealed their findings at a meeting of the European Cancer Organization, according to an Associated Report article. (To read the full article click here, http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKaLptXF3J4J3GgWwY2ogYfUdbzA)
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue, which came back from the printers yesterday and should be at our favorite locations as early as this weekend.
The Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
Previous studies have shown a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, but there have been conflicting messages about whether different kinds of alcohol were more dangerous than others. The researchers, led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif., revealed their findings at a meeting of the European Cancer Organization, according to an Associated Report article. (To read the full article click here, http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKaLptXF3J4J3GgWwY2ogYfUdbzA)
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Bay State Parent magazine produced Think Pink: A Guide Devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness in the October issue, which came back from the printers yesterday and should be at our favorite locations as early as this weekend.
The Bay State Parent magazine is also a sponsor of the American Cancer Society's 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct 14. For more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b&pg=entry&fr_id=3496&JServSessionIdr005=wunev07mg2.app26b
Infants & Toddlers at Risk of Drowning in Pools, Spas, & Bathtubs
80 percent of deaths involve children younger than two
When pool season ends, many parents believe the risk of drowning also ends, but data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released today indicates 311 reported non-pool drownings from 2002 through 2004 of children younger than five years of age. More than 80 percent of these deaths involved children younger than 2 years old. The pattern is much different than that observed in pool-related incidents where children younger than two accounted for 38 percent of deaths (involving children younger than 5).
Bathtubs were involved in most (71 percent) of the non-pool drowning deaths from 2002-2004. Many of these incidents involved caregivers leaving the room to answer the phone/door or to retrieve an item. In some incidents, an older sibling was left to watch a younger sibling.
"Infants and toddlers need particularly close supervision," said Commission Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Drowning can occur within seconds in only inches of water, so parents need think of, not just the pool, but any water anywhere as dangerous."
Commission recommends parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, spas, buckets, or decorative ponds or fountains:
* Never leave young children alone near any water.
* Young children can drown in even small amounts of water.
* Always keep a young child within arm's reach in a bathtub.
* Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, get a towel or for any other reason.
* If you must leave, take the child with you.
* Don't leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.
* Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended.
* Toddlers can fall head first into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it.
* Buckets left outside can collect rain water and are a hazard.
* Prevent children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when not in use; always secure with safety covers and barriers.
* Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.
When pool season ends, many parents believe the risk of drowning also ends, but data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released today indicates 311 reported non-pool drownings from 2002 through 2004 of children younger than five years of age. More than 80 percent of these deaths involved children younger than 2 years old. The pattern is much different than that observed in pool-related incidents where children younger than two accounted for 38 percent of deaths (involving children younger than 5).
Bathtubs were involved in most (71 percent) of the non-pool drowning deaths from 2002-2004. Many of these incidents involved caregivers leaving the room to answer the phone/door or to retrieve an item. In some incidents, an older sibling was left to watch a younger sibling.
"Infants and toddlers need particularly close supervision," said Commission Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Drowning can occur within seconds in only inches of water, so parents need think of, not just the pool, but any water anywhere as dangerous."
Commission recommends parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, spas, buckets, or decorative ponds or fountains:
* Never leave young children alone near any water.
* Young children can drown in even small amounts of water.
* Always keep a young child within arm's reach in a bathtub.
* Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, get a towel or for any other reason.
* If you must leave, take the child with you.
* Don't leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.
* Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended.
* Toddlers can fall head first into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it.
* Buckets left outside can collect rain water and are a hazard.
* Prevent children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when not in use; always secure with safety covers and barriers.
* Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
5 Things to Love About the 15th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct. 14
1. It is the oldest and largest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in the nation2. Since 1993, more than 340,000 Massachusetts walkers have raised $33.2 million
3. In 2006, 88 cents of every dollar raised in Boston directly supported the American Cancer Society's fight against breast cancer. Net funds are devoted to research (40 percent), early detection (45 percent), and patient support (15 percent).
4. More than 50,000 breast cancer survivors are estimated to have walked in Boston.
5. The goal of this year's walk is to raise $3 million.
How You Can Help
1. Donate to the American Cancer Society. Mailing address is: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, 9 Riverside Road,Weston,02493-2281
2. Support a walker or team of walkers.
3. Walk yourself on Sunday, Oct 14. Rolling registration starts at 8 a.m. and continues until 10 at the Hatch memorial Shell at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston. There are two routes a 5.7 mile of a 3 mile For more information, visit http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&frid=3496
RECALL:Kolcraft Recalls 425,000 Play Yards After Death of 10-month-old Child
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 425,000 infant play yards following the death of a child.The Commission received a report of a 10-month old boy who strangled on the changing table’s restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft’s “Sesame Beginnings” Travel Play Yard where the child was located.
Twelve different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard.
In addition to the strangulation hazard with the changing table restraint strap, one play yard also has a raised cradle that rocks back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle in the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard. If that happens, a child can suffocate. Kolcraft has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side of the rocking cradle attachment.
The recalled play yards were sold in a variety of colors and patterns. Play yards and model numbers included in this recall are listed in the chart below. The model number is printed on a white sticker located on one of the feet of the play yard. They were manufactured in China.
The play yards were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 2001 through September 2007 for between $50 and $130.
Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free non-looped replacement strap for the changing table and a free repair kit to secure the base of the cradle. Consumers should immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.
A free repair kit for the rocking cradle will be sent to consumers separate from the replacement strap.
For additional information, call Kolcraft at 888-655-8484 anytime, or visit http://www.kolcraft.com/safety-notifications.aspx
Twelve different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard.
In addition to the strangulation hazard with the changing table restraint strap, one play yard also has a raised cradle that rocks back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle in the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard. If that happens, a child can suffocate. Kolcraft has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side of the rocking cradle attachment.
The recalled play yards were sold in a variety of colors and patterns. Play yards and model numbers included in this recall are listed in the chart below. The model number is printed on a white sticker located on one of the feet of the play yard. They were manufactured in China.
The play yards were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 2001 through September 2007 for between $50 and $130.
Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free non-looped replacement strap for the changing table and a free repair kit to secure the base of the cradle. Consumers should immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.
A free repair kit for the rocking cradle will be sent to consumers separate from the replacement strap.
For additional information, call Kolcraft at 888-655-8484 anytime, or visit http://www.kolcraft.com/safety-notifications.aspx
WEEKEND PICK: 2007 AltWheels Festival in Boston
2007 AltWheels Festival Aims to Attract Thousands With Latest in Transportation and Energy Alternatives. This one-stop shopping for transportation and energy solutions to unclog our roads, reduce our dependence on oil, cut our greenhouse-gas emissions and generally inspire people to protect and preserve our environment.
It will take place at Boston City Hall Plaza tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and continues Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is FREE.
This year’s booths and displays include information on sustainable transportation, green building, alternative energy, as well as the innovative Energy “Freedom Trail” ® with more than 30 stops on how to create a more sustainable world. In 2006, more than 20,000 people attended the AltWheels Festival, the East Coast’s largest alternative transportation festival. The theme for this year’s festival will be celebrating Green Pioneers and Regional Heroes.
Displays of the latest alternative-fueled and high-efficiency vehicles This year, AltWheels, is featuring a display of more than 70 different technology vehicles that beat the high costs and pollution associated with traditional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles from grassroots vehicles to million-dollar, fuel-cell prototypes.Featured exhibits include:
* Explore the latest technology, including million-dollar, one-of-a-kind prototype vehicles such as the fuel-cell hybrid electric Ford Edge HySeries Drive™ as well as grassroot exhibits.
* Talk to owners of “grease cars,” vehicles that have been converted to run on used vegetable oil.
* Watch biodiesel being made before your eyes.
* Learn how ordinary hybrid cars can get 70 miles per gallon.
* Calculate your environmental footprint, and learn about 30 steps you can take to reduce it on the Energy “Freedom Trail”®.
* Visit the REI free bike repair tent and bike exhibits.
* Free compact fluorescent bulbs for the first 500 people who come each day.
* Listen to live bands: Cocabanana and Kevin Connelly.
* Meet Regional Heroes and Green Pioneers leading their organizations, communities and beyond.
* Learn about alternative-energy displays, including wind turbines and solar panels.
There were be many activities for kids, including onsite interactive exhibits from the New England Aquarium and The Museum of Science, face painting and Segway demonstrations.
“We’re thrilled the City of Boston and Mayor Tom Menino have invited AltWheels back to City Hall Plaza,” said Alison Sander, founder of AltWheels. “The good news is that many inventors, companies and community organizations are creating real-world alternative-transportation solutions that are available now, and consumers are responding. High energy costs and the growing will to head off global climate change are driving more companies and consumers to look for cleaner, healthier technologies. We thank everyone who came last year to make history and explore the Energy ‘Freedom Trail’® at AltWheels!”
For more information on the 2007 AltWheels Alternative Transportation & Energy Festival visit www.AltWheels.org
It will take place at Boston City Hall Plaza tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and continues Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is FREE.
This year’s booths and displays include information on sustainable transportation, green building, alternative energy, as well as the innovative Energy “Freedom Trail” ® with more than 30 stops on how to create a more sustainable world. In 2006, more than 20,000 people attended the AltWheels Festival, the East Coast’s largest alternative transportation festival. The theme for this year’s festival will be celebrating Green Pioneers and Regional Heroes.
Displays of the latest alternative-fueled and high-efficiency vehicles This year, AltWheels, is featuring a display of more than 70 different technology vehicles that beat the high costs and pollution associated with traditional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles from grassroots vehicles to million-dollar, fuel-cell prototypes.Featured exhibits include:
* Explore the latest technology, including million-dollar, one-of-a-kind prototype vehicles such as the fuel-cell hybrid electric Ford Edge HySeries Drive™ as well as grassroot exhibits.
* Talk to owners of “grease cars,” vehicles that have been converted to run on used vegetable oil.
* Watch biodiesel being made before your eyes.
* Learn how ordinary hybrid cars can get 70 miles per gallon.
* Calculate your environmental footprint, and learn about 30 steps you can take to reduce it on the Energy “Freedom Trail”®.
* Visit the REI free bike repair tent and bike exhibits.
* Free compact fluorescent bulbs for the first 500 people who come each day.
* Listen to live bands: Cocabanana and Kevin Connelly.
* Meet Regional Heroes and Green Pioneers leading their organizations, communities and beyond.
* Learn about alternative-energy displays, including wind turbines and solar panels.
There were be many activities for kids, including onsite interactive exhibits from the New England Aquarium and The Museum of Science, face painting and Segway demonstrations.
“We’re thrilled the City of Boston and Mayor Tom Menino have invited AltWheels back to City Hall Plaza,” said Alison Sander, founder of AltWheels. “The good news is that many inventors, companies and community organizations are creating real-world alternative-transportation solutions that are available now, and consumers are responding. High energy costs and the growing will to head off global climate change are driving more companies and consumers to look for cleaner, healthier technologies. We thank everyone who came last year to make history and explore the Energy ‘Freedom Trail’® at AltWheels!”
For more information on the 2007 AltWheels Alternative Transportation & Energy Festival visit www.AltWheels.org
WEEKEND PICK: Spirit of Shrewbury Festival
This weekend is the Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival. It starts tomorrow and ends on Sunday.
Cruisin' car show, family Funfest, scarecrow contest and display, Harvest Fest, 5K road race/fun walk, craft fair, Dessert Night, dancing fountains at Dean Park, gala parade. Idol contest, and much more. For a complete schedule, visit www.spiritofshrewsbury.com
Cruisin' car show, family Funfest, scarecrow contest and display, Harvest Fest, 5K road race/fun walk, craft fair, Dessert Night, dancing fountains at Dean Park, gala parade. Idol contest, and much more. For a complete schedule, visit www.spiritofshrewsbury.com
RECALL: Children's Puppet Theatres Due to Lead Paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation Guidecraft Inc. of New Jersey, yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 10,000 Floor Puppet Theaters. Surface paints on the puppet theater’s wooden panels contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There have been no reported injuries or incidents. The recalled puppet theater has a chalkboard surface on the front and colored side panels. The puppet theater measures about 35 inches in length, 14 inches in width and about 52 inches in height. They were sold at toy stores, gift shops, catalogs and Web sites nationwide from June 2006 through August 2007 for about $90 and manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take the recalled puppet theaters away from children and contact Guidecraft to receive a replacement theater or another product of equal value.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Guidecraft toll-free at 888-824-1308 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.guidecraft.com/
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Guidecraft toll-free at 888-824-1308 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.guidecraft.com/
RECALL: Target Recalls 350,000 Children's Toy Gardening Tools & Chairs Due to Lead Paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Target yesterday announced a voluntary recall about 350,000 Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and Children’s Sunny Patch Chairs manufacturered by Starite International Ltd., of Taiwan. The surface paint on the recalled gardening tools and chairs contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported injuries or incidents. The recall includes the Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and the Sunny Patch Children’s Chairs.Gardening tools: caterpillar trowel with an orange and multi-colored handle; kitty cat broom with pink flowers and green handle; pink and green cultivator with a solid green tool portion and pink flowers on the handle; orange and green wood handle hoe and rake with orange flowers; pink and green shovel and trowel with pink flowers; green, orange and light blue snail push broom; multi-colored trowel, hoe, rake with orange on the tool body; multi-colored shovel with solid red on the shovel and eyes on the top of the handle; red and blue owl shaped broom with bristles painted blue, with yellow and black large eyes on the face.
Children’s Chairs: multi-colored children’s Sunny Patch chairs with a giraffe, monkey, and elephant on the back. The cloth seat and back are striped in orange, yellow, green and blue. The chameleon, butterfly and lady bug chair are not included in the recall.
All were sold at arget stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007 for between $3 and $10.
Consumers should immediately take the products away from children and return the item to the nearest Target store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at 800- 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 pm. Central Time Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=br_bx_0/602-1173985-0634202?ie=UTF8&node=1041388
All were sold at arget stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007 for between $3 and $10.
Consumers should immediately take the products away from children and return the item to the nearest Target store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at 800- 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 pm. Central Time Monday through Friday, or visit http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=br_bx_0/602-1173985-0634202?ie=UTF8&node=1041388
RECALL: Knights of the Sword Toys Due to Lead Paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with RC2 Corp of Illinois, yesterday announced a voluntary recall of Britain’s “Knights of the Sword” Series Toyswhich are distributed by RC2 Corp. Surface paints on the toy knights contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no injuries or incidents. The three recalled silver knight toys are mounted on red horses sold individually in see-through blister cards. “Britains” and “Knights of the Sword” are printed on the top of the card in the packaging. The recalled toys include a mounted silver knight on a red horse with an axe; a mounted silver knight on a red horse with two hands on a raised weapon; and a mounted silver knight on a red horse with a lance. They were sold at specialty toy stores nationwide from April 2004 through March 2006 for about $8 and manufactured in China.
Consumers should take these recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 to receive a full refund. For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at 866-725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit http://recalls.rc2.com/
RECALL: Now 1.5 Million Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Distributor RC2 of Illinois yesterday announced a voluntary recall of various Thomas and Friends™ Wooden Railway ToysThis recall involved about 200,000 (1.5 million other Thomas & Friends railway toys were recalled on June 13, 2007). Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported injuries or incidents. The recall involves five toys from the Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway product line: the all-black cargo car, toad vehicle, olive green sodor cargo box and all-green maple tree top and signal base accessories. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” in the upper left-hand corner. A tracking code may be located on the bottom of some of the products. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” and “AZ” are not included in the recall.
Recalled Product Name & Tracking Codes All-Black Cargo Car – Included only in the Brendam Fishing Dock Set. The car is labeled “CARGO CAR” and has either no tracking code or one of the following codes on its undersides:
26833i
28233i
23243i00
24643i00
25343i00
27443i00
32043i00
34743i00
01553i00
04553i00
13353i00
14753i00
15453i00
18353i00
Cargo cars sold in other sets are not included.
Toad vehicle with brake lever – The vehicle is labeled “TOAD” and has the tracking code 16560W000 on its underside.
Olive Green Sodor Cargo Box – The side of the cargo box says “SODOR”, the box was included only in the DeluxeCranky the Crane Set.
All-Green Maple Tree Top and Green Signal Base Accessories – Included only in Conductor’s Figure 8 Sets.
All recalled products were sold at toy stores and various retailers nationwide from March 2003 through September 2007 for between $10 and $40 and manufactured in China.
Toad vehicle with brake lever – The vehicle is labeled “TOAD” and has the tracking code 16560W000 on its underside.
Olive Green Sodor Cargo Box – The side of the cargo box says “SODOR”, the box was included only in the DeluxeCranky the Crane Set.
All-Green Maple Tree Top and Green Signal Base Accessories – Included only in Conductor’s Figure 8 Sets.
All recalled products were sold at toy stores and various retailers nationwide from March 2003 through September 2007 for between $10 and $40 and manufactured in China.
Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy. For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at 866-725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit http://recalls.rc2.com/
RECALL: TOBY N.Y.C Expands Children's Jewelry Recall Due to Lead Exposure
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with TOBY & ME Jewelry Sets, today announced a voluntary recall About 23,500 (about 14,000 jewelry sets were recalled on August 22, 2007) imported by TOBY N.Y.C., of New York, N.Y. The recalled metal jewelry sets contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. This recall involves jewelry sets sold in different styles: a pink and clear crystal bead necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic crown pendant; a pink and white pearl necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic poodle pendant; and a pink pearl necklace, earrings and ring set. This recall is expanded to include two additional styles: a pink crystal and wood bead necklace and bracelet set with a monkey pendant; and a pink and clear crystal bead necklace and bracelet set with a heart pendant. All sets are sold in a pink gift box with “TOBY & ME” printed on the front and “TOBY & ME” hangtags attached to the packaging.They were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, A.J. Wright, Cracker Barrel, and Shopko stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007 for between $8 and $15 and manufactured in China.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and contact TOBY N.Y.C. for information on receiving a full refund or replacement item.
For additional information, contact TOBY N.Y.C. toll-free at 866- 235-0588 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at info@tobynyc.com
For additional information, contact TOBY N.Y.C. toll-free at 866- 235-0588 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at info@tobynyc.com
RECALL: Children's Toy Rakes Sold Exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Due to Lead Paint
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Jo-Ann Stores of Ohio, yesterday announced a voluntary recall about 16,000 Children’s Toy Rakes. Surface paint on the handle of the rake can contain excessive levels of lead paint, violating the federal lead paint standard. There were no reported injuries or incidents. The recalled children’s rake has a green handle with a yellow duck head attached to the handle. The rake has seven purple tines, also known as teeth. The rake is about 24 inches long. “Robbie Ducky™ Garden Collection Rake” is printed on a tag attached to the handle. They were sold exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from January 2007 through September 2007 for about $7 and manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy rake away from children and return it to any Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Jo-Ann Stores Inc. toll-free at 888-739-4120, option 7, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, e-mail the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com, or visit http://www.joann.com/
Friday & Saturday: St. Boniface Italian Festival in Lunenburg
Tomorrow night from 5 to 9 the St. Boniface Italian Festival & Fair will be held at 817 Massachusetts Ave. on Route 2A in Lunenburg. The events features free balloon animals, clown, potluck game, chance auction theme baskets, raffles, homemade crafts, Italian food, and more. The event continues on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
RECALL: About 1 Million Simplicity-made (& Graco-labeled) Cribs After Multiple Infant Deaths
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs.
The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.
The Commission is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down. Commission is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.
Commission is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was installed upside down.
The Commission is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up.
The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and cause the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped.
Commission is also aware of two incidents that occurred when the drop-side was correctly installed with older style hardware, though the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure.
The recalled Simplicity crib models include:
Aspen 3 in 1
Aspen 4 in 1
Nursery-in-a-Box
Crib N Changer Combo
Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1.
The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo:
Aspen 3 in 1
Ultra 3 in 1
Ultra 4 in1
Ultra 5 in 1
Whitney
Trio.
The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.
The cribs, which were made in China, were sold in department stores, children’s stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 1998 through May 2007 for between $100 and $300.
As an immediate precaution, consumers should check to see if the drop-side is installed right side up. To do this, check to see that the slightly rounded rail with the decorative groove is installed at the top and the plain rail is on the bottom. Next, consumers should make sure the drop-side is securely attached to the tracks in all four corners.
If the drop-side is installed upside down or not securely attached, consumers should stop using the crib immediately. Incorrect installation can cause permanent damage to the hardware and re-installing the drop-side using the same hardware is unsafe.
Consumers should check to see if their crib contains the recalled hardware. Recalled hardware has a flexible tab at the bottom of the lower tracks and the top of the lower tracks are open. Newer hardware, which is not subject to the recall, has the flexible tab located at the top of the lower track, and a permanent stop at the bottom.
Consumers who have a crib with older style hardware can receive a free repair by immediately contacting Simplicity toll-free at 888-593-9274 between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, or by visiting www.simplicityforchildren.com
Consumers who have a crib with newer style hardware and have installed the drop-side upside down or have broken hardware, should also contact Simplicity immediately.
The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.
The Commission is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down. Commission is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.
Commission is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was installed upside down.
The Commission is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up.
The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and cause the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped.
Commission is also aware of two incidents that occurred when the drop-side was correctly installed with older style hardware, though the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure.
The recalled Simplicity crib models include:
Aspen 3 in 1
Aspen 4 in 1
Nursery-in-a-Box
Crib N Changer Combo
Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1.
The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo:
Aspen 3 in 1
Ultra 3 in 1
Ultra 4 in1
Ultra 5 in 1
Whitney
Trio.
The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.
The cribs, which were made in China, were sold in department stores, children’s stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 1998 through May 2007 for between $100 and $300.
As an immediate precaution, consumers should check to see if the drop-side is installed right side up. To do this, check to see that the slightly rounded rail with the decorative groove is installed at the top and the plain rail is on the bottom. Next, consumers should make sure the drop-side is securely attached to the tracks in all four corners.
If the drop-side is installed upside down or not securely attached, consumers should stop using the crib immediately. Incorrect installation can cause permanent damage to the hardware and re-installing the drop-side using the same hardware is unsafe.
Consumers should check to see if their crib contains the recalled hardware. Recalled hardware has a flexible tab at the bottom of the lower tracks and the top of the lower tracks are open. Newer hardware, which is not subject to the recall, has the flexible tab located at the top of the lower track, and a permanent stop at the bottom.
Consumers who have a crib with older style hardware can receive a free repair by immediately contacting Simplicity toll-free at 888-593-9274 between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, or by visiting www.simplicityforchildren.com
Consumers who have a crib with newer style hardware and have installed the drop-side upside down or have broken hardware, should also contact Simplicity immediately.
ADOPTION SEMINAR: International Options
International Adoption Options: How to do it, Where to go seminar presented by Dale Eldridge, LICSW and Raquel Woodard, LICSW of Adoption Choices, Framingham and Kate Ingalls Maloney of Children’s Home Society and Family Services of Minnesota on Monday, Oct. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Adoption Choices, 75 Franklin Street, Suite 101, in Framingham.
Contact Woodard at 1-800-872-5232 or e-mail deldridge@jfsmw.org to register.
Contact Woodard at 1-800-872-5232 or e-mail deldridge@jfsmw.org to register.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Webster Teen to Sing With Girl Authority Saturday at 4 p.m. at KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain
Sky is the Limit GirlGianna Sposato of Webster is one of the two grand prize winners in Bay State Parent magazine's "Sing & Dance With Girl Authority Contest."
The 13 year old (pictured) said she would want to be "The Sky is The Limit Girl" if she was the 10th member of Girl Authority (www.girlauthority.com)
As one of the two grand prize winners, she will perform with the teen pop singing group Saturday at 4 p.m. at the 17th Annual KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton.
Her submitted essay is below.
"I believe that the sky is the limit for today's girl if she follows a few key pointers:
Work Hard: I work hard at getting a good education because I know that that is the key to opening all of the doors in your future and making your dreams come true.
Do For Others: I do volunteer work because helping helping others makes me feel good and because it is important to be grateful for the blessings in your own life by sharing your time and energy with others.
Be Responsible: I strive to be responsible, because having this quality sets the stage for success for the rest of your life.
Be Yourself: I take pride in who I am- (red hair and all) because you need to love yourself in order to be happy in life.
Have Fun: I know how to have fun, because isn't that point of it all?!
By following these few simple steps, I am creating my own destiny and for me... The Sky's the Limit!"
Make a date to attend Kidsfest Saturday and watch Gianna perform.
For more information on Kidsfest, visit www.wachusett.,com
For more information onGirl Authority, visit www.girlauthority.com or check out the feature story on the Princesses of Pop inside the September issue of Bay State Parent magazine.
Monson Girl to Sing With Girl Authority Saturday at 2 p.m. at KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain
DANCER GIRLCongrats to Bailey Medeiros, 10, of Monson. She is one of the two grand prize winners in Bay State Parent magazine's "Sing & Dance with Girl Authority Contest." Bailey will sing and dance with the pop group of nine girls Saturday at 2 p.m. at KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton. If she could be the 10th member of Girl Authority, Bailey said she would be "Dancer Girl."
In her essay, she wrote," Though I am a lot of things, being a dancer describes me best. I dance at my studio, Dance Attack, in Monson. I am on the team so I dance hard and so much. I dance on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I study many different styles like jazz, tap, lyrical, acro, and modern. I do so many dances and I have to perform them at competitions throughout my dance year When at a competition I get judged by judges who are professional teachers, dancers and choreographers. Normally, I get awarded either a gold, high gold, or platinum, which is Awesome! Dancing is what I do best and because being on the dance team costs so much money, I have to continue to get good grades or my parents will not pay for it. I love to dance so much and I know I am right for this contest because I am a great performer and would really enjoy dancing with Girl Authority. I would remember it as I dance throughout my life. I will dance forever and when I grow up and go to college I plan to go to a dance academy to become a dance teacher and Broadway performer. I know that I will pursue my dream."
Bailey, submitted a photo of her modelling dancewear in a dance catalog.
Congrats Bailey!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Mind Your eManners
Don’t put anything in writing that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the Boston Globe, a former colleague of mine once advised. The lesson of “think before you send” is even more important for tweens and teens, now that a large portion of their social communication happens over the Internet.
My 13-year-old daughter and her friends learned that lesson the hard way. Instant messaging, or IM’ing as it's called, was the vehicle by which one girl’s feelings were badly hurt by another who sent an unintentionally harsh message. While the words in the message may have been honest, it was removed from the context, tone of voice and body language that are vital to meaningful communication. How we interact is more than just the facts, ma’am.
Back in the day, it was the occasional typewritten memo unintended for general distribution that got people in hot water. Or the recorded voice mail message that was inadvertently sent to the whole company instead of just the intended recipient.
Now, people can type (or text) and send their message to a recipient – or the world – faster than their better judgment can catch up with them. And once words are on the Internet, they take on a life of their own, which may be permanent. Corporate recruiters and admissions officers routinely peruse an applicant’s cyber life; and those party scenes and banter with friends might be a lot less hilarious to potential employers than to other students.
As parents, we worry about keeping our kids safe from online predators. But we need to emphasize an equally important fact of living in a wired world: Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person – or that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the Boston Globe.
My 13-year-old daughter and her friends learned that lesson the hard way. Instant messaging, or IM’ing as it's called, was the vehicle by which one girl’s feelings were badly hurt by another who sent an unintentionally harsh message. While the words in the message may have been honest, it was removed from the context, tone of voice and body language that are vital to meaningful communication. How we interact is more than just the facts, ma’am.
Back in the day, it was the occasional typewritten memo unintended for general distribution that got people in hot water. Or the recorded voice mail message that was inadvertently sent to the whole company instead of just the intended recipient.
Now, people can type (or text) and send their message to a recipient – or the world – faster than their better judgment can catch up with them. And once words are on the Internet, they take on a life of their own, which may be permanent. Corporate recruiters and admissions officers routinely peruse an applicant’s cyber life; and those party scenes and banter with friends might be a lot less hilarious to potential employers than to other students.
As parents, we worry about keeping our kids safe from online predators. But we need to emphasize an equally important fact of living in a wired world: Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person – or that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the Boston Globe.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Upton Boy & Medford Girl Part of CBS' Kid Nation
Tomorrow (Wednesday) night, CBS (WBZ-TV 4, 8 p.m.) will premiere its kid-centered reality show, Kid Nat
ion. The show's premise, if you haven't read any of the hype (or negativity) is that 40 kids, between the ages of 8-15, are put into the abandoned town of Bonanza City, New Mexico for 40 days. There, without adult supervision (I guess the cameramen and production crew don't officially count) have to build their own society by electing leaders, passing laws, and establishing an economy. According to CBS, the kids confront grown-up issues, while coping with the classic childhood emotions of homesickness, peer pressure, and the urge to break every rule. Episodes end with a town meeting in which the kids award one child a gold star worth $20,000, all leading to the grand finale, with an unimaginable test, the biggest awards and a special surprise for every child.While the kids had no contact with their parents for about 6 weeks, all 40 kids needed parental approval to try out for the show ( CBS is already expecting the show to do well, despite some advocacy groups calling the show "child abuse," as they are already accepting applications for Kid Nation 2.)
Two of the 40 contestants in the premiere season have ties to Massachusetts, a boy from Upton and a girl from Medford.
Guylan, 11, from Upton writes on his CBS blog that most people would be surprised that "after being raised by two elephant trainers that I'm afraid of little spiders. Tarantulas don't bother me but little wolf spiders and daddy long-legs creep me out. "
Also on his blog, he wrote that if he had the power to change one or two things about the country right now, he would "like to change the president to one who actually cares about global warming and will do something about it instead of just putting it aside until later... I would also increase funds to save the few remaining wild places and wild life parks and reserves in the hopes of being an example for other countries."
Medford's Laurel, age 12, on her blog wrote that if she could put into place one law that pertains to kids in our country, "I'm really a strong supporter of no bullying. I don't think some kids know how much that can damage someone. I just wish there would be a law that kids have to be nice. It would be against the law to be mean to another child. Middle school kids can be so so so mean to each other. Everyone is trying to be accepted and nobody wants to be different for fear of being made fun of. I just wish being different wasn't such a bad thing, it would be nice for everyone to get along."
She also wrote if she could go anywhere in the world she would "GO BACK TO BONANZA CITY, NEW MEXICO AND DO IT ALL AGAIN. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT THERE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO TV, NO VIDEO GAMES, NO IPOD, NO PHONE, NO HAIR DRYERS, NO LIP GLOSS, NO MODERN DAY COMFORTS, I HAD MORE FUN THERE THAN I COULD HAVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD."
Some critics have called the show a reality version of William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies.
Some TV critics have called it one of the best new fall shows. Yet others, have heralded the show as "child abuse." In fact, a parent of one of the kids filed a complaint (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/18/arts/television/18kid.html?ex=1345089600&en=085d627866c74958&ei=5088&partner=rssny) with New Mexico officials saying the kids on the show were neglected. She says one girl had her face burned by hot grease (she was cooking) and that other kids needed medical help after accidentally drinking bleach.
But several of the child participants of the show, who have been doing pre-show publicity, have said they enjoyed their experience, just like Laurel wrote in her CBS blog.
Tune in tomorrow night - consider watching with your own children -- and form your own opinion of the show.
Post your thoughts here.
Attack of the B Movies!
NATIONAL AMUSEMENTS LAUNCHES CAMPY DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE PROGRAM
National Amusements, Inc., announced today the launch of Attack of the B Movies, a campy new movie program designed to take you back to the days of drive-in horror movies. The program offers a double feature of the “best” B movies ever made. The series runs every Thursday at 7 p.m. from September 20 – October 25, 2007 at Showcase Cinemas Worcester North. Tickets are $5 each for the double feature and may be purchased at the theatre, by phone at 860-646-9800, or online at www.nationalamusements.com
B movies are recognized as an important stage in Hollywood film history. Actors and filmmakers learned their crafts and the talents of many respected stars, directors, and even a U.S. president, were cultivated while making these campy films. B movie fans will also enjoy a specially designed Halloween Night grand finale, Screecher Feature Quadruple Bypass Marathon. The frightening four film “scarathon” begins on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. with White Zombie, followed by Chamber of Horrors: Door with Seven Locks, The Satanic Rites of Dracula, and concludes with Night of the Living Dead.
Following is the Attack of the B Movies film schedule:
Sept. 20 - The Wasp Woman/Monster from Green Hell
Sept. 27 - The Giant Gila Monster/Gammera the Invincible
Oct. 4 - The Brain That Wouldn’t Die/Screaming Skull
Oct. 11 - Attack of the Giant Leeches/Monster from a Prehistoric Planet
Oct. 18 - The Terror/House on Haunted Hill
Oct. 25 - The Last Man on Earth/Devil Girl from Mars
National Amusements, Inc., announced today the launch of Attack of the B Movies, a campy new movie program designed to take you back to the days of drive-in horror movies. The program offers a double feature of the “best” B movies ever made. The series runs every Thursday at 7 p.m. from September 20 – October 25, 2007 at Showcase Cinemas Worcester North. Tickets are $5 each for the double feature and may be purchased at the theatre, by phone at 860-646-9800, or online at www.nationalamusements.com
B movies are recognized as an important stage in Hollywood film history. Actors and filmmakers learned their crafts and the talents of many respected stars, directors, and even a U.S. president, were cultivated while making these campy films. B movie fans will also enjoy a specially designed Halloween Night grand finale, Screecher Feature Quadruple Bypass Marathon. The frightening four film “scarathon” begins on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. with White Zombie, followed by Chamber of Horrors: Door with Seven Locks, The Satanic Rites of Dracula, and concludes with Night of the Living Dead.
Following is the Attack of the B Movies film schedule:
Sept. 20 - The Wasp Woman/Monster from Green Hell
Sept. 27 - The Giant Gila Monster/Gammera the Invincible
Oct. 4 - The Brain That Wouldn’t Die/Screaming Skull
Oct. 11 - Attack of the Giant Leeches/Monster from a Prehistoric Planet
Oct. 18 - The Terror/House on Haunted Hill
Oct. 25 - The Last Man on Earth/Devil Girl from Mars
Friday, September 14, 2007
Saturday, is Last Day to Enter Girl Authority Contest
Metro West-based Girl Authority had their national television debut on CBS The Early Show earlier this month. The pop princesses, who are featured inside Bay State Parent magazine's 12th Annual Arts Guide in the September issue, were presented as a signing group that parents could be proud to have their children listen to and look up to as role models. Girl Authority is a group of nine girls (ages 10-15), each with an individual identity that ties into their own personality....Party Girl Kate
Urban Girl Gina
Fashion Girl Alex
Glamour Girl Carly
Preppy Girl Zoe
Boho Girl Jess
All-Star Girl Jacqueline
Rock and Roll Girl Tarr
Country Girl Crystal
Bay State Parent magazine is holding an exclusive contest in which two lucky girls can perform with Girl Authority at one of its shows at the 17th Annual Kidsfest at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton on Saturday, Sept 22.
* 10 lucky runner-ups each will receive a copy of the group's latest CD Road Trip.
* Each of the two grand prize winners will also receive a copy of the CD, plus a Girl Authority t-shirt, poster, and two admission tickets to KidsFest.
To enter: Massachusetts girls, between the ages of 6-16, need to create their own identity in 250 words or less AND submit a digital photograph image of themselves as that image.
(Complete rules: www.baystateparent.com/news/2007/0901/Front_Page/GirlAuthority.jpg)
The deadline for Snail mail entries has past but e-mail entries are being accepted through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at editor@baystateparent.com
Parents: please send e-mail with your child's description of her identity and a jpeg image of her dressed as that identify, no later than Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Winners will be notified on Monday, Sept. 17
To read Bay State Parent magazine's profile on the "Princesses of Pop" click here:http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2007/0901/Articles/019.html
For individual profiles on each of the nine members of Girl Authority, click here:http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2007/0901/Articles/020.html
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